Blood Awakening (Blood Prophecy Trilogy)

by Jamie Manning

  “I do.” And I meant it.

  “Did you wait until the last minute for added drama?” Sebastian’s voice caught me off guard; he practically leapt from a small cluster of trees like a, well…blood-sucking monster.

  “What the hell’s he doing here?” Erik asked, stepping out from our group and moving toward Sebastian.

  “Stop.” Chance quickly grabbed Erik’s arm. I expected Erik to pull away and keep going, but he stayed put, staring Sebastian down.

  “Erik.” I walked over to him. “You can’t.”

  “He killed my sister, Ava.” His voice was tight in his throat, his mouth clenched almost completely shut. “He killed her.”

  “I know.” I wound my fingers into his and squeezed his hand. His skin was on fire with heat and his blood was doing somersaults in his veins, the anger inside him pulsing through his entire body. My heart ached over his pain. “Not now, Erik.” He finally looked down at me. “We can’t. Not now.” Several seconds passed before he took another breath, before he gave my hand a reassuring squeeze back.

  “Are we done?” Sebastian asked, his golden eyes piercing the darkness between us.

  “Let’s go,” I said, keeping Erik’s hand locked tightly in mine. The last thing I needed was him lunging for Sebastian and getting himself killed.

  “Yes, let’s.” Sebastian smiled as we passed, and it took every ounce of self-control I had to keep from attacking him.

  Even though I hated him more than anything—even more than Aldric, which was saying a lot after all he had put me through—I was glad to have Sebastian with us as we made our way deeper onto the island. I couldn’t explain why, I just felt safer knowing someone with such power was on our side, even if only temporarily; once Kayla was out of danger, Sebastian would no doubt be an enemy again. No matter what, I couldn’t forget that.

  As we passed empty building after empty building, empty parking lot after empty parking lot, that paralyzing panic I felt earlier came rushing back, hitting my chest with the weight of a thousand bricks, making it hard for me to breathe. I felt as though I would black out at any moment, my nerves sending my stomach on a roller-coaster ride of anxiety and guilt. Kayla was here because of me. Everyone was here because of me, their lives in danger because I climbed out of the ground and into the middle of their world. I didn’t belong here. Not like this, not as a vampire. I had to kill the monster growing stronger inside of me, before I destroyed everyone I cared about.

  “Relax,” Erik said. I felt his reassuring squeeze of my hand, telling me it would all be okay. I only wished I believed it.

  “I’m trying,” I said, gripping him back. “I’m just scared.” I sounded like Lacey, which sickened me.

  “I know. Me too.” He looked at me and smiled, and somehow, it made things a little bit better.

  “We’re here.” Sebastian’s commanding voice carried on the wind and swept through the open waters before us. I glanced at our surroundings, which were pretty much nonexistent.

  “This is it?” I asked, surprised at the location Kayla’s abductors had chosen. The entire inner eastern point of Ellis Island was basically a giant patch of dirt, skirted on two sides by water and by more empty buildings to our right. Large metal dumpsters and a few pieces of construction equipment littered the landscape.

  “I do believe they chose it for its… seclusion,” Sebastian said, a peculiar smile on his face. “I actually quite like it, don’t you?”

  “Who cares,” I threw back. “I just want to find Kayla and get the hell out of here.” A nervous energy pulsed throughout our tiny group, a shared sense of fear and dread. I had no idea what everyone else was scared of, but for me, nothing terrified me more than not saving Kayla. I had to get her out of here, no matter what.

  Several minutes passed before shadows emerged from the dark and headed toward us. Vampire eyes came in handy in situations like this; I could clearly make out three of them, the shortest leading the trio directly toward us. They were still too far away to make out any features, but I got the sense that the one in front was female. A few seconds later, I was proven right.

  The female vampire was much shorter than the two men flanking her. Petite and beautiful, she demanded attention. And she got it—from all of us. Large curls of golden hair lifted and twisted in the wind, flailing in the air like sunny snakes. Her ivory skin practically glowed in the dim moonlight, making her seem more like a ghost than a vampire. Large, round eyes of an almost purple blue sat just below those curls, soft yet powerful at the same time. All in all, she really creeped me out.

  “Hello, everyone. Welcome.” Her voice was assertive, determined, like she had rehearsed a thousand times what she would say—or had said it as many. “I trust you found us with little or no trouble?” Her smile was infectious, drawing me in with charisma and charm. I forced my eyes to look away, to break whatever connection she possessed. I looked to Erik, then Chance and Lacey; all three of them were spellbound. Was this woman a vampire, or a witch? Or both? Only Sebastian seemed unaffected, smiling and gazing at her like a smitten little boy. Maybe he wasn’t as unaffected as I had thought.

  “I assume we all would prefer avoiding small talk, opting instead to get to the matter at hand?” The tone of her voice pulled my eyes back to her, that smile once again drawing me in. Though I had never used it, I knew then what compulsion was, and I hated it.

  “Of course,” Sebastian said. I was furious at him for speaking, for assuming that he had the right to offer any words on my or anyone else’s behalf. But I was glad he did, because I couldn’t seem to find my voice.

  “Excellent,” the woman said, clasping her hands in front of her. Everything about her—the voice, the look, the gestures—screamed old. And for vampires, old meant powerful. Which really sucked for me.

  “I assume you have the human they are looking for?” Sebastian stayed perfectly calm as he spoke, as if he were having a conversation with a friend or someone he met in line at the grocery store. The entire exchange was giving me chills.

  “Of course.” Lady Vamp smiled again, but this time I forced myself to look away. “But first, I simply must apologize for my rudeness.” She stepped toward us, sending my senses into overdrive. My body tensed, the vampire inside screaming to be let out. I fought to quell the monster…for now. I watched intently as she moved through the darkness like an apparition, seemingly floating over the ground and coming to a stop mere feet away. “My name is Zyris.” She extended a dainty hand toward me, its long, slender fingers tipped with manicured nails. With a bit of reluctance, I reached out and gripped it tightly. “Such a pleasure to meet you, Ava.” At such a close range, Zyris’s face was beyond striking. It was like looking at perfection, only better.

  “Can we get on with this?” I pulled my hand from hers, resisting the urge to wipe it on my jeans.

  “There there, Ava. No need to be so crass.” She walked back to her undead entourage, pausing a moment before slowly turning to face us again. “I have every intention of honoring my word to you. I only hoped that we could become acquainted first.”

  “Let’s save that for later.” I couldn’t believe how forward I was being; it wasn’t like me. Well, it didn’t feel like me. “I just want my friend back.”

  “Of course.” Zyris grinned this time, her eyes locked on mine, fury swirling behind their violet façade. She was a vampire, no doubt about it. But I was, too, and I had no intention of backing down.

  “Thank you.” I also had no intention of getting myself and everybody else killed by being rude. Even I knew my limits.

  “Oh, very well.” She lifted her right hand only slightly, flipping her wrist without batting an eye. I had no idea why, until more shadows split from the mass of darkness behind her and two more vampires came into focus, lugging a bound and terrified Kayla.

  “Thank God,” I said. I wanted to rush over to her, to hug her tightly aga
inst me and never let her go. Sebastian held me back.

  “As you can see,” Zyris said, “your friend is perfectly fine. Perhaps a bit frightened, but completely unharmed.” One of the additional vampires pulled Kayla over to Zyris, dropping her arm before falling into line with the others. Vampire soldiers. Perfect.

  “And in exchange?” Sebastian asked.

  “Exchange?” I repeated. “What exchange? There was no mention of any exchange?” Welcome back, panic.

  “Dear child,” Zyris said. “Surely you do not think that one is given something without proper compensation? Why, that is poor business.”

  “I’m not a child,” I snapped, garnering the attention of everyone. I could almost feel Sebastian cursing me. “And you took her. So I’m not agreeing to any exchange.”

  Zyris laughed. “I had heard you were incorrigible. I must say, it is refreshing to witness firsthand.” The softness of her features suddenly changed, hardened. “But please do not mistake me for someone willing to put up with such disrespect and rudeness, Ava. For I am not that someone.”

  Her words chilled me all the way through. It was as if she had climbed inside of me and was ripping her way out. Terror lit up my stomach and boiled my blood, sent my mind into a frenzy. “I’m sorry if you see this as rude.” It was like I had some sort of death wish. “I simply want to make sure she’s okay.” My eyes were locked on Kayla’s face. I desperately wanted to go to her, to hug her and tell her she would be fine, but Zyris was far too smart to even let me take a step in Kayla’s direction. So I stood my ground.

  “And as I said before, I am a woman of my word. You will have your friend, when I deem it an appropriate time. After we have come to a mutual agreement.”

  “You kidnap my friend and expect me to make a trade for her? Are you insane?”

  “Ava.” Sebastian’s voice was both strained and forceful, but I ignored him. Powerful, ancient vampire or not, Zyris was a bitch.

  “I expect you to do what you must to ensure your friend lives,” Zyris said, her voice stern. “Unless you have changed your mind about saving her life?”

  “You hurt her and I’ll—”

  “—you will what, child? Kill me?” She laughed again, that smug, condescending laugh that stirred the vampire inside me. Rage curdled my blood as it crawled through my veins, surging and rolling and growing stronger. My mind was consumed with anger, so much that I couldn’t control it. Without even thinking, my fangs sliced my gums and prepared to strike.

  Zyris obviously saw the change in me. “If I did not know better,” she laughed, looking to the vampires beside her, “I would say that the little vampire wants to play.” A brief moment passed when no one moved before Zyris was on me, so fast I had no time to react. Blinding pain pierced my vision, my throat slowly closing beneath the iron grip of her manicured hand. I gasped and choked and began to black out, unable to maneuver from her chokehold.

  “Klaus, no!” I heard Sebastian yell at someone and opened my eyes in time to see three large vampires emerge from one of the buildings behind us, fangs exposed and eyes wild with fury. The largest of the three, Klaus I presumed, stopped just in front of Sebastian and the others, his stare fixated on Zyris and me.

  “Wise decision, Sebastian,” Zyris said, her hand still tight around my throat.

  “What is it you want, Zyris?” Sebastian’s voice was calm once again, which was surprising given the frantic state I was in. Then again, I was the one being choked to death, not him. I gripped Zyris’s hand with all the vampire strength in me, my mind slipping in and out of a conscious state. No matter how hard I pulled, her hand never wavered. “Powerful” wasn’t a strong enough word to describe the monster before me.

  “Him,” Zyris said. “The once-human vampire.”

  Once-human vampire? What did that mean? With only half my senses still functioning, it took a moment for her statement to register.

  Him.

  Once human.

  Vampire.

  “No,” I choked out, gripping harder on Zyris’ hand.

  “No?” she repeated, looking at me. “I believe you are in no position to question my request, Ava.”

  “I don’t care.” My throat burned as the words ripped from my mouth. “He’s not going with you.”

  “That decision is not yours to make.” She smiled before finally releasing me. I hadn’t realized she had lifted me into the air until my body fell to the ground in a choking, gasping heap. “But I do admire your resilience. You, my dear, will become a perfect vampire one day.”

  “Wrong again,” I said between ragged coughs.

  Zyris laughed. “We will see.” She moved away from me and returned to her troupe, again forming a perfect reverse triangle. Lacey had been right; it was all so cliché.

  “Why him?” Sebastian asked, a hint of something behind his words. Was it concern? I highly doubted it, considering he still referred to non-vampires as “those humans.” But something was there, lurking behind that carefree exterior.

  “Because,” Zyris said, “the newest member of our extended family possesses a very unique talent.” Her eyes slowly turned to Chance. “Is that not true?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Chance said. I could hear the fear in his voice, though he was fighting not to show it, to be strong. As I pulled myself up from the ground, I couldn’t help but admire the way he had seemingly embraced his new life. I wish I could have done the same with mine—and his.

  “Playing coy is not a wise decision, my son. Do try and learn from the mistakes of your friend.” Zyris looked to me on that last part, a sly smile lifting her mouth. I wanted to rip it from her face.

  “He can’t do that anymore,” I said, my voice almost hoarse.

  She seemed unaffected by my statement. “I do believe he can,” she said. “He still possesses the power. He merely needs someone to show him how to find it.”

  “Well, that someone sure as hell won’t be you.” I couldn’t control the anger in me, its fight for release too great.

  Zyris smirked and turned to one of the larger vampires flanking her. “Bring her to me,” she said. I closed my eyes and braced for impact as the vampire sprinted toward us, but he didn’t touch me. I quickly opened my eyes to see Kayla back beside Zyris, her hand clutching the back of my friend’s neck.

  “Let her go!” I yelled. Sebastian quickly grabbed my arms to keep me from lunging at them. “What are you doing?” I growled at him. “Let go of me!”

  “Calm down, Ava,” he said, gripping my arms even tighter.

  “I won’t calm down. She’s going to kill her!” I struggled to break free from his stronghold. Why couldn’t he see what Zyris was about to do? Why wouldn’t he help me like he said he would? Then I remembered that horrible night in the clearing, when he and his coven attacked us. He had been so careless with Chance’s life, and now he was going to let Kayla die, too. “Don’t do this, Sebastian. Not again.”

  He leaned in close to me, his mouth against my ear. “Stop trying to fight a battle you cannot win.”

  “You really should take his advice, dear Ava,” Zyris said. I knew by Kayla’s cries that Zyris was squeezing even harder on her neck.

  “Let her go,” I snarled, spitting out the words with the venom from my fangs.

  “I hope you are prepared to watch the death of your friend.” She smiled again before opening her mouth, revealing fangs of her own. In a flash, Kayla’s head tilted to the side and she screamed as Zyris moved in for the kill.

  “Wait!” Chance yelled out, stepping from behind Sebastian and me.

  “Chance, no.” I squirmed in Sebastian’s hands, unable to stop Chance from slowly walking toward Zyris. “Don’t do this, please.”

  He finally stopped walking and turned to face me. “I have to,” he said. “She’ll kill her if I don’t.”

  “
No,” I said. “We’ll find another way.”

  “I’m sorry, Ava.” He moved closer to me, his large, muscular frame blocking Zyris and Kayla from my eyes. Sebastian’s grip on my arms suddenly released, and my hands fell into Chance’s. “I love you,” he said, his voice low and inviting. “I always have, you know that. But I have to do this. There’s no other way.” He leaned in and kissed me, his undead lips sending shock waves through my body. I wanted to melt into him, to forget everything that was happening, everything that had happened. I wanted to disappear. Chance broke our kiss far too soon, standing tall in front of me. He looked down at me and smiled that perfect smile before letting go of my hands and going over to Zyris.

  I watched, helpless, as the boy I loved surrendered to the ultimate monster. I couldn’t help him, couldn’t stop him. He wanted to help, and this was his way. I fought back tears as he turned to face us—me. I admired his loyalty and determination…but I hated his decision. Zyris was practically beaming as he stood next to her. She quickly released Kayla and slid her arm into his. Kayla ran over to Erik and hugged him tightly before doing the same to me. It felt so wonderful to hold her, to know that she was safe again, but the price was too painful to bear. I quickly slid her behind me, hoping to shield her from any more harm.

  “This isn’t over,” I said. I pushed the words through the pain, letting the anger mounting inside spill forth. “I will kill you one day. Soon.”

  “I look forward to our meeting again,” Zyris said, giving Chance’s arm a squeeze. I wanted to rip her manicured hand from her body. “Soon.” She smiled at me, though her eyes held a fury behind them. I hadn’t realized Sebastian was holding me back again until I tried to lunge for her. I fought to pull away, but his grip was too tight. All I could do was watch as Zyris took Chance and slowly walked away from us, disappearing into the shadows.

  REVELATION

  Ava, we have to go.” I heard Sebastian’s voice in my ear, low and assertive. He finally let go of my arms and stepped back to speak with Klaus and the other two vampires that had emerged when Zyris attacked me. Normally I would have been grateful to have someone stand up for me as those three did, but being that they were part of Sebastian’s coven, I held nothing for them but disgust.