4-Ever Hunted: Vampires Rule

by Blake, Kasi

  Trick stiffened. “You can’t frisk a student.”

  Truth was, he had a stake strapped to his ankle.

  “Of course I can,” the teacher said with confidence. “Who’s going to stop me? We’re alone. No witnesses.”

  The teacher stared Trick down from his perch. His piercing blue eyes seemed to be searching for something.

  “What do you want?” Trick asked.

  “How often do you hunt? Ninety-two kills is phenomenal for someone your age.”

  “I started young. What do you want?”

  “To teach.”

  The man walked to the white board at the front of the class and thoroughly cleaned it while whistling a bouncy tune. Leftover from the earlier History class, the words filled half the board. Once he was done, he said, “I tried to retire, but I found myself teaching people lessons everywhere I went.”

  A malicious edge caressed the sentence, underscoring the double-meaning.

  “Here’s one for you,” the teacher said. He drew a simple scale on the board with a green marker, the kind of scale people in the past used to weigh gold. “The universe needs to keep a certain balance in order to continue.

  “When your father, brothers, and vampire friends decided to wipe out werewolf kind, they created an imbalance in nature. Now, try to keep up so I don’t have to repeat myself.”

  The teacher wrote Werewolves on one side and Vampires on the other. “When werewolves were plentiful, vampires were in the low thousands, two or three at the most. They took care in sharing their nasty disease and only turned those they deemed worthy. Hunters and werewolves kept the number of vampires from getting out of hand. They evened each other out, so to speak.”

  The teacher pointed to his scale with a long finger. He gave Trick time to study it before erasing the entire thing. Then he drew another scale. This one dipped all the way down on one end.

  “After werewolves were taken out of the equation, the vampire population skyrocketed.” The teacher turned and pinned Trick with a hard stare. “They lost their fear and their primary natural enemies.”

  “So you’re saying wiping out werewolves was a bad thing?” Trick picked up his pencil and held it tight in his fist as if it was a wooden stake. Anything pointy and made of wood worked in a pinch. “We just need more hunters, and then we can get rid of vampires too.”

  “I take it back. You are not cautious. You are arrogant, arrogant enough to believe you can do the impossible.” The man grinned. “You’re insane and reckless. I like that even more.”

  “Who are you?”

  “Pardon me for not introducing myself. I am Jersey Clifford.” Jersey grinned at the startled look on Trick’s face. “Aw, yes, I see you’ve heard of me. Good. I won’t have to give you my life history.”

  Cowboy had mentioned him in passing, but Trick wasn’t going to admit that.

  “Were you there when my father died?” Trick asked.

  “I was otherwise detained.” Jersey grimaced. “Actually, when Ian Carver got killed I was already dead myself, but enough about me. Are you like Jack in any of the ways that count, or does the familiarity stop with a family resemblance?”

  Trick shrugged without comment.

  Jersey went on. “Jack and I bonded over literature when he was a student of mine. He was an avid reader, devouring novels quicker than I could assign them, and we shared many intellectual conversations over the years. I hope to strike up a similar friendship with you. Perhaps you should join my advanced class. I know it’s late in the semester, but I could talk to the principal.”

  “No thanks. I don’t read.” Trick made a face. “I mean, I can read. I choose not to. Books are boring.”

  “Ignorance!” Jersey threw the marker down. “Every time a student says that within my hearing, I want to rip his or her head off. What you are missing... it boggles the mind. Let me introduce you to the greats: Tolkien, Faulkner, and Shakespeare just to name a few.”

  “I’ve got bigger worries than what’s on my reading list.”

  “Oh yes, the Shadow Faerie. You’ll need my help to defeat him.”

  “What can an English teacher do?”

  “Didn’t the vampires tell you about me?”

  Reluctantly, Trick admitted, “Cowboy mentioned you were supposed to be dead, and he thinks you’re working for Oberon.”

  “Oberon and I have a mutual understanding. That’s all you need to know, that and the fact I am willing to help you defeat the Shadow Faerie, should you choose to heed my advice. What’s more, I have an advantage you don’t.”

  “Advantage?”

  Jersey tipped his head back and howled; the face of a werewolf imposed itself over his.

  The blood drained from Trick’s face and turned to ice in his stomach. His heart skipped a beat. Then it raced like a thoroughbred in the last stretch. He scrambled out of the desk, staggered backward, and fell. His elbow struck the shiny floor tile. Pain shot up his arm, but he barely noticed. Nothing registered in his mind other than the fact a werewolf was hovering over him.

  Jersey Clifford was alive, and he was a werewolf.

  Trick never stopped moving. Legs kicking, he fought to get on his feet. The floor seemed extra slippery now. He half-crawled and half-ran to the door. Before he was completely on his feet, he was running at full-speed.

  chapter eighteen

  Since U Been Gone

  Trick sprinted down the hallway, headed for the nearest exit without waiting for the werewolf to dismiss him from detention. Killing the monster might have been a good idea, but he’d been thrown off guard by the sudden appearance of something thought long ago dead. He needed time to regroup, time to breathe, and time to refresh his knowledge of the species. Mind blank, he couldn’t remember how to kill a werewolf.

  He glanced over his shoulder in mid-run to make sure the werewolf wasn’t chasing him. Dani was waiting for him next to his locker. Other than her, the hallway was clear of traffic. It was 3:15 in the afternoon, and students were on their way home. Teachers were either in their classrooms or in the second floor lounge, and the janitor hadn’t been replaced yet.

  When Dani saw him, her eyes lit up. He would have enjoyed that sweet smile on her face if it wasn’t for the fact a werewolf was nearby. They needed to get out of the building fast.

  She opened her mouth, started to say something.

  He grabbed her by the arm and kept going, pulling her behind him as he rushed for the doors.

  She protested, but he ignored her. No time for explanations. They needed distance between them and the werewolf, a lot of distance. He ran faster until he made it to the end of the hallway. Hitting the door with the palm of his hand, he forced it to fly open.

  They continued to run until they reached her car.

  While he took her keys and unlocked the driver’s side, she looked back at the school, anxious. “Is it that thing?” she asked. “Is it back?”

  “Werewolf.”

  He jerked the door open and pushed her inside. They didn’t speak again until he was sitting beside her in the passenger seat. Once they were safely out of the werewolf’s earshot, Trick’s heart stopped thundering in his chest.

  “I thought werewolves were supposed to be extinct,” Dani said. “Didn’t you say a bunch of hunters in Nebraska took care of them?”

  He lifted his shoulders in a careless shrug. “Guess they missed one.”

  She showed him the charm bracelet on her wrist. “Found it right where you left it. Here. Let me give it back to you.”

  Her fingers went to the clasp, but he placed a hand on top of hers.

  “Keep it,” he said. “With all the monsters running around this town, you need it more than I do.”

  “Won’t you die if you don’t have it? That’s what Claudia and my dad said.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “But the monsters aren’t after me.”

  His hand slid down her hand to grasp her fingers. “They might find out your dad is a hunter. You c
ould get hurt. Keep the bracelet, and don’t take it off for any reason. Understand? I’ll find something else.”

  She returned her hands to her lap and stared at the school building. “Where did you go when you disappeared from the car? I was so worried. I called your house yesterday, and Matt told me he hadn’t seen you all weekend.”

  He shrugged. “Hard to explain.”

  She picked at the steering wheel as if trying to remove dust, unable or unwilling to meet his eyes. “I was worried.”

  The admission made him smile. Dani Foster had been worried about him. That fact alone temporarily pushed his problems to the side. “I’m good,” he said.

  “One second you were sitting between us, and the next you were gone. What happened? You didn’t tell me you could disappear like that.”

  “I didn’t know. First time.”

  “Where did you go?” she repeated.

  “Vampire’s house.”

  “Did you kill it?”

  “Not exactly.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “But you’re a hunter like my dad, right?”

  “That reminds me.” He rapped his knuckles against the dashboard. “You can’t tell your dad or stepmother about the Shadow Faerie.”

  Dani smiled. “My lips are sealed. But you have to tell me everything.”

  He gave her the story of how he and Cowboy had spent the entire weekend together, an eye-opening experience to say the least. He ended with, “The vampire made me an offer. If he turns me, I won’t die.”

  “Turn you? Don’t you have to die to become a vampire?”

  “Yes, but it’s temporary. If I do nothing, the power I have will kill me. A permanent death. Big difference.”

  Silence filled the car’s interior as Dani seemed to consider the situation.

  Trick finally asked, “If you had the opportunity to live forever, would you?”

  “Wow.” She pursed her lips. “That’s a big decision. I’m not sure. I mean, if I knew I wouldn’t become a monster, I would do it. I guess. If it was a genie granting a wish or a magic potion. But to become a vampire... I don’t think I could do that.”

  “I hate vampires. I’ve spent most my life trying to kill them. Becoming one seems... ridiculous.” He threw his hands into the air. “But then I keep thinking this is the answer I’ve been waiting for, a way to survive. It could make me an extraordinary hunter.”

  Dani frowned. “You would continue to kill vampires even after becoming one?”

  “Why would I stop?”

  “You kill them because they’re vampires. But if you are a vampire, you can’t keep doing it. That would be wrong.”

  Would it? The very idea of becoming one made him sick to his stomach. Deep down he knew he couldn’t do it, not even to save his own life. However, if he did make the change, he would definitely keep hunting. Just think of all the vampires he could kill if he had the same powers they did.

  “I would only kill the truly evil ones.” He shrugged. “Believe me, there are plenty of them out there.”

  She put her hand on top of his. “What if it makes you into a—”

  “A monster?” He stared at the school building. “Matt seems to think there are decent vampires in the world. Cowboy seems nice enough, and my brother must have stayed good. Otherwise, my father would have staked him.”

  She took a deep breath, nodded her head and said, “Maybe you should do it.”

  That blew his mind. Scarlet was against it, but Dani Foster thought he should embrace a vampire lifestyle.

  “I would have to drink blood, and I might not be able to go out in sunlight. People I love would die before I do. There are a lot of reasons not to do it.”

  A bittersweet smile stretched her lips. “I don’t want you to die.”

  He turned in her direction, surprised by the sweet trace of emotion in her voice. “You don’t?”

  “No.” She leaned closer.

  “Why not?”

  “You know why not.”

  Her mouth moved until it was within an inch of his.

  “Say it,” he softly demanded.

  She dropped her gaze to their fingers as hers caressed his. “I don’t want you to die because... I kind of like you.”

  He grinned. “Even though I’m a jerk?”

  “Even though you’re a jerk.”

  They smiled at each other, gazes locked, and Trick realized he had to at least consider becoming a vampire. Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as he feared. He would live, and he could continue to hunt. Best of all, Dani Foster liked him. No way was he giving up on life now.

  If he couldn’t find another way to survive, he might just have to do it.

  ♫

  With the unexpected introduction to Jersey on his mind, Trick went straight to the bookstore where his brother worked. A small shop, the business was more of a hobby for the owner who apparently didn’t need the money. Book collector’s paradise was probably a more apt description than bookstore. If you were searching for the latest bestselling thriller or the most recent cache of trashy romances, you were out of luck.

  However, if you were looking for a first edition of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, you just might find it on one of the dusty shelves.

  Matt was the only employee, and their busiest day boasted three customers. Most people didn’t know the place existed. Nestled between a non-profit organization and a cigar shop, it was easy to overlook if you didn’t know it was there.

  Trick slipped inside and maneuvered around the clutter. A narrow trail between stacks of ancient volumes led to the back. Dust danced on shafts of light that managed to peek through the busy window. The glass had several mini posters stuck to it, an array of old bulletins, and a few book covers. Dimly lit with only one weak overhead light, the place had a dark ambiance that reminded Trick of old black-and-white movies.

  He found his brother in the rear of the shop taking ancient hardcover editions off the shelf and adding them to the Clearance bin.

  Matt looked up, and his eyes widened. “What are you doing here?”

  Trick folded his arms. “Have you seen Summer today?”

  “You told me you’d leave her alone if I stayed away from her, so...”

  “This is important. Be honest with me. Are you expecting her? Do you have a way to get in touch with her? I need to talk to the vampires about something, and I don’t feel like waiting for them to come looking for me.”

  “What is it?”

  “Werewolves.”

  Matt frowned. “Aren’t they all dead?”

  “Not according to the one I just met.” Trick snatched a book from Matt’s hand and tossed it into the bin. “Can you just call her, please?”

  Matt took out his cell and hit a single digit while Trick fumed over the fact Matt had assigned her a place on his list of important numbers. So much for the pair staying away from each other. What did he have to do to keep his brother from seeing the vampire?

  The brief phone call ended after Matt explained the situation to Summer.

  Before Matt slid the phone into his pocket, Summer and Cowboy appeared between the brothers.

  Cowboy grinned like a smug jerk. “Knew we’d hear from you. Didn’t think it would be this soon.”

  “Why is there a werewolf at the school pretending to be a teacher?” Trick asked, getting straight to the point.

  Cowboy grunted. “I was wondering when he’d show his ugly mug.”

  “You told me Jersey Clifford was alive, but you never said anything about him being a werewolf.”

  “I thought I told you.” Cowboy made a face and scratched his head. “Did I not mention that part?”

  “No,” Trick said in a mocking tone. “You did not mention it.”

  “Jersey Clifford has more lives than a cat. That’s one thing you need to know about him. The other is that you can’t trust a word he says.”

  And this coming from a vampire.

  Trick asked, “Was he there when my father died?”

  Cowboy
shook his head. “Ian Carver got his after Jersey was gone.” His smile faltered when he saw Trick’s angry expression. He amended with a shrug. “No offense.”

  Trick sighed, feeling frustrated. “Why is he at my school?”

  Cowboy walked back and forth between two stacks of books while Summer stood next to Matt.

  “It’s what he does,” Cowboy said. “First time Jackpot met him, it was at the local high school. Clifford was teaching English. He and Jackpot had this weird thing going for a while where they talked about literature like it was fun or something.”

  Trick made a face. “Yeah, he got pretty upset when I told him I don’t like to read.”

  Cowboy chuckled. “Bet his head exploded.”

  “He thinks I need his help to destroy the Shadow Faerie. Is he right?”

  Summer spoke for the first time since their arrival. “That dirty, stinking werewolf is working for Oberon. He stole Cowboy’s girlfriend, and he likes to stab people in the back. So I’d watch mine if I were you.”

  Trick glanced her way. “He seemed confident.”

  “Always does,” Cowboy said. “But Summer’s right. You can’t trust him.”

  “How do I kill the Shadow Faerie then? Does it have a weakness? Do you know anything helpful? Cause if you don’t, I might give the werewolf a chance.”

  Summer grinned. “You can defeat him with those awesome powers you have.”

  “If I use them, I die.”

  She shrugged, unconcerned.

  “Not if you’re a vampire,” Cowboy said.

  “I’ve given that a lot of thought, and there is no way I will ever let you turn me into a blood-sucking monster. Try it, and I’ll kill you.”

  Cowboy rolled his eyes. “Settle down, tiger. No one is going to turn you... until you ask. I’ve had my fill of sulking want-to-be-mortal-again vampires, enough to last me a hundred lifetimes.”

  Summer suggested, “We can teach you to use your powers. You should be able to burn monsters with a touch and set things on fire. You just need practice.”

  Trick groaned. “What is it about ‘I can’t use the powers or they’ll kill me’ that you don’t understand?”

  “If you just do it a few times, it’ll be fine,” Summer said. “Let us teach you.”