“So you came all the way out here, alone, in the hopes of finding this enclave, knowing that you wouldn’t get help if there was trouble?”
His face grew serious. “When we left they said they’d come if there were problems, but I knew from the beginning it was possible this was a one-way trip. But if I can save every person left on this planet, it’s worth it.”
Could he possibly care about other people so much? It had been a long time since she’d met anyone who wasn’t out for themselves in the end. And especially not someone of the vampiric persuasion.
“Palm Springs.” She blurted the words out before she could change her mind. “There’s a resort there.”
He gave her a tight smile and nodded. “Then we go to Palm Springs.”
* * * *
Palm Springs was eight hours from Gallup, New Mexico. They left at eight PM and stopped to get gas and food along the way. William couldn’t help the nervous tickle that started at the base of his spine when they crossed into California and grew worse the closer they got.
Danika wanted him to go to Palm Springs for the weapons, but his concern was for Evan. So when Danika had called, he’d lied and told her that he was still trying to find out where the enclave was. He’d never lied to Danika before. It made him squirm.
Evan’s skin had taken on a waxy, pale sheen, and she’d fallen asleep about an hour into the trip and only stirred when he woke her and made her drink or eat something. Every once in a while he would feel her skin, but to his ever-cool temperature she was like an oven.
As the moon dipped low on the horizon, William’s body began to feel the strain of not having slept well or in his own bed for close to a week. He’d have to suck it up though. Who knew how long it would take before he’d be sleeping in his own bed. If ever.
They were ten miles out and dawn was less than thirty minutes away.
“Evan. Evan?” He shook her shoulder and she opened her bleary eyes. “Which exit?”
She glanced around. “Exit?”
He pointed at the sign. “Palm Springs. Where do I go?”
“Palm Springs. Country Club Drive.”
At the next exit, William pulled off the highway and stopped at the corner of Country Club Drive. The fast food restaurants showed no sign of life. For the first time since becoming a vampyr fear raced over him at the prospect of going into a town. This was not his town and these would not be his people anymore.
He drove past subdivision after subdivision of homes scanning the wide boulevard for signs of life. Within a mile light shone from up on the left. A large resort came into view. He slowed his vehicle, turned off the lights, and pulled to the side of the road.
He needed to get the lay of the area before going any further. It was one thing to try to help; it was another to end up dead because he went in the wrong way and scared someone.
He looked over to Evan, who was asleep again. He slid slowly from the driver’s seat, raced across the boulevard to the other side, and crept down the street till the resort lay before him. A giant lake surrounded it, and inside the lake stood a barbed wire fence at least ten feet high. From the looks of it there was only one road that led into the facility. No one was about at the early hour except for a handful of guards and dogs walking the perimeter.
It was amazing no one had found the place before now. But Los Angeles was the closest big city, and the likelihood that they’d travel several hours out into the desert was slim. Palm Springs was not near any major cities, and unless he’d known to come down this exact exit he would have continued on past.
He blew out a harsh breath. Getting Evan in there wasn’t going to be easy. He would have to go down the main road and get her to the fence. It was possible he could take her halfway, and she could walk the rest on her own.
He jogged back to the car and opened her door. He touched her head and then took off her seat belt.
“Evan. You need to get up now. We’re here.”
She moaned and opened her eyes.
“We’re here. There’s only one way in though. I’m going to take you halfway to the fence, but you’ll have to go the rest of the way on your own.” He pulled a cellphone from the glovebox. “Here’s the extra phone. My number is programmed into it. Call me when you’re ready for me to meet you.”
She nodded and he tucked the phone into her hoodie pocket. “Okay.”
William lifted her out and cradled her against his chest. The heat of her body was like hugging Mason in full Maelstrom form.
He walked across the street and headed for the corner of the resort. He sucked in a deep breath. This was it. If he was spotted, who knew what would happen.
He walked down the sidewalk, the resort floodlight coming closer and closer to exposing him. His body tensed like being zapped by a live wire. It was like being back on the mountainside chased by slavers again, only in reverse. He finally reached the road leading into the compound and carried Evan toward the gate.
“Stop,” she croaked. “I can go from here.”
He set her on her feet and she wobbled. Her glassy, blue gaze met his and she smiled at him. She reached up on her toes and kissed his cheek. She lingered for a minute, hugging him tight.
“Thank you, William.”
Words failed him and he nodded. “I’m not leaving here till I talk to your leader.”
“I’ll call.”
She hobbled off down the road, her pace slow and labored. She dragged her left leg and stumbled.
Silently he urged her forward when she stopped and bent over to catch her breath. About thirty yards from the gate her leg buckled and she fell. In her dark hoodie and pants, she blended into the asphalt almost completely.
William lurched forward and then stopped himself. “Get up,” he whispered.
She lay on her side motionless.
“Get up,” he said louder.
Still she didn’t move.
The guards at the gate were far enough from where she’d stumbled that it could be hours before they finally found her. He had no choice; he’d brought her this far.
Quick as light William raced to her side and lifted her. “Sorry, babe, things aren’t turning out like we hoped at the moment.”
She didn’t stir.
He ran for the fence and spotted the nearest guard. “Hey! This girl’s hurt!”
The guard turned and raised his gun while rushing forward. “Don’t move!”
“She’s hurt. She needs help.” William advanced.
“I said don’t move!”
“She’s hurt, dammit! Her name is Evan. She needs help.”
The guard shot at William. He spun out of the way and the bullet whizzed past.
“Stop shooting, I’m only trying to help!”
Another bullet whizzed by. Suddenly the sound of dogs and other guards came from all directions. It was obvious that if he stayed both he and Evan would end up dead. He laid her on the road as the guards ran out from behind the gate. He kissed her forehead and then raced away from the resort. The sound of gunfire rang out, and he prayed that they weren’t shooting at Evan. He’d made it out to the main boulevard when the sounds of vehicles roared behind him. He glanced back to see two military vehicles speeding toward him.
He dashed across the street to his own car and hopped in as the military vehicles rolled onto the road. William started the engine and threw the car in drive as the two assault vehicles barreled his direction. He turned on his lights and flipped his car around before gunning it. The back windshield shattered as bullets pelted the car. He sped toward the highway at top speed. The humans behind him continued to fire, and he had to duck in his seat to keep from being hit.
One of them gained ground and pulled alongside him. He was less than a half mile from the freeway. They crashed into his vehicle, sending him sailing sideways. He corrected and gunned the vehicle faster. They slammed him again but he kept control. Bullets riddled the passenger side and the windows exploded in a shower of glass.
The sign for the fr
eeway onramp flew past. He headed up the overpass and banked left for the on ramp. The other car smashed into the rear of him sending him careening sideways. He slammed into a guardrail and teetered on it for a moment. William prepared to jump. He looked up just in time to see the second vehicle pound into his driver’s side. The guardrail gave way and his car pitched sideways down the embankment and rolled to the ravine below. He tumbled over and over, his face mashing into the window and then the steering wheel. He flew into the passenger seat and then hit the dashboard.
Chapter 9
Evan’s eyes fluttered open and closed as someone ran with her down a long expansive hallway that smelled of soap and furniture polish. She jostled against strong arms, her leg screaming in pain.
“Bring her in here. Lay her on the table,” called a man.
“William?” she croaked.
“Hang on, baby girl, I gotcha.”
Not William. “Uncle Lou?”
“You hang tight, girl.”
The running stopped and she was laid on a padded surface that crinkled when she moved.
“Check her for bite marks,” her uncle said.
“Hey, sis, can you hear me?”
Evan turned her head and tried to focus on the tall blond that picked up her hand and squeezed it.
“Tommy?”
“I’m right here.” He pushed the hair from her face. “What’s wrong with her?”
“I don’t know yet.” A man in a lab coat approached her and pushed a stethoscope beneath her shirt. “Her heartbeat’s too fast.” He scanned her head with a thermometer. “And she’s burning up.”
“My leg,” she said.
The men looked at each other and her eyelids fell shut.
“Get her pants off.”
Before she could protest, her sweats were yanked off and the tape on her leg was peeled back.
“Knife wound,” said the doctor. “Possible staph infection. I’m gonna need to clean it. Get a round of antibiotics. We should knock her out.”
“No,” she managed. Every part of her was too heavy like the padding beneath her was quicksand pulling her down.
“Don’t worry, baby girl. We’re gonna fix you right up.” Her Uncle Lou’s lips brushed her forehead, and then the sting of a needle jabbed her arm and she lost hold of consciousness.
* * * *
The scent of eggs pulled Evan awake. She looked around to find herself in a nicely decorated hotel room. Her heart did a mixture of thundering and dropping at the same time. A stereo stood in the corner surrounded by several stacks of CDs. A black jewelry box sat slightly ajar on the metal desk next to the wardrobe where several scarves hung off the door. A television peeked out from inside it. The brown wood nightstand next to her held a bulbous white lamp, black alarm clock, and a small stack of worn books. It was her room. The room she’d left over three years ago. Nothing had changed.
“Hey.”
She turned to find her cousins Peter and Tommy sitting at the small table, eating breakfast. Peter’s blond hair was shorter but Tommy’s dark golden waves were almost down to his shoulders. They both sported their dad’s deep brown eyes. The ones that her own dad used to have.
She sat up and propped herself against her pillows. “Hey yourselves.”
Tommy smiled and both cousins came over. She held back tears as they pulled her close and wrapped her in their strong arms. The familiar scent of hotel soap and shampoo wafted off them. She honestly had never thought she’d see them again. After a minute they let go, all three sniffling but refusing to shed tears in front of the others.
“We thought you were dead, sis,” said Peter.
“Or worse,” said Tommy. “What happened?”
She swallowed hard and contemplated lying, but what was the use? “The worst.”
Peter got to his feet and ran his hands through his hair. He moved to the window and looked out. The older of her two cousins, he’d always considered himself her protector and big brother. Tommy was a younger and a gentler soul. They’d called her sis after the first year they’d taken her in.
“I’m fine,” she said. “I was never beaten or starved or treated too terribly—”
“But you were bitten.” Peter turned back to her.
She couldn’t deny it. They’d obviously seen the bite marks on her neck.
“Good thing Pop got us those inoculations. Don’t know what I’d do if you came back like one of them.” Peter’s voice held the same kind of venom that she herself had spewed a million times over. But for some reason hearing it now struck an eerie chord with her.
She tried to remember how she’d gotten to the enclave. “How long have I been here?”
“About two days,” said Tommy. “You’ve been super sick from that infected stab wound. But Dr. Nicholas fixed you up right good.”
She threw the covers off to find her leg wrapped in fresh bandages. She ran her tongue over her teeth. She needed a shower and her teeth brushed as well as her hair. She stared at the shirt and remembered the feel of William carrying her toward the gate.
“Hey, did you guys see me show up?”
Peter and Tommy exchanged a look.
“Sorry,” said Peter. “We were inside. Do you remember how you got here?”
A trickle of fear traced up her spine. She wasn’t sure what they knew or what to say. “I don’t. I’d been driving and was attacked and then…”
“So you don’t remember anything or anyone?”
“I remember walking up toward the gate and falling.”
“Do you remember anyone helping you? Or hurting you?”
“I was stabbed by a vampyr.”
“He stabbed you?” A dark expression came over Tommy’s face.
“You know we should let you clean up,” said Peter. “Then you can eat and we’ll take you to talk to Pop. He’s been such a mess since you disappeared. He’s real happy you’re back.” He took her hand. “We’re all happy you’re back.”
Her ribcage squeezed at the thought of her uncle, who’d been both father and mother to her over the last decade, being so worried about her.
“Your old clothes are still in the closet,” said Tommy. “We didn’t let ’em touch nothin’.”
She gave a tight smile. “Thanks, guys.”
Peter picked up his and Tommy’s plates and then nudged his brother for them to leave.
Tommy turned back at the door. “I’m really glad you’re okay.”
She pushed her hair behind her ear. “Me too.”
“We’ll see you in a bit,” said Peter.
She nodded. The heavy metal door slammed shut and she blew out a breath. A strange uneasiness settled over her. Something about what Tommy had said scratched at her mind, but she couldn’t figure out what.
“He stabbed you?”
She’d never said the vampyr was a “he.” A pit grew in her stomach but she shook it off. It was dumb. Of course they’d think the vampyr was a he, she’d told them she’d been attacked.
She threw the covers all the way off and stood slowly. She tested her weight and her leg held but shot pain down to her ankle. She looked around, a feeling of nostalgia washing over her. Though she’d dreamed about getting back to her room a million times over in the last three years, she’d never actually thought it would happen. Now seeing all of her things still sitting in the same spots, waiting for her return, it all seemed so unimportant.
She limped to her metal desk and ran her fingers over the objects. William’s dark hoodie and sweats were crumpled in a ball on the chair. She trailed her finger over them and lifted the hoodie, bringing it to her nose. Surprisingly she recognized his scent upon it. The sweet scent of his rich cologne mixed with his hair shampoo. The sadness the scent evoked in her troubled her. She looked out the window into the sunlight and wondered where he was and if he was all right. Reaching inside the deep pocket, she found the phone he’d given her. She checked it but there were no messages. She should probably tell William she was all right. Kno
wing him, he’d worry.
She went to the call log and dialed the last number on it. The phone rang a half dozen times and then went to voicemail. She hung up without leaving a message. She stared at the phone. In the entire time they’d been together for the trip she’d not seen William miss a phone call once. Anxiety draped over her like a wool coat.
She shook her head. Why was she so concerned about William? It wasn’t like they were friends or lovers or anything. He was her babysitter, that was all. Besides, he was most likely asleep at this hour.
She tossed his sweatshirt to the floor and returned to inspecting her desk. She located a small black box. Inside held a dozen different cords to various electronics. She found one that fit the phone and plugged it in. She set it on the desk and then covered it with several magazines so no one would see it.
She hobbled to her closet and pulled out a blue T-shirt, a pair of jeans, and new underwear then made her way into the bathroom. The clean, working shower was the most welcome thing she’d seen in days.
* * * *
Evan shuffled down the quiet hallway and made her way to the elevators. Nervousness coursed through her. It’d been three years since she’d been back, and she wasn’t sure what to expect.
The elevator opened and she hopped in. She hit the lobby button and ran her hand over her thigh. It ached already and she wanted to sit down.
The doors were inches from closing when a hand shot between them making her jump.
The doors bounced back open and a tall, handsome guy in a tight green T-shirt and jeans stepped in and smiled.
“Hey.”
Evan swallowed and nodded his direction. He stared straight ahead, but Evan couldn’t help but glance over. He wore a couple days’ worth of stubble, and his blond hair was long on top and slicked back like a surfer’s cut. His golden-tan skin made his bulky muscles appear even bigger beneath his shirt.
The elevator pulled them down toward the lobby.
“Are you new here?” he asked. “I’ve never seen you before.”
“My name’s Evan.”
His eyes widened. “Tommy and Peter’s sister?”
She gave him a tight-lipped smile. “Guilty. Cousin actually, but yeah, we were raised together.”
Vengeance of the Demons Page 7