Promise Me Anthology

by Tara Fox Hall

  Jackie stopped, shifting the dog in her arms. “Not without you.”

  “Since when do I matter?” Rodney said lightly. “Get them out. I’ll take this one and try to draw off the scent.”

  “No, you can’t—”

  “It’s almost day up there,” Rodney interrupted. “Go where you’ll be safe. I’ll hide in the factory.”

  “But the dog—”

  “I’ll heal the worst of his wounds,” Rod replied, hoping because that had always worked with the cats it would work with a dog, too. “He’ll make it.”

  “I’m not leaving without you—”

  Rodney grasped her hand. “Get to your van and leave. If I can delay them until dawn, they’ll be stuck here.” He squeezed. “I can’t follow, but neither can they.”

  Jackie stared at him for a moment, and then leaned over swiftly, brushing her lips with his. “I’ll leave, but I’ll wait a hundred yards down the road until dawn. You get there, understand?”

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Rodney drawled, then kissed her one last time. “Now go!”

  Jackie flashed him one last smile, then ran.

  Rodney watched her go, counted to ten, then hurriedly skirted the building, and then ducked through a broken window. Kicking debris out of his way, he found a basement access door and headed back into blackness.

  He waited several minutes, watching his pursuers search. As soon as they’d moved out of hearing, Rod headed to the surface. When he finally burst free into the rapidly lightening night, it was too late: the dog in his arms was dead.

  He lay it down carefully under a nearby poplar tree. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. He bolted for the road, casting an anxious glance at the crimson rose sky.

  Jackie was waiting there in her van. She’d treated the wounded dogs and sedated them. She got out and beckoned to him, smiling, telling him to hurry. She...

  The fantasy dissolved into bright light, blinding him. Rodney cringed backward instinctively, waiting to burn in the sun’s rays. The chains that bound him to the chair clinked.

  “Stop cowering,” a voice growled. “We aren’t going to hurt you just yet.”

  Rodney blinked his eyes in the floodlight’s glare, taking in the tall man before him. “Kale.”

  Kale nodded, flashing a toothy smile. “Who’d you expect?”

  Rodney lunged for Kale, who quickly stepped out of reach. “I killed you!”

  “You did,” Kale replied, his tone slightly grudging. “But you didn’t separate the head far enough. Minimum distance of five feet, my man. Your loss.” He stepped closer. “All I want to know is where’s the girl?”

  Rodney snarled at Kale and struggled, even as tears crept into his eyes. “What girl?”

  “Sit tight,” Kale said, walking away and shutting the door. “It’s not like you have anything else to do, hero. I’m sure you’ll remember right before dawn.”

  Rodney listened to the retreating footsteps then slumped, remembering.

  There had been no last minute reprieve. There would be no reunion up above, either. Jackie would wait most of the morning for someone that would never come.

  They parted with a kiss. Rod followed her into the yard, ducking into a shed to wait out the day. Thirty seconds later, three vampires emerged, then stood still, listening.

  “Anything?” one said. “I smell nothing but grass and wood rot.”

  “I don’t hear anyone—” another started.

  The dog in Rodney’s arms whimpered faintly.

  “Shh,” the last hissed. “I heard something.”

  “It’s nothing,” the first vampire said. “I don’t know why we’re here anyway. We already know Rod and his girlfriend took them—”

  Rodney muffled the dog’s mouth and nose with his hand as quietly as he could, utterly terrified, his eyes fixed on the vampires.

  “Move it,” the last vampire ordered. “We’ve got just another half hour before dawn.”

  As soon as his pursuers were out of sight, Rod laid the dog down gently, then bit into his own wrist, praying he wasn’t making a big mistake. They knew his name and they’d track him back to Jackie. When they did, she’d die, along with the dogs they’d risked their lives to save. But there was another choice, if he was brave enough to see it through.

  Rodney smeared his blood on the dog’s wounds, biting again and again to keep the wrist wound open. By the time he’d delivered his brand of poultice, he was woozy with blood loss.

  After a few moments, the black dog opened its eyes then quickly rolled onto its feet, covered in vampire blood and completely healed. Rodney put out a hand. The dog ventured nearer, unafraid, then sniffed, wagging its tail once.

  “Run while you can,” Rodney whispered. “Take care of her. I’ll buy you guys some time.”

  The dog gave him an almost human look then tore off toward the road after Jackie.

  Rodney slumped back to the shed floor, too weak to stand. A few minutes later, he was found. The three vampires dragged him here to the blood-spattered dog fighting ring and chained him up, informing him with evil smiles that traitors had a special way of dying.

  Each moment Rodney was counting down the minutes, hoping morning would come.

  Jackie was smart. She wouldn’t wait once the sun came up.

  The door opened, admitting an African American vampire dressed in an expensive suit. Kale followed him, sullen. The vampire came to stand before Rodney. “I’m Nathan, Ruler of this state. Where is she?”

  “Who?” Rodney said angrily. “Let me go. You have no reason to hold me—”

  “Don’t I?” Nathan purred, his dark eyes like ebony. “You killed some of my men, and stole a few of my dogs—”

  “You were going to let your men drain them anyway—”

  “That’s my right,” Nathan retorted. “They’re mine. Everything in my territory is mine, including you, Rod. Now tell me about the girl you brought with you.”

  “Kale saw her,” Rodney stalled. “I don’t know much about her other than that.”

  “She was cute and she had a gun,” Kale said, shaking his head. “My memory isn’t clear. But she was definitely human, not vampire.”

  “That’s what happens when you let yourself get decapitated,” Nathan said sharply. “You’re lucky someone came along when they did.”

  Kale went to his knees, groveling. “I’m very grateful—”

  “Good,” Nathan said coldly. He turned back to Rodney. “Be warned, young one: I was snapping necks like matchsticks only two centuries ago, and that was before I was turned. One last time, who is she?”

  “What are you offering me?” Rodney asked. “Will you set me free?”

  Nathan looked at Rodney, then gave a peal of rich laughter. “Alas, for you all of eternity will be these next few hours. My offer is for you to die a little more peacefully than you will if you don’t tell me what I want to know.”

  “I followed her here hoping for an easy meal,” Rodney lied.

  “You lie so badly it’s almost entertaining. Almost. One last chance, Rodney. Where is the girl? Where are my dogs?”

  “You’re going to kill me anyway,” Rodney replied with a smirk. “Go to hell.”

  “We’ll see how much you smirk after we roast you,” Nathan replied. “Kale, go to work.”

  * * * *

  It was near dawn, the faint light just touching the horizon. Rodney watched it in a fog, his pain throbbing relentlessly.

  Kale had burned him with fire, cut him with razors, and beat him with chains for most of the next day and night. Just when he’d begun to lose consciousness, Nathan had come back bearing a cup of blood. That had been the worse torment. In Rod’s weakened state, he hadn’t been able to regenerate, growing steadily weaker with each new torture. Nathan had held it just out of reach, promising to give it to Rod in return for information on Jackie and the dogs. The smell had been intoxicating, causing Rod to drool slightly.

  But Rodney hadn’t given in. In fury, Nathan had Kale stake him t
o the wooden cross on top of the factory, adding the last steel spike through his chest.

  “You should be honored,” Nathan said appreciatively, watching with interest. “You’ve renewed my taste for suffering, Rod. I haven’t had this much fun in ages.” He came to stand near Rodney, Kale at his shoulder. “They say in your last minutes you rethink your life,” he mused, gazing up at Rodney. “Are you? Or are you wishing you gave her up and saved yourself the pain?”

  Rodney’s good eye moved slowly to focus on the blur that was Nathan, his head bobbling slightly.

  “You transformed her, didn’t you?” Nathan said resignedly. “Somehow you got the power and you turned her. You lost a lot of blood somewhere. That’s the only logical conclusion.”

  Rodney slowly smiled, his fangs now broken shards under his split lips.

  “Too bad your entire family’s dead,” Nathan continued. “I would have liked to leave you with the promise of your sister becoming one of my cows.” He shrugged. “Be comforted that your gal won’t have to live long alone in her new life. All Kale has to do is look for is a newbie who doesn’t know what she’s doing. Your get will be easy to find.”

  “I’ll make sure she doesn’t die unfulfilled, either,” Kale added with a leer.

  Rodney didn’t speak or give any sign he heard, the smile fixed on his lips. The sun crept higher, illuminating the edge of the roof.

  “Come, Kale,” Nathan said, eyeing the dawn. “We’re done here. The sun will take care of the mess.”

  Kale nodded, then looked back at Rodney. “Why is he smiling like that? He’s got to be in agony, even if he really didn’t give a shit about that girl.”

  “They call it a state of grace,” Nathan replied, walking away. “When you’re about to die, you stop feeling pain and make your peace with the world, or so it’s said.” He paused. “His heart just stopped.”

  “He was tough,” Kale said grudgingly.

  “He’ll be ashes in a moment and so will you, if you don’t hurry your ass,” Nathan said sharply, ducking in the door. “Go get some sleep. By the end of tomorrow night, I want that newbie girl dead. Understand?”

  “Sure, Boss.” Kale hurried inside, the door locking behind them.

  Sunlight flooded the roof, bathing Rodney in warm white light. Smoke billowed up quickly, then his broken, forlorn form burst into flame. Within a few moments, nothing was left except the cross with its embedded metal stakes and a few curling wisps of smoke.

  Sonata

  It began as most dares began between Nate and I. The enjoyment of a shared bottle of wine after the latest grueling Gathering of all the State Vampire Rulers was a welcome and familiar release for both of us. And if Nate looked to curry a little favor, I was amenable to that. Friends were hard to find in my world. There was much that was evil about Nate, but he was an ally that had always had my back in the past. After a hundred years, that was a rarity for me. When you are master of a country, friendship must often give way to the necessities of control.

  The Gathering had been like usual: stultifying. I had—as always—to reiterate my warnings to those who dared to involve themselves in the human world to the point of discovery. The subject of werecreature rights had also come up, and also that of other supernaturals. In that regard, I admit that Nate was often on the list of those that had to be disciplined, even if I counted him friend. That he was annoyed at this was also a usual occurrence.

  “I do not like being called to task for things you yourself have often done to excess,” he grumbled as he poured us both a second glass of wine. His resentful brown eyes caught mine across the oak table.

  “You give me no choice but to make an example of you,” I said mildly, taking the proffered glass from him. “What you do in your state I leave to you, within reason. But it’s not wise to attract attention with too many murders.” I took a sip. “And this is not the first time I’ve had to address this issue with you, Nate.”

  “I take only those that come to me,” Nate said defensively. “I have never sought out any human and taken them against their will. You have always done the same. Have we not told each other enough tales over the years of being the pursued, rather than the pursuers?” He smiled, baring just the tips of his fangs. “And have we not always agreed that pursuing was always the more delightful role?”

  I grinned back, baring my fangs completely. “Yes. But as the years pass, the more we must watch our steps. My chiding this year was not human related, but vampire related. If you must dispense justice to those turned illegally, you must also make sure they are aware of all the rules before declaring them guilty of breaking said rules.”

  “I acted within my rights to protect my business.”

  “I know what happened on that rooftop,” I said, my tone edging to anger. “Your business was never in any real danger.”

  “You have often said that one vampire more or less is not an issue. Rodney was—”

  “He was a child in every important sense of the word,” I grated out, my eyes bleeding to full red. “Make examples of those that deserve it, Nate. That neither one of us are saints does not mean that we can’t show mercy to those few that actually deserve leniency.”

  Nate wrinkled his nose. “As you will. But be advised that if I have to check with you about all my judgments that you may be in Tennessee more often than you are at Hayden.”

  “That would not be so bad,” I said darkly. “In spite of my harsh words just now, I enjoy our talks.” I offered him a faint smile. “I do not want to hear that you are dead, friend. I have lost too many I knew to gluttony and the hunter’s stake. We cannot be the monster gloating outside the window, obvious to all.”

  “Too true,” Nate agreed, sipping his wine. “Though I have you to credit for that, my friend. I was just a brash unlearned boy when we first met. It was you who helped me become the cunning chameleon, able to hide my nature in plain sight. You who gave me the taste for culture and the direction to shape my life into something extraordinary.” He smiled, spreading his hands to indicate the fine restaurant we were in, his well-tailored clothes, and the cream of society that surrounded us. “Do I not look every inch the successful businessman, instead of a bloodsucking brute?”

  “Something we all must strive for as the decades pass,” I said with reluctance. “There is too much at risk. The humans are fresh from triumph over yet another perceived evil on a distant shore. They would eagerly seek to stamp us out if we were suddenly revealed in their midst. We must remain the paramour of fiction stories, never stepping off the page.”

  “I know, I know,” Nate said, rolling his eyes as he sat back in his chair, surveying the room. “I will do as you bid, as I have always done.”

  “Good,” I said, pleased. “I value your friendship, Nate. And my desire for fairness does not mean we cannot enjoy our usual adventures.”

  Nate smiled wickedly. “Exactly what I’d hoped you say.” He took a long swallow, then replaced his wineglass on the table. “And what adventure do you propose this year?”

  “Seduction, of course!” I said, laughing. “First one to lay the girl wins.”

  “And the mark?” he asked eagerly.

  “Alas, Danial Racklan has no loved one to try for this year,” I said, thinking of my brother’s loneliness with glee. “We shall have to try for someone else who is attached.”

  “How about a virgin?” Nate suggested. “We have done married women to death, Dev.”

  “Passé,” I scoffed. “And in that regard I must also adhere to my guidelines of legal consent, Nate. No virgins under 18.”

  “My sister was taken against her will at 14,” Nate said angrily, his dark skin flushed with fury. “Mal Jenkins did not care she was a child, only that she was his chattel to do with what he pleased.”

  Nate had never truly come to terms with his human past, the agony of once having been a slave. “Your sister has been avenged,” I soothed. “There your methods of punishment were richly deserved. And your sister is saf
e now from all who would abuse her, with her brother as her protector. Colette lives as a queen.”

  Nate took a long breath, then let it out. “Some hatreds die hard, Dev. Let us not speak of it further. Your point was that it is too easy in these immoral times to seduce a young virgin, and I assent.” He paused for a long moment, then held out his glass with a winning smile, as if to toast me. “I think I have a challenge for you, if you’re up for it. The mark is legally of age.”

  “Go on,” I encouraged, intrigued.

  “There is a successful woman I have pursued,” Nate stated. “She has not fallen to my advances, as she cares nothing for wealth.”

  “If they were made in your usual rough manner, I shouldn’t wonder,” I teased.

  “I sent flowers and gifts of jewelry,” Nate retorted, peeved. “All were returned. If you can persuade her to accept your touch—”

  He smiled.

  “—and mine as well—”

  His smile widened.

  “—then I will owe you a favor, which you may collect at your convenience or need.”

  “Any favor?” Nate was unquestioningly an ally. He had always been one, since our first contest of wills years ago. But he was also a highly competitive businessman, the hard circumstances of his youth leading him to always do what was most advantageous for himself and his sister at the expense of most everything else. His allegiance was not without cost. In short, I could always use a future favor that I would not have to pay for with some concession of my own.

  He offered his empty palm face up with fingers splayed. “Anything.”

  “What is the catch?” I asked drolly. “Is she a nun?”

  Nate laughed. “A religious woman to be sure, but currently belonging to no other man or to God.”

  This was too easy. “She must like females.”

  “By observation, no,” Nate assured. “She likes men. She just will not entertain my suit, as I’m a man of dark skin, and not of her social class.”

  Being white and a former aristocrat myself, this conquest he suggested sounded like no trouble. “I accept.”

  “Shall we say a week?” Nate offered.