Dark Harvest

by Lynda Hilburn

  Devereux could swat me aside like a fly anytime he wanted, but I was pretty sure I was in no danger from him. Surely he’d want to know Luna hadn’t betrayed him consciously. I knew him well enough to be sure he’d torture himself if he destroyed Luna for something she had no choice about. No matter how inflamed he was now.

  “Devereux, wait!” I pulled at his free arm. “She can’t help herself. You were right about Hallow’s effect on the women he uses. He makes them crave him like any other drug. She needs help. She doesn’t know what she’s doing. She’s definitely under the influence. Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”

  He was silent for a few seconds, staring up at Luna, still holding her in his steel-fingered grip. Then he threw her to the floor hard enough to break human bones. “She must be punished for bringing the madman into our lives. I do not care why she has done so. It will be impossible for her to remain here now. I do not wish to see her face again.” He scowled at me. “You will not interfere in this. It is beyond what you are able to understand. Your defense of her is more than she deserves. We are vampires. We have different rules. Rules I create and uphold. There is no cure for an addiction such as you describe and she must be taught a lesson. I have no intention of rescuing her yet again.”

  Devereux’s harsh tone and rigid body language spoke volumes about his ability to shut off his feelings. He’d retreated into an alien, non-human place inside himself and I couldn’t follow.

  Luna wrapped herself around Devereux’s legs, clinging to him. She glanced up at me and, to my amazement, she smiled.

  Devereux had just bent down to untwine her fingers from his calves, when I was pulled forcefully backward. Cold, strong arms snaked around me, holding me immobile.

  “I couldn’t have planned things any better. Thank you, Luna. Finally, one of my lýtles has proven herself worthwhile.” Hallow slowly licked my cheek. “I am sure my new slave will surpass all of you. The pickings have been very slim for a long time.”

  As if a switch had been thrown, several things happened at once. At Hallow’s touch, Lust jerked into wakefulness in my psyche. She strutted nude from the shadows into the center of my awareness and laughed. I screamed, frantically attempting to wrestle my way out of Hallow’s arms. Devereux roughly peeled Luna from his legs and leapt toward my captor. All the vampires from the circle swarmed into the small room, impeding Devereux’s access to the lunatic, and Luna burrowed through the legs of the undead arrivals, speed-crawling toward her former master.

  Hallow tightened one arm around me, reached for Luna, and the three of us blinked out of Devereux’s penthouse.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  After what felt like a trip through a wind tunnel, Hallow released me and I fell onto my knees on a filthy, red rug. My landing stirred up a cloud of dust, and I sneezed. I sat back on my heels, keeping an eye on the lunatic. He was dressed all in white: loose, flowing pants and an Indian-guru-type silk shirt. His feet were bare. Deceptive innocence—a beautiful demon.

  Luna, who’d had no trouble keeping her feet, threw her arms around Hallow’s neck. “Master, I knew you’d come for me.”

  He grabbed a handful of her shining black hair, yanked her head back, and riveted his silver eyes on hers. Her knees buckled and, when he let go of her hair, she made a gurgling sound and fell to the floor in a heap, out cold.

  “Is she dead?” I whispered.

  “Of course she’s dead.” He laughed. “But you’re asking if she’s truly dead. No. Not until it suits me. I hoard my resources, just in case.”

  Looking at them together made me wonder how I could’ve missed the strong resemblance. The same long, black hair and silver eyes. Had she appeared different before he found her? Was the similarity a consequence of their parasitic relationship?

  The unfairly handsome monster strolled through our new environment, his arms spread wide, hands palm-up. “I have to give credit to my current lýtle. She managed to find the perfect lodgings for my Colorado visit. I must thank her before she makes the ultimate sacrifice.”

  Ultimate sacrifice? I scanned the area. Who was this current lýtle he was talking about? The word brought to mind the image of a female version of Dr. Frankenstein’s hunchbacked assistant, Igor. What kind of horrid creature did Hallow have in thrall?

  The large room housed three windowless walls decorated in faded wallpaper and the fourth sealed with brick. Not the kind of trendy brick one goes to great lengths to uncover in building renovations, but the hastily-slapped-together type, denoting something hidden. The air was heavy, musty—lifeless. It felt like all the emotions of the former occupants had coalesced into a psychic fog, undisturbed for a hundred years. The only light in the room shone from cracked, discolored kerosene lamps centered on what appeared to be antique gaming tables. A thick layer of dirt covered every surface, as if whoever had walled in the abandoned space was too rushed to worry about housekeeping issues.

  He fisted his hands on his hips, surveying the area. “It doesn’t have the charm of a Paris tomb, or a Transylvanian castle, but I’ve always loved historical sites. Especially disreputable ones.” He strolled the area, appearing disturbingly normal. The tour guide from hell. “This place was an underground gambling house and brothel with a secret tunnel—complete with train tracks—leading to the Brown Palace Hotel. Apparently, Denver’s finest gentlemen got their rocks off in this forbidden place. Right now we’re deep beneath the busy streets of the city—so removed from civilization that the world could end and we wouldn’t notice—and I’m the first new customer to enter this establishment in a century. How appropriate for such an infamous soul.”

  He fanned the air in front of his nose. “It’s a good thing I don’t need to breathe though, because I’m sure I’d find the foul smells unappealing. Water must be leaking in somewhere. And, of course, there’s the unofficial graveyard I discovered a couple of levels down. What a perfect place! But I can only imagine how my human guests are coping.”

  “Human guests?” Chills prickled my arms. I was the only human in the room that I knew of.

  He feigned surprise, slapping his palms against the sides of his face. “What a poor host I am.” He reached down and grabbed me by the hand, pulling so hard I flew into his arms instead of merely coming to my feet. “Ah, you’re so affectionate. What a pleasure you’ll be.”

  Lust gave a thumbs-up.

  I pushed against his chest, and he released me. “I’ll never be affectionate to you. It won’t be long before Devereux discovers our location, and you’ll have to deal with him. I feel nothing for you but pity.”

  He stepped close. “Devereux—clever lad that he is—won’t find this place, and even if he does, I’ve got a special surprise for him.” He grabbed my hair, anchored my head in place, leaned in, and kissed me roughly. His breath had a sweet, earthy odor. Lust swooned. He raised his mouth just enough to speak, his voice a low rumble. “It doesn’t matter what you feel for me. After you’ve tasted what I have to offer, your body will do whatever it takes to acquire more. I am highly addictive, as you’ve no doubt discovered from talking to lovely Luna.” He gave an exaggerated sigh. “I wish human bodies lasted longer. It’s so tedious having to restock so often. I hope you aren’t another disappointment.” He clasped my hand, tugging me to a door in one of the regular walls.

  He swung it open, exposing a wide, carpet-covered staircase. Dim light flickered at the bottom. “Let’s take a shortcut.” He wrapped his arms around my shoulders. Stale, cold, nauseating air flowed against my face, making me gag and close my eyes. Feeling myself standing on solid ground again, I raised my lids and sneezed. The air was even thicker here. It hurt to breathe.

  He released me and I hugged myself, shivering from the cold.

  Soft illumination sparked from candles burning in tall, standing holders, showcasing a large, colorful pentagram painted on the dark floor. Esoteric symbols filled the outer rim of the circle and a female body marked the center. She appeared very small in the large sphere, l
ying there naked and spread-eagled, tied to posts pounded into the ground.

  I would have recognized those golden curls anywhere.

  “Victoria!”

  I broke free of Hallow, ran to her, and dropped onto my knees. Her eyes were closed and her head drooped, slack-jawed, to one side. I pressed my palm on her cold chest, trying to sense a heartbeat, and was overwhelmed with relief when I found one.

  “What have you done to her?” I demanded. “Why is she tied up? What’s wrong with you?”

  He loomed over me, staring down with an amused expression on his face. “Well, let’s see if I can answer those in the right order, shall we? What have I done to the powerful witch? I drank some of her succulent blood, giving her the orgasm of her life, then I ruined her for all other men by fucking her senseless. While she was entranced from my bite, I commanded her to instruct my lýtle in setting up a ritual circle. This part was ingenious, if I say so myself. Victoria’s magical skills are even superior to Devereux’s. I’ll bet you didn’t know that. Before she came back to her rational senses, I made her cast a spell to keep this entire room safe from intrusion. Only those I have selected can enter. Everyone else is magically repelled.” He laughed and slapped his thigh. “How clever of me to use his own witch against him.”

  He polished his fingernails on the front of his shirt in a gesture of self-congratulation. “Why is she tied up? I’d say that one’s obvious. In order for the magic to work, the witch must remain in the circle. She was so overwhelmed after her last orgasm, she just passed out, which was the best thing that could’ve happened to her. If she’d kept up the screaming for much longer, I’d have had to slit her throat, spell-casting skills aside. And, what is wrong with me? My dear doctor. I’m a very naughty boy. We will have plenty of time to decipher all the chasms in my vampiric psyche. You’ll not only have the benefit of my bite and my body; you’ll be able to psychoanalyze me to your heart’s content. What more could a woman want?”

  Ignoring the madman staring down at me, I grimaced at the sight of Victoria. He’d left ample evidence of the savagery of his attack all over her body: dried blood on her genitals and pubic hair, multiple ragged fang holes in her neck, on both breasts, and across her thighs. She never had a chance against the sadistic bastard. My stomach turned. It took everything I could muster not to gag, because he probably would’ve enjoyed my revulsion. My throat was so tight it was hard to speak. Her skin was tinged blue. If my teeth were chattering, she had to be in danger of hypothermia.

  “Let me cover her up. She won’t be any good to you if she freezes to death.”

  He tilted his head to the side, studying Victoria. “Hmmm. Cover her up? No. I don’t think so. I like looking at her like this. All that provocative, voluptuous flesh. I especially love the way her breasts slide down on either side, making her nipples point in opposite directions. Very erotic. A Rubens painting come to life. And you needn’t worry about her being cold. As long as she’s entranced, she feels nothing.”

  As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I scanned the rest of the room. The echoing cavern had obviously been some kind of communal brothel or sleeping area. I’d guess brothel, because now-tattered, flimsy curtains hung from the ceiling, marking off the “private” spaces. All the small bed frames had been shoved into the far corner, leaving evidence in the dust of their previous positions. The farther away from the candles, the deeper the shadows, so I couldn’t make out the artwork on the walls or any other furniture.

  I suddenly remembered the other missing person and jerked my head in Hallow’s direction. “Do you have my friend Tom? Have you hurt him?”

  “More questions?” He smiled condescendingly. “Well, I suppose that’s a psychologist’s prerogative. Yes. I have your chatty, obnoxious friend. Quite frankly, he was so irritating that I wasn’t even initially tempted to take his blood, or anything else. I finally had to command him to sleep. How in the world do you endure such a person?”

  I stood, squinting to see in the faint light. “Where is he?” I was almost afraid to know.

  Hallow pointed to the beds in the corner. “I stashed him as far away from me as possible, just in case he awakens and starts talking again.”

  “I don’t have your vampire eyesight. Can I have a candle so I can find him?”

  His favorite evil grin quirked his lips. “Very clever, my good doctor. Asking your captor for the means of his own destruction. Although, I hate to disappoint you, but I meant what I said about my indestructibility. Even if you did manage to set me on fire, I’d probably only get a temporary tan.” He chuckled and winked. “I’ll fetch a candle and escort you back.” He strolled to a shelf near the wall, picked up a candle, lit the wick, and returned. “Follow me.”

  Hallow had been right about the bad odor. Now that I had a moment to process the secondary horrors, foul smells assumed a larger presence. This room reeked: a combination of mildew, body wastes, and death. I was tempted to hold my breath, but I wouldn’t have been able to manage long enough for it to make any difference.

  My jailer led me to a bed in the darkest corner. A naked Tom lay sprawled on top of a flat, soiled mattress. I sat on the edge of the bed and felt for a pulse. His heart beat much stronger than Victoria’s. My initial relief was quickly replaced by anger at the vampire for hurting another of my friends.

  “Why is Tom naked? Do you just enjoy humiliating everyone?”

  He shrugged, unconcerned. “Is nudity humiliating to humans? I’d forgotten. I simply took his clothing so he couldn’t run away. It’s cold outside. I didn’t think he’d want to parade through downtown Denver nude.”

  I almost laughed. “You obviously don’t know Tom.”

  An angle of the candle caught two still-bloody fang holes in Tom’s neck. The lying psychopath. Fear surged through me. What if we couldn’t hold on until Devereux found us? “I thought you said you didn’t take his blood.” I slid my finger through the tepid liquid. “Why bother lying?”

  He grabbed my finger and sucked it clean. “Not that it matters, but I put him to sleep before taking his blood, so technically I told the truth. It’s not as much fun if they’re compliant, but blood is blood, after all. Just a little snack before popping over to collect you.”

  He assumed his now-familiar stance, the candle-free hand fisted on his hip, his legs apart. Lord and master. “Your friend is of no consequence. His only purpose was to serve as added incentive to get you here. I’m confident that Luna would have persuaded you to rescue your fallen comrades—loyal trouper that you are. But Devereux returned faster than expected, so I just stepped in, shortened the intermission, and raised the curtain on the final act.”

  I tensed. “What final act?”

  He cocked his head and raised an eyebrow. “Even after spending so many months with predatory bloodsuckers, you’re remarkably naïve, Doctor. I sense no pretense in you. You sincerely have no idea what is about to happen. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone with as many innate abilities as you possess who is still so astoundingly, mentally pure. You actually believe the world is rational—that an explanation can be found for everything. You expect a murdering vampire—yours truly—to tell the truth. It’s a mystery. I have absolutely, as the miners who once thrived in the Queen City would say, hit the mother lode with you.” He laughed, his body rocking with the hilarity of it.

  I wasn’t quite as naïve as he assumed, but if allowing him in think so gave me any advantage whatsoever, I’d gladly play along. “What do you mean?”

  “I’ll walk away with the strongest, most pure lýtle I’ve stumbled upon in many a century, and your friends … well, let’s just say they won’t make it through the night.” He reached out and grasped my hand, pulling me up from the bed. I knew it wouldn’t do any good, but I resisted, trying to delay the inevitable as long as possible. He laughed, not deflected in the least. “Jolly good, Doctor. You’ll find I enjoy a vigorous struggle. Unfortunately, the fight usually goes out of my … guests … much too quickly. So,
please. Feel free to arouse me. Soon you’ll be just another docile slave. While it is my intention to suck the life force out of you, I will also miss it when it’s gone. One of the little paradoxes of my existence. But never fear. I plan to savor you slowly.”

  He must have noticed my shivering, because he gave me a surprised look. “Once again, I have been a poor host. Since temperatures don’t affect me, I had totally forgotten you might find this room a bit brisk for your tastes.” He grinned. “I can rectify that.”

  Pulling me along behind him, he traversed the room, holding his flame aloft. He paused every couple of feet, ignited the wicks of row after row of tall candles, until the entire space was ablaze with light.

  “The witch told my lýtle to provide lots of candles, and my slave is nothing if not obedient. We might as well ignite them. I do want you to enjoy your last few hours in Denver.”

  The suddenly visible walls of the subterranean den of iniquity were filled with huge paintings depicting various sex acts. Hallow pointed to one in particular and chuckled. “That one should give you a glimpse of your future.”

  The scene he’d indicated was of a woman on her knees in front of an abnormally well-endowed male who held her hair clasped tight in one hand while he forced the obscenely large organ into her mouth with his other.

  I gagged in sympathy, cringing as Hallow slid his hand up my arm.

  Taking advantage of his relaxed grip, I jerked my arm away. “You’ll never force me to do that. I’d rather die.”

  He laughed as he reclaimed his grasp. “Force you? To the contrary, my dear doctor. You’ll beg me.”

  I shuddered in trepidation, fear crawling up my spine, as Lust danced a celebration boogie in our shared inner sanctum.

  “All the comforts of home,” Hallow said as he propelled me toward a fireplace carved into the back wall. He bent over, touched his candle to a clump of newspapers in the hearth, and the fire caught.