by Myra Nour
The vamp’s vocal cords were not affected because she’d bitten below the neck only, and behind the snakewoman’s eyes, Briana got much satisfaction from the female’s suffering. Little whimpers escaped the vampire’s pale lips every time she bit deeply into a new fleshy spot. She saved the most sensitive areas for last, posing for a heartbeat over the blonde’s groin and staring with wicked snake eyes at her powerless victim.
Chapter Fifteen
The woman’s eyes bulged with fear and her breathing came in short pants, all she was capable of with the venom running through her system. Extending her long tongue, Briana wet the targeted path, great satisfaction welling up inside her at the deepening terror she read in the vampire’s eyes. Was that disgust she read also? Did the woman actually think she would lower herself to taste of such an offensive creature?
Chuckling out loud, she posed over her body, alternately licking the vamp’s thighs and then blowing on the wet spots gently. Her victim couldn’t move, but her skin prickled with goose bumps of terror. Too bad she couldn’t watch while Briana sank her fangs into her, but then maybe not seeing was even more horrifying.
Snakewoman dug her fangs slowly into the soft flesh at the woman’s thigh, just below her sex. A low sigh was pulled from the woman, sounding almost like a lover’s response, but far from it in truth. Inching her teeth in micrometers at a time, she extended the vampire’s torture, happy with the groans emitting from the still figure.
A sudden furtive movement drew her attention; the redheaded vampire was sneaking toward the door. Whipping off the woman with snake speed, she swayed in front of the exit when the vamp screeched to a stop. Panting in terror, the more timid female ran back and hid behind the huge chair again.
Shrugging her slim shoulders, Briana/snakewoman flowed back to her victim, highly disappointed when she saw the woman had stopped breathing. She turned toward the other female, but paused briefly to watch Raynor, who was holding his own against the two males. Then, she lowered her whole body to the floor and slithered in an exaggerated fashion toward the horrified female vampire.
Striking at one side of the chair with her tongue, she got the intended effect when the vampire ran from behind the chair on the other side. Snakewoman followed on her heels, and then slid in front of her in eye-blink speed. The female stood frozen; no paralyzing venom would be needed with this one.
Swaying gently, she considered how to make the redhead suffer. Suddenly remembering the vamp’s intense horror when she had swallowed a rat, Snakewoman smiled. Lowering her body, Snakewoman stared eye-to-eye with the shifter. Her terror was so much more evident than the other’s; she sent off a sweaty, palpable odor of fear.
Extending her tongue, she swiftly wrapped it around one of the female’s arms, and then pulled it slowly, inch by inch toward her mouth. When the tongue-encased hand entered her mouth, the woman started trembling so fiercely, she looked as if she were on the point of shifting, but she didn’t.
Briana/snakewoman wasn’t sure if she could do what she wanted to attempt, but she shrugged inwardly and decided to give it a shot anyway. Something in her snake senses knew what to do; her jaw unhinged, allowing her to open her mouth wider. Her throat muscles worked, tugging the hand, and then the arm gently down her throat.
When she reached the end of that arm and they were eyeball to eyeball. It was Briana who took control and stopped the process. The vampire had fainted dead away anyway. But, there was also a deep craving inside the snakewoman she found extremely disturbing, one Briana couldn’t allow her to fulfill and live with herself later.
Spitting out the arm took a little more effort, but she waited patiently afterwards for the woman to regain consciousness. When the vampire flapped her eyes open feebly, the gentler side of her, the part that was still Briana, felt sorry for the redhead—just enough that the snakewoman followed her inner urgings, finishing her off quickly. One bite to the neck and a powerful release of her venom ended the vampire’s mental torture.
Flowing up to her full height after her enemy’s demise, she watched her lover fight. He was a splendid shifter, a sexy vampire, and an excellent fighter. But right now, those vampire abilities were coming into play, aiding in his battle. Raynor’s teeth were sunk into the leader’s shoulder and his enemy threw his head back in agony while her lover drank deeply.
But, then the next instant he seemed to recover and sank his fangs into Raynor’s shoulder. Both men jerked loose, as if by mutual agreement. Back and forth they went across the room, as each hit each other with powerful blows from their fists. They rammed into the heavy table, tipping it up slightly in their struggle.
The other male vampire had been crouching against the wall, as if fearful of joining the fray, but he suddenly jumped on Raynor’s back, sinking his teeth into his neck. This was too much. Moving swiftly, she came up behind the smaller vampire and hissed next to his head.
He withdrew his fangs in surprise and she flipped him off quickly. He lay quietly, staring up at her in fear. When he made a move, she slithered closer and extended her fangs to their fullest. Lying back down, he did as she, watched the combatants.
The large men fought with almost superhuman strength. Thankfully, she noted that Raynor seemed to have better technique in boxing than his opponent. Soon, the leader began to tire and her lover killed him quickly, coming up behind him and breaking his neck.
Backing off slightly, she watched with satisfaction while Raynor towered over the downed vampire, who looked up at him with fatalistic acceptance. Another neck snapped and the last vampire lay dead.
After a few seconds of looking around at the carnage, he waved for her to follow him outside. They sat down on a lush green carpeting of grass, letting the peace and tranquility soak into them, until they began to shift.
“Are you okay?” the completely human Raynor asked her gently.
“Fine.” She ran one hand down her thigh, glad to have legs again.
“What I could see of your fight, you were magnificent,” Raynor said softly, admiration in his tone.
Her eyes dipped downward; shame and guilt washing through her. “And savage.”
“Yes, but you had a just cause.”
“You’re right.” Her head came back up. There was no need to feel anything but satisfaction at the outcome of the battle.
After some time, he jumped to his feet and ran back inside, returning with her gown and chemise. Briana was astounded at herself; she’d completely forgotten she was nude.
Raynor watched a bird in the trees while she dressed. The chemise, dress, and overdress were torn; they’d have to be repaired later. He managed to tie the laces in a haphazard manner. The fit would be uncomfortable, but the clothes were wearable. When she finished dressing, he turned and went back through the doorway; she followed.
“What do we do with the bodies?”
Raynor looked around at the carnage. “This is going to be pretty hard to cover up.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “We can’t let anyone discover the shifters’ remains.”
The four had died as vampires, their signature fangs were still very evident. “They don’t shift back?’
“No,” he shook his head. “Whatever form a shifter dies in, they stay that way.” He stared at the tower. “I guess we bury them,” he sighed. “That’s going to be a lot of work for such scum.”
“Scum,” she repeated softly, then snapped her fingers. “Forget burying, they don’t deserve such decent treatment. Let’s dump them in the moat.”
“Brilliant.” He grinned. Without further comment, he grabbed William’s wrists and dragged him out the door.
“What if the moat dries up?” She said, frowning.
“Doubt it will, remember how much it rains here…but I have an idea.”
Knowing her movements would be encumbered by the cloak, she undid it and laid it to the side. Struggling, Briana still managed to drag the smaller redheaded vampire to the doorway by the time Raynor returned. He took over and pulled the b
ody quickly away, while she tugged the blonde vampire to the door, pausing as he reappeared. Catching her breath, she waited for him to return from dumping the larger female, and then followed when he dragged the last male vampire to the edge of the deep ditch.
Raynor picked up a small rock nearby and bent over William’s still form. She watched in puzzlement as he placed it against one fang, reality sinking in as he struck the rock with another larger stone. Reaching inside the open mouth, he withdrew a tiny, pointed tooth, laying it in his palm so she could get a good look. Briana glanced into his eyes and smiled. “That was a great idea.”
He nodded distractingly and went back to the task at hand. Each vampire tooth was knocked from each of the shifters and stuck into a pocket of his tunic.
“Wait,” she shouted, when he got ready to roll William’s body into the moat. Bending down, she untied the money bag from his waist. Throwing it in the air, she was satisfied with the weighty metal clinks it gave off when it landed on her palm.
“Robbing the dead?”
She frowned at his ill-placed humor. “More like collecting insurance premiums.”
Raynor was clearly puzzled by her statement and actions, but stood aside when she removed the coin pouches from each shifter. She laid the bags to the side; then bent down next to him, placing her hands on William’s body.
Shrugging, he repositioned himself and they shoved at the same time, a grim smile of satisfaction lit both their faces when the body bounced and then hit the thick sludge. There was no way to tell how much mire and muck was actually in the stinking mess at the moat’s bottom, but when the corpse began to sink slowly, it appeared there was enough to provide an adequate cover for a body.
The other three were pushed off the edge at different areas, but sank into the slime just as efficiently as the leader’s body. Briana stood and dusted her hands, and then turned to her companion.
“What about the two young people?”
“We can bury them out in the courtyard. I saw a few holes which will make decent graves.” He paused, seemed to wait for her to speak. “What did you have in mind for Robert?”
Without looking at him, she said softly, “He’s going home, of course.” She picked up the money bags. “These will not be compensation for his loss, but he came looking for treasure, and he’s going to return home with some.” Tears slipped slowly down her cheeks when she finally faced him.
“It’s a thoughtful idea,” he said softly.
The pain of his part in the “treasure hunt” came back into his eyes, and she knew it would be a long time before that haunted look left his face.
It took much longer to take care of the young girl and boy. Out of respect, they re-dressed them in the clothes they found pitched unceremoniously in a pile near the wall. Raynor picked up the boy under the arms and she lifted him beneath the knees. She knew he could have easily carried the boy outside himself, but seemed to sense she needed to take part in this portion of the burial.
Fortunately, he’d found two deep holes close to each other. She had the feeling the two young people had been friends, perhaps more. They deserved to spend eternity next to someone who cared for them in life.
The boy’s body fit perfectly into the hole. After they brought the girl, it was apparent the hole was slightly short on length. Raynor jumped into the makeshift grave and pitched up rocks while he dug it out with his bare hands. Next, she carefully lowered the girl down; she fit just right now. This thought restarted the tears again. The girl deserved to be alive, enjoying her youth and what life had in store for her. Not a horrible, painful death, and the decay that would follow.
They pushed loose dirt on top of each youth, and then carefully piled rocks on top of the earth. Quickly, Raynor knelt and within a very deep hole, he pitched the vampire teeth. She helped him dump rocks on top.
“What if someone finds them one day?” she asked.
“They will think they’re teeth from some animal.”
Afterward, they stood in silence, lost in their own thoughts. Briana said a prayer for each of the youths, and then turned back toward the tower, her steps even slower than when she had helped Raynor carry the dead bodies.
The small, pale body lay listlessly on the tabletop, so unlike the vibrant child he’d been that Briana burst into tears again. Raynor took her in his arms and caressed her back, until she stepped back. It took her a few minutes to gain control of herself, but finally she walked to the table, brushed his soft hair from his face and closed his eyes. She straightened his tunic. At least he had not been undressed by the vampires.
She wished she had the strength to carry him all the way to the village, but knew logically she wouldn’t be up to the feat. She stepped aside and allowed Raynor to lift the child into his brawny arms.
He turned to her after they exited the tower. “You know, once we take Robert home, people may come to investigate.”
“You’re right.” She stared at the ruins, hating them with such depth of emotion; it was as if they were a living entity instead of mere stone. “I can’t come back here myself.”
Shaking his head in agreement, he said, “I thought as much.” He gently laid the young boy on the lush grassy spot where they’d rested. “Why don’t I gather our things and we can get out of here?”
“Do you want me to help?”
“No, stay here with him.”
Chapter Sixteen
She knew he was being kind, that her form and voice were so forlorn she wouldn’t be much help anyway. Kneeling beside Robert, she stared into space, her mind a blank slate for a short spell.
Hence she was surprised when Raynor appeared beside her; it seemed but minutes, but by the size of the bundle in his arms, it had to have been more. Smelling smoke, she turned and stared with shock at the towers. Both had thick, black fumes rising from the tiny windows, doorways, and any place a stone had fallen and left a gaping hole in the edifice.
Glancing up at him, she noted the tight shoulders and grim frown.
“I wanted no evidence left of them.”
Nodding, she turned back to watch the roiling smoke.
He squatted next to her. “We’d better be going, in case someone comes to investigate the fire.”
* * * * *
That was the longest mile she ever walked, taking Robert home to his father—his last journey anywhere. The people came running immediately when they saw the tall Raynor carrying the flopping form of the child. It was late afternoon and most of the villagers were inside their cottages, a few sitting outside. Robert’s father heard the commotion and came running toward them.
They told their made-up story of finding his body near the old ruins and that someone, probably the murderer, had set fire to the towers to cover their tracks. It helped the people to believe them when they handed over the coin filled bags to the father, adding the tale of his son looking for buried treasure and finding it. Whispers began making the rounds and Briana was glad for peoples’ lively imaginations. Some thought the poor lad had run across a robber’s nest and found his stash, hence was killed when the robber returned unexpectedly.
She heard no mention of she and Raynor living temporarily in the tower, so Robert must not have shared the information with anyone. Again she was so glad for the child’s help and friendship. Tears dripped down her face, and several villagers patted her kindly. No threat of suspicion surrounded them.
John nodded to them both, his eyes brimming with unshed tears when he took his child from Raynor and turned toward his cottage.
They left soon afterward. She felt bereft somehow, and once again that sense of being lost enveloped her. Walking only a short distance, Raynor took off down a winding trail through a nearby forest. It was already dusky dark under the thick foliage and Briana shivered, imagining all kinds of scary beasts. But then she laughed silently at herself. She’d already met and defeated probably the worst monsters they could run across in this world. Grimly, she thought, unless you count yourself.
Soon, they ran across the bubbling stream, the same one that had wound behind the castle. Raynor knelt and refilled their water flask, seeming to be lost in thought or trying to distract himself with busy work. He gathered a large pile of firewood and quickly started a cheery fire. It didn’t help, except to warm her body. Her spirit was as listless as a cold noodle.
Continuing with his activities, he unwrapped the large bundle and began making beds for them. He made a mattress of sorts from fallen leaves, placing the woolen blankets on top. He grunted and waved toward the completed beds. At any other time, she would have found his grunt irritating, but she knew he just didn’t feel like talking, and she didn’t blame him.
The outdoorsy beds were jammed next to each other, and he’d spread the heavy fur on top of both. Hopefully, they’d stay warm through the chilly night with the hot fire and coverings. And, if they were lucky, there’d be no rain.
Exhaustion must have overcome her, for she finally fell into a restless sleep, awaking the next morn groggy and out of sorts. Raynor didn’t look much better; dark circles were under his eyes, making him look like he’d been punched in both very hard. Perhaps he had during the fight yesterday, but Briana had an idea it was sorrow darkening his skin, not blows.
A nondescript breakfast followed, one she washed down with unthinking sips from the flask.
“Stayed pretty warm last night?” he asked her politely, breaking the stillness.
“Yes, but I’ve never been fond of camping.” Guilt washed through her once that remark slipped out. Raynor was doing the best he could for them at this point. His next words soothed her conscience, as perhaps he meant them to.