Time dragged on as I held my breath, trying to force my rapid pulse to slow down. Terror clenched my heart as I imagined how this could end. Larson would give in and take what he craved, or I would conjure up my power and draw out his.
“You have?” I asked, my voice just above a whisper.
“I still do,” Larson said, his lips moving against my neck. “But now I’m fully content with being able to inhale your exquisite scent and see the delicate blush of your cheeks.” Larson lifted his head, a wide grin spreading across his face. “That’s enough for me.”
I let out a sigh of relief, but I sensed that was only half of the truth. I didn’t dare press the subject further as Larson took a step back, giving me room to slide out. With my heart still racing from the adrenaline rush that he sent through me, I decided I needed some time alone away from him. I had a copious amount of emotions and thoughts to sort through and Larson’s presence twisted and jumbled my ability to think straight. I rushed back into the house, leaving Larson to draw his own conclusions about my abrupt departure.
While I struggled with feelings for Larson, I was battling with the intense urge of the darkness. I had an obsessive need to attack. I paced around the bedroom willing myself to hold back. I couldn’t control my powers; I didn’t know what they were and if I tried to go after a vampire like Stone, I would get myself killed. What I feared most was that I would succeed and hurt one of Larson’s friends. I didn’t want to kill anybody but felt obligated to obey my dark desires. A hammering headache and bitter nausea ensued as I resisted the darkness. I didn’t understand my feelings. My mind couldn’t understand the inexplicable tendencies of the total eclipse of my soul.
thirty
As the November rain began to fall and saturate the land, the wind carried the smell of wet earth with it. The sun was not shining as brightly as it had been earlier that day. I stood at the window, gazing at the mountains. There was a strip of opacus clouds concealing the sun’s rays, the dark clouds creating a dense fog over the area. I pulled the curtains closed and no longer felt the need to ponder over anything. I left the room and rushed down stairs. I had an ominous feeling that something bad was on its way.
I found Larson and the other vampires in the large family room, reminiscing about the past. I stood at the doorway watching as Larson cracked a smile then began laughing as Stone told the story of their first meeting some twenty years ago.
Stone, who was already a vampire when he came across Larson, was taking trash out to a dumpster in the alley behind a diner off Route 91 in California along the Nevada state line. He claimed to have been an excellent chef before his change and masqueraded as a short order cook at the diner. How he had become a vampire was the one thing he wouldn’t disclose. Larson, who at the time was looking to add to his clan, approached him. Stone rejected Larson’s offer but instead had challenged him to a fight.
Stone had set the wager. If he won, Larson would leave California without him, but if Larson won, then Stone would quit his job at the diner and leave California with Larson. Being twice the size of Larson, Stone had been over confident he would overpower him and defeat him. Larson accepted the bet and Stone ended up in the dumpster, momentarily subdued with a wooden stake through his chest. The group of vampires burst out in a thunderous laugh as Stone ended his story.
Larson met my gaze and motioned with a tilt of his head for me to join him next to the fireplace. I could feel eyes on me as I walked past the vampires. Keeping my gaze to the ground, I avoided their stares as I approached Larson and stood by his side.
As the conversation began to die down and the sky darkened outside, another vampire arrived at the Cardamone house. Like the rest, she was beautiful, and I was certain she had been just as gorgeous as a human. She didn’t need immortality to enhance her beauty. She had brown eyes and long golden-brown hair with perfect waves that reached down to her slender waist. She wore a long red blouse (that slipped off her right shoulder exposing smooth ivory skin) over black leggings. Her knee length boots accentuated her long lean legs.
“Lars!” she exclaimed and threw her arms around him. Larson reluctantly returned the hug then backed away from her.
“Hi Gina, you look well,” Larson said.
“And you my friend, look fine.” Gina winked at him.
“Thank you for coming,” Larson said as he returned to my side. I was glad he did; I felt better when he was next me. Without realizing what I was doing, I slipped my hand into his, trying to ignore the chills and electricity that his touch was sending through my body. Larson held on gently but securely.
“You know I would do anything for you babe,” Gina said as she moved her eyes to me.
“Thanks, Gina,” Larson said letting go of my hand to put his around my waist and pull me closer to him.
“So, this is the girl?” Gina eyed me from head to toe, scrunching her nose. “Nothing special from what I can see, but you have caused some commotion around here little girl,” she said with a musical laugh.
Her condescending attitude stirred my anger, but I refrained from acting on it. Larson glared at Gina’s snide comment and I feared a repeat of his reaction from earlier that day, but he just let out a low growling sound.
“The sun has set,” Maurice said. “Shall we hu—I er mean get some dinner.”
“I had a tasty red head on the way in,” Gina answered, licking her lips. “You all can go ahead, and I will stand guard outside.”
The two vampires who I had not been introduced to, left the house first. Maurice, Eva, Trina, and Stone soon followed them to hunt and Gina stepped out to the front porch to be the lookout.
“Do you have any more questions for me?” Larson asked once everyone had left.
My mind raced with more questions than I could count but only one gruesome came to mind. “What will your friends feed on?” I grimaced as I asked. “People?” I knew it was a rhetorical question.
“The majority survive on the blood of a human donor or blood bag, but yes they will feed on people. It keeps them strong, but they don’t have to kill anyone for it. Gina,” Larson paused for a moment, “and I prefer fresh human blood from the vein, uncompelled until death. Nothing tastes sweeter and we are predators. It’s in our immortal nature to hunt. That’s what makes us stronger.”
“What does uncompelled mean?” I asked.
“I don’t like to make my victims think they are offering themselves to me and I usually drink until I’ve had the last drop. It’s the blood of the heart, the last ounce in their body that gives me the most strength and satisfaction,” Larson grimly admitted.
I gasped in shock of the confession. Larson not only drank human blood, but he relished in the kill.
“Please don’t look at me that way, Analey. Like I said, I am a predator. It wasn’t a choice for me to become this monster,” Larson said averting his eyes to the ground.
“Can’t you just hunt animals instead?” I asked.
“I could but I need to be strong to protect you when the time comes to face Aloes. He is very ruthless and powerful,” he said.
“Is that why Stone is afraid of you?” I asked.
“In part, yes,” he said. “But also, because my origins and bloodline carry unique and stronger powers than other vampires. The curse made us stronger.”
I thought about what Larson said then changed the subject. “Gina hunts for the blood and for the sport,” I said.
Larson nodded. “I asked her to come because her heartless tenacity makes her strong. We could use her strength when Aloes decides to attack.”
Gina was merciless, but she would rather use her powers against me. I had the impression I was the one she wanted to fight and not Aloes.
“No, she wouldn’t raise a hand to you. She knows what you mean to me and she wouldn’t ever do anything to hurt me,” Larson said, but I didn’t think he wholly believed it.
Shrugging my shoulders, I dropped the subject and asked Larson more questions about the other vampire
s. “What is a human donor?” I asked, averting my gaze to the floor.
“In most cases it comes from a blood bank, but there are humans who willing donate their veins for us to feed off.”
“Why would they want to?” I wondered, a slight tone of disgust in my voice.
Larson shrugged his shoulders. “I guess our allure is appealing to some and it’s believed to be a magical experience for both the vampire and human.”
“And it doesn’t kill them?” I asked.
“Not if the vampire has enough self-control to restrain himself once the frenzy starts. Drinking human blood in moderation will not kill a human. Exposing them to our venom without ample time to allow it to circulate out of the blood stream can poison the human. If that happens, the human will either need to be turned or death will occur.” Larson rose to his feet and walked over to a large painting hanging on the wall. It was blue sky with swirls of yellow stars and a yellow crescent moon.
Starry Night. I had finally remembered the title of the Van Gogh painting. I stared at the painted sky and wondered if Larson had ever participated in the magical experience. I considered asking him, but my thoughts were abruptly interrupted when Gina barged back into the house.
“It’s someone else’s turn to stand guard. I’m getting bored standing out there by myself,” Gina grumbled as she walked to Larson. “How about you come out and keep me company,” she said as she reached for his hand. Larson smiled, gently rejecting her and returned to where I was sitting on the couch. Gina glared at me with a smile, exposing sharp teeth on either side of her grin.
I want to go upstairs now. I sent my thoughts to Larson. He nodded in my direction as he stood up and took my hand. Gina’s stare followed us as we walked out of the room to the staircase.
Once we were upstairs in the bedroom, I went into the bathroom and took care of my human needs. I returned to the bedroom wearing a white t-shirt with a store logo on front with a pair of gray sweat pants. Larson had pulled back the duvet cover for me and as I climbed in then he sat in the chair beside the bed.
“Are you going to sit there all night?” I asked pulling the cover up to my chin.
“I have no other place I’d rather be.” Larson smiled.
I closed my eyes and tried not to think of vampires hunting or feeding on anyone, but my mind returned to human donors, stirring up begrudging emotions in me as I drifted to sleep.
Sometime during the night, I dreamt of Mikel.
“Analey, are you okay?” I heard Mikel calling out to me through the starless night. I held out my hand in front of my face and saw the slight outline of my fingers but nothing else.
“Analey? Where are you?” There was desperation in Mikel’s voice.
I turned in a full circle, but I couldn’t see anything around me. It was still too dark. I heard someone coming from behind me, the sound of twigs breaking growing louder as the footsteps came closer to me. The blackness of the night slowly evaporated, and I saw I was standing in the middle of the woods and Mikel was there, a few feet in front of me.
“Analey, where are you? Are you hurt? Who is with you?” he asked one question after the other.
I didn’t answer, not sure if it was wise to answer his questions. I looked over my shoulder and saw Larson sitting in the chair beside the bed where I still lay sleeping. The floor of the bedroom and the ground of the woods seemingly blended where I was standing. I took a step forward and was instantly surrounded by trees and fallen leaves. I was in the exact spot where Larson had found me after I had run from Mikel.
“No, I’m not hurt. I’m safe.” I didn’t know how much I should say. I didn’t feel I was in any immediate danger with Larson and the others, except maybe Gina.
“Where are you?” Mikel asked again with more urgency. “Tell me and I will come get you.”
I looked behind me again, but Larson and the bedroom were gone. I was surrounded by the trees in the forest, dirt and dead leaves covering the ground.
“I’m not sure where I am, but I think I am with some—with others like you,” I said.
“Vampires?” Mikel asked. “You’re with other vampires?” He sounded distant and out of breath.
“Yes,”
“Tell me who they are.”
“It’s okay Mikel. I’m fine.”
“Please, Analey. I’m sorry for hurting you the way I did. It wasn’t my intentions to lie and keep secrets from you,” Mikel said.
“I know. I’m not so angry anymore,” I said as Mikel approached me, closing the short distance that separated us.
Mikel reached his hand out to me and I took it. He pulled me into his arms, and I hugged him back. I felt the strength in his embrace and coolness of his skin. It was hard to believe I was dreaming. I realized how much I did miss Mikel and just how badly I wanted to go home.
“Don’t worry about me. He won’t hurt me,” I said letting go of Mikel. “I will find my way back home.”
“Analey, I will find you. I promise,” Mikel said releasing me and disappearing.
I awoke with a start, lying in the bed. Larson was beside me on the bed, his brow furrowed. I blinked trying to focus my blurred vision and felt a tear trickle down my cheek. Larson reached up and wiped it away with his fingertips.
“I saw Mikel in your thoughts just now. You miss him.” Larson held my gaze as he spoke. “I know you have feelings for him, but I know how you feel about me too.”
I pulled myself up and sat against the headboard as I wiped away another tear. I didn’t know why I was crying, and I felt foolish about it.
“I don’t know what to feel, or what to think or say.” It felt like years ago that I was so sure I was falling in love with Mikel, but after everything that had happened since then, I couldn’t be sure of anything. We sat in silence for several minutes as Larson listened to my unspoken words.
He looked at me, then looked down at his hands, and then his eyes found mine again. “Analey, please don’t fight what you feel for me. It’s there, I know it is and you know it too.”
“I don’t know,” I cried. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel or what I’m supposed to do with these feelings.” I took a deep breath and shook my head. Everyone but me seemed to know exactly what I was supposed to be feeling, but in the end, it would be up to me. I could feel my heart racing and the blood accelerating in my veins as the emotions surged with in me. I wanted to run away screaming; it was all too overwhelming.
“I have to go out. I can’t risk being around you anymore unless I hunt,” Larson said.
I leaned away from him, my shoulders tensed and rigid. “Where will you go?”
Larson stood up and took a step back. “I assure you no human will die because of my thirst.”
I nodded, suddenly frightened with his admission of needing human blood. I guess I had forgotten that Larson was a vampire with the need to drink human blood.
“I’ll return soon,” he said. “Maurice will be here if you need anything.” Larson turned and disappeared from the room.
I stared at the place where he had been standing, dazed by the swift way he moved. I’d witnessed his celerity numerous times, but it always left me surprised. I sat a moment longer then decided to find something to do to pass the time while I was alone with a house full of vampires I didn’t know. I wasn’t sure how much I could trust any of the others, but I knew to trust my gut feelings about Gina.
I spent the morning looking at the old paintings on the walls, original pieces of art I assumed. When I had taken in all the details of the art work, I spent some time looking out the window. The bedroom was on the west corner of the house with a clear view of the mountains. The Cardamone house sat on a generous stretch of land. There was an open field directly behind the house and in the far distance between the house and the mountains, was a dense area of trees. A blanket of fog covered the ground in the field. The grass was green, but it had a purple tint where the fog leisurely floated over it. I saw an animal grazing on what was left
of the foliage near the trees. Without warning, the deer took off running into the woods as if startled by something or someone.
A knock on the door startled me causing me to jerk my eyes away from the window. There was a second knock before I found my voice. “Come in.”
“Ah you O-kay? Can I get you anything?” Maurice asked, his words rolling out in a slow drawl. “I was about to put on a pot of coffee.”
His brown hair had some red in it and it reached just past his ears. I thought it was a nice contrast against his fair complexion and mahogany brown eyes. I couldn’t help but wonder what he had been like before the change, when he was still human. I imagined him to be a noble person, someone I could have been friends with, but now he was a monster. Just another vampire who thirsted for human blood. I tried not to think of Larson and his friends as monsters, but in reality, that was what they were.
“No thank you, Maurice. I’m fine,” I answered. My words came out short and coarse.
“Yes, of course,” he said and walked out, closing the door behind him.
I felt bad about the way I had spoken to Maurice. He was only doing what Larson had instructed him to do. I heard footsteps on the other side of the door. Thinking it was Maurice standing guard, I reached for the knob. I would apologize and ask him for a glass of water. The handle turned and I took a step back. When the door opened, Gina slithered in.
“Can I come in?” she asked as she sauntered into the room and closed the door. I stumbled backwards, running into the footboard of the bed. Gina smiled as I clumsily felt my way around the bed, never taking my eyes off the red-eyed demon.
I gasped at the realization of what Heath had been talking about when he spoke of hunting red-eyed demons. I didn’t know why I hadn’t made the connection before. It was obvious, Heath Gibbs, was a vampire hunter. Was there such a thing? Of course, if vampires existed, then vampire hunters were possible too. More questions flooded my mind. I knew the life I thought I lived in evaporated, disappeared or maybe never existed. I now stood amid my worst nightmare, equidistant from reality and fantasy.
Edge of Forever: The Death and Life of Analey Rose (The Immortal Souls Book 1) Page 23