Sekhmet's Curse (Pearl Vampire Chronicles)

by Dara Nelson

  I pursed my lips and searched my brain for something, anything, that I could say that would get them to just shrug this off and let it go, but I came up completely blank. So, instead of hiding my head in the sand I decided to jump in head first, “I don’t know. This didn’t happen the last time that I had to hunt, but it started outside when you killed, Matt. It was from watching both of you hunt and from when I killed mine. It’s not just an adrenaline rush, it’s more. I’m, I’m, well, I’m sexually excited right now. I’m completely turned on. This is crazy. We just killed people, human beings. I hate doing that. I feel horrible that we had to…and yet. God, what the hell is wrong with me? Why is this happening?”

  “Sarah. There is nothing human about us when we hunt. You’ve got to stop thinking like a human. It’s all animal. It’s pure animal instinct. We all get excited when we hunt, just like all animals do.” Carlos said, trying to make me feel better.

  I shook my head, “You get excited, as in a rush, not sexually excited as in getting a hard on, so that doesn’t help. And stop thinking like a human, Carlos? I am a human and I will always be a human. Unless you’re born as a vampire, which as far as I know nobody ever has been, or as a seraphim like Aquila, I don’t see you can stop thinking like, feeling like or being a human. We’re just humans who have to drink blood to survive, well, you are. I’m still the freak here,” I moaned.

  They both tried really hard not to laugh. Matt wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head, “Honey, there’s nothing wrong with you. Really, there isn’t.”

  I snapped my head around and glared at him, “Really? Have you ever seen this happen before? Has it ever happened to you? Have you ever heard of it happening before? Well? Have you?”

  They looked at each other. Matt shook his head and Carlos shrugged his shoulders. “See? I’m a freak. You should just lock me up and throw away the key,” I spat.

  Carlos reached for my hand, “Kiddo, you’re not a freak. You’re unique. That’s what we all love about you. That’s why we’re drawn to you. Because you are definitely one of a kind.”

  “And what if I don’t want to be unique? What if I don’t like it? What if it’s embarrassing as hell?” I said.

  “Uh, guys?” Matt said, “Can we talk about this in the car? We need to figure out what we’re going to do with these poor hostages. We can’t just leave them here.”

  “We’re going to let them go, that’s what we’re going to do,” I said.

  “Well, I know that. But are they just going to have to fumble their way out of here or are we going to help find them transportation?” he said.

  “I’ll go check the garage,” Carlos said as he stood up and moved past us. He poked his head around the corner a few seconds later. “There’s a Suburban in there. Check pockets for keys.”

  I checked the pockets of the dead kidnapper on the floor in front of me.

  “Got ’em,” I said, “I’m going to check on the guy in this room who was being interrogated. You two let everyone else out.” I turned and opened the door at the end of the hall. There was a man tied to a chair. His face was battered, but not too bad. He had blondish hair and his skin looked light, so I guessed that he was probably not local. I walked around to the front of him. “Ummm, are you awake? Do you speak English?”

  “Bill. My name is Bill Tomkins. I work for Exxon, but I’m not an executive. I based out of Dallas but they send me here twice a year for audits. I don’t make very much money. That’s all I can tell you.”

  I smiled. He thought I was one of the kidnapper’s. I knelt down and put my hand on his knee. He tried to focus on my face through his swollen eyes. “Bill? I’m here to rescue you. I’m going to let you go. You and the others are going to get into a car and drive away from here. I would suggest that you drive north to the border and talk to the U.S. Border Patrol.”

  “You’re, you’re really going to let us go? You’re not just saying that to get our hopes up to get us to talk?”

  “I’m really going to let you go, Bill. I promise.”

  Carlos poked his head in the door, “Is he okay? The others are ready, hun. I’ve helped them to the car.”

  I nodded. “Bill? Do you think you can walk?” I said as I moved behind him and looked at the handcuffs. I grasped either side if the metal around his wrist and gently pulled it open, as if it wasn’t locked. Then I did the same to the other one. He rubbed his wrists and looked at me, “How, how did you do that?”

  I smiled, “It’s an old trick that a cop taught me,” I said as I put his arm over my shoulder and helped him up. He was a little unsteady at first, but then he found his footing. “You are incredibly strong, Miss, ummm, Miss.”

  “Sarah. My name is Sarah.”

  “Sarah. I never would have guessed someone as tiny as you would be so strong.”

  We were next to Carlos when Bill said this. Carlos kissed my cheek and said, “Sir, this is the strongest person, male or female, I’ve ever met in my life. In mind, body and heart, definitely the strongest.”

  I stared at him for a second. I was floored. “Wow, honey. I love you too.”

  “I’m serious, Sarah. You really are.”

  “Would you help me get him to the car, please? Then you can tell me how great I am.”

  Carlos nodded and wrapped his arm around Bill’s other side and we headed toward the garage. Matt had everyone piled into the Suburban. “Come on, Sarah. These guys need to hurry. I’m sure the kidnapper’s here have friends, lots of friends. These guys need to get as far away as possible. He turned to the driver, “Robert. When you get to the bottom of the driveway, make a left and head north as fast as you can. We’ll follow you for a little while, until we have to head west.” Robert nodded as we loaded Bill into the passenger seat. I buckled him in. As I turned to close the door, Bill grabbed my hand, “Thank you so much, Sarah. I’ll be forever grateful. If there’s ever anything I can do for you, anything at all, I’m Bill Tompkins from Dallas. I’m in the book. And don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.”

  “Tell anyone what, Bill?” I said.

  He leaned in and whispered in my ear, “I won’t tell anyone what you are. I won’t tell anyone that you exist, but wow, wouldn’t that make one hell of a story.”

  I looked at Matt and Carlos. How in the hell did he know, we all thought. They both shrugged their shoulders.

  I patted the back of his hand and smiled at him, “You take care of yourself, Bill,” I said then I closed the door. Matt pushed the button to open the garage. Carlos sniffed hard, “Nobody’s coming. They’re good to go.”

  Matt nodded to Robert and he started the Suburban and backed quickly out of the garage, turned it around, and raced down the hill. The three of us floated up into the skies and landed next to our car. “Can one of you drive for a while? I want to lie down in the back and think for a bit.”

  Matt and Carlos looked at each other, “Sarah,” Matt started to say, but I shook my head, “Not now, please? Let me have a few minutes, okay? We have to get going to catch up to them and make sure they’re okay.” I climbed into the back seat and stretched out on it with my arm over my eyes. Carlos and Matt hesitated for a moment then they both climbed into the front seats. Matt was driving and he angled the mirror so he could watch me. Carlos turned around in the passenger seat and placed his hand on my hip. I lifted my arm and looked at him for a second. I smiled and put my hand in his, “I’ll be fine. Stop worrying. This just wigged me out a little.”

  “A little? I’d say a lot, Sarah. And it shouldn’t. Jeez, for all you know this is a one-time thing. It probably wouldn’t happen again.”

  “Maybe you’re right, Carlos. But I’ll never find out because I’m never hunting again.” I said.

  “Never? Sarah, you may have to someday,” Matt said from the front seat.

  “I realize that. But I hope I never do, okay? Because I’m completely mortified by what happened and ashamed of myself, and I really don’t want to know whether it will happen aga
in.”

  “Sarah, please don’t be ashamed of who you are. You are who we fell in love with. Because of who you are, you make this work with the three of us. Only you could do that and it’s because of who you are and how you are. If you weren’t you, then we wouldn’t be us,” Carlos said and Matt nodded his agreement into the mirror. I sat up, “You’re right, I guess. But I can’t seem to shake the feeling that I know why this happened. What’s different this time? What’s happened to me between now and then?”

  “Hell, Sarah, what hasn’t happened. There’s a lot that’s happened to all of us. Taking out The Elders, you and me almost dying after fighting Malina, Matt’s kidnapping, killing Malina, Aquila and what he fucking did to you,” Carlos said, growling at that last part.

  “Carlos, you have to forgive Aquila. I have.” Suddenly the answer was so obvious. I shot up in my seat, “Fucking, hell,” I spat.

  “What is it, hun?” Matt said as he watched me in the rearview mirror.

  “That’s it, that’s the answer. This is from Aquila,” I whispered before I went silent. It took me a few breaths to work up to courage to look them in the eyes and explain. I took a deep breath before I went on, “Something Aquila said when he had me. He couldn’t understand my body’s reaction when I drank the innocent’s blood when he had me.” (Innocent blood from non-evil people is highly addicting to vampires, but breaking into a blood bank was the only way for Aquila to supply me with blood, and blood from a blood bank is hit or miss as to whether it’s evil or good. For most vampires this isn’t a problem because their fangs only react, or drop, when they are hit with the scent of evil, so they can’t drink from a bag of innocent blood. But for me, that’s a different story. Because I was made into a vampire using the old-fashioned methods instead of the modern, controlling methods created by The Elders to prevent vampires from turning against them, I am able to drop my fangs at will, regardless of what type of blood is involved). “I mean, he could tell that I became sexually aroused when I drank the good blood and he asked about it. When I explained, he told me that Seraphim’s don’t react that way when drinking blood, but they do react that way when they hunt: ‘hunting sexually arouses us,’ he told me. When he forced, when he planted his DNA inside of me to impregnate me with his son, what if some of his species’ qualities became mine? What if I’m now sexually aroused when I hunt just like a Seraphim would be? What if, oh shit,” I said as I looked out of the front window. Both Matt’s and Carlos’ eyes followed mine. A familiar suburban was up ahead, parked on the side of the road, surrounded by two other cars. The passengers were lined up by the side of the road with their arms up, their hands clasped on top of their heads. Two men were facing them, pointing guns at them. Two other men were nearby, talking on cell phones. Matt pulled over quietly to the side and cut the motor. Our headlights hadn’t been on, so we hadn’t been seen yet. “How do you want to do this?” Matt said.

  We’ve got to lure them up by the front of the suburban so the others can’t see us, but how, hmmm, wait, I’ve got an idea. Carlos, get out and start arguing with me.”

  “Excuse me?” he said.

  “Get in a fight with me. I’ll accuse you of cheating on me and storm off towards them. Matt, you fly above. You two will know what to do when it’s time. Don’t open the door yet, Matt. Let me climb on your lap so we can climb out together. Then, when I close the door and the light goes out, you fly. Come on, let’s hurry.” I climbed onto Matt’s lap, he wrapped an arm around my waist, and he and I climbed out together, while Carlos climbed out on the other side. “You son of a bitch,” I screamed as I slammed the door and Matt jumped skyward. “You fucking, lying, cheating son of a bitch. I saw you with her. You can’t deny it now ‘cause I saw you with her. I don’t ever want to see you again, asshole. Stay the fuck away from me,” then I turned and stormed up the road as Carlos pleaded with me. “But honey, I’m sorry. It didn’t mean anything. Please don’t leave me.”

  I stopped and turned around, with my hands on my hips. I could hear the kidnappers laughing now, as the shock of us being there had given way to amusement to what was going on. “It didn’t mean anything? It didn’t mean anything? Fuck you. It means something to me. It means we’re through,” I said then I turned and continued up the road toward the kidnappers, muttering to myself and seeming to be completely oblivious that they were there. “Asshole thinks he can cheat on me and get away with it?” I said then I looked up and acted like I finally noticed they were there, but also like I knew them, “On me? Can you believe it? Am I so horrible? I’m okay-looking, aren’t I?”

  They had tucked their guns out of site by the time I got close to them. I did a quick glance at Bill, who caught my eye and then quickly looked away. The kidnapper closest to me decided to be brave enough to answer my question. “You look good-enough,” he said with a strong accent, “but come closer so I can get a better look.”

  I stopped for a second and stared at him. I looked frightened, like I had just realized the situation I had put myself in. “Sarah, you get your ass back here right now,” Carlos yelled. I bit back my smile. This was perfect. The anger came back and I spun around to yell at Carlos, while taking the last few steps toward the kidnapper at the same time, “Fuck you, Carlos. You don’t get to tell me what to do ever again. You lost that privilege when you slept with your whore.” I turned and smiled at the kidnapper, “Now, you were saying something about how good I looked? Tell me more.”

  “Come here, beautiful. Let me get a good look at you.”

  I hesitated again, “Ummm, can I get a ride from you?”

  He nodded, “Sure thing. My car’s right up here,” He pointed to the car that was in front of the Suburban, blocking it. “My name is Pablo. Here, let my friends and me show you to the car. Jose, Arturo, come help me show my pretty lady friend which car is ours.”

  “But, but, what about me?” the last kidnapper said.

  Pablo gave him a stern look. “You need to stay with our friends, Diego. You will be able to meet, Sarah, is it? You’ll be able to meet Sarah later.”

  As we got toward the front of the Suburban, I slowed down and my hands started shaking, “Ummmm, I think I made a mistake. I need, I need to go back now. Carlos? CARLOS?” I yelled, but Pablo cut it off by clamping his hand over my mouth. His gun, which was in his other hand, came up to my cheek. “Shut the fuck up, Sarah, or I’ll shoot Carlos. Understand?”

  I nodded at him with my eyes wide and terrified. ‘Okay, guys. Anytime now,’ I thought.

  Carlos appeared silently behind the three kidnappers and locked his eyes with mine. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Matt cross the road until he was behind the fourth one, Diego. He wrapped his arm around Diego’s neck and grabbed his gun at the same time. The gun crumbled in his grasp, like it was made of plaster, as he whispered something in Diego’s ear. He didn’t want to kill him in front of the hostages. They both turned and headed toward the rest of us. My eyes moved back to Carlos, standing silently behind the other kidnappers, who nodded at me. “Sarah?” he said, causing the three kidnappers to spin around and point their guns at him. He raised his arms, but watched me. Pablo was behind the other two, so I took that opportunity to make my move. Without making a sound, I closed my right hand around the gun, crushing it while grabbing his neck with my left. I buried my fangs deep in his neck, drained him then quietly laid him on the pavement. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to take a deep breath because my body was on fire again. I opened them and saw Carlos grinning at me. His eyes moved right and I followed them and saw why he was grinning. I just happened to look at the exact moment that Matt was sinking his fangs into Diego’s neck. I shivered then linked with Carlos, ‘You are such an asshole sometimes,’ I thought.

  “Sorry, baby. I can’t help it. I’m enjoying the hell out of this.”

  This statement confused the hell out of Jose and Arturo, who looked at each other then slowly turned around and saw Pablo on the ground with me standing over the body. “What the?”
one of them started to say, but Carlos squeezed both their necks hard enough to knock them out instantly. He drained one of them, then let him fall to the ground while I squeezed my eyes shut and tried not to look. “Here Sarah. You take this one.”

  I was an animal and didn’t hesitate but for a second. I stepped up and moved to sink my teeth into him, but the instant before I did, Carlos stepped up, grabbed my scarred hand in his (part of the change process in creating a new vampire involves a ceremony with an Aztec medicine man who cuts your palm, creating a scar. If you have the ceremony with another person, a partner or a lover, they get a mirror image of your scar on their palm. When these two scars touch, you can feel everything that the other person is feeling – which is a huge turn on if done when you are aroused). Carlos buried his teeth into the other side of the man’s neck at the exact moment that I sunk my teeth in. I tried to stop, but couldn’t. I tried to squeeze my eyes shut, but couldn’t. And I tried desperately not to get aroused, but couldn’t stop it. The moment I shivered, Matt also stepped up and grabbed my other hand, as he and I also had matching scars. The two of them went down to their knees with me. I pulled my teeth out of the neck they were in and glared at Carlos as I tried to calm myself. Between panting breaths I gasped, “You, you, have no idea how fucking pissed I am at you right now, Carlos. Damnit, this isn’t funny. Stop treating me like a friggin’ parlor trick.”

  “Ahh, honey. Please don’t be mad. I just had to feel it for myself. You can understand that, can’t you?”