Liam. He was in there.
As she turned a corner, she caught sight of the blazing fire consuming the building with a dangerous hunger. Madison sprinted up the steps, wincing from the heat. The terrified screams of vampires pierced through the roaring flames. They didn’t have time to escape.
As she reached the door and pulled at it, it didn’t open. She slammed into it, driven by the need to get inside. Vampire strength was intermittent, and she still couldn’t control it the way Liam had.
It finally broke against her weight and flung open. Plumes of thick smoke swallowed her. The wail of sirens reminded her she had minutes to spare. The place was overwhelmed by flames curling up to the roof, and she flinched.
“Liam?”
Her voice was drowned out by the roar of the fire - but there was movement. Down the hallway, amidst the smoke, a vampire stumbled closer.
“Get outta here!” the woman screeched. She waved her hands about madly and it didn’t take long to realize she was on fire, flames climbing up her back and consuming her body in a sudden rush of heat. She exploded into burning fragments of dust, her remains dispersing into the smoke.
“Oh, fuck!” Madison cried, feeling utterly helpless. Watching her demise snapped her from her shock and she fled the building, stumbling down the steps in an attempt to get her bearing.
She ran to the car, the only safe point she had. Liam. He was nowhere to be seen. She found his spare key and started the engine. If he’d escaped the building, he’d be at the car, waiting for her.
“Damn it!”
One look at the fuel gauge showed she didn’t have enough gas to reach Liam’s house, and there was no hope of returning to the Council.
She drew in a breath, something that would’ve helped her relax as a human. It did nothing for her now. Heat burned at her eyes and she blinked, feeling tears forming but driving helped her focus and stopped her from breaking down. She’d made it a safe distance from the former Council building, but where to from here, she was lost.
One thing was certain: Liam didn’t set fire to the Council in reprisal for their decision. That wasn’t him, she knew that. It was Sandra. It was too convenient for her to be hanging around at that moment. The hunters had made their move.
She stared at her phone. Liam hadn’t messaged. He has to be okay. He will be.
She mulled through her options. Her wallet was back home and Liam carried his credit cards with him. Money was a no-go.
Madison glanced at her phone, waiting, hoping for something to appear. A call, a message, anything to show he was safe. Now she understood the Council’s comments of a bond between them. It truly felt like something had broken. Their friendship had deepened into a connection but whether it was there because of the Awakening, not even Liam knew.
She dabbed at her eyes, determination setting in.
Sunrise was close, less than two hours away. Even though Liam insisted she couldn’t return to her former life after her staged death, her best friend Rachel lived nearby.
But her reaction to her new life as a vampire wasn’t something she could predict. She needed space and time before making a decision. Right now, the stress and repressed anger threatened to overwhelm her.
Madison pulled up a few houses down from Rachel’s. She missed Liam and hated not knowing what had happened to him. Fear would’ve made her heart race as a human, but her body felt eerily silent. Empty. That was something she couldn’t get used to.
She contemplated confronting Rachel. The psychological trauma of seeing her alive would scar her for life. It wasn’t something she could put her through, despite her desire to reveal she was okay. Slumping against the seat, she tried to distract herself. She used to cycle up and down this street often with Rachel, along the perfectly paved sidewalks and manicured lawns, while chewing excessive amounts of bubblegum. She’d lost her humanity, but not the memories - they reminded her of what she once was and could never lose.
Noticing movement, she turned her head.
“Liam!” she cried, emerging from the car. His arms tightened against her and she welcomed the feeling of being in his embrace again. The smell of acrid smoke was faint on him. His white shirt and dark jeans were crumpled, marred with black stains. But his green eyes shone with familiar appreciation.
“I was almost outside when the fire started. An accelerant was used, the place lit up quickly and everyone was taken by surprise. Shit, the fear of being trapped and the heat…The Old should’ve been given top priority but they didn’t make it. I helped Ava. We fled to a building a few blocks down and waited until it was clear.”
“I’m glad you’re safe,” she said softly. An understatement. She was so deeply relieved, it made her knees weak.
“You too, sweetheart. It was a planned attack. None of us anticipated it.”
“What about security?”
“The Council was having a meeting. During that time no one monitors the cameras. A thoughtless mistake, but they were too trusting and arrogant. They believed hunters were weak, not worth wasting time to defend from. The hunters knew the right moment to strike.”
“I recognized someone, not a friend, but I believe she’s a hunter. She orchestrated the attack or was part of it. It’s the most logical conclusion.”
“Damn it!” Liam snapped.
“I was careless. Maybe if she saw me, if I’d taken the time to lead her away from the Council, perhaps the attack wouldn’t have happened.”
He shook his head. “Not your fault, don’t think that. An attack of that scale had to be planned weeks in advance to discern our routine. It wasn’t a run of the mill meeting, but a dismissal, something that doesn’t occur often. Anyway, you recognized her, that gives us an advantage. We can retaliate.”
She bit her lip. “What about the Council?”
“I was demoted.” He waved a hand dismissively. “We shouldn’t concern ourselves with them.”
His ambiguity was palpable. He’d lost everything, decades of his life and dedication to the Council and his cavalier attitude was disconcerting. He squeezed her hand reassuringly and she looked up at him, not willing to admit she’d overheard most of the meeting. “You sure?”
“Yeah. I’ll deal with it, don’t worry.”
“Okay. How’d you find me?”
“You drove a Council car. It has GPS, I tracked you. What’re you doing out here?”
Madison hesitated. “Whenever something happens that’s out of my control, I have to distance myself. I did it when my uncle took drugs while babysitting me, when my parents sometimes blew up into an argument that led to my mom throwing stuff at him. And now, at the thought of losing you. I had to be somewhere familiar. My best friend lives here. And she thinks I’m dead.”
He gestured for her to get into the car. She took the passenger seat, nervous about mentioning her past.
“You do what’s best for you. Helps me understand who you are, what I can do to make this better,” he murmured, leaning close.
“It’s so hard. I have to fight the urge to go see her.”
“I once turned to those from my past. My cousin Ruth fell ill and had a few weeks to live. She was only twelve. I couldn’t bear to let her die—so I turned her.”
She stared at him, lips parting in shock.
“Vampires stay the same age when they were turned. Ruth was still a child, which is forbidden, and so the Council was intent on destroying her and the one who made her so. I couldn’t taste her blood, so a dear friend of mine did. Because of my foolishness, they were both beheaded.”
“That’s horrible. I’m so sorry.”
Liam gently kissed her on the cheek, his lips finding hers and deepening into a slow kiss. He pulled away, his eyes roaming her face. “We all make mistakes, vampires aren’t invulnerable to that. But I can’t let you face Sandra alone. Hunters are fueled by rage, disgust and desperation. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“I need to confront her. Please. She’s the one Trevor cheated on
me with, so it’s personal. For all I know, I could be wrong anyway.”
Liam looked as though he were going to protest. She felt something hard press into her hands and glanced down. “A GPS?”
“So you can find me once you’re done. Don’t underestimate hunters and never assume you’ll take her by surprise. I don’t want you to do this, but it’s your choice.”
“I know. If need be, I’ll kill her.”
He kissed her deeply. She clung to him, not wanting to break it, just wanting to lengthen this sensation, and the delicious tension coursing through her. Awakening the need that made her pussy tight, the need to have him inside her. His lips were firm, hot, demanding.
Liam touched her cheek, moving lower. She broke their kiss and pulled his finger into her mouth, sucking, imagining it as his cock. He groaned.
“You know how to tease me. Fuck.”
She grinned and released him. His dark green eyes portrayed promise for what awaited. “Take care, Madison.”
Liam left. She saw a blue sedan peel away and closed her eyes, mentally preparing for what awaited in Sandra’s home.
After catching her and Trevor together, Madison had gone to her car, waited, watched them leave and followed. She’d been tempted to confront Sandra, but realized it was equally Trevor’s fault. He’d chosen to stray. If not Sandra, it’d be another and after realizing how little she meant to Trevor, it’d dwindled her love for him quickly.
But he didn’t deserve to die like he did.
As for Sandra, striking from a distance would be easier, but she couldn’t get a gun. And using a gun would be far too easy. Killing Sandra would be up close and personal.
Chapter Nine
Madison pulled up outside Sandra’s home on the outskirts of Newark, New Jersey. She was banking on the fact that Sandra wouldn’t expect a quick retaliation, but even so, the hunter would undoubtedly be prepared.
She left the car, and took note of the chain link fences that closed the place off from the neighboring houses. She moved, crouching below the windows. As she entered the small backyard, she saw the back door surrounded by potted plants.
She walked up to it and stopped. Something pushed into her, an invisible force against her body so strong as if it would splinter her bones. What the hell? She winced and stumbled back, catching sight of a cross against the door.
She tore off a piece of her shirt. After taking a step toward the cross, her body tensed. The pressure was almost unbearable but her hand was inches away from it. Her arm began shaking violently as she reached forward and finally grabbed it.
She wrenched it from the door and threw it aside, gasping in relief. One obstacle down. She kicked at the door with such force that it tore open and then quickly stepped inside. Sandra would definitely be aware of her now—and hopefully be afraid.
Madison stared into the darkness. The place was small and cramped with beige carpet, the kitchen counter overflowing with loose papers and dirty glasses. Sandra obviously put more effort into herself than her house. She wondered if she and Trevor had ever fucked here.
At the end of the hall she noticed a large amount of crosses fastened to the wall near the front door. The pressure from those crosses could’ve killed me.
She headed for the door on her left and pulled it open. A shadow moved within the room and Madison quickly retreated before a crossbow arrow shot out and slammed into the wall beside her, lodging itself deep.
She listened as Sandra attempted to reload another bolt. There was time to enter the room before she could fire again. She quickly spun around. Sandra stood in the corner, fumbling with the crossbow, and looked up in shock as Madison ran in front of her and knocked the weapon from her hands.
Sandra threw a punch that she easily dodged and retaliated by kicking out at her, slamming her into the wall. She grunted and attempted to pull something from her pocket. Madison reacted, kicking at her arm. Sandra winced in pain, releasing her hold on the cross in her hand.
Madison grabbed her roughly and pressed her up against the wall. Sandra glared at her defiantly, but stayed motionless.
“So, you’re a vampire hunter, huh? Predatory in every sense.”
She shrugged, tilting her head back to move hair from her eyes. “And you’re a vampire who should be buried in the ground. I know you did it. You killed him! You’re a murderous thing and you deserve to die!”
“How’d you find out what I am?”
Anger contorted her face. “I heard about your supposed death. It’s easy to put two and two together and conclude you killed Trevor. I’ve been hunting vampires since I was a teen, so I know my stuff.”
“Right, so the dumb blonde thing was just an act.”
“Lose the stereotype, bitch.”
Madison ignored her attempt at provoking her. “How’d you learn about vampires?”
“I’m not blind. I saw a man down the street get hit by a car and he walked away when he should’ve died. Made no sense, but I had contacts. There are always whispers about your kind. My Trevor died because of you.”
“I didn’t kill him. Hunters did. Your kind. They came after me and Liam, we had to leave him behind. Didn’t you hear the report? Gunshots, not bites.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m about to kill you, why would I bother?”
“Doesn’t change anything!”
Sandra thrust something at her chest. Madison grabbed her wrist just as the stake pressed against her shirt. Any more pressure and it would puncture her heart, but Sandra didn’t have the strength. It sent a giddy rush of power through her, an assurance that she would win and take revenge for the Council massacre. Madison tore the stake from her grip, throwing it aside.
“You think it was bad before? It’s just starting!” Sandra threatened. “We have allies!”
“Let them come. I can fight you without breaking a sweat. Why get involved?”
“It’s only fair that your lover dies too. I had to lose mine. Hope they all burned.”
“Liam’s not dead.”
Without warning, Sandra spat. Madison felt it hit her cheek and flinched. She shoved her harder against the wall and watched Sandra’s brown eyes widened. Her fear was obvious.
“Killing me proves you’re a vampire with no conscience. A murderous animal.”
“Some vampires have better morality than humans.”
Sandra shook her head. “Like hell! You’re pests that feed to stay alive. Like mosquitoes.”
She punched her hard. “Can a mosquito do that?”
Blood dripped from her bitten lip. Madison stared at the sight and her hunger emerged. She needed to taste it, could feel her body craving it. But she would not drink her. The thought of even tasting her disgusted her.
“You burned down the Council.”
Sandra laughed. “Sure. Set the fire, shut the door. Didn’t even need help. There’s hundreds of hunters looking for an excuse to drive a stake through your heart. Poof, instant cremation.”
In a blind rush of anger, Madison forced her arm hard against Sandra’s chest. She intended to incapacitate her and leave her in pain on the floor, helpless. Rage burned through her, a strength that was both exhilarating and terrifying, and she shifted upwards, pressing against her throat.
Sandra’s eyes bulged and once she released her, Sandra dropped to the floor, motionless. As her head hit the carpet, her blonde hair splayed back, revealing her neck.
Madison stepped back, unable to look away from her dead body. She fought against a vampire hunter and survived. There was a sense of excitement, a sudden primal satisfaction. This was who she was, and there was no point resisting. As a vampire, she had to take revenge for those who’d perished in the Council, for Liam, and she had finally done so by killing Sandra.
She drove onto Liam’s street. His new house was average, white walls with broken gray shutters and a sparse strip of yard.
As soon as she approached the concrete porch, he opened the door, looking worried. “Q
uick, inside.”
She followed him in. Liam had already closed all the curtains, and guided her into the bedroom. She wondered if he’d taken this place from an elderly couple, it was neatly furnished and the queen sized bed was draped with floral silk sheets. It reminded her of her grandparents’ house in Brooklyn. Another memory. Another life.
“Tell me about it,” he prompted.
“I killed her. I thought I’d feel remorse or guilt, but there’s nothing.”
“Being a vampire gives you no guilt over death, just as wild predators feel no remorse when they kill.”
“But aren’t we more than that? Am I not meant to have a conscience?”
A flicker of a smile crossed his face. “There’s no point. If we felt regret, we’d never be able to feed.” He hesitated, his lips brushing against hers. “What is it?”
“Hours ago, I thought you were dead. It was so painful.”
He smiled. “That’s how it feels with us.”
“To hurt?”
“To realize we can’t be apart.” He trailed his hands down her arms, her back. “And the longer I’m with you, the more certain I am. I’m not a poetic man, I wish I could say this better. But it’s something I’ve never told a woman before.”
Madison hesitated. “That you love me?”
“Yes. But it can’t be summarized with one word alone.”
“Oh,” she breathed, overwhelmed.
He smiled. “You don’t need to say it, I know how you feel, even if you’re unsure now. It’ll come in time. And right now, sweetheart, I want you to come.”
She stared into his eyes, accepting what he was, everything he’d done. And even with the Awakening threat in her mind, she needed to surrender. She sank into an endless kiss, his lips claiming her softly, then desperately.
She flung her arms around his neck, her breasts pressing into his solid chest. He cupped her ass and pulled her against him, the sudden movement causing the bed to shake and creak.
She clung to him, his thick hardness against her inner thigh as his lips fell on hers. She didn’t want to break the kiss, giving in to the pleasure that had burned between them from the moment they met, igniting the fire that spread through her body.
Awakened by the Vampire Page 9
