“Why?”
“No time to explain. Go. Now!” he moved toward the hole and began his descent.
“Aren’t you coming?”
“Lock it behind you. Mariah is a traitor, and I’m not leaving Gavin.” Angus hesitated. He began to say something but I slammed the lid down cutting him off. I heard the lock trip from the inside and then turned around to face the door. Mariah would be back any moment and I had no good explanation as to why Angus wasn’t here.
I opened the door, sword in hand as the lone guard came to attention. “I’m going out there, on Angus’ order,” I said. He nodded and moved to let me pass. I heard the click of footsteps coming from the other direction. Mariah and the other guard were coming back. I had to reach the door to the outside before she got back to the room. I took a run and stretched my hand out to get the knob. The door opened a slight crack just barely letting in the noise from outside when I heard Mariah’s voice from behind me.
“Get her!” Instantly one of the guards was behind me slamming the door closed. Mariah was there just as quickly. “Where are you going?”
“Angus ordered me out to the courtyard.”
“You’re lying.”
“I swear,” I said. One of the guards put his arm around my neck restraining me.
“Let’s go ask him ourselves.” When the door opened to the empty room Mariah began growling. “Where is he?”
“I don’t know.” Racing to the trap door she tried with all her force to open the hatch but it was locked. Realizing she’d been had she drew her sword and put it to my neck, fangs out and wild with rage.
“Why would he go without us? What did you say to him?”
“Nothing.” I was doing a terrible job of lying, even I could tell.
“Fine,” she said taking the sword from my neck. “Kill her.”
“We can’t kill another vampire without a direct order from Angus. She’s not an immediate threat to us. We can put her in lock up if you wish.” One of the guards said.
“Let me make this perfectly clear,” Mariah was railing at them now. “Kill her, or be executed. In a few hours this clan will be under the control of Samuel and if you don’t do as I say, you will be on the execution list along with all of your families.” They were stunned. “You know I can do it.”
“I’m sorry,” the one directly in front of me said. He raised his weapon and pointed it at my heart as Mariah left the room to go join in the fight. Trembling I closed my eyes and prepared to meet my final death. I had failed.
I was going to be killed because I just hadn’t been fast enough to warn Angus, and worst of all, I wouldn’t be able to protect Gavin. Just then there was a commotion outside the council room doors. Mariah screamed and soon after fell silent.
The two vampire guards stared at each other wondering what they should do next.
“Let me go,” I begged. “Mariah was a traitor; she put pendants in the trees so that the revenants and Samuel could enter the sanctuary. We have to go help the others…Please!” They were still unsure. They hesitated too long in making their decision because as soon as the words were out of my mouth the door flew open and Gavin was standing there with Aries.
Gavin quickly skewered the one holding me by the neck turning him to ashes. I was free now and backed up against the wall so that Aries could get the other guard. He threw his sword and it cut sharply through the second vampire’s neck taking it clean off his shoulders. The head landed on the council table with a thud, and then a moment later softly whooshed into ashes.
“Mariah…,” I tried to tell them.
“She’s dead,” Gavin said. “Where’s Angus?”
“I distracted her and got him in the tunnel before she realized I knew.”
“Good job,” Gavin and Aries were heading back outside. “Lock this door and stay here,” he yelled and disappeared. I was about to protest but they left so quickly I didn’t have a chance to do so. I took a decorative sword off the wall and put it through the latches. It was the only way I could think of to lock it as I didn’t see any other means to do so.
I stood there for a few moments shaking. I had almost died. Gavin and Aries had saved me. I knew Gavin had felt my fear, but how had Aries even known? After a few moments I decided I couldn’t cower and hide while everyone else was in danger.
Taking a deep breath I removed the sword from the door. Then took the one of the weapons the guards had been using and raised it in front of me. Slowly I crept toward the large exit doors once again, keeping an eye out in all directions so that I wouldn’t be stopped a second time. Before I ventured out I closed my eyes and connected with Gavin’s mind so I’d know better what to expect.
I saw the courtyard, there was a cloud of dust in the air, what I could only presume were the remains of dead vampires. There were bodies of at least three more satyrs being feasted on by one or two revenants each. The nymph sisters however were fighting furiously.
Samuel was in a direct fight with Malcolm now. Whereas Gavin and his father had struggled to fight with him, Malcolm was matching him blow for blow. Their swords struck each other again and again, so quickly that if I’d been watching it with my old human eyes it would have been impossible to see. Both were very old and powerful, but Samuel had embraced a part of himself that seemed to give him a very small advantage.
Unfortunately that was all he needed because a few seconds later Malcolm didn’t connect with Samuel’s sword in time. Samuel cut off both Malcolm’s hands causing his only defense to fall to the ground; and with another swift motion pierced his heart. Malcolm was no more. I couldn’t help but think about how it was almost his time to go to sanctuary. His family would have the planned funeral for him, but after hundreds of years it would finally be his last.
If a vampire like Malcolm couldn’t beat Samuel then it stood to reason that none of the rest of us could. I resolved right then and there that I was going to die, and so was my love. But at least we would die fighting side by side. I took a deep breath and opened the door to see the scene with my own eyes. It was even more horrible than I had imagined.
The moment I stepped out one of the awful creatures spotted me and charged. I jumped out of the way just in time as his claws, which were aiming for my neck, stuck into the wooden door behind me. It pulled the claws out, screaming and contorting its face as it did, and came at me once again. The yellowed and rotting skin gave off a smell so putrid that it was all I could do not to buckle over and vomit right there. Another disadvantage of my newness I reasoned, because none of the other vampires seemed to be bothered by the smell.
I held my sword out directly in front of me at the last moment and the creature skewered itself through the heart.
Thankful for the lucky break I ventured out a little further. John saw me and came to my aid. We stood back to back as more creatures made their way toward us. John had no problem taking on the one that made a charge for him, me however, I swung my sword wildly. I did manage to slice it open, but it healed just as quickly causing no real damage. It was about to come at me again when Gavin appeared behind it, liberating the head from the body. I breathed a quick sigh of relief.
“What are you doing out here?” Gavin said pulling me off to the side.
“I couldn’t stay in there while you were out here. I’d rather die out here with you than in there alone.”
Suddenly Samuel was behind Gavin and before I could open my mouth to warn him, Gavin was being held by the throat. Samuel threw him to the ground and quickly pinned him there with two swords that he buried into the ground up to their hilt in his arms, and then added two more in his legs. Gavin lay helpless, screaming and struggling.
It all happened too fast for me to take any kind of action. Samuel then had me by the throat and was holding me down on the ground next to Gavin, who couldn’t move.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” he hissed. “You’re the one who’s been watching. Look around you.” He twisted my head so my eyes met with Gavin’s.<
br />
“Does it look like you’ve managed to do any good? Your people are dying, your leader will soon be caught on the other side of that tunnel, and I’m about to cut off your lover’s head.”
“No!” I screamed.
“No?” he said. “Try and stop me.” He jumped off me and stood over Gavin preparing to lower the blade on his neck. “Say goodbye,” he said making eye contact with me.
That was a mistake.
I thought quickly and pictured his hands in flames and at that very moment they were. Samuel dropped the sword to the ground and screamed out in pain. I took the opportunity to remove one of the swords from Gavin’s arm making him instantly able to free himself.
Samuel’s hands were burned so badly that they charred and fell off. New ones were growing in their place but for the moment he was defenseless. Gavin quickly thrust his sword through the exiled vampire’s heart. He looked at Gavin, mouth open in disbelief; and an instant later he was only dust.
A horrible noise moved through the crowd of revenants. A sloshing, and slimy, noise. As their maker died they too died, turning into piles of jellylike flesh and bone, shrieking and panicking in the process. Samuel was dead, and so was his army.
Gavin dropped his sword in exhaustion and relief, and then threw his arms around me. It was over and we had won. Looking around the field we knew we had paid a terrible price. Then, watching Aries lay himself down next to what was left of his dead brother, we realized, some had paid a more terrible price than others.
Chapter Twenty Six
The vampires from the other clans left almost immediately, but the satyrs and nymphs stuck around. It was the custom in both races to burn their dead and so two separate funeral pyres were made. There was one for the nymph who had been killed; and another for the satyrs who had lost seventeen of their brothers. Aries was searching frantically for any remains of the satyrs, stopping to comfort the others who were knelt by the funeral pyre with grief. Since the revenants had dined on them it was mostly just bits and pieces to be found.
James was gathering wood for another fire to burn the remains of the revenants. We were all happy to be alive but the gruesome task was not lost on us. Everyone was quietly solemn.
“I’m going to gather some wood. It’ll all be over soon,” Gavin said.
“Thank god,” I added.
Gavin went into the brush and I stood against a small tree to collect myself. The smell of dead revenants was just as bad as the living ones. I thought about just going inside but that didn’t seem right. Everyone was doing something and I figured it was my duty to help as well.
I scanned the group for someplace I could be useful but saw that everything was under control for the moment.
Turning back around I came face to face with James who was standing in front of me holding an armload of wood. “You saved my brother,” he said. “And I hear Angus too. Is it true?”
“Yes, I managed to warn him to get into the tunnel before Mariah could kill us both.”
“Thank you,” this was the most sincere I had ever heard him sound, but it certainly didn’t erase what he had done. Then he added, “But your services are no longer required.” And faster than my eyes could see he dropped the wood, took his sword from its sheath and ran it through my body. He had pinned me to the tree only missing my heart by about an inch. I tried to scream, but hot thick blood filled my mouth. I choked and spit trying to cry out and panicking in an effort to remove the blade. My strength was gone however, I could do nothing.
Reaching into his jacket he produced a small wooden stake.
“You were never a proper vampire,” he said, “but don’t worry. I’ll see you get a proper vampire death.” He raised the stake high preparing to plunge it into my heart. I turned away waiting and hoping for a quick and painless end once again. Nothing happened.
“Why?” I heard Gavin screaming. When I turned back Gavin had James with his arms clasped behind his back in one hand and his neck in the other, stake fallen to the ground. James was beginning to pull free of Gavin’s grip and so Daniel quickly darted over and helped restrain him.
“I’m only thinking of you.” He was choking on the words.
“I know what you did,” Gavin said.
“She’s a lying bitch. Whatever she told you isn’t true.”
“She didn’t tell me, I saw it for myself. I saw every disgusting thing you did to her, and now I’m going to make you pay.” Gavin reached down and picked up the stake, aiming it at his brother’s heart.
“No!” I screamed. I could feel myself starting to lose consciousness, but I had to finish this. Gavin and Daniel stopped in stunned silence. “Hold him still,” I wheezed between spitting out mouthfuls of blood.
“Now, you will suffer…and I will enjoy it.” The two men put their arms around James’ waist and neck as he twitched in an effort to get away, but it was no good.
“You would let her kill your own brother?” he said.
Gavin’s eyes were both hardened and sad. “You’re no brother of mine.”
He was still for a few seconds, which was all I needed. I pictured the fire inside his body. I could see by the horrified look on his face that he was beginning to feel the burning, feel it from the inside out. His knees buckled as Gavin and Daniel let him go, falling down into the mud and snow that had been kicked up by the battle. He was writing on the ground now, screaming and choking in agony. His skin turned black and tiny cinders began flaking off his skin, and then were carried off by the breeze.
I was screaming as well. It was taking everything I had but I had no intention of stopping until he was dead. I had resolved to give him what was coming and the longer he burned the more satisfied I felt. He twitched and contorted until the flames burst through his body completely. Then at last, giving one final scream, he doubled over on the ground and was consumed. The fire burned brightly for only a moment and then went out seconds later leaving only a pile of ash.
Weakness overtook me and black spots began floating in and out of my vision. I could hear Gavin’s voice through a haze. He was a million miles away, somewhere cold and distant.
“Rachel! Rachel!” he was pleading.
“It’s so close to her heart,” I heard Holly say. “Gavin you’re going to have to pull it out. Daniel and I will have to hold her steady to make sure she doesn’t move while you do that. If it even touches her heart we’ll lose her.”
I saw Gavin’s tear stained face directly in front of me as he put his hands on the bloody handle of his dead brother’s sword. Holly grabbed my shoulders and pushed me so hard against the tree I thought I was going to become part of it. Daniel did the same with my legs.
“Alright we’ve got her,” Holly said. “Slowly Gavin, easy does it.” Gavin gave a tug on the sword and began to carefully ease it out. The pain was unreal. I heard myself screaming and cursing, willingly pleading for death. The pulling of the sword seemed to last for hours. Finally it was out but my chest was now hemorrhaging large amounts of blood onto the ground.
“She’s not healing. Why isn’t she healing?” Gavin was saying.
“Oh no,” was the last thing I heard Holly say. I looked up at the night sky, so many stars lighting up the dark, so bright and beautiful. A wave of peace washed over me as I thought about how happy I was that the last thing I was seeing was something beautiful. Then the stars winked out one by one, and only the blackness remained.
The blackness turned into morning light and I was being lifted up, up, up.
Over the clouds and flying. Below me I could see trees and lakes, mountains and fields. Suddenly I was standing at a clearing on top of a lush tree covered highland.
I lay on the ground and looked up at the blue cloudless sky. Next to me I heard the cry of a lone crow.
When I turned my head he was standing to face me. Then, reaching out, he extended his wing and gently stroked my cheek with his feathers.
I woke with a start feeling like I had not taken a breath in ages and ga
sped desperately for air in the blackness. I tried to open my eyes and then I realized they were already open.
There were voices all around me talking in low concerned tones, but I was too panicked and confused to process the things they were saying.
Finally, catching my breath, I sucked in deep drawing as much air into myself as possible. Over and over again I drew in heavily, feeling the pain as my lungs expanded slightly more each time.
Then the agony began. The awful gnawing in the stomach, and the familiar violent urge to kill. Rising to stand up in the blindness my only thought was to hunt, to murder. Someone grabbed me by the shoulders and ordered me to lie back down. I tried to fight them but they were too strong. I began screaming and thrashing around in desperation to feed. I needed blood. I needed it… now.
Then I felt a draft of air, as if a door or window had been opened, and someone grabbed the back of my head pressing it into something soft, something beautiful. The smell was overwhelming, it was intoxicating. I knew that smell. It was human flesh, with human blood throbbing and flowing just below the surface.
“Drink,” someone said. I opened my mouth and drew out my fangs letting out a cry as I did. The fangs, sharp as razors, felt as though they were cutting me for the first time. “It’s alright,” the voice said. “Just drink.”
I pressed down lightly on the flesh and heard someone give out a horrified cry. Smelling the panic in the blood I pressed harder, breaking the skin. I tasted a little bit and as I did my fangs ran out all the way.
The pain was gone now and so I bit down hard. The blood ran like a fountain and I found the lost drops as best as I could with no eyesight. Then I pressed my mouth firmly around the wound and sucked hard. The human’s heart slowed, I tried to stop. I pulled myself away for a brief second and let out a scream of anguish as my need for blood wrestled with my desire to spare whoever I was feeding on.
“You can keep going,” the voice assured me. That was enough to turn my conscience off and continue to feed. The blood was rich and full and there was lots of it.
The Vampires of Soldiers Cove Page 20
