Barbie- The Vampire Hunter Boxset

by Lucinda Dark

  Wanting to come back felt like a pipedream to me now as I stood there and stared at her. Completely and utterly selfish. After everything that had happened in Rome, I wanted to feel like I still had some sort of control. That I was still the same Barbie that I had been. But looking at Olivia—as unchanged as she was—made me realize the truth. I would never grow old as she would. I wouldn’t develop the soft laugh lines at the edges of my eyes that the older version of her had in my mind’s eye. I wasn’t going to get married or have children. She would go one way and I would go another.

  “Barbie?” Torin’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts as the last warning bell rang throughout the now empty hallway. “We’re gonna be late.” His hand touched my arm, sending sparks through my flesh. I jerked away, taking a step towards Olivia.

  “Yeah, you’re right.” I reached for Olivia, dragging her away from Ben and down the hallway. “See ya later, gotta get to class!”

  Olivia giggled and waved goodbye to Ben as she let me lead her around the corner. As soon as we were out of sight, I dropped her arm and released a sigh.

  “Oh my God, you little hussy!” she whisper-hissed.

  I blinked at her as I kept walking. “What?”

  “You were supposed to be sick as a dog,” she said. “But you did it, didn’t you?”

  I looked away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Liar!” She jumped up and down at my side. “Oh my God, you did, didn’t you?” She squealed, muffling the sound as she clamped her hands over her mouth excitedly. “You and Torin,” she said, nodding.

  I pursed my lips as I kept walking, keeping my mouth firmly shut. Olivia wasn’t the least bit put off, as per usual. She leaned into me as we reached the classroom. “Don’t think you’re getting out of telling me everything, Barbara Steele,” she said quietly as the teacher shot us both a look of irritation and pointed to the back row. We edged past the other students and took our seats, dropping our bags next to one another. She wasn’t done. Olivia leaned across the aisle and tapped the surface of my desk with a long painted nail. “I want every. Single. Delicious. Detail—or else,” she swore with a smile. That smile was only a hint at the type of voraciousness she would soon show.

  Chapter 9

  Torin

  “Hovering around her like that, you’re starting to look desperate.” Maverick’s dry comment penetrated my mind like a stake to the heart. I scowled, pivoting towards him.

  “Big talk for someone with the same problem,” I said. He shrugged, grinning, as we both turned to watch Barbie pull her friend down the hall. There was another reason I’d caved to her demands to come back to school. Days like these would be over soon. She deserved to live them as long as she was able. And the closer she was to her human side, the better her bloodlust would be.

  “I…uh…gotta head to class too, see ya later,” Ben mumbled as he excused himself and raced away.

  I ignored him as I caught Maverick’s arm before he, too, could disappear. “A word,” I said. It wasn’t a question, but he nodded nonetheless. “I’ve got to head out.”

  Maverick’s shoulders lifted as he crossed his arms across his chest. “Care to tell me where you’re heading off to?” he asked, one eyebrow arching.

  “You don’t need to know, but I’ll keep my phone on in case you need me. If Barbie needs me, tell her to call. No matter what, I’ll answer.”

  “Are you going to give me any information on your whereabouts?” Maverick scowled, his muscles tightening and knuckles whitening over his clenched fists.

  I scrubbed a hand down my face and sighed as the closing of a door somewhere down a side hallway echoed up the nearly silent main hall. “I might have a lead on Esperanza’s whereabouts,” I said, lowering my voice. “I don’t want to get into it here, but I’ll text you.”

  “If that were the case, why’d you even bother to show up to school?” Maverick asked, narrowing his eyes on me.

  “Just wanted to check on her for myself,” I said, nodding towards where Barbie had disappeared to.

  Sighing, he lowered his arms and shook his head. “Fucking whipped,” he muttered as he turned away. “Don’t get yourself killed. Call me if anything turns up.”

  “Will do,” I promised as he lifted his hand and waved a half-hearted goodbye without looking back.

  I tossed the backpack I’d brought from home as a prop into my locker before I headed to the student parking lot. Slinging my leg over the motorcycle I’d left parked on the sidewalk alongside the school’s picnic lunch area, I revved the engine, pushed a pair of sunglasses onto my face, and gripped the throttle. The bike eased off the sidewalk and onto the wet asphalt before I took off, curving out of the parking lot’s exit close to the ground. Leftover rainwater splashed up onto my pants. Wind whipped over my face, burning across my skin as I thought about my plan.

  Esperanza was once part of a coven before she’d helped my father sire me. That coven had since been wiped out, likely intentional on Arrius’ part to ensure she’d have nowhere else to return to after she’d broken the sacred witch law to use forbidden magic meant for unraveling human souls. But every coven was intertwined with multiple others. Their way of life was so very different from that of vampires. By nature, people like my father were territorial. They separated into the ideals of us versus them.

  To witch covens, all covens were of one body. Each was a limb—a branch on the tree of life they worshipped. I only needed to find the closest branch to Esperanza’s old coven and I’d be able to at least track down a piece of information that might give me a hint as to where she could’ve gone.

  I clenched my teeth and pushed the motorcycle to go faster. Barbie was right, we’d already wasted too much time.

  Chapter 10

  Barbie

  Olivia was like a dog with a bone. Once she latched onto something, she didn’t let it go. If I rolled my eyes one more goddamn time at one of her ridiculously inappropriate questions, I was going to eye roll my way into another dimension. At least, that was the hope. Anything to get away from the Torin-Barbie Inquisition.

  “Come on,” she whined as the final bell of the day rang, granting me sweet peaceful fucking release from the monotonous drone of the teacher’s voice. I’d wanted to come back to school in an effort to feel normal, and normal I felt—normalled to death. “You have to give me something. A crumb. A hint. Was he as good as everyone thinks he is? Are you guys dating now?”

  “We’re not dating,” I assured her as we gathered our things and headed out into the already crowded hallway.

  She hummed in her throat. “You’re not?” I shook my head. “Interesting…”

  I opened my mouth to ask her what she meant by that when my phone buzzed in my pocket. Shooting Olivia a narrow-eyed look, I fished it out and hit answer. “Yeah?”

  “Hey, can you ask Olivia to take you home today?” Maverick’s voice was breathless as if he were running.

  “Yeah, probably. Is something going on?”

  “Nah, just gotta talk to the coach about off-season shit. I’ll see you back at the house.”

  “Okay, I’ll see—” The line clicked and I pulled the phone from my ear, staring down at it in confused irritation. “You,” I finished lamely.

  “What’s wrong?” Olivia’s question made me sigh.

  “Nothing,” I lied. “Can you give me a ride home?”

  “Obvi,” she said, flipping a red curl over her shoulder. “Then I can totes ask Beth if she’ll let you come shopping with me in the city.”

  “I don’t know about that,” I said as we traded out books at our lockers and followed the crowd of students leaving to the parking lot. I grimaced as we got into her little white Porsche and she was already backing out before I’d even put on my seatbelt.

  My hand gripped the seatbelt as I hurried to clip it in. When she slammed on the brakes a split second later to keep from running over one of the people milling about behind the parked cars, I sucked in a breath
and closed my eyes—praying for patience.

  “What do you mean you don’t know about that?” she asked, ignoring the dude cursing her out as she whipped the little sports car around and headed for the long line of cars waiting to exit.

  Finally managing to finagle the seatbelt into place, I sat back and blew out a breath. “I just got back,” I said. And going to the city seemed dangerous without Torin or Maverick with me.

  Not that I’m complaining about being around two slices of beefcake 24/7, but are you really going to spend the rest of your unnaturally long life shackled to them because you’re scared of what you might do? Satrina piped up. That doesn’t seem very healthy.

  No, I replied, but I should probably stay close in case anything happens. At least while I was still getting the hang of the bloodlust. School had gone over well. I hadn’t had any cravings all day. My fangs had stayed firmly in place. Other than being able to smell pretty much everything, including what the teachers had for lunch—what kind of monster would open a can of tuna in the teacher’s lounge? I probably didn’t need to have a new over sensitive nose to smell that shit—I’d pretty much aced being around humans for the first time without someone hovering over me. At least—I glanced over at Olivia—not someone who knew what I was hovering over me. She was a completely different matter with completely different reasons to hover.

  “What about prom?” Olivia asked. “I still haven’t gotten my dress. It’s our last prom—your first and last. I still can’t believe you were homeschooled until this year. I can’t imagine it. But regardless, we have to go to the city to go prom dress shopping.”

  “You can go to that boutique you took me to for the homecoming dance,” I replied, my fingers clenching on the seat cushion as she sped through a stop sign. Jesus fucking Christ—it was a goddamn miracle she’d ever managed to get her license.

  “Are you insane!” she shrieked, making me flinch as my new, exceptionally good hearing took the note in her voice and turned it up several notches. Olivia’s wild array of cherry red curls slapped the back of her seat as she looked at me and then back to the road. “I cannot buy a boutique dress for prom,” she stated. “That’s absolutely out of the question. This is prom we’re talking about. It’s like the red carpet of high school. And since this is our senior prom, it’s the last chance to put everyone else to shame. I have to hurry up and get my dress, though, so I can let Ben know what color I—hey, are you going with Torin?”

  “What?” My eyes were peeled open wide watching her weave in and out of traffic as she sped through the streets.

  “You and Torin fucked—you say you’re not dating, but…are you going to prom together?” she demanded.

  “I don’t know,” I replied. “I’m probably not going to go to prom.” I would likely be back on Arrius’ trail by then.

  “You have to go,” Olivia said. “I’m not taking no for an answer.”

  “Oliv—”

  “We’re here!” she said cutting me off as she pulled into the McKnight’s driveway. My body slammed into the passenger side door as she spun the wheel and pulled up to the house with a sharp jerk of her hand. The car was yanked to a standstill, the engine cut off, and her seatbelt was unclipped by the time I managed to get my bearings.

  “Wait, Olivia!” I cursed as I reached down to undo my seatbelt, accidentally breaking the thing in my grasp. “Fuck,” I whisper-hissed as I let the mangled clip go and the belt snapped to the side. I really didn’t have time for this.

  Getting out and closing the car door behind me, I hurried to catch up with Olivia as she waved at me from the porch. Her hand lifted and knocked as I came up behind her, confusion sliding through me. What was she doing? She knew I had a key.

  “Hi, Mrs. McKnight!” Olivia exclaimed as the front door opened and Beth appeared.

  “Olivia? Hello.”

  She wouldn’t, I thought, narrowing my eyes in suspicion at the short redhead.

  Wouldn’t she? Amusement was clear in Satrina’s tone, as if she were trying valiantly—and failing—to hold back her laughter.

  “Olivia,” I growled in warning.

  “It’s so good to see you, Mrs. McKnight,” Olivia gushed, stepping into the house. “It’s been too long. How’s Maverick? I just stopped by to drop Barbie off from school. I’m so glad she’s doing better.”

  “Yes, we are as well,” Beth said as she moved to let Olivia by. Beth’s head lifted as she glanced from me to Olivia. She frowned, her brows furrowing.

  I sucked in a breath and scrubbed a hand down my face before reaching for my supposed friend. “Olivia don’t—”

  “I was wondering, do you think I could take Barbie into the city for a girls’ weekend?” Olivia asked, clasping her hands together in front of her chest beseechingly. “I was hoping we could go prom dress shopping and spend the night after getting some dinner and a movie. I haven’t seen her in so long and we really didn’t get to do anything in Rome since…well, since she got sick and I had that…erm…attack.”

  Hook. Line. Sinker. Olivia had her. Beth’s face softened and her hand lifted to her chest. “Oh of course, dear, you’re such a good friend.” More like devious. “I think a girls’ weekend sounds wonderful. You should go.” Beth turned her eyes on me. Those trusting, honest, sweet eyes. At her side, Olivia’s lips twitched with accomplishment as she winked my way.

  “Wonderful, it’s settled then!” she announced with one of her usual bounces as she spun back around and headed for the front door, breezing right past me.

  “Where are you going?” I demanded, turning on my heel and gaping after her—irritation surged forward. I gritted my teeth as my arm snapped out and my fingers closed around her upper arm, bringing her up short.

  Olivia frowned down at my grip on her arm. “I’ve got to go get everything arranged,” she said, wincing. “Barbie, you’re hurting me.”

  I couldn’t let go. My gut was churning. She was so close. I could smell her. My mouth watered. Saliva coated my tongue. I opened my mouth and took a step towards her before I even realized my own movements.

  Barbie, stop! Satrina’s voice shocked me back to reality, echoing as Beth called my name as well. I released Olivia abruptly. She looked at me with a frown, rubbing her arm.

  “I-I—” I stuttered and stepped back as I bumped into the end of the stairway railing. “I’m sorry.”

  Olivia’s frown didn’t go away, but she didn’t look particularly angry, just confused, as her brows lowered over her eyes. “It’s fine,” she said with a shrug. “But I do have to go. Let me know if Torin’s taking you to prom, I’ll have a list of colors that would look good on you both when we get to the city. I’ll pick you up.”

  I nodded, turning away as I lifted my hand to my mouth. My gums burned, my fangs threatening to descend. “Barbie?” Beth’s hand settled on my shoulder as I heard the front door close behind Olivia. I pulled away.

  “I’m fine,” I lied.

  “Are you—”

  I didn’t wait around to let her finish her question. My feet hit the stairs and I booked it to the second floor, not stopping until I was in my bedroom with the door closed and my back pressed against it. I panted with the effort it took to keep from going back downstairs. My eyes were on fire, a glowy red film falling over my vision.

  Barbie? Satrina’s voice felt far away.

  You need it, why don’t you just take it? I froze, my hand still on the knob. I yanked it away as fast as I could, turning and backing away from the door as if it were on fire. The backs of my knees hit the mattress on my bed and I sank down shakily. That voice…it wasn’t Satrina and it wasn’t me.

  Hunger ripped through my gut, doubling me over. My hands clutched at my abdomen as I breathed through the pain slicing into my organs.

  Just feed. One little sip will take this all away. It’s not wrong. It’s what your body requires.

  Tears came to the corners of my eyes. I didn’t think. I didn’t stop. I reached for the bag with Torin’s bl
ood in it and ripped it open, tearing the seam and the zipper as I tried to get it open. The vials fell out and I snatched them from the floor, popping the cap on the first and downing it.

  I didn’t stop when the pain in my stomach faded, but instead, kept going. I popped the second one, opened my mouth and tipped my head back. Torin’s blood flowed into my mouth, cold from the bag’s cooling insulation. Some of the blood leaked out of my mouth as I poured in more and more until I was sure that there was no way I could ever crave it again. I gorged, sucked it back and let it fill me up until I felt bloated and angry.

  My fingers shook as I finally downed the last drop of blood, letting the final vial drop to the floor as I sat back.

  “Barbie?” Beth’s voice outside my bedroom was followed by the light sound of her knocking. “Are you sure you’re okay, sweetie?”

  I looked up and froze. I met my own reflection’s gaze in the vanity’s mirror. It took considerable work to clear the roughness of my throat even as I couldn’t tear my gaze away. “Yeah,” I rasped. “Just fine.”

  “Are you feeling okay?” she asked.

  “I’m tired,” I lied. “I think I’m gonna lie down.”

  “Okay, honey, if you need anything, let me know.” I thought that would be the end of it, but I could still hear her through the wood, hovering on the other side of the door. It was then that I realized she was waiting for me to reply.

  “Yeah,” I forced myself to say. “I will.”

  “Get some rest, Barbie,” she said.

  As Beth’s footsteps faded behind me, I kept staring at my reflection as my red eyes reverted to blue. I reached up, watching my hand in the mirror as I touched the corner of my mouth. My fingers came away wet and sticky with blood, and even as I stood up, preparing to wash away the evidence of what I’d done, I knew there was no hiding from it.