by Michelle Fox
“Alive or dead?”
He nodded. “Yes, depending on their agenda.”
I took a deep breath. “So half the vampire world wants to shoot me and the other half wants to kidnap me?” It sounded insane. It couldn’t be real.
He gripped my shoulders and gave me a little shake. “You don’t understand, you have the blood of the old ones in you. Whoever has you would control you and add to their power.”
“Making me the most valuable pawn on the board.” I didn’t play much chess, but the analogy seemed to fit.
“Yes.”
We were both silent for a moment. Kristos watched me, his expression contemplative while I tried not to hyperventilate. This was just too much information. I couldn’t take it all in.
“Wait,” I said as a thought occurred to me. “If my dad’s a vampire does that mean vampires can have babies?”
Kristos shook his head. “No. The Maker was special, somehow dead yet still able to make life. There’s no other vampire like him.”
“Do I have brothers and sisters then?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s possible.”
“That’s just crazy. I don’t believe any of it.” I crossed my arms, holding on to myself as my heart raced like a cornered animal. “It was just one shooting. How do we even know it has anything to do with me?”
He wrapped an arm around me and I leaned into his strength. “I know vampires, Myra. They’ve found you through your father and what happened at the restaurant is only the beginning. It’s true, no matter how much you want to deny it. The real question is, how do I keep you safe?”
“I’ll just go home and act like nothing happened.” In fact, I would go right now and dive deep under the covers of my bed where no one could see me.
He shook his head. “That won’t stop them. You’re not thinking clearly, Myra. They’re on to you now and won’t give up until you’re theirs.”
“What do you suggest then?” I pushed him away and moved to the opposite side of the bed.
He made no move to follow, giving me space. “Let me bring you over.”
I clutched at my throat, eyes wide. “Make me a vampire?”
He nodded. “It would make you stronger, faster and put you under my protection. That would stop most of this madness.”
I frowned. “Most? Not all?”
Kristos shrugged. “Vampires can be very determined, especially the old ones, but I can protect you.”
I said nothing for several long minutes and Kristos didn’t push me. “Is this really the only way?”
Before he could respond the now familiar sound of bullets thudding into the wall hit our ears. I rolled off the bed, dropping to the floor. Kristos followed me, landing on top of my body.
“This is happening?” My voice came out in a panicked shriek. “Again?”
Thud-thud-thud. More bullets sounded.
Kristos remained calm and dragged me over to the wall where he pushed an unseen button. A panel in the wall swished open and he pushed me through into a dark room. Once I was inside, he entered and hit another unseen button to shut the panel. After fumbling in the dark for a moment, he found the light switch and flipped it on.
A dim light illuminated a small room with metal walls. A bank of video monitors on one wall flared to life showing the apartment was full of armed operatives dressed in all black. Kristos watched them with a frown and went to a control panel by the door we’d come in through and hit some buttons. There was the reassuring sound of bolts sliding home and locks clicking in place. “There, we’re the only ones who can open the door now.”
Then he turned his attention to a storage bin set next to the door. Quickly rummaging through its contents he pulled out some clothes and tossed them to me.
“Here, put something on.”
“Where are we?” I kept my voice to a whisper, not wanting anyone to hear us in our hidey-hole. Sorting through the clothes, I found a t-shirt and pulled it on, grateful for its warmth.
“It’s a panic room. We’ll be safe here.”
Relief made me weak. Wrapping my arms around myself, I watched the monitors. The apartment was overrun and all the black clothing made it look like an invasion of ants...that happened to carry semi-automatic weapons. “What about your people?”
He grimaced. “Dead, hiding or running. I won’t know until this is over.”
I gulped. “You’re sure they’re after me?”
“I’m fairly certain.” His expression was grim as he watched the men ransack my room.
“And the only way to stop this madness is for me to become a vampire?” I couldn’t believe I was even asking such a question. It sounded beyond insane when I said it out loud.
“Correct.”
“Have you ever brought anyone over?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“Does it hurt?”
Another nod.
Whatever I was about to say died on my lips as something on the monitor caught my eye. The blond vampire who’d brought me clothes earlier was walking down the hallway toward Kristos’ room, pushing a hooded figure in front of her. With the hood over their face, it was hard to be certain, but the gaunt, feminine frame looked familiar.
“Oh, God,” I said. I knew there was a good reason I hadn’t liked that woman.
“What? What is it?” Kristos reached out to touch me as if searching for a physical wound.
I pointed to the monitor bank. “I think she has my mom.”
Kristos swore under his breath and slammed the wall with his hand.
“Isn’t she one of yours?” I asked just as she waved forward a bunch of the men. They weren’t shooting at her and my heart sank.
“Not anymore, apparently.” Kristos’ voice was terse.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What does that mean?”
“I brought her over and she should be mine, but there are ways to take over someone’s kin, to become their master. Samira has been stolen from me. Her loyalties lie elsewhere.”
“What do we do now?” I asked unable to keep the panic from my voice. Vampires were supposed to save my mom, but my current circumstances made cancer look safe.
“They’re trying to draw you out, make you reveal yourself.”
“And if I don’t?”
He looked at me, eyes filled with regret. “Your mom will become expendable.”
I put a hand over my mouth and tears gathered in my eyes. “It’s my life for hers, isn’t it?”
He nodded. “I’m afraid so.”
My lower lip trembled and the tears spilled down my cheeks. On the monitor, I could see that mom was in Kristos’ bedroom now. The blonde vampire shoved her onto the bed and then stalked around the room, hitting the walls as she went.
“She knows we’re in here, doesn’t she?” I flinched as the vampire in question put some muscle into her hits. I fully expected her fist to punch through the wall into our safe haven. Fortunately, the walls held.
His lips thinned and he glared at the video monitor. “She was part of my team. She would know about the panic room.”
“Is there any good news?”
Kristos shook his head. “Not much. We’re safe in here, but your mom is out there. I assume you’re not interested in sacrificing her?”
“God, no!”
We both fell silent watching the blond vampire try to tear down the walls of Kristos’ bedroom. She ripped out the drywall and cast it aside like she was peeling an egg as she tried to reach us.
“I have an idea,” Kristos said. “It’s risky, but I think we can make it work.” He leaned in for a kiss saying only, “Drink.”
I started to ask him ‘drink what?’ but blood poured into my open mouth. He’d cut his tongue with his fangs, I realized. I tried to push him away, but his hands gripped my shoulders like steel.
“Drink of me, love.”
“Are you going to turn me now?”
He lifted his head. “No, I would never force that on you, but I’m going to make it look
like I did and buy us some time. Now drink as much as you can.” His lips claimed mine again and I did my best to swallow the salty blood. It hit my stomach like lead and a wave of nausea almost over took me. I made a gagging sound as my throat recoiled.
Kristos’ grip on my shoulders tightened in warning. “This is our only chance to save your mom. You have to keep it down.”
After what seemed hours of suckling his tongue, he broke contact. Sweeping my hair to one side, he exposed my throat. “Now just a bite at your neck to make it look authentic.” I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood as his fangs pierced my skin. This was no intimate foreplay like all the other feedings. There was no arousal to blunt the pain and I whimpered as he sucked at my neck.
Fortunately, he didn’t feed long and a moment later he let me go. I reeled at the absence of his arms to steady me and my stomach heaved, threatening to reject his blood. I huddled against the wall, gasping for air.
“Look at me.” He helped me stand and lifted my chin to meet his eyes. “I’m going to put you into a light sleep. Just look into my eyes.”
I wanted to ask him about clichéd vampire powers, but there was no time. The blonde vampire had found the button opening the door to the panic room. It didn’t work, of course, but I could hear the click of the door trying to open and then jamming up against the internal locks Kristos had triggered.
One second, I was looking into his eyes thinking how beautiful they were, the next I knew nothing as they cast me into a dark oblivion.
Chapter Eight
I woke some time later. I was in Kristos’ bed and when I turned to my side, I found my mother next to me. The hood had been removed and she was asleep, breathing deeply as she dreamed.
Sitting up, I stretched my arms over head, wincing at a throbbing pain in my wrist. Looking at it I saw two neat puncture marks. I’d been bitten, but why or by who I didn’t know.
Frowning I scanned the room for Kristos, but he wasn’t there. I cocked my head to the side and listened, hearing only silence. No gun shot, which was reassuring.
Wanting to be cautious, I ducked back into the panic room, which was still open, and checked the video monitors. The armed men were gone, but the apartment was a mess of overturned furniture and there were bullet holes everywhere.
Movement on one of the screens caught my eye and I watched as Kristos appeared along with the blonde vampire. I leaned forward and by chance hit a button that turned on the sound, allowing me to overhear their conversation.
“The only reason I let you live, Samira, is to carry the truth back to your new master. She’s mine. I’ve claimed her and you’ve witnessed this.”
Samira gave him a defiant look. “I will tell him all that I saw and the blood that I tasted, but the truth will only be proven when she rises.”
“She will rise.”
Samira shrugged, her expression insolent. “Your eternity will be forfeit if she doesn’t.”
“Don’t threaten me.” He wrapped a hand around her throat. “I made you, I can unmake you.”
“You made me weak and ripe for the taking. Watch that he doesn’t take her too,” she said with a snarl.
In response, he lifted her by the throat until her feet dangled in the air. With long strides he walked back into the apartment and I tracked his movements from the camera in the hallway to the one that showed the living room. With a harsh yell, he threw Samira against the glass window. The glass shuddered but held.
He picked Samira up for round two, whipping her into the air by her hair and back against the glass. It cracked this time with an audible snapping sound. Another hit and it shattered and Samira flew out the window, arms and legs flailing.
Kristos stood at the edge of the broken window and watched her fall, a look of grim determination on his face. A group of men rushed into the apartment and my stomach clenched with fear. They fanned out through the apartment and I searched the console for some kind of alert button but couldn’t find one. I was just about to go drag my mom into the panic room and lock the door behind us when the men hailed Kristos.
“Are you okay, boss?” one of them asked.
“We came as soon as we got the alert,” said another.
The men all had their weapons drawn and scanned the room for threats.
Kristos rubbed the back of his neck. “The threat has been neutralized for now.” He gestured out the window. “Someone took Samira from me. She’s on her way to report to her new master. Have her followed, but be careful.”
“Yes, sir,” said the tallest of the group. His height seemed to correlate to some authority as he quickly gestured to two men who gave a curt nod before jumping out the window after Samira. I guess vampires don’t mind jumping off buildings.
My mother gave a groan and I rushed to her side just as Kristos walked into the bedroom. My mom’s eyes fluttered open and she sat up. “Where am I ?” She caught sight of me. “Myra.”
“Mom.” I sat on the edge of the bed and gave her a hug. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Her brow furrowed. “I was kidnapped.”
I rubbed her back. “I know. I think we’re okay now though.” I turned to Kristos. “It’s over now, right?”
He gave a slow nod. “For the moment.”
I sighed in relief. “Thank God.”
Kristos offered me his hand and, when I took it, he pulled me into a hug. Putting his mouth to my ear, he whispered. “You’re not safe yet, love. If you want to live, you will have to die.”
I sank into his embrace as the truth of his words washed over me. Every choice I had involved death. I could die and lose my mom. I could turn into a vampire and protect her...maybe. Plus she still had cancer and wasn’t in the clear yet. Nothing was certain except someone would die. The idea terrified me.
“Will you help me, Kristos?” I asked in a soft voice.
“You drank of me and we are blood bound now. I will do everything I can.” He planted a chaste kiss on my cheek. “The apartment is not secure. We need to leave.”
So we gathered up my mom. I threw some clothes into a bag, and we ran into the night. Our safety was not guaranteed, and danger lurked in the shadows. The best I could hope for was some time to make peace with the future being forced upon me and come to terms with a past I had never known.
Chapter Nine
If you want to live, you will have to die.
Turning Kristos’ words over and over in my mind, I sipped my caramel latte amidst the hustle and bustle of a very busy coffee shop in New York’s Upper East Side. Fall had decided to give everyone a surprise preview of winter and the crisp air drove people into the small cafe. I watched as they ordered their favorite brew in harsh New York accents and waited for their orders, hands thrust in pockets because the weather had shifted so suddenly that no one had gloves yet. Yesterday it had been seventy, but today it the temperature had dropped to the thirties. They left the shop in self-important whirls of too light coats and hands wrapped around steaming takeout cups, soaking up the heat. What I wouldn’t give for such an easy solution to the chill permeating my life.
In the five days since I’d been attacked for a second time and my mother had been kidnapped nothing much had been resolved. For the moment we were safe. Kristos and I were holed up in a faded but respectable apartment while my mom was in a clinic receiving state-of-the-art medical care. Unfortunately, there was no future in mere safety. We hadn’t solved my problems, only hit the pause button on them. I couldn’t go back to school or move forward with my life until we reached a better resolution than simply being good at hiding.
I sighed and looked up at the cafe menu, debating whether to have an espresso too. Vampires kept me up late these days and my caffeine consumption had increased accordingly. That’s when I noticed a dark, swarthy man standing in line watching me intently. He had handsome Italian looks with chocolate gelato eyes and sleek black hair.
When he kept looking at me, I slouched down in my chair, pulling the collar of my coat up to hi
de my face. It was better if no one noticed me too much. Way too many people would like to know where I was and whether or not I was dead already, and, if I was still alive, they would be only too happy to rectify that oversight.
Undeterred by the shield of my coat, the stranger continued to stare at me as if he recognized me from somewhere and then abruptly answered his phone, turning his back to me as he spoke. Shaking his head as if irritated, he rushed out of the cafe without even placing an order. I held my breath as he went and didn’t resume breathing until the door shut after him. He hadn’t bothered to look at me again so it must’ve just been a coincidence. Maybe I looked like an old girlfriend. That could happen, right? Surely not everyone was out to get me? But I couldn’t shake a little niggle of suspicion. His expression had been sharply intent.
My hands shook slightly as I finished my latte. I probably shouldn’t have even come to the coffee shop, but I was going stir-crazy sitting in the apartment and needed the change of scenery.
Every afternoon for the last few days, I’d been sneaking down here for a quick caffeine fix. Security relaxed when the sun was at its zenith and I could slip out without raising any alarms. It helped that there was an ATM directly across the street from the apartment building, which made it easy to get cash.
I never had enough cash, which was why I’d signed up to be a blood courtesan in the first place—out of financial desperation. Selling sex mixed with blood to vampires was supposed to have been a fast way to earn a large amount of cash for mom’s medical care. Not to mention it had been the only way to raise funds I could find outside of a bank heist. I didn’t have the skill-set to rob banks, but I did have blood. It only seemed logical to trade on what assets I had in order to help my mom.
In hindsight, I probably should’ve robbed a bank.
I shook my head and gazed deep into my now empty coffee cup. How was I supposed to have known how dangerous vampires could be? Or that I was the top prize in some bizarre game of the ‘sins of the father are visited upon his children?’ The only reason I’d survived so far was because of Kristos.
Just the thought of the handsome vampire sent a tingle through me. In the back of my mind the connection that we shared ever since I’d drank his blood flared to life. I could feel him as if he was right there and pressed up against me. He was sleeping at the moment. While he could walk during the day, he preferred to sleep until the sun set.
