Venom & Vampires: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Collection

by Casey Lane

  I knew I’d have to try and smooth things over with him at some point, but at the moment I was too confused by what was happening to try and do that. My brain had spent the time warring with itself. I still kept fluctuating between this can’t be happening and the knowledge that if I was going to survive, I had to accept the impossible. No part of me liked that.

  Cade got out of the car. I opened my door too and stepped out. It was nice to finally stretch my legs. The outside of the cabin was plain and it was not very big. It was definitely a cabin and not the house most people called their vacation cabin. Cade and I were going to have a cozy stay together. A flash of Cade and I lying by the fireplace flew through my brain without me wanting it to.

  I stopped myself. This was a horrible nightmare after all. If anything, we’d be lucky if the vampire didn’t find us. I doubted there’d be any cozy cuddling, much less sleeping.

  I had a lot of other things to worry about anyway. How long were we going to camp out in the woods? If I wasn’t back in a few days, I was going to lose my job. I really liked my job. Besides that, what would we do if the vampire after me somehow found us? And was the vampire Athan Delano? Had I somehow sensed it? Or was it some random vampire?

  If only my grandmother would call me and explain what was happening. Then came the question that kept bringing me full circle around to my other list of questions: Why hadn’t she called me herself already?

  “Are you coming or what?” Cade asked, already heading toward the cabin carrying a couple of bags, and not even looking back at me.

  How infuriating, I thought, but followed him anyway. Now, he was taking my presence for granted. I was tempted to take off for the trees just to see if he’d panic, but I didn’t. As annoying as he was being, I had to believe in him. My life obviously depended on it. My grandmother trusted him with my life, I reminded myself. I’d just have to try and follow my grandmother’s lead. I hoped this cabin was as safe and hidden as he had promised. If the vampire found us, I wasn’t sure there was going to be much that either of us could do to stop him from killing us. I crossed my fingers and prayed we stayed unfound.

  Cade opened the door, letting me pass into the room. “And lastly the bedroom.”

  I had already seen the cabin’s other three rooms – the living room with its expansive fireplace, the small kitchen off of it, and the bathroom. Cade was definitely a minimalist when it came to decorating. The bedroom only had necessities: a bed and a dresser. There wasn’t even a rug on the hardwood floor.

  “You can sleep in here,” Cade said. “I’ll sleep in the living room.”

  “That’s fine. In the meantime, do you have anything I could wear?” I asked as I gestured to the blanket I still had wrapped around myself.

  Cade looked away quickly. “I actually grabbed a few things for you from your apartment.”

  I stared at him. He’d packed for me? Cade turned and left the room. He was back a second later with one of my cloth grocery bags. He handed it to me. I looked inside and there was a jumble of clothes. My cheeks burned pink. He’d even grabbed underwear and a bra.

  “Thanks,” I couldn’t force myself to lift my eyes off the floor.

  “I’ll let you change,” Cade backed out of the room.

  I managed to look up at him. I had to fix the weirdness between us. Maybe we could manage to be friends. “And, I am sorry for earlier. I appreciate you protecting me and everything.”

  Cade nodded. He seemed like he might say something, but stopped. Then he quickly left the room and shut the door.

  I looked through the bag and settled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I quickly got dressed and sat on the bed. I wondered if Cade was angry with me since he had left the room so abruptly. I was too tired to think about it. Let him be ridiculous if he wanted to be.

  I lied back on the bed. I felt exhausted even though it only had to be around noon. It had already been a really long day. It would get infinitely longer if the vampire managed to find us. Regardless, I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to sleep until this whole thing was resolved. I stared at the ceiling. My stomach growled, startling me. I was hungry. It hadn’t even occurred to me to ask Cade to stop for food on the way. I wondered if Cade had thought to bring any.

  I found Cade sitting at the kitchen table reading a newspaper that he’d picked up when we’d stopped for gas. It made me pause, though, as I realized that there was probably no internet. I cringed. Then I remembered that I didn’t even have a phone to check email or surf the web on anyway. Still, I hadn’t even seen a television. What were we going to do alone here together for who knows how long?

  “I’m starving,” I said without letting my brain answer that question.

  Cade eyes remained on the newspaper. “There’s soup in the far left cabinet.”

  I nodded even though I wasn’t a big fan of canned soup. It would work for now. “Want some?”

  “Sure,” Cade shrugged.

  I walked over to the kitchen cabinet and pulled out two cans of hearty soup. I found a pan in one of the other cabinets. I popped opened the cans, poured the soup in a pan, and started cooking. As I watched it cook, I relaxed a little. This finally felt normal. It was simple. Then I remembered that I was preparing a meal for two. I didn’t usually do that. I took the soup off of the stove and poured it into two bowls. Moments later, I put a steaming bowl down in front of Cade and sat across from him with my own.

  He put the paper down. “Smells great.”

  “Thanks,” I said, digging into the soup.

  We ate in silence for a moment.

  “So, what are you reading?” I asked.

  “The newspaper,” Cade said.

  I frowned at him. “I got that, but any interesting articles?”

  Cade smiled. “There’s one about mummy DNA.”

  “Are you seriously reading an article about mummies right now?” I felt dumbfounded. I didn’t even want to think about anything supernatural ever again.

  “Actually, yeah.”

  I stared at him.

  “What? I like medical stories and genetics is fascinating.”

  I blinked at him and quickly realized that he meant real mummies. The dead ones that stayed dead. I really, really hoped they didn’t actually come back to life. I didn’t need more to worry about.

  “What do you do?” I asked, wanting to change the subject.

  “Do?”

  “Like for a job? When you’re not…kidnapping maidens in distress?”

  Cade smiled. “I’m a lawyer.”

  I stared at him again. “You can’t be serious.”

  “You don’t know that much about me.”

  “You’re really a lawyer and you kidnapped me?” I asked.

  Cade shrugged. “I was pretty sure you’d realize that I was trying to help you.”

  “And what if I’d had you arrested?”

  “I’d have been able to defend myself.”

  “Are you a criminal lawyer?” I asked.

  “No. I work in intellectual property. I deal with copyrights, patents…” Cade went on, but I tuned out.

  That sounded as boring as accounting did to most people. He was completely different than the person I’d guessed him to be. From just looking at him I would have guessed he worked construction, but maybe he just liked to work out and spend time outside.

  “…and your eyes just glazed over,” Cade said.

  “Sorry.”

  “So, you’re finally ready to talk?” Cade asked.

  “I’m here, aren’t I?”

  “Yeah, but I wasn’t sure.”

  “I’m ready,” I said firmly.

  Cade watched me for a moment.

  “What?”

  “Nothing. I’m curious what changed your mind, but I don’t want to jinx this sudden cooperation. It took you long enough.”

  I frowned at him. “Do you know how crazy your story sounds? Did you hear yourself tell me that vampires were after me and that you had to save me? Need I mention
that you showed up on my doorstep before dawn and that you’re a stranger?”

  Cade smiled. “Okay. It does sound farfetched…and creepy. I’ll admit that, but I am deadly serious.”

  “I know,” I felt suddenly somber.

  “Good. I’m glad it finally sunk in,” Cade said.

  “So, I have some more questions.”

  “Okay. I’ll try and answer them, but I really don’t know anything more than what I’ve told you.”

  “Well, at least tell me this. Why are you here? I mean, are you a witch too?”

  Cade stopped eating and looked at me. “I’m not a witch.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  Cade thought for a moment. “Your Grandmother saved my life. I’m returning the favor by saving yours.”

  I leaned forward. “You said that before, but how did she save your life?”

  Cade put his spoon down. “It’s a long story.”

  “It’s not like we don’t have time.”

  Cade smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Another time. It’s not a story I like to tell.”

  I paused. “Why not?”

  “It’s very personal.”

  I decided not to press it yet. “Okay, so you owe my grandmother, but how exactly are you going to protect me?”

  “The hope is that we are never found.”

  “Alright. So, you just supply this cabin in the woods?”

  Cade paused before answering. “Yes.”

  There was something he wasn’t telling me. I stared at him. He looked back at me.

  Then something slammed hard into the wall of the living room. Cade and I froze, our gazes still locked, but now in surprise. Now, there was only silence. Was that inside or outside? What had made that noise? Cade reacted first and came over to me, pulling me off my chair and dragging me toward the broom closet.

  “If I tell you to run, do it. For now, I need you to hide,” Cade said.

  “From a vampire?” I couldn’t help but think that no human could outrun a vampire.

  “Don’t argue,” Cade opened the closet door and pushed me inside.

  “I’d rather stay with you,” I walked out of the closet. “This won’t keep me safe.”

  “It will, if he isn’t sure you’re here.”

  I stood my ground. “If he’s actually here, he knows I’m here too.”

  “Stay in the closet,” Cade growled. “And don’t move unless I tell you to.”

  I hesitated. “No. I’m going with you.”

  “No, you’re staying…” Cade reached out to put a hand on my shoulder to push me back into the closet.

  I ignored the fire that shot through me at his touch even as my insides went wild. Instead, I ducked under his arm, walking swiftly toward the living room. Cade ran after me. We both stopped in the doorway. There was nobody in the living room and nothing looked damaged. I glanced at the windows, but none were open or even cracked.

  “Do you think it was just some animal?” I asked. “Are there bears around here or mountain lions?”

  Cade didn’t say anything. His eyes were on the door. He moved toward it.

  I followed him, trying to see what he might be sensing, but it looked secure enough. Cade stopped just in front of it. I reached for the doorknob.

  “Wait,” Cade turned to look at me. “Please, just listen to me. At the very least stand in back of me right now, okay?”

  I moved behind him.

  “Thank you.”

  Cade reached to open the door.

  “Are you sure you should open that?” I asked.

  Cade turned to look at me, frowning. “Weren’t you just about to? Besides, I doubt that a door is enough to stop a vampire from getting in.”

  “Wait.”

  “What now?” Cade asked.

  “A door is enough to stop a vampire.”

  “What?”

  “A vampire needs to be invited in,” I said.

  “In movies, maybe.”

  I stopped. Cade was right. I couldn’t be sure. A real vampire might be able to do whatever he or she wanted. I didn’t know the rules and sadly, neither did Cade. That put us at a big disadvantage.

  Cade turned and opened the door. There lying splayed out on the doorstep was a dead deer. Blood and flesh dented the outside of the door where it had hit.

  Cade looked out over the yard in front of us. Woods surrounded the cabin, but there was a bare stretch of yard just in front of us. I couldn’t take my eyes off of the deer. It’s glazed and open eyes seemed to stare into mine. They seemed to be saying: Death is coming.

  “Do you think it just accidentally ran into the door or something?” I asked as a tendril of fear curled itself in my stomach.

  Cade shut the door and locked it before he answered me. “No. I think this is our warning. He’s here and he’s coming for you.”

  Chapter Four

  I stared at Cade. “But why? Why wouldn’t he just come in and kill me?”

  Cade looked at me, but paused for a second before he answered. “I don’t know.”

  There was something untrue about his answer, but my brain was too busy freaking out. There had to be a more rational reason for the deer than that the vampire had already found us. What was the point of escaping to Big Sur then? I could have stayed home and been attacked by a vampire amidst all of my own stuff.

  “Well, I think that the deer just ran at the door and…collapsed,” I said.

  Cade’s eyes met mine. “It was drained of blood.”

  “What? How do you know that? I saw blood on the door and…”

  “That was skin,” Cade said flatly.

  I gulped, feeling nauseous. I had to think. “Okay. Well, we need to be logical. Do you have stakes? Or maybe we can make some. What about garlic? Or even soup with garlic? Maybe that would burn him just the same. And then I think we can bless water and make it holy ourselves, right? Or do we need a priest?”

  “Slow down.”

  “There’s a vampire out in the woods waiting to kill me. I’m a rational person, but come on. We need to do anything, but slow down. I can’t believe we just sat at your kitchen table and ate canned soup. What were we thinking? We should have been barricading doors and making stakes and…”

  “Yes, but first I have to tell you something. Then we can carve stakes if it makes you feel better,” Cade said.

  “It would. And the soup cans. Unless you do have garlic…”

  Cade gave me a look. “I don’t randomly have garlic just sitting around. I’m a takeout and microwave dinner kind of a guy if you can’t tell.”

  That made sense from the empty state of his kitchen cupboards, although I had supposed that maybe he just didn’t use this cabin all that often.

  Cade continued. “Anyway, just listen. Your grandmother gave me something before I left to get you. Maybe it can help.”

  “Why didn’t you mention this before?”

  Cade met my eyes. “You were having a hard time believing me. I thought you might find this even harder to take. Besides, the hope was that we wouldn’t need this. It was supposed to be just an extra precaution.”

  What did that mean? I watched as Cade pulled a piece of folded paper and a pink rock out of his pocket. I wasn’t exactly sure what good those two things would do, but I reached for both items anyway. My hand brushed Cade’s and a now familiar tingle of electricity shot up my arm. What was it about him that affected me like that? This was so not the time for romance.

  I ignored it and looked at the objects in my hand instead. The paper was torn from a book, it’s edges rough on one side. The rock was actually a translucent pink quartz stone. It was sort of pretty and reminded me of the stone that was set into my necklace at home. Was that a coincidence? Had my grandmother tried to protect my mother with that necklace and failed?

  I opened up the folded paper, hands shaking. I looked at it once and then reread it again. I read it a third time, but I really wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do with it.


  “It’s a spell,” I looked back up at Cade.

  “Can you do it?” Cade asked, leaning toward me.

  “I’m not a witch.”

  Cade nodded slowly. “Your Grandmother told me that.”

  “Then why did she give this to me?” I asked.

  Cade touched my shoulder and tingles of electricity and warmth shot through me.

  “What?” I managed, turning toward him.

  His hand fell away and he looked a little uncomfortable. “Well, let me clarify. She said that you weren’t a witch yet, but she said it was in your blood.”

  “Huh?”

  “You can do the spell,” Cade’s eyes met mine.

  “I can do the spell?” I stared back at him, but my mind went a little numb as it sank in.

  “Yes,” Cade said.

  I frowned and looked down at the paper again. It was a spell for something called a Witch’s Bottle. Along the side my grandmother had written that it was a spell to protect oneself or a loved one from malicious entities. Skimming it, it didn’t look that complicated. It read just like following a recipe. It mostly seemed like you needed to mix together the right ingredients and read a short phrase. That couldn’t be it, though. You needed magic. You had to actually be a witch. I had no idea how to be one.

  I caught myself. What was I doing? Was I really thinking of preparing a spell? I sighed. I wasn’t a witch. It really boiled down to that simple fact. Normal women didn’t do magic spells.

  But my grandmother was a witch and she’d told Cade that it was in my blood. They both thought I could do a spell. Could genetics alone make me a witch? My mind had a hard time wrapping itself around that idea. I was just me. I was normal.

  I took another deep breath and continued to think. Let’s say I believed in the genetic lineage of witches. Besides making me wonder if my mother had ever been one, did performing one spell mean that I would be officially transforming myself into a witch? I didn’t want to do that. Once this was over, I wanted it all to be done.

  I sighed.

  “I know,” Cade said.

  I frowned at him. “How can you know? You’re not a witch.”

  Cade hesitated. “No, but I’ve had hard decisions to make.”