Dark Experiments

by Lana Campbell

“The restraints are unnecessary. I feel too crappy to even get out of bed.”

  “You’re just going to have to deal with them. I feel for you, I do. If I took them off, Charla would just put them right back on. So why bother?”

  Tiffany sighed because of her dual strike out. She watched him leave and prayed Christian and her family would come up with some sort of lead before the side effects of Charla’s serum grew worse. The potential of the serum killing her was a very real and terrifying possibility. She trusted Terry would keep it out of her food. If Charla decided to give her more of it IV, there wouldn’t be a thing she could do to stop her.

  “Christian, please hurry!” she whispered, then sent up a prayer that he’d find this god forsaken hellhole while she still had breath in her body.

  ***

  “Nathan! Christian! Come quick. I’ve found him,” Mia exclaimed, rushing toward Nathan’s desk, cell in hand.

  Christian swung around noticing every eye in the room focused on Mia. Some hung up on their own phone calls. Others held their devices away from their ears and tuned in to what she was saying. Nathan had divided the list of alligator buyers so every person could call their share and ask the buyer if he or she dealt with a man named Chomps. Apparently, Mia had the winning list.

  Her arm shook as she handed Nathan the phone. “Here. Talk to him. He says he knows where this Chomps lives.”

  Nathan grabbed the phone and minutes later he had written down some pretty detailed directions to an area outside the town of Carlisle.

  Christian smiled and closed his eyes. Tiffany. Can you hear me?

  Yes. I’m here.

  I’m on my way.

  Really? You’re serious?

  He felt hope and joy swell inside her, but he felt something off with her too. She’d told him that damned serum had made her weak and dizzy, but he sensed her condition to be far worse. Christian knew what that poisonous cocktail was capable of doing and how fast acting and deadly the affects could be—a frightening knowledge which had sprouted an ulcerous fear in the pit of his stomach.

  Yes, it’s true, Darlin’. I have the location of the man who sold them the property. Chomps. If we can find him, it should be just a matter of time before we find you. Nathan and I have a small army coming your way. We’re going to get you out of there. I promise.

  Thank God. I’m furious they tied me down again. I swear Christian once this is over if anyone ever tries to tie me down again, I’ll kill them. If you’re into bondage, we’re going to have to rethink this relationship.

  He laughed. Humor was a good sign. You have no need to worry about that. Do you feel okay? Are you having any pain?

  She didn’t immediately answer which worried him.

  I’m fine. I’m weak and tired. My stomach is a little out of sorts, but I’m sure it’s just stress.

  “Christian! Come on. Let’s go,” Nathan said.

  We’re leaving now. I’ll talk to you soon.

  Okay. Hurry.

  Don’t worry. I’ll break every speed limit I can.

  A short time later Christian was on the road in his RAM truck headed to Carlisle. Asa rode shotgun, three of Nathan’s security men were in the back seat. Four vehicles in total made the convoy south. Nathan, Dominic and Dimitri and two security guards rode in one of the SUV’s and two other SUV’s followed, packed full of Nathan’s men. Every vehicle was also loaded with plenty of arms and ammunition. Hopefully when Charla and her brother and sister saw they were outnumbered twenty to three they’d give up without a fight. If not, so be it. No one would stand in the way of him getting Tiffany out of that place.

  Finding Chomps’ home had been easy. Dominic told him most Cajun bayou dwellers had addresses these days that any GPS device could locate. Unfortunately, they were unable to locate Chomps. No one answered the door to the little rundown cabin. They searched outbuildings and called for him, but it soon became apparent the man wasn’t home. There was no vehicle present on the property either. Given the fact it was midday and the man hunted alligators for a living, it could be hours before he returned.

  Christian cursed their rotten luck and turned to Nathan who stood beside him in the middle of the man’s front yard, which obviously hadn’t been mowed once this year. Weeds nearly waist high rustled and crunched under the footsteps of the remaining eighteen men who walked about the property looking around for the alligator hunter or some clues to his whereabouts. “What the hell do we do now?”

  Nathan adjusted his sunglasses and stared at the cabin. “We can’t afford to just sit here and wait on him to return. We have a couple of choices. We could go back to that blip of a town we came through and ask the locals some questions, but I doubt that would gain us anything but a mountain of suspicion.”

  “True.” Out the corner of his eye he noticed Dominic walking toward them.

  “I heard what you said and I think you’re right. Questioning the locals would gain us nothing but suspicion and tight lips.” He turned and faced Christian. “You mentioned Chomps sold Charla the property, correct?”

  The lightbulb went on over Christian’s head. “Yes. If you’re thinking what I am, the property he sold them has to be close.”

  “Exactly. Now that we have the address let me do a quick MLS search on recently sold properties in this area. It should be quicker than just driving around this swamp infested forest looking for a huge barn.”

  Christian wasn’t so sure about that and he wasn’t willing to wait. “Feel free to do that, but I’m going to drive around. One thing I know about farmers of any kind, when they sell off land, it’s usually because their desperate and the property is often close to their homestead. My gut tells me Tiffany is probably within shouting distance.”

  Nathan rounded up his men and with Christian’s truck in the lead they started driving down a dirt road in the opposite direction they’d arrived. After a mile or so the road turned into what would have once been called a logging trail—two narrow dirt lanes full of ruts with tall grass that swept the underbody of the vehicles. Overgrown trees limbs sliced permanent scratches into the door panels as they barreled down the trail as fast as the trucks could go on such rough terrain.

  Christian knew he was on the right path when about a half mile later he spotted the sun glinting off the metal roof of a large building mostly hidden by trees. “That’s got to be it! Radio Nathan and tell him to get ready,” he told Asa.

  Christian’s heart was pounding when he pulled up in front of a huge machine shed, just the size and color Tiffany had described. He knew in his heart she was inside. The confirmation was the black Jeep Cherokee sitting in front of the overhead doors. The license plate number was an exact match to the Jeep in the Walmart video footage.

  He’d found her!

  Christian wanted to ram the overhead door with his truck and tear apart anyone who blocked his path to his woman, but logic prevailed. This offensive attack needed to be organized.

  Nathan’s men began to pile out of the SUV’s, all packing semi-automatic weapons and covered with body armor. Like ants they split apart. Half streamed single file around the building looking for other entrances, the other half positioned themselves in front of the overhead door, weapons drawn. Christian, a split second behind them, hopped out of the truck and retrieved a twelve-gauge shot gun from the bed. He handed off another to Asa then headed toward a side door right of the overhead.

  “Try to keep a cool head, Chris. I know you’re chomping at the bit to get to her, but organization is paramount.”

  Nathan along with Dominic and Dimitri approached him. “We’re going to do this swat team style. This side door comes down then we enter behind my men.” He nodded at the six positioned around the door. “No renegade justice if possible, Christian. I want to take them alive.”

  “No arguments here. We need Charla alive in particular. She created the serum and I have to know what’s in it if I have any hope of treating Tiffany and the other women.”

  Nathan nodded th
en gave a hand signal for his men to proceed.

  Christian shucked a round into the chamber and waited as two of Nathan’s men positioned a battering ram in the middle of the door. One mighty thrust and the door caved inward, hanging awkwardly by the top hinge.

  Nathan’s men rushed inside, Christian at their heels. He flipped up his sunglasses and looked about the inky darkness of a huge garage, plenty luminous for vampire eyes. Another standard door led to the belly of the building in the far-right corner. He headed toward it, behind Nathan’s six men. Asa, Dominic and Nathan took up the rear, single file behind him.

  At this point, most everyone inside had surely heard the door come down. Christian needed to alert Tiffany and make her ready for whatever transpired once they emerged into the building’s interior.

  We’re here. Get ready. Say nothing and stay calm. I’ll be there before you know it.

  You’re here? Thank God, Christian.

  Are you alone?

  Yeah, I’m still alone and tied down to this damned bed. My heart is about to beat out of my chest. That’s my only tell, but no one except a vampire could hear it.

  I’ll hear it soon enough and it will be music to my ears.

  Be careful.

  You too.

  Two of Nathan’s men took the battering ram to the interior door. Once it was relieved of its hinges, Christian rushed inside behind four of Nathan’s men. He expected to be met by the very least the brother armed to defend his turf, but instead two young thin vampire girls with hideously gray skin and gaunt features stood in a long hall just out a doorway to his right. The scent of chili wafted from the room, and Christian assumed it to be a kitchen.

  The two girls appeared terrified, frozen in place, eyes wide and flitting from one armed man to another.

  “Hands in the air!” one of the humans ordered.

  They instantly obeyed.

  Christian raised the barrel of his gun toward the ceiling. These poor little things were no threat. “Are you here by choice?” he asked them.

  Both shook their heads, still wearing petrified expressions.

  “Take us to the four women they brought here three days ago,” he demanded.

  Just then a man walked out the doorway, hands in the air. Christian saw a holstered gun on his hip. The others must have too. Every man took aim on him with their weapons.

  “Get down! Face down on the floor. Hands behind your head!” two of the human men yelled.

  He did their bidding without a word. Seconds later he was swarmed by three humans, stripped of his gun and handcuffed.

  Christian glanced at Asa who stared at the two frightened vampire girls with pity. He felt the same emotion himself, but he needed them to lead him to Tiffany and the others.

  “Where are the women?” he asked again with less rancor.

  The one closest to them finally answered. “D-down this hallway, take a left and you’ll find them in the curtained cubicles.”

  Christian wanted to bolt in the direction they’d indicated, but he held back, glanced at Asa then behind him at Nathan, Dominic and Dimitri. They all wore an expression similar to what was on his mind. This was just too damned easy.

  “Are you Terry, Charla’s brother?” Christian asked, stepping up to the head of the prone man who craned his head to glare up at him with equal doses of hate and spite.

  “How do you know my name?”

  “Never mind that. Get up and lead us to the women.” Christian yanked him up and onto his feet so fast, he’d probably dislocated his shoulder. A harsh grunt of pain said he was correct, but he didn’t care. This man was part of this kidnapping and drugging ring. He deserved a bullet between the eyes, but right now he’d serve just fine as a hostage.

  The young sickly girls did not deserve such treatment. “Dominic, Dimitri, could you escort these young ladies out of the building? That is if you want to leave. We’ll make sure you get home, back to your lives, families, whatever.”

  Both shook their heads adamantly and the two men corralled them around the small posse in the entryway then out of the building.

  Christian shoved the barrel of his gun against the man’s spine. “Lead us to them now.”

  Terry, craned his head back and gave him a look of disgust. “I’ll lead you right to them, vampire, but it won’t do you any good. By now they’re all on their way out. I’m sorry about that. I really am. I liked that one with the mouth.”

  “Tiffany.”

  “Yeah. That’d be the one.”

  “You’d better qualify that comment and quick if you want to live. Where are they being taken?”

  “I couldn’t answer that, but maybe you can. Where do vampires go when they die?”

  Chapter 25

  Tiffany heard footsteps running down the hall outside her cubicle. Her heart lurched in her chest because she knew Christian, Nathan and his men were in the building. Seconds later her hopes were dashed when she heard Charla hollering at Katie.

  “Get the one in room four, Katie. I’ll get this one. Hurry!”

  “Oh God. What does she have planned now?” Tiffany murmured.

  Seconds later Charla snatched back the curtain and rushed inside, a syringe in her hand.

  “What are you going to do with that? What is it?” Tiffany demanded, her terror ratcheting up to the point her entire body began to shake.

  “I’m sorry, Tiffany, but the building has just been breached. Whoever found us is here for one or all of my test subjects. I can’t allow that.” Charla took the cap off the needle as she stepped up to the bed. She was clearly frazzled. Her hand shook as she reached for her arm.

  “Whoa. What do you mean you can’t allow that?” Tiffany scooted her body as far to the opposite side of the bed as the restraints would allow, but that caused her right arm to be stretched out and vulnerable.

  “I can’t afford to leave witnesses. You know too much about my cause. I’m sure if they’re after my test subjects, they won’t applaud my efforts to cure vampires of their disease.”

  She was going to kill her. Dear God!

  “Think rationally. If you kill me and the others they’ll kill you. All of you.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not. I still have one card left up my sleeve.” Charla flashed a maniacal smile, inserted the needle into the rubber cap of the shunt in her right arm and depressed the syringe.

  “God no! What was that?” Tiffany asked then screamed out, “Christian! Hurry! I’m in here!

  Charla glared at her with shock. Doctor La Mond! I should have known. You’re blood bonded to him!”

  Obviously, that fact had never crossed her mind until this moment because she appeared both enraged and terrified at once.

  “That’s right, and you’re a dead bitch walking. Get that straight. Whatever you just did to me, expect retribution to be tenfold.”

  She glanced back at the opening in the curtain for a second, spite in her eyes. She dropped the syringe on the floor, then herself on the folding chair next to the bed. “He won’t kill me. He doesn’t have it in him.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure. You ought to know vampires are far more animalistic than humans. If you kill me that’s grounds for extermination in our world.”

  She’d lost and Tiffany could tell she knew because confidence drained out of her like running water down a sink. Apparently, they’d both lost. Tiffany could feel the effects of whatever Charla had given her, sucking her into darkness. A ray of hope cut through as Christian and Asa rushed into the room seconds before the lights went out in her head.

  ***

  “Tiffany. God, no!” he hollered as he rushed to the side of the bed.

  He ignored Katie, Charla, whoever she was, because he knew Asa had her in the sights of his gun. He laid his own on the end of Tiffany’s bed so he could check her pulse. He found it weak and thready. Her skin color was as gray as a two-day old corpse. He lifted her eyelids finding the irises almost brown, with pinpoint dilation. He was losing her and fast.

  He
spun around and thrust out his arm and in one swift move using telekinesis, he lifted the woman of the ground and applied stricture to her windpipe. He could have easily lifted her off the ground with one hand wrapped around her miserable neck, but he wanted to scare her into a fast confession.

  Charla started coughing and scratching at her throat while her legs dangling a foot off the floor kicking and twitching. Her face began to redden, but Christian felt only a homicidal need to watch the life drain out of this monster who’d drugged his woman.

  “What did you give her and do you have an antidote? Tell me now or your death will be so long and painful you’ll be begging Asa there to blow a hole in your chest. He let her feet touch the floor and released enough pressure on her neck for her to speak, but she just coughed and sputtered. Hatred blazed in her blue eyes. The same emotion drove him like a Sherman tank. “Tell me what you gave her or I’ll finish choking you then start skinning you alive with the dullest scalpel I can find around here!”

  The terror in her bulging eyes didn’t faze him in the least because he knew—he’d felt—Tiffany’s mere minutes ago when he’d heard her scream his name. Let the woman feel helpless and horrified that her life could be seconds from being extinguished.

  “M-morphine,” she choked out.

  “How many cc’s? Exactly.”

  “A hundred.”

  “You murderous bitch!” He released her and gave her a mental shove of far less force than he wanted. She stumbled over the chair and fell to the floor.

  Never in his life had he laid a hand on a woman. He wanted to punch her repeatedly until there was nothing left of her face. It enraged him that he couldn’t. If she were a man she’d be dead by now.

  “You’d better tell me you have Naloxone somewhere in this little shop of horrors you’re running here.”

  She sat up and brushed some stray hairs from her face. “I do.”

  He couldn’t believe it, but he was grateful. “Get it. Now!”

  “Before I give it to you I want your word you won’t harm me or Katie.”

  Christian laughed at her attempt to bargain. “So, you are Charla. The only promise you’ll get from me you mental bitch is certain death if you don’t go get the Naloxone right now!”