by E E Everly
To Killian she says, “Let’s get you a drink. I’d order you a freshie, but your storm sprite’s blood will work better against the silver.”
Killian locks eyes with me. “No.”
Dumitru puts a hand in front of me. His hulking presence is extremely settling.
Anya rolls her eyes. “Fine. We both know what’s better, as pure as your own blood.” She waves her hand and another vamp—they’re poised around the room to do her bidding—brings her a carved wooden goblet.
So Goth.
Anya bites into her own wrist. Dark blood runs smoothly into the goblet, as if in haste, and fills to the brim.
These vamps and drinking blood! Every time I turn around.
Killian wraps his hand around his sister’s that holds the goblet, but he hesitates.
“Go ahead,” Anya coos. “I see the pain in your eyes. Drink.”
Killian tips the goblet to his mouth with Anya’s help.
“That’s right. Your blood, my blood, our sire’s blood. It’s all the same. No better ambrosia than this.”
I blanch because of Anya’s chosen word. I clear my throat. Natalia looks at me while Killian downs his beverage. Sympathy fills her eyes.
“Ambrosia,” I say under my breath. Dumitru’s chin lifts slightly, and I know he understands.
By the time Killian finishes, his body has enlivened. Natalia lets go of him but doesn’t move from his side. I hope Killian has enough wits about him to get us, and I mean me, out of here.
Anya claps her hands together. “Let’s discuss business.” Three vamps slip forward with plush armchairs. Anya sits back and drapes her arms over the rests as if she’s just had a satiating meal.
Killian nods, assuring me it’s okay to sit. I look at Natalia and Dumitru, who stand like sentinels between the chairs. They make no motion to assure me, yet I know they’ll protect me when it comes down to it. Seth hovers behind Anya’s shoulder. His face is hard as he stares at Killian.
I don’t move a muscle until Killian drops into his chair, and even then, I perch on my seat’s edge.
Everything feels so wrong. I won’t relax until I leave. Even the atmosphere suffocates me.
So Anya is Killian’s sister. She clearly is the woman Seth and Killian mentioned the other night. She’s the one pulling Seth’s strings. But how is Killian on the outskirts?
“I knew you had an ulterior plan,” Killian says in a deep voice. He’s making it even deeper and more menacing for his sister’s benefit.
I’m feeling rather idiotic, surrounded by these vamps, who have eyes glued to my throat. I don’t understand Killian’s game, his demeanor. Questions are riddling my brain, but I have to trust him. He knows how to act in the vampire world.
He won’t let anything happen to me.
“The whole supernatural underground is abuzz about the amulet,” Anya purrs. “I refuse to allow Korbinian to reclaim his powers. I’ve had enough interference from the seed demons this past century to encompass an eternity.”
I guess I don’t really know how old Killian is. If Anya’s a vampire aristocrat, given her obvious status here, then is Killian the prodigal brother?
And who’s Korbinian?
“Well, lucky for us,” Killian replies, “No one else can wield the amulet except Sasha.”
I bug my eyes at Killian, but he doesn’t acknowledge me. Why’d he tell her that?
“That’s as I suspected. We can’t protect Sasha from the seed demons during the daylight, and I doubt she will consent to being locked away for her safety…”
I sneer at Anya’s suggestion.
“So we shall have to come up with a solution…”
My eyes shift from Killian to Natalia to Dumitru. I’m afraid to speak, but I don’t want to discuss the amulet. This is not vampire business. This is my own affair.
“What did you have in mind?” Sitting back in his chair with his palms resting lightly on his thighs, Killian’s much too relaxed for my taste. I’m going to ream him later.
“A trap”—Anya eyes me—“with bait.”
FIFTEEN
I turn my head slowly and glare at Anya.
Killian straightens. “Absolutely not.”
“Come on, Killian. It’s a simple thing for the seed demons to take Sasha. She’ll wear a tracker. The demons will take her right to Korbinian, and then we kill him.”
“You can’t kill a seed demon.” I bite my lip.
Anya and Killian turn to me with curious expressions, as if they’ve just remembered my existence.
All eyes are on me, so I might as well join in the conversation. “Once the human host is killed, the seed demon jumps hosts. Even if the demon goes immediately to Grimoria, the demon world, it will emerge again once it locates a new host it likes.”
Anya smiles, revealing fang tips. “That is the exact problem. We are never rid of them. If Sasha could siphon power from other demons into the amulet, think of the control we’d possess.”
She’s assuming I know how to use the amulet.
“Ridding them of their power traps them inside the human,” I say.
“Then they would live out their lives, powerless, as aging humans.” Anya jiggles her shoulders. “I like that idea.”
“It’s not good for the host, who goes insane,” Killian says.
“So they’re insane for a lifetime.” Anya shrugs. “Better than having the demons body jump when they’re tired of their host. Enough humans suffer from demonic possession as it is. Better to confine the ones we know in the host they currently inhabit. That way there’s no surprises when a demon shows up in a new host we don’t recognize.”
“What about the human?” I know the vampires regard human life or they wouldn’t have used an electrical current on them earlier.
Hold on. I shake my head. That’s not why. No point in having a bunch of dead humans on hand when humans hit with electricity can get up and go back to their former lives. Less mess and murder to explain.
Now the vamps are talking about trapping demons in human bodies.
“When the human body dies,” Anya says, “the spirit goes to the beyond. The demon would be stuck without a body, wandering the earth because it doesn’t have powers to jump into a new host.”
Neither jumping between worlds nor jumping between hosts. Without a body and with their powers lost, demons couldn’t do anything. We’d slowly whittle down the demon population.
I’d have to agree to wield the amulet and siphon their powers. That could become a consuming and life-changing mission, because who knows how many demons are in this world. Why do I have to be the only one who can use the amulet?
Plus, could I sacrifice the human host in such a way?
“I don’t think it’s such…” I drop my thought.
With her face pinched, Anya turns to Killian, challenge crossing her features. “What do you think?” Her voice turns cold. “Trapping a demon in its human form until the end of its life is better than being trapped in a cursed undead body for eternity.”
Wait, what? Who’s trapped in a cursed undead body for eternity? I glance at Natalia, but she shakes her head as if to say, “Not now.”
But Killian jumps up so fast I recoil in my chair. He’s rigid. The cords of muscle in his neck, taut. He works his mouth, trying to form a response.
“Killian?” I whisper. I have no clue what upset him. This is vampire business that’s beyond me.
And I admit; I don’t know what makes Killian tick.
Anya gracefully slides to her feet and takes Killian by the hand. He doesn’t relax. If anything, his muscles clamp down more. He’s seething. Not breathing, because he doesn’t, so his chest isn’t rising with deep breaths the way mine would when agitated, but his eyes hold a fire I’ve never seen. Anya tips her chin toward him and cradles his face between her palms. “Killian.”
I slide to the end of my seat again. She’s trying to reach him, to subdue him. Will he vamp out? What did Anya say? Trapped in an undead bod
y for eternity.
Eventually his brows droop in sorrow, as if he’s haunted by her touch, by her words, by everything about her, but he’s still rigid. His eyes stare as if he sees nothing.
“The past is long gone,” Anya says in soft words. “Come, Killian. It’s all right.”
I stand. I can fix him. I know I can, but my feet won’t step forward.
My movement must have roused him because Killian shakes his head once. His voice is a low hum. His words, void of emotion. “But you continue to remind me of it.”
Anya wags her head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything, but you know I couldn’t resist a jab.”
Killian pulls her hands off his face but continues to hold them. His sorrow lifts into hope. “If there was a way to undo the curse, would you do it?”
Undo what curse?
Anya slowly pulls her hands away. “No.” She steps back. “Not anymore at least.”
“But to have a chance at a normal life. A human life.”
What is Killian talking about?
Strangely, Anya’s eyes moisten. She blinks several times, the gentleness slipping away from her facial features, before a warning hisses from her mouth. “That’s enough, Killian.”
He turns away sharply and grabs my hand. “Come, Sasha. We’re going. Thank you Natalia and Dumitru for your assistance.” He growls at Seth. “It’s not over between you and me.”
Seth smiles and acknowledges Killian, who has dragged me past the chairs.
He stops when Anya’s voice comes as a harsh command. “Killian.”
Whatever tenderness they had momentarily expressed is so far gone. My vampire whirls in place, yanking me about-face with him. “You won’t let me save you, Anya. You won’t let me make amends for what I should have done all those years ago.”
Anya stiffens with outrage. The muscles in her forearms and hands tighten as if she’s holding back. “You were a coward!”
“I couldn’t do it!” Killian takes a step forward, leaning toward Anya. His grip is hard on my hand. “Why can’t you understand that?”
“Killian?” I say quietly.
“You were supposed to protect me!” Anya’s irises blacken, and her fangs extend. “And guess what, I don’t need you to protect me now!”
Oh, it’s on. Brother and sister quarrel at its most dangerous. I half expect Killian to fling me at her. I pry at his fingers.
Natalia comes to my aid and pulls him off me. “I should take you out of the room. It’ll only become vorse.”
I hold my ground. “You’ve seen this before?”
My relief from being freed from Killian is short-lived because he vamps out, curling his fingers into claws. He opens his mouth wide and gnashes at Anya. “Is this how you want to live?”
My pulse quickens. If these vampires lose control, I’ll most likely become their snack. But I don’t want to leave Killian. He and his sister might grind each other into bits.
“Why not?” Anya asks. “This life is power. This life is an eternity of ruling the weak.”
“This life is hell on Earth!” Killian wails.
I’ve tensed from their yelling. I turn my hands palm up, stirring the air. Natalia and Dumitru move closer, becoming a comforting block. I allow my storm to build. I will break up this dispute.
The arguing brother and sister duo don’t notice their hair whipping in the increasing torrent as they hash out their grievances. Their voices rise. They’re carrying on an embarrassing, animated exchange. The vamps on the perimeter move in on me, but Natalia and Dumitru hold their arms up, ready to engage anyone who dares interrupt me. I’m fully aware that any one of them could slip past my guard and cut my throat, but I don’t care. I’ve had enough of the coded theatrics between siblings.
I flare the flames in the fireplace. My storm is ready to crash down on them. My fingers ache to unleash the power. “That’s enough!” My hands shake as Killian and Anya whirl toward me. “I’ll torch this room if you don’t act like the ancient adults I thought you were!”
Anya looks terribly thirsty, and I’m afraid she’ll strike, but she rolls her shoulders back and cranes her neck around. In that instant her vamp mode is gone.
With his eyes fierce, Killian cracks his neck as if possessed by a demon himself. He doesn’t relax his vamp mode.
My vampire wants me dead. He’ll rid himself of his trouble by killing me. That’s all I’ve been for him.
Try it. I prepare to unleash my internal tempest on Killian. My chest heaves under my ferocity.
Dumitru steps between Killian and me.
“I wouldn’t get in my way,” I hiss.
Surprisingly, Dumitru gives me space, but just enough that I know he’ll intervene if I need him.
My focus is on Killian. We’re in the showdown alone. I flex my fingers, daring him to try something. I’m not unconscious from blood loss like the first time he attacked me; I could take him.
A part of me wants to, especially if he won’t back down.
His black eyes pierce mine, more than they ever have. “Little storm sprite”—his fangs gleam—“you can’t imagine how insignificant you are in all this. You think because I owe you an eternal life debt you know me? You’ll end up on the wrong end of a demon’s blade or, worse yet, writhing in agony as a vamp rips your throat out!”
Even though he’s lost himself to his animal nature, I’m furious. How dare he?
With a screech, I haul my arm back and sock Killian in the jaw, and not just a wimpy human punch; I put the savagery of my storm behind it. Killian crashes to the floor and slides five feet. He drops his head back with a pained ouch.
Anya’s mouth drops open. Seth roars.
The torrent in the room falls still.
I’m trying to catch my breath, slightly embarrassed.
“Aren’t you full of surprises, Sasha?” Anya asks. “I didn’t know you had such strength.”
I study the floor, not wanting to meet eyes with anyone, most of all, Killian. “Only when the occasion calls for it.”
When Killian lifts his head, I’m drawn to the movement. Did I hurt him? I’m relieved the vamp out left his face. His words astound me because the vehemence is gone from his voice. He sounds tired. “Her need for ambrosia’s her one imperfection,” he says while rubbing his jaw.
About that. I open my mouth to reply, but Anya buts in. “Killian dear, now that we know how special your little storm sprite is, I won’t have you belittle her or her contributions.”
My face burns. If someone calls me a little storm sprite again, I will unleash my storm on these vamps. “So, we’re done with the childish tantrums?”
“Yes.” With a spring, Killian rolls to his feet, but I’m happy he rubs his jaw once more.
“Anya?” I’m determined to take control. I see that Anya can be thrown, especially where Killian is involved.
“You have my word.” Anya tips her head.
I pretend that for just a moment I could command a vampire such as Anya, but my confidence is a front giving me courage. “Before I consent to being bait, let’s settle this animosity between siblings. If I can’t rely on a single vamp to have my back, I’ll at least make sure I can count on you to have Killian’s back.”
“Very well, then.” Anya addresses the room. “Everyone, out.”
“Natalia, Dumitru, wait outside, please.” I want to keep them close. I trust them to intervene if Killian loses it.
Natalia and Dumitru nod.
A rush of air whispers over my skin as vamps blur out of the room.
And it’s just the three of us. The dynamic sibling duo and me, the faithful sidekick.
I cross my arms. “Start spilling.”
Anya begins. “A long time ago—”
I drop into a chair. “Oh geez…”
“Get to the point, sis.” Killian shakes his head almost imperceptibly.
“Long story short.” Anya makes her words sharp. “Killian was supposed to do me in and then kill himsel
f, instead of letting the vampires ransacking our village turn us into monsters, cursed to be souls trapped in our undead bodies forever. He didn’t have the guts to kill me. He feels so guilty he spends eternity trying to make up for it.”
I turn to Killian. “You have souls?”
“Yeah,” Killian says. “Our spirits were supposed to be released to heaven, or hell, when we died. That’s why they say vampires are cursed. Every vampire is a trapped soul.”
How did my education about vampires leave this out?
“But I’ve learned to embrace what I can’t change,” Anya says. “I don’t go about concocting schemes that don’t work or moaning about feeding on the innocent.”
“I was told there’s a way to save you,” Killian says.
Where did Killian hear this?
“There’s not.” Anya turns away and faces the fire.
“Okay,” I say while Killian silently stews. “Let’s say there’s not, for now, and dwell on the problem at hand.”
“Fine.” Killian turns to Anya. “There has to be another way. I’m not letting Sasha be bait.”
“The amulet has to be in her hands for any of this to work. We are giving her to the demons on our terms so we have the advantage.” Anya smiles. “Are you good with that?”
“I’m fabulous.” I’ve had enough supernatural drama for one day. “Let’s get on with it.”
SIXTEEN
Anya invites a few vamps back into the room. I insist on Natalia and Dumitru being present. To my relief, when he enters the room, he drops a carton of ice cream and a spoon into my hands.
Thank the droning dryads! How will I indulge without embarrassing myself in a room full of vampires though?
I take a careful bite and don’t lick the spoon. The chill slithers into my head, dulling the throb.
Plans are made. I stay silent, consuming my ambrosia with all the restraint I can muster while Killian hashes out strategies on my behalf. Natalia and Dumitru are tech savvy, so they’ll run the operation from here. I wanted them to come, but other vamps tagging along will look suspicious. When we’re done with the discussion, Anya tells Killian to take me to the tech room and then the armory.
