“My plan is to kill every cat I can get my hands on.”
The hand tightened.
“Vorlyk!” Madayah spoke. “He’s lying. If he wanted me or Talya dead you’d be digging our graves right now.”
Nicolas coughed but managed to say, “I don’t hurt women of any kind if they mean no harm.”
Vorlyk laughed. “That she-cat would wipe the floor with you. Her claws even manage to keep me in line.”
Nicolas ignored the hand Vorlyk offered and ungracefully got to his feet.
“Stubborn wolf.” Vorlyk chided.
“Blood sucker.”
The vampire shrugged his shoulders. “I give up.” The intensity left the vampire’s voice and he went on. “I won’t grant your death wish unless you refuse to bathe. Seriously, you stink.”
Nicolas scratched his unshaven face. He was sure he had lice. Zenya probably had them, too. With an internal sigh, he gave in, deciding to stop fighting fate. “I’ll bathe and if possible borrow a razor.”
“Not a problem. How’s the arm and ribs?”
“Almost as good as new.”
“It’s going to take a few days to get you back to normal, but you’ll feel a lot better after you’re clean. I’ll show you to the bathing area if you’ve finished eating.”
They left the kitchen and then walked deeper into the mountain. The warmth of the stove tapered off, giving way to cool surrounding stone. After three turns and walking several hundred yards, the temperature and humidity shot up again. One final turn and they entered a muggy cave very un-home like with a natural hot spring.
He immediately recognized the muffled sobs coming from the side of a large pool. Zenya. The vampire’s hand stopped him from entering further.
She looked up and immediately stopped crying. Rising quickly from the water, she wrapped herself in a towel without looking at the two men.
Her voice cracked slightly. “Everything you need, including clothes, is against the far wall.” Without another word, she left the room.
Vorlyk didn’t speak until the sounds of her footsteps faded completely away. “The only reason I don’t kill every wolf I see is because they saved her. The only reason I don’t kill every cat I see is because, believe it or not, some of them are good. They also have too many vampires for me to take on.”
“That’s your excuse for helping them torture me?” Nicolas had no success concealing his hatred.
“It’s the only excuse I’m giving you.”
“How old are you?”
The vampire laughed. “I would love to look inside your mind sometime. I was turned at twenty. I know I look younger. It’s the bane I’m stuck with.”
The vamp’s boyish features stared back at Nicolas—blue eyes that turned amber when angered or feeding, brown hair trimmed in a perfect shaggy style, and a lean agile body that contradicted with the cold-blooded killer beneath crisp jeans and a t-shirt. Nicolas didn’t blink. His wolf wouldn’t let him. Even without a pack, he remained alpha. “I’ll help you kill cats.”
“We were hoping you’d say that. But, even I draw the line at a smelly wolf. Bathe first and then we’ll talk. Can you find your way back to the kitchen?”
“I won’t have a problem following the smell of food.”
“Be sure to let Madayah know you like what she makes or she gets cranky.” Vorlyk left the wolf alone.
Chapter Seven
Under the hot trickling stream of water in the back corner of the cave, Nicolas scrubbed himself using a bar of strong soap. He then shaved his beard and considered shaving his head, but decided to wait to see if the delousing medication worked. The filthy water splashed off his body and fell between rock crevices to the side of the shower area. When he finally felt clean, he jumped into the bathing pool. The back section was at least five feet deep. The pool wasn’t as warm as the hot spring that fed the shower, but he welcomed the cooler temperature. For months he’d lay in his own sweat.
It was hard to pull his body from the pool, but his stomach eventually growled and he wondered how long he’d spent cleaning himself and thinking about Zenya’s tears. One minute wasted on her was too long when the revenge for the entire Eastern Clan rested on his shoulders.
He couldn’t allow her emotions to soften his heart toward his enemy. Obviously he wouldn’t be killing every cat he could sink his fangs into, but he needed his hatred because his wolf screamed for revenge.
Following his nose was easy, and as he drew closer to the kitchen he heard conversation.
“The wolf won’t help our cause.” He didn’t recognize the she-cat’s voice.
“Then I’ll kill him.” Vorlyk made it sound so simple, and Nicolas guessed for a vampire it was.
“Vorlyk, please. He’s not our enemy.” Zenya’s firm voice held no doubt.
“I agree with Zenya.” He recognized Madayah’s accented words.
He walked into the room expecting the talk about killing him to stop, but they continued as if he wasn’t there. Looking around, his eyes froze. The new she-cat in the room wasn’t a wolf lover. Her scathing eyes showed contempt as they looked him up and down. “He can barely take care of himself much less any of us.”
Well, she put him in his place.
Zenya snarled at the other she-cat. “Just a year ago you were a sniveling housecat. I’m surprised you didn’t dig a hole and bury yourself. Now, you might be some kind of Amazon, but I remember what you were before.”
“Better a hole than fucking a smelly dog.”
Zenya launched herself at the unknown cat but came to a stop when Madayah stepped between them.
“Enough. If the two of you must fight, take it outside. This is my kitchen, and unless you want to hunt your own food and eat it in the jungle you’ll stop arguing here.”
Nicolas looked at the un-phased vampire. Vorlyk barely held back a grin. The unknown she-cat left the kitchen in a huff and all remaining eyes turned his way.
He’d donned black drawstring cotton pants and a white t-shirt left in the bathing area. His feet remained bare and he braced his legs apart, ready for whatever came his way.
Madayah was the first to speak. “I’m sure you’re hungry again, wolf. I’ve got more tamales and rice or I can warm up some leftover steak.”
“He needs it all, but I’ll share the tamales if you don’t mind.” Zenya wasn’t looking at him.
“You can eat a little of both, too, Zenya. You’ve lost weight since you left.”
“You think everyone loses weight when they’re not eating your cooking.”
“True, but seriously you’re too skinny.”
Nicolas couldn’t help running his eyes down her slender body. She wore similar black cotton pants that hung loosely across her hips. Other than the pants, she had only a black sports bra covering her breasts. Clearly defined muscles showed beneath her golden skin without an ounce of fat on her body. He agreed with Madayah—a little fat on her bones would do her good.
“What are you staring at, wolf?”
His eyes traveled up her torso and stopped on the dark glittering green orbs he remembered. He didn’t answer her question, which seemed to fluster her.
“Let’s sit down and talk while you both eat,” Vorlyk said.
The three of them took seats along the rough wooden table while Madayah puttered around the kitchen preparing their food.
“How are you feeling now?”
Nicolas looked into Vorlyk’s cold eyes. “Better, but still weak.”
“Give yourself a few days. We have a gym you can use. It’s better that you not go outside. We don’t get many visitors up here, but if we do it’ll be impossible to explain your scent.”
“I’m hoping you’ll explain why my scent is here.”
The vampire didn’t take his eyes away. “We need your help.”
“If it includes killing cats I’m in.”
“It’s more complicated than that, but I’m sure you’ll get your wish.”
“Why would I want
to help you?”
“Because it will help all the wolf clans in the long run.”
“I no longer have a wolf clan.”
“We’re aware of that, but your friends need our help. The cats’ vampires outnumber the wolves’ vampires. Even with assistance from overseas, the wolf clans will be annihilated.”
“Why do you think that?”
The vampire closed his eyes then opened them again, “Because you have a traitor and the cats have more vamps.”
Nicolas turned and couldn’t help the look he gave Zenya.
“I saved your life, wolf. If I wanted you dead, I would have done nothing and I’d still be taking care of Sierra and Roland. Amy and Marcus need your help.”
“And I’m just supposed to take your word for it.”
“You could try being a little smarter,” Madayah chidingly said as she lay a steaming but still bloody steak in front of him. “We don’t have time for your twisted thinking. We won’t be safe here much longer.”
“How many vampires do the cats have?”
“Nine right now.” Zenya practically snarled.
“I thought they were down to six?” Vorlyk stood abruptly from the table, walking across the kitchen to pace.
“They made three more. It seems to be their answer.”
Vorlyk walked back. “It’s always been their answer, but they don’t vet the vamps they make and they end up killing each other.”
“I think they’ll play nice long enough to kill the wolves first. When it comes time to break up the wolf territories they’ll turn on each other and start a new war. Unfortunately, the wolves won’t be around to see it.”
Nicolas took in everything they said, but had trouble comprehending it all. “Why would they keep making vampires? They’re too territorial. In the long run it only makes them weaker.”
“And you think they believe that bullshit.” Zenya practically snarled.
“It isn’t bullshit. The European vampire clans have struggled with the problem for centuries. Here in the U.S. the vampires found a solution by limiting their numbers.”
“One vampire didn’t.”
“That’s crazy.”
“Yes, she was.”
It suddenly dawned on Nicolas. “You’re talking about Victoria.”
“She made vampires and not just any vampires. She made sure they hated wolves.”
“Then why didn’t she kill us all if she was that powerful?”
“Because she loved Marcus.”
“She hated him.”
“There’s a fine line between love and hate, and in her own sick way she did love him.”
Nicolas studied Vorlyk, who finally took his seat again. “So what’s your story?”
“The cat’s vampires think they need me.”
“Why?”
“It would be easier to show you.”
“Okay, show me.”
“Give me your hand.”
Nicolas hesitated only a moment and then placed his hand palm up in front of the vampire.
Vorlyk’s cool fingers came down and touched the warmer wolf palm softly.
Nicolas felt a slight electrical zing and watched as brown vampire eyes turned amber.
“Franklin loved you.”
Nicolas kept his eyes on the vamp, refusing to drop his gaze. “He was my friend and the leader of our clan. Of course he loved me.”
“You know what I’m talking about.”
“No, I don’t. Why don’t you explain it?”
“Franklin was gay.”
“There’s no way you could know that.”
“I can access your memories through touch.”
Nicolas slowly removed his hand from the vampire’s. “I loved Franklin but not in the way he needed.” Nicolas took a deep breath, the truth dawning. “The cats kept me alive because they wanted my memories.”
Vorlyk didn’t blink. “Yes.”
“And you gave them what they asked for.” His hands tightened into fists.
“No, I gave them only enough to appease them.”
“Why?”
“Because we want out. Eventually they will kill me and mine. I don’t have much of a clan and I’m not a fighter, but I love my cats.”
“How many cats are here?”
Vorlyk’s eyes hardened. “You don’t need to know that.”
Madayah’s hand came down gently on Vorlyk’s shoulder. “He does need to know. He needs to know everything.”
Chapter Eight
Vorlyk took the gnarled hand into his and pulled Madayah onto his lap. He kissed the mutilated side of her face and ran his hand over the smooth side. His entire body relaxed when she leaned in and kissed him.
Nicolas felt their love deep in his gut. He cared about Franklin, loved him for the wonderful person he was but could never give the vampire what he wanted. Nicolas hoped to someday find a she-wolf mate to share his life, and Franklin, his best friend, understood that. He often teased Nicolas that he, Franklin, would be the gay uncle to wolf pups. Nicolas’s heart squeezed, and for the first time in months grief shadowed his thinking more than revenge.
Zenya’s voice broke into his thoughts. “You need to ignore them when they get like this. It reminds me of Amy and Marcus.”
Nicolas managed a wry grin. “At least the walls here are stone.”
She laughed, and Nicolas absorbed the beautiful sound, letting it lighten his anguish. He chuckled out loud when she interrupted the clinging couple.
“That’s enough you two. We have a war to plan, things to kill, and more food to eat. Each is more important than the steam you two create.”
The vampire looked at Nicolas. “It truly isn’t my fault. I had quite the temper before she rescued me and she knows just what buttons to push to calm me down.”
The she-cats began laughing and Nicolas couldn’t help holding onto his smile a little longer. “I will happily discuss killing cats, one in particular, while I eat some more.”
“And that cat would be?”
“The alpha.”
All laughter and smiles stopped.
Madayah’s voice was low and pure steel. “He’s mine to kill, and I would suggest you stay out of my way.”
Vorlyk took her clenched hand back into his. “Several of us will be fighting for that honor, my love.”
“You promised.” Madayah didn’t relax.
“I said if it was possible I would give him to you, but I won’t risk your life to do it.”
“We’ll agree to disagree.” She stood and retrieved more food for Nicolas and Zenya. Without asking, she poured Vorlyk a glass of red wine. “Would you like some,” she asked the others.
Both shook their heads.
“We have seven cats, not counting Zenya. She’s not one of mine.” Vorlyk acknowledged.
“Seven!”
“Yes. Did you expect more?”
“About five times that number.”
“Acquiring the seven was hard enough.”
Madayah broke into the conversation. “We’re misfits. Raykon likes to see the evidence of his torture when he’s not finding someone new to terrorize.”
“Raykon?”
“The cat’s alpha. He’s twisted.”
Hatred burned deep. He would never forget the cat’s laugh. It reeked with eerie intensity while he slaughtered the children, and then again when chains held Nicolas down and Raykon tortured him. Nicolas could live with the physical scars that would be forever on his body, but he couldn’t live with the mental ones. Who laughed while killing children?
Nicolas looked into Madayah’s eyes. She suffered far more physically than he did. “Did he cause your scars?”
“Yes.”
“If possible, I’ll let you kill him if you plan to do it slow.”
“Done. I just might grow to like you, wolf.”
He turned back to Vorlyk. “So what’s your plan?”
Silence met his inquiry. Looking around the room, all eyes but the vampire’s looked aw
ay. He knew he wouldn’t like the answer.
“We need to get out of the jungle and rendezvous with the wolves,” came Zenya’s troubled voice.
“Okay. What’s the problem?”
“The cats will kill us.”
“If I’m with you, I understand, but if I leave separately why would they want to?”
Vorlyk spoke. “They hold me by threatening to kill my clan. And, yes, we’re small, but this is my clan. They will kill my cats on sight if they’re caught leaving.”
“So what do we do?”
“We leave anyway. But it won’t be easy. Most of the vampires are in Canada meeting with the northern alliance. I don’t think they’ll receive the help they want, but they’ve gone in force to add pressure. There might be a couple left behind. In a day or two someone will notice the body switch Zenya pulled off and every cat in South America will be out for your blood. It will take at least five days to cross to the territorial border once you’re ready.”
“What happens after we cross the border?”
“Then the fun really begins, because the wolves will try to kill us.”
“What’s your destination?”
“Amy and Marcus.”
“Do they know you’re coming?”
“No.”
“Do they want you?”
Zenya broke in vehemently. “Yes, they do.”
Nicolas turned to her. “Can you telepathically communicate with Amy?”
Clans communicated with their same clans telepathically, but he had no idea if it worked across species lines.
“Yes, but the cats have a vampire who can intercept telepathic communications and we don’t know where he is. I haven’t been in touch with Amy or Marcus since two weeks after I left. I’m sure they think I’m dead.”
“I guess you need to explain exactly why you need me.”
“When I left and came here, Amy and Marcus declared me a traitor and placed a bounty on my head. It was the only way to keep me safe from the cats. We need you to offer safe passage when we run into the wolves.”
Nicolas looked at Vorlyk. “Tell me about your clan.”
“They’re all female. Talya is the youngest.”
“How fast can she travel?”
Fang Chronicles: Zenya's Story Page 3
