***
When I emerge a half hour later, Damian is lying on his back with his eyes closed. Madelyn is snuggled up next to him, her eyes closed, too. Though her heart rate isn’t quite that of a sleeper, I can tell she’s close.
She’s so fragile, so human. I wish there was something we could do to make her less vulnerable. Maybe we could have her drink either Damian’s or my blood. A vampire’s blood is like a super-steroid for a human. It makes them stronger, quicker, helps them heal faster, and sharpens their senses. That’s where the myth that humans could turn into vampires came from.
The only problem is, the benefits would wear off after awhile. And I’m not sure what the side effects might be after extended periods. Then there’s the question of whether or not Madelyn would even drink our blood…
Adjusting the towel wrapped around my head, I clear my throat as I sit down on the bed across from them. I rest my hands on my knees. The rough texture of my Calvin Klein jeans scratches against my palms. Already, the skin over my knuckles is almost completely healed.
Damian cracks his eyes open and looks to me.
“We need to talk,” I say.
Damian opens his eyes all the way. “What about?”
“About what we’re going to do.”
Madelyn’s eyes flicker open. She sits up and stares at me.
Damian props himself up on his elbows. “We keep Madelyn away from Dad and Uncle Devin.”
Madelyn gulps.
I sigh. “Yes, but how are we going to do that?”
“What we’re doing’s worked so far,” Damian argues.
“So are we just going to keep this up, then? Are we going to spend the rest of our lives hiding in cheap motels and stealing cars?” I fold my arms across my chest. “We ran away like that because it was the only option at the time. But you both know we have to find a permanent solution.”
Madelyn shifts and looks to Damian.
“What do you suggest we do?” Damian snaps.
“We need help,” I say.
Damian scoffs. “Help? Who’s going to help two runaway vampires and a hunted human?”
I grind my teeth together. This is something I’ve been considering since this afternoon. It’s something I most certainly don’t want to risk, but I can’t see another way. “The Falkners might.”
Damian looks at me for a moment, then gives a bitter laugh. “The Huntsmen? They kill Kaiju, they don’t help us.”
I nod. “Yes. But there were rumors that one had befriended an ondine. They’re also sworn to protect humans from us. So they might help keep Uncle Devin and Dad away from Madelyn.”
Madelyn looks about to say something, but Damian doesn’t notice.
“Yeah. And they’ll mount our heads on stakes,” he retorts.
“I’m willing to die to keep Madelyn safe.” It comes out sounding like a challenge. But it is true. Because all I’ve got left is my brother and if I could die in his stead to save Madelyn, I would.
Damian sighs. “Ondines are sea dwellers. They don’t have the reputation vampires do. Not to mention that you and I have a certain Transylvanian count as an ancestor.”
I make an intelligible sound. “I don’t like it any more than you do. I like it less, if anything. But aside from running away and hiding in the Andes Mountains, I don’t know what else we can try.”
Damian sits upright and faces me. “So even if we decided to risk it, how do you plan to find the Huntsmen?”
“Do you remember I told you Uncle Devin and I tracked one awhile back, but lost him?”
“Uh-huh,” Damian apprehensively nods.
“I caught that scent today at the mall. If I can catch it again, I might be able to find him. Talk to him.”
“How do you know Uncle Devin didn’t catch it, too? Maybe he’s sent men after them already,” Damian reasons.
“True. But I won’t know unless I find it, now will I?”
Damian shifts. “No, you won’t.”
I blink at him.
He rises to his feet. “I’ll go.”
I don’t think Madelyn gives it a thought as her hand shoots forward and grips his as though he’s about to blow away. “Damian…” she whispers.
“You don’t know what he smells like,” I counter, staring up at my brother.
“You could describe it to me,” Damian argues. “Look, you’ve already been hurt once today and I don’t want to go for a second time.”
I scoff. “Damian, this bruise is nothing compared to what Uncle Devin can give for laughs.”
“You’re the one who pointed out that Madelyn and I should stay apart,” Damian counters.
“Hey!” Madelyn shouts. She yanks on Damian’s arm and forces him to look at her. Her eyes flick back and forth between us. “I knew it was dangerous, being with you, Damian. And I didn’t care. I came with you anyway because I love you and it doesn’t matter what that costs me. But if I can’t be with you, then this whole damn thing’s kind of pointless, isn’t it?”
I stare at her with hollow eyes. Love. The same kind of love that left a gaping wound in my heart when it was torn away.
“So if you’re going after this Huntsman, then I’m coming, too,” she announces. Madelyn bores her eyes into Damian’s. “I’m not afraid,” she quietly whispers.
Looking at the resolve written across Madelyn’s face, I’m fairly certain we would have to hog tie her if Damian wanted to leave her a second time. “He’s not going after the Huntsman,” I say, rising to my feet. “I am.”
Fanged Page 7
