Against her mouth he chuckled, unintentionally giving her a dose of his magical breath though it didn’t knock her out any longer. “Seems I’m a bit ticklish there,” he said.
Pulling away, Ethan dropped his forehead against hers and matched their gazes. For another moment she was lost in a sea of blue—the current there pulling her to his very soul. This was home, she mused, as she felt a smile of contentment overtake her mouth, completely forgetting her previous worries.
Turning his face away, Ethan said, “There now, take what you need.”
With her vision now filled with his throat, Danielle’s fingers left his shoulder and rose to his exposed flesh. The tips moved along the pulse-less vein just visible beneath. The sight alone caused her fangs to slide out, bumping against the inside of her bottom lip. She moved her fingers out of the way. Her lips parted and her tongue reached for him.
Again, Ethan shuddered beneath her hands as her fangs sank into him finding the blood they sought. Just as his soul had filled her sight a moment ago, his energy, his essence rushed into her. Unwilling to truly admit it, Danielle shoved back the idea that she might actually miss this if or when they were able to turn back into mortals.
Snuggling closer to Ethan, her spine lifted from the tree as she consumed Ethan in a way she’d never thought possible ... until his fingers tightened in her hair and he forced her loose. “Ravenous little thing, aren’t you?” he muttered while stroking his fingers down her back, returning upward to next run his palm over her hair.
“I’m sorry,” she said, shuddering at the feeling of her fangs retracting after leaving his flesh. Her tongue went out to catch a drop of blood that dripped onto her lip and she frowned at how good it tasted. Heavy guilt shattered any comfort she’d just received and settled into her stomach and heart like a lump of poisonous fruit. She shouldn’t be enjoying this, savoring this ... it was so wrong to make Ethan, her love, suffer—
His gaze was on her mouth as she gathered another spot of blood she’d missed. The smile fell from his expression when his eyes lifted. “Don’t you dare regret that,” Ethan said, his tone stern while he pushed away a telling tear on her cheek. “I like it too much.”
“You do?” No way! She’d felt his body quake. Hadn’t that been in repulsion?
“I’ll not deny it’s sort of sexy in a way.”
“You’re lying.”
“I swear I’m not, Danielle.” Again his mouth touched hers. “You’ll never feed from another. Promise me...”
“How could I ever—but what about you?” She presented her neck. “Feed from me, it’s only fair.”
“No, you need your strength.”
“But!”
He stepped back, releasing her almost as though she’d stung him. With her words? “We cannot afford to have you weakened like that.” His British accent had thickened along with his old-fashioned cadence.
Dropping back against the tree for support she likely needed more emotionally than physically, she asked, “Why? What are you expecting? Will Benjamin fight us?”
Ethan’s gaze shifted and she knew he was watching as the others fed on animals. With his eyes meeting hers again, he said, “No. I don’t think Benjamin will give us much trouble.”
“But he might not like this cure either.”
“As the first vampire, he would have a better understanding of this curse than most, and therefore know that it would have to be his choice to break it. I doubt he’ll care if it’s something we want.”
“How can you know that?”
“Beon met a vampire who knew him, or rather, the man he accidentally turned. This man didn’t exactly regret how things turned out. He said Benjamin was hurt by Lilith’s actions, but has actually enjoyed what he is now too, taking comfort in knowing that his happiness gives him an unexpected victory over Lilith.”
“But I thought he was considered dangerous.”
“I’m certain he is,” Ethan said, returning to stand just inches in front of her.
Silenced by kisses that first landed on her mouth before moving to her forehead, she frowned, knowing it probably looked more like a pout. Ethan again stepped back with a low laugh.
“It’s my turn to feed, darling, and it will not be on that lovely neck of yours.” Without another word, he turned and dashed off to the right, the darkness swallowing up his shape as he moved further away, but she still heard his whispered, “Wait for me...”
* * * * *
Thicker woods closed in around them as her boots landed on the soft cushion of earth strewn with pine needles and leaves. Running through this forest as they were, she still noticed there were no signs of civilization here, and Danielle doubted even campers would venture out this far. Partly because they never passed any abandoned campsites as they had before. But also ... partly because she sensed something ... different, though she couldn’t explain what that was.
Of course this forest was beautiful and the refreshing smells of pine and wood filled her nose. The night sky was a clear blackish-blue dotted with some of the brightest stars she’d ever seen. But even with the lush greenery shifting past her vision, that thing she sensed before poisoned it, and she felt more secluded than ever. A chill sank inside her heart and touched her soul. Tightening the sash on her suede coat, Danielle wondered about Benjamin aloud, “Why would he want to live out here like this? Without power? Without heat? Without anything?”
“Yeah, I’m fond of my electronics,” Ethan said, leaping with ease over a ten-foot high boulder. He bent his knees and tucked his legs closer as he cleared the stone.
Danielle followed. It was weird to do that, to leap over something so solid and big. But her body did it. She cringed however, when her foot landed near a snake. Of course it never had time to strike out if she’d startled it, but it still caused shivers to ride up the length of her spine. While this place was lovely and untouched by man, the creatures living here still gave her the creeps.
“He could have a generator,” said Max, moving like a wraith to her left.
“We’ll soon find out,” said Seth. Danielle sensed eagerness in his tone, like he was curious.
Not admitting it vocally, she knew she was a bit curious too. What did Benjamin look like? How did he dress? What did he do with his time?
“There,” Beon whispered. He was pointing to the northeast. There did appear to be a structure on the edge of a cliff halfway up the side of a mountain. It was well hidden by trees and a rocky overhang. The satellites would never be able to pick it up, but with her heightened sight she could see a faint reflection from what appeared to be glass.
“It’s dark. What if he’s not home?” Danielle asked. He certainly could be out hunting ... killing.
“I may not be inside, but I am close by,” came a voice she didn’t recognize. The words, though spoken in English, were thick with a Russian or Romanian accent. Or perhaps it was more a mix of the two.
She and the others came to a sudden stop, kicking up a folly of forest debris. A breeze caught at her hair and clothes as she searched for this man they’d come so far to meet. But all she could see was everyone belonging to the Order.
“Benjamin, we need your help,” began Beon, also scanning the surrounding area.
“Who are these people, darling?” came a woman’s voice. She had a similar accent to the man.
“Guests, I suppose,” replied the man.
Chuckling, the sound was dark, almost evil, the woman said, “Shall I make tea?”
Danielle heard their footfalls ahead. Of course she wondered if they could be just returning from feeding. Strolling and holding hands, a man and a woman entered the clearing from the woods on the west side. “How did you find me?” Benjamin asked of Beon who stood with Seth close by his side.
“We tracked rumors and stories told in the area.”
Seth added, “It was a lucky guess, really.”
“Clever, and very lucky,” agreed Benjamin.
The black-haired woman at his sid
e had a youthful face, while Benjamin appeared much older. She wouldn’t say he looked elderly, just like he’d been living for a very long time. His dark hair was not streaked with gray and his face was without wrinkles, but something old was reflected back in wisdom-filled eyes of gray that seemed to see everything.
Danielle remembered hearing about the woman now. The woman Benjamin had chosen and turned so he’d have companionship. The action having been clear rebellion against Lilith who’d meant for him to be alone. Did this relationship force him to hide from Lilith in this way? Is that why he chooses to live in such total seclusion?
Suddenly the woman was in her face, her eyes roving over Danielle’s features and clothes with bald curiosity. “You’re the only woman amongst these men. Why?” The female vampire’s eyes were a blackish-brown. Dressed in black trousers and a ruffled black cardigan, the woman circled Danielle, touching her hair, breathing in her scent even.
Apparently Ethan didn’t like it because the next thing she knew she was being jerked around behind his back as he took on a threatening stance.
The woman’s head flew back as she laughed. “How charming. Benjamin, she belongs to this one.”
By now they’d all gathered around, and tension settled around them like a thick net of heavy fog. Instinctively, Danielle clung to Ethan and his fingers encircling her wrist tightened. A silent warning to be quiet she figured. That was completely fine with her.
“This is Heleways, my wife, and who might the rest of you be?” asked Benjamin. It was sort of strange how he seemed less threatening than his bride. The leather of his black jacket made a rustling sound as he moved to place an arm around Heleways. Strangely, his touch seemed to make her haughtiness deflate a little.
“I’m Beon. This is Seth, Maximilian, Cedric and the rest of our Order. These two are Ethan and Danielle.”
“What Order is this?”
Beon stood taller as his spine stiffened. “We call it the Order of the Curse-Bound Nights.”
“What is your purpose?”
“We rebel against what the curse makes us.”
One of Benjamin’s eyebrows lifted before his mouth curved with a grin. “So it’s true then, the rumors I’ve been hearing? Someone has solved Lil’s riddle?”
“I did,” said Ethan.
Rubbing the thick beard on his chin with long fingers making a rasping sound, Benjamin said, “Tell me,” as his eyebrows rose with his gaze, while he appeared to study Ethan more closely.
“‘The one who gives himself to humanity will find the cure to the curse,’” began Ethan by reiterating the prophecy. “I was extremely weak with thirst and instead of biting ... a mortal, I allowed them to bite me instead.” Ethan tugged Danielle closer to his back, her hands landed on his waist because the movement had been so sudden. She didn’t want it to look like she was trying to hide behind him, so she moved slightly to the left, making herself more visible even though she liked Ethan’s protectiveness.
“You’re not mortal,” argued Heleways.
“I was.” Ethan then explained the theories they had as to why this had worked.
“Danielle was the mortal,” Benjamin said, his gray eyes sparkling with understanding, but he frowned and asked, “Why is she too a vampire now?”
“She was stabbed,” Ethan said. “I turned her to save her.”
“We lost our baby,” Danielle whispered.
Danielle was surprised to see it, but compassion filled both of their expressions. “Who did this and why?” demanded Benjamin, folding his arms over his broad chest. Heleways looked like she might actually cry, her gaze turning glossy.
“Our enemies,” responded Beon. “Enemies of our Order. Many are not pleased about this cure.”
“Ah,” said Benjamin, “And that is why you’re here. You want my aid.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry to say there isn’t anything I can do for you. I’d like to maintain my ... seclusion, if you don’t mind.”
“We only need your help in finding Lilith,” said Seth, moving forward, his heavy boots crunching dried leaves and twigs as he stepped.
Narrowed gray eyes shot to Seth, “That witch won’t help you.”
“We need to ask her. We need to try.”
Benjamin bellowed with a loud guffaw at that. “Do all of you really wish to be mortal? Weak?”
“Some of us do, but not all of us. We want immortals to have a choice.”
“Hmm, I see.” The First Vampire dropped a hand to his hip. He appeared to be thinking as a cunning twinkle sparkled in his gaze. “I suppose it’s worth a try. She lives in Romania, or did when I left her. Granted, that was centuries ago.” Turning his gaze to Beon, he asked, “Do you have one of these GPS gadgets I’ve heard about?”
“Yes.” Beon pulled it from his satchel and held it out to Benjamin.
The old vampire emitted a low chuckle and held up his hand, palm forward. “I don’t know how to use that thing, just enter these coordinates.” He then rattled off a few numbers which Danielle figured were longitude and latitude. Beon typed them into the device.
“Well then,” Benjamin bowed sweeping his arm to the side. As he swung upright, he said, “I’ll be returning home now. But don’t share my location with anyone else or I will have to hunt you all down. I do know how to kill immortals, you won’t escape me.”
“Thank you,” Seth, Ethan and Beon said in unison.
Chapter 23
Queen of the Damned
“She is not Queen of the Damned. Queen of Sorcery is probably more like it,” said Max with laughter rumbling under his breath. He was responding to Cedric’s joke about their current destination.
Beon led the way, his gaze fixed on the GPS in his hand. Blue light glowed from the small screen casting an almost eerie set of shadows to dance on his downturned face.
More than one of them chuckled at Max’s words as they moved along a darkened road in Romania, following Beon. Danielle tugged her hood closer around her face because it had slipped back a little. The fur trim around the edge tickled her cheeks. This street was dark but not unpopulated and she wondered what their group of hooded strangers looked like as they walked.
“I do hope she is not the queen, else we may all end up hopping our way back to England,” said Merrick.
This was followed by more laughter.
But as the sounds of laughing died out, Danielle felt the sounds and smells of night close in around her senses. This was something she hadn’t experienced yet and she swiftly understood why Beon kept Sophia from it. Of course she’d spent one night in the woods, but heightened awareness was near torture with mortals in close proximity.
Off in the distance a dog growled, the sound of it caused a trickle of other dogs to respond in a similar manner. Some of them barked out almost viciously while others howled long and low like wolves. Or perhaps they were wolves.... Her gaze swung to the moon shining above them as drifting clouds obscured part of it from view. A relieved breath left her lungs when she saw that it wasn’t full yet. At least they wouldn’t have that problem again tonight.
A baby cried next, reminding her of the one she lost. She shoved the sadness aside as it pinched her heart. After adjusting her hood another time, Danielle unzipped her pockets and shoved her hands inside. Hearing animals and insects in the woods had been one thing ... but this ... her right hand left the pocket and curled around her middle as she mentally fought off the urge to murder the man who’d just passed them. Clearly he’d just cut himself, she thought, as the scent of blood slapped her in the face, triggering her fangs to respond. Danielle clenched her teeth together so hard she feared she might actually crack them. Was it possible for her to break off the tip of a fang?
An elderly couple talked quietly over dessert, she noted, as they passed an old house with white plaster walls, weathered wooden shingles and blue shutters. She even knew what they were eating for dessert. Cake. Or rather cheesecake, but it didn’t smell like American cheesecake. She wondered what it looked like.
Moving along, the smells of trash, car exhaust, and plant life overpowered the scents of food. Then sweat, cloying perfume, cigarette smoke, alcohol, shampoo and blood assailed her. There was always blood. That metallic, salty-sweet tang that tormented her state of mind because it chased along behind every other aroma filling her nose. She realized she would have been able to smell that man’s blood even if he hadn’t just cut himself.
A person stumbled in front of her path, forcing her to stop. His drunken face wobbled upward and he made eye contact with her. Staggering and off balance, he landed against her chest and fainted. Stunned and kind of freaking out Danielle stared down at a head of greasy brown hair that slid down her body as the man’s knees gave out. Of course there was a move for this, but for reasons she couldn’t quite comprehend she paused as her hands lifted.
Then he was gone. Ethan, stepping in as usual, dragged the intoxicated fool to the brick wall of a closed market, propping him against it. Ethan straightened as the surrounding breeze ran invisible fingers through the blond hair peeking out from under the edges of his knitted cap, his arms dropped to his sides and he turned to face her. “Are you all right?” he asked.
She didn’t respond because she’d covered her mouth with one hand, self-consciously hiding the fangs that had reengaged and seemed to be staying there this time.
Danielle let Ethan’s arms envelope her. But the smells surrounding the man lingered on her clothes. With fingers tightening into the fabric of Ethan’s t-shirt, she shook her head. “No, I’m not okay. How did you do it, Ethan ... these smells, they’re too much.”
After gently pushing the hood back from her face, Ethan nudged her chin up with a couple of fingers placed beneath her chin. “You’re new. It does get easier. You’ll become desensitized.”
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