by L. E. Wilson
Keira winced at the sound, wanting to knock the bitch’s hand away from him. “I won’t do this anymore, Leeha. Do you hear me? I refuse to be a part of your sick plan any longer!”
“Oh, stop with all of the dramatics.” Leeha scoffed. “He’ll be fine, just as soon as he stops being so damn self-sacrificing.” She sighed heavily. “He’s only trying to protect his creations.” One corner of her lips turned up in a smirk. “Little does he know, it’s already too late for that.”
Her eyes roved lovingly over his masculine physique, and Keira tensed, hating the possessive way she looked at him.
“I do care about him, you know.” Leeha’s voice was wistful. “I always have. He cares about me too,” she insisted to her. “He told me so once, right after he burned my father alive. He just refuses to admit it.”
She smiled strangely at Keira. It made her nervous. “Funny, how he reacts so violently to you. If I didn’t know better, I’d almost be jealous.” Her head jerked to the side like a bird as she eyed the other woman. “I can’t quite figure it out. After all, I’m the one who brought him here. I’m the one who orders these sessions. Why do you bring out more emotion in him than I?”
She shrugged delicately, making a dismissive noise. “I’ll sway him over to my side eventually.”
Keira couldn’t blame him for acting the way he did towards her. If it weren't for her, he wouldn't be here.
“Let me go, Leeha.”
“I can’t do that, witch. I need you.”
“No, you don’t!” Keira maintained.
Leeha smiled benignly. “Stupid, stupid girl. Did you really believe I would just let you go? Allow you to go back to your boring life? With you here, I have more power than I ever dreamed possible.” She giggled with delight, gesturing to Luukas. “Even a powerful Master vampire is naught but putty in my hands.”
Keira stared at her in disbelief. “You can’t just keep me here forever.”
Leeha bared her fangs without warning, nightmares swirling in her eyes until Keira had to look away, lest she get sucked into them, until she was as mad as her vampire. “Oh, but I can. And if you think to defy me...well, I’ll just have to pay a quick visit to your home, and a certain naive little sister of yours.” Sheathing her fangs, she hid a mischievous giggle behind her hand. “Well, maybe not so naive anymore.”
Keira’s hands fisted at her sides as her head snapped up, her eyes shooting fire at the threat to her sister. “You stay the hell away from Emma.”
Leeha wagged a finger in her face. “Temper, temper, witch. Remember, I have a contingency plan. If anything happens to me, you’ll never reach her in time. There won’t be a thing you can do to save her.”
Breathing heavily, Keira forced herself to look away, and kept her mouth shut and her magic dormant.
Leeha studied her thoughtfully for a moment. “Since you’re such a bleeding heart, I think I’ll just leave you in here, instead of returning you to your cell. Maybe your presence will ‘comfort’ him some more.” She giggled again, sweeping her gown aside dramatically to leave, crossing the cell so fast she seemed to disappear and reappear in the doorway.
“What? NO! Leeha…Leeha!” Keira rushed after her, but the thick wooden door was slammed in her face. Yanking on the handle, she threw her shoulder into it and tried to knock it loose, but it wouldn’t budge.
Narrowing her eyes rebelliously, she began to speak the words of an unlocking spell through gritted teeth, when Leeha called from the other side in a singsong voice, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, witch.”
Keira paused mid-verse, reigning in her temper, and dropped her hands.
Tiredly closing her eyes, she listened to Leeha order one of the “normal” guards to stay there and watch the door. She pulled her threadbare blanket closer around herself, covering her bare arms and legs, unsuccessfully trying to keep the damp chill at bay. Taking a fortifying breath, she resisted the urge to cough, and tried to ignore the way the musty air burned her lungs. She didn’t know if it would be enough to rouse the vampire again, but she didn’t want to take the chance.
Quietly as she could, she shuffled back to her corner in the shadows and sank down onto the cold dirt. Her belly growled loudly and she placed a hand over it. They’d probably forget to feed her again.
Her eyes misted over. How had she gotten herself into this mess?
She missed her sister, and prayed that she was ok. The last time she’d seen Emma, they’d been leaving a carnival near their hometown. It was the first time they'd really had fun since their parents had died months before. After riding every ride and eating millions of calories worth of carnival food, they'd chased each other across the field towards their car, and had wandered into a nightmare, to find creatures of hell waiting for them.
Tall and thin, yet strangely muscular, their grey skin was rotting off of their bare bodies, yet they were alive. Blood oozed from their bulging eyes as they observed the girls, and then their leader had pushed its hairless head towards them and hissed loudly, bloody saliva dripping from its mouthful of fangs...
They'd come for her, one of them scooping her up onto its bony shoulder and running off into the trees. Its claws had dug into the backs of her legs to keep her still, and it had lapped at the bleeding wounds disgustingly as it carried her through the woods.
She'd screamed at her sister to "RUN!" but it was too late. As she’d watched helplessly, the remaining creatures had closed in on Emma, cutting her off from her sight. Keira had no idea what had happened to her, other than what Leeha had told her: That she was released safe and sound once Keira had been taken far enough away.
Problem was, there was no way in hell she trusted that bitch. Had they attacked her sister? Fed from her? Let her go? Was she home safe, or locked up in a dirty cell like this one? Was she even still alive, or had they killed her?
A single tear escaped her tightly closed eyes, leaving a wet trail down her dirt-streaked cheek. She wiped it away with a shaky sigh. Feeling sorry for herself wouldn’t get her anywhere. What she needed to do was figure out a way to get them all out of this mess: Emma, herself, and the vampire.
As though he sensed her attention on him, she heard his chains rattle as he moaned, the pitiful sound bringing a fresh bout of tears to her eyes. Sliding one booted foot in towards himself, he tried to get his leg under him to relieve his disjointed shoulders of some of his weight, but he was too weak, and he collapsed again with a jerk and a hiss of pain as his foot slipped back out from under him. His head lolled on his chest as he, thankfully, blacked out again.
Keira let her eyes roam over him as he hung there. Even dirty, starved, and covered in his own drying blood, he was a beautiful specimen of a male.
His thick, dark hair brushed the bottom of his neck and hung in his face, hiding his broad forehead, prominent cheekbones, and strong jaw. His eyes, when open, were deep set and intense, and inexplicably, had darkened to a depthless ebony a year or so after he’d been brought down here.
What was left of his t-shirt did nothing to hide the ropes of muscle straining against the confinement of the chains. His olive-toned skin was ashen and slightly loose on his bones from the lack of feedings, but she remembered the rich coloring he’d had, and would have again, if she had anything to say about it.
Seven Years Ago
The moment she’d first caught sight of him, Keira's heart had stopped beating, only to resume pounding hard and fast in her chest a moment later.
The notorious Luukas Kreek: the Master vampire who’d crossed an entire ocean and built up his own colony of vampires in a brand new land; a risk that had been unheard of before he came along.
Her breath had caught in her throat when he’d stepped from his vehicle outside the front entrance of Leeha’s main fortress and confidently strolled towards them. Wearing only jeans, combat boots, and a casual black t-shirt, he nonetheless had a commanding presence which demanded her attention.
She couldn't take her eyes off of him.
His power coiled around him like a living essence, preceding him as he strode their way. It slithered over her skin when it reached her, feeling her out. Though she’d stood behind and slightly to the left of the female vampire who’d called him there, silver-grey eyes had honed in on her immediately, shining through the inky night like beacons. He’d smiled at her, and she’d returned the smile, powerless to do otherwise, until she’d remembered the reason she was there.
He’d frowned slightly as her smile had faltered, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as he’d quickly glanced at Leeha, and then towards the thick trees on either side of the creek that flowed directly into the mountain in front of him.
He’d known then. He’d known that something was up. Pausing briefly where he was, he’d raised an eyebrow, a question in his eyes.
She’d never met him before, had only heard stories, but something inside of her had balked at being a part of what Leeha had planned. Mindful of the threat to her sister, she’d tried to warn him without drawing attention to herself, looking pointedly at his Hummer and then back at him, trying to tell him to run for it.
But he’d just cocked his head and grinned arrogantly, fearlessly. She’d known why he wasn’t afraid. There weren’t many threats to a Master vampire as powerful as he was. Actually, there were only two: killing all of his created children, his power draining with each death, and a witch. A powerful witch…like Keira. And she, under Leeha’s orders, had been very careful to keep her magic concealed so he wouldn’t sense it.
Approaching the two females, Luukas had come to a halt directly in front of Leeha, finally dragging his eyes from Keira long enough to greet her. Bending at the waist, he’d taken her proffered hand, briefly kissing the back of it before letting it drop back to her side.
“Leeha.”
His voice was deep and as smooth as a fine cognac. He’d spoken in low tones, and Keira had felt chills whisper over her skin as he’d bowed again and introduced himself to her, boldly raking his eyes over her small form. “My name is Luukas Kreek, originally from Estonia.”
She’d opened her mouth to tell him her name, but was interrupted by Leeha before she could say anything.
“She is not important,” she’d sneered. “I trust you had no troubles finding my home?”
Luukas had stared intensely at Keira a moment longer before turning his attention back to his hostess. “No trouble at all. Shall we go in? Or are we going to do this out here?”
Leeha had smiled at him sweetly, looking up at him through lowered lashes. “Follow me.” Shooting a warning look Keira’s way, she’d grabbed her roughly by the arm and pushed her out in front, while she herself fell into step with Luukas.
“Do you have a new pet?” she’d heard him ask.
Leeha had chuckled. “You could say that.”
“Does she not have any warmer clothes?”
Keira had still been wearing the rolled-up cargo shorts, slip-on Keds, and white, short-sleeved printed T-shirt she’d worn to the carnival.
Leeha had been silent for a moment. “I suppose I could find her something,” she’d said offhandedly.
She hadn’t. Keira still wore the same clothes today, but she had been given something of a blanket.
Following the rambling creek into the cave at the base of the mountain, Keira had felt the tiny hairs rise on the back of her neck as she felt the weight of his eyes on her. She tried to ignore him, leading them over to the tunnel that would take them into the interior. Torches lined the walls, lighting the way through the narrow space, until it gradually opened into a gaping cavern, and Luukas had whistled with appreciation as he’d taken it all in. “Wow. Quite a place you have here.”
The main room they’d entered had been gouged out of the mountain interior until it resembled a great cathedral of old, including mosaic floor tiles, massive columns, and a soaring ceiling of pointed arches. At the far end of the center aisle were smooth stone steps leading up to a large platform, upon which sat an impressive throne made of the same glossy, black stone that lined the walls, with threads of glittering gold interspersed throughout. Plush red cushions covered the seat and back, completing the royal effect.
Luukas had turned in a circle, taking in the full effect. “Impressive.”
Leeha had preened like a peacock under his praise. “It took my vampires a full six months to construct it to my specifications. There is no electricity, but I prefer it that way. We do have running water, however," Leeha had told him proudly. "I think they did quite well."
“Where are all of your little minions?” Luukas had asked.
“Oh, they’re around. There are many rooms here in my home, many more than meets the eye,” Leeha had alluded.
Luukas smiled. “I would expect nothing less.” With another quick glance at Keira, he’d proposed, “Shall we get down to business?”
Giving him a regal nod, Leeha had glided down the aisle and climbed the stairs to take her place upon the throne, over-exaggerating the sway of her hips in her sheer gown like a canine in heat.
Keira had barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes, and placed herself over to the side of the platform as instructed beforehand.
Luukas had only looked amused at Leeha’s display as he took his place on the main floor directly in front of, and below, her.
Sitting regally upon her chair, she’d indicated that he was allowed to speak.
Clasping his hands behind him, he’d presented his case, his deep voice carrying across the vast space easily. “I agreed to meet you here today to end this misunderstanding between us, once and for all. I am aware that your adopted father raised you to believe in what can only be called a fantasy, and I am truly sorry for that. But that’s all it is, a fantasy. I have been lenient with you up until now, because I know it’s hard for you to come to terms with the fact that he lied to you. But enough is enough. You have created your own colony by taking a group of my own vampires, and I will allow you to keep them and have your little home up here. In return, you need to stay within your boundaries, and give up this silly idea of yours. There has never been a time when two vampires have ruled together as equals and that’s not going to change. Find yourself a nice, little human male to play with and make him your mate, if it pleases you.”
Here he’d paused, and his eyes had begun to glow an eerie grey-green as his voice had taken on a menacing timbre. “However, if I hear anything more of you disregarding the rules and threatening our existence with your careless hunting of humans, you will have the same fate as your father. And I will come here again and carry it out myself.”
Gathering the force of his power tightly around himself again, his eyes had dimmed back to grey, and he’d given her a patronizing smile. “I think I’m being more than fair about this. Other Masters would have killed you long ago for your impertinence.”
Leeha’s expression hadn’t changed while he'd made his speech, and she’d continued to look at him impassively as she’d appeared to think on what he had just said. Finally, she’d sighed with disappointment.
“I’m afraid you still don’t take me seriously, Luukas, and I’m beginning to wonder if you ever will. But you must believe that I do care about you, and I know you care about me. What do I have to do to convince you that we belong together?”
“There is nothing you can do,” he’d asserted, “that would ever convince me. I’m sorry to be so blunt, but I don’t have feelings for you Leeha. Not like that.”
“But you do,” she purred, “and you will come to realize this, Luukas. Eventually.”
Keira had kept her eyes down and tried not to fidget as the tension in the room had grown to an uncomfortable level. It had gone on for so long that she'd nearly jumped out of her skin when Leeha had suddenly ordered, “Keira! Do it! Now!”
Keira had cast a frantic look her way. She was really going to make her do this?
Leeha had slowly stood, daggers shooting from her blood-red eyes. In a menacing tone, she’d spoken just one word:
“Sister.”
She’d known Luukas had been studying her, trying to figure out what was going on, but she hadn’t been able to bring herself to look at him.
She'd had no choice.
Closing her eyes and lifting her arms towards him, Keira had drawn on all of the powers of the earth’s energy, pulling them into herself and releasing her magic. She’d heard Luukas gasp as her spell reached towards him, swirling around him to draw on his power.
“What are you doing?!” he’d roared.
Tears filling her eyes, she’d squeezed them tight as she’d spoken the incantation that would harness the power of a Master vampire and allow him to be captured, drawing it into herself.
Her chants rose louder and louder, and she’d opened her eyes to see him fall onto his knees, his back arched and his muscles pulled taut as he’d fought the magic. But he was no match for her, and he’d collapsed onto the floor as she'd finished the spell and lowered her hands.
“Guards!” Leeha had shrieked gleefully. “Take him to the room next to mine, and lock him in.”
A foul smell had filled the room as half a dozen of Leeha’s morbid creations had lurched through a hidden doorway, hissing at Keira as they'd passed.
She’d recoiled from them, the night they’d stolen her from the carnival grounds, just a few days before, still fresh in her mind. Her wounds had still been healing.
Two of them had hauled Luukas off, and Leeha had ordered the remaining ones to “Take her down to one of the cells.”
Keira had had no time to react before they’d had her by the arms and were dragging her away. As they’d reached the doorway of the tunnel leading down to the underground, she’d heard Leeha call out after them, “Remember our deal, witch!”
Current Day
She’d been down here ever since. She still wondered how Leeha had found out about her. Her family had gone above and beyond to keep her existence and her practicing a secret, to prevent something just like this from happening.