4 Vamp Versus Vamp

by Christin Lovell

  “I live out of the trunk of the company vehicle. I don’t own pajamas; I own uniforms and weapons.”

  I looked at Kellan. “Do you mind?”

  “Do what makes you happy. I don’t mind, though.”

  I smiled wide. “Hm. Well, Drex, I think we need to change that. From what I gather, you’re on a long-term placement contract with me, so the other spare bedroom is going to be yours. I want you to go get yourself some pajamas and whatever else you want. That room is yours. Even if you’re reassigned, it’ll be waiting there for you. It’s always nice to have a place to come back to.”

  He tried to hide his smile, but the tears gathering in his eyes gave him away. I noticed he didn’t like to show emotion around other men. “Thank you.”

  “Now, I’m going to be having a pajama party tonight, so, you, Mr. Bancroft, need to shower and change with me.” I pointed at Drexel. “And you need to go to the store and buy yourself at least one pair. I’ll gladly pay for them.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” he stated.

  “Alright, then. I’ll see you later.” He started for the door. “Oh! And please invite Sanders.” He cast a knowing look over his shoulder. He knew what I was up to, but he didn’t press the issue. He nodded and trotted out the door.

  “I have you all to myself.” Kellan nuzzled my neck. He trailed his tongue along my vein.

  “You know, I haven’t tasted your blood in quite a while.” I skimmed my finger down the center of his chest. He’d thrown away his shirt at the Bladangs’ since blood didn’t wash out of white, even with bleach.

  “Feast upon me.” He challenged me.

  It was our game of predator and prey. If I caught him, I got to drink from him. If he caught me… well, he got to do what he wanted with me since he couldn’t drink my tainted blood.

  He abruptly took off.

  ***

  By six, all of our close friends and family had shown up. The condo smelled of nothing but sweet heaven, or so they claimed. Kalel was the only one absent. He’d returned to look for Francesca.

  “I love your palm tree and smiling sun pajama pants, Kai.” I tried to hold in my laugh.

  “These are better than miss Hello Kitty over there.” He jerked his head towards Mel.

  “I resent that, buster. I happen to love my PJs.” She pranced over to the island.

  “Hm. I’m beginning to feel my age in these silk pajamas,” Beth said.

  “Why?” I asked. Her soft pink button-up shirt and pants looked comfortable and stylish at the same time.

  “Because only the parents are wearing silk.”

  Al was wearing black silk pajama bottoms with a V-neck white T-shirt. He snuggled up behind his wife. “I like what you’re wearing.” She blushed.

  “Okay, and I’m getting a little creeped out by my parents groping each other. I’ll be over there.” Kellan sauntered off to talk to Craig.

  Gabi joined the round table at that moment. “What are you working on right now, Lex?”

  “I’m trying my hand at a blood pudding pie.”

  “I don’t know what it is, but it sounds delish.” She licked her lips.

  “Remember, guys, I want you to be brutally honest. If you don’t like something, tell me.” Several acknowledgements followed, but nothing that made me believe them.

  Jack pushed his way between the crowds at the island. “Here is your new logo and website.” He spun the netbook towards me.

  I stopped whisking the pudding mix, my jaw dropping. “O.M.G. Holy sugar plums! I love it! You did such an amazing job!”

  I stared at the screen. The cartoon vamp was wearing skinny jeans, a pink T-shirt, and black heels. Her dark brown hair was Texas-sized and fell perfectly around the animated face, a face that looked a lot like mine. She wore a red apron with “Bloody Bakes” stitched in white across the front. She had a chocolate cupcake in her hand with a chunk missing. Blood was oozing from the center, and a drop of blood still clung to her fangs.

  The website had a modern retro theme with bold colors that somehow worked well together. The slogan pasted across the top read, “Now serving delicious desserts for vamps everywhere.” I noticed an order page, as well as a menu link. He clicked on the menu and displayed the items he knew I’d already made, each with an enticing description below it.

  “Great news. You’ve already got five orders, all from vamps. I ran their IP address and confirmed their information with the global registry.” Jack showed the others the site.

  “Oh, wow. Thanks.”

  “This better not take away from your army time, Jackson,” Auggy grumbled. I’d laughed when he entered in camouflage pajamas. “Only him,” I’d thought as I shook my head.

  I rolled my eyes. “Let me guess. I’m too valuable of an asset?”

  “And I thought I was conceited,” the burly vampeen chuckled.

  “To answer your statement, no, this shouldn’t take up my army time. It’s just a hobby turned small business.”

  “I expect a delivery of your hobby every week to my office. I already told Claire to put in the order for whatever you happen to make that week that sounds good.” His eyes lightened. He felt something paternal towards me; I’d caught glimpses of it.

  “He did. Told me if I forgot it, then I wasn’t allowed to come in.” She laughed. She considered him with love. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek. I was happy to see them back in each others’ good graces. Life was too short to spend it angry.

  I poured the pudding mixture, which consisted of a packet of instant vanilla pudding mix, one and a half cups of blood, a half a cup of milk, and a few drops of vanilla extract, into my freshly baked graham cracker crust. Since the blood and milk were cold, and I’d used less liquid than the recipe called for, it instantly set. I did scallops of freshly whipped cream all around the edges and a big swirl in the center. “This one’s done,” I announced.

  Gabi immediately stole the dish out from under me, leaving me standing there with the pastry bag of whipped cream in my hands in midair. Drexel came around and retrieved a cake knife from a drawer. He’d purchased disposable plates at the store for me since the sink would already be overloaded at the end of the night.

  I smiled when I saw him and Sanders share a look. Time. It healed all things.

  We spent the rest of the evening laughing. The best part of the entire event was the lack of tension between Kellan and Kai. For the first time ever, it seemed like they were genuinely getting along. They weren’t best friends, but they at least held a decent conversation with each other. It was after one in the morning before anybody left. Others slowly trickled out after that until it was just Drexel, Sanders, Kellan, and me.

  “You go get some sleep. Me and Sanders will clean up,” Drexel said.

  I grinned up at him. “Sure.” I kissed his cheek and winked at him. His gaze drifted to Kellan and then back to me. “Kellan doesn’t care.” Drexel seemed uneasy. “Kellan, do you care if Drexel is gay or straight?”

  “Nope. Just don’t touch my girl and we’re good.” He came up behind me, pulling me into his chest.

  “See?” He barely nodded his head in acknowledgement. “Work on him, Sanders.” I gave the security officer a kiss on the cheek as well before heading to the first spare bedroom with Kellan.

  He pulled me into him on the bed. He caressed my curves in a soothing motion. “Are you nervous about tomorrow?”

  “I don’t have a choice.” If I didn’t get everyone in, then Auggy and I had no chance. We’d forever be endangering those around us.

  Kellan leaned over me and pressed a kiss to the place on my back where Rupert had removed a piece of me. “Get some sleep, babe. Try not to worry. You’ll have plenty of backup.”

  I kissed his lips, savoring the taste of him, the feel of him. His fingers threaded my hair, angling my head back to deepen our connection. In an instant we collided on a cosmic level. The truth of all he’d done over the past few weeks pummeled to the forefront of his
thoughts, of his shared truths. His mixed emotions settled into my chest, and the anger he felt towards himself for his mistakes constricted it. I slid my tongue past his, wishing to be even closer, further intertwined. Love was easy; commitment to that love was difficult. No one is perfect, and therefore there will never be a perfect relationship. But a perfect commitment can exist; it does exist for those who seek it.

  He pressed his lips to mine several times in quick succession. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” I closed my eyes and snuggled deeper into his chest.

  Chapter 31

  Auggy was standing with Imara in the lobby of my building. I approached them, my stomach tossing around the blood I’d just drank.

  “You ready?” Auggy asked. The first thing I’d noticed was he was wearing jeans and a T-shirt rather than his usual military clothes.

  “As ready as I can be.” Kellan squeezed my shoulder, reminding me that he would have my back. Drexel brushed his arm against mine, the only affection he would allow in public.

  “Claire and I came up with a good idea last night. You and I are going to switch places. This way we can hopefully catch him off-guard. He knows that the molecular tracker hit you and me, but he would never suspect me to stay in your condo while you approach his compound.”

  I tilted my head. “Hm. He would assume it was you coming instead of me.”

  “Exactly. Hopefully that will throw him off, at least a little, to where my men and the Bladangs’ men can slip in after you.” He passed me the earrings. I put them on, adjusting them to ensure they were secure. “Try to make sure you angle your head to the side when they enter codes of any sort so we can capture them and get to you quicker.” I nodded. Auggy pat my upper arm. “Everything will work out, sweetie.” Was this a new soft side to Auggy?

  “I hope so.” I couldn’t get past my body twisting itself into a pretzel on the inside.

  “Felipe and Laurence will be in the air over the area if you need them for anything or if a hostile negotiation takes place. Otherwise, Kalel and Kai will be negotiating anything he offers on both of our behalves.” He turned to Imara. “Take care of her.”

  “Of course.” She was dressed in a beautiful green sari. Her black hair was pulled tight at the base of her head.

  I glanced down at my own ensemble, feeling too casual next to her. I was wearing tight black running pants, a thin white T-shirt, and tennis shoes. The special diamond stud earrings and my engagement ring were the only other items on me. My hair was in a snug knot on top of my head. I’d given my cell phone to Kellan and left everything else upstairs. I felt naked.

  Auggy disappeared towards the elevators with Sanders.

  “We need to leave now,” Imara stated.

  Drexel led us to his company vehicle while Kellan protected us in the rear.

  The closer we got, the tenser my body became. Kellan did his best with gentle touches to try to soothe my nerves. He hadn’t said much. I knew from our connection last night that there was so much more running through his mind than what he let on.

  We were met by an army of vamps when we pulled up to my grandmother’s old house. Gabi and Jack escorted us from the car.

  Kalel and Kai met us in the center of the home’s clearing. They tugged me between them.

  “This is the vampeen who is going in first. She’s the one they want, and the one we need to protect,” Kalel stated. “Imara is her counterpart. She is to be protected at all costs as well.” Imara stepped forward.

  “You are to hold off on stepping out until we give the signal. We’ll have an inside view of the compound through her. You slip up, and not only is she dead, but so are all of you,” Kai added.

  A woman stepped forward through the crowd. Francesca smiled at Kalel. His eyes sparkled. He instantly warmed beside me at the sight of her.

  I leaned over to Kai. “Your brother’s found a new girl. You might want to take a hint.”

  “Now is not the time.” He spoke in a rushed whisper. He was definitely not in a lighthearted mood.

  In truth, I wasn’t, either. I think it was the nerves hitting my surface. I couldn’t contain them. I stared out at all the vampires and vampeens spreading out over the open land, hiding amidst the forest. They were all putting their necks on the line for me to get out safely.

  A part of me wondered what they planned to do with my grandfather if he didn’t cooperate. I didn’t hate anyone, and he was family, one of the last of my family members. I wanted that connection, but my hope wasn’t strong where he was concerned.

  Al came forward, followed by Craig and Steven; they joined Kellan. Perhaps I didn’t have a blood family, but I had the love and support of a new one, a different one.

  “All army vamps are to report to Steven or myself once we clear out. If you go missing, if you are not accounted for, we will assume you have turned against us and you will be put on our wanted list.” Al’s attitude was a no-nonsense approach, at least today anyway.

  “All Bladang vamps, the same applies to you. Christian, myself, or Kai will be your contact.”

  “As a reminder, all vamps stop at the two-mile mark. Do not get any closer than two miles from the house until the signal is given,” Kai ordered.

  Gabi slipped in between Kalel and me. “We’ll meet you on the inside.” She was solemn, in business mode. She was giving me a promise she was solemnly swearing to keep.

  “I’ll see you on the inside,” I affirmed.

  Kellan grabbed my hand. “Let’s go.”

  We took off running towards my grandfather’s house. I didn’t slow until ten miles in. I turned around. The sight before me was overwhelming. Hundreds of vamps were sprinting around me. This was an army to protect me. The same men and women I was fighting to bring peace to were in return fighting to protect me.

  Tears gathered. “We have to fulfill the prophecy, Kellan.”

  He wiped the red tears streaming down my cheeks. “We will.” His mouth closed over mine firmly. He assured me that he was in this with me, that he would help me see it to the end.

  I realized in this moment that it didn’t matter if this was fate or not; this was what I wanted to do. I wanted to make a difference in my world any way that I could. I wanted to leave my footprints in the sand a thousand times so no one could miss them, so these vamps who were so willing to risk themselves for me could have someone fighting for them in return.

  “We must go,” Imara stated, cutting into my thoughts.

  We resumed our former pace, flying through the trees. We slowed as we reached the two-mile mark. I gave Kellan one last hug and a kiss goodbye. I glanced down the line and saw Kalel hand in hand with Francesca. They would be a couple not to cross. I met Kai’s eyes. He didn’t have to say anything for me to know that he was worried.

  “Are you ready?” Imara asked.

  I glanced at the horizon once more, overwhelmed by the sheer number of vamps there to defend us. I met her eyes. “I’m ready.”

  KELLAN

  “Pull out your phones and lock in on the frequency we told you earlier,” Kalel ordered.

  I yanked out my phone, pulling up the app and accessing the cameras in Lexi’s earrings. My heart was on the verge of slicing through my chest. It might be dead, but it would always beat for her.

  My eyes were glued to the phone, watching her every move.

  I felt a hand land on my shoulder. “She’s going to be okay, son.”

  I pursed my lips, unable to pull myself from the visual in my hand to look at him. “I hope so.”

  I frowned as I watched Lexi approach the house. My gut tightened, my stomach twisting. Something was wrong. I met Kai’s eyes. We both knew it. She was in trouble. I gazed out at the horizon, watching as they ambled towards us. We were all in trouble.

  LEXI

  The compound was eerily quiet as we approached. An eerie foreboding settled in my chest. My serum nearly choked me in my throat.

  “Control yourself. Do not allow your emotions to
control you.” Imara clutched my arm, guiding me to the front door of the plantation-style home.

  Not one vamp met us. The other day, they’d been crawling all over the property; the map showed more than two hundred vampeens accounted for, yet there were none present. The front door opened of its own accord. Imara led me inside. The door immediately slammed shut and a metal door fell into place, blocking it. What seemed like hundreds of shutters subsequently locked over the windows. There would be no escaping. Not good.

  A large chandelier hung in the center of the circular foyer. A wooden staircase clung to the right wall. The house was furnished as if it was still 1900, yet I didn’t see a speck of dust. A study sat untouched to the left, and a large dining room was on the right.

  Imara walked into the dining room, around the table, and through the swinging door to the kitchen. The kitchen was a modern-day dream; it stood out like a sore thumb amidst the outdated décor of the rest of the home. Near the edge of the kitchen, she opened another door with stairs leading down.

  My heart thumped loudly in my chest. Still no vampeens.

  I followed her down the steep, narrow steps into what was the original basement of the home. She headed straight for the far side of the space to where an opening had been created. She led me into the carved-out tunnel of concrete. Half a mile in, we reached another metal door. It automatically opened for us, and again slammed behind us.

  My eyes surveyed the dark, dingy room. A desk sat abandoned to the right. This was definitely a trap. I felt like I was in a Super Mario game, being led through the castle, forced to keep going despite knowing that big Koopa was waiting.

  “Calm yourself.” Imara walked to the door on the other side of the room.

  The moment I approached behind her, it opened. We were now in a back office area, similar to the vamp army headquarters. There was still not one vampeen in sight, though.

  Imara closed her eyes. Her head popped up. “This way.”

  We approached a conference room in the corner. It was set up like any other generic conference space. A large table and black office chairs ate up the majority of the space. A white dry-erase board was mounted to the wall at the front of the room.