Ashes

by Erica Stevens

  Devon scowled at him as Chris grinned merrily (annoyingly) back. “She is stubborn,” he mumbled.

  “Ha!” Chris barked loudly, chuckling softly. “That’s the understatement of the century!”

  Devon found himself grinning back at the boy, amused by his easy going nature and cheer. He liked Chris, but since his vampirism had been revealed, there had remained a fierce tension between them. Mainly from Chris, as he tried to figure out if Devon could be trusted. Now it seemed as if Chris had decided to throw caution to the wind, either that, or he was going to rely on Cassie’s instincts.

  “Hey guys.” Devon and Chris’s smiles faded, they exchanged a pointed look as Marcy appeared at their side. Smiling brightly, she tossed back her long, coffee colored hair. She had made a full, speedy recovery from Julian’s attack. “How are you tonight?”

  Stony silence followed her question, and then Chris heaved a soft sigh. “We’re good Marcy, you?”

  Marcy shrugged a dainty shoulder, her leaf green eyes scanning them. Desire radiated from her as she leaned closer. “I’m feeling better after that attack, but it was still the scariest thing ever.” She shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself. “Someone should kill that animal.”

  Before they had left the hospital, Devon had altered Marcy’s memory of the attack, leaving her with a foggy recollection of a wild coyote rather than Julian. “Yes, they should,” Devon agreed his attention fully focusing on Melissa again. He really did not want to encourage more conversation with Marcy, but she was right, someone should destroy that animal. And he was going to be the one to do it.

  Marcy sighed softly, and then very indiscreetly sat next to Devon. He shot a dark look at her as she squiggled slightly, trying to push him over. He refused to budge. Her leaf green eyes narrowed, but it was obvious that she was not moving.

  Resting her hands on her knees, she perched precariously on the edge of the seat as a few other girls began to make their way toward the booth. Apparently the absence of Cassie and Melissa was an open invite to them. One that Devon desperately wanted to close. Chris’s jaw locked, his eyes darkened as he briefly met Devon’s gaze once more.

  Devon shook his head, unsure what to do. He didn’t want to dump Marcy on her ass, but when Cassie came back she was going to be hurt by what was going on. And if it came between the two, Marcy was going to end up on the floor. The other girls hovered around them, grinning and whispering to each other as they giggled softly.

  Chris lifted an eyebrow, as he shook his head at Devon in disbelief. “Amazing,” he muttered.

  “Venus flytrap,” Devon reminded him.

  “What is?” Marcy asked, indiscreetly pressing her breasts against his arm.

  Disgust boiled through Devon as he jerked his arm away, his eyes narrowing fiercely. “Don’t,” he growled in warning. Marcy’s eyes widened in surprise and she moved back a little, but she did not remove herself completely. Instead, she turned her attention to Chris, who was eyeing her like she was some kind of disgusting insect he wanted to stomp.

  A blur of motion caught Devon’s attention, his mouth dropped as shock hammered through him. He watched in horror as Cassie darted past the group of students by the table, moving with agility and grace, and a speed that left him frozen in disbelief as she raced down the road. The cold stone of his heart seemed to lurch and twist as terror and anger tore through him.

  “Son of a bitch!” he snarled, slamming his hand on the table with such force that it shuddered, threatening to break. Chris glanced at him sharply, fear evident in his eyes. He turned to the window, his mouth dropping. “Move!”

  Marcy’s eyes widened in shock, but she didn’t move out of his way. Unable to wait, and tired of the tiny girl, Devon shoved his way out of the booth. She stumbled, nearly falling to the ground, but somehow managing to keep herself upright. She gaped at him, people stared at him in surprise, but he paid them no attention as he shoved his way through the thick crowd, ignoring all of their startled protests.

  Melissa was waving at them, jumping high to be seen over the top of the crowd. “Hurry!” she cried before turning and rushing out the door.

  She didn’t need to tell him that. Grasping hold of the banister, he swung himself over the side of the stairs in order to avoid the group gathered upon them. Landing gracefully, he shoved past the few remaining people in his way and bolted out the door. Cassie was disappearing into the woods already, barreling her way through the trees and ground cover.

  Terror tore through him as she disappeared from sight. Fighting back the fierce, almost consuming urge to bolt after her at full speed, it took all he had to keep his powers under control as he burst free of the restaurant. Though he was powerful, he could not alter all the memories of the human’s within, and they could not afford to let the humans see him. Racing past the startled group by the picnic tables, he chased after Melissa. He could hear Chris behind him, right on his heels as their feet slapped over the sidewalk.

  As soon as he got free of prying eyes, he would catch her, and he very well might kill her himself when he did.

  CHAPTER 9

  Cassie ignored the briar that caught hold of her hair, ripping it out. Wincing slightly, she continued to bolt forward. Tearing past a large elm, relief filled her as Dani’s dark head came into view. “Dani! Dani!”

  The girl turned in surprise, her large hazel eyes widening as she caught sight of Cassie racing toward her like a crazy banshee. In the light of the full moon the red in her hair was the color of blood, it was an omen that caused Cassie to shiver. Leaping over a rotten log, she halted before the girl, panting slightly from her rapid sprint.

  “Cassie? What are you doing?” Dani demanded in surprise.

  The beam of her flashlight splashed across Cassie’s face, momentarily blinding her. Blinking rapidly, Cassie knew she looked ridiculous, but didn’t care. She inhaled deeply, letting the air rush gratefully into her tortured lungs. “I saw you walking and thought I’d walk with you,” she lied poorly.

  Dani lifted a dark eyebrow questioningly, her gold flecked eyes doubtful. “You ran all the way here to walk with me?”

  Cassie took another breath. “After the animal attacks last week I didn’t think you should be alone.”

  Dani tilted her head to the side, a small smile quirked her full lips. “That’s nice of you, but I walk this way every night. And I can take care of myself.”

  Cassie didn’t doubt that she could, at least with normal things, but Dani had no idea what hunted these woods now. Glancing nervously around, Cassie searched intently for any sign of something lurking within the shadows. She used every ounce of her power to search the dark night, trying to pick up waves of Julian’s evil. Though she came up empty, she was not fooled into thinking that he was not around. He was powerful enough to keep her blocked out if he chose.

  “Still thought it would be better if you had some company.”

  Dani shrugged a dainty shoulder, turning slightly away. “Well come along, the path is better up here. I’m surprised to see you without Devon.”

  Cassie glanced over her shoulder, hoping that he wasn’t far behind. He was going to be infuriated with her, but that was a wrath she was willing to face. “I’m sure he’ll be here,” she mumbled softly.

  Dani shot her a questioning look as they stepped onto a well worn, much easier to traverse path. Cassie carefully studied each direction of the trail. As far as she could see, it was clear. “Cassie are you ok?”

  “Fine.”

  She glanced back down the path, her eyes narrowing as they moved steadily along. Dani kept the beam of her light focused a few feet before her, but Cassie relied more on the light of the moon as she wearily watched the pathway. Turning to look behind her, she was dismayed to see that Devon, Chris, and Melissa were still nowhere in sight. She had no doubt that they had come after her, but had they somehow lost her in the woods?

  Eyes narrowed, she turned back, keeping a fierce look out. A chill swept down her spine as sh
adows danced and swayed over the path. The skeletal branches clicked in the night, their noise cold and desolate sounding. Cassie’s heart hammered, panic tore through her as a crushing sense of impending doom settled over her. She could hear nothing but the creaking of the branches. It was too quiet; no animals scurried through the woods, nothing moved within the underbrush. There was a far bigger predator out there tonight, hunting the woods.

  Hunting them.

  Swallowing heavily, Cassie tried to push down her rising panic. She had to keep her wits, if they were going to survive this. She took a step closer to Dani. Dani shot her a questioning, confused look as she shook her head slightly. “You seem awfully jumpy tonight, are you sure you’re ok?”

  “Yes.”

  A branch snapped loudly. Cassie jumped as it crashed through the woods, tearing more branches free as it hurtled to the ground. Instinctively she grabbed hold of Dani’s arm, pulling her closer as she studied the forest. “There’s someone out there,” Dani said softly, her voice wavering slightly.

  Cassie pulled her back a step, she wanted to turn and flee, dragging Dani through the woods with her. She would have too, if she thought there was any chance of them being able to get away. “Just stay by me,” she whispered.

  A flurry of motion on her right caused Cassie to spin. A blur raced at them, so swiftly that it nearly blended in with the trees. Nearly became imperceptible to the human eye. Terror tearing through her, Cassie shoved Dani aside. Dani cried out in surprise as she fell to the ground, rolling away on the path. Cassie had only a moment to react as she swung out, slamming the palm of her hand upward.

  Julian’s head snapped back, blood burst over her, spraying across her face as his long teeth bit sharply into his lower lip and his nose shattered. Cassie jerked back in surprise as the warm liquid washed over her. Julian grunted slightly, but his attack did not slow. Arms wrapping tight around her waist, he jerked her to the side as they fell to the ground in a tumbled heap.

  A startled cry escaped as they rolled over, bouncing hard across the path. Reacting on pure instinct, Cassie pulled her legs up against her chest and wedged them against Julian’s hard body. Terror and adrenaline washed through her as she pushed up with all her might, trying desperately to dislodge him.

  Julian growled with rage as he was flipped off her. Rolling away, Cassie bounded gracefully to her feet. She darted away, heading back toward Dani, desperate to escape, desperate to survive. Dani stood at the edge of the path, her mouth parted slightly, her eyes wide with fear. “Run!” Cassie screamed at her.

  Dani’s terrified gaze swung toward her as another blur raced out of the woods. Cassie caught a brief glance of blood red eyes and elongated teeth as Devon rushed swiftly past her. Rumbling growls echoed through the woods as he collided with Julian, who had been coming back after her. Devon seized hold of him, slamming him into the ground. They rolled as they clawed and tore at each other, murderous snarls of rage echoed throughout the forest.

  The smell of blood filled the air. Cassie shuddered, turning back around, unable to leave Devon alone with the monster. She knew that she should flee, but she could not. Devon rolled, bounding back to his feet as Julian knocked him aside. “Devon!” she cried, shocked by the blood oozing from the jagged slices in his magnificent face.

  His gaze swung toward her, the blood color of his eyes was startling and frightening. His face was twisted, his teeth extended sharply over his bottom lip. He looked like a monster, but he was still the person that she loved, and she couldn’t leave him here. “Go!” he growled at her. She took an involuntary step back. “Go!” he bellowed when she moved no further.

  Cassie jumped in surprise, tears pooled in her eyes as hopelessness filled her. His gaze swung away from her as Julian went at him again. They fell together, snarling and growling as they tore at each other with the ferocity of savage animals. Cassie’s ears rang with the noise as it hammered into her head. A large locust tree shuddered, rocking forcefully as Devon slammed Julian against it. A jagged tear raced up the trunk, cracking as it tore up it.

  Melissa and Chris burst onto the path, their eyes wide with horror as they took in the battle before them. “Move!” Cassie screamed at them, snapping them out of the daze that held them riveted.

  Bolting across the path, they skidded to a halt beside Dani. Devon slammed Julian into the tree again. The crack gave way with a loud snap that echoed throughout the forest. Devon and Julian were forced from each other as the tree fell with a resounding boom that shook the earth.

  Devon bounced across the ground, landing feet away from Cassie. She moved swiftly toward him, needing to help him. He was back on his feet before she could reach him. He bolted forward, colliding with Julian again. Numbed with terror and horror Cassie could only watch helplessly as they tore at each with the frenzied savagery of feral, rabid animals.

  The earth beneath her feet began to rumble, a strange pulsing energy suddenly came from it. Cassie gazed down in shock as the earth seemed to heave, pulsating with an odd new rhythm that was frightening as well as energizing. Her mouth parted slightly as a beat began to rise from the dirt, throbbing up her legs and making its way down her arms.

  Cassie looked up in surprise as the earth seemed to explode with a current of electricity that rocked her back a step. Eyes widening in terror Cassie watched in horror as Devon and Julian were shot backward, bouncing across the ground like ping pong balls. They both remained limp, knocked unconscious by the bolt that had slammed into them.

  Cassie gasped, choking on her terror as she raced to Devon’s side. Falling beside him, she tore at him, grasping at his lifeless body. Instinctively, she rested her hand on his chest, searching for a heartbeat but finding none. She panicked for a moment, until she recalled that he wouldn’t have a heartbeat anyway. It took a few moments for it to fully sink in that he was still alive, though he did not breathe, there was a life energy pulsating from him. Mouth gaping, Cassie looked slowly around the eerily quiet pathway, unable to understand what had just happened, or where the strange energy had come from.

  “What was that?” Chris whispered, astonishment choking his voice. If it hadn’t been so frightening and shocking, Cassie would have laughed when she looked at him. His shaggy blond hair was standing on end. It looked as if someone had just rubbed a balloon over the top of it. His arms were raised at his sides, the hair standing up as he looked at them in astonishment. “What the hell was that?” he demanded more fiercely.

  Melissa stood beside him, her hair not quite as bad as it was in a tight braid, but a few strands of it were standing up. Melissa looked just as stunned as Chris as her gaze slowly moved toward Dani, her body shifting slightly. Dani stared back at them, her eyes wide, her mouth parted in horror as she bashfully met their gazes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to,” she whispered.

  Cassie gaped at her for a moment, unable to believe that the tiny girl had done this. “You did this?” Cassie inquired sharply, her hands clenching tighter on Devon’s motionless body.

  Dani nodded slowly, looking close to tears. “I’m sorry,” she whispered again.

  “Is he going to be ok?”

  Dani’s gaze darted over to her, falling briefly on Devon. Confusion flitted over her face, but she did not look at all surprised, or horrified over what had just happened. A numbing knowledge settled over Cassie as she leaned closer to Devon, her hand stroking over his battered face as she prepared to defend him to the death.

  Even if it was against one of her own kind.

  Dani nodded slowly, her gaze flickering back to Cassie as she tried to sort out what she was witnessing. “He should be fine.”

  “Should be?” Cassie hissed. “Should be!?”

  “Cassie,” Chris said gently, giving up on calming his hair down.

  Cassie took a deep breath, trying to compose herself as her attention returned to Devon. Though he remained immobile, the jagged wounds in his cheek had already begun to heal. She could practically see the muscle reattaching i
tself as the blood dried on him. The scent of his blood was strong, hinting of spices and power. Even in his bloodied and unconscious state he was still magnificent, and he was hers.

  A protective urge surged through her as she bent closer to him. She needed him to wake up, needed him to come back to her. And she needed it to happen soon.

  “What did you do?” she asked softly.

  Dani looked sheepishly around, her gaze landing everywhere but on them. “It’s… it’s an electric pulse,” she answered shakily. Then her gaze focused on Cassie, her eyes narrowed sharply. “Why are you defending him? I thought they were our enemies?”

  Melissa and Chris looked nervously at Cassie before turning their attention back to Dani. “You don’t know it all,” Cassie retorted. “And neither do we.”

  “I think we need to get out of here, we can discuss this later,” Melissa interjected softly, her gaze darting to Julian’s prone figure fifty feet down the path.

  He had been further away from the blast then Devon, did that mean he would wake faster? Cassie’s hand twitched to the stake at her side, her mind and heart hammered with the possibility of destroying him now, of ending the misery of so many people. Could she get down there in time? “How long does it last?” she inquired softly.

  “Cassie!” Melissa hissed in warning.

  Dani licked her lips nervously as she glanced at Julian. “I… I don’t know. On normal people,” she glanced wearily at them again, seeming to understand that they were not normal. In fact, Cassie thought Dani knew exactly what they were, just as they knew exactly what she was. There was going to be a lot of explaining to do once they were out of this situation. “It can last an hour or two, depending on the strength of the blast. On them,” her gaze darted over Devon and Julian. “I have no idea, it varies.”