"Stay inside."
"Like hell. On your left." I crawled through the opening with my dagger in hand as Aidan blocked the blow from the vampire he fought.
Aidan landed three sharp left jabs, hitting the liver with laser precision before moving up and working his ribs. Bones crunched as Aidan continued to work the body. He threw an upper cut that snapped the vamps head back and probably popped a couple vertebrae. His fist was through the chest and out the other side before my feet touched pavement. The heart beat once in Aidan's palm before the body hit the ground. I stood there gaping like an idiot and got a mouth full of ash.
"I should have told you to get out, to run for your life. Maybe then you would have stayed inside, since you always do the opposite of what I say."
I would have told Aidan to fuck off if I wasn't so busy gagging on ashes. The itching I wouldn't be able to scratch since it was in my mouth set in. I tried rubbing my tongue against the roof of my mouth but it made it worse. I'd just have to deal until I got water and an antihistamine.
Scanning the parking lot for Conry, I caught sight of him taking down a vampire under the street light. Mason threw a dagger burying it to the hilt in the vampire's chest, hitting the heart on the first try. Conry took off but he wasn't fast enough. With a muzzle full of ash he sneezed the whole way as he cleared the distance to join Mason.
The last vampire, totally succumbed to blood lust, stalked Mason. The hunter was now the hunted. If he got his fangs in Mason, he was as good as dead.
Vampires that far gone didn't make two neat little holes, lapping the neck when they're done to remove any trace of the feeding. They ripped, gnawed their way through, tearing out huge chunks of flesh and swallowing it along with the blood. I gripped my dagger tight enough to feel my nails dig into my palm and slowly stepped around Aidan.
"Where do you think you're going?" Aidan grabbed my arm, careful to avoid the silver blade. "The hunter has it well in hand."
The air cracked as Mason unfurled a black snake whip fashioned into a blackjack from his side. Muscles flexed as he controlled the silver laced leather, splitting the vampire's skin each time the tip made contact. After the third strike the vampire was able to maneuver his way in out of the whip's danger zone.
Certain Mason was in trouble I struggled against Aidan's grip needlessly. A whip was useless in close contact but the blackjack handle wasn't. The vamp never saw it coming. He swung the buckshot loaded handle out, smashing the vampire's skull. Mason stood over the stunned vampire and drove his bowie knife into the heart. The vampire, head and all, was ash before he pulled out the blade.
"We need to clean this up." I couldn't risk people getting caught in the cross fire or my location being compromised - probably should have thought about that before I decided to hit the bars.
"I already spoke to the local Regulator. A team is already here to take care of it."
"I want the night totally scrubbed, Aidan. They can't remember me, that I was here."
"I think this is simply a case of wrong place wrong time but I will be sure any memory of you is wiped from their minds."
"You really think this is a coincidence?"
"There's been a few attacks, nothing serious. Sounds like a sire has been neglecting the children. Not everyone should be allowed to have children."
Aidan helped Ryanne out of the window, wincing once he held her full weight in his arms. She didn't weigh much so I knew he was injured. His shirt bunched as he moved to set Ryanne down. Muscle and skin knit back together around the piece of a blade, a switch blade if I had to guess from the width that had been snapped off in his side.
I caught the hem of his shirt before he could smooth it down and lifted up to fully expose the wound. "We're going to have to cut that out." My fingers traced the healing skin and he sucked in a breath at my touch. "You need to feed."
He cupped my chin, forcing me to look at him. He didn't see whatever he was looking for as his thumb barely touched the bruised and broken skin on my cheek, the disappointment evident in his eyes. "You should tend to your own wounds, a chuisle." He walked away, leading Ryanne to the black H2 waiting in the shadows of the parking lot.
I felt Mason's eyes on me, watching me as I watched Aidan. I knew I shouldn't but I couldn't help myself, I hadn't been able to since I first met Mason. I turned, meeting his gaze. My breath hitched in my throat, my body tightening, responding to him even though I felt torn in two. Ignoring the urge to run to him I headed to the H2.
"Maurin."
I turned slowly so he wouldn't know how much hearing him say my name affected me. He stood in between the open driver door and the car, arms crossed, resting on the roof of the Mini Cooper. His black hair stuck out in every direction, blood, ash and grime covered his face but he had never looked sexier.
"Ride back to the house with me." "If for no other reason than to watch you fold yourself up in that little car."
I probably shouldn't. I should probably go with Aidan but I didn't want the lecture I knew he would give me. Aidan's lectures usually turned into arguments because I was too stubborn for it to go any other way. I was too tired to deal with that. The Mini Cooper held the promise of peace and quiet. I glanced at the Hummer. Aidan and Ryanne were already inside. Aidan was brooding behind the wheel, watching me with an intensity the prospect of a car ride didn't deserve. I put a finger up, telling Mason to wait a second and jogged- well more like briskly walked, since I was more than a little sore at the moment- to the driver's side of the Hummer.
Aidan lowered the window. "Maurin, we should go. Get in."
"I'm going to ride with Mason. It's probably better if we split up, no one should go alone."
"He's a big boy. He can take care of himself." You'd think I just told Aidan that Mason and I were going steady.
"It's a car ride, Aidan. It's not like I'm going to perform fellatio on the way back." His jaw actually dropped. "My ribs are too sore. I don't think I could manage to position myself across the front seat and under the steering wheel."
18
"So, does this happen every time you go out?" Mason relaxed his grip on the steering wheel.
"Actually this was the first time a band sang to me." I saw the look out of his peripheral. "Oh you mean the part where vampires decided to attack us? No, vampires in Salem don't make a habit of eating the tourists."
"I was actually talking about having guys fight for your attention?"
"Nobody was fighting over me except for vampires trying to drink my blood."
"Based on the look Aidan gave me when you decided to ride with me, I'm going to disagree with you. Do me a favor, next time don't wait for Ryanne to call me. You can trust me, Maurin. You can count on me. I meant what I said, I'll always come for you. No matter where it is, especially when you're in danger."
"I was so focused on getting Conry out of the bar I totally missed what set him off in the first place. I didn't feel the vampires. I didn't see the first one until he wanted me to."
Mason didn't push or take the fact that I didn't respond to his vows as a slight. He didn't expect a response because he knew I didn't have one. "They were cloaked. If you open yourself up to it you can sense them. We'll work on that tomorrow night."
The first time I met Aidan he had cloaked me, helping me break into a crime scene, so I knew I'd be partnered with him again for training. Maybe we could get through the night without hurting each other for real this time. There was an instant attraction and everything about him, about the way I felt for him, was different than Oberon.
Of course that whole thing with Oberon was basically a magical hallucination courtesy of Mahalia so every relationship I ever have will be different than that one. Aidan was exciting, he took risks and almost died for me. That was our first night together. Everything since then was like an emotional roller coaster. We were never on the same track or the same speed.
"Where'd you go just?"
"Hmm?"
"I was telling you about your trai
ning with me tomorrow morning but you were off someplace in your head that I can't follow."
"Sorry, it's nothing. I guess I'm just tired." Afraid he would sense the lie I turned the conversation back to him. "So, sensei, what will I be learning tomorrow?"
"Ahh, grasshopper, now you will have to wait and see."
I stumbled into Mason's house, pressing my back against the front door to close it and resting for a minute. Exhaustion took hold now that the adrenaline had worn off. Most of the injuries would be gone by morning. A few fading bruises and tender ribs would be the only physical reminder of my run in with the blood crazed vamps.
I didn't want to think about the team coming in to clean up the mess from my night on the town. I didn't want to think about the waste of youth and talent, the two sweet band members, Ryanne's friends, dead. I really didn't want to think about the fact it was a crazy coincidence that we were at the same bar as the vampires because I don't believe in coincidence.
What I wanted was sleep and maybe a burger. My stomach rumbled in confirmation. Unfortunately food and sleep would have to wait. Triage would have to come first.
I looked around the living room where everyone had collapsed into chairs and couches, apparently feeling the same as me. Ryanne fared the best out of all of us. Having spent most of the scuffle behind the bar she only had a few scrapes and bruises. Still, she was probably emotionally exhausted at this point.
I got the feeling she led a pretty normal life despite her employer and her visions. Not many bar fights with vampires. Aidan sat next to her and winced when she repositioned herself causing the cushions to shift. Shit, I almost forgot he had a blade broken off in his side. The skin had already healed over it by now.
I pealed myself off the door and walked to the couch, stopping in front of Aidan. "Take off your shirt and lie on the floor."
"If I knew fighting vampires turned you into such an exhibitionist, I would have taken you to work with me months ago." His hand glided along the outside of my thigh.
I saw Ryanne, looking ready to flee as a blush crept over her face, from the corner of my eye. I didn't dare look at Mason. Aidan did as he was told, slowly standing and pulling the blood stained charcoal grey shirt off.
Bruised and battered as he was, he was still breathtaking. Every inch of him muscle, from perfect pecs to that well defined V dropping below the waistband to his jeans. I'd seen it before but it was still impressive. Ryanne seemed to agree, her face was so flushed she looked on the verge of heat stroke.
He lay on his back looking up at me with half lidded eyes. He knew me well enough to know whatever I was about to do was far from sexual but that didn't stop him from putting on a show.
I stood over him, and started barking out orders. "Ryanne get me a bowl of warm water and some clean towels. I need a knife, one that isn't silver or serrated." I moved to step over Aidan so I could kneel beside him when he grabbed my ankle. His hands slid up to my knees, with a hard jerk on my jeans he had me straddling him.
"I thought this would go differently."
"No you didn't."
"Okay, I hoped it would go differently." He tried to sit up, wincing a little, so I pushed him back down. He grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me to him. My hand flew out, bracing against the floor so our faces didn't collide. His lips barely touching mine, "Go easy on me." He kissed me. Just a brush of lips but before it was over his fangs grazed my bottom lip. What used to fill my body with anticipation, an aching need, had me reeling for an entirely different reason. My father's words about my blood echoing in my ears.
"Here," Mason shoved a blade in my face. "Use mine."
If I wasn't so thankful for the interruption I might have been a little pissed to have a knife that close to my eye. "I can't use silver."
He must have seen something in the way I looked at him, relief maybe, because his eyes softened a little. "It's not."
Ryanne came back with bandages and towels and placed them on the floor around Aidan. "Water is on the stove, almost ready." She rushed back to the kitchen before I could even thank her.
"While I appreciate your concern for sanitation, I'm a vampire remember? I don't have to worry about infection. Let's get this over with." He looked at my shaky hands. "What are you so nervous about? It's not like I'm going to die on the operating table."
"I don't want to hurt you. You're awake. Maybe we should knock you out first."
"I'll do it."
I knew Mason wasn't serious, still I couldn't help but laugh at his comment and that was all the motivation I needed.
With my left hand pressed against Aidan's stomach I pressed the tip of the knife against his side like a scalpel with my right. Mason obviously took care of his weapons because the knife cut through skin and muscle like butter.
Blood poured from the incision. Ryanne was already at my side, dipping a towel in the water, ringing it out and wiping the area so I could see. I slid two fingers in with all the gentleness one might show a virgin and started feeling around for the broken switch blade. The incision wasn't long enough. I could feel the end, rough from where it had snapped off. My fingers, slick with blood, slipped easily out of his side. Wiping them on a towel I grabbed the knife again.
"I thought you said you didn't want to hurt me."
"It's deep, Aidan. I need to make the incision bigger. Mason do you have any pliers? Preferably needle nose."
"There's a toolkit under the sink." When Ryanne moved to get it he told her to stay where she was. "Maurin needs to see what she's doing. I haven't forgotten where things are kept or what needle nose pliers look like since you've been working for me."
Ryanne wiped away the blood and I opened Aidan up a little more. He finally let out a groan, clenched teeth the only thing preventing a full blown scream. He might be immortal but he wasn't impervious to pain. None of us were.
"Fecking hell, Nurse Ratched. I said take it easy on me."
"Ryanne, hold his shoulders, on your knees, cradle his head in your lap."
"Right, like I can hold a vampire down."
"He won't struggle, in fact he'll lie perfectly still. Won't you, Aidan?" He nodded his head yes. "He'll be so focused on not moving, not struggling, so he doesn't hurt you that he won't be paying attention to what I'm doing."
"Oh I'll still be paying attention to what you're doing with the fecking pliers but it will be a welcome diversion."
Ryanne positioned herself so that she was on her knees sitting on her heels, Aidan's head in her lap as I instructed, pressing down with a hand on each shoulder.
"A welcome diversion indeed." His eyes moved from her perfect breasts positioned above his face and back to me, with one of those what? I'm a guy looks.
Mason handed me the pliers and I slid my fingers along with the tool into the muscle. I wasn't nearly as gentle the second time. When I felt the blade again I slid the pliers into position and pulled my fingers out. I pried the pliers open and clamped down on the steel in one swift movement. I tried to tug it free but the muscle had healed around it already. I slid off Aidan and grabbed the knife.
"What are you doing? Just pull it out."
"Shut up, Aidan. Mason hold the pliers. I can't cut the muscle away and hold them at the same time." Mason relieved me of the pliers and wiped a towel across Aidan's stomach so we could both see what we were doing.
"I saw Giada do this once on Food Network." I pulled back on one side of the incision so I could see deeper into the cut and set the tip of my blade next to the end of the piece of steel.
"If Giada did this someone needs to have a serious talk with the people at the network about their programming."
"Shut up, Mason." With all the precision I could manage I cut the muscle away using the fillet technique I'd seen on TV.
"I'm impressed. Maybe you should have been a chef." Mason pulled the broken knife out of Aidan's side and dropped it in the bowl. He wiped his side one more time before I taped a bandage on.
I shrugged my should
ers. "I can fillet a steak, doesn't mean I can cook it."
We each took an arm and carefully helped Aidan off the floor. "I think I'll lay down for awhile, like until the next sunset." He started toward the hallway.
I had a hand on his arm, stopping him before he got two steps away. "Hey, you lost a lot of blood. You need to feed if that's going to heal tonight."
"Volunteering? Coming to my rescue again, like the night we met?" He turned, moving to pull me into an embrace.
"I think we rescued each other that night."
I didn't fall into his arms, afraid for the first time that he would see it as an invitation to take my blood. The night he tried to mark me had been the most incredible, most erotic night of my life. I could become addicted to that as easily Aidan could my blood. I could so easily become a blood slave, giving myself to him over and over until the night came when he lost control. Until the night he fully succumbed to the addiction, drinking until the beast was sated and I was dead.
Sensing my hesitation, he closed the distance, wrapping his arms around me. "I have synthetic in my bag. It will hold me over until I can find a surrogate. You need to see to your own wounds, Nurse Ratched." With a sorrow filled kiss he left me standing and went to the spare bedroom.
My body was almost as sore as my heart. I gave myself a quick once over. I was a mess, literally and figuratively. The cut on my cheek from where it smashed against the table was deep but already closing. My ribs were broken but mending. I was covered in blood, mine, Aidan's and the other vampires.
"I'm going to grab a shower and go to bed." I stopped walking when I realized that going to bed came down to two options. In the spare bedroom with Aidan where I might give in to feeding him if he's in pain or not healing. I might still be mad at him for almost turning me but I still cared about him. I couldn't turn it off, even if it would make my life easier.
Blood Bath, A Paranormal/Urban Fantasy (The Maurin Kincaide Series Book 4) Page 17
