Twice Bitten
Page 10
Alexander’s smile widened. “My pleasure.”
Ripley yelled Gabe’s name, pleading for him and Mathias to come inside. Alexander was right. As strong as they were, they couldn’t kill an entire horde of vampires. She grabbed the pendant and yanked it free, wondering what would happen if she smashed the bloody thing.
“There’s only one way to save them and destroy the talisman.”
Ripley jumped at the ghostly voice wavering in the air and turned, nearly colliding with a woman standing behind her. She was small, but curvy, with long dark hair and haunting green eyes. Though Ripley had never seen her before, something about her voice seemed familiar.
The woman looked at Ripley, her eyes flickering red in the moonlight. “You do want to save them, don’t you?”
Ripley drew a harsh breath. “It’s you. The voice I heard in the office earlier. The one that told me to follow my heart!”
“My name is Terryn, and you and I share a special bond.”
“But I don’t even know you. How can we share anything?”
Terryn merely smiled, nodding at the pendant clutched between her fingers. “We both have one of those.”
Ripley felt the blood drain from her face as the words tumbled over in her head. It was her…the other guardian. The one Gabe had said had disappeared.
“I didn’t disappear. Rafe and I just wanted everyone to think that. So they wouldn’t be expecting us.”
“Expecting you? To do what?”
“Help you save the world.”
She grabbed Ripley’s hand and Ripley found herself outside on the street.
Ripley looked around, fear creeping along her spine. “What are you doing? We aren’t safe out here.”
“You can’t destroy the talisman on holy ground.”
“But…” Ripley took a deep breath. “Fine. Just tell me what to do.”
“First you must answer my question. Do you want to save them?”
“Of course I do.” She paused, feeling the answer through to her soul. “I love them.”
Terryn smiled and nodded behind her. “Then look at them and follow your heart. It knows the truth.”
Ripley cursed as Terryn vanished, reappearing back near the church. Another man had joined Gabe and Mathias in the fight, but even with the added help, Ripley knew it was hopeless. Their only chance was for her to destroy the talisman. She closed her eyes, praying for help, when the pendant warmed in her hand.
Follow your heart…human blood fuels our powers…to become a vampire, you must drink vampire blood as well.
Ripley opened her eyes, the solution so bright she raised her hand to shield her face. She saw Gabe look up, fear twisting his face as he yelled to Mathias. The fighting stopped as Alexander turned towards her, his gaze fixed on the pendant. Ripley stepped back, twisting the lid off the vial as she raised the tiny glass to her lips. Somewhere in the distance she heard a howl echo through the air as she tipped the vial up and swallowed.
Gabe reached his hand out, wishing he could grab the pendant from her fingers. “Ripley, wait!”
He cursed and staked the bastard blocking his way, blurring out of sight as Ripley fell to the ground, the tiny pendant still clutched in her hands. He reached her side, lifting her off the cold pavement, hugging her close in an attempt to feel her heart. The steady rhythm nearly took him to his knees.
“Not. Fucking. Again!” Alexander fisted his hands and roared at the moon.
Gabe moved, running for the church, knowing it held their only salvation. Alexander followed, yelling at his men to attack, but Mathias and Rafe were already in front of him, clearing the way. They crested the steps and hurtled through the doorway, skidding to a halt. Alexander appeared at the battered entrance, his eyes glittering a bloody shade of red.
“I won’t be denied what’s mine.”
Rafe shook his head, crossing his arms on his chest. “It’s over. Sunrise is less than two hours away. We can handle the effects for longer than that. Can you?”
Alexander glanced around the room, growling. “It won’t take me two hours to kill you.”
“Really now, Alexander. Do you honestly think you can best three enforcers on your own?”
“I’m not alone.”
Rafe raised one eyebrow, glancing past Alex. “Look again.”
Alex turned, his anguished cry echoing off the walls. “You fucking idiots. It’s not over. We can still claim the power.”
“Even your followers know when a fight is lost. But if you still want to challenge me…” Gabe eased Ripley into Mathias’s arms and stepped forward.
Alexander cursed and moved back. “This isn’t over. I will claim that power. Next time, I’ll be ready.”
Gabe growled as the man vanished, the red hue of his eyes slowly fading into the night. Gabe turned and moved over to Ripley, drawing a single finger along her jaw as Mathias, dropped a kiss on her forehead.
He looked up at Rafe. “Is she going to be okay?”
“If being part vampire, part human is your definition of okay, then yes.” Rafe slipped his arm around the woman at his side. “Terryn seems to be fairing quite well, though we’re still learning what her abilities are.” He smiled at the girl. “But this is just beginning. I fear there’s a greater purpose to all of this that’ll only be revealed once all of the talismans have been unearthed. Until then, you’re welcome to join us at our new home. We’ve found a place fairly remote from the rest of the world. We can regroup there until we’re summoned by the next enforcer.”
Mathias looked up from Ripley. “What do we do until then?”
Rafe’s lips curled up into a wide smile. “Live.”
Gabe nodded, shuffling Ripley back into his arms, smiling as her eyelids fluttered open. Love blossomed in his chest as she gave him a sexy smile, the strong beat of her heart flowing through him.
“I don’t remember telling you to drink the damn stuff.” He followed Rafe out the door.
Her smile widened. “I don’t remember you telling me not to.”
Gabe sighed, shuffling her closer in his arms. “I knew when you walked through that door, you’d be the death of me.”
“I thought you were already dead?”
He smiled, feeling his blood warm for the first time in five hundred years. “Not anymore, my love. Not anymore.”
He stopped so Mathias could give her a kiss.
“Now hold on. By the time we’re home, I have a feeling you’ll love roller coasters.”
About the Author
Kris sees herself as somewhat obsessive and feels she tends to push the limits sometimes. But her friends graciously see her as passionate and adventurous. After all, speed limits are only guidelines and shouting is just her way of rising above the chaos. Besides, she thinks the air is cleaner out there on the edge.
Kris started writing erotic stories a few years ago, but didn’t try putting them out into the real world until recently. She loves penning independent leading ladies who aren’t afraid to kick a bit of butt, especially when it only fuels the desires of their men. But of course, it wouldn’t be any fun if the men didn’t get to play... Most of her stories involve elements of suspense and quite often have a downright creepy villain lurking in the shadows. But all the better to get the hero’s protective instincts going. After all, Kris still loves having a knight ride to the rescue...
Email: contactme@krisnorris.ca
Kris loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.
Also by Kris Norris
Dark Prophecy: Sacred Talisman
‘Til Death: Deadly Vision
‘Til Death: Deadly Obsession
Christmas Crackers: Centrefold
Enchanted Lovers: Healing Hands
Threefold: Keeping Faith
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