JARHARIS

by Fawn Lowery

  He recognized the woman, Tanya Sills, suspended by her wrists, her legs spread wide. She was dressed in a black leather bra and tight shorts, with stiletto heels. Another figure appeared before her coiling a long black whip in his hand. Tanya’s chest heaved, an expression of distress shown on her face.

  Jarharis felt her fear…and her arousal.

  He drew back, aware that he was watching Aston and Tanya performing some sort of sexual ritual. Anger wafted through his insides. Why was he being privy to see them play?

  Intrigued, and more than a little disgruntled with the sight, he felt compelled to watch the pair. Aston’s chest was bare, though he wore long pants. He watched as he levered the whip across Tanya’s chest, making her grimace in pain. An evil grin shown on Aston’s face. Tanya lunged against the ties that bound her wrists and ankles, trying to free herself.

  Aston landed the whip across her shoulders again then flung the weapon aside. He released his pants and pushed them along his legs, stepping out of them when they fell to the floor. He walked toward Tanya. Tanya panted and strained against her restraints. Aston took hold of her hair and yanked her head back.

  Jarharis tried to look away, remembering Tanya’s words to him when they met in the nightclub. Aston made her do terrible things. She was appalled at his treatment of her. Surely she had been referring to just such a scene as he was viewing now. He watched Aston release her hands and force her to her knees. His hand tangled in her long hair as he held her head to his crotch, making her suck his long hard cock.

  Jarharis watched, trying to steel his emotions at the sex act. Tanya greedily sucked her master’s cock, caressing his buttocks and stroking his balls. Aston hunched his hips and lolled his head back on his shoulders as Tanya’s mouth brought him to orgasm.

  Jarharis closed his fist around the amulet. Why had he been forced to watch the sex act between Aston and his slave?

  “Have you no reasoning?”

  He jerked his head up, looking into the tree he stood beneath and spied Mi sitting on a leaf, her tiny wings at ease, her pale pink dress fluffed around her little body.

  “Tanya is setting a trap for the hunters. She pretends allegiance to Aston in his presence, but she wants him destroyed, as you suspect, Jarharis. But there is more to her plan, once her master has met his fate.” Mi vanished as quickly as she spoke the words.

  Why would Tanya set a trap for the hunters when she confessed to supplying information about the vampire’s plans to the group? He considered the she-vampire’s plan. Perhaps she wanted rid of the hunters—thinking that he would destroy Aston, given the chance and with the vampire club gone, there wouldn’t be any hunters remaining to search for her. He clenched his fists. Did Tanya know of Aston’s threat against Selena?

  He contemplated what had just taken place and tried to determine his next move. He could perhaps, divert the hunters route into the woods until he infiltrated Aston’s sanctuary alone. But Selena was suspicious of his agreeing to help all ready. Would she be as easily fooled as the other members of the club?

  He tuned his hearing toward the direction the group would be traveling and listened. He could make out the faint hum of the motors as they drew nearer. He returned the amulet to the safety of his shirt and took to the sky, transforming once again into a bird. Flying swiftly across the stand of trees, he spotted the first of the three autos on the road. Veering sharply, he searched the winding road until he spied a hairpin curve then lit on the ground and called the magic forth. Transforming into his vampire form, he set his hand to a tall oak tree and toppled it across the road. It fell with a resounding thud, its numerous branches snapping and twisting as its heavy trunk crashed upon the gravel.

  Deciding that the roadblock would be sufficient enough to halt the groups travel plans he hid in the shadows and awaited their arrival.

  “What the fuck!”

  “It looks like a tree, man.”

  “I know a damn tree when I see one! Why is it across the fucking road?”

  “I guess it needed to fall somewhere.”

  “Shut up!”

  Jarharis looked on as Selena emerged from the vehicle and came forward to inspect the road blockage. He stared at her form in the bright headlights of the car. She raised her hands to her hips and looked the situation over, glancing beyond the tree boughs into the darkness. Jarharis felt her suspicion.

  “I guess we have to turn back.”

  “Really Einstein?”

  “Fuck you, Kaleb! Why do you always have to be such an asshole?”

  “Get back in the fucking car! We’re leaving!”

  Jarharis shook his head, listening to all the arguing among the group. No wonder they never actually caught any vampires—they were too busy berating each other.

  The drivers of the cars finally managed to get turned around and soon they were headed back in the direction they had come. Jarharis stood in the road and watched the red glow of taillights as the sounds of motors faded into the darkness. At least he had managed to foil the groups plans for that night.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Jarharis grasped the amulet in his fist. He wasn’t of the habit of asking for help—and he wasn’t quite certain whether he would be granted his request—

  “I need to infiltrate Aston’s sanctuary without chance of being discovered.”

  He felt a mysterious pull on his body beginning at his head and traversing along his tall muscular frame. He held out his arms and felt the force warp around his cold flesh, encompassing his chest and racing across his hips. He sucked in a quick breath and realized that his request was being fulfilled. Puzzlement congealed inside his brain. Was the powers of the amulet his for the using? Did the magical stone cater to his every whim?

  He stood amid the trees and waited for the force to deliver his plea. Should he get his desire, he could safely travel through the woods and infiltrate Aston’s stronghold without fear of detection. A measure of reassurance settled inside him. It would be easier to direct Selena’s club members when he knew about Aston’s domain from the inside.

  Trusting that the amulet had delivered anonymity for him, he rose into the sky and relied on his keen sense of perception to direct him to Aston’s hideaway inside the dense woods. The darkness seemed intensified by the gathering of clouds overhead. The moon was obscured and no stars shown against the blackened sky. He hovered above the treetops, his keen eyes discerning the object he sought.

  He doubted whether a house actually stood within the woods. Aston was more than likely secreted away inside a cave and its entrance was probably hidden beneath a fallen tree or some other obstruction. Vampires were notorious for concealing their sanctuaries. Their very lives—or dead state—depended on their ingenuity to deceive mortal man—for it was mortal man that arrived armed with wooden stakes to drive through their hearts.

  He shuddered with the thought. For too long now he had diverted the attentions of mortal man from his own sanctuaries. Devising first one plan then the other to distract prying eyes. Even with all his care taking in the matter, the thought haunted him that someday an adventurous mortal would ferret him out and he would be at their mercy.

  He lowered his body to the ground, easing onto the dense carpet of pine needles and underbrush covering the forest floor. Quietly, he moved among the trees, his feet gliding effortlessly as he peered behind tree trunks and inspected fallen boughs. His ears pricked up to any noise sounding within the leafy confines. The aroma of fresh earth and rotting timber permeated the air.

  He had walked midway into the grove of trees when he caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye. He halted his feet, holding very still and staring at a wisp of mist that suddenly rose from the ground. He watched, certain that he had found the hideaway belonging to Aston as the vaporous cloud grew and formed upon the ground. A shape started to emerge—arms, legs and torso. Finally he gazed upon the fully formed body of a tall male, dressed in a long dark cloak. His senses told him he was a vampire and that he had r
isen from the very spot upon which he stood. Jarharis watched the creature rise upward into the air, veer between the boughs of nearby trees and disappear.

  He’s off to feed. Jarharis waited until he was certain the creature wasn’t returning then he walked over to the spot where he had first seen him rise. He stood in the spot, sensing a great hollow space, a cavern, beneath his feet. Within moments, he called upon his vampire powers and vaporized, seeping into the earth under his feet. His body floated downward, falling through the great chasm beneath the earth. Coldness engulfed his limbs as he sought a solid form to grasp. He sensed the floor of the cave finally and drew upon his powers to change into a bat.

  Within seconds, he was hovering near the ceiling of the dark cave, his eyes searching the dank interior for signs of movement. Rustling noises came to his ears, pulling his attention in various directions. Directly in front of his hovering form nestled a gathering of bats, hanging from the rough stone ceiling of the cave by their sharp talons. He held still and tried to sense their reaction to his presence. Gathering no alarm, his confidence grew with the knowledge that he was indeed undetectable.

  Listening intently, he heard other noises coming from within the chamber. He flew on, carefully keeping to the ceiling and following the sounds deeper into the cavern. His sharp eyesight caught a glimpse of light and veered in its direction. A large opening gaped before him, descending down into the bowels of the earth. He folded his wings and dove through the opening, dropping quietly into the lighted shaft.

  A series of blazing torches revealed a large chamber, its walls craggy. Numerous hooks and long chains hung from the ceiling. He gazed about, spying the leather bra and shorts he had seen Tanya Sills wearing in the vision showed him by the amulet, lying on the floor. He quickly inspected the opening before following other illumination further into the cave.

  He entered yet another room and heard voices, a male and a female. He hovered near the entry and looked beyond the narrow opening. The walls were slick, as though they had been chiseled to enlarge the space. He saw them then, Aston and Tanya. She was naked except for her spike heels. She was laying on a mound of dirt, her legs spread, her hands bound with leather straps above her head. Aston stood over her, his legs braced apart, a scowl on his face, a massive hard cock bobbing in his crotch.

  “You betrayed me!”

  “No, Master! I did not!”

  “You sent the newspaper reporter and her little gang to destroy Minyon.”

  Tanya fought the restraints on her wrists and ankles. Her nipples were red peaks thrusting atop her global mounds. Her chest heaved with fright as she stared up at her angry master. “I didn’t, Master. You must believe me.”

  Jarharis listened and tried to discern whether they were still playing sex games or if Aston was on to Tanya’s plan to have the vampire club destroy him.

  Aston lunged at Tanya suddenly, throwing his body atop hers and bringing a loud scream from her throat. She fought her restraints and the vampire, wrenching her legs and flailing her arms until the leather straps broke, flying in bits against the cave walls. She yelled loudly and clawed at Aston’s back as he lunged his long cock between her legs. She dug her long talons into his back and brought blood oozing from the gashes.

  Aston levered his upper body onto his elbows and slammed a fist into Tanya’s jaw. “Fuck me, you good-for-nothing-whore!”

  “I love you, master!”

  Jarharis hovered near the ceiling and considered his options. He could materialize and catch Aston at his weakest. His mind was consumed with fucking Tanya and berating her at the same time. He wasn’t aware that he was in his midst. And surely Tanya was too fearful for her well being to aide him. He considered taking advantage of the moment. It would be for the better—should he destroy Aston and end the vampire club’s plans to battle him.

  He gazed down at the fucking pair. Tanya had ceased to fight Aston. She dug her claws into his back and lunged her hips upward, meeting his mighty thrusts. Aston spread his legs wide and drove his cock deep into her cavity, wrenching her body against the hard surface. Finally he bellowed loudly when orgasm came upon him.

  Suddenly from the adjoining chamber, Jarharis heard voices. Realizing he had missed his chance to attack Aston, he watched as three other vampires strode through the narrow opening, one trailing the other. They were males, with thin bodies and flushed faces, having just fed from the looks of the blood splatters on their clothing. They eyed Tanya sprawled on the dirt, her naked body no longer concealed as Aston got up. He stood to one side, his skinny chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. “Who wants to fuck the whore?”

  The vampires glanced at each other and smiled.

  Tanya rolled to her side and sat up, stretching to loosen the bindings on her ankles.

  “Lay down,” one of the vampires ordered. He ripped his pants off and gave Tanya a shove. He mounted her body and stabbed her crotch with his engorged cock.

  The other vampires drew close to the thrashing couple and watched, their mouths hanging open and drool dripping from their red lips.

  Aston laughed and strode from the chamber. Jarharis followed, silently flapping his way along behind the naked vampire.

  Aston made his way through to the dark passageway leading to the entry chamber and rose upward to the ceiling. He hovered for a moment then disappeared.

  Jarharis quickly followed, vaporizing into a mist and seeping through the earth onto the forest floor. He materialized just in time to see Aston transform and rise into the air.

  Jarharis followed him, certain that he was going to feed since he had viewed his ashen face while he fucked Tanya. He hoped that Selena and her club friends had gone home for the night and wouldn’t encounter Aston. The vampire was enraged that Tanya had betrayed him and would be set to take his revenge out on any unsuspecting member of the group.

  Aston flew into the heart of the city where the nightlife was plentiful. The streets were crowded with couples strolling along unsuspecting, and singles rushing about as though they had definite places to go. Jarharis stood in the shadow of a building and watched Aston as he penetrated a group of males just leaving a bar.

  At first nothing happened, Aston appeared to be one of them. He situated himself between two burly men and clasped their shoulders, laughing along with their revelry then suddenly, he grabbed one of the men by the neck and ripped his flesh, drinking his fill while the others stood nearby gasping at the carnage, helpless to aide their friend. When Aston had drained the body, he dropped it to the sidewalk. A resounding thud seemed to sound above the noise of the city before he reached for another member of the group. He bared his fangs threateningly as a show of warning to the others while he sank his teeth into their cohort.

  Jarharis watched the sight, steeling his senses against the urge to interfere. His own thirst had not been quenched for the evening and he licked his parched lips. Hunger gnawed at his ribs. Still he remained immobile and viewed the horror that Aston wrought, hating the murderous vampire for his careless carnage.

  When Aston had drank his fill, three corpses lay at his feet, drained of all blood. One man remained, in a trance, his body motionless. Aston waved his hand and the man jerked into motion. Spying his dead friends on the sidewalk, he screamed and ran from the scene, his hands waving wildly above his head. Aston threw back his head and bellowed with laughter.

  Jarharis paused, realizing he might as well kill Aston and be done with him. His anger at seeing Aston’s treatment of the men he murdered had turned into rage.

  “Jarharis! Jarharis!”

  He jerked around, recognizing Mi’s voice.

  The fairy hovered near his ear, her tiny wings beating the air currents in a rapid frenzy. “Selena needs you! Go to her at once!”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Fear shot through Jarharis’s body as he lifted into the air and headed toward Selena’s apartment. He overlooked all else as his emotions raced to the fore.

  If anything should happen to
her—He passed through the night, arriving at her apartment only to find it dark inside. Had she not returned home after the vampire club found the tree blocking the road through the woods? He hovered outside her window and tried to think where he might find her. Was she still with the group of hunters? Were they foolishly out somewhere thinking they could track down a vampire to destroy?

  His thoughts melded into a tangled web of worry. Why hadn’t he asked Mi where Selena was? He grasped the talisman hanging around his neck and squeezed it in his fist. “Where is Selena? Where is Selena?”

  The charm grew warm in his cold hand. He opened his fist and gazed at it, watching it turn bright yellow against the black night sky. The mist began to swirl within the gem. He pinned his eyes on the sight, anxious to discover where the woman he loved was. His thought jarred his insides.

  Did he really love Selena? He shook his head briefly, not daring to take his eyes off the amulet lying in his open palm. His feelings for the woman didn’t matter right that moment. Mi had said she was in danger and he had to find her. He stared at the swirling mist inside the amulet, wondering if it would ever clear and reveal something of importance to him. Suddenly he made out a form and his breath caught up in his throat when he saw Selena lying on the ground, her eyes closed, blood on her face. He stared at the vision, his body barely able to hold still.

  “Where is she? Where is she?” His voice was a raspy scream echoing into the black night.

  Other things began to form within the mist, shapes and things unfamiliar to him. He drew closer to the amulet, trying to figure out what he was seeing. Suddenly it became clear to him. Selena had been involved in a car crash and was lying unconscious along side the road.