The Immortal Affliction

by M. K. Dawn

  Evie let her mother guide her inside, gaze still trained on him. He tried to ignore her stare, but there was something about her eyes, the sureness in her voice, that eased some of his earlier trepidation.

  Grabbing the back legs of the buck, Darrien dragged the still-warm animal behind the trees and to a small clearing a couple yards out.

  Samantha followed close behind. “I wish Evie wouldn’t say things like that. It makes me feel evil for craving her blood.”

  “She’s just trying to put on a brave face. Little does she know how dangerous we truly are.” Darrien laid the animal down and kneeled beside it. “Are you ready for this?”

  “I’m starving. Does that count?” She hovered over him. “What now?”

  “Usually, you listen for the blood flow and instinct takes over. As the animal is already dead, it makes it more challenging to find a good vein. Plus, they broke its neck, which moves things around a little.”

  “How can you be so calm about all of this?”

  His canines lengthened. “I was reckless as a new vampire and took many human lives. I hated myself for it, so I turned to animal blood. It’s how I met Kasa. I would kill game and bring the carcass to her father, the town butcher.”

  He bit into the animal's neck, finding a good artery on the first try. The blood had already cooled, and it was as bad as he remembered; living off human blood for so long had tainted his taste buds.

  Without the heartbeat, it was hard to tell how much blood he’d taken. After a minute or two, Darrien raised his head, blood dripping down his chin. In all his years, he could never figure out how to feed from the neck without making a mess. There was an awkwardness to the angle that always made it hard to get a good grip.

  Samantha shuffled backwards a step or two. “How is it?”

  He didn’t bother wiping away the blood. “Awful, but does the trick. Are you ready?”

  “I guess.” She crouched beside him. “What do I do?”

  “You’ve taken blood from humans before. It’s the same thing. You can puncture the skin just below where I did, and instinct will take care of the rest.”

  Closing her eyes, Samantha leaned in and bit the deer's neck. Blood dripped from her mouth and down her chin the same as it had with him. Samantha jerked her head upward and fell back on her bottom, a trembling hand covering her mouth.

  “It’s disgusting,” she said through her fingers. “I don’t think—” Her hand fell away as she vomited the blood on the ground in front of her.

  “It takes some getting used to.”

  Samantha wiped the blood away with the back of her hand. “Getting used to? How the hell do you ever get used to this?”

  Darrien sat beside her, draping his arms around his bent knees. “Easy. My need not to hurt people out-weighted my need for human blood. You’re hungry, I can hear the emptiness in your stomach. Go too long without blood and you fall victim to bloodlust. It’s an intense need for blood you can’t control. You will do anything, hurt anyone, to fulfill the need.”

  Her eyes met his. “Sounds like you have experience with that type of yearning.”

  “When I first turned, I hated the thought of taking blood from a human, so I’d put it off until I couldn’t. Then I would end up killing the person who had the unfortunate luck of crossing my path. Horrified at what I had done, I waited again, not seeing the connection. I thought anytime I fed off a human, no matter how hungry I was, I wouldn’t be able to control how much blood I took.”

  Samantha stuck her arm through the crook of Darrien’s elbow and rested her head on his shoulder. “The cycle kept repeating itself.”

  “Yep. I’d starve, enter bloodlust, kill… rinse, wash, and repeat. By the time I understood what I was doing to myself, I had already been surviving on animal blood. And met Kasa. Then I didn’t want to drink from another human because of the potential side effects—which I believe you have experienced firsthand.”

  She pushed off him and went back to the deer. “So mind over matter?”

  “Yep. And we all know how stubborn you can be when you put your mind to things.”

  “That’s true.” She took blood from the animal again, this time keeping it down.

  They took turns until there was not a single drop left. Darrien couldn’t say it sated his hunger, but he no longer felt the need to rip a human's head off.

  “I’m not sure if I’m full from enough blood or not being able to stomach another drop.”

  Darrien opened his mouth to reply when he caught the sound of a distant howl.

  Samantha must have heard it too; she jumped to her feet and scanned the darkness of the surrounding trees. “Did you hear that? Was it one of ours?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Ethan sprang from the bushes as another, closer howl echoed through the trees. “Get inside. We need to figure out our next move. Tito and the others are coming.”

  They rushed close behind him until they reached the crowded cabin.

  Darrien could still make out the faint sounds of wolves in the distance. “Shouldn’t we be in the SUVs getting the hell out of here?”

  “He won’t attack yet,” the one Ethan called Leo explained. “He’ll wait until you two are vulnerable. These howls are just a warning. They want us to surrender.”

  Darrien moved closer to her side. “I’ll go. Tell them I escaped again and forced you to help get me out.”

  Nikko grabbed Darrien’s arm. “No, brother. I cannot speak for the others, but that is not a viable option—at least not for me and my two men. I knocked your guard out. He saw my face. But I will offer to take the blame for the rest of you. You followed and tried to stop me.”

  “Not a chance in hell.” Ethan eyed Leo, who shook his head. “My pack and I will stand with yours, Nikko.”

  “Then what do we do?” Samantha’s voice quivered. “You said it’s me they want. Kill the Council’s heirs to break the curse. If they have me the rest of you—”

  “You’re not giving yourself up either,” Ethan growled.

  “One life is not worth all of ours,” she argued.

  Nikko spoke next, “We all gave up our lives when we helped you escape.”

  Darrien scanned the room, eyes stopping on Evie. She didn’t appear to be paying attention, her mind somewhere else.

  “So we run.” Ethan crossed his arms. “We join the rest of my pack and prepare to fight.”

  Leo rolled his neck. “There are not enough of us and too many of them. Plus, we can’t run forever. Eventually, they’ll track us down.”

  “Evie,” Darrien inched closer, “what are you thinking?”

  The room fell silent and all looked to her.

  She startled at the sudden attention; her cheeks flushed. “I keep thinking…all of this started because Tito and the other packs are trying to find a cure to their immortality depending on vampires. Their first attempt didn’t work, and now they need Samantha for their second attempt. What if we find another way—the right way—to cure them?”

  Samantha furrowed her brow. “How do we do that?”

  “We go to the source. Where the vampires originated from. Find out what links the vampires and werewolves and how to break it.”

  “Your research.” Ethan’s eyes lit up. “How close were you?”

  “Hold on just a minute.” Darrien had no clue what they were talking about. “I think we need to back up the information train just a tad.”

  Evie looked in his direction. “It’s a long story—one we don’t really have time for now. But if we find the true way to break the curse, present it to Tito on the grounds all of us are in the clear, we’d be free.”

  Darrien plopped down into the recliner. If they wouldn’t tell him what the hell they were talking about, he had nothing to add. He’d just sit back and wait. Maybe one of them would clue him in, eventually.

  “But you hit a dead end,” Ethan said, “right?”

  Samantha gasped. “My father.”

  Ethan spun
around. “What about him?”

  “On his deathbed, he gave me the name of a witch and said Evie would know what to do with it.”

  “That’s a starting point, right?” Ethan smiled at Evie. “You have the coven’s name and now the name of a witch. We can work with that?”

  “Yeah, of course.”

  Darrien leaned forward. “Then why is your face doing that whole, ‘there’s a problem that will throw a wrench in the whole damn plan’ thing?”

  Evie glared at him. “Because there is a problem. My research led me to a small settlers’ village,” she paused, “in South America. Brazil, to be exact.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Darrien laughed. “South America? You mean that hot damn place where the sun is always shining and the party never ends? Tell me, how close to the equator are we talking?”

  Ethan wanted to intervene but knew Evie could take care of herself.

  “Exactly on the equator,” she spat with an attitude he hadn’t seen since they were kids.

  Darrien threw his hands up and roared, “Well, that’s just fucking great.”

  “Enough,” Ethan warned.

  “What?” Darrien feigned confusion. “I’m just having a hard time believing vampires—ones who cannot walk in the sun—originated in the fucking hottest place on the whole damn planet.”

  “As hard as it is to believe,” Evie said through clenched teeth, “they did. And how do I know that? Because when I asked questions, the Council had my mother’s memories erased and threatened to kill everyone I ever loved if I continued my research.”

  That killed Darrien’s condescending attitude. “Maybe you should have led with that.”

  Ethan shook his head and sighed. “Anyway. Are we all in agreement that’s where we should look?”

  Leo came up beside him. “If you would allow it, we will stay back. Our pack needs to go into hiding. We have a safe house none of the others know about.”

  “That’s a good idea.” He grasped Leo’s shoulder. “Our pack is your number one priority. If you would, please take my mother and sister with you and keep them safe.”

  “I don’t think so,” Evie snapped. “I’m going with you.”

  “No,” Ethan said with authority. “It’s too dangerous for a mortal.”

  “I’m not one of your wolves you can command.” Evie placed a firm hand on her hip. “I spent months uncovering all sorts of information. Do you know where that information is? In my head. Without me you’re just going to be wandering around like a lost puppy.”

  Darrien snorted but quickly covered it up with a cough.

  “Fine.” Ethan ground his teeth. “Mom?”

  She waved him off. “I’m too old for an adventure. I will go with Leo.”

  “Glad one of you has some sense.” Ethan glared at Samantha. “what about you?”

  She grinned. “Do you even have to ask? I’m going.”

  “What a surprise. Even with the blazing hot sun? Do you know how risky that is?”

  “We can spend the day in the room,” Darrien chimed in. “Assuming the sun ever sets.”

  “Half day, half night.” Evie shot him a smug look. “Think you can survive?”

  Darrien leaned back in the chair. “I’ve survived worse.”

  Ethan ignored their back and forth. They needed to finalize a plan; time was running out. “So the four of us—”

  “Five of us,” Nikko cut in. “I will send my men home to protect our small pack, but I will join you to help any way I can.”

  “If you insist.” Another wolf might come in handy.

  Darrien tapped his fingers. “You don’t have to come, Nikko. You should be with your pack.”

  “I am one of the oldest wolves and a direct descendant of one of the original werewolves. If you don’t mind, I would like to see for myself where we originate.”

  “What if I send you a postcard?” Darrien smirked. “Dear Nikko, today we found a scary witch and she put a spell on us.”

  Nikko’s expression didn’t budge. “Hilarious.”

  “So we know where we are going,” Ethan started before Darrien responded, “but how do we get to Brazil?”

  “By boat,” Nikko said, “is another reason you need me. I have an acquittance who owes me a favor. He has a boat that frequents South America to harvest goods for the Immortals.”

  “Don’t think the Immortals need any goods right now,” Darrien mumbled.

  Nikko didn’t seem to mind Darrien’s snarky attitude. “It will be a challenge. The captain will not ask questions, but if his crew finds out our true nature, he won’t protect us.”

  Ethan jerked his head as another howl broke through the silent night. “They’re getting close. We need to leave. Is there anything else we need from here before we head out?”

  When no one answered, Ethan ordered everyone into the SUVs.

  Darrien stayed back. “You’ve got the boss thing down. Don’t think I’ve ever seen you be such a…”

  Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Dick?”

  He laughed. “That’s the word I was looking for.”

  “There’s so much testosterone running through my veins. It puts me on edge.”

  “You know the best way to alleviate the buildup?”

  Ethan rubbed his brow. “A ten-mile run?”

  Darrien slapped him on the back. “Maybe I misspoke. I should have said the most enjoyable way.”

  He knew what Darrien was getting at. “Makes it hard when the only three women around are your mother, sister, and ex-girlfriend.”

  “Ex? Because she lost the baby?”

  “Because every time I look at her, I hear this voice inside my head telling me to stay away.”

  “Tell it to shut the hell up. That’s what I did. Worked like a charm.”

  Darrien headed for the SUV, leaving Ethan alone, unsure what to make of his last comment. It couldn’t be that easy. Even if it was, he didn’t know if that was what Samantha wanted. If it was what he wanted.

  He pushed the thoughts aside. This wasn’t the time to worry about such things. Not when they had a pack of werewolves on their heels and a witch to find.

  After one last glance around the cabin, Ethan locked the door behind him and got into the driver’s seat of the remaining SUV. Darrien sat on the passenger's side while Evie and Samantha occupied the middle row. Nikko had pulled up the single seat of the third row and sat in it sideways.

  Ethan started the engine. “The others left already?”

  “Yes,” Evie answered. “Mom said there was no need for goodbyes as we’ll see her soon enough.”

  That was the way she always left things. Never a goodbye, just a see you later. “What do we need to do to get the boat?”

  “First, we need to swing by my old apartment,” Evie interjected.

  “It’s too risky.” Ethan pulled onto the dirt road. “It’s one the first places they’ll think to look for us when they don’t find us here.”

  “I have a notebook hidden there that will help.”

  Darrien rotated around. “I thought you said all the information is in that noggin of yours.”

  Evie mocked his know-it-all expression. “It is, but in the notebook are more detailed notes that may be useful.”

  “How important is this notebook?” Ethan eased onto the main road. He hadn’t put on the headlights yet, afraid it might draw unwanted attention.

  “It will only take a minute. Wait downstairs, leave the car running, and I’ll be back before you know it and we can be on our way.”

  “Does your apartment have a secure phone?” Nikko asked.

  Evie turned her body to face him. “A cell phone and a backup battery that can’t be traced.”

  “That will work.” Nikko’s eyes darted over his shoulder. “I will call my contact. Find out when he will be making his next trip south.”

  “We still have a few more hours of night.” Another problem popped into Ethan’s head. “How are we going to drive during the day wi
th you two? These windows will do nothing to block out the sun.”

  “Yeah,” Darrien kicked his feet up on the dashboard, “that’s going to be a problem. Maybe we can hole up in Evie’s apartment and wait for the sun to set.”

  “That’s a bad idea.” Ethan banged on the steering wheel. “It won’t be long before Tito figures out where Evie’s apartment is—if he doesn’t know already.”

  “UV tint for the windows,” Samantha said. “That’s what all of our vehicles had. Are there any shops nearby?”

  Ethan swerved off the road and headed for the middle of town. “I have a better idea.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  “I can’t believe we stole a car,” Samantha muttered for the umpteenth time. “From a police station, no less.”

  Ethan explained they used the Suburbans to drive the Sanguines when they came to conduct business in town. Since the attack on the Council and synthetic blood center, it was unlikely there would be any visitors for a while.

  Evie patted her leg. “Just think of it this way: since your father’s passing, you’ve inherited his spot on the Immortal Council.”

  Samantha narrowed her eyes. “What does that have to do with stealing this vehicle?”

  “I don’t know.” Evie shrugged. “I’m grasping at straws here.”

  “I think the town has bigger things to worry about.” Darrien pressed his head against the heavily tinted window.

  “Jesus,” Ethan said under his breath, “looks like a bomb went off.”

  The same thought had crossed Samantha’s mind. Debris littered the ground and several buildings were on the verge of crumbling. “It looks like a war zone.”

  “Is that—wasn’t that—Gale’s treatment center?” Evie pointed to a building that looked more like a pile of rubble.

  “Yeah.” Ethan slowed as they passed. “Tito said they got everyone from town to safety. Wolves protect their own.”

  “The whole town?” Evie jerked her head towards Ethan. “How did we not know?”

  Ethan rolled his neck. “Hell if I know.”

  “Why destroy the town?” Darrien asked.