by Pepper Pace
My mouth opened without my control.
“Hello Athena.” I said.
Athena’s eyes grew wide. “Alexis!”
CHAPTER 17
I was a little person in a larger room. The large room was my body. Alexis stood at a distance from me watching me. He was both inside of me and controlling my body. It was hard to focus on both, especially with him there right in front of me. We walked towards each other. Alexis looked so good. He was wearing black pants and black shirt. His dark curly hair haloed his head. He held his hands behind his back. I ran the last few steps and leaped into his arms. He caught me at the last second.
I sighed contentedly as he held me against his body. He slowly lowered me to the ground.
“What’s going on out there?”
“Look and see.” He said. I turned and looked out of my own eyes.
***
Athena was circling Alexis. Alexis allowed it.
“What are you doing here?” She asked. “Protecting ‘Your love’?”
“I would ask you the same question?”
“If you rush to her aid then you have already heard why I bring her here.”
“What game do you play Athena?”
Athena’s eyes turned red briefly before returning to their usual green.
“You would have never dared to question me like this in the past. Is your new found bravado based on the power of your ‘Love’?”
What did she mean by that?
Alexis didn’t respond.
“Have you looked into ‘Your Love’s’ head yet?”
Alexis responded by turning his head to the side and standing motionless. A moment later he brought his clasped hand to the front of him and he fingered the ring there on my finger.
I had been looking out of my own eyes, now I turned inward and watched Alexis. He was still holding me although there was a strange wind blowing between us.
“So you’ve chosen another over me.”
“Paul…Paul was the first to form a bond with me. I didn’t know that.” I continued nervously. “I think that’s why when he turned into a Werewolf I was able to turn into that Creature-”
Alexis alabaster skin slowly began to form small lines, veins I believed they were. They creeped over his face rapidly.
Then he disappeared. One moment he was holding me the next I was stumbling.
When he left I suddenly filled my body again. Again I was standing in the room that Athena had brought me.
Blinking rapidly I was staring at Athena again.
She shuddered suddenly then lowered her head and watched me with eyes that had gone impossibly black; like two bottomless orbs. Her hands moved behind her to be clasped.
Alexis had moved into Athena.
He moved towards me slowly. His legs did not move. He was hovering. I felt a spike of fear. I tried to squelch it because whatever I felt Alexis would know immediately. I had no reason to feel guilty or afraid. He had given me 250 years…of course I’m sure he didn’t think I’d take him up on his offer so quickly…
Athena/Alexis gently took my hand and examined the ring there.
Alexis’ eyes turned red and then his face transformed. I gasped. Athena’s face disappeared to be replaced by Alexis’ and then his body…and then his voice.
“Do you remember what I told you?”
I nodded. “You told me I had 250 years.”
“Then it would be in your best interest not to prolong his life; your best interest and his. Do not turn him.”
I clamped my lips together and thought before speaking. “He doesn’t want to be turned.”
“A Werewolf’s life is not extended…I hope.”
“I…don’t know.”
“Then sharing blood with you should give him no more time then I’ve allotted.” I looked down, upset by his words and not sure why. “Initially you didn’t want 250 years. Now it’s not enough time?” He asked coolly.
I shook my head. “It’s not that. I just feel like you’re taking away my right to choose.”
“And you would be right.”
I looked at him quickly.
“I told you that you were mine. There’s no choice in that.”
“Alexis, I don’t like the idea of my rights being taken away. Now I love you…that has always been by MY choice. And I agreed to be with you in 250 years, and Not because you told me I have to but because I want to.”
Alexis turned his back to me and lowered himself to the floor to walk away from me.
“I apologize, Kim. It’s been a very long time since I’ve felt jealousy.”
I relaxed. When he turned back to face me his eyes were black orbs again and the scary veins had disappeared from his face.
“You’ve been hurt. Your ribs are healing incorrectly. They need to be fixed. Your back is broken also.”
I only experienced a dull ache. Alex was suddenly in front of me. He didn’t touch me physically, but suddenly I felt as if a heavy ball was rolling down my body starting at the base of my spine.
I sucked in a surprised breath although it wasn’t a painful sensation. I could feel bones popping back into place and it actually felt good.
I closed my eyes and shuddered. When I opened them Alexis was watching me with golden eyes. I fingered my ring.
Alexis grinned; a rare thing. “Don’t worry. I gave you two hundred fifty year…two hundred forty-nine and counting. By the way, in case I made you forget, I love you, too.”
Alexis’ form wavered. Athena was present again. Her long black hair once again flowed down her back and her eyes shown green.
“What fun we could have… the three of us.” Athena said pleasantly.
Alexis was gone, at least he wasn’t inside of me. I sighed, feeling empty. Closing my eyes I thought as hard as I could.
‘I love you, Alexis; now and in two hundred fifty years—two hundred forty-nine and counting.’
“How sweet.” Athena said. “Will you say that to me one day?”
“Athena, now is not a good time to explore the idea of an alternative love life. I’m pretty preoccupied with the idea of Werewolves and saving my family.”
Athena’s pretty face broke into a smile. “Fine. I would offer to kill those Werewolves that have injured you and yours…but the battle has already ended. Fairly one-sided. The Werewolves were an old powerful clan…but not healthy enough to face the ability of the Neratomay. Our ability to transport alone made it a one sided battle.
“Send me back.” I said excitedly.
“As you wish.”
***
Athena sent me back alone. I returned to the room that Jason had been chained. I covered my ears and crouched to the ground. It wasn’t the sight of twenty imploded Werewolves. The room was empty except for that.
What was getting to me was the sound of sixty odd Vampires calling me searching for me.
They began to dot the little room, appearing out of nowhere. Tony was the first to arrive.
He gripped me by my arms and lifted me to a standing position.
“Where the hell were you? We’ve been searching for you, no one could feel you! We thought you were dead. Ran is beating himself up because he took Monica and left you!”
“Athena-”
Tony’s eyes widened. The room was crowded with Vampires and they were hushed. Ran appeared next to Tony. His eyes were blood red and blood streaked his face.
Tony looked at Ran. “Athena had her.”
They both watched me expectantly. “I’m okay. She didn’t hurt me.”
“You better go to Paul. He’s really torn up.” Ran responded in a hollow voice.
“But what did Athena want with you?” Tony asked, still holding my arms.
Ran put his hand on Tony’s arm. “Let her go to Paul. He shouldn’t have to worry a second more then he has to.”
Tony looked at Ran and it wasn’t the kindest look. Ran seemed unmoved.
“I’ll explain later,” was my only response.
I sent out feelers for Paul. I felt him look up in shock. I flashed to him immediately.
He was sitting on the ground, nude, elbows resting on his knees. His head was just raised from where they had been in his hands. He leaped to his feet when he saw me.
He had never completely healed from the injuries he’d sustained the other evening, but now it was worse. I could see teeth marks in my love’s flesh!
I ran to him and he gripped me in a bear hug and swung me around and around.
“I thought you were dead, Kim…I thought…I couldn’t trace you.” He buried his head in my neck and he inhaled deeply as he continued squeezing me. “Thank you thank you thank you.”
I pulled back a bit and touched his face and shoulders and examined his wounds. He wouldn’t let me as he pulled me close to him again.
“Baby you’re hurt.” I said.
“I’ll heal fast when I can rest. Where were you?”
“Baby, Athena came…but don’t worry-”
He pulled back and looked at me surprised.
“We just talked. I’ll tell you later, but Paul, please…how’s my family?”
“Oh, baby, they’re really bad off-”
“Take me to them!”
Paul led me back into the compound. That’s what it was. Homes dotted the land surround a stone building that was low to the ground. But inside I knew that there would be lower levels. We went to the front room where there had been three beds set up.
I hurried inside and Paul stood by the door leaving me alone with them.
I came to Monica first. I bit back a scream. I touched her neck with my finger. How could she be alive?
Monica’s face was almost completely missing. It looked like rats had eaten on her. Her right hand was missing, chunks of flesh had been taken out of her legs and torso. She’d been raped, I could tell by the damage done to her.
“Dear God…” I wailed. “Dear God, no!”
I came down on my knees and put my face carefully against her ear. “Monica. Baby. Listen to me. I need you to hear me…”
“Monnie, honey, I need you to tell me that you can hear me. Let me know Sweetie.” I carefully gripped her hand. “Give me a sign.”
Very slightly Monica squeezed my hand.
I closed my eyes in relief. “Are you in pain? Squeeze once for no twice for yes.”
She squeezed my hand once.
“Do you know what happened to you?” Hesitation but then shakily she squeezed my hand twice.
“I’m so sorry that happened to you, Sweetie. But we got them, all of them. The Vampires have been feasting on Werewolf blood. They’re gone, Sweetie. They’re gone.” Monica squeezed my hand twice.
“Yes, Monnie, Yes.” I took a deep breath. “Do you want me to turn you?” No response. I felt tears drip down my cheeks. “You’re not going to make it, Monica. If not for the fact that you’ve been a donor for so long you would have never survived as long as you have.” I kissed her neck lightly. “It’s your choice, though. Your choice, Sweetie.”
Still no response. I closed my eyes.
I heard a low rumbling noise, I felt it vibrating against my lips. Monica was trying to talk past her ruined face.
I strained to hear her.
“B-bite m-me.”
I closed my eyes. I’ve never turned anyone although I’ve been asked more than once. I’ve chosen to not create a liege of my own.
I felt movement behind me. Paul was standing just inside the door. He was unselfconsciously nude. Behind him and outside of the room was Tony, Ran and every other Vampire that had accompanied me. They all watched me quietly. Kaniji caught my eye. I could see that she had feasted.
“You better hurry. You must take her blood until she’s at the point of death, then she must ingest enough of yours to sustain her through her transition.”
Gently I sank my teeth into her neck. Her pulse was so weak. She would have never made it back to the States. I drank as her blood pumped weakly into my mouth. Intuitively a Vampire knows when she needs to stop feeding, when she’s taken her donor to the point of no return. Before I had never passed that point. This time I continued to drank. Her death blood had a bitter quality. It made me feel strange.
I Immediately stopped. I brought my wrist to my lips and tore through my vein so that the blood would run freely.
Ignoring the pain I gently pressed my wrist to her mouth. Instantly my blood pooled out and ran down her chin. Gently I pushed her head back and I saw her swallow. She chocked and coughed but I didn’t remove my wrist. Eventually she continued to swallow.
Maybe before I would have needed to ask when to stop but I knew on my own. I bent down to kiss her ruined forehead.
Closing my eyes I gripped her hand again and I waited for Monica to take her last breath. It was inevitable that it would happen. I had drank her death blood and fed it back to her recycled through me.
After a few moments, her chest fell but did not rise.
A brief panic struck me. Did I do it right? Was the Werewolf in me going to prevent it from taking? And what about the other strange changes; the tears the eating? Was I still enough of a Vampire? We wouldn’t know until tomorrow.
I stood up slowly. The next bed was Jason. He watched me with swollen, blackened eyes. He was awake.
He was covered with a sheet. I pulled the sheet off of him to check him. He, like Paul was nude as well. He’d been bitten repeatedly, but more carefully then what had been done with Monica. It brought back what Yosef had said. He’d lied but maybe they’d meant to give Monica a killing bite thinking she was a Vampire. When they discovered that she wasn’t perhaps they tried to save her. That sounded right to me. By the time they’d gotten to Jason, they’d known they were dealing with humans and the bites were delivered with more care.
I sat on the side of the bed. “Are you okay?”
“You came for us.” He said weakly.
“Yes. You’re mine. No one takes what’s mine.”
“My other Master would have never come to the rescue of a couple of donors.”
“You’re more than donors to me. When I brought you in you became my family. Why do you think I don’t take blood from any and everyone? I choose my family carefully.”
Jason lifted his hand slowly. I took it in my hand and squeezed it lightly. “I’m going to become a Werewolf, aren’t I?”
I looked at Paul. He nodded.
I turned back to Jason. “Paul will be here for you…when that happens.” Jason looked strangely calm. He nodded.
I left his bed and went to Tyler’s. Her eyes were closed but I could see that her breathing was even. I touched her neck. Her pulse was steady and strong. Like Jason she had been covered in a sheet.
I pulled the sheet off of her. I bit back a moan. Bastards had raped her too and taken chunks out of her body. They hadn’t been nearly as rough with Jason…had the women raped him? I wouldn’t ask.
I covered her body again and kneeled beside her bed. I grasped her hand in mine and pressed it to my lips.
“Tyler.” I murmured. “I’m here. We’ve come to take you home, Sweetie. The Werewolves that hurt you are gone. We killed them all.”
I looked back at Paul for confirmation. Again he nodded.
When I turned back to Tyler she was looking at me. I hid my tears. “Are you comfortable?”
“R-Ran took away the p-pain.”
I squeezed her hand slightly.
“Do you need anything?”
“J-Jason.”
I sensed Jason getting out of bed. He limped over to us wrapped in the blood stained sheet. It broke my heart when he started to cry. I left them alone.
***
While we prepared to transport the humans in a rickety truck owned by the Werewolves, I contacted Mara and Karen and gave them the news. They screamed and cried together. I was just too relieved to cry anymore. Ran went back to the safehouse and retrieved clothes for Paul and Jason. Tyler was too hurt to put clothes on her but we got them as comf
ortable as possible in the truck.
I refused to leave Monica’s body so I rode with Paul and the rest back to the Safehouse. Before I left I scanned the small compound, taking in the homes of those that had once lived here. They were so poor that ‘house’ would be an understatement. These people were like refugees—and now they were all dead, and I had absolutely no regrets.
It would be a squeeze to arrive before dawn. But we made it in the knick of time and got myself and Monica into coffins.
EPILOGUE
Paul came in to the bedroom through the French doors. He had a towel drying his hair but was otherwise nude. He loved to swim first thing in the morning. He also had an affinity towards nudity, too. Good thing the patio was private. We loved making love under the moon and stars.
But right now there was no moon and stars because it was daylight. Now it was routine for me to wake up whenever I wanted. Or if Paul wanted he could wake me. The sun no longer offered me a barrier.
Paul climbed into the bed with me. The bedroom in our new home is THE best place in the entire world. We never stayed another night in the old house. The memories were just too horrible. While we waited for our new home to be ready for us, we stayed with Ran in his and Julie’s house and that was a soothing balm for us all.
In our new bedroom we disagreed over whether or not to bring in a television set and I won. No T.V. But we had a sound system that was known to play every type of music from R & B to Alternative and Oldies.
The floor is a worn and weathered wood, strategically covered with a plush wool carpet that was just as good of a place to make love as the overstuffed bed.
The remainder of the house is equally a reflection of Paul and me. We have an office that we both share, but we had separate desks. His was ultra modern with steel and glass. Mine was old mahogany and weathered. Somehow they looked great together in the same room.
Our styles melded together just perfectly; traditional, antique and modern.
Our kitchen in the new house was filled to overflowing with food. I cooked at least twice a week. While mostly a carnivore Paul loved my macaroni and cheese and he couldn’t get enough of my southwestern chili. I ate too, but only as the full moon grew closer. Because we have frequent human visitors the kitchen and pantry iss always fully stocked.
