Greater Vampires

by Trudie Collins

  Luke did as she requested. He headed down to the security room where the screens for the cameras in the basement bedroom were situated. He wanted to see how his cousin was coping. So far there had been no screaming, so the worst was yet to hit him.

  When he got there, he found Gavin and Brian already in the room.

  “The pain is getting worse,” Gavin said when he looked up and saw Luke. “It won’t be long before it becomes unbearable. You should get Anna out of here sooner rather than later. He’s able to sense that she’s in the house and it’s making it worse for him.”

  “We don’t know what we’re going to do yet. Anna is thinking things through.”

  “You’re leaving the decision to her?” Gavin asked in surprise.

  “No. She just needed some time alone first.”

  “I wouldn’t bet on that,” Brian said. He was still looking at the screen and saw Anna walk into the basement bedroom.

  “Turn the microphone volume up,” Gavin said.

  Luke wanted to run down the stairs and drag Anna from the room, but it was too late. If he entered that room now he would be putting both their lives at risk.

  Gabriel was still sitting on the bed. He looked up as he heard the bolts being slid back and the door opened. He didn’t speak as he watched Anna walk into the room, close the door, then lean back against it. She looked scared and he could understand why.

  “You don’t want to be here,” he said to her.

  “I know, but I’m here anyway.”

  “Go away Anna, please, while I still have enough control over myself to let you.”

  “No. I’m staying. But I want to make it clear that I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it for Luke.”

  Gabriel tried to smile. “I know. How did you get him to agree to let you do this?”

  “I didn’t.” She looked up at the camera in the corner of the room, wondering if Luke was watching her. “I’m not sure if he even knows I’m here yet.”

  Gabriel stood up and walked over to her. She flinched as he stroked her cheek. “Thank you. Now close your eyes and imagine you’re in here with Luke not me.”

  She did as instructed and she didn’t resist as he kissed her. It was a gentle kiss, just two people’s lips touching. It was aimed to put her at her ease, but it didn’t work.

  He put his arms around her and kissed her more passionately. She opened her mouth to allow his tongue in and let herself go, as she had when he had claimed her.

  With one hand he unzipped her dress. When he pulled away from her he moved it off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor. Then he picked her up an carried her to the bed. He gently laid her down and removed her slippers. Then he slowly ran his hands up her thighs, working his way past her waist and continued until he reached her face. He kissed her once more.

  “I can’t watch this,” Luke said and left the room. He went down to the basement and stared at the closed door. For a long time he stayed like that, then eventually he slid the bolts into place, locking Anna in the room with Gabriel.

  He leaned back against the wall, slid to the ground and put his head in his hands. Never in his life had he felt this empty and alone.

  Helen and Paul found him like that a while later. “You need to get out of here,” Helen said. “We’ll all keep an eye on the monitors and will get her out of there if we think she is in any danger. We’ll make sure she gets food. Hopefully Gabriel will leave her alone long enough for her to eat it.”

  Luke barely heard the words. Paul sat down beside him. “Helen’s right. You have to go. Staying here is just torturing yourself.”

  “How can I leave her?” Luke’s voice broke as he spoke.

  “By standing up and walking away. It’s what Anna would want.”

  Paul was right. Anna would not want him there, suffering. He needed to do something to take his mind off what was happening.

  He walked to his room, threw a few things into a bag and went in search of Gavin. He was still in the security room with Brian. The volume had been turned down, but they were both watching the screens closely.

  Gavin switched his screen off the moment he spotted Luke and Brian turned his so Luke couldn’t see what it was showing.

  “I’m going out,” Luke said. “Call me if anything happens I need to know about.”

  “If it helps, so far he is being gentle with her.”

  “No, it doesn’t help.” He paused in the doorway. “Look after her.”

  “You have my word. I’ll do everything I can to keep her safe.”

  There wasn’t a lot Gavin could do if Gabriel turned violent, but Luke appreciated the gesture.

  He drove to Sanctuary 14. He had no idea where else to go.

  “It’s Luke. Is JD in?” he asked when he pressed the buzzer on the gate.

  It was Sarah who answered. “No, he’s working late, but come up to the house anyway. I’ll open one of the garage doors for you.”

  The gate opened and he drove up the driveway, around the back of the house and parked his car in the garage. There were a lot of cars, indicating that most of the residents of Sanctuary 14 were home.

  He had no idea what he was going to tell Sarah. He had to give her a reason for his visit, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to tell her the truth.

  “I needed to get away,” he said when Sarah opened the front door for him. “Can I stay here tonight?”

  “Of course. May I ask what’s wrong?”

  “I’ll tell you later, when JD is home. I’d rather not have to explain it twice.”

  Sarah was happy to wait. She could see that Luke was suffering and didn’t want to push him.

  JD didn’t make it home for dinner and Luke decided to join the residents of Sanctuary 14 for their evening meal. Eating and conversation would occupy his mind, at least for a while.

  “So where’s Anna?” Scott asked. “You two haven’t had a fight I hope.”

  He ignored the glare that Sarah gave him, but noticed that Luke tensed.

  Luke managed to smile. “No. That’s not possible.” He went on to explain the bond between himself and Anna. “We call it ‘the calling’. It does not happen often, but when it does it means that nothing and nobody can come between the couple. Anna and I never argue and never will.”

  “So you’re stuck with her forever? Even if you fall out of love?” Scott pulled a face, as though the thought disgusted him.

  “We won’t fall out of love. Ever.”

  “Don’t you feel trapped?” Jonathon asked. “This bond is forcing you to be with Anna instead of it being your own free will.”

  “Trapped? No. Secure would be a better word. I know that Anna will never betray me and will always be by my side. She will always do what is best for me, whether I want her to or not.”

  A look of unease crossed his face when he said the last part of the sentence, making Sarah wonder, again, why he was at 14.

  “You’re immortal, right?” Jane said. “So what happens when Anna dies?”

  Sarah spoke before Luke could. “You’re going to turn her, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, I am. When the time is right.”

  “Does she get a say in this?” Natalie asked. The thought of being turned into a vampire made her shiver. While JD was coping with it well, she knew she would not be able to.

  “Of course she does. We have discussed it and she will let me know when she is ready.”

  “Can I let others know about this?” Doc asked. The information might not be useful to other hunters, but he was sure that the scientists at Sanctuary 7 would be interested.

  “About ‘the calling’ or about me turning Anna?”

  “‘The calling’,” Doc said hastily. “I would never dream of mentioning Anna. We are keeping all of your identities secret. All anyone else knows is that we know how to contact you.”

  “Then yes, of course you can. We don’t need to keep secrets from you.”

  At that moment Luke’s phone rang. When he saw who was calling, hi
s eyes opened wide in surprise. “I have to take this,” he said and left the room.

  ————————————-∞————————————-

  Anna was exhausted, and hungry. Gabriel had worn her out. He had been surprisingly gentle with her, to begin with anyway. When he became more vigorous, she could tell he was holding himself back the way Luke always used to until she told him to stop.

  Closing her eyes and pretending she was with Luke had been a lot easier than she had expected. At an important point in the proceedings, she had been unable to stop herself calling out his name, earning her a growl from Gabriel.

  She was lying naked on the bed next to Gabriel and she could feel his eyes on her. It wouldn’t be long before he wanted her again. He wasn’t hurting her in any way, but she doubted she would be allowed to get much sleep. It was going to be a long couple of days.

  Others were watching her and listening in and she had to force herself not to think about that. She just hoped that Luke wasn’t one of them.

  She was roused from her thoughts by a knock on the door. “We have food for Anna,” she heard Gavin say. “Is it safe to come in?”

  Gabriel bared his teeth, but remained silent. Anna could see that he was fighting the urge to go to the door and attack Gavin.

  “Go to the bathroom,” she said, “and don’t come out again until they have gone.”

  She thought Gabriel was going to refuse, but he didn’t. Once the bathroom door was shut, she pulled the sheet around herself and called out that Gavin could enter.

  Instead of going in, however, Gavin opened the door just enough to put his arm in. He held out Anna’s dressing gown and she thanked him as she put it on.

  Once she was adequately covered up, she opened the door wider and Gavin walked in, carrying a fully laden tray. “Juliette has made you sandwiches,” he said, “in case Gabriel doesn’t give you time to eat the stew before it goes cold.” It also contained a bottle of water, a mug, a teapot and a glass of orange juice.

  He placed it on the floor then took something out of his pocket and handed it to Anna. It was her phone. “In case Gabriel lets you contact Luke. He has gone out, but we don’t know where.”

  “Thank you,” she said. “I feel better knowing he’s not here watching this.”

  Gavin grimaced. “We have to I’m afraid. Just in case we have to get you out of here in an emergency.”

  “I know and I appreciate your concern.”

  “I can assure you that nothing is being recorded.”

  The thought had never even occurred to her. Growling came from the bathroom.

  “I had better go,” Gavin said. “Are you alright?”

  Anna nodded so Gavin left her alone. She had just started eating when Gabriel emerged. He saw that she was dressed and was not happy.

  “Take that off and get on the bed. Now.” It was ‘the craving’ making him speak to her like that so Anna didn’t react. She remained calm.

  “No. I’m human remember. I have to eat.”

  Gabriel snarled. “Then make it quick. I want you.”

  There was a bread roll on the tray. Anna picked it up and threw it at him. “Go sink your teeth into this,” she said. It bounced off his chest and landed on the bed. Gabriel picked it up and bit it.

  In the security room, Brian and Cassy were watching the monitors.

  “Did she just say what I think she just said?” Cassy asked.

  “Yes,” Brian said and they both burst out laughing.

  I’d let him suffer

  Gabriel took Anna hard and fast. When it was over, he wrapped her up in a blanket and pulled her into his arms.

  “Please tell me I didn’t hurt you,” he said with genuine concern. His self-control was coming and going and he was worried that he was being too violent with her. He would never forgive himself if he caused her harm in any way. Neither would Luke.

  “No. I’ll probably be a little sore when this is all over, but that will be all.”

  He kissed her neck. “I know you have your phone,” he said quietly. “Do you want to take it into the bathroom and call Luke? I don’t know when my need for you will become unbearable again, but I’ll give you as much time as I can.”

  The look of eagerness on her face hurt him more than he would ever admit to anyone.

  She put on her dressing gown and went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. It wouldn’t stop Gabriel being able to overhear her conversation, but she hoped it would prevent the microphones picking up what she said.

  “How are you?” were Luke’s first words. She could hear the relief in his voice.

  “I’m okay. How are you?”

  Luke didn’t answer the question. “It feels so good to hear your voice. I’m at Sanctuary 14. I needed a distraction. Have you eaten?”

  They managed to talk for nearly half an hour before they were disturbed by a scream of agony.

  “The bloody idiot,” Luke said. “He should have called you back to him before the pain got that bad.”

  “I have to go. I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  “I’ll call again as soon as I can.”

  Then Anna hung up and returned to Gabriel’s side. “I’m sorry Anna,” he said as he undid the belt on her dressing gown, pulled it off her and threw it on the ground. Then his hands and lips were all over her body once more. She closed her eyes and thought of Luke.

  ————————————-∞————————————-

  A short while later, JD finally made it home. He had seen Luke’s car in the garage, so wasn’t surprised when he found him in the games room with Craig and Scott.

  “To what do we owe the pleasure?” he asked. “I assume that Anna is with Sarah.”

  Scott paused the game. “No, she isn’t,” Luke said. “Let’s go to your office and I will explain.” He turned to Scott. “This may take some time, so continue on without me.”

  “What I have to say can go no further,” Luke said as he and JD walked down the corridor. “Other than Sarah, of course.” JD kept nothing from his wife unless ordered to by those in command of the hunter society. “We’d better go and find her. I promised I would tell her when you got home.”

  When JD and Sarah were both seated in JD’s office, Luke started talking. He didn’t sit down. He found it easier to tell them what was going on while pacing around the office. That way he didn’t have to see their reaction.

  “Jesus Christ,” Sarah said when he had finished talking. “And you let Anna do this?”

  “Not exactly. She let herself into the room. By the time I knew what was happening it was too late.”

  “Gabriel must be loving this,” Sarah said.

  “I doubt it. He loves her, remember, and right now he isn’t in control of himself. He’s going to be terrified that he will hurt her and feeling guilty about what he’s doing to me. He will be enjoying the actual sex, but the moments in between will not be pleasant for him, to say the least.”

  “I take it Anna won’t be at work for the rest of the week,” Sarah said.

  “No. This usually only lasts a couple of days, but sometimes it takes longer. I really hope this is not one of those times.”

  “I’ll let everyone know she is sick.” Sarah stood up and kissed JD. “I’ll leave you two boys alone and I promise I’ll not mention any of this to anyone.”

  “Do you have clothes with you that you can work out in?” JD asked once Sarah had closed the door.

  “Yes,” Luke said. “Why?” He didn’t like the way JD was looking at him.

  “You probably think you’ll have trouble sleeping tonight. I’m going to take you to the arena and give you a workout that will guarantee you’ll not be able to keep your eyes open.”

  “Thank you,” Luke said. What JD was suggesting, at least he let himself think it was a suggestion rather than an order, was probably the best thing for him. Not only would it keep him occupied for a while, but he believed J
D when he said it would make him sleep.

  “And set your alarm for 4.30.”

  “Why?”

  “Everyone who stays over has to attend the 5am training session.”

  Luke suddenly wondered if he should have stayed at home.

  ————————————-∞————————————-

  Luke wasn’t the only one who was tired when the training session was over. When they found out what was happening, others had volunteered to join in, giving Luke advice on how to use a sword. By the end of it his back was aching and the muscles in his arms were screaming at him.

  When JD reminded him about having to attend the session the next morning, he actually whimpered. There was nothing JD could do to force him to attend, but he would be there. It would be impolite to disobey JD.

  “What would you do?” Sarah asked as JD climbed into bed. “If we were in that position. If I had to have sex with Jonathon in order to stop him going through agony.”

  “I’d let him suffer,” JD said.

  “No, seriously.”

  “I am being serious. I would take you away somewhere and let others look after Jonathon. There’s no way I would ever let him have his hands on you. Are you saying you would make a different decision?”

  Sarah thought about it for a moment. “Probably not. While I love Jonathon and would not want to see him in any sort of pain, I don’t think I would be able to bring myself to let him touch me.”

  “I wonder how Anna can bear to do it. Do you think she’s secretly attracted to Gabriel?”

  Sarah laughed. “No. It must be her bond with Luke.” JD frowned at her. He hadn’t been there when Luke had told the rest about ‘the calling’, so instead of going to sleep, Sarah told JD everything that Luke had said.

  The next morning, everyone looked dead on their feet when they got to the arena so JD took it easy on them. At the end of it, Luke vowed never to stay at Sanctuary 14 ever again.

  ————————————-∞————————————-

  Anna had no idea what time it was when she woke up, or how long she had been asleep. She was in Gabriel’s arms and felt oddly comfortable and protected.