Vampire Charming

by Cassandra Gannon

  “That would probably be a good thing for us, since we’re currently on the low end of the power teeter-totter. You know how I can tell? Fang’s got Mages who can control lightning and your fearless troops are hiding in the underbrush.”

  Slade didn’t appreciate that recap. “I have power from fate itself guiding me. It is my destiny to win this land.”

  “And it’s my destiny to not die helping you win it.”

  Now he looked pissed. Not at the monsters attacking them, but at Jane. “You should have more faith in me.” He informed her, as if she’d somehow hurt his feelings.

  Jane sighed. He was so touchy about all that fate crap. “Look, I one hundred percent believe that you’re going to kill Fang. Okay? Just not when he has us on the defensive and the woods are on fire. Can we please finish arguing about this later and concentrate on evacuating the…?”

  Slade cut her off. “No. I do not mean you should have more faith in me as a king or soldier. I mean you should have more faith in me as a man.”

  Jane glanced at him in surprise.

  Slade regarded her seriously. “I know it makes you uncomfortable to rely on me, but I am a thousand years old and have fought in countless battles. You can trust me to know what I am doing.” He shook his head. “You will not die helping me, Jane. I’ll let Infinia fall before I risk you. Trust me and I will not disappoint you.”

  She tore her eyes away from his steady gaze and cleared her throat. “It doesn’t make me uncomfortable to rely on you,” she lied, “I’m just not used to it.”

  “You think I will fail in our quest.”

  Jane winced at the blunt phrasing. “I know that you’ll win this war.” She reiterated. “And I think you’re probably the most honorable person I’ve ever met. You’re a little insane, but in a very comic book-y way. You’re stupidly brave and stupidly honest. You take stupid risks, because you think it’s the right thing to do, and you always believe the best of people. Even the stupid ones. I admire that about you. I do.” She nodded, willing him to understand. “But, I’m none of that stuff.”

  “Jane, that is not true.”

  “It is true. I’m a pragmatic, cynical, suspicious loner. I always have been. My feelings aren’t about you being untrustworthy. I’ve just never had a lot of faith in anyone. It’s how I’m wired.”

  Slade stared down at her, the irritation on his face softening to compassion. “Have you always been alone, then?”

  “I’m not alone. I’m independent. There’s a difference.” It was just hard to remember that difference when she spent every holiday watching infomercials on her couch.

  Slade seemed equally skeptical. “You were trapped in your world, with no one to shield you from the darkness.” He deduced. “It makes it hard for you to trust. I blamed myself.”

  “I blame you for a lot of things, but not for that. Why is my rotten childhood your fault?”

  “I should have come for you, Jane. I should have protected you. You were just born too far away for me to know of you.” He blinked suddenly, as if someone was shining a bright light in his eyes. “You were born too far from me.” He repeated in a distant tone. “That’s why I had to leave the Vampire Isle.” His lips parted in amazement. “My gods… You are why I am on this path.”

  “Oh no, this whole disaster is your fault, not mine.” That part she could absolutely blame him for. “I was minding my own business, stocking shelves, and you showed up to wreck my life.”

  Slade disregarded that. His head tilted to one side, an odd expression passing over his face. “Saving Infinia isn’t my only chance for greatness.” He murmured. “You are my only chance, Jane. I’m supposed to save you.”

  “I don’t need saving.” Jane paused as she passed Symon the scientist’s workshop, her eyes narrowing. “Hang on.” She took a quick detour, ducking through his doorway and looking around. She hated it when fantasy movies stuck in primitive versions of modern technology, but maybe the Gnome had created something useful.

  No machine guns or tanks popped out at her. Not even a fire extinguisher. In fact that whole hut was empty except for a large wooden lever in the middle of a table. It looked like a light switch, but she had no idea what it powered. Symon had painted one side red and one side green. Off and on. Jane considered her options and then flipped it to green. Sketchy inventions always worked in fantasy movies, so she might as well take a chance. At this point, what did she have to lose?

  “Jane?” Slade stuck his head in the door. “Please. You must listen to me.”

  “Not to beat a dead Werewolf, but this is where listening to you had gotten me so far.” She pushed passed him, stalking back outside and waving a hand around the smoldering forest.

  “This is destiny. You don’t understand.” Slade sounded like he was finally piecing together some complicated puzzle. “I followed my instincts to my true fate. That is why we are here. It was meant to be.”

  There was just no talking to him sometimes. “Well, congratulations. Some of us don’t have the universe planning our glorious futures and handing us pretty crowns, though, so we have to look out for ourselves.” She headed towards the waterfall.

  The lightning strikes were getting closer. That was probably a bad sign. The rest of the camp had emptied out, everyone scattering into the forest. Hopefully none of them would burn to death in their blind panic to escape. The rebels weren’t the brightest crayons in the box, but Jane didn’t want to see them charred to cinders.

  Slade seemed almost in a daze as he followed Jane to the river. “Gods! You were right all along, Jane. Why did I doubt it? You are always right.”

  “Wow, you just said something that made sense. If this place has newspapers, we could alert them.”

  Slade didn’t seem to hear that. “Melessa was not my Eternal-One. Of course she wasn’t.” He shook his head. “Did I always suspect that? I must have known. Or maybe I couldn’t know it, because I wasn’t meant to yet.” He didn’t even notice as lightning struck nearby and another tree went up in flames.

  Jane did.

  She winced at the destruction, glancing towards the raging stream. “Seriously, do you think it’s safer to risk the fire and stay on dry ground, or risk the lightning and wade into the water?”

  She might as well have been talking to herself. Slade was lost in his own thoughts. “It all makes sense, now. The unappetizing way Melessa smelled… The empty feeling when I touched her… The lack of connection I felt… She could never be the one I was waiting for, could she?”

  He didn’t seem to need an answer, but Jane gave him one anyway. It was way more satisfying to focus on Slade’s crappy love life than on their current crappy situation. “Yeah, your Vamp-y instincts totally misfired when they set their sights on your ex.” She muttered. If she ever met Melessa, she planned to deck her right in her perfect face. “I’d probably start ignoring them, if I were you. They keep landing you in trouble.”

  Jane reached the top of the waterfall and began moving faster through the brush, scouting for something that looked like the Corpse Road. She figured there would be corpses or a road to mark the path, but so far she wasn’t spotting either. Damn it, how were they going to get out of this mess?

  “No, my Dark Instincts told me that Melessa would lead me to my destiny and they were correct. I see that so clearly, now.” Slade looked stunned. “All happened as it was supposed to happen, because I am here with you, Jane.”

  She scoffed at that revisionist history. “I told you, I don’t need anyone to save me.”

  “Maybe I’m the one who needs saving.” He somehow moved fast enough to get in front of her.

  Jane gave a surprised yelp, as she slammed into his massive form. “What the hell are you doing? Is it really so hard for you to pay attention to our impending death scene?”

  One huge hand snaked out to grab her arm and anchor against his chest. It was a nice place to be, but they didn’t have time for this. She gave an experimental tug on his grip, but he wasn’t
letting go. He stared down at her, his face intent. Jane’s heartbeat picked up in a way that had nothing to do with the mortal danger they were in and everything to do with the incredible feel of his incredible body.

  “I mean in, Slade.” She got out breathlessly. “Focus on our escape and not…”

  He cut her off, again. “You are my destiny, Jane Squire.” He whispered and his lips found hers. This time, he didn’t give her time to evade him. His mouth sealed over hers…

  And just like that, Jane forgot everything.

  Forgot the fire burning towards them, and the vengeful Werewolf plotting their deaths, and Slade’s destined bride waiting in the wings, and the scorned Mage headed their way. Forgot everything except the Vampire who’d upended her life.

  For one incredible moment, it was all swelling music, and spinning camera angles, and happily-ever-afters. It was standing at center stage and knowing the handsome prince was all yours. It was everything Hollywood always promised about kissing and more.

  So much more.

  Jane’s toes curled in her shoes, her fingers fisting around the fabric of his shirt. Holy God. She’d known that Slade would taste incredible, but this… This was even better than she’d imagined. And she’d imagined it a lot.

  She dragged him closer, taking things to an even higher level. The guy didn’t need much urging. Slade dropped the golf bag so he could wrap both arms around Jane. His lips slanted across hers, taking everything she had. One big palm tangled in her hair, his hand caressing the thick curls like he wanted to feel every single strand. Jane undulated against him. When he’d taken her blood, it had been mind-blowing. Having him so clearly want her for more than just dinner made things even better, though. Her mouth opened under his, drowning in sensations. A bomb could’ve gone off and she would’ve ignored it. All she cared about was staying right in this moment with Slade.

  For the first time in her life, Jane was home.

  When he finally pulled back, she let out a distressed moan. “No, wait.” She didn’t want it to stop. It had all been right. Like she was finally where she belonged.

  “Jane.” He touched her cheek, his eyes traveling over her face. “It’s always been you.” His perfect teeth gleamed in a dazzling smile. “I should have felt it from the first. I did feel, I just didn’t understand what it meant.” He shook his head. “Forgive me, my One. I’ve been such an idiot.”

  “You’re always an idiot.” She got out, barely processing his words. Reality was beginning to intrude. What had just happened? Was it some kind of Vampire aphrodisiac thing, again? It had to be, right? Nothing normal could feel that spectacular. “Wait, what am I forgiving you for? Are you sorry about kissing me? Because, I’m… Shit!” Her words ended in a shout as Slade was blasted out of her arms.

  The lightning bolt slammed into the ground beside them, blowing them apart. Jane hit the ground, seeing stars. She must have blacked out for the second time that evening, because the world went dark and silent. She only managed to come to when she felt the heat of the fire.

  Too close.

  Instinctively, she knew the flames were coming towards her. Jane had to move. She wasn’t sure that she could do it, though. Her eyes wouldn’t open and her ears were ringing from the explosion. All she could hear was the roar of the waterfall.

  … And Slade’s uncharacteristic cursing. The guy was using four-letter words so vile that she didn’t even recognize them. That wasn’t like him. Slade might utter an occasionally oath, but he was usually too much of gentleman for this level of enraged swearing.

  “Jane!” He bellowed.

  She jolted at the sound of her name in the middle of his obscenity-filled rant, becoming more alert. Was he calling her? Why was he calling her?

  “Jane, don’t do this! You can’t do this. You cannot leave me!”

  “Your human is as good as dead, Vampire.” A woman taunted in a kind of Russian accent. “Soon you will join her.”

  There was the sound of swords clashing and a flash of orange sparks. Jane focused for a second and saw Slade dueling with a woman in a leather leotard next to the riverbank. It had to be Dallyn. There was another burst of electricity. Jane realized every time their blades met, Dallyn was using her powers to shock Slade. The Mage’s powers easily traveled through metal.

  Slade didn’t seem to care. “Whatever happens to my Eternal-One, you will suffer a thousand-fucking-fold!” He roared back. “Now get out of my way!”

  His Eternal-One? Oh great, was Melessa here? That was just what this movie needed. If Jane could’ve opened her eyes for more than a second, she would’ve rolled them. Forget it. She was just going to say unconscious and…

  “Jane, you must wake-up! I will die without you!”

  Jane’s lashes popped open at Slade’s words, the haze evaporating from her mind so quickly that it left her dizzy.

  Slade was about to die, unless she did something. Did what? What the hell was happening? Was he hurt? Could she get to him in time?

  Shit!

  Jane quickly took stock, trying to assess her injuries. Nothing felt broken or severed, but that could be the adrenaline talking. Hell, what did it matter? Slade needed her. There was no choice but to get up.

  Jane raised her head, giving it a clearing shake. She was seeing three of everything, but at least she was upright. Slade and Dallyn continued their duel. He seemed okay for the moment. Well, considering at this particular moment he was fencing over a hundred foot drop, anyway. . Behind them, water rushed over the falls with unstoppable force.

  Why did fantasy movies always stage fights next to waterfalls?

  “Jane!” Slade shouted, again. He was in the middle of battle, unable to see that she was awake, but still yelling out orders. “You must run!”

  Well, that suggestion actually made a lot of sense, but it wasn’t going to happen. Not when Slade needed her.

  “She cannot hear you, Vampire.” Dallyn snapped, not even glancing Jane’s way to make sure of that pronouncement. Supernatural beings were always underestimating humans. Especially sturdy, independent girls, who everybody thought could only play the sidekick. “Say goodbye to your little friend!”

  Oh Jesus, they were misquoting Scarface, now? From Here to Infinia was seriously running out of ideas. Jane dragged herself to her knees.

  “Your woman will die in the flames and you deserve lose her, Slade.” Dallyn pressed on with vengeful relish. “Who would choose such a pedestrian creature over someone as magnificent as me?”

  Jesus, it was like Dallyn was just daring Jane to kill her.

  Firming her jaw, Jane’s gaze fell on Slade’s precious golf bag. The golf bag that Amalie, the Witch, said they’d need on this quest. Now, seemed like a good time to test that theory. A prop like that didn’t get introduced to a film unless it was going to matter, right?

  “Jane will not die!”

  Damn right she wouldn’t. Jane somehow found the strength to stand up.

  Dallyn wasn’t as convinced by Slade’s bellow. “Forget it, Slade. This is Infinia-town.”

  Dear God, the stupidity just never ended.

  “I am a Mage.” Dallyn continued. “A goddess in any dimension I grace. Yet, you prefer the company of that drab human! A Vampire King --The hero of his people-- and a disgusting mortal. Just the idea makes me ill.” Her tone was full of bitterness. “I do not understand what spell Jane Squire could have woven over everyone to make her seem remotely worthy of attention. Even Fang seems obsessed with her!”

  “What?” Slade demanded, his face getting even grimmer. “How does he know of my Jane?”

  Dallyn smirked, sensing that she’d finally struck a blow. “Werewolves salivate at the thought of possessing Vampires’ Eternal-Ones. You know that. Fang’s men say that ever since he caught her scent, he’s talked of nothing but your precious human.”

  Now would be a really good time for Slade to point out that Jane wasn’t his Eternal-One, so there was no need for a werewolf to kidnap and rape her.


  Instead, King Helpful slowly shook his head. “No one will take Jane from me.” The words were deadly serious. “I have sought her too long to lose her now.”

  Dallyn gave a harsh laugh. “You already have lost her, you fool. Be glad that I’ve killed her quickly. Fang wanted her alive and surely death is preferable to what he had planned.”

  Super. Because, this whole thing wasn’t freaky enough. Jane reached out to grab one of the golf clubs. As she turned, she spotted a sign pinned to the tree in front of her.

  Corpse Road Entrance.

  An arrow pointed down a narrow path that had appeared out of nowhere.

  “Oh screw you, movie.” Jane cast a glare towards the sky. “Is that the best you’ve got?”

  These bastards had no idea who they were dealing with if they thought she’d run off and leave Slade behind. Even the hero of the film needed some help, now and then. Jane Squire wasn’t some Red Riding Hood, waiting in the woods for Prince Charming to come and save her. She might not be the star, but she’d choreograph her own fucking fight scenes.

  Slade’s blue eyes locked on hers as she moved towards him. Desperate relief filled his face when he saw she was okay. “Jane.” He whispered the word like a prayer.

  Dallyn used his momentary distraction to strike. There was another flash of swords and the Mage drove Slade towards the rushing water. She pushed him to the edge of the rocks at the top of the waterfall. One more step and he’d topple over edge. Jane wasn’t sure even a Vampire could survive a fall like that.

  “You were stupid to bring that mortal slut here, Vampire.” Dallyn chortled, reaching one lethal palm towards him. Electricity arched between her fingers, eager to fry him. “You should have kept her locked away in her own dreary would. No ordinary human can survive this land.”

  Slade didn’t try to evade her deadly palm. He didn’t have to. “My human is far from ordinary.” He murmured, his gaze still on Jane.

  Dallyn realized what was about to happen a second too late. She turned, her mouth opening in a silent scream of denial as Jane slammed the nine iron into her skull.