by Kailin Gow
Max couldn’t help but shudder. The idea of her daughter at Mal’s mercy madrt and lwant to vomit. She steadied herself, staring straight at them. They weren’t going to get to her. Not yet.
“I’m tired of playing too,” she said, her voice husky and low. “It’s been fun, but I think your time is up. So why not get on with it?” In a flash she had seized the wooden table of the farmhouse and overturned it, the wood splintering with a sickening crack. In her hands were two of the table’s severed legs – two enormous, sharp, stakes.
They leaped towards her, but as they landed she jumped into the air, executing a pirouette that took her from the tops of the couches to standing in midair – right above their heads. She drove her stake down into Mal’s shoulder, causing blood to flow out of his ears.
“Witch!” Mal yelped as she landed, cat-like on the ground. “You think you can outfight both of us?”
“I’m sure as hell trying,” Max spat back, raising her stakes once more.
“We’re immortal, you silly girl,” said Mal, his blood pouring onto his shirt-sleeves.
“Yes,” a slow, dark smile crept over Max’s face. “About that…” This was the moment – the decisive moment. She’d weakened them; she’d beaten them down. Now she had to risk everything, to go in for the kill.
Before Mal and Leonardo could react, Max rushed towards them at full speed, plunging her stake straight into Leonardo’s chest. Wrapped around the stake, tethered by its silver chain, was the ruby necklace. As the stake hit home, a flash of red sparked from the wound and then, in a single explosive motion, Leonardo crumbled into dust.
Mal stood standing, open-mouthed, gaping at where his friend had been. His face was white with terror.
Max retrieved the stake, holding the ruby stone in the palm of her hand. She fixed her glare on Mal next. “Your turn, Mal,” she whispered. “But before I kill you – is there anything else you’d like to tell me about how much you enjoyed abusing my daughter?”
Mal did not respond. For once, his customary smirk was absent from his face. Before Max could raise her spear, Mal had turned and ran, teleporting into the darkness, as far away as his supernatural speed could carry him.
Chapter 20
The farmhouse was dark now, and quiet. The sounds – grunts, moans, screams of agony, the breaking of furniture – had died down, and now there was only the low croak of toads, the evensong of crickets. There, tangled in the shadows, lay the body of a vampire, slumped and crumpled where it had fallen on the unforgiving stone floor, a stake through his heart.
Movement. The sound of wind rustling through the leaves – and then the soft pounce of footsteps on the floor; a woman’s voice, breathing. He could hear her beside him.
Her hands were on his stake; he felt an agonizing tug in his chest as she pulled it out. He felt the blood pool around the hole it had left in him. His eyes were hazy, but he recognized her immediately. It was Kalina. The dark hair – the soulful eyes – the honey-colored skin. He smelled the Life’s Blood on her, and even in his weakness his body began to feel that same familiar longing.
“Kalina?” his voice was no louder than a whisper, still racked with pain.
“Shhh…” Her voice was calming, warm, smooth. He wanted to close his eyes and lie back in it. She was standing above him, tracing the dagger over the softness of her skin. He realized what she was about to do moments before she did it, and the thought plunged him into ecstasy. She drew the dagger across her wrist – making a small slit, just enough space for a few mesmerizing droplets of blood to appear pooled at her wrist. “Drink this,” came the so-longed-for whisper. “It will heal you.”
Stuart gave a low moan as he seized upon her wrist, his gaze riveted, overwhelmed by her blood. He was weak with hunger, weak with his injuries, but the moment her wrist met his lips, her blood sizzled upon his tongue, he felt whole again: complete. The sensation was unlike anything he had known before. He felt all his power, his passion, his strength come alive within him, burning with the force of ecstasy. He was alive! His vampiric senses were heightened; everything was louder, clearer, more full of sensation. His nerves began shuddering until he thought they might shatter.
And Kalina was still perched above him, her wrist at his lips.
When at last she pulled away he rolled over on the floor, gasping. “Kalina!” he exclaimed. “I’ve missed you so much!” He murmured into her. “I was thinking of you –only of you. Even with that Lifeven s Blood in me, I was only ever thinking of you.” He moved towards her, his lips colliding with hers, kissing her, burying his love and pain and newfound pleasure in her mouth.
He had tasted her Life’s Blood, and it brought him strength. The power, surging through his veins, was glorious; it was unbearable in its gloriousness. He picked Kalina up, his lips still fused to hers, and carried her to the couch.
And then it hit him. He was still a vampire. He had drunk from Kalina and it had restored him, it had driven out the poison Mal had infected him with, it had not driven him insane. But it had not made him human. What was it he had just drunk? Suddenly his senses perked up, and he pulled back, baring his fangs.
“You’re not Kalina!” he hissed.
A moonbeam fell across the farmhouse floor, and then he recognized her. It was Max. He remembered the look in her eyes. He remembered the feel of her stake.
“No,” said Max simply. “I’m not.”
“Where is she?” He jumped to his feet. “What have you done with her.”
“She’s safe,” Max said. “A vampire called Octavius – he arrived. He took her from here.”
“Octavius,” Stuart’s relief was mingled with envy. “I see.” His eyes fell upon Max’s slender frame. Who was this mysterious woman – who looked so like Kalina, who had killed him only to bring him back to life. “Why did you save me,” he asked.
“I brought you back to serve me,” Max’s eyes were on him warily, as if she were ready to stake him again at any moment.
“And who am I serving?”
“Life’s Blood,” said Max. “The last true Carrier of Life’s Blood, the final Carrier.”
“What are you talking about?” Stuart furrowed his brow. “Kalina…”
“Kalina’s blood is different,” said Max. “Stronger. In her, Life’s Blood has been genetically altered, modified to be stronger, more effective. She is the first in a new generation of Carriers.”
Stuart’s eyes lit up. “But…I don’t understand. You brought me back. You didn’t turn me human – but you saved me? How could you do that, without loving me? You don’t even know me!”
“My daughter loves you,” said Max. “Perhaps that is enough! My blood no longer has the power to turn vampires human – it’s a bit too late for that – but it can restore vampires yet, even reverse Life’s Blood vampires. When given with love.”
“Your daughter,” Stuart fit the pieces together. “Kalina’s your daughter.”
Max gave him a slow and wistful smile. “Yes,” she said. “She is.”
Stuart opened his mouth and then closed it again, flabbergasted. There was nothing he could say. He had too many questions; there was no way to ask them all at once. He could only stop and stare. At last he sighed and looked up. “What do you want from me?” he asked. He got the impression that Max wasn’t someone who would just resurrect a vampire for kicks. She had given him Life’s Blood, and now he felt a bond with her. He was connected to her – he owed her his life. His blood called out to do her bidding.
“I know of an Aaron Greystone, the vampire with the best nose in the world.”
“My brother,” Stuart grimaced. “He’s dead.”
“I know. There’s nothing I can do about that. But he left behind a brother – a brother whose skills came close – his skill in finding other Life’s Blood Vampires. A brother that was barely hanging on for dear life – I was able to save you just in time. Don’t try to cross me again, I warn you – or I’ll have to stake you a second time. I want you to
help me find the other Carriers.”
“The…other Carriers?”
“We’re not the only ones, Kalina and I,” said Max. “That generation – genetically engineered babies, test tube babies conceived with my DNA, with David and Joan’s help – a generation of children with the powers of Life’s Blood ready and waiting to fulfill their potential, raised by humans so they have an appreciation for human life…now scattered everywhere. Kalina is the only one who is my daughter – but they are all connected to me, to Life’s Blood. And soon they will develop maturity, and will become targets.” She fixed her hard and fast aze on Stuart. “They don’t even know that they are Carriers. And we have to find them. You’re going to help me.”
Epilogue
Kalina was leaning back against Jaegar’s chest, letting her head rest beneath his chin. He was stroking her hair, running his marble-white fingers through its long, dark curls. They were together now, together and quiet. The pain of Stuart’s loss, the pain of Octavius’ rejection – none of that seemed to matter anymore. She may not have loved him as she loved Octavius, loved him enough to turn him human, but she cared for him, and in their time of shared loneliness this care was comfort enough for them both. They had at last allowed themselves to cry over Stuart; they had at last allowed themselves to mourn.
The door swung open, and Kalina sprang to her feet as Justin and Octavius burst in, Justin brandishing Kalina’s cell phone.
“Kalina!” Justin cried. “You’ve got to hear this – listen! You left your phone in the car!”
Kalina blushed. She knew that Octavius had released her, had encouraged her to return to Jaegar, but she hated him seeing her in his arms. She hated being reminded of that love that ate away at her heart. If she could only just forget… “What – what is it?”
Jaegar sighed. “Now?” he asked, stroking Kalina’s side with his fingertips. “Can’t it wait?”
“No, it can’t!” Justin’s face crinkled into a smile.
Kalina took the phone. “Hello?” She furrowed her brow. When she heard that familiar voice – so affable, now, so kind! – she froze. She listened. She waited. And then her face broke out into a smile, laughter intermingled with the tears that had formed in her eyes. “Jaegar!” Her voice was breathless, hurried. “Octavius!” She gave another laugh, filled with relief. “It’s Stuart!”
Jaegar started. For a moment, his face was filled with shock. Then, slowly, his surprise morphed into joy. “What?” his face was wary – of disappointment, of getting hurt again.
"0" width="48" align="justify">“I thought he was dead, but he was only injured…” Kalina tried to listen to Stuart’s voice and talk to Jaegar at the same time. “Max saved him. She fed him! They’re – they’re going to Mongolia!”
“I don’t understand…” Jaegar tried to put the pieces together. “She staked him, then she…why would she want Stuart?”
“To find the Life’s Blood children,” said Octavius. “Of course, it all makes sense now.”
“There’s – more of you?” Jaegar looked at Kalina.
Justin sighed. “Not like Kalina,” said Justin. “Max was different. I read her medical file – back at the hospital, when I was doing research. I didn’t think it was important until now. But she wasn’t admitted as a patient.”
“I don’t understand.”
“She was admitted to the morgue,” said Justin. “They found her – she must have been passed out – but they found her without a heartbeat, without a pulse…” He sighed. “When she woke up, they thought they must have made some mistake with their equipment…a clerical error. But now…”
“She’s not even human?” said Jaegar.
“A vampire?” Octavius said. “But she cannot be – she’s a Carrier.”
“What would a vampire want with Life’s Blood children?” Kalina’s heart sank with a sickening thud, as she realized the answer to her own question.
“If she’s a vampire,” said Octavius, “if she is then our only hope is to get to them before she gets to them first.” Octavius looked over at Kalina.
“I’ll help you find them,” she said steadily. “Wherever they are…”
Jaegar looked over at Kalina and Octavius staring at each other, determination on their faces. “I’ll go, too.” He chuckled, the news of Stuart’s resurrection erasing the pain he felt just moments before. “After all, I don’t want to miss out on the fun, too.”
They all looked over at Justin, who felt out-of-place amongst the vampires. “I guess I should pack for Mongolia?”
“Perhaps longer,” Octavius said. “Mongolia is just the beginning…”
*******
PULSE continues in
Blood Bond- Book 5 of PULSE
Blood Bond
(Book 5 of PULSE)
Fall 2011
Join us for the release date and
virtual release party at:
http://kailingow.wordpress.com
Brotherhood of Blood
(a PULSE Novel)
Summer 2011
Brotherhood of Blood is the first book in the Brotherhood of Blood Series About Octavius, The Greystone Brothers, the Vampire Consortium, and Octavius’ army of vampire mercenaries.
Visit and Sign up for New Releases at: http://kailingow.wordpress.com
From Bestselling Author
Kailin Gowont>
the phantom diaries
What happens to the Phantom after the tragedy at the Paris Opera House is the basis for this fantastic tale of The Phantom Diaries, loosely based on Gaston Leroux's classic, The Phantom of the Opera, but with a new tale and a modern twist. This new series for older teens and young adults is told through the eyes of 18 year-old Annette Binoche, who lands a job at the New York Metropolitan Opera House as a seamstress' assistant only to become the lead singer of the Opera House, with the help of the mysterious, yet highly-seductive Phantom.
Excerpt from one of Ms. Gow’s more passionate series
the phantom diaries
kailin gow
Prologue
Annette Binoche stepped out of the cab and had her first taste of a Manhattan sidewalk beneath her feet. Staring up at The New York Metropolitan Opera House, a cool breeze rustled through her long dark hair and tickled her nostrils. This was not the hot and lazy breeze of the bayou back home in New Orleans. It felt different. Smelled different. Even tasted different.
Despite her jeans, warm black sweater and leather jacket the chill in the air squeezed through the collar at the back of her neck, traveled down her spine and left her skin tingling all the way down into her boots.
The excitement of this new adventure added to that tingling sensation. She pushed through the doors of the back entrance of the Opera House and went in searchteppe head seamstress. As soon as her eyes adjusted to the gloom, she glimpse the grand stage through a door left ajar.
Her desire to find the seamstress was overtaken with the need to view the splendid stage she’d long dreamed of. The silly childhood fantasy of singing to a full house had her heart pumping with envy. It was majestic and unending. The ceiling seemed to go on forever and she couldn’t even see to the back seat of the top balconies.
“Can I help you?”
With a start she turned to the unexpected voice and faced a small elderly gentleman who smiled politely.
“I’m looking for Mrs. Henley. She came down to Louisiana a while back to visit with my mom and liked my abilities as a seamstress and suggested I come up here to work for her.”
The old man’s smile broadened and Annette realized she was rambling, but just couldn’t stop. “I may be only eighteen, but I’ve worked at my mother’s dress shop since I was thirteen and my mother has been a great teacher and even though I lack formal training, I know I can do this…”
“Right through there,” he said as he pointed to his left. “Up the stairs, second floor, third door on your right. She should just be getting back from her lunch.”
With a tight and ner
vous nod, she turned on her heel, repeating his directions in her mind over and over again.
Her heels echoed up the steps and the cool chill at her back followed her. She turned to glance behind her and could have sworn her breath frosted in the air. The echo of her steps reverberated in an odd cadence that didn’t quite match the pace of her steps.
Though her body shivered, her hands were clammy and heated. Her fingers reached for the cross hung at her neck. Her index played repeatedly over the rubies that formed a rose pattern at the center of the cross. Her breathing soon returned to normal and she proceeded while remaining cautious and aware of the sensations around her.
“Mrs. Henley?” Annette asked upon reaching the correct door.
A pleasantly plump woman turned and grinned. “Miss Binoche? Is that you?”
