Twice Bitten

by Kris Norris

  She giggled at the brazen thoughts, not sure when she’d become so obsessed with the idea of having sex.

  The moment you laid eyes on those two men.

  She nodded and walked to the door, slivering it open. She peeked out, feeling her pussy gush a new wave of arousal as she stared at the sight before her. Mathias and Gabe were sitting on opposite ends of the couch, pumping their shafts. The predatory look in their eyes made her feel sexy and strong, and she used it to her advantage, strutting out of the room and stopping at the desk, teasing the men by slowly opening her towel, only to close it again. Gabe raised his hand, shaking a single finger at her before turning it over and curling it towards him.

  Ripley smiled and moved around the desk. She took two steps when her necklace sent out a pulse of blue light, drawing her to a halt. She looked down at it, wondering what was happening, when she heard the lock tumble a moment before the door burst open, slamming against the wall with a deafening crash. She screamed, holding her hands in front of her face as two figures lunged through the doorway, their faces ghostly images of the ones she remembered from before. White fangs gleamed in the light, matched only by the red glow of their eyes.

  She tried to back up when a blur of pale skin shifted in front of her, making her head spin. She blinked to find herself standing by the couch, her view blocked by a massive wall of male flesh. A howl of rage rattled the room and the man vanished, reappearing back at the door. A smaller man was already engaged in the fight, keeping both of the creatures trapped at the door. Nausea threatened when she realised it was Gabe and Mathias, their familiar silhouettes beckoning to her.

  She watched the scene unfold, her feet frozen in place. The boys kept their backs to her, countering their opponent’s attacks, blocking them from moving towards hers. Gabe ducked underneath a swing, moving to the creature’s back and grabbing its head with both hands. The thing screeched as Gabe twisted, ripping off its head in a burst of fire. The monster disintegrated, showering the room with a blanket of ash. Mathias used the distraction to gain the upper hand, slamming one hand down on the corner of the table and breaking off a dagger of wood. The beast clawed at his chest, but it was too late. Mathias turned, deflecting the blow as he swung the wooden spike upwards, puncturing the creature through its chest. There was a moment of stunned silence before the thing exploded in a mass of light and dust.

  Mathias cursed, stomping to a halt beside Gabe. “Bloody hell. How did they get in here? It’s the middle of the fucking day, for God’s sake.”

  Gabe shook his head, waving at the dusk settling in the air. “They must have been in the building. They looked like those two new bouncers Sirus hired. I bet my left nut Alex turned them last night…to keep tabs on us. That’s why we didn’t feel them. They just woke up for the first time.”

  “They must have sensed the talisman. Damn, this isn’t looking good.”

  Ripley stared at the two men, hearing them talk but not understanding any of the words. Either she was losing her mind, or she’d just witnessed a scene out of a horror movie, and it hadn’t even fazed the guys. She blinked, trying to gather some control, when they appeared in front of her, their faces morphed into the same strange beasts. “Oh. My. God…”

  The world began to grey. Mathias shook her, telling her to breathe, but all she could do was stare at his face—its face. Gabe cursed, and in the space of a heartbeat, their faces changed, the red tinge in their eyes fading into black. She backed away when Gabe reached for her, not sure if she should scream for help, or just make a run for the door. The hurt look in his eyes shook some sense back into her, and she groped her way to the couch, collapsing on the cushions just as her knees gave out.

  Mathias reached for her. “Ripley. I know this is quite a shock. But if you’ll give us a chance to explain—”

  She glared at him. She didn’t want to hear explanations. She wanted to escape.

  “There is no escape. At least not right now.” Gabe nodded at the door. “That was the first wave in a war that’s only just begun.” He moved beside Mathias, but didn’t try to touch her. “There’s much we need to discuss, but you’re obviously overwhelmed. Why don’t you rest for a bit? Then we’ll talk.”

  Ripley scowled at him, then shifted her focus to the floor. She didn’t want to rest, or talk, or do anything for that matter. Everything she’d ever believed in had just been shattered, and all she could think about was that the rumours were real.

  Mathias took another step. “Ripley.”

  She pushed to her feet, shoving them both back when they crowded her, not wanting to be too close to them when she demanded answers. Even knowing they weren’t fully human didn’t dull the need she felt thrumming through her veins. Monsters or not, her heart still wanted them. Gabe opened his mouth to speak but she silenced him with a flick of her hand.

  “Don’t. I don’t need you to coddle me.” She pointed at the door. “Just tell me what in the hell those things were.” She paused, tears gathering behind her lashes. “What you both are.”

  Pain flickered in Gabe’s eyes as he looked at Mathias, as if drawing strength from the man. Mathias sighed and stepped back, sinking into a small chair. He waved his hand at his brother, not meeting her gaze.

  Gabe crossed his arms on his chest, his expression schooled. “You already know what we are. Do I need to say it for you?”

  The word caught in her throat as she looked from one to the other. Their pale, cool skin, the way they moved without being heard. Their inhuman strength and the lack of a reflection all came together.

  She swallowed past the thick feeling, meeting Gabe’s intense expression. “Vampires.”

  The word rolled off her tongue as if it were a natural response. While it had sounded childish and silly when Gabe had said it earlier, now it held a meaning she was just starting to understand. One that wasn’t a figment of her imagination.

  Gabe merely nodded at her. “Yes. We’re very real.”

  “Oh my God. You can read my mind?”

  She looked at Mathias, daring him to deny it, but he only nodded, pulling his lips into a tight line.

  “So all this time, you’ve both been listening to my private thoughts? Using them to your advantage?”

  “We only used them to help gain your trust.” Gabe held his ground. “Use whatever word makes you happy, Ripley, but today didn’t happen because we wanted to use you. This…” He waved his hand at the couch, “happened because it was destined.”

  He huffed when she crossed her arms on her chest, trying to look imposing while dressed in only a towel.

  “Everything would make more sense if you’d just let us start at the beginning. Trying to explain aspects of this story from the middle really isn’t working.” He took a single step closer. “And I can assure you it’s far from over.”

  A shiver of fear tingled along her spine at the eerie tone to his voice. While she wasn’t close to trusting them, they had just saved her life. That, coupled with the fact they could have killed her by now if they’d wanted to, all added credibility to his statement. Exhaustion reared, and she gave in, sitting back on the couch.

  She nodded at Gabe. “Fine. Start at the beginning. But this had better be good.”

  Chapter Six

  Gabe stared at Ripley and cursed. The situation couldn’t have turned out worse if they’d planned the damn attack themselves. As it was, they’d managed to alienate the one woman they needed to protect. The very woman who held a part of him he hadn’t thought existed since the night he’d been turned. Just the thought made him sick, and he couldn’t help but wonder if the entire prophecy had been created as a cruel joke.

  He glanced at Mathias, but his brother didn’t meet his eyes. Mathias had always worn his heart on his sleeve, and having it cut off after centuries of waiting wasn’t going over well with the man. Gabe huffed. How the hell had Rafe lucked out? The guy had swooned his guardian off her feet and run off in an hour. They’d spent half the day with Ripley and were back
at the beginning.

  Rafe never lied.

  Mathias’ voice wavered in his head, pointing out their obvious flaw.

  Gabe glared at the man. “Neither did we. We just didn’t tell her everything.”

  Mathias turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow towards Ripley. Gabe questioned his brother’s concern when he realised Ripley hadn’t heard Mathias’ remark. He cursed again, wishing Mathias had just let him die that night.

  “I assume by the one-sided conversation, you can read each other’s thoughts as well.” Her voice sounded remarkably calm considering she’d just watched them kill two vampires.

  Gabe nodded, waving his hand at his brother. “After all this time, it’s just second nature. But I’ll try to remember you can’t hear us.”

  A hint of a smile lifted one corner of her mouth and he felt his chest clench. Damn, when had a woman had this much control over him? He scowled when Mathias laughed, shaking his head in frustration.

  “Not helping.” Gabe shifted his attention to Ripley.

  Shit. She was just so bloody beautiful, he couldn’t think of anything but his desire to hold her.

  Ripley drew her brow into a vee, looking at him, then Mathias. “Gabriel? Aren’t you going to start at the beginning?”

  Her voice curled around him, peaking his cock against his stomach. He groaned when her eyes dropped to his crotch, remembering they were both still naked. He shifted over and dressed, blurring back into view before her beautiful eyes blinked.

  Ripley jumped back, pointing at him. “That explains a lot.”

  He flashed her a tentative smile, not wanting to take her more relaxed attitude as a sign of anything other than the shock wearing off. “It’s hard enough for me to focus with you in that towel without worrying about my cock talking for me.”

  He watched Mathias reappear dressed in his jeans, and knew the time had come.

  Gabe motioned to her neck. “I’d like to start by asking you where you got your necklace.”

  Ripley eased back, fingering the tiny glass pendant around her neck. The liquid inside still had a blue tinge to it, and Gabe prayed the damn thing wouldn’t pulse again before they’d had a chance to figure things out.

  “It was a present, actually, for my sixteenth birthday. I don’t even know who gave it to me. It just kind of showed up.” She looked from Mathias back to him. “Why? What has it got to do with…vampires?”

  Gabe tried not to let his hope fade at the tone of her voice. After all, it wasn’t everyday you discovered monsters were real and that you’d just made love to two of them.

  He took a deep breath. “The story begins with the birth of the vampire, thousands of years ago. It’s told that the first brethren created a series of talismans—pendants that held the very life-blood of their clan. The purpose behind the talismans has been lost over the millennia, but it soon became apparent that if a vampire consumed the blood trapped within each vial, they’d possess enough power to destroy the world, and more like it.

  “Hoping to prevent the eradication of all life, including us, a council of ancients created a new form of vampires—enforcers—designed to protect the talisman and its bearer until the blood was no longer a threat.” He pointed at her necklace. “Mathias and I have been searching for that very pendant for five hundred years.”

  Ripley’s mouth gaped open as she swung her gaze back and forth between them, her fingers fidgeting with the necklace. “But I’ve only had if for a decade. How could you have been searching for me all this time?”

  Gabe shrugged. “Your destiny was written long before you were ever born, when the talismans were first crafted. Like us, you have a greater purpose to fulfil.”

  “But…”

  She lowered her eyes, no doubt contemplating his words. He waited, watching her caress the pendant. It was beautiful, with ornate leaves carved into the silver lid, as it hung on a suede band around her neck. Swirls of blue illuminated the tear-shaped vial, electrifying the air. He reached for her hand, smiling when she didn’t pull away, and gently eased it down.

  “It might be best if you don’t touch that too much. It sends out an energy pulse that lures other vampires to our location.”

  Ripley gasped and dropped her hand. “So what do we do? How do we stop this…this talisman from destroying the world?”

  Gabe looked at his brother, not sure how much he should tell her. Mathias shrugged, nodding at Ripley.

  Gabe sighed. “There are a few ways to prevent the power from falling into the wrong hands. The easiest is to keep it, and you, hidden until sunrise. Once activated, the power fades with the first rays of sunlight.”

  She nodded, arching one eyebrow at him. “What’s our other option?”

  “If we can’t keep you safe, one of us will drink the blood—”

  “Drink it! Won’t that give you the power?”

  “We aren’t like other vampires. The blood doesn’t have the same effect on us. The prophecy says that if an enforcer drinks the blood, the power is absorbed by his immortal life force.”

  “But what happens to you?” She looked back and forth between them, fear fading in and out of her expression.

  Mathias shrugged. “We cease to exist. At least that’s what we’ve heard.”

  “It kills you?” She rose to her feet. “What the hell kind of plan is that?”

  Gabe chuckled. “Trust me, Ripley. We’d prefer to avoid that scenario, but we have to keep every option open. While most of our brethren want nothing to do with the talisman or its power, there are those who seek it, wanting nothing more than to rule the hideous world the earth would become. We can’t allow one of them to claim it.”

  Ripley’s gaze jumped over to the door. “Like those two men?”

  “Exactly.” Gabe nodded at the entrance. “Unfortunately, we’re trapped here until there are enough shadows for us to escape into the alleyway. You should rest. With any luck, we’ll be running all night.”

  “Running?” She threw up her hands in frustration. “There’s only two of you and from the sounds of it, a lot more of them.” She raked a shaky hand through her hair. “Isn’t there anyone else who can help? Other enforcers like you?”

  Mathias shook his head. “Only two of the seven talismans have been found. The first one ended rather…poorly.”

  “And the second?”

  Mathias let out a long breath. “Neither Rafe nor the girl have been seen since. We know they managed to protect the power, but no one knows how or what’s become of them.”

  Gabe watched as Ripley forced down a swallow, gagging slightly before easing back on the couch. Her body looked pale against the dark leather, and he wished he could flush it a healthy shade of pink again.

  She gazed down at the floor. “So we just sit here and wait for them to come?”

  “I’d prefer to get you out of here as soon as we’re able. Mathias and I have a better chance of keeping you safe if we can keep moving, maybe outrun Alexander and his gang.”

  Ripley simply nodded, palming her head in her hands. She looked broken, much the way Gabe had felt since his last day as a man. He wanted to comfort her, but he suspected she’d only pull away.

  “We’ll keep you safe. One way or another.” Gabe waved at the couch. “Now get some rest. We can talk more in a while if you’d like.”

  Ripley nodded and curled into a ball on the sofa, her eyelids drifting shut as a small shiver trembled along her body. Mathias reached for the blanket and draped it over her, keeping his fingers away from her skin. Gabe fisted his hands, stilling the need to punch something. Just their fucking luck they’d screw up on the one night they needed to get it all right.

  Mathias returned to the chair. “That wasn’t how I envisioned telling her. I should’ve done a sweep of the bar. Disposed of those bastards before they ruined everything.”

  “They didn’t ruin it. We did. When we thought being an enforcer was any different than being a vampire.”

  “But we are different
.”

  Gabe met his brother’s stare. “Not to her.” He headed for the door. “I’m going to head upstairs and look around. Get an idea of what we might be up against and how the hell to get her out of here once the sun sets.”

  “We already know this place inside and out.”

  Gabe grabbed the door handle, glancing at Mathias over his shoulder. “From the scattering of ash, that’s not good enough.”

  * * * *

  Ripley woke with a start, fisting the blanket as she sat up, searching the room in the dim light. Eerie shadows played along the far wall, projecting distorted figures across the paint. Her gaze settled on the door, fear prickling the back of her neck as she watched it inch open, a muted squeak drifting on the air. She turned away, picking up her boot lying beside the bed, aiming it at the bastard’s head before cursing as the guy’s silhouette greyed into view.

  Mathias glanced over, appearing in front of her, his body obviously primed for battle. “What?” He blurred in and out of sight as he checked the room, finally returning to the couch. “There’s no one here.”

  Ripley glared at him. Apparently five-hundred-year-old vampires were just as thick as regular guys.

  Mathias frowned, then sighed. “You mean me.”

  Ripley shook her head, dropping the boot as she sat back against the cushions. “Where’s Gabe?”

  “Keeping watch upstairs for awhile.”

  Fear gnawed at her nerves at the thought. “Is that safe?”

  Mathias chuckled, reclaiming the chair. “Gabe can handle himself. He used to be a knight, before we had a change in profession, so it hasn’t been hard for him to adapt to the new fighting techniques.” Mathias motioned towards the door. “He could have handled both vampires if he hadn’t worried about getting you to safety first.”