Exsanguinate

by Killion Slade

  I called Khaldon on my cell phone, hoping to be able to get reception while moving this fast. People talk from mobiles on planes all the time, so why shouldn’t I get dragon reception?

  He picked up on the first ring. “Where the hell are you? Why would you do that, Chey? Do you have any idea - ”

  “Stop,” I said. “There’s nothing you can do about it now, so this is what I need you to do to get ready for our return.”

  “You mean IF you return, ” he snapped at me.

  “Fine, we can do this one of two ways. You can either help me, or I can try to do this alone. I won’t lose her, Khaldon. If this is the only way to do it, then it’s worth the risk to me.”

  I heard his hrmped grunt into the receiver. “Okay fine, but if you don’t make it back here …”

  “Seriously, Khaldon, unless she runs a wooden stake through my heart, or tears off my head, it’s not like she can kill me. You have to let me be a vampire and stop treating me like I’m still a human.”

  Silence.

  “Okay, I’ve got the extra drums of blood into place and the harness system. How long do you think it’s going to take to get your bloody arses back here?” Khaldon asked. “If I know Torchy, he can probably have you both back in about an hour or so if everything goes as planned.”

  Briggs must have been able to hear the conversation because I could feel his body nodding in agreement. “Yes, Briggs agrees. Please get everyone and everything in order. This is going to go down a lot faster than any of us thought.”

  “Just one more thing,” Khaldon demanded. “Well, maybe two more things. I want you back.”

  “And the second thing?”

  “Don’t get too cozy with Briggs vibrating between your legs. How the hell you think he’s wooed so many princesses out of their virginity?”

  Briggs belly roared and tipped his wings into the water creating a beautiful cascade of waterfalls beside us. A little embarrassed I said, “Well, it’s a good thing I’m taken then, because it has been one helluva ride already. I’ve got to figure out a way to mimic his vibrations for my next cybrator.”

  I heard Torchy laugh at the joke as he mind-messaged me, “Nice one, Cheyenne.”

  “I love you, Cheyenne,” I heard Khaldon say over the receiver.

  “I … I love you too, Khaldon.” It was lucky I was glued to the dragon because I might have fallen off.

  Khaldon told me, Cheyenne, that he loved me. Not as our avatars, but for who I am now.

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  “There she is!” I pointed to a winged creature sitting atop the peaked roof of the lighthouse, effortlessly balancing on the vertical pole. The strobe spun on its 360 axis blinding me with each revolution. As soon as I focused, the light rotated again.

  We flew down the beach along the shoreline to turn around. The cove, a small rocky inlet, looked as if a red tide had crashed upon its jagged boulders. The beach’s formerly pristine ocean waters ran crimson rivulets over the pure white sands. Each wave crashed and puddled around the leftover body parts where seagulls plucked at the human remains.

  “Torchy, undrape the mattress pads. Dakota is on the roof of the lighthouse,” I messaged him in my mind. I watched as Torchy unfurled the pads from a flapped section under his wings, almost as if they were pockets. Now every time he beat his wings, the coppery blood perfumed the air, beckoning even me to follow him.

  Briggs and Torchy sped past the top of the lighthouse and shattered its triangular windows. Dakota screeched at them and took off into the night sky after us. I gasped in horror as I saw what my baby sister had become.

  Briggs released the dragon essence as I pulled up on the harness. I needed to turn around to face her. “Torchy, keep flapping, it’s working!” Operation Blood Soaked Pads was already a success. The scent of the Solunarae blood drew her in close. I prayed she wouldn’t land on me thinking I was the one providing the snack.

  Carefully I removed one leg from the stirrup straps and swung my leg out in front of me to face backwards. Suddenly, Dakota shot underneath Briggs and cut him off under his belly causing us to have a mid-air collision. Her clawed wings tried to grab hold of me as she flew over us. I crooked my elbow under the netting harness to prevent her flying off with me. Briggs countered to the port side and helped to pull me out of her grip. He immediately corrected his course and righted us. Dakota’s razor sharp wingtip talons ripped open deep gashes in my bicep. My blood had become its own beckoning call to her.

  Torchy slowed his pace and flew beneath Briggs to keep Dakota from attacking us from below again. Dakota circled back around. Briggs evasively turned his belly away from her. I lost my grip and slid from his back and held on for dear life. Torchy and his poisoned spikes were mere feet away from mine. From my position, I lost track of Dakota, but her screech blasted my ears to the point of silence. I scrambled for the netting as Briggs righted his side up, helping me hang on. Dakota came back at him, as though she were trying to attack him for the blood. He rolled over to starboard this time and, my boot barely had time to wedge itself under the netting. I grabbed onto Briggs’ wing, this time he seized me in with his dragon glue.

  Torchy maneuvered above Briggs while we flew at ridiculous speeds. I felt as though I was a part of the US Air Force Thunderbirds, but I didn’t recall any dragon divisions.

  Dakota came up along the back of the two dragons. Briggs released me so I could unscrew the lid to the pony keg.

  The deliciously tempting Solunarae blood swirled inside the lid. I dipped my fingers into the round hole and then brought them to my mouth, sucking my fingers clean. I wanted Dakota to see that I would drink it, too. I dipped my hand in again and then let the droplets fly off my fingers and onto her face. “Dakota, it’s me, Cheyenne. I have the blood. Stop attacking us!”

  She screeched at me again. It was if a banshee and a screech owl joined together to make her song.

  “Enough of the damn screaming already. Get down here and drink this blood!” I yelled at her while pointing to the container.

  From the corner of my eye, I saw Torchy fly off to the side and then sidled underneath us and starboard. It made me feel better knowing if I fell off of Briggs again that I wouldn’t land on Torchy’s spikes. I looked at my arm, amazed it was already beginning to recover from Dakota’s attack, but it hurt like hell.

  I remembered Khaldon saying to Briggs, ‘whatever you do, don’t let her take the keg away from you. She’ll fly away with it, and this might be your only chance.’ “Briggs, slow down just a little, so she can land on your back,” I hollered through the wind.

  Her claws caught the netting secured to his back. He slowed even more, and she was able to pull her legs in under her belly and land gracefully on him. I scooted back away from the keg. I barely recognized Dakota’s face as she appeared emaciated with the skin barely stretched over her skull. If it hadn’t been for her red hair, I’m not sure I would have recognize her like this. She looked ancient and exhausted. If I didn’t know better, I would’ve guessed she was a thousand years old. I sat a three feet away from the barrel opening and pushed my back up against Briggs’ neck. The Solunarae blood cocktail sent splatters flying onto her face as she licked at the droplets with her serpentine tongue.

  “Dakota, drink it!” I yelled. “Drink the blood. It’s what you need.”

  Instantly she was over the top of the keg and in my face. Open mouth screeching with fetid breath. Her jaw contained hundreds of fangs. She looked like one of the monster piranhas that live in the depths of an Amazon River. Green wisps of smoke seeped out of her throat as black liquid goo dripped from each jagged tooth edge.

  I screamed and pushed at her nose. “Dammit, Dakota, I said drink!” I shoved her face again and guided it toward the keg opening.

  Dakota looked into the barrel and then back at me. “Go ahead. Do you think I’d hurt you? I’m your sister, remember?”

  Her eyes glared daggers at me.

  I raised an imaginary glass as if I were
drinking and motioned for her to do the same. I pointed to the hole in the keg. I prayed that somewhere, hidden inside her hideous demon shell, she could understand me. I swallowed hard as my eyes rained crimson tears seeing how horribly my sister had been suffering.

  Dakota wrapped her clawed appendages around the keg. Pieces of rotting flesh were impaled upon her talons. She looked up at me and snaked out a long, serpentine tongue.

  Did she seriously just stick her tongue out at me?

  She slithered her tongue into the opening and sucked through it as if it were a straw.

  Unholy hell – she’s a giant mosquito!

  “Now, Briggs!” I shouted in my mind. “Do it now!” Instantly both our bodies were sucked down onto his scales with dragon essence. I didn’t think Dakota noticed she had become ensnared in our little trap as she continued to drain the keg faster than a rugby team.

  Her wings and body muscles seemed to relax a bit as she lay quietly on top of Briggs’ back. As she sucked up the blood, Dakota looked up at me. Even if it was the briefest of moments, I could’ve sworn I saw delight reach her eyes when she smiled.

  With her tummy distended, Dakota sat up and looked around. “Guys, she’s full. She might try to fly off. How far out are we?”

  “We’re about five miles out.” Torchy messaged me. “Can you call

  Khal and let him know we’ve got her?”

  “Dakota,” I yelled to her again. “It’s okay. Don’t go. Everything is all right. Come back with us. We have the blood you need.”

  Dakota looked over at Torchy and then looked back at me out of the corner of her eyes. I knew that look. She was getting ready to play a trick on me. Chase me around the house, steal my favorite blouse, or pour cold water over me in the shower. But instead, she opened her wings.

  Her wingspan had to be ten feet across. The air caught under her wings and pulled Briggs off course. She struggled to remove her legs from his sides, but she couldn’t. She screeched again.

  “Dakota, drop your wings – you’re going to make us crash!”

  She screeched again, only this time in my face. Her glistening, serrated teeth were a mere breath from me as I squished myself as far into Briggs as I could manage. I hid my face as her teeth scraped at my neck.

  I hollered at Briggs, “Go faster, and please don’t let her fall off!”

  CRACK!

  Dakota’s demon appendages made a horrible cracking and tearing sound as the wind broke them backwards. Her shoulders bled as the bones protruded through the joints in contortionist angles. The muscle surrounding the breaks flapped in the wind mimicking Torchy’s bloody bed sheets. Tears ran down my face when I saw the excruciating pain Dakota was in. I could do nothing to help her. She screamed as loudly as a train horn over and over. I heard the faint echoes of breaking windows as we flew by. Perhaps they broke from the soprano screams of her pain.

  I pulled out my phone and dialed Khaldon. “We’ve got her. We’re almost there. Please get ready. Her wings are broken.” Nothing but static as the wind rushed past my ears. I had no idea if he heard me or not. With the barrage of her moans, I swiped the phone off and said a prayer to our mother to send us angels.

  Dakota laid her head down along the dragon’s back. I wanted to touch her beautiful red hair, now matted with blood and dirt. I prayed the blood she had drunk would help her mend her torn body quickly after we landed.

  I felt the descent in our altitude and looked towards the ground. Torchy was already preparing for his landing.

  I saw the breeding facility and looked back at Dakota’s torn body. I whispered, “I’m so sorry, my sister. This was the only way.”

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Breeding Facility #42

  “Hang on, Dakota! We’re almost there. We can help you!” We circled lower and lower, spiraling down toward the earth. The wind speed slowed to the point where I could hear the painful sobs coming from her. She looked weakened, and I wanted to hold her so much.

  “What makes you think I want any help, dear sister?” a possessed voice spewed forth from Dakota.

  “You can talk?”

  “Of course, I can talk, but I prefer my other voice, don’t you?” she snarled.

  “Truthfully, no. Not really.” I shook my head at her sarcasm. “The screeching was a bit hard on the ears don’t you think?”

  “That’s because you are a weak, prosaic vampire – a lower demon, at best. I am a blood demon. You’ll never understand the power I have over you.”

  “Yeah, all right. Look, Dakota, I don’t give a rat’s ass what you think you are, or what kind of baby sister payback you’re entitled to, but you’ve got to stop killing people!”

  “Why should I care? They exist solely to feed me.”

  “We have the blood you need. Regular human blood won’t satisfy you. You don’t have to do this. The military is out looking for you. If they capture you, you’re as good as dead.”

  I thought to Briggs, “Don’t let us go – she isn’t friendly.”

  Briggs flew into the open hangar doors and dropped to the ground in a perfect landing.

  “Isn’t that just lovely, my own flesh and blood turned against me ... and just how do you think I am going to venture anywhere with broken wings, dear sister?” Dakota’s demonic voice shuddered through me.

  Khaldon and Ludovic rushed up to us.

  Dakota hissed at them both, then her tongue struck Ludovic in the face. “That’s for kidnapping me you, wormy asshole.” She smacked him hard again. “That’s for your insane brother.” Ludovic fell backwards onto his butt. His hands and feet scurried backwards to get out of her reach as she lashed out again, narrowly missing his foot.

  Sheridan ran up behind Khaldon with Torchy. He’d already changed back into human form. “Oh, Dakota! Are you all right? Hang on, we’ll get you help.”

  Dakota turned her head and hissed at Sheridan.

  Her eyes grew wide. She stood frozen, staring at the little angel she once held and cherished.

  Torchy grabbed her by the elbow and encouraged her to step back as he pointed towards the ceiling.

  “Okay, Briggs, let ‘em go.” Khaldon pushed the control button and dropped the demon snare net down over the top of us. The sheer weight of it hurt my head.

  Knowing the plan, we knew Dakota would struggle and entangle herself in the net, but with her broken wings, she didn’t move much.

  “Hold on and we’ll help you mend your wings.”

  “I hate you, I hate you all – you’ll pay for this I promise. If I have to kill you all, I will.” She thrashed from side to side under the netting.

  “Just give us a few minutes. Please calm down. No one wants to hurt you, but we sure as hell are going to protect ourselves until you can feckin’ behave!”

  A female, maniacal laugh addressed the warehouse speaker system, “Now, now, Dakota – there’s no need for threats. You’ll have your day.”

  “Chyort, the Priestess!” Ludovic shouted. “She’s here!”

  “Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Ludovic, is that any way to greet me? Come now, please introduce me to all your new friends.” She lingered on the “s” sounds a little too long. “But that won’t be necessary for most of them, now will it?”

  A shroud covered the hangar doors as three dragons stood side by side across the entrance.

  Crap, we’re trapped!

  Without a warning, Briggs created a brume of protection around us. Khaldon slashed through the netting and grabbed me off Briggs. Khaldon heaved and pulled us down onto the floor. I couldn’t see anything. I knew this was Sheridan’s only chance.

  “Torchy, get Sheridan out of here! GO!” I screamed through the fog and prayed they heard me.

  The brume’s murkiness was thick, but I could hear what seemed like hundreds of boot steps around us. We pushed forward through the haze as I tried to make my way to where Dakota was caught under the nets.

  “Dakota! Run! Get away – do anything, don’t let them take you again!” I screa
med in terror. I heard her screech. I felt her struggle against the snare as she pulled on the ropes we had just dropped on her. Briggs had released Dakota from his back and sidled in behind Khaldon and myself forming a wall around the soldiers.

  With the hangar doors opened, the fog dissipated quicker than I expected. Fifty or so young men wearing red and black cloaks surrounded us, dangerous weapons in their hands. I assessed the situation and concluded we were in deep shite.

  The voice spoke over the intercom once again with a wicked laugh. I knew that voice, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I looked up at Khaldon and noticed his jaw set firm. Amicula stepped into view as if she were on a catwalk.

  “Amicula, be careful. The Priestess is here.” Even though I didn’t care for her, or her evil Aunt, I heaved an immense sigh of relief knowing backup had arrived. “Is Lord Stovall with you?”

  That haunting, evil laugh cascaded from Amicula’s mouth once again, accompanied by that practiced smile of hers.

  The blood drained from my face.

  Unholy hell! Stovall isn’t with her. She’s the priestess!

  “Here, here, now my, dear Khaldon.” We both stepped backward a few paces. Dakota continued to flail against her bonds. “You have done me well.” We backed up into guards as she reached out to grab his chin. “Bringing back not only Dakota, but her beloved sisters, too. You are such a hellishly good little boy.” She smacked lovingly at his face. “I shall reward you handsomely, my dearest lover.” She winked and blew kisses at him in the most alluring way.

  I looked up at Khaldon and cocked my head in curiosity. Instinctively my body stepped away from the man who’d apparently just sold us all down the river.

  “Cheyenne, don’t. It’s rubbish. Don’t believe it, she’s crackers.” Khaldon reached out for me. “These are all lies. I promise you – it’s not true.”