Courted by the Vampire

by Sandra Sookoo

  “You’re crazy.” Her words were ragged. Every touch of his hand made her shake as if she were tossed in a stormy sea, but the waves were full of electric power and sexual tension.

  “Think of it. You and I, ruling the world together, the most powerful couple the universe has ever seen. We can mold the globe into exactly what we want it to be. Think of the pleasures we could seek, the power we could hold, the discoveries we could make.” He leaned close to brush his lips along the column of her neck, laughed when she pulled away. “You could live among people and beings of your own kind. Never misunderstood or ridiculed. You would never again need to uproot your life, to move, to feel ashamed enough to hide.”

  The smooth, oily words caressed her. A distracted part of her brain agreed with him. Why should I be ashamed to use my powers? If I joined Andre, I could use my power for the common good of everyone. I could freely talk about being an Enhancer.

  “You said yourself the bounty hunter ditched you this evening. You can be assured I would never treat you that way.” His words whispered along her skin. “Does Edwin indulge your every whim? Or does he order you about, expecting you to follow him around like a pup?”

  “He’s a bit demanding, but we’re working on it.” She ignored her fear long enough to listen to his argument. Had she been unfairly treated by the vamp? Did he have her best interests at heart?

  “The bounty hunter brought you on his quest to fulfill his prophecy, but did he ever ask what you wanted out of life?”

  The prophecy. The words Edwin spoke that seemingly long ago day echoed in her mind. “…the one who wields the power of the Light will challenge the Dark and defeat it even beyond Death…” But what did it mean? Did it have anything remotely to do with her? Hannah swayed on her heels. She blinked, knowing Andre expected an answer. “No, he hasn’t. He just told me I needed to come with him, said he needed my powers.” Righteous indignation swept through her being at the thought. “He never explained exactly why.”

  “You poor thing.” His low chuckle echoed off the glass. “It’s no secret Edwin has played the field with any willing female being. Surely you have seen the evidence with your own eyes of his effect on them?” He trailed a path of tiny kisses on the back of her neck. “You have had doubts about his fidelity to you. I have felt it in my mind, and I’ve ached in sympathy.”

  “No.” She shook her head, fighting against the passion-induced haze he wove around her. “Edwin loves me.” Doubt crept into her mind, its thorny brown branches winding through the truth. “I believe him.”

  “His is a limited love. His power wanes. I can give you so much more because I understand what it feels like to be used for that power.” Andre propelled her to the back wall and the last of the display cases. “If you allow me to link our minds, we will be joined as one. Imagine the pleasure I can give you, the heights of ecstasy you can reach, all the desires of your heart met. People will jump to do your bidding, women will clamor to be your friends, and men will grovel at your feet for a second of your attention. It can all be yours.”

  A fuzzy vapor muddled her brain as she listened to the low, intoxicating timbre of his voice. She forgot the crowds as she gazed into his eyes. Was he right? Will Edwin get bored with me and leave for his next conquest? She teetered on a high precipice. If I fell, who would catch me? Still, something didn’t feel right. “I thought you intended to use your power to challenge the Immortals? Where would I fit into that plan?” She couldn’t afford to be sidetracked, but his promise of influence intrigued her.

  “I can do nothing without you by my side.” Andre smiled. Putrid, slime-green arrogance streaked through her mind to blend with the sticky, white fog. The mass formed a net around her consciousness to stifle her thoughts. “Ah, the Immortals. Once I safely have the world at my disposal, I can concentrate my abilities on them. I only wait on your acceptance of my offer. I need you to complete my plans.”

  “I can’t…”

  “Maybe this will change your mind.” He flipped a switch on the wall and soft recessed lighting illuminated the bank of display cases. “Behold the last additions to my collection. I am missing a few, but when I have them, my circuit of dominance will be complete.” As his arm swept the area, he threw back his head and laughed, a sound without mirth. “The human form is too frail to regenerate after I draw power and energies from them. I’m afraid there will be a few casualties tonight.”

  Through sheer willpower, Hannah shoved the suffocating smog away and hastily reconstructed the barriers around her mind to buy a few minutes of clear thinking. She sucked in a breath when she spied Xavier’s unconscious form on the floor of the first case. Torn and shredded scraps of fabric clung to his body, his tux destroyed. “What did you do to him?” She pressed herself to the glass, anxious to see if he still breathed. She could barely discern the resonance of his life force through the wall.

  “I haven’t done anything to him… yet. My associates found a way to creatively subdue the werewolf. When he transformed back into his human form, his strength waivered, and he was captured without incident.” Andre crowed with triumph, the harsh sound echoed off the glass. He was clearly drunk with power. “However, I can’t say the same thing about my next prize.”

  Bitter bile rose in Hannah’s throat. She knew what would be in that case, but couldn’t pull her gaze away.

  Edwin lay still on the floor, battered and bloody, a wound on his forehead seeped blood to pool like a scarlet cloud beneath him. He had lost the tuxedo jacket but at least he wasn’t chained to the wall like in her dream. The fairies must have gotten to him in time. She detected a bit of Narcissa’s shimmering yellow glamour in the air. Her heart thudded, her chest tight with fear. “Let him go. He’ll die without medical attention.”

  “Haven’t you realized by now, my dear, that every action requires some sort of payment? I do favors for no one—not even you.” His smile oozed charm and charisma. “I’ll let you in to look after the bounty hunter in exchange for your promise to join my cause.”

  Sick dread made her throat dry. She glared at Andre and her mouth worked but no words came out.

  “I have been looking forward to tapping into your power since the day I first scanned your mind and realized you were an Enhancer. You kept that fact very well hidden until you met the bounty hunter. I intend to feast upon it, with or without your cooperation.” He drew a finger along the chilled skin of her arm. Hannah shivered with revulsion as acid-green clouds obscured her brain’s ability to process thoughts. “I can assure you that your willing participation will make the process much more pleasurable.”

  “Fine.” She leaned her forehead against the glass, letting the coolness seep in as she kept her mind carefully neutral. “Let me heal Edwin. In return for letting both him and Xavier go free, I will allow you access to my mind.” As his smile widened, she held up a hand. “They both need to leave the building, and I must see them do so. Only then will you be able to use my power. Agreed?” She held out her hand, waiting impatiently for him to decide.

  “I’m afraid I need your word that you won’t try any foolishness.” At her nod, he took her hand in a firm grasp.

  “You have my word.” She met his gaze. Horror dawned on her at the stupidity of her agreement with the devil’s spawn. He would kill her. Once he tapped into her mind, he wouldn’t leave it until she was dead, and he had drained her energy. Only then would the connection between them be broken.

  Andre’s laughter made her teeth ache. “You aren’t far from the mark, Hannah. My father sold his soul to the ruler of the Underworld, which makes me damned for all eternity. I’ve made it work for me.” His grin held no compassion and no humor as he looked at her. His eyes were fathomless, churning pits. “I know what true power feels like, and yes, it will be my pleasure to go after the lord of the Underworld first. I am without a soul, but I am very much in control of my power. Even if you somehow merged your mind with the bounty hunter’s, you would be no match for me.”

 
; When he finally released her hand, Hannah slumped against the case. Andre swaggered toward the front of the room. “You have thirty minutes to say your goodbyes.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Pain. Everything hurt, burned as if raw. Edwin groaned and took stock of his body’s critical systems. His limbs seemed to be functional, but the explosion of numbing pain in his head stifled his ability to think.

  “Edwin, can you hear me?”

  Another groan. He heard Hannah’s voice, but it sounded muffled, as if in a metal can. He remembered being ambushed by Andre’s henchmen, but the rest of the evening was swallowed in a red, painful haze. Fabric rustled then she was beside him. Her floral scent wafted into his nostrils, lulling him into a state of comfort. Her soft hands lifted his head into her lap. On willpower alone, he commanded his eyes to open.

  “Edwin.” Fear shook her voice. “Please say something.”

  Outside his prison, Andre made a general announcement that appetizers and dessert would be served in the foyer, which signaled the emptying of the room. He squinted, but couldn’t see much beyond the glass wall.

  “Please wake up.” Hannah touched his cheeks, brushed her fingers through his hair.

  “Spatzi, why are you here?” His voice sounded gravelly and his throat was dry. “You need to leave this place.” He licked his lips, dismayed to discover dried blood at the corner of his mouth.

  “Hush, I don’t have much time. I’ve made a temporary deal with Andre to get you and Xavier out of the house.” She searched his pockets until she found his knife.

  “No.” He attempted to raise himself but collapsed into her lap once more. Weak from loss of blood, he could do nothing except stare at her. “I cannot—”

  Her face loomed into sight, albeit upside down. “Listen to me carefully.” She slashed her left wrist, and bit her lip. Edwin winced at the pain she hid. When a crimson line of blood ran down her arm, she guided the wound to his lips. “Hurry, feed now. Heal yourself. Take what you can while I tell you what I’m planning.”

  For once Edwin did not argue. He simply did not have the strength. As the spicy tang of her blood hit his throat, he made a sound of pleasure. Adoration for her surged through his mind and warmed his body. Only she would bully him into feeding in a time of crisis. The pain in his head subsided. He would fight with his last breath to keep her safe.

  “In exchange for your release, I promised Andre I would allow him access to my energy.” Edwin stiffened. Hannah shook her head and pressed her wrist more firmly to his lips. “I don’t intend to let him drain my power. He won’t win. I just need you to stay cognizant enough so you can tap into my mind, and lend me your strength, be my battery pack. Maybe we can fry his brain circuits enough to stop him.”

  Tiny tremors of desire coursed through him as he gazed at her. Feeding and love were intertwined, and he agonized that this act could be the last intimate thing her shared with her. He wished he were stronger, wished they had more time. As the life-giving liquid hit his bloodstream, the slow revitalization energized him. When he stirred, she pushed him back down.

  Edwin contented himself to watch as Hannah fumbled for her evening bag. She snapped it open and softly called forth the remaining hitchhikers – the goblin, the imp, and the wood nymph. His heart swelled. She was creative.

  “Andre’s a bad man. I need the goblin to bash holes in these display cases to free Edwin and Xavier. After their escape, feel free to destroy whatever strikes your fancy. I have a feeling every living being in this room has just cause to hate Andre Valkaret and that’s good enough for me. Imp and nymph, go raise whatever havoc you wish, it doesn’t matter to me. Just create some sort of diversion so Edwin and I can do our job.”

  “Hannah.” Edwin struggled into a sitting position. He met her hard green gaze, glad she wasn’t ticked off with him. “There is no need for you to involve yourself or endanger your friends. Xavier will take you to a safe place. He and I arranged to hide you at the lakeshore while doing reconnaissance earlier.”

  “There’s no way I’m doing the camping thing again.”

  “But you’d be safe there. With Xavier.” He shook his head and held her wrist away. “I am finished.” He ran the tip of his tongue over the knife wound, confident she would heal within minutes. “We need to go.”

  “No.” She trailed a hand through his hair. “Listen to me, bounty hunter.”

  The love in the depths of her eyes made him light-headed. It still surprised him that this one human, this one woman, would overlook what he was, and choose to give him her heart anyway. “Stop.” She laid a finger over his lips.

  “No matter what happens, remember I love you.”

  “Spatzi, do not do this.”

  She shook her head. “As much as I want to turn tail and run fast and far away from here, I’m compelled to stay. I can’t let Andre win. He’s evil personified. If there’s a chance I can stop him, I have to try. I know now it’s my destiny; the reason I was born and why I met you. Find Duncan, and by the way, he’s the worst of your friends.”

  A smile lifted the corners of his lips. “He has just cause to be cranky.” Edwin covered her mouth with his as he crushed her to him in a fierce embrace. He touched a fingertip to the tears on her cheek. “I love you.” There was nothing else to say.

  “I know.”

  Guilt splashed through his gut at the hope in her eyes. She’ll die because of me. He stood and pulled her to her feet just as the goblin bashed a jagged hole in the wall that separated his case from Xavier’s. “Go. Your time is almost over. I will distract Andre until you are ready, and help Xavier free the captives.”

  We will survive this. Her smile shone bright despite her tears.

  “Good luck, Hannah.” With a last brush of his lips against hers, he cringed as the front wall shattered then followed the goblin through the broken glass.

  *****

  With a heavy sigh, Hannah wobbled on her heels through the rubble into Xavier’s holding cell.

  His eyes glowed. “Hannah, will you allow me to escort you from this place?” A genteel smile curled his lips as he fumbled to manipulate the bow tie of a fresh new tuxedo. “The bounty hunter has given his permission.”

  Envy at his talent for conjuring new clothes snaked through her chest. “I’m not leaving, but I’m grateful for your chivalry.” Hannah gently pushed his hands away and did the tie. She stifled the ironic laughter before it could erupt. “Thank you for your friendship. Please look after Edwin.” She adjusted the tilt of his black fedora then smiled.

  The werewolf grasped her hand and pressed her fingers to his lips. “Ah, Hannah. I wish I met you earlier and well ahead of my rival. It’s not often a woman like you comes to light.” His golden, honey-colored gaze bored into hers. “I will do my best to keep him safe for you. It’s the least I can do.”

  The sadness that overwhelmed him filled her mind with a curious honey-colored glow that matched his eyes. “Thank you.” She drifted her fingers over his cheek. On impulse, she stood on tiptoe and pressed an open-mouthed kiss on his lips. An involuntary thrill moved through her belly as his arms closed around her. She pulled away, her cheeks heating. “That doesn’t mean I’ll leave Edwin for you, but if I hadn’t met him…”

  “I appreciate the sentiment.”

  “Never forget you have no cause to be ashamed of what you are.” Hannah gave him a smile and stepped away, enjoying the expression of surprise on his face. “You have my permission to eat whomever you want this evening, but only for this one night. After that, you must promise me to stick to your diet. No exceptions.”

  Xavier executed a bow, his features carefully arranged into a blank mask. “You have my word.” He arched a blond eyebrow. “Your mind is made up on this mission of yours?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “Very well. I will do my level best to protect you.”

  Glass shattered somewhere in the room. Hannah looked in that direction. A small fire erupted from one of the light fi
xtures. “I need to go.”

  “Goodbye and good luck.”

  Before she could change her mind, the werewolf was gone. For one long moment, intense panic rose in Hannah’s chest until she thought she’d vomit. Then she thought of Edwin, and shoved the fear to a dark corner of her brain.

  She couldn’t back out now.

  Inhaling deeply, she let her breath out then turned to face the arrogant gaze of Andre Valkaret. The bastard was three minutes early.

  “Come, Hannah, it’s now time for you to join me on my quest for world domination.” He held out a hand and helped her over the rubble. He apparently ignored the fact that various magical beings tore his museum apart. “I’ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time. Enhancers are extremely hard to find because your kind hides your power so well, due to skill or fear of discovery. Imagine what we can do together, you and I.”

  Revulsion rose on a wave of bile and anger gripped her. What is it about paranormal men and the fact they can’t get through their lives without my help? Her anger grew as she caught herself contemplating submission once she knew Edwin was safe. “I haven’t agreed to be your partner.” She thought of her dreams. Just because they spelled out death and doom didn’t mean they would come true.

  Her destiny. It only meant that she met it on this night. The rest was up to her actions from this point forward.

  “Not yet, but you will.” He drew her arm through the crook of his elbow, pulling her toward the front of the room.

  “I’m not so sure.” Hannah paused to touch one of the glass cases and glanced at the baby dragon that lived within. The vast collection of creatures assembled in the room was amazing. What right did Andre have to not only hold these beings against their will but also decide the fate of the world? Instead of tamping down on her anger, she let it grow. She encouraged it, surrendered to it. The red sheen poured through her mind and body until her skin felt hot to the touch. It mixed with the mental fog Andre continued to force into her brain until both clouds became a storm in her mind, charging, waiting to be unleashed.