Terry Spear - Vampire

by Killing The Bloodlust (Triskelion) (lit)

  As mad as she was at her brothers’ accusations, an inkling of warmth curled in the pit of her stomach to see them again. She wished they’d stay, if for nothing more, than to watch her back while she packed.

  Boniface folded his arms over his broad chest. “You can’t stay here any longer if he’s able to get in.”

  Deep down inside, they did worry about her, warming her through and through. “My idiot apartment manager must have let him in. I need to pack some of my things and stay at a motel or somewhere for a few days until I can find another place to live.”

  Boniface glanced at Victor. She knew he wanted to offer her his place to stay but sought another family member’s approval first.

  Victor stiffened his spine. “Just don’t allow anyone to let him in the next time. ”

  Always the more sensible of the two, he’d dashed her hopes. She wouldn’t find any help from her family, as she suspected. No way would she beg though. If Boniface had allowed her a safe place to stay the night, he could be banished from the family too, if others found out.

  She sighed deeply. “It’s so good to see you again. But I’ve got to pack and get some sleep tonight. I have staff duty again tomorrow night.”

  Boniface grunted. “That inconsequential job of yours.” He took a deep breath. “We’ll wait.”

  She smiled. “Thank you.” She rose from her seat. “Did you want something to drink?”

  Boniface’s face darkened. “We never came here, Crystal. None of our family must ever know of our breaking protocol.”

  She knew that. He hadn’t had to remind of her of that. She stiffened her back, resolute to be sociable despite her family’s attitude...no matter how disagreeable they felt toward her. After all, she didn’t have to sink to their level. “Of course. Did you want something to drink?” she offered again.

  Victor frowned. “A beer, if you have one.”

  She looked at Boniface.

  “Same.”

  “All right.” She hurried into the kitchen, retrieved the beers and returned to the living room. She handed the ice-cold bottles to her brothers. “It won’t take me long.”

  After packing uniforms, civilian clothes, and personal items, she rolled her bag out of the room. Her brothers stood.

  Victor grabbed her bag. “We wish you well. Always have, Crystal, though we’re not supposed to tell you. But don’t get in our way again, if you arrive at a party we’ve crashed. They’ve gotten to you, whether you realize it or not. A split second hesitation on any of our parts can spell our deaths.”

  “I know the drill, Victor.” She pulled her door closed behind them.

  “But you still barged in on the party we attended,” Boniface said.

  Were her brothers right after all? Had the vampire brothers gotten under her skin?

  Victor loaded her bag into her car. “Where are you going?”

  “Haven’t a clue. And for your own peace of mind, the situation is probably best left that way.”

  Neither of her brothers argued with her, making her heart ache. Yet, she knew it had to be that way. She’d been cut off from the family, and it would remain so until she died.

  “He’ll be watching you. Even now as we speak. He’ll know where you go better than we will.”

  She nodded. “I’ll just have to hope he doesn’t convince anyone else to open my new place up to him.”

  Her brothers exchanged glances as she waited for their response. Boniface stepped forward and hugged her. Victor followed suit with a warm embrace. She doubted she’d ever have any further kindness from her family. For the moment, her whole body warmed with their tenderness. She sighed deeply. “Take care.”

  “And you,” they said in unison.

  She climbed into her car, started it and drove out of the parking lot. Her brothers watched her until she was out of sight, she noted through her rearview mirror.

  A couple of tears rolled down her cheek. She’d made the decision to go against the family’s wishes four years ago and knew the consequences. No sense in reopening the hurt now. At least that’s what she tried to tell herself. She clenched her teeth, trying to squelch the pain.

  And yet more tears graced her cheeks as she attempted to get her mind off her family. How could she help that she was so different? Feelings had to be controlled in the business. Unchecked emotions could mean death. Despite having the skills and special abilities to fight vampires, she hadn’t the heart to kill them, or anyone else for that matter.

  She didn’t feel any remorse once she’d killed the bloodsuckers that threatened her own life...not once she saw how hideous they were when the life was sucked from them. But killing a living being, or at least one who appeared full of life, had always proved difficult. And her hesitation to kill one outright without provocation had put her family at risk several times.

  Why couldn’t they understand, they were better off with her working at something else? But no, despite her inadequacies, they preferred her doing the kind of work they did. They said she’d harden up with time. But she couldn’t.

  Fifteen minutes later, she drove into a well-lighted, two-story hotel. She glanced in her rearview mirror. A white convertible followed her. Her heartbeat quickened. How long had he been there and was it the same one she saw at Dimitri’s house? She couldn’t be certain. Wrapped up in family issues, she hadn’t been as alert as she should have been.

  She pulled up to the front so she could register in the hotel lobby. To her relief, the convertible drove on past.

  She hurried into the hotel. Already, the time approached midnight. Determined to get to bed and quickly, she tapped on the bell at the counter to get someone’s attention.

  A gray-haired man with eyes the same smoky gray, dressed in a similarly colored suit, strolled out.

  “Do you have a nonsmoking room for three nights?” she asked.

  “Yeah.” He pulled out a room key as she offered her credit card.

  She cleared her throat to get his attention as he rang up the account. “I must have complete privacy. I’m an Army officer and have all night duty tomorrow night, so under no circumstances do I want to be bothered.”

  “No room service?”

  “I’ll pick up fresh towels after work, but no. I don’t want anyone coming into my room. Not housekeeping, not anyone posing as a husband or friend or long lost brother. No one.”

  “Understood.” He nodded. “Problems with an ex? My daughter has a court order against hers. I totally understand.”

  “Thanks.” Crystal grabbed her key, and headed back to the car.

  Maybe, just maybe Nicolai couldn’t get to her this time. She drove her car to a parking lot as close to the stairs as possible. After parking, she hurried to retrieve her bag.

  Again, she glimpsed the white convertible parked across the street this time at a fast food hamburger joint. Damn. Either the driver was a human host that Nicolai or Dimitri had sent to follow her, or maybe the stalker was a vampire himself. Anger bubbled in her veins. Being tired, she didn’t have time for this nonsense now. But once she was well rested, stalker beware.

  She carried her bag up the stairs with little effort. Her superhuman strength had made it difficult when she’d trained in hand-to-hand combat, trying to ensure she didn’t injure any of her fellow officers...especially the more aggressive males who expected her to crumble easily under their brute strength. She smiled at the memory as she pushed her hotel room door open.

  Before turning on the room lights, she closed the door, then stepped to the window. The white car had vanished. Guess he knew where she stayed now and could report back to his master.

  Didn’t matter. Tonight, she’d sleep like the dead. No one would disturb her. She yanked her curtains shut and turned on the lights.

  Two matching queen-sized beds covered in black and white floral bedspreads took up most of the floor space, with a table between them. A desk, television and a chair made up the rest of the furniture. She placed her suitcase on a stand and opened
it. Time to unpack, take a shower, and hit the sack.

  In the middle of her shower with her face covered in vanilla-scented soap, a deafening bang rang out. She jumped and screamed. Blackness enveloped her. She rinsed off in a hurry, then grabbed a towel.

  Nicolai couldn’t have gotten in. Not this time. Could he?

  Stepping into the bedroom, she sniffed the air. No spicy scent. She took a deep breath, and headed for the window. Intermittent forks of lightening and sheets of white light illuminated the blackness as volumes of rain dumped outside. All the lights for the buildings across the street were out. It was just the storm.

  After grabbing her satin nightgown, she tugged it on. Another boom shattered the quiet. Her heart raced. If she didn’t get enough sleep tonight...

  * * *

  The next thing Crystal knew, the clock-radio alarm was ringing in her ear at five the next morning. She rolled over and groaned, fumbling to turn off the ear-shattering noise. Dog tired, she felt as though she’d tried out for the triathlon and lost the race. Being a huntress, minor injuries healed themselves quickly and aches didn’t last long. But the weariness from not getting enough sleep still plagued her. She’d have a devil of a time staying awake all night for staff duty.

  In slow motion, she dressed in her Army fatigues and once she’d secured her hair in a bun, she exited her hotel room. As soon as she spied the white convertible sitting across the street at the hamburger place again, her jaw clenched. Okay, he wasn’t a vampire, not if he was out in broad daylight. He had to be a human host. But she wasn’t being stalked any further, damn him.

  She climbed into her car, intent on finding out who he was and what he wanted. But as soon as she turned the key in the ignition, he drove off.

  Damn. She gripped the leather-covered steering wheel in her fingers, wishing it was the host’s thick neck...or at least she assumed he had one. She didn’t really know as her gaze had focused on his dark, dangerous glare. She took a calming breath. She’d get him...later.

  After a morning of handling personnel staff actions, preparing a welcome brochure, and working on the Army Emergency Relief Campaign, it was time for lunch, and a stiff caffeine-filled soda.

  She pulled into a fast food Mexican restaurant on post. Inside, she tapped her combat boot on the floor while she waited in line. The girl who served the customers in her line was undoubtedly new.

  When she reached the girl, Crystal’s mouth dropped open. Lila, the human host, stood ready to take her order. The girl smiled slightly at her. “Nicolai was mad his brother lured you to his house last night. They had quite a row afterwards.”

  Crystal frowned. She’d have assumed her brothers and her killing of Dimitri’s bloodsuckers would have incensed them more.

  “Nicolai wished to see you last night after you left the bash, but you had company.”

  Nicolai had watched every move she’d made, just like her brothers had predicted.

  “He was disappointed you left your apartment to stay at a hotel. Why did you do that? He wished so to see you last night. To explain that his brother wasn’t to bother you any more.”

  The customer behind Crystal grumbled under his breath. “Service ain’t what it used to be.”

  Lila leaned over the counter, and grabbed Crystal’s hand. Her cold touch made Crystal shiver. “He wants to see you again tonight. He’ll find a way, if he hasn’t already.” Crystal yanked her hand free and Lila smiled. “So what would you like to eat?”

  No longer hungry, Crystal stared back at the woman. How could she allow Kostya to drink her blood and make her carry his child? Lila was like a drug addict, needing Kostya’s bite to give her a rush.

  She turned, grabbed a basket, and filled it with two cheese enchiladas. Then she gave Crystal a cup. “Meal’s on me. You’ll need to keep your strength up to manage Nicolai.”

  Her strength. Yes, she had to keep it up.

  She pulled her money out of her wallet.

  Lila shook her head. “It’s on me, being you’re one of us now.”

  Crystal’s face burned with anger. She tossed the money on the counter. “Wrong, Lila. I’m not one of you, now or ever!”

  The girl’s smile broadened. “That’s why Nicolai likes you so much. You’re a challenge. The others...they come to him too easily. But not you. That’s why Dimitri wants a go at you too. I’ve never seen the two of them fight over a woman before. You don’t know how lucky you are to have the heads of the family desire you that much.”

  Like a cult follower, she’d been totally brainwashed. Crystal studied the petite, blue-eyed girl, whose natural blonde hair showed at the roots. The bloodsucker had hold of her good. Crystal couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. There seemed to be no one to fight for her cause...to save her from Kostya’s plans for her.

  Crystal grabbed the meal and glass. Then she had an idea. Maybe she could free Lila from their clutches. What if Crystal could use the fact she was different from other hunters to help a human host. That’s what she hoped for. Though her family would have told her otherwise. Vampires brainwashed humans for good...that’s what they’d say. But maybe not. Suddenly, her spirits lifted. Perhaps there was a reason for her being so different - that she could make a positive change in someone else’s life.

  After filling her glass with soda, Crystal crossed the terra cotta tiled floor to an empty booth. Before she could unwrap one of her enchiladas, Lila approached the table.

  “My break time. Can I sit with you?”

  Making friends with a human host was forbidden in her family’s tradition. But Crystal wasn’t part of the family anymore, so why not? And perhaps she could save the woman before it was too late. She motioned to the other seat, ready to take on a new mission...save a human host from being turned.

  Lila sat down.

  “Where are you from, Lila?”

  “Here in Killeen.”

  “And your family?”

  Lila shrugged and sipped a soda. “All gone.”

  The tension in Crystal’s muscles returned. “Gone where?”

  “Don’t know. Can’t we talk about something else?”

  Had Kostya killed the woman’s family? Families sometimes interfered when a vampire targeted one of the family members for keeps. Legally, law enforcement handed the cases over to hunters to rectify, if humans brought the cases to their attention. But more often than not, the vampires targeted inconsequential humans, those who wouldn’t be missed. If the vampires killed other family members though, they’d wipe the images of the killings from the targeted host’s mind. To the host, all they knew was their family just vanished. The vampires’ overwhelming presence in the host’s life, made them care about nothing else. That’s the way the vampires preferred humans. Mindless hosts.

  Crystal assumed Lila’s family had been murdered. Otherwise Lila would have said she had run away from home or some such thing. “Have you ever had any male companionship before Kostya?”

  “Yeah.” Lila’s voice turned gloomy as she stared at the table. “My previous boyfriend beat me and when I tried to leave, he found me and nearly killed me.” Then her cheerful smile returned. “Kostya saved me.”

  So that’s what made her so attracted to Kostya.

  “You know you don’t have to stay with him, Lila. His draining your blood isn’t good for you.”

  She grinned broadly. “Kostya and Dimitri said you’d say so if I ever managed to speak to you. I’m sorry for telling you that you couldn’t attend Dimitri’s party. When you said you were Nicolai’s guest, I knew you’d lied.”

  “I thought Kostya was one of Nicolai’s...friends. He led me to the party. So I wasn’t lying.”

  “Oh.” Lila finished her drink. “Oh, I almost forgot. Nicolai said if I ran across you while you were on post, to give this letter to you.”

  Crystal took the note, noticing Lila waited for her to read it. The glint of sun off a windshield in the parking lot caught Crystal’s eye. The white convertible.

  “Do you
know who owns that car?”

  Lila glanced out the window. “Why, no. Who?”

  “He was at Dimitri’s party last night.”

  “Don’t know him by his car. Didn’t know anyone at the party at all except for Kostya and Dimitri. Kostya wants to keep me for himself. He’s not as powerful as some of the others. So he keeps me isolated from the rest most of the time.” She looked back out the window. “He doesn’t seem to want to come in.”

  “That’s all right. I’m leaving.”

  “Aren’t you going to read Nicolai’s note?”

  “Yes, later. Thanks for the lunch and company.”

  “You’re welcome. It’s nice to get to know another lady like me.”

  “I’m not like you.” Crystal grabbed her hat, and stood, hoping the irritation didn’t show in her voice too much.

  Lila stood. “Nicolai said that. That’s why he wants you so badly. He doesn’t talk to me much, but I overheard him speaking to his brother. Well, they were pretty loud...fighting. He wants you because you have special abilities and his and your child would too. That’s what he said.”

  Nicolai had to be crazy to think he could have a child with her. If their blood wouldn’t mix, they couldn’t have a child together. What in the world was wrong with him to think otherwise? She stared at the floor. Nicolai had to know something she didn’t as many years as he’d lived. But what? Her legs wobbled a bit as she let go of the bench seat. “I’ve got to go.”

  Lila wrinkled her forehead. “You’re not interested in someone else are you? Nicolai won’t like it.”

  “I don’t care what Nicolai likes or doesn’t like. I’m sure he knows everything there is to know about me. I’m not seeing anyone. Haven’t for two years.”

  “What happened?”

  Crystal shook her head. Nothing she did was the woman’s concern.

  Lila smiled. “It’s good to know there’s no one in your life. Nicolai can get pretty jealous. He and his brother truly fought last night.”

  For the first time, Crystal listened to her words. “How?”

  “Oh they heal really fast. But they tore into each other pretty good with those canines of theirs. As soon as they extended them, I knew there’d be trouble.”