Fangs And Fame

by Heather Jensen

  The fans erupted with enthusiasm to my statement.

  “Team Zombie!” Chase shouted in his mic, which encouraged the fans to begin chanting ‘Team Zombie!’ over and over. Chase folded his arms over his chest, grinning at Stanislav with that cocky smile he’s so good at.

  “This isn’t over,” Stanislav insisted.

  “Oh, I’m pretty sure it is,” I retorted. “Now get off my stage.”

  He turned on his heel, but I knew he meant what he said. He’d be waiting backstage to finish what he’d started. Right now what mattered was clearing out the venue so the fans wouldn’t become collateral damage if things went wrong. Aurora stood in a defensive position just a few feet away, her eye on the hidden area off stage as the guys and I tried to look as happy as possible. We stood together one last time in the middle of the stage. I raised my microphone and said, “We hope you enjoyed the show, and the theatrics afterward.” I paused briefly to allow for the screams and whistling. “You guys have been the most amazing crowd. I know we had to postpone on you before, but hopefully we’ve made it up to you tonight. Please be safe while you’re traveling home. We love you all. Good night.” With that, the guys followed me as I caught up to Aurora and we made our way off the stage and down the short set of stairs. Stanislav and two members of his crony fan club were waiting, just as I’d suspected. Stanislav looked different. There was a new level of crazy in his eyes, like he’d come completely unhinged. I could only assume that wouldn’t bode well for us.

  He clapped five or six times, one eyebrow arched. “Well played,” he said when he’d finished the awkward clapping. “You’re more adept at influencing your humans than even I believed. The sad truth of it is that we really would have been great together. I see now that you’re never going to understand.... It’s my fault, really. I should have known that you were too young to see the big picture. Vampires have been oppressed for far too long, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let ungrateful children, such as yourselves, ruin our chances of rising to power.”

  Chapter 64

  Aurora

  “YOUR ARROGANCE IS ASTOUNDING,” Stanislav said, and I was surprised that he was directing most of his vehemence toward Trey. He had to have truly believed that Trey would be on board with his plan, so much so, that the whole thing was falling apart because of our refusal to come forward with him. I seriously doubted – and even more seriously hoped – that there wasn’t a Plan B. “You’re not acting the hero by preventing this,” Stanislav continued. “It’s in all our best interest to come forward. I’m not alone in my desire to do so. There are many who support my cause. You might be surprised to find one among you at this very moment. Isn’t that right, Beck?” Beck stumbled out of the shadows just then, and one of Stanislav’s vampires walked out behind him. Beck, feeling all our eyes on him, took a quick step back and shook his head. But there was no mistaking the deer-in-the-headlights look he wore. “Go on, son,” Stanislav urged, nodding to Beck.

  Beck ignored him, looking to Trey and I. “I’m sorry,” he pleaded. “I know it’s crazy. It would never work, but for a minute I thought if humans knew about us -maybe if they were okay with us- I might be able to go home again. I’m sorry.” Stanislav had gotten to him. I didn’t know how or when it had happened, but he’d played on Beck’s emotions to win him over. “I should have known better than to listen to anything you said,” Beck added, speaking to Stanislav now. “You’re responsible for this mess I’m in.”

  “I did you a favor, son” Stanislav quipped.

  “Some favor,” Beck retorted. “And don’t call me son.”

  “You fledglings have turned out to be more trouble than you were ever worth,” Stanislav groaned.

  “If you hadn’t done this to me I’d probably be graduating from college right now and celebrating with my girlfriend,” Beck said, growing braver with every word. “This is all your fault. I won’t forget that again.”

  Beck had given in to his desire to be normal in a weak moment, but he was fighting for us right now. That was good enough for me. The impressed glint in Trey’s eyes made it clear that his feelings mirrored my own.

  This had to end.

  Now.

  “You forget your place,” Stanislav said. His voice was dangerously calm. His next move was so quick and fluid it came off as a wave of energy that sent Beck sailing across the room where he collided with Jonas and Chase, just missing O’Shea. The three of them buckled to the concrete floor as I heard a sickening crack. Trey and Mark moved as fast as lightning to help them, and I turned to face Stanislav, taking a predatory stance in an effort to protect my friends. Beck was the first to scramble to his feet, and Chase was moaning as he shook his head to clear it. Jonas was at the bottom of the dog-pile. He cried out and cradled his arm, which was clearly broken, bent just below the elbow.

  “Try not to move,” Trey was saying to Jonas. He shot a desperate glance in my direction.

  “See?” Stanislav was saying as he watched us with mild amusement. “So concerned for the humans. They’re your Achilles heel and will be your downfall in the end if you do not heed my words.”

  I was watching the Synod Elder closely, but I wasn’t about to fuel the fire by responding to his lecture.

  “I’m sorry,” Beck said again, speaking to Jonas this time. “I never meant … ” His voice trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. “He didn’t do anything to deserve that,” he said to Stanislav.

  “Casualties cannot be completely avoided,” Stanislav said slowly without taking his eyes off of the scene playing out before him.

  Mark kept his communication silent, mostly to prevent Jonas from panicking. I believe it’s a clean break. I can set the bone, but-

  Do it, I thought back.

  He hesitated briefly and then nodded. Trey’s jaw clenched with determination as he realized he was going to have to hold Jonas down while Mark set the bone.

  “I’ll say one thing for your precious humans. They can usually be counted on to provide great entertainment,” Stanislav added as a side note. “Especially the ones you surround yourselves with.”

  Chase had recovered enough from the collision to kneel down next to Mark and Trey and get a good look at Jonas’s arm. I heard him swear under his breath before O’Shea elbowed him and mouthed ‘Help us hold him.’

  Chase gulped and nodded back, moving to kneel behind Jonas. “Hey buddy,” he said. “You can lean on me, okay? I’m right here.” Chase put his hands on Jonas’s shoulders.

  Jonas winced in pain as Mark positioned himself. I cast my eyes around to Stanislav again, not daring to look away from him for long. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. I heard Mark’s silent countdown, and even though I knew what came after the number three, I wasn’t fully prepared for the sound that came out of Jonas as Mark lined up the bone in his arm again. I glanced behind me long enough to see Jonas’s face drain of all color and his head slump onto Chase’s shoulder. I was grateful he’d passed out.

  “Got it,” Mark said, gingerly holding Jonas’s arm still.

  For a split second, I was torn between my desire to help Jonas and my need to focus on Stanislav to prevent anyone else getting hurt. I reacted by calling upon the power to heal and willing it to go to Jonas. I stretched my hand out toward him, and in one swift movement green and blue sparks sizzled out of my fingertips and shot in Jonas’s direction. Trey was kneeling next to Jonas, and his head shot up in surprise as the sparks hovered in front of him. He glanced at me briefly, just long enough to realize what I was doing as the sparks settled onto Jonas’s arm. They sank beneath the surface of his skin and his whole arm lit up, exactly like I’d expected it to. The light ebbed and faded completely.

  When it was over I immediately turned my attention back to Stanislav. The Synod Elder was eying me, his expression a mixture of awe and loathing. And just like that something shifted inside of him. I felt it happen, though I could never explain how I sensed it. He smiled then, and I was confused for a seco
nd, because that seemed the complete opposite of the reaction I was expecting from him. He moved so fast that even I had a hard time following with my eyes. It was speed that could only come with being as old as he was, and he had Beck in front of him before I could do anything to stop him. His fangs sang into Beck’s throat. I’ve never seen anything like it, but I could hear the blood being pulled from Beck’s body into Stanislav’s mouth. He was literally sucking the life out of him faster than I would have thought possible. I rushed at him, not sure how I would safely pry Beck from his grasp once I got there, but Stanislav dropped Beck, pale, and limp, and lifeless as I reached him just in time to break his fall. I gently laid Beck down on the ground, convinced for a second that he was already dead. From the corner of my eye, I saw Stanislav wipe his mouth clean of Beck’s blood with a handkerchief from his suit pocket, grinning in satisfaction.

  “Is he alive?” Mark asked, and I glanced up long enough to see that Trey was holding onto Jonas now, and Mark was coming toward Stanislav and I.

  “He’s alive,” I assured him. “Barely.” Mark kneeled next to me and I got to my feet to face Stanislav. “What are you doing?”

  “You’ve failed me, Aurora,” he said matter-of-factly. “You’re even more magnificent than I anticipated, and it breaks my heart. I had sincerely hoped we could work together, but now I’m afraid you’ve lost your chance to be on the winning side. Perhaps Beck here will be the one to usher in this new era with me. He’s not as strong-willed as you. I’ve helped him to see my side of things before. I can do it again.”

  “He’s dying!” I insisted. “You drained him.”

  “You were dying when you ingested my blood,” he said, as if that explained everything. “That’s what I’ve been missing. I don’t know how I didn’t see it sooner.” Then he bit his own wrist, and knelt down. Mark didn’t stop him, but looked up at me in confusion as Stanislav let his own blood run into Beck’s mouth. When the Synod Elder was satisfied that Beck had had enough, he healed his wrist and stood back, waiting.

  “This is crazy,” I said. “I don’t know what you think you’re sensing in me since I took your blood, but you can’t just go around draining vampires to the point of death in an attempt to make your own personal army.” Beck still hadn’t moved, and his heartbeat was faint and sluggish at best.

  Mark’s thoughts resonated loud and clear in my head. It took time for Stanislav’s blood to heal you, he was thinking, knowing I would hear. We’re in a bit of a situation here. We don’t have all day.

  I couldn’t have agreed more. I dropped to my knees and called the healing sparks out again. Stanislav looked like me might try to stop me, but then his own curiosity got the best of him, and he hesitated. That was all the time I needed to send the power to Beck and watch the sparks sink into him and light him up, just like they had done to O’Shea, and Trey before him. Stanislav had seen me heal Jonas’s arm, but he had no idea what I was capable of. I was confident that I could heal Beck, but was really boosted my confidence was a familiar hum of power I recognized in the vicinity. Stanislav was frozen in anticipation, too preoccupied to sense what I was sensing as light emanated from Beck’s form and then faded completely just before he opened his eyes.

  “Beck?” Stanislav called out to him. “My son….”

  Beck shot a look of disgust at the Synod Elder as Mark helped him sit up. “Stop calling me that,” he said. “We’re not family.”

  “I am,” said a girl’s voice from across the room.

  I looked over my shoulder to see Malena and Tytus standing there, and just as I expected, they weren’t alone. The girl standing with them was fifteen, maybe sixteen-years-old. She had short blonde hair, layered to frame her face. Her bone structure alone would have been enough to convince me, even if I hadn’t known exactly who she was.

  “It’s me,” she said, speaking directly to Stanislav. “It’s Angelica.”

  I cast my eyes back toward Stanislav to see his reaction to the girl’s sudden appearance, and what I saw in his eyes surprised me.

  “This woman who came to find me claims that you’re my grandfather, and that you’ve been looking for me,” the girl continued.

  “It’s you,” Stanislav said, his voice just above a whisper. He took a few steps toward the girl and she met him halfway, offering a hand out to him when he reached her. He held her hand delicately, studying her face with an expression that can only be described as pure, unadulterated love. “You look just like her,” he said softly, reaching up to touch her chin. “You look just like my Camelia.”

  Chapter 65

  Aurora

  “I HATE TO INTERUPT this heartfelt reunion,” said a voice in the shadows. Dalek Vang and Bylun Falck stepped forward, followed by Damir. I nodded at Damir, and he returned the gesture. He’d come through on his end of the deal, and just in time. I’d never been happier to see his face. He was watching Angelica, and I thought I saw a glint of hope behind his eyes. He hadn’t really dared to believe it until now; that he might actually still have family in the world. A niece. A part of the brother he had loved so dearly and lost tragically.

  “I….” Stanislav was now apparently incapable of forming words as he gazed at his fellow Synod Elders. “Gentlemen,” he managed. “I can explain. I assure you.”

  “I think we’ve heard quite enough from you, old friend,” Dalek said sadly. “The charade is up, so the saying goes.”

  Bylun just stood there, looking wounded. I imagined he was still processing the depth of Stanislav’s betrayal.

  I felt Trey’s hand grip mine, and I glanced over to see that O’Shea and Chase were still sitting with Jonas, who was awake now and seemed to be doing okay. The three of them were watching with wide eyes as the scene before us played out.

  “What will you do with me?” Stanislav asked, letting go of Angelica’s hand for the first time.

  “House arrest seems a good place to start,” Dalek answered. “You’ll be confined to your vineyard while the process of revoking your membership in the Synod is underway.”

  “You think you can strip me of my place in the Synod?” Stanislav said, his face betraying the anger he was trying to suppress.

  “We can, and we will,” Bylun declared, speaking up at last. “The Synod Elders of the surrounding states will be waiting for us when we return to Florida to help us select your replacement.”

  “But, it’s never been done.” Stanislav looked like he half expected someone to announce that they were playing a cruel joke on him.

  “Never before has a Synod Elder attempted to betray his own kind by starting a movement such as you’ve done,” Dalek added. “You’ll be tried for your crimes by a group impartial Synod Elders. You would benefit greatly from admitting your wrong and accepting whatever fate lies before you.”

  Stanislav stared at the ground, refusing to meet Dalek in the eyes.

  “And you two,” Bylun said, taking a step toward Trey and I. “You’re more trouble than any hundred vampires combined.” I wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so I didn’t.

  “Fortunately we arrived in time to witness the excitement on the stage,” Dalek added. “Despite your talent for trouble, you seemed fully committed to keeping our secret safe.”

  Trey nodded resolutely. “Yes, sir.”

  “And what about the humans?” Bylun interjected. “What guarantee do we have that they won’t expose us?”

  “Mine,” Trey said quickly. Both Elders gazed at him expectantly, and he continued. “You have my guarantee. My job puts in me a position of influence, which is what got us into this entire mess,” he said, casting a glance at Stanislav. “These men are my brothers,” he added, gesturing toward O’Shea, Jonas and Chase. The three of them got to their feet, leaving Mark and Beck, and coming to stand by us while Trey went on. “I promise you they are nothing but supportive of Aurora and me.”

  “What is your moon-given talent?” Bylun asked him. “Has it manifested?”

  “Yes, but it’s hard to e
xplain,” Trey said, causing Bylun to frown. “It might be easier for you to see for yourself.”

  He was offering to let the Synod Elder inside his head. It was a bold move. I’d had the privilege of letting an Elder dig around in my brain once, and it was something I hoped to avoid completely in the future. Bylun stepped right up to Trey at his invitation, and I felt Trey take a breath and let it out slowly, lowering his mental defenses.

  It was over in the space of a minute, but Trey’s eyes went out of focus, and he had to shake his head to clear it when Bylun finally released his mind.

  “The human is more influential than one might guess,” Bylun admitted, stepping back. “It could work to our advantage to let him continue on like he is.”

  Then he turned to look right at me. He’d seen me healing Jonas, and Beck. He knew about my sparks, for lack of a better way to describe it. I half expected him to interrogate me about my abilities, but instead he turned suddenly and made his way over to Dalek.

  “Then it is decided,” Dalek said simply, like our fate hadn’t just hung in the balance.

  “What about me?” Angelica asked brazenly, and I wondered just how much Malena and Tytus had told her about the family she was coming to meet. She was either clueless about the fact that she was outnumbered by vampires, or courageous beyond her years. “I came all this way to meet the family I never had just to find out he’s a criminal? I don’t want to go back into Foster-”

  “You still have family,” Damir interrupted her, stepping forward. She studied him, but didn’t back away when he approached her. “My name is Damir,” he told her gently. “Your father was my brother, and my best friend in the entire world. His name was Arron.”

  Angelica’s expression softened as he spoke, and she leaned in unconsciously. “Arron,” she said softly, trying the name out on her tongue.

  Damir smiled at her and said, “I know something about feeling lost and alone. I’m sorry I didn’t know, that I didn’t find you sooner. I’ll never forgive myself for that. I should have-”