Indulge (Warm Delicacy, Book 2)

by Megan Duncan

  I waited until the last minute again and then dove out of the way. Only this time, something latched onto my leg, pulling me violently backward. His grip crushed the bones in my ankle and their sound echoed through the room.

  I twisted around as he pulled me toward him, turning myself over and slamming my free foot hard into his face. Blood instantly filled his mouth, dribbling down his chin. His grip remained on my ankle as he spit onto the floor. I saw the dazed look on his face so I kicked him again and his fingers released, yet the sensation still lingered on my skin.

  I pulled myself up, the pain of my ankle shooting through my body like a knife. He lurched forward, spitting, and I hopped back.. A single fang tumbled to my foot like a die and a smile crept on my face. Fangs were connected to a vampire’s central nervous system. I knew exactly what I had to do.

  I pulled my foot back to kick him again when Ana flew toward me like a bat, sending us crashing through the large window and four stories down to the ground below. Our bodies slammed onto the earth like cement. Every bone in my body felt like it had broken. My vision was blurring and the starry sky above me was fading to light.

  Was this it? I was going to burn to death in the sun’s light? But at least I had saved them. I could die in peace, couldn’t I? I was ready to embrace the death I knew was coming, but an odd sensation tickled at my mind until I realized what it was. Heat. Burning heat was searing my chest and I flung my hand to it.

  The black stones weren’t going to let me give up. They were driving me to get up, demanding me to. I was swallowed by an overpowering urge to obey them.

  I rolled onto my side, pain throbbing in my skull as the glowing eyes of Ana sent a shock bolting throw me. She was crawling away, dragging her body along the muddy ground. Dirt and blood smeared her face. I couldn’t let her get away. I sat up, my limbs protesting every move.

  She was advancing more quickly, an unknown purpose driving her as she pulled herself up to her full height and shuddered. The bones in her body cracked, filling the air like a twig snapping in a quiet forest.

  With one last glance at me, she took off at full speed and I knew exactly where she was headed. The lighthouse. She had to have been the figure that had been watching me. She had to have been who I saw that night on the beach. Only this time, she wouldn’t get away.

  Thinking about everyone who was counting on me, I growled through the pain and stood up. Forcing myself to ignore the pain, I ran after her, gaining speed with every excruciating stride until I saw her standing on the cliff by the lighthouse, staring out at the brightening horizon.

  Unconsciously, I abruptly halted, “Ana!” I screamed in a ragged breath, but she didn’t respond. I knew she was under some kind of spell and I couldn’t decide if it would be better to just kill her or try to break the spell and get information out of her. I knew I didn’t have time to interrogate her and how would I know if she would even tell me anything at all? I would have to rely on myself to find the answers I needed. Could I find them? The conflicting urges battled inside me as I slowly approached her.

  Ana’s hood fell from her head as she turned into the wind and threw something onto the ground. It shattered at her feet and sent a smokey purple cloud twirling before her as it danced with the ocean breeze. I had seen this cloud before and I quickened my pace. I could only think of one thing that it could be, but I didn’t know how it was possible. It had to be some kind of portal. She had used it before and so had Baal. I could never forgive myself if I let her escape again.

  Her white blonde hair whipped violently in the wind as she stepped toward her hazy escape, and that was just the advantage I needed. I lunged just as her foot was about to pass through and yanked her back with all my strength, pulling her away.

  The action seemed to have stirred a memory inside her. Recognition flashing fleetingly and fading just as fast, her face filled with sweltering rage as she looked at me from the ground by my feet.

  “You’re not going anywhere,” I ordered.

  She snapped at me as I tore the pendant from her neck. For a second I considered throwing it through the portal. I wasn’t sure if I could handle the weight of another tortured soul around my neck. Sure, the power had helped me get this far, but I could feel myself relying on it more and more as my own reserves dwindled to nothing.

  I gripped the chain in my fist and the stone pulled toward the portal, the power of it was drawing it in, calling to it, sending a shiver up my spine. Something on the other side of that portal wanted that stone to return, or did it want its owner to return too? I looked down at Ana as she reached desperately to pluck the necklace from my grasp.

  I raised my hand, holding it further away from her, much like a bully teasing a small child and planted my foot on her chest, forcing her to the ground. Ana wanted it, something inside that portal wanted it. That was reason enough for me. I would just have to somehow find the strength to carry the burden of another stone, for now at least.

  Just as I laced the chain around my neck I heard someone calling my name. The voice was familiar and I flung my head in the direction just in time to miss a deadly blow from the dark vampire whose fang I had kicked out. His glinting thick blade whizzed past my face by a mere inch. He stood on wavering legs, hoisting his blade for another strike. Sweat poured down his face, every ounce of his energy was being used to make this final attack against me. I knew he wouldn’t last long. Or at least I hoped he wouldn’t.

  I readied my stance to evade his next swing when a clang of metal rung through the night. I stepped back to avoid the fray and tripped over Ana as she clawed at my legs. The hard earth slammed into my back, driving the air from my lungs. Instantly, Ana was on top of me, snarling like a dog and scratching at my chest for the stones.

  I didn’t understand why she was so much more connected to this stone than the other members of The Dark had been. They all laid motionless and dazed after I took their stones, but not Ana. Her hunger for the stone intensified the longer she was without it. How was her connection different? Was she connected to the soul inside the stone?

  Warm blood pooled between my breasts as Ana slashed at me. I couldn’t focus on her, or block her swings; I was too focused on my mysterious defender as he battled the dark vampire just yards away from me. I could hear their growls tickling the air, the heat of rage blowing in their wake.

  Ana’s elbow snapped into my cheekbone and hot tears flew freely from my eyes. I had to focus. I tried to push out the energy of the stones, trying to slam every ounce of their power into Ana, but nothing happened. I didn’t have time to try and figure it out, so I relied on the one thing I was becoming really good at. Fighting.

  I snatched her by her boney wrists and flung her onto her back as I rolled with her. I gazed into her crazed eyes and for the first time I felt sorry for her. There was nothing left of the Ana I knew inside this broken shell. There was no recognition of who I was or our past.

  Clasping my fingers around her cold throat, I found the pressure points I was looking for. As much as I had always dreamed of getting my revenge on Ana, this just didn’t seem right. This creature might have looked like Ana, but it wasn’t her. She was just another victim of Baal in my eyes now and my thirst for her blood began to fade.

  I knew I still couldn’t let her get away. Whether it was me, the Captain of the Guard or my father, one way or another we would get answers from Ana. I pulled her up from the ground, my fingers digging deep into her neck, and dragged her limp form further from the portal. She hung from my grasp like a cat being snatched at the nape of their neck. As long as I kept my grip she would be under my control.

  The scent of fresh blood sparked my body’s attention quicker than the scream that accompanied it. The dark vampire jerked its blade from the chest of my defender. As the body fell to the earth, it caught the soft glow of the morning light and revealed his face. It was Bennett. He had come back for me.

  A howl rumbled in my chest as I watched Bennett struggle to rise. His ghost
ly eyes pleaded with me to run, but there was no way I was going to leave him. I looked from Ana, to Bennett and back again. Going after Bennett meant I would have to let Ana go. I squeezed her throat even harder in frustration and she didn’t respond in the slightest. Her eyes were content to stay locked on my neck, at the stone she frantically desired.

  The sound of bones cracking made the decision for me. The dark vampire kicked Bennett in his ribs, sending him rolling across the ground growling in pain. Still, he was struggling to stand, blood pouring from his wound. I had to save him. I loved Bennett. Not like a lover, but as a dear friend. I trusted him with my life and he needed to know he could trust me with his.

  I slammed Ana to the ground and ran for the dark vampire with as much severe speed and rage I could muster. Fear burned in Bennett’s eyes as I screamed in a frenzied fury. He shouted something at me, but I couldn’t understand. I had one focus, one goal, one target - and I wasn’t going to fail.

  The Dark vampire hadn’t even seen me coming. All his attention was on my dying friend at his feet, kicking him and slicing at him for his own amusement. It could have easily killed him at any moment, but the monster was enjoying torturing Bennett.

  Sadly it was Bennett’s extended agony that gave me the time I needed.

  As it raised its blade for a final blow, an idea sparked into my mind. Sailing through the air, I landed on the vampire’s back and latched onto the blade. With all my weight I forced the blade backward, snapping the monster’s arms and driving the edge into the center of its back.

  I fell to ground as it tried to swipe at me, but its limp arms hung lamely at its sides. Still he wobbled to me, unwilling to give up. This monster didn’t want to fail its mission, but neither did I.

  I rolled myself into a crouch and waited for him to come for me. Just a few more steps and he would be in range. My muscles ached and tensed, my fangs burned as they pierced my lips. I was ready to end this night once and for all. It had to end now. The horizon was growing threateningly brighter.

  He took another step toward me, the blade still protruding from his back, and growled. Blood dripped from the missing fang in his mouth.

  He was close enough. I sprung up like a Jack in the Box and crashed my fist into his jaw. The bones cracked as blood sprayed from his mouth, showering my face with crimson droplets, but not washing away the evil smile that grew there.

  This night had changed me forever. Knowing I had killed the last invader who threatened those I cared for would be burned into my heart and mind forever. I would never be just Claire anymore. I would never be the unsure, naïve and trusting person I once was. No, this night had released the vengeful, powerful vampire that had always been hiding inside me. From here on out we were joined as one. No longer two desires fighting each other, but two bonding together with the same goal. To kill Baal, and destroy the members of The Dark for all eternity. I had tasted revenge and the blood of my enemies and I liked it.

  Chapter_15

  As the dark vampire’s body crashed limply to the earth, I ran to Bennett’s side. Lifting his head into my lap, I ripped a strip of fabric from my shirt and wiped at his face. He winced at the pressure, yet a weak smile broke onto his lips.

  “You didn’t have to do that, I had him.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at him. “I know you did.” I looked him over, assessing his injuries.

  “I’ll be fine,” he said, trying to sit up.

  “You came back for me?”

  “Well, yeah. I couldn’t let you have all the fun.” His usual cocky tone returned and I couldn’t stop myself from hugging him. He gasped in pain, but hugged me back. I had found an unexpected friend in Bennett and I would be forever grateful to him.

  “Where are my parents?” I released him and helped him sit up.

  “They’re safe, don’t worry,” he reassured me, placing a calming hand on my shoulder. “We need to get you out of here, before the sun completely rises.” Bennett tried to stand up, but fell back again.

  For the moment I had completely forgotten that it wasn’t dark out and panic quickly washed over me. I stood up and offered my hand to help Bennett up. The stones fell out of my shirt and hung at eye level. His mouth fell open and he stared at them and then at me.

  He reached out to touch them and hesitated, looking at me to see if I would stop him. I squatted into a crouch and lifted them into my palm. “You can control the stones?” Bennett stared at me wide-eyed, his finger hovering just above one of the stones. I could sense he was afraid to touch it, the misery and pain of his last encounter was obviously still haunting him. I remembered the feeling and a shiver galloped up my spine. It was an eerie thought to think that which gave me so much fear was now dangling around my neck freely.

  I shrugged, not wanting to reveal my true thoughts. “Apparently.”

  “Do you know what this means?” Surprise freckled his voice.

  “No, and right now I don’t really care. These stones saved our lives.” I ran my finger across the stones lovingly. The connection with them was still there. They were all black, yet swirling inside, like smoke was captured within them. Minute flecks of color flickered differently in each one. Somehow, these stones were my own personal army of souls. They may have been horrific weapons, but they were on my side. They were once people and their need for revenge on Baal matched my own.

  “If you can control the stones, then you’re…”

  “Don’t be stupid, Bennett! Do I look like a member of The Dark to you?” He looked me over as if he had never seen me before - then, mercifully, he shook his head. “Would I have killed them, protected this Château and saved your life if I were one of them?” He shook his head again.

  “There has to be some explanation for it. No one has ever been able to control the stones before.” His voice turned to mere fascination as I helped him to his feet.

  “You sound like Dmitry.” I smiled at him.

  “Who’s Dmitry?”

  “Just someone I used to know.” I lied. Dmitry was more than that, but there wasn’t time to explain. Yet, even if there was, I wouldn’t want to. Not to Bennett and maybe not to anyone. Dmitry was my first crush and after what happened the last time I saw him, I didn’t know what we were to each other anymore.

  I let Bennett rest his weight on me, and tucked my body under his arm for support, both of us hobbling to maintain balance.

  Before I even knew what happened, I was being yanked away from Bennett and piercing pain was screaming through my neck as someone bit into me. I barely had time to scream as the world around me swirled and I reached for Bennett’s terrified face as I flew further and further away.

  I blacked out for what seemed like eternity, but it had to have been only seconds. Someone hunched over me. For an instant, I thought it was Bennett, but as my vision focused I saw the startling white-blonde hair of Ana. She was frantically searching through the stones around my neck until she found the right one.

  She lifted it gently, as if it were a baby, caressing and cooing at it. I moved to sit up and her expression shifted into incredible malice. The chain snapped from around my neck as she yanked it away and stood up.

  I clamped a hand around my neck and sat up, searching for Bennett. Blood pulsed freely between my fingertips.

  He was on the ground not far from me, trying desperately to crawl over to me. Pain wrecked his face, but his fear for me pushed him forward. His desperation to fight by my side and protect me made my heart swell. It was almost like he was, in some way, my Blood Guard.

  At that thought, Arrick popped into my mind, as did my longing for him. He had been gone and I didn’t know when or if he was coming back. Maybe if he had been here during the attack things would have ended differently.

  Suddenly, Ana took off at a sprint toward the portal that still billowed powerfully on the hillside. She was going to get away and my instincts were screaming through me to stop her. Wild-eyed, I looked to Bennett, our eyes connecting for an instant. I tried
to say good-bye, but the words wouldn’t come. I couldn’t have accomplished everything I had this night if it weren’t for him. I knew I would never be able to pay him back.

  “Claire! No!”

  I bolted upright, my hand still clasped around my neck and ran after Ana. Bennett’s scream ripped through the air after me, but I wouldn’t turn back. Tears stung my eyes, knowing I was abandoning him on the hillside, but I prayed he would be safe. I prayed they would all be safe.

  Ana leaped through the portal in a single bound and I was hot on her heels. It began to close and I quickened my pace. If it closed on me and I didn’t make it through I would fly over the edge of the hillside and crash into the rocks below. I may be a vampire, but I was fairly certain I wouldn’t survive a fall like that.

  I held my breath and made the final leap into the portal. Complete darkness consumed me and my body thrashed violently. I couldn’t tell what direction I was going, yet the sheer pressure of the speed felt like it was breaking every bone in my body. Screams echoed all around me in the endless darkness. Had I made the wrong choice? What if I wasn’t able to travel through the portals? I could be heading right for Baal’s lair, giving him exactly what he wanted on a silver platter. How could I be so stupid?

  The disorientation was making me nauseous. It was so dark I couldn’t tell if my eyes were opened or closed. Fear hurtled through me. How much longer would this go on?

  I wrapped my arms around myself and thought of my parents. The image of their broken bodies came to me, but I pushed it away, focusing instead on when I’d first laid eyes on them, their faces so full of love. I thought of Robin and her angelic face, of my old friend Liz, and then of Dmitry and Arrick.

  I cared for them both deeply and despite everything that had happened I prayed I would see them again. I wished that Arrick would have been in Naos when everything happened. I wished that I had never been attacked at Palace Noire and I could still be dancing on the ballroom floor with Dmitry.