Everything he says sits on top of a medic quickly asserting my injuries to make sure I should be walking. She presses her thumb against my right ankle which I jerk back out of reach.
“How long have you been out here? We noticed some serious commotion a few hours ago at the Master’s keep, but didn’t know you had found a way out until Parker radioed that you weren’t there. It was pretty easy to piece together what happened.”
“Parker’s here?” I ask, blinking slowly.
“She’s going to pass out,” the medic broadcasts right before I slip out of consciousness.
***
“—dehydrated and a few of her toes look frostbitten. We’ll have to take care of that as soon as we get back to Sofia.”
Astringent stings my nose as I open my eyes to what looks like an ambulance. No, not an ambulance. A van outfitted to be a mock ambulance. The van jostles me on my back, and when I try to sit up a hand guides me back down. But at least the shackles are gone.
“Woah, easy there. You’ve been through quite an ordeal and need to rest. Everything will be just fine.”
I don’t recognize the speaker, and for one horrific split second I think I’ve been captured again. At least, until I breath through my nose and don’t smell anything out of the ordinary. Turning my head, I also see the medic I nearly kicked when talking to Leo. “The others?”
“Cleaning up. You don’t infiltrate a castle full of vampires without proper backup, and we brought plenty. Then there’s the lot who came specifically for you. You have good friends. It shouldn’t take them too long.”
They continue to talk at a soft level, giving me time to relax and enjoy the emergency survival blanket wrapped around my torso. Heavy rain pelts the roof reminding me of thunderstorms back home. I used to sit at my window and wait for lighting to flash across the sky, enjoying their seemingly random zigzags racing to the earth. The driver mutters something and the van slows, eventually coming to a complete stop. A sound like ticking comes from the front and I wonder what he’s doing.
“The fuel gauge is broken,” he states, my view of him extremely limited even with him turned around in his seat. “I’ll call for a pick up, but with this storm it’s going to get mighty cold real fast.” The others share worried looks and I wonder how far away we’ve driven from the mountains.
“Are there other’s nearby?”
“Don’t you worry,” the medic responds, patting my shoulder. “Just a minor hiccup. We’ll be moving again soon.”
A long howl hollers above the sound of rain. It’s mournful. And it’s Parker.
CHAPTER 19
HIM
Pain radiates through my head, traveling in circles with no place to go. Leo’s collapsed on the ground behind me from an ambush that left five vampires dead. His pain is so forcefully emanating that it becomes my own, making it increasingly difficult to destroy the vampire standing before me.
“Come now, pup, did you really think you stood a chance? Against me?”
Kleidion Bachkov saunters like he’s exploring the Louvre Museum instead of drenched to the bone on an outcropping overlooking the never-ending forest. My own fur is soaked through, weighing me down in a battle where I need every advantage. Leo raced to tell me some kind of good news before I watched as a horde of vampires jump him from the trees. I still remember the ground giving way beneath my paws as I flew to his aid, but couldn’t reach him before he dropped to the ground.
Other minions hover at the edge of the tree line, waiting for their Master’s signal to rush forward and finish the job.
“I have a score to settle, and I’m fresh into the fight. Should I start with you or the other pathetic excuse of a shifter?” A loud growl emanates from my chest as I bare my teeth. I will be dead before he touches Leo. “Perfect.”
He’s fast, I’ll give him credit for that. Every move he makes is precise like he has planned everything three steps ahead and is simply waiting for me to play catch up. I never was patient enough to enjoy the game of chess.
Leo whimpers and I turn just in time to see two vampires sneaking up from the other side. Of course it wouldn’t be a fair fight, but I had deluded myself into thinking otherwise. The first jumps over me where I snap at his heels, too late to dodge the second’s punch directed at my throat.
Coughing from the blow, it feels like something may have collapsed in my throat. Swallowing is impossible with the stinging burn shrouding my airway. He tries to do the same trick twice, but I’m ready and dislodge his head with my teeth. The Master must have given the sign because others come out from their hiding spots.
Clawing and biting provides shallow relief from every broken bone a vampire delivers until I can’t do anymore. Panting as I’m pinned to the ground, a vampire jerks back my head to expose my throat as the Master approaches.
“No!” a small voice cries. The unreserved anguish in her utterance breaks my heart because I know that voice. And I can’t save her.
Tess knocks her way through the vampires blocking her path. From my position all I can see is a figure darting in and out of view until she’s standing closer to the Master than I ever wanted her to be. He grabs her arm and a flash of pain crosses her features before she’s able to smooth it over.
Lighting flashes across the sky, illuminating the tableau of a lost struggle. Attempting to wiggle my way free only increases the pressure pinning me down, but even amid all that commotion I hear a soft sob from Tess.
Breaking a paw loose through sheer strength, I knock the vampire struggling to regain his hold away. A brief glimmer of hope fills Tess’s tear-filled eyes before another vampire tackles my limb, snapping my wrist in two.
Shock reverberates like a wave, spreading out from the broken bone just like it has done with my cracked femur, two broken ribs, and possible punctured lung. Though my body is doing its best to heal, I won’t be able to adequately fight back before the Master rips out my throat.
Severe concentration etches itself onto Tess’s face the same time a sadistic smile spreads across the Master’s features. I can only guess Tess is trying to shift.
Unwilling to close my eyes and leave Tess alone to face the last few seconds before my death, I rivet my attention on her. Every part of her heart shaped face reveals her true beauty that could never be blemished by something as superficial as injuries. I wish I could comfort the sadness in her hazel eyes, hear her sweet laugh one last time before the end. Slowly, a rage begins pulsing through my veins when I think about our fates. Mine will end swiftly, but hers, hers will be unbearable.
Building the last of my energy for one final attempt at fighting off the Master, a soft pounding comes from the woods. It grows into a steady rhythm until the sound of drums echoes across the clearing.
The vampires turn their attention to the noise, but Tess is staring at me. The corner of her mouth turns up into a small smile. Gasps emanate around me, but I can’t see what they’re witnessing.
Using the distraction to her advantage, Tess clocks the Master in the nose with her free hand the same time chaos breaks loose.
“Stay down!” Tess yells as if I had any other choice. Kleidion throws her to the ground, snapping at one of his minions to take care of her without tearing his eyes away from whatever is happening in the trees. Tess hits the ground hard, her ankle rolling underneath her. But the size of the swelling means something else was already wrong with it.
Screams erupt over the torrential downpour, cutting off abruptly as whatever arrived cleans house. The drums persist in the background as I to scoot closer to Tess, the vampires supposedly securing me forgetting their task. Careful of my own injuries, I finally make it to Tess when my jaw nearly drops at green ghostly figures spilling from the woods.
The vampire assigned to take Tess grabs her around the ankle, jerking her backwards before he suddenly vanishes. No, not all of him. His arm is still there. The rest of him is wrapped in the jaws of a sizeable panther with glistening black eyes. A second feline come fro
m behind the first, jumping into the fray with such speed I wonder if it’s enjoying the act of ripping vampires apart.
“Eliza!”
“What?” she says innocently to Tess while stabbing a vampire through the heart. Her night vision goggles are set to the tightest notch yet they still slide down her face. “Why are you looking at me like that? Parker came and you’re not getting mad at him!”
“Parker’s a giant dog!”
“So? It’s not like I had anything better to do, and I’ve never been to Bulgaria.”
“Well from what I’ve seen of it I’m not impressed.”
I argued against Ben and Eliza travelling. Even went so far as to accidently misinform them of the departure time and thought I had succeeded until I saw them waiting for me at customs.
Their entire dialogue flows smoothly because the two panthers take care of any threat that comes too close.
“We need to get you out of here,” Eliza states, kneeling next to Tess. “That ankle doesn’t look good. Can you walk?”
“I don’t know,” she says, looking down at my wrist. The crack in my femur is nearly healed but the others will take more time.
“Man’s best friend will be fine. It’s you the psychopath is after. Let’s go.”
Tess looks at me once more and I try to give her my best reassuring face that’s possible with a giant muzzle. Then she glances at Leo and her face falls. I nudge her arm to get her attention once more, silently urging her to get to safety, or at the very least, try.
The ghostly figures still fight against the vampires whose lines look to be thinning. The dead versus the undead. It’s not a big question as to who will win since one is corporeal. No, the real question will be how many of our side will fall as well.
Southern Europe’s leader rushes to the edge of the forest with several others, pausing to witness the scene unfolding before them. Too worn to really think about how this is possible, I work my way to Leo, concerned that he’s still down. Pain continues emanating from him, but it’s not as severe as it was.
A harsh growl like a lion taking down its prey rips through the air. Swiveling to pinpoint the noise, I watch in slow motion as Kleidion reaches for Tess. The two panthers leap in unison from either side of the Master, one hitting him low and the other high, cleaving him in half. Once he’s downed, they tear into the pieces guaranteeing the end of his final life.
Thunder splits the sky at the demise of the person responsible for causing such grief in Tess’s life.
With their leader gone the other vampires scatter, trying to fight their way into the woods. I don’t look at how many successfully escape. I can deal with that later.
Time resumes to a normal pace. A couple members from Jackson’s team attend Leo while others do who knows what. Tess clings to Eliza as she sobs, her friend soothingly rubbing her back. Bracing myself for the pain, I force myself up to go to her.
Bruised, broken, and sore, I limp my way to her side where she leans into me. The storm still rages overhead when a couple of Jackson’s team finds us looking rather disheveled. They both give Tess disapproving looks. She looks sheepish as she follows their instructions, making sure to always keep me in her line of sight which is fine since I don’t plan on letting her leave mine.
I’m going to marry this girl. That single thought brings a smile to my face.
CHAPTER 20
HER
I look at my feet propped up on the couch. The socks cover the worst of my new outline, but the medics say I’m lucky to only lose two toes. They were worried a foot would have to be amputated as well.
Kleidion’s last words ring in my ears and I know it will be a long time before the voice fades. I’m not sure Eliza heard them over the storm, but if she did she has not said anything about it. Probably for the best since I want to take those words with me to the grave.
“Heavy thoughts?” Parker asks from the foot of the couch.
“Hey,” I say with a smile. Apparently, the death of a Master is a big deal so Parker has been shut away in his office, monitoring the rippling effects such an event has in the supernatural community. It’s nice to finally have him not only physical here, but mentally as well.
He lifts my feet before sitting on the couch, placing them onto his lap where I pull them out of his reach. My balance doesn’t seem to be impacted but I’m not quite comfortable with the new look. “Are you in pain?”
“No,” I say reassuringly. The operation was a few days ago and doctor’s orders were to stay off them for at least a week. I haven’t done as well of a job as I should have, meaning I resumed all my normal activities. Parker was not impressed when he returned from a scouting trip to a friendly wager between Caleb and myself involving a downed tree and balancing contest. It may have been because the balancing contest consisted of us doing everything in our power to knock the other person flat on their backs. Thus, I’m couch ridden. At least until Marc’s chief medic clears me to resume life which will hopefully be at his visit in two days.
I want to tuck my feet underneath me to hide them. With Parker busy and me wearing shoes I haven’t had to stare my current biggest problem in the face.
“So Ben . . . that’s a pretty . . . big talent.”
Kleidion’s tight grip left a deep bruise that still mars my arm, but as soon as I heard the drums, I knew exactly what was coming.
“Yeah, there are times it comes in handy.”
“There are other times I’ve seen him fight vampires. Why didn’t he call on his ancestors then?”
“It’s walking a fine line with his sanity. It takes a heavy toll calling them up, and maintaining that connection which is why he doesn’t do it often. He lost his dad when he was ten. He had the same gift.” I pause thinking about how hard it was for Marilyn and Ben. He didn’t want anything to do with his gift after it had driven his father crazy.
Immensely grateful Ben intervened since it means Parker and I are safe, I’m worried the toll it took will add to an invisible jar. And that one day the jar will be full.
“They’re wanting to come for a visit after they graduate next year. Well, according to Eliza they’re planning on moving in, but by the time that gets here I’ll have talked her down to just a visit.”
“Goodie. What could be more fun?” I smack him playfully with a pillow at his sarcasm. “Oh, my mom was wondering if we wanted to visit sometime next month. I told her I would ask.”
“You think you can get the time off?” I question, surprised. Today is the first day I’ve really spoken to him since returning from Bulgaria. Marc has been overseeing the remaining members of his team as they flush out vampire covens in the greater Sophia region. The attack on the Denver base was shocking, but the fact that every person inside the house was slaughtered without much effort raised alarms all over the country. After beefing up security, he’s on a mission to wipe out any and all vampire related everything.
I also think they’re working so hard to cover the fact they lost two of their own.
“I’m overdue for a vacation, as are you.”
“But I’ve barely started working.”
“Eh, hazard vacation. You were vital in taking down a Master.”
“I didn’t do much.”
“You did in that warehouse, and gave that European group the push they needed to attack in Bulgaria. Plus, your cats took Kleidion down,” he motions, nodding toward the two tabbies curled on the cushion next to my head. They have yet to leave my side since that fateful night.
“That’s right,” I coo, scratching behind their ears eliciting a round of purrs. Still wrapping my brain around the fact they shifted to giant panthers, I wonder why I can do the same. Maybe The Agency has archives or something with the answer.
“Seattle could be nice.” My imagination starts spinning when I think of the warm evenings spent outside and star gazing, if it’s not raining, of course.
“The fair should be happening around that time,” Parker says. “I could win you a stu
ffed animal.”
“I think you mean that I could win you one.”
“Only if it’s a duck. Oh, and the elephant ears. We could get one, or twenty, of those. And garlic fries. Have you ever had garlic fries?”
“I’m already convinced,” I laugh. “And speaking of food, you’re making me hungry.”
“I ordered Garden of Thai. Should be here in about twenty minutes.”
In all the time we’ve been talking Parker has gradually shifted over and now has my feet in his lap. The crafty jackal.
He fixes his gaze on a small dark stain on the rug for a long moment while absently rubbing my leg. Thank goodness I’m wearing real pants today since it’s been a long while since I’ve shaved. When he looks back up, I can see his heart beating in his neck, the pace definitely faster than it was a minute ago.
“I love you. You know that, right?” His heartbreakingly perfect smile and liquid gray eyes are full of such patience and love that my breath catches in my throat, rendering me speechless. “You don’t have to say anything. But I wanted you to know how I feel.”
If ever my brain has short-circuited, it’s now. I know exactly how I feel, but there will be plenty of time to tell him in our long, long future together. After all, we have our whole lives ahead of us.
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed Hunting Tess. Please consider leaving a review!
If you’re looking for another read check out my series Reign of Prophecy.
Hunting Tess Page 16