by K. Webster
“I’ll think about it,” I murmur. I’m not completely sure I trust a vampire to heal my child, but I’m running out of options. The transfusions aren’t working like they should.
“You won’t have to think too hard,” Beck warns. “When it’s time, you’ll know.”
Laurent
One Week Later…
Each night we hunt for Weston and Wynona. All we find is a trail of infected vampires that have to be put down. I’m in awe of Castilla. She’s a force of nature. Small, but powerful. The way she wields the ruby stakes is something my mother would have been proud of.
It was supposed to be me.
I’d been given the stakes when she died. Taught how to slay the evil of our world. Sad fact was, I didn’t want to. I wanted to play my guitar and sing. A lover, not a fighter. Mom would roll over in her grave had she known what a pussy I grew up to be. I kept my heirlooms but never used them until Weston and Wynona arrived. I’d forced Castilla into that box, never considering the fact she’d be trapped there or could have died. And, rather than using the ruby stakes on those two beasts, I froze. Watched in sick horror as they slaughtered my wife and baby boy. I’d wanted to die after that. I felt like I deserved it for being unable to protect them.
My only thought as I’d transitioned from human to blood-thirsty beast was that I did manage to save sweet Castilla.
But then my thoughts were ravenous.
I wanted to break apart the trunk and feed on her pure blood that beckoned to me. Had I not locked her away, I would’ve done just that. They’d all be dead.
“See you around,” Castilla says, stopping in front of the door at her apartment. “There’s always tomorrow.”
“Wait,” I murmur, unable to stop from reaching out and touching her wrist. “I need to apologize.”
Her brow lifts and her lips part. “For what?”
“For what happened last week.” I wince at the memory despite my mouth watering. “When I lost control. When I bit you.”
She steps closer, her head tilting up. “You’re blaming yourself for something you can’t control.”
“I can control it,” I argue. “At least, I think I can. I just…you tasted…” I run my fingers through my hair, shooting her a pained expression. “I just wanted you. All of you.”
“I’m going to go get Mercy from next door and tuck her into bed. Want to come by in a bit and talk?”
“Dreamwalk?”
“Real talk.”
No. Absolutely not. I can’t.
“Yes,” I murmur. “I want to talk about everything. All that’s happened to you. Mercy. Your job. Everything. I just want to hear your voice and watch your lips move, Castilla.”
She laughs and it makes my black soul sing. “That’s not creepy or anything.”
My eyes are glued to her pert ass in her leather pants as she walks next door. I flash outside and it isn’t until I’m standing in front of Beck I realize I didn’t just flash—run at top speed—but I teleported.
“Ahhh,” Beck says, his eyes wide. “New ability.”
“They seem to keep coming.”
“This is good.” He cocks his head to the side, studying me. “I overheard you’re staying to talk.”
“You heard correctly.”
“You know your way home.” He starts to walk away, but I grab his bicep before he can get far.
“Beck, wait.”
He lifts his brows in question.
“I…” I trail off. “Aren’t you worried I’ll lose control again?”
“No,” he says, surprising me. “I’ve been observing you since that night. Your powers are growing, which means so is your control. You know the point of no return, and I think you’ll avoid crossing it in the future.”
“And if I don’t?” My heart cracks down the middle at that thought.
“You will.”
His faith in me gives me hope.
“But, Laurent?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t turn yourself off to everything around you. You must be aware of threats always.”
I give him a fierce nod. “To protect Mercy and Castilla.”
“No,” he says, shaking his head. “Castilla can protect them both. I’m talking about you.”
“Don’t worry about me,” I scoff.
“Wynona and Weston want you back.”
“I’m no good to them now,” I growl. “They don’t need me.”
“No, but they’re spoiled royalty. You were one of their toys that’s been taken away. They want you back. That’s the intel I’ve gathered. I want you to be careful.”
“Of course.” I give his bicep a squeeze. “Thank you. I’ll see you soon.”
He teleports away, leaving me alone. I practice my own newfound ability, imagining where I want to be, and then appear there.
Castilla gapes at me and Mercy, who’s awake, giggles.
“Hello there,” I greet, not meeting Castilla’s irritated glare.
“Are you a superhero like Mommy?” Mercy asks, her little voice like tinkling bells.
I grin at her. “I am. Your mother is a tough slay—”
“Time for bed,” Castilla interrupts, cutting me off with a sharp look. “Feed Dracula, brush your teeth, and then I’ll tuck you in.”
“What’s your name?” Mercy asks me.
“Laurent.”
“I’m Mercy.”
“That’s a beautiful name, Mercy. You’re a beautiful girl.”
“My bat is beautiful too,” she says, smiling up at me.
“Bats are beautiful?” I tease. “I’ve never seen a beautiful bat before.”
“Because you haven’t seen Dracula!” She grabs my hand, tugging me to her room. “Look. Isn’t he the prettiest bat ever?”
I peer into the box to inspect the bat with a damaged wing. “He’s something, all right.”
“Teeth. Bed,” Castilla reminds her.
“One day Dracula is going to heal and fly to the full moon,” Mercy says, ignoring her mother. “And turn into a vampire!”
A laugh tumbles out of me. “Is that so, huh?”
“My aunt Loey knows magic,” she explains. “I’m going to ask her to get Dracula a magic necklace that turns him into a vampire.” Her nose scrunches up. “Do you believe in vampires? Miss Edna says they’re not real.”
“I believe that anything is possible,” I murmur, patting her on the head. “Better listen to your mother and get your teeth brushed.”
“Will you tell me a story?”
“I could sing you one.”
Castilla sucks in a sharp breath.
“You can sing?” Mercy asks.
“I think I’ve still got it.” I wink at her.
Mercy hurries off to brush her teeth. I turn to look at Castilla. Her arms are crossed over her chest and she gnaws on her bottom lip. The same bottom lip that started something I almost indefinitely finished last time.
“You’re good with her,” Castilla says. “Like you were with me.”
I remember Castilla was such a sweet girl—too sweet to be Demi’s daughter in fact. I’d been worried at first to become a stepfather, but Castilla was a good kid. Made life easier because she was well-behaved. We’d connected over music, which was always my passion. Hell, most days when I felt like leaving Demi, I stayed for that kid. She needed me in some way and I refused to let her down.
I ended up leaving her in the end.
I’m here now, though.
Everything may be all messed up and our relationship dynamics have changed, but my overwhelming need to protect her and be here for her hasn’t.
I step closer until our chests touch. She lets out a shuddered breath of air when I run my fingers through her silky hair. My other palm splays over her leather-covered ass and I squeeze, drawing her closer so she can feel my erection between us.
“I shouldn’t want you,” she whispers. “Wanting you changes everything I’ve been trained to do.”
“I know I�
�ve wronged you.” I lean my forehead against hers. “I want to make it all right.”
She clutches the lapels of my jacket. “Laurent, you didn’t wrong me. You were a victim. If anything, you saved me. You saved me long before those vampires showed up just by being you.” Her eyes water as they meet mine. “I adored you. So badly I wanted to be yours.”
“You are mine.” I lean forward, dropping a kiss to her lips. “All mine.”
“Back then, I wanted you to be my father.” She sighs. “Now, I want you in other ways. It’s all fucked up and if anyone finds out, like Jude, I’m so screwed.”
“Your boss?” I growl, my chest tightening with jealousy.
“And friend. He’s like a brother to me.”
“It’ll be our secret then. I’ll have you however I can get you.” I kiss her again and again and again and—
“You’re kissing Mommy! Are you getting married? Are you going to be my dad?”
Castilla and I fly apart, caught in the act by Mercy. The little girl has her hands on her hips, eyes bright with hope and a smile on her cute face. Castilla’s face is bright red.
“We’ll talk about it another day,” Castilla evades. “Into bed, miss. It’s late.”
Castilla tucks Mercy in and then sits beside her. They both look at me in an expectant way. Waiting. So hopeful and excited. My heart threatens to burst.
I need my guitar.
Beck brought one home recently when I revealed my love for music. Without considering what I’m doing, I teleport home, grab my guitar, and teleport back before their next breath. Mercy squeals with delight while Castilla shakes her head. She’s smiling, so she’s not too angry with me.
“There’s music in everything, Mercy,” I explain as I strum my guitar. “You just have to listen for it.”
I spend the next half hour singing everything from nursery rhymes to songs I made up for Castilla until Mercy falls asleep. Leaning the instrument against the dresser, I hold a hand out for Castilla. Without hesitation, she takes it.
I walk her back to her bedroom and close the door behind us. Nerves flicker in her gaze, but she waits for me to make the next move. Gently, I unbutton her vest and pull it down her arms. It falls to the floor with a heavy thud since her stakes are inside. She raises her arms so I can pull off her black tank top. Her tits jiggle with each nervous breath she takes. I cup them both and dip down to kiss her.
“So beautiful and mine,” I murmur as I pull down the cups of her bra. Her breath hitches when my thumbs caress her nipples. “Say it, Castilla.”
“Yours.”
I grin against her lips as I unhook her bra. Once it falls to the ground, I make quick work of her leather pants. She looks hot as fuck in them, but I need her naked. Her palm presses to my chest, pushing me back as she pulls off her boots, pants, and socks. Standing in just her black panties, she waits for me to undress. My moves are quick and jerky as I yank off every offending piece of clothing. Her brown eyes darken as she drinks in my naked form. I grip my cock and stroke it, loving the way her eyes latch onto the movement.
“You forgot something,” I murmur, stepping close to her so I can cup her pussy over her panties. “Or maybe you forgot it on purpose.”
“Maybe,” she breathes.
I push the fabric away to tease her clit with my finger. She moans, grabbing my shoulders to hold on. Each time I bring her near her orgasm with just my fingertip, I pull away so I can enter her body with it.
“Please,” she begs. “I need you.”
“I want you coming around my cock,” I growl. “Not a second before.”
“Then fuck me already.”
She cries out when I shred her panties, leaving her bare. I take her to the edge of pleasure once more but pull away at the last minute. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I pick her up and prowl over the bed with her in my arms. Once I have her settled, I wrench her thighs apart and tease her with my cock, never entering her.
I was adamant about feeding before I came tonight, but it doesn’t stop the intense craving to suck her dry. But, as Beck reminded me, I’ve grown stronger lately. I can control those urges.
“Bite me, Laurent.”
Except when she says that.
Fuck.
“Castilla,” I warn. “You test me, woman.”
“You won’t let me die. Do it.”
I push my cock inside of her, loving the way it squeezes the hell out of me. With a hard thrust, I bury my dick deep inside her. Slowly, I fuck into this woman, desperate to make her forever mine.
That’d break Beck’s number one rule.
Don’t turn anyone into a vampire no matter what.
I pounce on her, eager to kiss her pretty mouth. Her cunt squeezes my dick in a vicious way that has me losing myself to my animal urges to take and own. I fuck her like she might disappear. Hard. Claiming. Nearly violent.
She pulls away from our kiss, turning her head to the side to offer her pretty neck. I don’t think twice. I simply bare my fangs and pierce her flesh. Intoxicating blood surges from the puncture wounds into my mouth, feeding the feral beast inside me. I suck in a long pull with each hard thrust into her. Her moans are addictive. With each gulp of her heavenly blood, I feel as though our bond strengthens and grows unbreakable. It isn’t until she comes with a yelp that I manage to break away from her neck. Blood runs from the wounds and I quickly lick it until it heals. She murmurs my name as she digs her nails into my shoulders. I come with a savage roar, filling her with my seed. I’m too starved for her in every way to pull away. Instead, I hug her tight and nuzzle my nose in her hair. I like having her impaled on my cock and trapped beneath me where she belongs.
Eventually, I pull out of her, but don’t let her go out of my arms. Dawn will be upon us soon and I’ll need to be in the safety of Beck’s home when that happens. Until then, I listen to her whispers as she tells me every horrible thing that’s happened to her since I locked her in that trunk.
By the time I have to teleport back to Beck’s, I’m ready to set fire to the entire damn world.
She’s mine now and anyone who’s wronged her will pay.
I’ll make sure of it.
Castilla
She’s worse.
Just like Beck said she would be.
Still, I’m afraid of what he’ll do.
“I have her scheduled for another transfusion next week,” Dr. Brown says. “But…”
“But what?” I demand, tears threatening.
“We should talk about what the future looks like after that if this doesn’t work.”
Something in his resigned gaze has me sick to my stomach. I can’t do this. I can’t watch my child die.
“Would it help if I found her father? Could his blood help?” I ask, my voice weak with emotion.
“Her body attacks everything we put in it. You’d think it would mean she’s strong, but in reality, it leaves her weak. There are some other options, clinical trials, but there’s just not enough data to be sure.”
“The transfusion will work,” I state, my voice strong with conviction.
“I hope so,” Dr. Brown replies, his eyes unable to meet mine.
It’s not going to work.
I suddenly feel that in my bones.
“Can we eat lunch with Uncle Jude?” Mercy asks, clearly not aware of the conversation between me and her doctor.
“I think that’s a great idea,” I say, forcing a smile. “Dr. Brown. We’ll talk soon.”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Rye. I really am.”
“Me too.”
“How is the Zargonian case coming along?” Jude asks as he drives through traffic, back toward my apartment building.
I glance into the back seat to check on Mercy, but she’s fast asleep. After her checkup and lunch with Jude, she’s worn out. Her skin is pale and it breaks my heart to watch her weaken each day.
“We seem to be one step behind them. I need to get ahead of them,” I say with a sigh.
“The
vampires you’re working with are being compliant.”
I give him a clipped nod.
“Oh no,” he grumbles.
“What?” I demand, frowning his way.
Someone honks and he begins driving again.
“That face. It means something has happened. Something maybe you don’t like or something you don’t want to tell me.”
“Could it be both?”
“Are you in danger? Have they hurt you?” he demands.
“No.” I rub at my temple. “It’s just…I can’t kill him, Jude. I can’t kill Laurent.”
He nods as though he understands, which is impossible. “Not all vampires are enemies. I know we slay vampiric influence, but sometimes there’s a gray area that we have to play in.”
“Like Loey?”
“And others,” he agrees. “Beck and Laurent.”
“What if I’m not cut out for this job anymore?” I croak. “What if I get myself killed because I can’t see the danger right in front of my face?”
“You’ve been incredibly intuitive since the first day I met you. That insight doesn’t disappear, Casti.”
“I want to trust Beck and Laurent.” My eyes burn with tears. “I need to trust them.”
“Then do it,” he says. “If they betray that trust, send them each into the afterlife with a ruby stake through their hearts.”
We both laugh at his words. He pulls up in front of my building and parks. I’m thankful he’s here to carry my sleeping daughter upstairs. Once he gets her settled in bed, he gives me a hug, kissing the top of my head, and then leaves.
Can I trust Beck and Laurent?
I don’t have a choice.
If Mercy isn’t in this world, I sure as hell want no part of it.
“You about ready to go see Miss Edna?”
Mercy scrunches her nose. “Can I go with Laurent instead?”
“No,” I say with a smile. “Laurent has superhero work to do, remember?”
She pouts as she packs her bag. I try not to lose my mind when she wobbles or sways. Her time is running out and it scares me to death.
I’ve made my decision.
Tonight, when it gets dark, I’ll ask Beck to do it. To take us back to his home and perform a miracle if he can. We can begin our hunting once more as soon as she’s safe and healthy.