by Kailin Gow
Samson had gone ash-white, the same color of Jaegar. His face was a mask of pure terror. “Why didn’t you tell me that right away? She’s awake? That’s bad – real bad. It took us a century to find her – and stopping her once was a near-miracle. And that was when the Consortium was around. Now…Octavius and I are all that’s left, and Octavius is twice the warrior I am.”
Kalina felt a surge of pride in her heart. Octavius is twice the warrior of anyone of us, she thought.
“Quick, wear this…” Samson stripped off his shirt, revealing bulging muscles. “We can’t have you fighting Nereti in your underwear…”
Kalina put on the oversized shirt, which just about covered her thighs.
“Can you fly? I can’t carry you and the weapons at the same time.” Samson was rummaging through the room, collecting stakes and stake-guns.
“I can fly.”
“Good,” Samson nodded. “Jaegar did say you were special. Better you fly far away from me, girl.” He took a deep whiff of the air. “You’re temptation.”
“What, am I supposed to stay here?” Olivia squawked, evidently displeased.
“I’ll be back for you, baby…” Samson said, kissing her deeply. “Don’t you worry. Just keep the bed warm for me, okay?”
“I promise.”
And with that they were off, flying back to the Kingdom of the Dead so quickly that Kalina’s head was reeling. From a distance, she spotted Jaegar, fighting Molotov. But with a sigh of relief she saw that he was not fighting alone. Octavius was there too, along with Justin and Max, and several vampires she picked out as Octavius’ men from Beverly Hills.
They had a chance.
Chapter 18
Molotov had sent his youngest and least experienced vampires to the front lines. Kalina felt an instinctive note of revulsion as she pulled out her stake, preparing to slay them. Some of them must have been turned less than a few days ago – they still maintained a vaguely human look in their eyes. Just long enough to make them susceptible to Molotov’s bidding – but not long enough to make killing them seem like anything short of slaying another human being. Typical Molotov, Kalina thought, horror shuddering through her – sending the most innocent to be slaughtered, first – cannon fodder, while he hung back, letting his loyal cronies die for him.
Yet Kalina’s anger was dissipated as she flew closer to the melee, catching sight of her family standing back to back, protecting one another as they raised their stakes in the air. There they were – her whole family, biological, adopted, and recently-chosen: Max with a steely look of determination in her icy eyes, Justin – expertly wielding the weapons he’d struggled with mere weeks before, Jaegar – his sexy charm still evident despite Kalina’s anger with him, Octavius – every inch the warrior as his stakes whipped through the breeze. This was her family now, Kalina knew – the family she had chosen for herself. The people she cared about more than anything in the world – working together, working with one another.
A team. Kalina’s heart surged with pride as she approached, her hawk like eyes scanning the throng. Her eyes widened with surprise as she lost sight of Octavius – she’d seen him but a moment before…where was he…
A hand on her shoulder startled her, sending her whole body reeling as adrenaline flooded her veins. She whipped out a stake, turning around on her heel, her muscles tensed and aching for a fight. But a single glimpse of Octavius – even now – took her breath away. He looked overwhelmingly beautiful – his brow heavy with exertion, his eyes shining, his muscles rippling from beneath his tight-fitting clothing, his chest just visible behind the low cut of his black silk shirt. He was looking at her with a gaze of such intense love that she felt her knees go weak and wobbly with desire. “Kalina,” he said, his voice hoarse and strong, “you shouldn’t have come – but I’m so happy to see you, my love. I was so worried about you…”
“And the Life’s Blood?” Kalina stared into his eyes for any hint of the familiar red tint, but there was nothing in his gaze but abject adoration.
“I’m fine now,” said Octavius. “Cured, even. Your mother was clever enough to trick me – to persuade me to take her blood. I knew she’d done it for Stuart, but until I experienced it myself I didn’t realize that she had the power to counteract the effects of the blood – without turning me human, either.” He reached out his hand, lightly cupping Kalina’s face in his calloused palm. “Please forgive me, Kalina. Whatever I did when I was under the influence, if I hurt you, if I frightened you…”
“Of course I forgive you,” said Kalina, her lips finding the outstretched part of his palm. “I’m just glad that girl’s blood wasn’t strong enough to make you really dangerous.” As she stared into his liquid-dark eyes – like pools of chocolate – she felt her body yearning for him, yearning for that time they had shared in Europe, for the feel of his silken sheets against her naked body, for the view from their palazzo in Rome.
From his mischievous glance it was clear that he knew what she was thinking. “Not now,” he said. “Another time, I promise. We have to live through this first. Unfortunately, Molotov has played us – played me – all too well. I would never have guessed that Nereti was behind all of this, behind his actions. I always thought that he wanted the Carriers for himself; I never dreamed that even he would be stupid enough to try to resurrect her. But now it makes so much sense. You – the truly special Carrier the one who shares her DNA – who has characteristics of vampire and human alike…”
“Then you know, too? About me being immortal?” Kalina asked.
Octavius nodded slowly, considering. “I’d guessed,” he said. “I had a suspicion. But I never wanted to test my theory – not if it meant putting you in any danger.”
“But why didn’t you tell me?” Kalina pulled him to her. “If we’d known before now…”
“I wasn’t sure,” said Octavius. “It was only when I saw Nereti up close that I realized just how alike you two are – just how much you resemble her. I felt it in my blood – the connection to her.”
“And Max – is she related, too?”
“I don’t know,” said Octavius. “Whether Nereti’s blood was part of the experiments in your childhood or whether it flows through Max’s veins and was passed down to you that way. The prophecies are unclear. But I know now that you are the girl in the prophecy…the heir to Nereti. I should have guessed she’d be behind it. She’s no ordinary vampire, you know. She’s special – dangerous. The only vampire who can walk in the sun without Life’s Blood – she’s that powerful. And normal stakes don’t affect her – or at least, they haven’t, yet. That’s why the old doctor used her blood to create Life’s Blood – she was an anomaly, even among the great ancient vampires. She was special. And now you’ve proven his theories right, centuries later. You are that perfect ideal Life’s Blood Carrier – after all these years, after so many generations, after all the hard work that your parents put into raising you – you will come to embody those powers…I hope.”
“Unless she drains me first,” said Kalina darkly, “and uses me to get her powers back.”
“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen,” said Octavius. “If it does, the implications would be catastrophic – not just for us good vampires, but for the whole human world as well.”
“That’s why Jaegar wanted me to stay away. He chained me up in Alexandria to keep me from coming here. But I won’t be kept out of battle – I won’t!”
Octavius chuckled softly. “A clever proposal. I wish I’d thought of that – although if I had you tied up before me I’d get a lot less done. I never thought Jaegar had the willpower – he’s such a creature of pleasure…” His eyes traveled over to Samson, who had started fighting off a cadre of Molotov’s men. They were all fending off the vampires, allowing Kalina and Octavius to talk. “Then again, so is Samson – and for all that he’s one of my best soldiers. He doesn’t let his…personal life interfere with business.”
“He helped me unchain myself,” sa
id Kalina, “and helped me get here once I told him Nereti was on the loose.”
“He is a loyal friend,” Octavius considered. “Perhaps one of the most loyal friends I have. He helped me and the rest of the Consortium’s army put her to sleep back in the day. Did you know that he was a gladiator in the Roman arena when I turned him, dying from a fatal wound – a slave from Palestine whom Herod hated for starting an uprising, two thousand years ago…now he’s a great general. And…he takes care of Olivia for me.” He sighed. “Eases my guilt about breaking with her – I know how she longs to be turned…who knows why?”
“How fascinating…” Kalina looked over at Samson. Could that lithe, strong warrior really have been a gladiator?
“Fascinating, huh?” Octavius pulled Kalina close to him, pressing his mouth against hers, locking her in a passionate embrace until she was gasping for breath.
“Not as fascinating as you, of course…” Kalina said, laughing.
“Now that you know about Nereti, my love, you of course understand how important it is for you to stay safe – you can’t be caught by her, you can’t let her drain you.” Octavius pressed her fingers to his lips.
“It’s worse than having any other vampire drink from me,” Kalina said. “I understand. She really is the worst vampire I’ve ever heard of.”
“They call her the Mother of Wickedness,” said Octavius. “So now you understand why you must fly away – we can keep Molotov and his men distracted from coming after you. But you need to be somewhere safe. When we put her to sleep again we’ll find you, I promise…”
“No, Octavius!” protested Kalina. “I can’t let all these people – you, Jaegar Samson, Max, my brother – get hurt for me. I have to stay and fight. I promise, I won’t let her get close enough to drain me dry – I’ll stake myself before that happens, don’t worry.”
Octavius sighed, pulling in Kalina close and kissing her. “That’s just what I’m worried about,” he said. “But I knew you wouldn’t choose it any other way. That’s my Kalina – so brave...but it’s too dangerous. You must escape!”
“Too late!” crowed a familiar male voice behind them.
At the sound of his voice, Kalina and Octavius whirled around, a stake in each hand brandished into the air. Molotov was approaching them, his fangs bared and covered in blood.
“Watch out!” cried Octavius, flying into the air to meet Molotov. “I’ll cover you – hurry!”
Kalina rushed away from Molotov, entering the room where she knew Nereti was waiting. She staked a few of the weaker vampires with ease, before catching sight of the Carriers standing mutely in a corner, each wearing a heavy black ceremonial hood. There were at least five fewer than she remembered. Her mouth fell open. So, it seems Nereti was still feeding the whole time…some of her flunkies was escorting the Carriers in to be killed…
Kalina had an idea. Grabbing hold of one of the dazed Carriers, she removed her ceremonial robe and put it on, covering her head with it. When one of the flunkies approached her, she lowered her head, moaning slightly and pretending to be glamored, walking with what she hoped looked like a dazed expression, gripping her stake tightly underneath the cloak. The guard led her towards the darkened throne room, where she could make out a dark-haired female form slumped over on the throne. Nereti. Kalina gritted her teeth. She had to get Nereti while she was weak, before her powers kicked in…
The guard led her to the base of the throne. No sooner had Kalina gotten close than she sprang forth, stake in hand. But to her surprise the figure in the throne wasn’t Nereti at all. It was only a girl – maybe fourteen years old – with long dark hair…slumped forth…drained of all her blood. Kalina felt nauseous; her adrenaline kicking in as she turned to run.
“Looking for me?” Nereti was standing before her, a mischievous smile on her face filled with wickedness, blood trickling down her lips. “So, the one who mirrors my face is back. Since you left, I’ve tried a few more vintages, but no blood as pleasing to me as yours. But already I feel my strength coursing through me – the strength of the ancients. Octavius, Samson – they’re but babies compared to me. And the other one – the handsome dark-haired one with the cocky smile…too arrogant for his own good…”
“Jaegar…” Kalina whispered. “What have you done to him?”
“His blood is delicious,” laughed Nereti. “If I couldn’t have yours, he was a terribly good second choice.”
“No!” Kalina gasped in horror, tears springing to her eyes. “If you hurt him – if you so much as touched him, I swear…”
“Swear what?” Nereti laughed.
Kalina took a step forward, clutching her stakes tightly. “I’d kill you – right here, right now!”
Nereti looked amused. “Are you stupid or brave, girl? I’m not sure. I admire your determination, to be sure. Too often, girls quake before me. I don’t often see your spirit. I’m told we share blood. I’m flattered – it’s my blood that makes the Carriers special, is that it? Molotov told me they’d been experimenting with my blood in the past few years –that nobody had it but you…I can’t think how they got it. Only once did my blood ever get taken from me. A filthy human, a healer, a physician from China. He drugged himself and let me drink from him – I had only taken a sip but I fell asleep. He stole my blood while I was unconscious…” She grimaced at the memory. “Your handsome vampire friend certainly knew all about it. He read about me in some ancient papers your parents apparently kept – he was very talkative. Once he stopped being able to stand the pain, that is.”
“How dare you!” Blinded by rage, Kalina forced her stake at Nereti, but Nereti blocked it expertly, grabbing it easily and twisting it out of Kalina’s hand. “Pity,” said Nereti. “You have talent – but you don’t train, do you? If you did maybe you’d have been able to see that coming. All that potential you have…”
Kalina was quick on the uptake. “Then why drain me?” She looked up at Nereti. “Why waste all my talent?”
“Because,” Nereti growled. “I care more about my powers…” She bared her fangs, and Kalina had to squirm to get out of Nereti’s grasp, aiming a well-timed kick at Nereti’s stomach. But Nereti was undeterred. Her hand shot out, catching at Kalina’s wrist. Kalina kicked Nereti in the forehead, sending her reeling back against the throne room walls.
“Now you test my patience!” cried Nereti. “Pity you’ll never see your potential, girl – because I will drain you dry. I will enjoy every drop of you. And then, once I’m done, I’ll drain every last one of your kind – until there isn’t a single human left on earth. Just the vampire – the strongest one – to rule it.”
She grabbed hold of Kalina, whose heart started beating faster and faster. This is it – she has you. Stake yourself now, before she can drink – stake yourself…
But she couldn’t bring herself to move her stake – to give up….
“NO!” a voice cried from the corner. A voice she recognized – a voice that made her rejoice inwardly.
Out of the corner of her eye, Kalina saw a shadow plow into Nereti, knocking her to the floor.
“Run,” Jaegar cried. “Run!”
Chapter 19
Suddenly, sunlight flooded the room. Kalina looked up to see that Max and Justin had surreptitiously pulled back the drapes that blocked off the throne room from the sun – beams of hot bright sun sizzled over the floor, causing all the weaker vampires to burst into flame – all of the vampires who didn’t have Life’s Blood or a ring combusted at once. But Nereti stood strong, immobile – not affected in the slightest by the sun’s scorching rays. She held Jaegar by the scruff of the neck; her fangs plunged deep into his shoulder. Octavius, Samson, Max, and Justin rushed to Kalina’s side, brandishing their stakes as they encircled Nereti, tackling her at once and forcing her to drop Jaegar to the floor and fly up to the rafters.
Jaegar spluttered weakly, his face pale and wan. “I told you to stay at Samson’s,” he said.
“And miss out on this?” Ka
lina smiled darkly. “Don’t be stupid, Jaegar, I’d never let you do this on your own.” She reached out, taking his hand. Their touch was electric. “How are you feeling?”
“Better, now that I’m touching you.” She helped Jaegar up. “You know that, don’t you? Just your touch…eases my pain. So much that it hurts when I’m not near you – even if I know you’re safely tucked away. Oh, but Kal, why didn’t you listen to me!” His eyes widened with pain. “I knew you wouldn’t,” he admitted. “You’re too brave, too headstrong, too strong-willed…you wouldn’t let us fight for you while you just sat back and watched. I shouldn’t have asked you to.”
“Jaegar, I know you’re the same way. You’d have done the same thing for me. Or for Stuart. Stuart…” Kalina remembered that the last time she’d seen him; Life’s Blood Jaegar had been carting him away.
“Don’t worry, he’s safe,” Jaegar said. “I convinced him to stay put. And by convinced, I mean that I slipped some sleeping pills in his tea. He’s somewhere safe – where he can’t reach us. Even though I’m sure he’d want to. He won’t be hurt.”
“Which is more than I can say for the two of you!” Molotov sneered, a few feet away. “When Nereti gets through with the rest of the Carriers, I’m sure she’d love to taste one of you.”
Immediately, Max and Samson rushed forth to fend off Molotov while Justin jerked Kalina back to safety. “You need to regenerate some strength, Kalina – drink from me.”
Kalina looked up, unconvinced. “I may be injured, Justin, but I’m not sure how I feel about giving my brother telepathic access…”
“Better that than risk your life,” Justin said. “Then you can help us fight…!” He embraced her, wrapping her in a thick bear hug.
“Justin…”
“Look, Kalina, I’m just trying to help, okay? You need your strength in order to be able to fight. And as your big brother, it’s my job to keep you safe – even if that means healing you with my blood. When Octavius sent a message to Max to drop what we were doing and run to Egypt, I figured something like this had happened. You going and trying to fight Nereti on your own. You need to let us fight for you sometimes, Sis. When we can. Sometimes you have to let us. No matter what, Sis, we’re family – and we have to take care of each other. I don’t want to lose you too.”