by Lynn Rush
“Yeah, well, I hated every minute of it.” She snatched his hand and nipped his wrist.
His smile brightened his face. “It’s going to be difficult to wait. I want you so much.”
She ran her hand down his chest, emotion robbing her voice. God, he was so respectful. No pressure. Only love. And she wanted him, too.
“Have I said thank you, yet?” He wove an arm beneath her neck and cradled her to him. “For saving my soul?”
“I just showed you that you had a choice.”
“You fought and didn’t stop fighting for me.” He turned toward her and nestled his leg between hers. “You did try to kill me, though.”
“Well, you bit me and sucked my blood.” She gripped his side, anchoring herself to him. “So we’ll call it even.”
Jake huffed.
“Okay, well, not even, because you know I’m going to have to kill your parents now, right?”
THIRTY FIVE
“Okay, so spill everything you learned about Vamps.” Emma slammed the car door shut and plopped into the passenger side of Jake’s Mustang. “Since you’re now the resident expert.”
Jake did not want that honor. To think how close he was to losing everything. “I am kind of surprised there wasn’t more in Gabriel’s research about how people become Vamps.”
“He was doing the best he could. Only human—well, until he came and saw me yesterday.”
Jake steered his car onto Main Street toward the hospital. The thought of Gabriel, Emma’s first love, showing up as an angel and talking to her blew Jake away. Interestingly, not a hint of jealousy, though. “Too bad he didn’t tell you more about what was going on.”
“That’d be too easy, I guess. It’s the journey, evidently.” Emma stared forward. “So, what’d Mom and Dad tell you? Vamps are marked. Random?”
“For me, it was different. I was the lucky one born into a prophecy. My parents are Vamps. But in regular situations, it works a little different.”
“How? I already know you can’t be changed by being bitten.”
“How were you chosen to be a Hunter?” Jake asked.
“Just was, I guess.”
“You had an inner strength, maybe.” He snatched her hand. “From what Rosa said, it works much the same way with the Vamps. Only it’s not God doing the choosing if you know what I mean. The person is chosen and marked. It’s their fate. No changing that.”
“Really?”
“Of course, they fail to mention the person really does have a choice.”
“Liars. It’s what they do. They deceive.” She shuddered. “Think of how many people turn into Vamps that don’t have to, didn’t know about their choice.”
“I know,” he whispered.
“That’s why you’re a Hunter now.”
“What do you mean?”
“First marked to be a Vamp, but chose Love instead. You’re a walking billboard for other Vamps-to-be, Jake.”
Of course. It made perfect sense now. He’d survived. Found a way out. He could share that. Help others avoid the damnation of turning into a Vamp. Well, if his parents didn’t kill him, first, for turning his back on them.
“But that also makes me a big target once that gets out, right? I mean, these Vamps must communicate and have a network out there if they have prophecies, and elder Vamps and all that,” Jake asked.
“I’m not so sure. Didn’t seem like anyone knew about me, and I’ve been killing those things off a few at a time over the last two years.”
“True. You’d think someone would notice Vamps coming here and not returning to wherever they…live. They have houses and stuff?”
“With people like Cynthia and Dylan helping. Probably.”
“That’s going to complicate things.”
“I’m thinking—and it’s just a feeling—that it’s more the older Vamps, like your folks, that have these little conversion rituals and junk like that. Because the stragglers I’ve seen around, and especially down in the city before I got here, seemed more scattered, loners.” Emma let out a long sigh.
“What?”
“I think this is way bigger than I could ever imagine. And I’m kinda pissed at myself for not paying attention when Gabriel was taking notes and learning things.”
“You were nineteen, had just lost your parents, then less than six months later you lost him.” Jake worked his fingers beneath her hair to her neck. “Starting right now, we’ll start learning everything we can. Me and you.”
“I’m in.”
“So. Marek and Rosa are gone for now. Any chance they’d leave peacefully? Since there isn’t a Trinity any more?”
“Not likely. They’re probably regrouping right now,” Emma said with a chuckle. “Put out the bat call for their little Vamp friends to come gather.”
“This is going to get interesting.”
“That’s why we need to freaking find them.” Emma cracked her knuckles against her thighs. “I’d like to get my hands on Cynthia and Dylan, too.”
“So, Vamps have humans helping them.”
“First time I’ve run into that, but it makes sense. Vamps can’t be found out. That’d ruin things, right? They need help. Why not find some loyal humans to make them fit in more. Help them navigate the human world.”
“Enough evil out there to find some, that’s for sure.” Jake veered the car onto Exit 10. He’d seen enough evil growing up in a broken system, foster home after foster home. Not to mention the group homes. “But they don’t have me, so they’re weakened. No more prophecy.”
“Bet they weren’t counting on that, were they?”
“No, but they told me part of this campus was on hallowed ground. It’s where they’re most powerful.” He cleared his throat. “Where we were going to be most powerful.”
“They didn’t happen to mention where, did they? The college isn’t even a century old.”
“I kind of figured it was Cynthia and Dylan’s parents’ house. I mean, they had a concrete slab that could pass for a sacrifice Altar. And it’s out in the middle of nowhere.”
“But it’s pretty far off campus. And it’s not like Arizona has been around for ages, you know? What’s so special about this place?”
“Some head Vamp overseas sent Vamps over here way back in the late 1400s. Remember Columbus?” Jake maneuvered into a parking spot on the last row and put the gear into park. “When he came here to check things out. These dumb Vamps hitched rides and have been here ever since. More mobile, stronger, surviving the elements, diseases, everything was easy for them.”
Emma rested her head back. After a few seconds, she said, “Look. Jake. I’m sorry about your parents. I mean your real parents. To find out they are what they are.”
It was what he’d always wanted—to be rescued by his birth parents. For them to swoop him up into their arms and cry over him. He remembered all the nights he’d dreamed that while dodging the fists of various foster home parents or group home bullies.
“It’s every orphan’s dream to find their real parents.” She twined her fingers with his, and he settled into his seat, letting the sun rest on him. He no longer felt its heat, but he remembered the calming warmth. “I guess I got part of the dream, right? Parents found me. Sure, it was because of some psychic, demonic ESP. And it was to deceive me into becoming a Vampire and ruling the night with them…but at least they came back, right?”
“Sometimes I wonder what’s worse. Never knowing your folks and growing up in foster homes like you, or having parents for nineteen years then losing them to a crash all of a sudden.” She glanced at him. “I’m thinking your situation sucks major worse than mine.”
“Like you said, though, the journey is what makes you, you.”
“Made you pretty okay,” Emma said. “I’m just glad I didn’t have to kill you, Jake. I wouldn’t have recovered from that.”
“I’m glad, too. But the fact that you would have, to save me from that life, is something I’ll never forget.” He combed her hair back.
“What was it like?” She shivered. “You were, like, two minutes from becoming fully transformed into a Vamp.”
“The rush from the senses was amazing, yet overwhelming. I could smell and hear everything. That’s both good and bad.”
She laughed and turned in the car seat to face him more.
“But the worst things were the blood and the pain.” He sucked in a deep breath at the thought. “The fact that blood smelled and tasted like sugar. That makes me sick. It’s like I knew it should disgust me, but I couldn’t stop.”
She swirled her thumb over his hand.
“Then there was the pain. I thought my insides were going to implode. Or that I was going to combust.”
“Oh, Jake,” she said.
“And the pain I caused you.”
“Me?”
“When you came to my house, and I sent you away. Biting you. You being chained to a slab of concrete.” Jake shook his head. “I’m so sorry. I was torn by so many things. The smell of you, wanting to be with you, angry because I was going to be your mortal enemy… So many things. I couldn’t handle it.”
“It’s okay. It doesn’t matter.” She leaned in. “It’s over. You’re a Hunter. We’re together.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I know. And now we’re going to kill those Vamps together. Side-by-side.” She touched a kiss to his cheek. “Right after we check on Greg and Ava. That was one major mind-wipe I did on Ava, and with Greg’s head injury, we need to make sure everything held up okay.”
“Then I’m thinking we might start at Cynthia and Dylan’s house. Give that one more look now that it’s daylight.” Jake pushed open his door and stood.
“You think it’s the place?” Emma peered at him over the top of the car.
“Something tells me it might look a bit differently in the daylight.” He slammed the door shut. “And I’m kind of hoping we run into Cynthia and Dylan as well.”
Ten minutes later, Jake and Emma made their way down the hallway toward Greg’s hospital room. Ava stormed out, hands buried in her hair.
“Ava?” Emma said, hurrying forward.
Her friend whirled and scurried toward Emma. “Oh, Em. Thank God you’re here.”
Jake took in the area. A nurse’s station on his right, and a handful of medical people roaming the halls. Barely before noon on a Saturday made for a quiet time.
“Is Greg okay?” Emma snatched Ava’s hand. “What’s wrong?”
“I think he hit his head super hard. Em, he’s talking about monsters, demons, and vampires. He’s crazy. They’re going to sedate him.”
“What?” Emma peeked through the doorway into Greg’s room. “Shit.”
Jake peered over her shoulder to see Greg tossing and turning in the tiny hospital bed. A bandage covered the corner of his forehead and IVs sprouted from his arm.
“What happened at that party, Em? I only remember having a great time. I didn’t drink too much, but we were dancing, hanging out. It was really fun. But he doesn’t remember any of that.”
Evidently, Ava’s mind-wipe worked very well, but not Greg’s.
“I need to get in there and fix this,” Emma whispered.
“Or, talk to him and see if he heard anything or got any helpful information.” Jake urged her into the room. “Try it.” He leaned back and said, “Ava. Let’s go get something to drink. I’ll—”
“No. I’ll go. I need some fresh air.” She patted the front of her wrinkled shirt down. “See if you can calm him down.”
Jake followed Emma in and shut the door behind them. “Okay, Em. Work your magic.”
She hurried to the bed and gripped Greg’s forearm. “Greg?”
He tensed, then focused on Emma’s face.
“You saw them. You. You. Crossbow.” Greg turned his head side-to-side. “So many. They got Ava.”
“Shhh, Greg. She’s okay. She’s fine.” Emma pushed his damp hair to the side. “She’s downstairs. You’re safe.”
Greg’s gaze bounced from Emma to Jake back to Emma. “What are they, Emma? Those creatures.”
“Vampires. You’ve heard of Vampires before.”
“Not real.”
“They are, Greg. You saw them.”
“No one believes me.”
“Who have you told?” Jake asked, moving to the foot of the bed. “About the vampires?”
“Ava. The nurses. A doctor.” He settled back.
“What do you remember, Greg? Did you hear them say anything?”
“No one believes me.”
“We do,” Jake said. He glanced out the window into the parking lot. “Tell us what you saw. We’ll go take care of them so everyone’s safe.”
“Never safe.” Greg reached for the bandage on his head.
“What’d you hear, Greg?” Jake went to the opposite side of the bed as Emma. “Tell us, buddy. We can help.”
“The one carrying me out. He said hell was coming, and I should be happy they were taking me and my girl out of this town.”
“Out of town?” Emma sat up. “Where?”
No response.
“What’s coming? Did they mention the Trinity?” Jake asked. “A Trinity coming?”
Greg’s eyelids fluttered. “No. Trinity broken. What’s a Trinity?” He sagged against the pillow.
“Hold on, Greg. Stay with me.” Emma jostled him by the shoulder.
He shot awake and eyed her.
“What’d they say?” She snagged the cloth from the tiny table at the bedside and dabbed at his damp skin. “What’d you hear?”
“They’re coming for you, Emma. Said you’d ruined everything. Stolen their rightful place.” Greg faced Emma again. “Rightful place?”
“Don’t worry about that, Greg.” Emma leaned close. “Listen to me.”
“No. Emma. You’re in danger.” Greg reached out for her hand. “They said they’re going to kill everyone you love.”
“Greg—”
“And they’re going to make you watch.”
THIRTY SIX
“Son of a bitch.” Emma thrust open the doors from the hospital and burst out into the bright sunlight.
Greg’s words vibrated through Emma like an earthquake. She knew the Avenos Vamps would be pissed, but never did she expect this. Not that she should be surprised. They were effing Vamps. Hell bent on killing, dominating. And she’d taken their key to having everything.
Jake.
They were going to kill him. Ava, too. Those were the only two people she’d let in since Gabriel.
Emma rounded the corner of the hospital with Jake’s heavy footfalls trailing. She’d bolted out of the room so quickly after wiping Greg’s mind, Jake had been behind her a distance.
“Em,” Jake said.
She leaned over and dry heaved. Nothing in there to barf up, but still, the thought of having to witness Jake and Ava’s deaths was too much.
A warm hand soothed her back, up and down her spine. “We won’t let it happen. We’ll find them and end them.”
“Where do you suggest we start looking? God, Jake. If anything happens to Ava…” She stood straight. “To you. I’ll die.”
“I’ll help you protect Ava. We’ll be fine.” He pinched her chin with his thumb and forefinger. “But I need you to help me figure out how to call a weapon to me. If I’m going to help, I need to be at my strongest.”
Doubt spiraled down her spine and formed a rock in the pit of her stomach. Jake was so new to this. Only a couple of weeks of training, and that was before his Vamp powers changed into a Hunter’s gifts.
No more impenetrable skin. That one concerned her the most. Sure, she’d showed him some fighting skills, and he was strong, but still. She tunneled her fingers into her hair and tugged until tears blurred her vision.
She would not survive if the Vamps killed Jake. Or Ava. Emma had already lost too many people she loved.
Faith, Emma.
Gabriel’s voice chimed through her mind. Eas
y for him to say. He was an angel. He couldn’t die again.
“Em?” Jake folded his strong, warm arms around her. “While it’s still light, show me a few things, then we’ll check out Cynthia’s place. I’m a fast learner, remember?”
“Okay.” She agreed, but doubt clouded Jake’s optimism.
“Let’s go.”
Within fifteen minutes, they were on the roof of Emma’s dorm. Last time she’d been up there with Jake, he’d nearly bitten her. Thank God for grace, right?
“So how do I do this?” Jake asked, and he widened his stance in the loose roof flooring.
He clapped his hands together and checked his surroundings as if he was in the middle of a basketball game and waiting for Emma to pass him the ball.
“I’m not exactly sure how it works. Never really had to explain it to someone before,” she said. “I usually picture what I want. The last place I’d seen it. Things like that. Visualize it coming to me.”
“Sounds easy enough.” He put his hand out in front of him, palm up. “Crossbow.”
Nothing.
“Crossbow,” he said again.
Nothing.
“Maybe because I haven’t actually seen the crossbow in the trunk?”
“But you have, remember? While sifting through some of Gabriel’s things. You clanked it and asked me more about it.” Emma nodded. “Try again.”
“Oh. I remember that. But Ava came in and you never really got to tell me about how you got them.”
“Well, call it to you and I’ll tell you.”
He smiled. His now chocolate eyes sparkled beneath the sun’s penetrating rays, sending the amber flecks bursting with color. Even from eight feet away, they entranced her. No longer the dark, eerie black.
But both were better than the Vampire red.
“Try again. Concentrate on what it looks like, the feel of it,” Emma said.
He widened his stance as if ready to receive a tackle. “Crossbow.”
A subtle light ignited above his open palm, and he flinched. The sleek weapon dropped into his hand. “Oh my gosh.”
“Crossbow.” It came to her, and she said, “Now call the dagger.”
She cranked the trigger back and checked the magazine for bolts.