His hushed, yet harsh voice freezes the hairs on the back of my neck. “Finish your story.”
He turns off the lamp. I can only see a silhouette of him now.
“It’s not a story. It’s what happened and it’s what is happening again. If you don’t want to know the truth-”
I interrupt him. “Okay, okay, don’t be so sensitive. Please go on.”
He sniffles. “The Uprising grew in numbers and started attacking remote towns and villages in the farthest corners of the world. Hybrids sought the help of witches…but we were too late. Witches united with the Uprising and murdered the eldest and strongest vampires who refused to join their cause, leaving chaos among vampires. And from that chaos a new order was born, one that seeks to fulfill the mission that my ancestors started. With the help of the ancient witches they may succeed. The humans who attacked you on the road are the Infected, poisoned with a virus brewed by witches.”
I pace back and forth from one wall to the next, unable to absorb what I’m hearing. This is insane. I should leave this minute. This man has obviously lost his mind.
As if he can read my thoughts, he says, “I wouldn’t blame you if you left. I know how crazy all of this sounds.”
“More than crazy. You’re talking about witches and vampires and angels and some kind of new order that wants to enslave humans. It’s all more than just crazy. This has to be a nightmare. I’m stuck in a nightmare, right?”
He wrinkles his brow and shakes his head. “When was your bus attacked?”
“Why?”
“Vampires can’t walk in the sun.”
My office is two hours away from my cottage. In order to make it in by seven in the morning, my usual time, I had to take the earliest commuter bus. I left my house at four thirty in the morning and parked at the Park and Ride parking lot. I was on the bus on the way to the city at four forty five. We didn’t make it very far down the road.
“Early this morning just before dawn.”
“Vampires attacked you. You should be dead or infected. They don’t kill all humans, some they infect with a virus that makes them crazed, and ravenous. They must have fled when the sun began to rise. The humans on the road were infected.”
I scratch my head like I’m trying to shake out some sense of reasoning and sanity. “Why are they infecting some?”
“Sunlight kills vampires…,” he stares at me, his eyebrow raised as if he wants me to figure out this part of the story by myself.
Chills creep up and down my back. “So they use the Infected to help them kill humans during the day.”
He claps one time. “Precisely.”
“You said witches sided with humans during the first war. Why are they now helping vampires? And where are the angels?” And why do I believe any of this? Oh, yeah, because of the red-eyed monster who tried to eat me on the bus and the ones who tried to attack me on the road. What the hell is happening? It’s like I’m stuck in a Twilight Zone episode or worse, a Stephen King novel.
Daniel cracks his knuckles, the sound making me uneasy. “I don’t know why witches are helping vampires. My guess is that humans upset them somewhere along the way. As to angels, the first war killed thousands of them. The ones that lived fled and have never been seen since.” He peeks through the window. “The sun has set.”
Chapter Three
The hours pass unhurried, as if time is deliberately ignoring my pleas for dawn. The full moon shines through the transom above the window, casting shadows in the room. I sit, crouched in a corner, wishing I knew a prayer to recite. I’ve tried sleeping, but every sound from the outside jolts me awake, a ruffling of leaves, frogs crooning, the wind howling.
Daniel is standing by the window, arms crossed, still as a sculpture. He hasn’t moved or said a word in hours.
I bite a nail and spit it out. I chew another one and then another until my fingers are slightly bleeding. I suck the blood and then I freeze up, realizing he’s looking right at me.
I swallow and lower my hands to my sides. He takes one step toward me. My heart accelerates. If he decides to feed from me, I won’t be able to stop him. I’m so stupid. I practically extended an invitation to him. I stand, my stomach feeling as if it has plummeted to my toes. “Please don’t hurt me.”
He puts a finger over his mouth. “There is someone outside.” His voice is hardly above a whisper.
Maybe it’s just a squirrel or raccoon. We’re in the woods. It could be anything. Oh, God, please don’t let it be a vampire or one of the Infected.
He takes my hand. “Follow me.” Stealthy, he leads me into the dark hall.
“What do you think it is? Maybe it’s an animal.”
I trace my hand on a wall, my fingers bumping into a picture which falls and crashes on the floor. I just offered the intruder a sound beacon.
Daniel squeezes my hand and guides me around a corner. “It’s not an animal.”
Outside, the sound of branches breaking gets closer.
“Is it a vampire? They have to be invited in, right? They can’t just come in.” My voice is quivering.
“That’s only in movies or books.”
I’m not entirely convinced I’m not a character in some movie or book. “What are we going to do?”
“We’re going to wait.”
“For what?”
“To see how close it gets to the house. If it’s one of the Infected, it won’t be able to climb the porch’s stairs. They can’t do stairs.”
I remember when the bus driver fell down the steps on top of me. I should be somewhat relieved that these infected creatures can’t climb or go down stairs but I’m not. Hours ago, I was on a bus staring out the window and thinking that I should hire another assistant to help me keep things in order, or at least retrain the one I have because she’s making too many mistakes lately.
And then the bus swerved off the road into Hell. I swallow, momentarily holding my breath. “And if it’s a vampire?”
“We’ll need to fight.” His words come out with determination as if he’s battled vampires before.
My nerves are starting to make it hard for me to breath. “You said hybrids can fly. Can’t you fly us out of here?” I rub my chest in an attempt to calm my breathing.
“I can only fly in the day time. Once the sun sets, hybrids lose their flying ability.”
“Well, that sucks.”
“Only if it’s a vampire.”
I feel like I’m going to start hyperventilating. “That doesn’t make me feel any better.”
“I wasn’t trying to make you feel better.”
“Thanks.”
“On the bright side, hybrids have superior night vision. We get that from our vampire side.”
“Very thoughtful of your murderous ancestors to give you special night vision.”
“If we need to get out of here in a hurry, you’ll be glad I can see in the dark.”
We’re standing in the middle of what I’ve determined is Daniel’s living room. Heavy curtains cover the main windows, but the moonlight glows through the small transom windows. I can make out a couch, an end table with another plastic lamp on it (what is it with this guy and plastic lamps?), a few empty bookcases, and a round wobbly coffee table.
I don’t hear any more noise coming from the outside. I exhale a long breath, thankful that our potential intruder has possibly moved on.
Daniel paces to the small dim entryway and puts his ear to the door. “It’s at the bottom of the porch steps.”
I join him and rest my ear on the door. I don’t hear anything. The night has gone completely silent. “How do you know?”
“Hybrids also have excellent hearing.”
I push my ear against the solid wooden panel, straining to hear whatever it is that Daniel can hear. “From your vampire side?”
He grins. “That we got from our angelic mothers and fathers.”
“Lucky you.”
We’re standing side by side, our shoulders touching. T
he heat coming from his body weakens my knees, overpowering my senses. I can’t resist brushing my hand on his face. He was warm before, but now he’s practically feverish, sweat is building on his hairline. I always thought vampires were supposed to be cold, dead-like creatures.
He softly brushes my hand off his face and brings his mouth to my ear. “Stay close to me, okay?”
His breath intoxicates me, and I’m suddenly overwhelmed with the urge to undress and offer myself to him. Right here and now. The hell with the apocalypse and the creature outside. That bastard will just have to wait. “Okay.” What I really want to say is, kiss me and rip my clothes off.
Slow your panties, Selena. Get a grip.
He opens the door.
“Should I grab the lamp?” Way to not get a grip! What the hell is a plastic lamp going to do to a vampire or one of the Infected?
He smiles. “I’ll let you know if we need it.”
Heat rises to my cheeks. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For not making fun of me.” I want to die. Hell, I may actually get my wish.
He winks. “The night is still young.”
My cheeks get even hotter. I’m blushing like I’ve never been around a man before.
I’ve been around plenty of men, but I’ve only had two boyfriends. Jake from high school doesn’t count. That was one make-out, lust session after another that lasted for six months and then crashed as hard as it had started.
And Jonathan, well he and I broke up two weeks ago. We dated for two years, he told me he loved me and couldn’t live without me one week after we met, and six months later he proposed. I said yes, we moved in together, and all was great until he told me he wasn’t ready to settle down after all, and he wanted to see other people and maybe I should see other people too, but we should stay together and just see where it all went. It went to me kicking him out of my apartment, ignoring his ridiculous, desperate texts which he obviously sent while he was drunk and feeling guilty about sleeping with yet another girl.
The last of his texts arrived only seconds before vampires attacked the bus. I miss your body. Let’s get back together, please. I was reading his words, rolling my eyes, just as the bus started veering off the road. Jonathan. He’s a jerk, for sure, but I don’t want him dead. I hope he’s okay. I hope he hasn’t become one of the Infected.
Daniel opens the door. The creaking sound jars me from my thoughts. I follow him onto the porch.
The moon brightens the yard. There is a man at the bottom of the steps, grunting and grasping at the air. Daniel is looking down at him.
Is it really possible that this man is a monster? Maybe he’s lost and scared and needs our help. Compelled to get a closer look, I stand on the first step.
The man snarls, violently shakes his head and twists his body, his arms reaching for me. His eyes are red. I gasp at the realization that this man, now a depraved creature, would tear my limbs and heart out if given the chance.
Daniel jumps in front me, his arms extended, shielding me from the man’s eyes. “Get back inside.”
“You told me to stay close to you.”
“I know what I said. I’ll handle this. Please go back inside.”
The monster flails his arms, tripping over the bottom step and falling on his face.
Daniel goes to him, squatting near his head. The monster lifts his face, exposing his teeth, trying to bite Daniel who doesn’t flinch at the creature’s savagery.
“If you won’t go inside, at least turn your head.”
Fear causes defiance in me and I ignore his demand. “No.”
Daniel shakes his head in disapproval. Then he grabs a section of the man’s hair. “I don’t want you to see this. Please, won’t you go back inside?”
My silence gives him his answer. I’m staying put.
He nods and then turns his gaze to the roaring man. Without even the slightest hesitation he rips the man’s head from his shoulders as if it was nothing more than a piece of clay. Blood gushes from his neck, staining the steps, the now dismembered body jerking as if searching for its missing head.
My insides revolt and I vomit.
Daniel takes no notice of my sickness. He meticulously proceeds with his mission, his fingers tightening around a lock of the head’s hair. Raising the skull above his shoulders, he swings it around and around, faster and faster until he unleashes it into the air. The head goes flying into the night sky. Silently, Daniel then bends down and lifts the spastic corpse as if it was no heavier than a child’s doll.
I wipe my mouth with a corner of my shirt and keep my eyes on the disturbing setting.
Daniel elevates the body above his head and throws it so far I don’t hear it land.
He turns to look at me, his brow wrinkled. “I didn’t want you to have to see this. That’s why I wanted you to go inside.”
Apprehensively, I go down the steps, not sure if I’m afraid of him or in awe. Maybe it’s a little of both. “I’m glad I did.”
“Why?”
“Because now that I know what you’re capable of, I’ll make sure not to piss you off.”
He smirks and takes my hand, leading me up the stairs and into the house.
“I need to leave for a few minutes. Don’t go outside no matter what you may hear. Keep the curtains closed and try not to make any noise. I won’t be gone long.”
“What? Where are you going?”
“I won’t be long. Just stay inside.”
I want to gag. I must have ticked him off when I refused to go back inside and now he’s abandoning me. At least he hasn’t decided to tear my head off. Not yet, anyway.
“Look, I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you.”
“I’m not leaving because of that.”
“Then take me with you.” I grab his arm, feeling desperate and terrified at the thought of being left alone in this place in the middle of the woods.
“I can’t. I promise I’ll be back soon.”
I’m crying now, clinging to him as if I’ve known him all my life…as if he’s a lover who is breaking up with me.
He cradles my face with his hands and wipes my tears away with his soft and gentle fingers. A part of me melts and the other part wants to smack him and spit in his face.
He kisses my forehead. “I can’t take you with me because…” His voice trails off.
I stare at his blue eyes and pray he will take pity on me and not go. “Tell me why you can’t take me with you.”
I’m strong, I know I am. If he goes, I’ll figure it out and take care of myself. I’ll find a way to get back to my house. But, I don’t want him to go. I don’t want to be alone. What if I’m not as brave as I think I am? What if the second he leaves vampires or the Infected storm the house and butcher me?
“I need to feed. And you can’t be there when I do.”
I jump back, suddenly scared for my life.
He comes toward me. “You don’t need to be scared of me. I’m not going to hurt you.”
The picture of him easily ripping off a man’s head makes my spine go cold. “Are you going to hurt someone?”
“We only feed from those who freely offer themselves to us.”
“And what are you going to do? Knock on someone’s door and politely ask if you can come in and suck their blood?”
“I need to feed. If I don’t, I may not have the strength to fight off another Infected, let alone a vampire.”
I’m confused and terrified. My instinct is telling me to do something I’m not sure I want to do. It’s whispering in my ear, urging me, insisting I give in and do what it’s begging me to do. I want to ignore it and just let Daniel go but I can’t.
I breathe in as if it’s the last swallow of air I’m ever going to inhale. Daniel is in front of me, looking at me in a way that makes me think he already knows what I’m going to say.
The words are wedged on my tongue. My mind is screaming at me not to utter them. I ignore it. “Feed from me.”
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Daniel puts my hand in his and kisses it. “Are you sure?”
I shiver.
He embraces me, the heat from his body immediately pacifying me. I rest my head on his chest and listen to his heartbeat. Despite everything that has happened in the last day, I don’t think I’ve ever felt this safe in my life.
I look at his eyes. “I’m sure.” The truth is I’m not sure. I hope I don’t regret this.
He discharges his fangs, sharp like a pointy end of a knife. “I won’t hurt you. I will be gentle.”
I close my eyes and expose my neck, quite convinced I have officially lost my mind. “Do it.” If he doesn’t hurry, I’ll change my mind and take my chances alone.
He brushes aside a strand of my hair. Breathing softly, he buries his mouth on my neck. I remain still, my heart dashing, waiting for what’s coming next.
And then, he sinks his teeth into me. I squirm at the slight pain which feels as if I just received five vaccine shots all at once. He begins feeding, gently and tenderly, the feeling makes me dizzy and warm all over.
His body pressed against mine, his mouth on my neck, I feel as if though I’m experiencing an erotic moment with a complete stranger. I don’t want him to stop even though I’m starting to feel faint.
Visions flood my brain. I’m walking down a country dirt road. I’m all alone, but I’m not afraid. I don’t know why I’m on this road but I do know I’m supposed to be here. Up ahead, there is a naked woman on fire coming toward me. She’s not screaming even though flames embody all of her. She’s smiling and pointing at me. Her presence comforts me. I feel as if I know her. I run to her, but she disappears. I drop to my knees and weep.
Daniel pulls his fangs out and instantly sweeps me into his arms before carrying me into the living room. “Don’t cry, sweet girl. Whatever you saw while I was feeding from you will make itself known again.”
Legends of the Damned: A Collection of Edgy Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels Page 248