“I don’t know!” Slash’s face is pale, his eyes wide. “I’m so sorry, I had no idea she’d–”
I rush up to her things, her laptop. Papers. “What’s this? It’s an address.”
“I don’t know.” Slash looks at it. “She must have jotted that down before she left.”
“Let’s go. And you better hope we’re not too late.”
Chapter 22
Bri
I sit next to the sliding glass door with the lights off, trying to look for an owl. Alain told me they frequent the area, but I can’t see one from here. “Slash?” I turn to him.
For a second, he doesn’t respond, which means that he must be so crazy into his programming right now that he’s almost turned off some of his vampire perceptiveness. He absolutely also hates the idea of being tasked as a babysitter, and sometimes—I have to be honest—he seems less focused on safety than the more mature vampires. Like, way less. Almost like he’s not even paying attention.
“Slash?” I come up and poke his shoulder.
“Yeah?” He’s busy with his computer, so intent on the screen that he seems part person, part machine.
“Okay if I go out to check on the wildlife?” I roll my eyes. “I won’t go far.”
He looks at me hard, as if trying to see if I’m lying. “Okay, but just stay on the patio and leave the door open. Otherwise Alain will kill me.” He looks at me again, as if checking my face, my mind. He can’t seem to get in like Alain, but I know he can sense deception.
“I just want to see the owls.” I shrug.
“Fine.” He does something fast with his hands and the lock clicks.
“Thanks.”
But Slash is already buried in his work. He doesn’t seem to hear.
I slide open the door and breathe in the air. For a few minutes, it’s peaceful, even if I don’t see any wildlife at all.
Suddenly my phone buzzes with a text from K. I smile, and then breathe hard, horrified.
Because it reads: “Mani in car accident, in hospital. Please come, I need you.”
“Oh my God!” I gasp. I turn to the house and look toward Slash, a hand on my mouth—then, unsure if I should tell him, I immediately call K.
Her voice is garbled and sounds strange. It’s a bad connection or something. “Oh my God, Bri, a drunk driver hit her at an intersection. Oh my God. Oh my God.” She’s hyperventilating.
“Is she okay? What’s happening?” I try to keep my voice calm, but I’m ready to panic, too.
“I think she’s okay. She talked to me on the phone, but her arm is broken. They’re taking her to…” the phone goes staticky all of a sudden, and her voice glitches in and out. “But...don’t know…can you…my phone battery dying...”
“K.?” My voice goes up. “K? I can’t hear you?”
Nothing.
I hang up and try again, but it rings and rings and doesn’t even go to voicemail. Fuck!
My heart is pounding. I open my mouth to call to Slash. Help me. Help me get to K.
But what if he won’t?
Alain was clear that I’m not to leave the house under any circumstances. Maybe this wouldn’t qualify as something important enough to leave. And I do understand the danger that lurks. But it seems like Karl is busy with his blood auction activities, and this is K.!
I try calling again, and suddenly I get another text from her.
“Sorry my phone died, calling from a nurses phone. Need you to stop at Annies house. I left so fast I forgot my purse and get my bag because it has my and Mani insurance info in it please bring to Banner hospital.” And she includes an address.
K. mentions Annie, her senior citizen “adoptee,” often. Annie is an octogenarian who apparently makes really good scones even though she’s half blind. It’s part of K.’s volunteer work to help lonely seniors get companionship.
I make up my mind. I have to go to K. I think I’ll be safe enough if I go quietly.
I look back toward Slash, who’s not even in view anymore. I know he sometimes likes to pace Alain’s front room, shuffling his feet on the carpet while he thinks. I send him a silent apology as I reenter the house, grab my purse, and go back out the patio.
It’s the work of seconds to make it around front. I look around carefully, even stop and listen, but everything is quiet. Feels safe. I don’t have that icky feeling I got before Karl attacked, and I have confidence that I’m alone out here.
I just need to get out fast before Slash starts paying full attention and realizes I’m gone.
I keep looking around as I get into my car and drive, but there’s nothing unusual as I make my way from the hills desert area closer to Tucson. It seems to take forever, and I’m anxious the whole way.
“Finally!” I pull up to the house whose address I plugged into my GPS.
I get out of the car and run up to the door, knocking, then ringing the bell. “Annie?” I say it loudly because I know she’s partially deaf. The neighborhood is dilapidated, like K. has often described. She sometimes brings Annie groceries to help her get by—
“Annie!” I knock louder, so hard my knuckles hurt. “It’s K.’s friend, Bri!” Hello!?”
But it doesn’t look right. It’s completely dark, no lights on at all. And as I blink and look around me, I recognize that this house seems not just quiet but abandoned.
There’s a messy pile of mail on a broken chair by the front door, as well as dust and some leaves. The top envelope is thick and looks important. It’s got a real estate label on it. But that doesn’t help me now.
“Annie?” I nearly shout it, even as a horrible recognition starts to dawn: I’m at the wrong place.
A dog barks somewhere in the distance. I can hear the muffled roar of traffic although this street is empty as a tomb. “Hello?”
My voice falters. Shit, the GPS probably messed up, like it does once in a while–
And suddenly I smell the scent of garbage and feel the horrible prickle on the back of my neck. I know I’m not alone.
“You’re right on time.”
I whirl around and my eyes go wide with shock because standing right behind me—so close I can see every detail of his terrible eyes—is Karl.
“I see you got my text.” He giggles.
I step back and put up my hands. My voice is high and scratchy. “Where’s Annie?”
But I already know what’s happening. He set me up. Annie isn’t here.
Somehow, he tricked me—shit! I should have trusted that tiny feeling I had! I don’t even know how he did it...all I need to do now is get out of here.
He giggles again. “Did you like how I disguised my voice when I called you? It’s a new skill I’ve been practicing.”
He clears his throat and smiles. When he speaks, my blood runs cold because it’s K.’s voice—almost. “Oh, Bri, I need you! come help me!” He giggles so hard he almost doubles over. “Your Alain,” he hisses the word, his eyes narrowing, “Isn’t the only one with friends who can do research. I found out all kinds of things about you and your...friends. And I have a buddy who’s good at phones.”
He mimics K. to say the next thing: “And it was so easy to get you here.”
Now that I hear him in person, not over the phone, I note the tiny hint of menace in the tone. It’s not quite K., even though it’s K. On the phone, I just assumed she sounded a little weird because of the connection and her stress.
“Where’s K. and Mani? if you hurt them… ” I try to make my voice menacing.
“I’m sure they’re fine.” He waves a hand. “Although who can tell, with you mortals? Always doing foolish things.” He doesn’t come towards me. It’s like he knows I can’t get away, so he’s letting me run. A cat with a mouse.
“Help!” I scream. “Help!”
But there’s no one around.
I glance at my car. Is there time to run to it?
“No, there is not.” He has a faux apologetic tone. “I wasn’t sure if you’d come alone or with Alain
. Either would have worked for me. This way doesn’t work for you much, though.”
And then his hand is on me, cold and claw-like. “Your time has run out, little sweetblood.” He turns his head. “Bring it.”
A man steps forward from the gloom of the overgrown mesquite trees—it’s Wallace.
I scream and twist. “Let me go!”
“She’s a handful.” Wallace’s eyes are wide and red-rimmed, and his movements jerky. He has rope. Tape. Jesus, they’re going to take me somewhere–
I push and pull, but Karl holds me effortlessly.
“Alain!” I scream. “Help!”
“It’s just you and me, lovely. Well, you and my friend here, for the moment. I’ll come later.” Karl shoves me hard toward Wallace, then stands back, like he’s going to enjoy a Broadway show. Even crosses his arms and laughs. “Tie her up and take her to the house. She will be my number four.”
Wallace smells like onions and dirt, and he’s strong. But he’s human, and I might have a chance. I grapple with him, knee him in the groin. Hard.
He screams but doesn’t let go of me although his grip weakens and slides on my arms.
Karl laughs like a banshee. “Oh, ho ho ho! Oh, your face! Get her!” He sounds positively gleeful.
I kick Wallace’s shin. Try to extricate one arm, so I can go for his eyes. But he’s too strong. And I don’t know the right moves.
“Oh, this is priceless.” Karl’s face flashes up, full of delight. “What a show.”
Wallace grunts and grabs my neck in a headlock.
“Ow!” The pain is excruciating.
“Careful, we need her whole,” cautions Karl. “Not too much damage.” His tone is a sudden hiss, a threat, full of evil. “Yet.”
“A little help?” pants Wallace. “She’s fucking fighting me. And you’re just standing there!”
“Prove your worth,” says Karl. “Show me how it’s done.” He giggles again.
That fucking giggle.
I find sudden strength. I’m not going to let this man hurt me. I’m just not. As Wallace gasps and loses my left arm, I stuck it into my jacket pocket and grab the pepper spray from Owen. As Wallace tugs me harder, I raise my arm and press hard on the nozzle, right at his eyes. Pray that it works.
He screams and lets me go abruptly, falling to a hard crouch, grabbing his eyes. Rolls on the ground.
I’m screaming too, and I’m backing up. I need to run.
“Wallace, you pathetic idiot,” hisses Karl. “Do I have to do everything?”
“Fuck, she got my eyes! My eyeeeees!” Wallace is sobbing and heaving. “Help me, help me, I’m dying!”
“You’re right about that.” With a blur of motion, Karl moves.
And now Wallace is silent, like someone turned off a switch. His body twitches, but it means little, since his head—now separated—lies three feet away in a pool of blood.
“Time to go.” Karl looks at me. “Don’t fight, or you’ll end up like him.”
I raise the bottle of spray, a feeble weapon, but all I have. Press the button.
He just laughs.
And then there’s a flutter and a whir, and the area is full of energy and movement. It looks like my delay with Wallace bought me enough time because Alain is here. I’ve never been more grateful to see him in my entire life.
“Alain!” Even I can hear the note of desperation in my voice.
“Step back from her.” Alain snarls it. Martin and Slash are with him, one on each side, and all three of them glare at Karl. “You know you can’t get away from us. We will overpower you.”
But Karl has me tightly in his grasp. “A fair trade. Let me go, and I let her go. If you say no, I kill her in front of you.”
Everything stops.
It’s like a photograph. Me with Karl’s arms wrapped around me in a death embrace. The other vampires, ten feet away, staring. Frozen motion.
Alain speaks. “Let. Her. Go.”
“You didn’t agree to my terms, though.” Karl squeezes my neck.
I cry out.
“If you hurt her…” Alain steps forward.
Karl grabs my arm. “Do you think she needs this one?” He bites down into my wrist. Hard. Tears with his teeth. Twists.
It’s so painful that I swoon. “Aaaah….”
I can feel blood run out.
“Ah, I see why you like her so much. And I knew I had chosen well.” Karl bends down and licks my blood, his tongue thick and sloppy on my arm. It’s obscene, and yet I can’t move. He stands upright once again, licking his lips. Reluctant to stop. “But look at all that pretty blood lying wasted on the ground. Like she’ll be in just a few minutes, if you let her bleed out.”
“Alain.” My voice is a gasp. “Please.”
“What a choice.” Karl giggles. “You can attack me, or you can save your little human pet.”
Alain stands still, staring at me. At Karl. Like he doesn’t know what to do. Then he says, “Go.”
Karl pushes me away hard; I stumble and fall, too close to Wallace’s corpse. But I’m so weak, I can’t get up.
Karl disappears. As he does, several other vampires rush up, faces I don’t recognize.
“Lucius!” Slash gestures. “Tiberius. Karl just ran!”
Alain looks at me, his face tortured. “Bri.” And he grabs me into his arms. He rips his shirt and binds my wrist. Touches my forehead, my arms. “You’re not dying. You’ll be fine. You didn’t lose that much blood. It’s okay.”
My arm burns where Karl bit it, like it’s acid. Poison. My head aches. “I…I’m sorry….”
“You’re okay. Bri, you’re okay.” Alain looks into my eyes. “Look at me, Bri. It’s going to be all right.” He touches my face, feels my pulse in my neck, runs his hands over my body. “You’re okay.” The relief I hear in his voice slays me. The tenderness of his touch makes me feel alive again.
Slowly I regain the ability to breathe. But I still can’t speak. The horror of Karl’s mouth lingers in my mind, freezing my responses.
“He got away.” Martin’s voice is flat. “Disappeared.”
Lucius steps forward. “He’s faster than he used to be. And more powerful.” His voice is displeased. “Alain, you said you were going to take care of him.”
“I will.” Alain’s voice holds a note of ferocity that surprises me.
Lucius stares at Alain. “What is she doing here?” He gestures at me. “Why did you involve her in this? Humans are no match for vampires. It’s folly.”
“She won’t interfere again; I’ll see to that. I’ll get him.” Alain matches stares with Lucius. “You have my word.”
“Stop, it’s my fault,” I gasp for breath and find my voice. Everyone turns to look at me. I feel like I’m on display. On trial.
“I’m sorry,” I suck in air. Alain’s body protects me, but I am far from comfortable. “I got a text from my best friend. She needed me. It was a trick.” I’m dizzy. “I didn’t know.”
“Of course, you didn’t.” Alain’s voice is low and deceptively calm. “You don’t know anything about this world.” His arms are still around me, but I feel him slowly seep away. Grow distant.
“I—’’
“And you shouldn’t know.” His shoulders are stiff. “This world isn’t for you, Bri. This is all my fault. We’re liabilities to each other—and that’s no way to live. I’ve involved you in a life that’s far too dangerous for a human, and for that, I’m profoundly sorry. I’m going to take you home...and then we’ll have to say goodbye.”
“What? But…” my voice trembles. I look up at him. “We care about each other. The things we said? Alain?” I don’t even care that the other vampires are listening to everything. Right now, the only person in the world that matters is Alain. “No. We have a special bond. We have passion. You know we do.”
“No, we don’t.” His voice is not unkind, but it’s unyielding. “There’s no special bond or passion. I’m sorry you felt that, and it was my fault for a
llowing it. I should have known you’d be incapable of resisting a vampire. But I simply can’t see you again, Bri. You’re going to go home and forget all about us. You’ll be safe, now. No more liabilities.”
Even as he speaks, I swear there’s something more in his eyes, regret, maybe? Love, desperation?
But then the emotion fades, and he looks at me dispassionately, like I’m a statue.
I pull away from him, so I’m standing alone, looking at him and the rest of them.
I lash out. “Well, if I’m a liability, then you’re worse. You’re poison. Talk about eternal life? More like eternal hell. Trapped forever without love or kindness or friendship. I’ll have more passion in my stupid, short human life than you’ll have in all of your eternal one.”
Alain’s eyes flash, and I know I hurt him.
Good. I want to right now. I want him to remember this forever.
I continue. “I’m better alone, too. Better without people who try to run my life and make my decisions for me. Who hurt me. I should have known better. Well, live and learn. So fuck you. Enjoy the rest of your lonely life, asshole.”
He opens his mouth, like he’s about to say something—
Suddenly, Karl’s back. “Oops,” he announces. “Forgot something. I forgot to kill your little human.” He giggles. “I decided promises don’t mean much anymore, Alain.” He’s gleeful, frantic. Like a blender stuck on high. Practically vibrating with energy. So thrilled with himself, he doesn’t see anything but me and Alain.
“I’m stronger than you, now. Your anger and desperation feeds me, Master.” He laughs. “Former master. I am no longer beholden to you. I’m going to take everything you love and destroy it. And then I will have replaced you.”
He grabs me and bends toward my neck. “She’s just too delicious to pass up.” Then, at that exact moment, he seems to see Lucius and the rest. He goes still.
His grip falters. Like he’s lost confidence. Like he’s surprised at this. Can’t vampires sense each other? Karl must be so erratic and insane that he’s not even taking basic precautions. Perhaps, in his exultation and temporary victory, he miscalculated his own future. And I sincerely hope that’s so because, otherwise, he’s going to kill me.
Her Vampire Temptation (Midnight Doms Book 8) Page 18