Damon (The Protectors Series) Book #1

by Teresa Gabelman

  “Oh, I got an Ace up my sleeve.” Chad chuckled, looking back out the window.

  “And what is that?” Nicole started to edge toward him sliding her hand toward her back pocket.

  He turned, his eyes glowing red. “You Nicole.”

  Chapter 16

  Jared grabbed his gloves sliding them on. “Are you sure it was Chad.”

  Damon laid on the ground, his bike laying a few feet away in pieces. “Yeah, I'm sure.” Damon gritted his teeth. God, silver burned like a son of a bitch. “The bastard took me out and before I could get my senses together he threw these damn silver chains on me.” Silver didn't burn through clothes, but any skin it hit kept them immobile. Damon didn't know why or how the hell it worked, but he hated the stuff with a passion.

  Jared pulled the chain from around Damon's neck. “That's gonna leave a mark.”

  “Hurry the hell up.” Damon growled. “I don't know how long I've laid here. He could have Nicole and Pam by now.”

  “Who do you think changed him?” Jared pulled the last of the chains away and watched Damon jump up, wobbling slightly, then pull himself together. “Don't know and don't care at the moment.” Damon took off running in the direction the women headed. Anyone driving by wouldn't have even seen them their speed too fast to track.

  Duncan met up with them as soon as they found the wreckage. Jared ran to Pam. Testing for a pulse he looked over at Duncan. “She's alive.” He tried to wake her, but she wouldn't wake up which was probably for the best. She had some major injuries and needed emergency treatment. “Call 911.”

  Damon checked the other side of the car, but knew he wouldn't find her. Opening his senses he closed his eyes feeling with his mind. He could smell her fear and helplessness. He had to get his rage under control in order to help her. One thing for sure he was going to kill the son of a bitch. Turning his head toward the wooded area, he walked that way seeing a trail as if someone had been dragged breaking through the grass and weeds.

  Duncan came down the hill. “Go with him.” He told Jared. “I'll stay with Pam.”

  Jared nodded, then headed in the direction Damon had taken. Not going far they stopped just inside a wooded area. A small shed type structure sagged in a small clearing. A light glowed from a window outlining the shadow of a man. Damon made a move toward the structure, but Jared stopped him. “Hold on there friend. He isn't strong enough to sense us, but you go in there with him standing right at the window he can get to her before you get to him.”

  Damon knew he was right so he stopped. “As soon as he moves I'm in.” His eyes never left the window. “You go around and see if there's another way in. As soon as you hear all hell break loose get in there.”

  “On it.” Jared slapped him on the back.

  Damon took a quick glance his way. “Can you get a read on her?”

  Jared sometimes forgot Damon couldn't. “Yeah.” He nodded. “She's hurt, but okay. She's scared and is praying that you find her.”

  Damon nodded, looking back at the window, the gleam in his eye more determined. He heard Jared take off and waited, giving him enough time to search around to find another way in. The window Damon planned to go through wasn't large, but he'd take out the whole side of the building to get to Nicole. He could break through the door, but the bastard would be expecting that and Damon always did the unexpected, which was probably why he has been around for hundreds of years. Nothing was going to stop him. He could hear the river lapping the banks downhill from where he stood. The place looked like a good wind would knock it over. Yeah, nothing would keep him from her....nothing.

  Nicole shivered, her fear overtaking everything she felt at the moment. The adrenalin pumping through her body helped her pain. She wanted Damon to find her so badly, but she was afraid for him. She didn't want him hurt because of her. Too many people's lives had been disrupted. Looking around again for something other than the piece of metal in her pocket Nicole noticed something. A rope was tied to the door that stretched to the ceiling where the end of the rope tied onto a curved hook. Understanding shifted the floor beneath her feet. If Damon came through that door he would be impaled.

  “I see you noticed my handiwork.” Chad laugh was evil. “Took me a while, but it works like a charm.

  Suddenly angry Nicole took a stumbling step toward him. “Damon is too smart to fall for that. If it does hit him it will just piss him off.”

  “Well, that's where you're wrong. I had it coated in silver. Cost me a pretty penny, but every cent was worth it just to see that bastard die as the silver spreads through his body.” Chad slobbered more as a wide smile spread across his grotesque mouth. “Oh yeah, worth every last cent.”

  She was not going to let him kill Damon. “You know Chad you really are stupid.” Nicole spat, then chuckled, hoping to make him mad enough to come closer to her. Just close enough she could use the piece of metal in her back pocket. She wasn't sure how to kill a vampire, but she was sure a piece of metal, silver or not, through the heart would be a good start. “Damon is way smarter than you. He is going to kill you, do you know that? You don't stand a chance against him or any of the warriors for that matter. Damon is more man than you could ever hope to be.”

  Chad's eyes glowed more red as he turned away from the window taking a step toward her. “We'll see about that bitch.” Chad snarled, spittle shooting out of his mouth.

  “Yeah, whatever Chad.” Nicole snorted, knowing her 'whatever attitude' would piss him off, it always had before. “All I know is that when Damon and the warriors show up, and they will show up, you're dead.”

  “Shut up!” Chad roared his eyes going wild. “Just shut the fuck up.”

  Nicole's fake giggle worked like a charm. Seeing him move in her direction her hand moved to her pocket, but before she could reach it the window Chad had been standing in front of exploded with glass, wood and one huge vampire. Damon blasted into the room his arm hooked Chad taking him to the ground rolling away from Nicole.

  Screaming, Nicole shielded her face and head from flying glass and watched in horror as the two fought. Damon grabbed Chad throwing him against one wall and then another, stalking after him pounding him in the face, so full of rage he could barely contain it. Never had Nicole seen him so angry. He again threw Chad against the wall before looking at her. His eyes calming slightly as they stared at each other. A click of a gun broke the silence as well as their eye contact.

  Chad stood against the wall pointing a gun at Damon with one hand while the other felt for his fangs. “You bastard.” He probed at one broken fang. “You're going to die.”

  “Now that's just gonna piss him off.” Jared sighed shaking his head then thumbed over his shoulder. “And your crude looking torture thing didn't work.”

  “God, I hate you warriors. You think you're so fucking great, but I got you assholes now.” Chad grinned, his broken fang dangling.

  Jared rolled his eyes shaking his head. “I know you're new to this vampire stuff, but what you learn in becoming a vampire 101 is that bullets won't kill us.”

  “But silver ones will.” Chad sneered with an evil grin that caused his broken fang to fall off. The ping of it hitting the floor the only sound in the room.

  Nicole saw the look of surprise on Jared's face then she looked at Damon who was staring at her with such sadness and loss it took her breath away. “No!” Nicole started forward dragging her injured foot behind her.

  “I'm sorry Nicole.” Damon gave a small sad smile. “Once he takes me out kill the bastard.” He ordered Jared, his eyes turning cold as he focused on Chad.

  Frantic, Nicole felt the metal piece cutting into her hand, her grip white knuckle tight. Looking down she saw a small thin stream of blood coming from her fist. Remembering Damon talking to them during one of their training sessions she turned her other wrist over staring at it. A new vampire could not resist the scent and sight of fresh blood being spilled. It drove them into a frenzy so it was very important not to get cut or have
an injury near a newborn vamp. Looking up at Chad whose eyes were wild, his breathing panting she knew he was on edge now and spilled blood may give Damon and Jared a chance to stop him.

  Everything from there seemed to happen in slow motion. Always one to hate pain and blood Nicole didn't even hesitate putting the sharp metal against her wrist. With a small prayer she took a step forward.

  “Chad.” Nicole was surprised her voice was strong and clear. Lifting her arm toward him Nicole sliced her wrist open to the bone hoping it would spill enough blood fast enough to make Chad lose control. “You lose.”

  The last thing she remembered was seeing Chad rush her, but before she was hit he was taken down. She was caught before hitting the floor. Damon's face wavered in front of hers his eyes worried. “I got you.” Damon laid her gently on the floor. “God Nicole, what were you thinking?” Damon whipped his shirt off, wrapped it around her wrist and applied pressure.

  “Saving you.” She wanted so bad to reach up and touch his face, but weakness so heavy settled over her body.

  Damon looked away from her for a second. When he looked back at her a lone tear of blood streaked from the corner of his eye down his cheek. “Stay with me Nicole.” His voice sounded so far away.

  Nicole choked, then struggled for breath. Oh, God she really didn't want to die. “I'm scared.”

  “You're going to be fine Nicole. Just hold on for me darlin.” Damon put more pressure on her wrist trying to stop the flow of blood, but it just kept flowing. His fangs had grown large and long at the sweet scent of her life spilling on the dirty floor. “Fuck.” Damon hissed under his breath.

  “No, I'm not.” Nicole whispered. She felt so tired and cold. Her eyes closed slowly then opened, her vision blurry. She wanted so bad to ask him to save her, to turn her, but she wouldn't. She loved him enough not to beg him to do something he was so against. “Damon, please stop and listen to me.”

  “Nicole...” Damon pressed harder.

  “Please Damon.” Her voice cracked, growing weaker by the second. Knotting his shirt tightly around her wrist he picked her up in his arms cradling her head softly. “Promise me something.” She finally said after licking her dry lips.

  “Anything darlin.” Damon's voice also cracked with emotion.

  “I like when you call me that.” Nicole gave him a small grin, her eyes closing. Clearing her throat she leaned closer to him. “Promise me you won't give up until you've caught whoever is behind Crimson Rush. Take care of the kids for me.”

  Damon stayed silent as he rocked her back and forth kissing her forehead. He felt Jared at his back and knew Chad had been taken care of. He wondered if Jared had kept him alive so they could get names from him, but his only concern right now lay in his arms dying and he knew time was running out. He had never met anyone like her ever. Instead of begging to be changed so she could live she wanted a promise from him to take care of others. He knew she wouldn't ask for herself because it wasn't in her to do so and also she knew his feelings on it and respected them. “I promise darlin.” He whispered lowering her to ground gently. “I promise.” But Nicole was beyond hearing.

  Chapter 17

  Nicole didn't know how long she had fought her way out of the darkness and pain that had devoured her mind and body, if this was the way to heaven then a lot of people were gonna be so disappointed cause it sure wasn't fun or peaceful. Her heavy eyes fluttered open to slits. Afraid to open them fully she moved her eyeballs only to see darkness. Wasn't there suppose to be a bright light to greet her. At least the pain was gone. Feeling a little more brave because of that fact she opened her eyes more and was shocked to find she was in a room obviously laying on a soft bed. Nicole sat straight up looking down at her wrist which was free of any scar. My God, how long had she been out or was she really dead and this really was heaven.

  Whipping the covers back she jumped out of bed amazed at how great she felt. “Hello?” She called out, her voice strong and deep. Okay...she was starting to freak a little. God she was thirsty. Licking her lips she felt a prick of pain on her tongue. “Ouch.” Reaching up she touched her lip, bringing her hand back she saw blood and her stomach clinched tight with hunger.

  Eyes wide she ran to a mirror hanging on the wall between two windows and bared her teeth. Short fangs hung slightly lower than her other teeth, sharp and pointy. Slapping her hand across her mouth she turned away from the mirror. “Oh. My. God.” She murmured behind her hand. “He did it.” Turning back around she removed her hand slowly baring her teeth again. So many emotions sent her body into overdrive she felt ill.

  After flashing her fangs this way and that, trying them on for size so to speak, Nicole walked back to the edge of the bed and plopped down, stunned. She was a vampire, a freaking vamp and she had no clue how to feel about that. A little scared.....yeah. A little freaked....hell yeah. What did this mean? Where was Damon and where was she, whose room was she in? As if summoned by her questions and thoughts the door opened and in walked Damon looking handsome and strong. She wanted to run to him, but his expression stopped her.

  “What are you doing out of bed?” Damon demanded, his eyes running down her body back to her face.

  “Why?” She whispered, ignoring his question with one of her own.

  Damon was silent for a long minute staring at her so intently that Nicole shifted nervously on the bed. “I had no choice.” He finally moved, setting the tray down on a dresser.

  Okay, so that wasn't the answer she wanted. “Yeah, you did.” Her chin lifted in a stubborn tilt. “You could have let me die.”

  A frown spread across his wide mouth. “You need to feed.”

  Okay, that took her back and made her pale. “Feed?” Nicole hadn't thought about that. “Blood?”

  His frown turned up a bit. “Yes...blood. You have been out for three weeks. I actually expected you to be out longer.”

  “Holy crap!” Nicole shot up from the bed. “Three weeks. My turtles. My rent is due. Oh my God. I have to get out of here.” When she started to head toward a bundle of clean clothes laying on a chair in the corner of the room pain clenched her stomach tight causing her to bend over. “Ouch.” Nicole's panicked eyes flew to Damon's.

  “You need to slow down Nicole.” Damon was next to her in a flash. “You're still weak and you need to feed.”

  “Ugh...will you stop calling it that.” Nicole cringed. “It makes me sound like an animal or something, no offense.”

  Damon actually chuckled. “None taken.” He led her back to the bed. “Your body has been through one hell of a change and will take time to adjust. We have kept you in a semi-coma after the change so your body could get use to the blood and you wouldn't suffer as much.”

  Sitting down slowly, she wrapped her arms around her stomach dreading the next pain. “But I feel great except for this.”

  “You will feel great. No aches, colds, headaches or disease, but when hunger hits it is ten times worse than human hunger and the only thing that can satisfy it is blood.”

  “Yummy.” Nicole rolled her eyes with a grimace.

  Damon looked away from her. “Are you sorry I changed you?”

  Shocked, Nicole realized he was nervous about her reaction to being a vampire. “I won't lie, it freaks me out a bit and yeah, I'm a little scared, but I'm still here. You saved me Damon and for that I'm grateful.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I mean, you'll help me won't you?”

  Giving a short nod Damon poured some blood in a cup. “Here, you need to drink this.”

  “Why am I taking a cup? Don't you guys suck each other?” Nicole repeated what she said in her head. Okay, that didn't sound good. Geez, this was going to take some getting use to.

  Damon's eyes turned a shade darker. “We take our blood from a live source yes, but we do not suck each other.”

  “You know what I mean. Sorry, I haven't started the vampire 101 class yet.” Nicole took the cup peering in it. Sticking her finger in the thick red liquid she brought it to her
nose and sniffed, then touched it with the tip of her tongue. Oh God, she was not going to be able to do this.