by Nicki Ruth
“Relax, Jason. I’m not going to hurt you. Why don’t you try stretching your right wing?”
Jason slammed his head backward. Cade’s head snapped back, and Jason threw his elbow straight into his chest, forcing Cade against the wall behind, knocking the air out his lungs. He was fast, Cade had to admit, as Jason kicked him in the face, busting his lip. Jason bolted from the room, no doubt to get off the ship.
Cade groaned then chuckled, blood trickling down the back of his throat. He wiped the back of his hand across his busted lip and grunted as he sat up. He was impressed. Jason was a fighter, and a pretty good one to land those blows. It had been many years since someone drew blood from him.
He grinned, thinking of Jason, and was glad he hadn’t underestimated him too much. He knew the leech wouldn’t give up so easily, so he’d taken precautionary measures. Jason wouldn’t make it off his ship.
He got to his feet and cracked his neck. Playtime was over.
Time to teach Jason his lesson.
∞∞∞
Jason rounded another corner and cursed. Hadn’t he just gone this way? Where was the damn exit? He took another turn and ran down the gangway. Cade, no doubt, was up on his feet again. He didn’t want to run into him, but where was the exit?
Something was amiss. The ship wasn’t that big; he should have found his way out by now.
“Jason!” Cade’s bellow punched his ear from a distance. Shit! That bastard was coming. He sprinted down another corridor, looking like one he hadn’t tried before.
“Jason! You aren’t leaving this ship,” Cade’s voiced boomed off the walls. “And I need to pay you back for my lip.”
Jason came to another gangway and leapt over the railing, landing on his feet a couple feet below. This must be the way.
He ran toward a red-lit corridor when it wavered and then vanished before his eyes. Coming to a halt, he gasped as the walls morphed into another hallway. The same one he was on before.
Jason cursed loudly. “Bastard!”
This was followed by a low rumble of chuckling from directly behind him. Jason spun around to find Cade a few paces behind him.
“Did you think you’d get away from me so easily?” he grinned.
“Fuck you! I’m getting off this ship!”
“Not before I teach you why you shouldn’t attack someone trying to help you. That was the second time today.”
“Oh, yeah? You looking for more than a busted lip? Come, I’ve something for you,” he sneered.
Cade tilted his head to the side, regarding him, but Jason bared his fangs and claws, his bloodlust rising. One moment Cade was before him, the next he was thrown against the wall. Before he could rise, strong hands grabbed his leg and threw him down the hall. His breath left his lungs in a rush as he bounced hard on the floor.
“Get up!” Cade snapped, standing before him.
Jason rolled and jumped to his feet, kicking upwards, forcing Cade back. As he did, Jason sprang forward, raking his claws across Cade’s chest, drawing blood. Cade grunted and swung his fist, but Jason dodged, leaping away. Remembering he carried his retractable Helrion staff, he drew it from its location at his hip. With a flick of his wrist, it extended from six inches to six feet of unyielding metal.
He twirled it in his hands as he cautiously regarded his opponent.
“I’m not sure why you did this, but you should let me go, Cade.”
Cade laughed. “Let me see what you’ve got.”
Jason charged, bringing the staff in position for an upward swing to Cade’s left side. At the last minute he feinted to the right and struck Cade in the shins, taking him down on his back with a thud. He raised his staff to deliver a punishing blow across Cade’s torso. But Cade sprang up and grabbed the staff mid-strike. They tussled and wrestled with the staff between them.
“I’m so glad I found you. You’re more than I could’ve imagined . . .” Cade said, breathing in Jason’s face.
But he didn’t finish his thought as the ship’s computer hailed, ‘Ready to engage launch protocols. Scheduled for take-off in three minutes.’
“No!” Jason shouted.
The distraction gave Cade an opening, and he slammed Jason against the wall, thrusting the staff under his jaw.
“Time to let go,” Cade advised smugly, pressing hard against Jason’s windpipe.
“I’m not going with you!” Jason struggled, but Cade had the upper hand.
Then, without warning, Cade abruptly stepped back, releasing the staff. Jason stumbled forward.
“I need you, Jason.” Cade said. “You and I are similar, and I’m about to show you why.”
Jason glowered, then yelped as Cade’s throat glowed brightly before he exhaled a breath of orange fire from his mouth.
Chapter 4
Cade charted their course and leaned back in his chair. He hadn’t been back home in a couple years, and he was looking forward to seeing everyone again. He thought about the ones he’d left behind and smiled. Maybe he should’ve gotten gifts to take back. How would he explain his lengthy absence without gifts? At least he wasn’t going back empty-handed, as he’d done several times before.
Jason was magnificent. Fierce, determined . . . and angry.
Cade chuckled. Those piercing yellow eyes of his made Cade’s hair rise, having changed from their soft brown when he’d first seen them. They looked to be the eyes of an eaglryx, but Cade couldn’t be sure. Until Jason’s feathers fully matured, he wouldn’t be able to tell what species Jason belonged to. But he was winged, which meant he was a higher echelon vahana—beings known for their powerful mystical powers, highly desired and thought to be extinct. Well, not quite. He was one himself after all—the last of his type.
Ancient humans—those blessed enough to see one like him—called them dragons, a corruption of their real name, drogulis. Vahanas had once been revered for their divine powers and relationship with the ancient gods. But with the fall of the gods, they were hunted, trapped into enchanted objects, and forced to use their powers in terrible, despicable ways. They were used like tools until their supernatural abilities were all but sucked from their souls, until they withered to dust, drained of the magical life force within them.
A chill gripped his spine when Cade remembered how he’d barely escaped a lifetime of entrapment.
He’d examined Jason, but the young man’s inner vahanan self wasn’t yet fully awake. But it was aware of what was happening. Cade proved that when he let out his flame. Jason had instinctively raised a shield, protecting himself from the fire.
Not that Cade had any intentions to do him harm, but he needed to make a point. It had proven too much for Jason, though; he passed out right after.
“Ah, Jason. I have so much to show you,” Cade mused.
He hadn’t felt this excited since he met Karina about two hundred years ago. That’s when they began their search for others like themselves. Any who still survived and needed refuge. Now, he roamed the cosmos while Karina protected those left behind.
Cade left the bridge to check on Jason. He’d dumped him on a bed to cool off in one of the cabins. Now that he wasn’t going anywhere, maybe his mood would improve. Cade walked into the room and stopped in his tracks.
Jason was awake and sitting on the floor in the corner, knees drawn into his chest. His arms were wrapped tightly around his legs, and his cheek rested on his knees. The wings were slumped behind him, and his aura was . . . heavy, morose.
“How do you feel?”
Jason didn’t reply, just continued to stare vacantly at the wall.
Cade sighed. “I’m sorry things happened this way. It wasn’t my intention,” he offered.
Still no response.
Cade frowned. What was this? He preferred feisty Jason to this sullen and despairing one. “Will you at least look at me?” Cade asked softly as he lowered himself along the wall next to Jason.
They sat in silence for a few minutes before Jason turned his head toward him. Ca
de’s chest tightened at what he saw.
Jason’s eyes were full of sorrow and hopelessness. “I should just disappear,” he whispered.
Cade reared back. What did Jason mean by that?
“Now, I’m nothing. I don’t have anything. Anyone,” he said and put his head between his knees, shuddering.
“No, Jason. You’re so much and more. I want to give you a new world. I truly just want to . . .” The words died in Cade’s throat.
What was he doing? What had he done?
Jason clearly didn’t want to be away from Damurios. He had friends. A family, even. He’d just ripped him away from his home. Probably the only one he knew. He wasn’t born on Damurios, of that Cade was certain, but somehow made vampire. How that occurred was an even greater mystery than his ancestry, but he was obviously content with the leeches.
“I’m sorry, Jason. I was ah . . . thoughtless,” he fumbled. “I had no right to force you from the life you knew. But if you let me, I’ll show you another one. Then, you can return, if you wish.” He grimaced when Jason flinched from his touch. Seeing Jason this way made his heart sink.
Maybe he could’ve tried another way to get to him.
“Are you thirsty?” Cade asked, trying to get Jason to focus on something else. “I stocked up on Damurian blood for you.”
Jason shoulders jerked up and down, muffled chuckling coming from his hunched form. He raised his head again and regarded Cade with an amused expression.
∞∞∞
Brandr braced himself for Alexios’ response to what he’d just relayed. There was only silence on the other side for several moments.
“Brandr. Did you say Jason was . . . abducted?” Alexios asked in an even tone.
“Yes. The guy’s name is Cade. I’m already trying to find more about who he is. I’m awaiting his docking papers, now.”
“Are you at the manor?”
“No, I’m loading up a small transporter I borrowed. I’m going after them.”
Alexios sighed heavily.
“Don’t worry. I’ll find him. I left a signaling tag on Jason’s coat, thinking he might try to go off on his own, so I’ll be able to track them,” Brandr added.
“Good. That’s reassuring. What’s their position now?”
“Seems like they’re traveling to the Arenthian system. I’ll head in that direction as soon as I’m fueled.”
“Okay. We’re further out, but we’ll make our way over there. Keep me updated on your progress.”
“I will,” Brandr replied, relieved Alexios was responding to the news . . . calmly. He knew his sire didn’t want to pause his search for Marius, but who knew what that man wanted with Jason?
“And Brandr, if you meet up with this . . . Cade before I do, he’s mine to drain before I snap his neck.”
∞∞∞
Jason knew loss. He’d experienced it several times in his life, and each time it tore at his soul. But this time, he didn’t think he could recover.
They all agreed—the voices of the past bombarding his thoughts.
“You worthless freak! Get outta here!”
His sire, who saved him from death, his brothers, Marius and Brandr, his new queen and friend Davina; he was one of them.
But was he?
His throat was dry and his hands grew clammy at the thought of never seeing his sire or the others again. But hadn’t this happened before? The truth was, he didn’t deserve a family. He never really belonged, always the odd one, the bizarre one.
“He doesn’t deserve to come with us. He’s nothin’, just useless.”
He was no one’s son, born or sired. Had no place in the world. He knew why. Inside, he was some kind of monster.
“It’s probably for the best,” he whispered, closing his eyes.
Now he was being taken to who knew where. Well, it didn’t matter.
His heart fluttered in his chest. He’d thought to go away for a while to get rid of his problem and return to his family once he got back to normal. But he was the problem, so it was for the best.
“What’s for the best?” a deep voiced asked by his ear.
Jason jumped, startled to hear a voice other than his own.
Cade was there. Sitting on the floor next to him, looking at him strangely. Jason stared into the tumultuous depths of golden-olive eyes, which were framed with dark golden lashes and rested under thick, arched eyebrows. The multi-colored patch near his eye did indeed look to be scales of gold, orange, and green. How curious it was. Almost like reptilian scales layered in perfect geometric harmony. He wondered whether it would feel cool under his fingertips.
Cade dipped his head. “I was wrong. I got carried away and was a bit overzealous to find you. Let me explain everything, my warrior, then you can decide—”
“A bit?” Jason asked incredulously, breaking from thoughts of the past. “You kidnapped me! Then fought me when I tried to . . .” He paused as his memory came back to him, then his eyes grew wide. “Fire. Oh my God, you, fire, and . . . oh, shit!”
He tripped as he scrambled to his feet, then groaned as his body protested.
Cade remained seated, looking up at him.
“What did you do to my back?”
“I didn’t do anything. You’ve been on the floor for two days now,” he said as Jason stretched, his wings limp behind him.
After cracking his back, he returned his attention to Cade. “You will turn this ship around and take me home!” Jason demanded.
Cade rose to his feet and stepped in front of him. “Hear me out first. Besides, there’s someone I’d like you to meet who will be able to tell you what you are.”
“I know who I am,” Jason snapped.
“Do you?” Cade asked, nodding to the feathers drifting to the floor.
“Oh, I’ll be getting rid of these soon enough,” Jason thundered, kicking at a feather fluttering down. He missed.
Cade frowned. “Getting rid of your wings? Why would you want to?”
Jason’s jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me? Why the hell would I want them?” he shouted.
“I see. Seems like we need to have that conversation.”
Jason stood in stony silence, scowling at Cade. He had to stay on guard. This man was crafty, a decent fighter, and incredibly distracting. He’d need his wits about him if he wanted to commandeer the ship.
“First, tell me about the fire.” He pointed his finger at Cade. He couldn’t believe he’d forgotten about that. The scoundrel had tried to barbeque him! “Were you trying to kill me or was it another of your lame illusions? Did you conjure it?”
Cade chuckled, shaking his head. “I didn’t conjure the fire, Jason. I am fire.”
Chapter 5
Cade watched as Jason scoffed at his pronouncement.
“You have some nerve. What the hell does that even mean?” Jason yelled, throwing his hands in the air. “You know what? Before, I didn’t get the feeling you were actually trying to kill me, but then you tried to light me on fire!”
Cade stood bemused as Jason paced around the small room. He stopped and turned, staring at him again with those peculiar eyes.
“Wait, you . . . you have wings. I saw them. When you brought me to this ship.” Jason frowned at that, shaking his head.
Cade stood silently for a few moments, allowing Jason time to process what he’d seen.
Finally, he asked, “What do you mean . . . you’re fire? Like a dragon?”
Cade allowed himself to smile and stepped closer to Jason, whose color seemed to drain from his face.
“I’ve been wanting to explain to you. You,” he pointed to Jason, then to himself, “and I are similar. We belong to a divine race called vahanas that once accompanied the gods as they travelled the cosmos. Now, there are only a few of us, and I’ve been searching the worlds for the remnants of our race. Then I found you, slumbering among vampires.”
Jason gave him a blank look, then burst out laughing.
Cade tensed as his anger s
piked.
“Oh, wow,” Jason said as he caught his breath. “You abducted me for this bullshit?” he scoffed. “Divine race? Do I look divine to you?” He started laughing again.
Cade punched Jason in the face, knocking him to the floor. He landed on Jason, grabbed him by his collar, and shook.
“This is no laughing matter, leech!” he growled, his animal form close to the surface. His skin morphed as he struggled to keep from transforming.
Jason froze, mouth open, no doubt seeing his body shimmer as scales emerged and receded along the surface of his skin. He threw Jason back to the floor and marched from the room.
There were so few of them left. And those he did find and rescue were nothing but shells of their former selves, spent of their life force and eager for death. It was an agonizing way to live; slowly drained over centuries, forced to commit acts that went against their nature; handed from one master to another, their own names forgotten over time. Some had been forced to perform tawdry tricks for others who knew nothing about the ancient, divine power in their presence. Cade knew firsthand the pain of that life and was lucky the crazed mage who once bound him into an enchanted pendant hadn’t known the extent of his abilities.
He shouldn’t judge Jason harshly. He was completely ignorant of who or what he was. But finding him had reignited the hope within Cade he thought was extinguished. It had been twenty-three years since his sensor lit up as it did for Jason.
And Jason laughed at him!
But, if he was fair, why would Jason believe him after how he’d been treated? Cade wasn’t in any position to be critical. He rubbed the back of his neck, gazing out the window of the bridge into the darkness of space. He hoped once he got Jason back to their sanctuary, he’d understand.
“Look, Cade. You got the wrong guy. I’m not . . . what you believe me to be. I’m not a vah-dan or whatever. I’m vampire. And the sooner you return me to Damurios, the sooner you can locate who you’re really meant to find,” Jason said, coming to stand beside him with a sympathetic smile.