I'd not had nearly enough blood in the last few days to fully diminish the ache in my throat and I was sure the other vampires felt the same. We maintained a steady pace, never pushing ourselves too hard, but with the difficult road across these mountains, I guessed we'd be depleted by the time we reached the other side. The only comfort we had was that Valentina wouldn’t be able to land her helicopter up here if she located us.
The track widened a little as we scaled a steep hill and someone bumped shoulders with me as they moved forward. I glanced up to find Julius beside me, the scent of sweat and blood making me inhale deeply with hunger. His breathing was growing heavier. We'd laboured on all day into these mountains without a moment's rest.
“Break?” I murmured but he shook his head firmly.
“No need,” he mumbled.
I glanced over my shoulder at Callie, panting as she hurried to catch up.
“Let's take a break!” I called out to the group.
Julius didn't refuse again as he dropped down onto a boulder and took a bottle of water from his pack, passing another one to Callie. They gulped them down as the vampires moved to perch on the rocks in the area.
Julius took out a couple of dehydrated bars of food for him and Callie and my sister fell on one ravenously. I frowned, hating how much this journey was putting on the slayers. They not only had to support themselves, but they had to feed us too. I still refused to drink Callie's blood, taking as little as possible of the blood Julius drained for us into bottles. I found it easier not to lose my mind when I drank by keeping him and Callie pictured in my head.
Besides, the less I took the more there was for Fabian who always seemed on the edge of going psycho and biting one of them. The hungrier he got, the more he fell back on his asshole ways. But Magnar kept a constant eye on him to make sure he never acted on his impulses. I knew it wasn’t really Fabian’s fault, but his swinging moods set all of us on edge.
The rain turned to sleet and everyone groaned their misery. Callie pulled her coat tighter around her but it was clear she was shivering beneath it.
“I hate this mountain.” Fabian kicked a rock and it slammed into a cliff face, breaking a huge chunk off of it. His posture was stiff as he started stalking back and forth in front of Chickoa. She reached for his hand to stop him and he stilled, eyeing their fingers as he gripped her palm. She quickly pulled away again, looking down the path.
Thunder cracked overhead and I shuddered, thinking of Valentina. But I didn't think there was much chance of her trekking all the way up into this mountain range.
The sleet grew more persistent and Julius and Callie rose to their feet.
“Better get moving,” Callie said, bobbing up and down on her heels to try and coax some warmth into her body.
I dropped my pack, unzipping it and taking out a scarf I'd taken from a store back at the mall. It was thick and made of cream wool. I'd only really taken it out of sentiment, knowing I would have longed for something like it in the Realm. I moved toward my sister and wound it around her neck. Her eyes lit up as she beamed, brushing her fingers over the soft material.
“Thanks, Monty,” she said, tucking the bottom of it into her coat.
I nodded, giving her an encouraging smile as we all started walking again. Magnar and Erik took the lead as usual, the two of them often spending the days together at the front of the group.
The path wound higher and higher and as we rose onto an exposed track with a sheer drop to our left, the wind started to batter us. I squinted against the fog of sleet and rain as we trekked ever on. Each footfall had to be carefully placed as the path grew narrower and I eyed the drop below us with my gut churning. Vampire or not, I did not wanna fall down there and hit those sharp rocks.
We finally made it away from the frightening drop where two paths laid before us. One that continued up and another that led down to the east.
We circled around each other and Julius placed an arm across Callie's shoulders as we huddled together. The fog was thickening and it would be too easy to lose each other in it if we strayed away from one another.
The battering sleet had soaked Callie's hair and the scarf I'd given her was already drenched. We looked like the strangest group ever with Julius and Callie bundled up and the rest of us just in sweaters and jeans which were now thoroughly wet.
“They can't take much more of this,” Erik said, nodding to Callie and Julius.
“I'm fine,” Callie said through chattering teeth.
“You're not,” Magnar growled.
“You'll get hypothermia before we ever get off this mountain,” Fabian agreed, his brow creased with concern.
My stomach knotted as I looked between the two of them, fearing what would happen if we didn't find somewhere dry where we could build a fire and pitch the tents.
“I say we get down from here,” Erik said, eyeing the path that descended away to our left. “We can head east for a while and pass these mountains via the coast.”
“It's quicker to go straight over,” Callie said firmly, but Magnar shook his head.
“What point is speed if you're dead before we reach the other side?” he insisted and Callie nodded in defeat.
“East then,” Clarice said, pointing to the path we needed to take and we hurried on in that direction.
After a mile of travelling down the steep decline, the fog lifted a fraction and the sleet turned to a drizzle of rain. I eyed Callie and she looked decidedly better already. I relaxed a little, glad of the choice we'd made. It was hard to judge the level at which the slayers could cope. My skin didn't feel the bite of the cold and though I'd not been a vampire long, it was becoming more difficult to recall exactly what that kind of discomfort felt like.
The track brought us down to a cliff that rose high up above us. Water cascaded off of it and Julius hurried forward to fill the water bottles from the falling streams.
Trees gathered at the edge of the wide clearing, giving us shelter from the wind. The sky was growing darker and I wondered if the sun was close to setting, but it was hard to tell what time of day it was through the thick clouds.
I moved to join Erik as he dropped to the ground, sitting down beside him. He pushed a damp lock of hair away from my face with a comforting smile and his fingers left a tingle of electricity in their wake. I took his hand, placing a kiss on each of his knuckles in turn and he watched me closely.
“How hungry are you?” he asked in a low whisper so only I could hear.
“I'm alright,” I promised, rubbing my throat. “It's not terrible.”
“Not terrible isn't alright,” he said with an edge to his voice.
I turned to look at Callie across the clearing as she took shelter under a tree, pulling off her coat and swapping the damp sweater beneath it for a new one from her pack. I spotted the bandages on her arms from where she'd cut herself to feed everyone and my heart went out to her.
We have to break this damn curse.
“I'm fine, Erik,” I pressed, leaning against his shoulder and drinking in the small moment of peace.
He placed a kiss on my head and I sighed, happy that we'd worked through our issues at last. His demeanour had vastly improved since we'd talked about his feelings and I felt closer to him than I ever had.
Julius returned from collecting water, dropping down in front of us and Clarice moved to join him. His eyes slid over her and a burning intensity filled his gaze. I shot a glance at Magnar as he headed over to Callie then gave Julius and Clarice a bemused look.
“So Magnar still doesn't know about the two of you kissing, right?” I teased, wanting to focus on something good for a change. Both of their expressions in response to my words told me they didn't think there was anything good about it.
“No,” Julius hissed. “And he's not going to find out.”
“You're admitting it now at least,” Erik said with a smirk.
Clarice rolled her eyes. “It was just a kiss, not a bloody marriage proposal. We we
re drunk.”
Julius nodded his agreement, the two of them working hard not to look at each other.
“Magnar couldn't exactly blame you now considering he's one of us,” Erik said with a shrug. “I don't see why you're so uptight about it. Anyone can see you're obsessed with each other.”
Julius's mouth fell open and Clarice folded her arms, shaking her head.
“Obsessed?” Julius balked. “I don't get obsessed with any girl. Especially not a parasite.”
Clarice shifted away from him, a flicker of hurt passing through her eyes then vanishing as quickly as it had arrived.
Julius pressed his lips together and I sensed he felt guilty over the remark but he was too proud to apologise.
“We could die out here,” I said, looking between the two of them. “I just don't see the point in having regrets.”
“There's nothing to regret, Montana,” Julius said with a scowl. “And I'll ask you to stay out of my business.”
“Oh but you had plenty to say on the matter when you first learned I was with Erik. You even told my sister about it before I was ready,” I said, trying not to let too much anger into my voice. I didn't want an argument, I'd only meant to let them know they shouldn't have to hide it if they cared about one another. What was the point in it? Magnar was a vampire now anyway, he could hardly object if Julius declared his feelings for Clarice.
Julius's brow furrowed heavily. “I didn't mean to do that.”
Silence fell and Clarice got up and walked away, joining Fabian and Chickoa who stood at the edge of the trees.
Julius fiddled with a pebble on the ground, looking sullen.
“Love doesn't come around very often in life,” Erik said and I turned to him, my heart softening at his words. “If you think there's even a chance of having that with my sister, take it Julius. You'll only hate yourself if you don't.”
Julius glanced up, a vulnerability glowing in his gaze. “I'm a slayer,” he said, his voice broken.
“We're all just people,” I said gently. “You must have realised that by now.”
Julius glanced over our shoulders towards Clarice, a decision growing in his eyes. “You really think she might...that she...” He gave us an intense look, not finding the words.
“Yes,” Erik and I answered together.
Julius rose to his feet, patting down his jeans, clearly deciding what to do.
“Do you think we should pitch the tents here for the night?” I asked Erik.
A howl sliced through the air and Erik sprang upright so fast that a wind gusted around me. I jumped up after him, my gut constricting as I turned my eyes to the shadows between the trees.
“Familiars!” Callie called, racing toward our group with Fury in her hand.
“Into the trees!” Magnar bellowed. “Don't let them catch us in this clearing!”
I ran to my sister’s side as we dove into the cover of the forest and Fury screamed warnings in my ear. I’d never known the blade to get so worked up about Familiars before and a deep dread pooled in my gut as I sensed something was really wrong.
Erik and Magnar moved together, waiting for the rest of us to go on ahead before following at the rear of the group to protect us.
Montana caught my hand and we started running. I couldn’t match her pace but she pulled on my arm, urging me to move faster as we ran down the steep hill.
I glanced over my shoulder, trying to spot the others but I’d lost sight of everyone within the trees.
My heart hammered in panic as we ran on and I stumbled as the ground sloped away at an impossible angle.
I gasped as I tripped over my frozen feet, colliding with my sister and knocking the two of us to the forest floor. She cried out as we started rolling and I wrapped my arms around my head.
My limbs tangled with my sister’s as the rocks beneath us battered my bones and the world was reduced to a spinning whirlwind around me.
We slammed to a halt and pain raced through my body as I crashed into Montana.
She screamed in agony as she took the brunt of our collision and I rolled away from her in panic as I looked up at the huge tree we’d crashed into.
Montana hissed as her body fought to heal the devastating wound to her spine as she lay twisted against the towering trunk.
“It’s okay, Monty!” I breathed, fighting off the pain of my own injuries as I hurried forward to help her.
I dragged her away from the tree as her legs failed to move and her face scrunched in pain at the horrific injury.
I rearranged her legs so that they lay straight and tears glimmered across my vision as she cried out, squeezing her eyes shut.
I leaned over her, gripping her hand as the pain of my own injuries clamoured for my attention.
Something wet stained my cheek and I raised a trembling hand to my face as a drop of my blood fell between us, landing on her chin.
Montana gasped, her nostrils flaring as her eyes snapped open and a savage hunger filled her expression.
“Get back!” she warned, slamming a palm into my chest and knocking me off of her as she scrambled away on her elbows. I fell back on my ass into a heap of brown leaves from the force of her shove but I pushed myself back to my knees quickly.
“It’s okay, Monty,” I insisted as she groaned in pain, her body healing slower than it should have.
She needed blood and my veins were full of it. I wasn’t going to see her suffer when I held the answer just beneath my skin.
“It’s not,” she wailed desperately, her gaze flicking from my eyes to the wound on my cheek to my eyes again as she fought against the hunger which battled to claim her.
A chorus of animal howls started up through the trees and I looked about desperately, realising I’d lost Fury in my fall.
“This isn’t a negotiation,” I snarled as I scrambled towards her.
Montana shook her head desperately as I moved to kneel before her. “Please don’t make me, Callie, I can’t bear it if I-”
“We shared a womb, Monty,” I snapped. “My blood is yours anyway.”
She reached out to hold me back but I batted her arm aside with the aid of my gifts before pressing my wrist to her mouth.
Montana clenched her teeth, tears squeezing from her eyes as she fought off the desire to bite me with all of her might.
The howling came again. Closer this time.
“Now, Monty,” I urged.
A sob escaped her lips before her fangs burrowed into my flesh.
I gritted my teeth, refusing to so much as flinch as her venom washed into my veins and fire flamed under my skin.
The next sound to escape her was a moan of longing as she grabbed my arm with both hands, holding me against her as she drank with the desperation of a starving soul.
Another tear slipped from her eye and I reached forward to brush it aside, her skin cool against the pad of my thumb.
“It’s okay, Monty,” I breathed as she drew more and more of my blood from my body into hers. “I’d do anything for you.”
A guttural snarl sounded far too close to us for my liking and I twisted my head around as I tried to search for the source of it.
Montana didn’t seem to have noticed as she continued to feed, lost to the bloodlust of her kind. But I didn’t pull my arm away. I trusted her just like I trusted Magnar. She’d stop when she'd had enough. She wouldn’t take too much.
A huge crash sounded between the trees and branches broke as heavy footsteps pounded towards us. Something big was heading right for us and my heart leapt as I scoured the hillside for my blade.
Montana released me suddenly, springing to her feet with lithe fluidity just as a lumbering black shape burst between the trees.
My lips parted in horror as the huge bear bellowed aggressively and I scrambled upright, fighting against a wave of dizziness as I stood too quickly.
Montana hissed, dropping into a fighting stance as she snatched Nightmare from her hip.
The bear’s eyes we
re two black pits of hell where a vampire had taken root in the place that used to house its soul. I had no doubt that Valentina was the one responsible for creating this monster and fear trickled down my spine while it swung its gaze between me and my sister as it tried to decide on which of us to attack first.
The howls of the other Familiars carried between the trees again and adrenaline trickled through my limbs.
Montana didn’t give the bear the option of picking between us as she sprang forward in a blur of motion with Nightmare aimed straight for its throat.
The bear roared, spittle flying as it stood on its hind legs, swinging a thick paw at my sister’s head.
Montana managed to avoid the blow, swiping her blade across the bear’s shoulder as she twisted aside.
I ran forward to help, ducking beneath the bear’s paws and aiming a kick at its chest, hoping to break its ribs with my enhanced muscles.
The bear roared, rounding on me and lunging for me with its jaws wide.
Montana leapt onto its back, wrapping an arm around its thick neck as she drove her blade between its shoulders.
The bear bellowed, swinging around to try and dislodge her and it slammed into me, knocking me aside.
I tumbled through broken branches and fallen leaves and something hot brushed against my fingers.
I smiled savagely as I grabbed Fury and leapt to my feet again, shaking my head to clear it as darkness momentarily curtained my vision.
Montana was still clinging on, stabbing the bear again and again as the possessed creature bellowed in rage and fought to throw her off.
It reared back onto its hind legs and I darted forward, releasing a battle cry as I slammed Fury forward with all of my might.
The blade sang with joy as it found the animal’s heart and Montana fell on top of me as the creature exploded into dust.
I released a laugh of surprise as Monty wrapped her arms around me and I hugged her fiercely in return.
“I’m so sorry I had to bite you,” she breathed.
Age of Vampires- The Complete Series Page 179