Vampire's Hunger

by Cynthia Garner

  He hated that it had come down to this. But he had to admit—and hopefully not too late—that Maddalene had been on a downward spiral for at least the last decade. After Eduardo’s true death she’d gotten worse.

  Eduardo had been a sadistic bastard, but he’d been fair. Reasonable. And he’d somehow managed to tamp down Maddalene’s aggression and irrational tendencies. Since he’d been gone… Well, Duncan himself had been a recipient of her out of control behavior, hadn’t he?

  Now he looked across a room filled with nearly fifty vampires, all male. It didn’t surprise him that the women had sided with Maddalene, even though Atticus had expressed surprise. He’d been sure they’d have some of the females on their side.

  It didn’t matter. When it came down to it, male vampires were stronger than females, and they needed the brute strength if this was going to work.

  “Where is she right now?” Duncan asked, keeping his voice low. They still had guards posted outside in the hallway, but he didn’t want to take a chance of someone listening in and reporting back to the queen.

  “In her suite,” Atticus said. His silver eyes glittered with eagerness for battle. “You know her supporters will fight to the death.”

  “As will we,” one of the vampires said.

  Duncan looked his way.

  “We’ve all suffered, one way or another, from Maddalene’s lack of foresight. She treats humans as slaves, as pets, as things to be used and discarded, when they should be cared for and protected.” He glanced around at the others in the room. “I for one have no desire to try to gain sustenance from animals. We need humans.”

  “You don’t think they taste better if they’re scared?” Duncan asked.

  The man shook his head. “No, sir. It makes the blood taste sharp. Gamey.”

  Duncan inclined his head. “I agree. Blood given freely has a much richer taste.” He looked around the room. “Atticus and I, along with a select few, will take care of Maddalene. The rest of you… You know what needs to be done.” He clapped his hand on Atticus’s shoulder. “Let’s do this.”

  In the main hallway, he gave the vampires standing guard in the hallway a lingering look, putting all of his authority in his stare. Motioning toward Maddalene’s door, he rumbled quietly, “No one other than Atticus or me gets in, is that understood?”

  Each man gave a nod.

  “Let’s go.” Hardening his resolve, he moved forward, Atticus at his side followed by the rest of the rebels. He went still inside for a moment, realizing truly for the first time that he was on the side of this fight he’d never really thought he would be. He’d always been able to talk Maddalene down from whatever potentially disastrous action she’d wanted to take. But taking a whipping at her hand had driven home very succinctly that she no longer listened to him.

  They paused outside her door. Atticus looked at him and asked in a low voice, “Ready?”

  Duncan nodded. Without bothering to knock, he pushed open the door to her throne room and entered. Atticus and several other vampires followed. Maddalene’s four royal guards immediately formed a line between them and their queen.

  “What is the meaning of this?” she asked, her manner haughty and disdainful. “You have not been summoned.”

  Duncan ignored her for the moment and focused his attention on her guards. “Maddalene’s rule is over,” he told them. “Don’t let your vows to protect your ruler with your life end things for you as well.”

  To a man they straightened their shoulders and scowled. “She is still our leader,” one said. “We will adhere to our vows.”

  “So be it,” Atticus growled.

  Duncan took the guy to his left, grunting as the guard delivered a hard punch to his ribs. He was aware of the fight going on around him, of Atticus squared off with another guard, and the remaining two royal guards battling it out with four vampires loyal to Duncan. The others remained by the door, watching for a moment when they might be needed, and guarding the door against intruders.

  Duncan ducked a hand heading for his jaw and planted his fist in his opponent’s gut. He heard a grunt then a low snarl. The vampire came at him, fangs flashing, digging into the arm Duncan threw up to protect his face. Duncan growled at the pain and shook the other vampire off. After several minutes of both of them jockeying for position, he finally saw an opening. He feinted to the left, and as guard left himself open to attack from the right, Duncan pushed forward and sank his teeth into his opponent’s throat.

  The other vampire thrashed in his hold, but Duncan bit down and held on, and within seconds had drained the guard of enough blood to render him powerless. He let the vamp drop to the floor and turned to assess the situation.

  Atticus had defeated his opponent and the other guards were dead as well. That just left Maddalene.

  Duncan turned to face her. She stood tall and defiant near the wall of implements of torture she’d used to keep her subjects in line. She wore an air of nobility she no longer deserved. “You dare!” Her eyes flashed silver fire and long fangs curled over her lower lip.

  “Only because you’ve left us no alternative.” Duncan rocked back on his heels, willing to bargain with her because of what she’d once meant to him. “Step aside and we’ll let you live.”

  “Duncan.” Atticus’s low voice was little more than a growl as he came to stand at Duncan’s right side. He clearly didn’t agree with leaving the queen alive.

  “I will never willingly step down.” She gave Duncan a once over. “You once held so much promise,” she sneered and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Being around that little human has made you soft. Weak.”

  Being around Kimber, seeing the kind of strength, both emotional and physical, with which she faced each day, had inspired him. It had made him stronger. Better.

  “You’re wrong,” he answered Maddalene. “My time spent with Kimber and her friends has shown me how things could be. How they should be.” He took a step forward. “You rule through fear, Maddalene, and it’s unnecessary. The world we live in is harsh enough already; there’s no need to bring that harshness within these walls.”

  She lifted her chin. “You’re a fool. You speak of harshness.” Her eyes narrowed. “Fear and power are what our kind understands. They respond only to strength. And humans…” She trilled a laugh. “Humans are food. They’re not friends. Or lovers.” She glanced over his shoulder, and he partially turned to follow her gaze to her human attendants who cowered near the chaise. “They’re pathetic, weak fools,” she said.

  As he turned back toward her, she leaped forward, fingers curled, nails ready to rip into his flesh. He reared back, managing to keep his face from being damaged, but couldn’t evade her nails raking down his neck. He hissed in pain and slapped her hands aside.

  Her answering scream was one of rage. She came at him again, slamming into him with force, taking them both to the floor with bone-jarring desperation. Her eyes flashed silver fire at him; spittle dripped off her fangs as she brought her face closer to his. “You think you can defeat me?” she rasped. “A youngling like you?”

  “I must.” He wrapped his hands around her upper arms and struggled to hold her away from him. “Your insanity cannot be allowed to continue.” He finally was able to gain some traction with his feet and brought them up to shove her off of him.

  His effort tossed her halfway across the room, where she landed on her back. She sprung to her feet and, moving with the kind of speed only the oldest of vampires had, was back upon him before he could do much more than stand. He darted to the side and managed to cage her in his arms from behind. Taking advantage of the situation, he bit into her neck where it met her shoulder. Thick, hot blood coursed down his throat, the blood of an ancient, giving him the additional strength he needed to defeat her.

  She shrieked and twisted out of his hold. Her gaze, when she met his, held her acknowledgment of what he’d just realized—her blood would contribute to her own downfall. She gave another scream and came at him
like a madwoman.

  Dodging her outstretched arms, he wrapped one hand around her throat and slammed her against the wall. With his other hand he caught her wrists and held her confined. “Your problem, Maddalene, is that you’re overconfident. You think that you were able to whip me because of your authority?” He let his lips pull away from his fangs in a smile. “You whipped me because I allowed it. Because it wasn’t yet time to show my hand.”

  Sounds of fighting bled through the walls. He leaned forward until their faces were inches apart. “Your rule is over. Submit to me and you can find your new place here.”

  She snarled and fought in his hold like an angry wildcat. “I will never submit!”

  “Have it your way.” With the hand around her throat he lifted her and slammed her onto the floor. Faster than a blink Atticus knelt on her other side. As one, they bent over her and sank their fangs into her soft, giving throat. Duncan steeled himself against any tender feelings he might have felt toward her. She had saved his life and he had repaid that debt many times over in the last two centuries. While Atticus kept drinking, Duncan lifted his head to stare down into her face.

  Her sad yet defiant gaze met his. “If Eduardo had been at my side, you would never have won,” she whispered. The light went out of her eyes and her body slumped.

  Atticus stood and let out a roar of victory. He grabbed Duncan and yanked him up. “It’s over, my friend.” He ran his tongue over his teeth, swiping away the last of Maddalene’s blood. “Let’s get the rest of them under control.”

  * * *

  Two hours later Duncan sat on the steps that led to the platform containing the chaise. They’d won, and he’d never been so exhausted. As his supporters flowed into the room, he pushed to his feet and held up one hand for silence. Once everyone had quieted, he looked out over the gathering. “We fought hard today and won. Let us not lose sight of what we fought for—an end to tyranny. From this day forward, we will build a community of respect. Yes, there will be rules, and there will be strict punishment for breaking those rules, but no longer will we be ruled by fear.”

  A cheer went up. When it ended, Atticus said, “By vampire law, the second-in-command is the successor to the king or queen. Duncan, however, has asked that you choose who is to lead us.”

  “Duncan!” one voice shouted.

  “Why don’t you lead us, Atticus?” someone else asked.

  He shook his head. “I am not a leader, my friends. Not like that. Give me a battalion and I’m happy. Give me the entire army and I’ll be miserable. As would everyone else very soon.”

  Laughter sounded.

  Duncan called for attention. “Let’s have your vote, then,” he said. “Who do you pick to lead you?”

  His name echoed through the chamber and satisfaction filled him. He could do this. He would do this. And the first thing he would change was the way humans were viewed.

  “We will have two new humans under our roof tonight—Kimberly Treat and Natalie Lafontaine. They are personal friends of mine and from this point forward have sanctuary here.” He looked out over the group. “They are not to be harmed.”

  Heads nodded in affirmation.

  “Zachary, would you please take those two,” he motioned to the former queen’s attendants, “and make sure they rest and are cared for?”

  “Of course.” A dark-haired vampire walked over to the two men who, after exchanging a few words, rose to their feet and followed him out of the room.

  Duncan dismissed the rest of the vampires and sank back onto the steps. Atticus sat down beside him. “Report,” Duncan murmured.

  “We lost fifteen. All of Maddalene’s followers are accounted for. Dead,” he added before Duncan could ask. Atticus rolled his shoulders. “I’ve been waiting for this for so long, it hardly seems real.” He glanced down at his bloodied clothing. “Well, except for this.”

  Duncan grimaced. Human coups were rarely bloodless. Vampire coups were never bloodless. He’d been sincere in offering Maddalene a place here even while he’d known she would never accept. She’d always had an excess of pride.

  “Something else we’ve been talking about,” he said to Atticus. “I’m putting you in charge of recruiting. We need humans here. They will eat well and be taken care of, and in return they will offer their blood. Emphasize to recruits that it is mostly a painless process and they will give no more than they would at a blood drive like hospitals and charitable organizations used to hold.”

  Atticus nodded. “You can count on me.”

  Duncan snorted. “With that pretty face we’ll probably be overrun with humans wanting to be donors.” He smiled at Atticus’s dark frown. “Just don’t be too successful, all right?” He clapped a hand to his friend’s shoulder and sobered. “Thank you for your support and friendship, Atticus. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

  “Ah, hell. Who’s being all pretty now?” His grumbling was belied by the twinkle of humor in his eyes. “Go get your woman. I’ll mop up here.”

  Duncan stood and watched as his friend went over to the back wall and pulled down a sword. He walked over to Maddalene’s body and, powerful muscles flexing, he sliced through her neck.

  Gritting his jaw, Duncan left the room. He knew the beheading was necessary—it was the only way to ensure Maddalene would never be revived. Someone should have done that to Eduardo, but of course Maddalene would never have allowed it.

  He took a quick shower and dressed in clean clothes. Ten minutes later he walked through the front door of the café and smiled to see Kimber sitting up and looking alert. She had color in her cheeks and clarity in her eyes. He went to one knee beside her and clasped her hands. “You look better. How’re you feeling?”

  “Better.” She gave a soft smile. “Still a little tired.” Her gaze searched his face. “Aodhán and Natalie filled me in on what was going on.”

  “Yeah, we pretty much had to sit on her to keep her from running to the compound to help,” Natalie said with a snort.

  Kimber grimaced. “I was worried.”

  He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her soft palm. “Your worry was a useless expenditure of energy, sweetheart. We won. Maddalene is dead.”

  “It’s about time,” she muttered. She stroked her fingers down his cheek. “And you’re all right?” She leaned back a little. “You look all right, but you’re not hurt?”

  “I’m fine.” He drew her to her feet and planted a quick, hard kiss on her mouth. “But let’s get to the compound now and away from zombies. We can catch up once we’re secure.”

  Duncan led the group back to the enclave, glad to be able to make the trip with only a few zombies in the way, easily dispatched by the cadre of guards. The guards split away from them once they entered the main gates, and Duncan, Kimber, Natalie, and Aodhán proceeded to his suite.

  In the aftermath of the battle, a dozen vampires stood guard in the hallway. He beckoned four of them into his quarters. “I’d like you to stand guard inside on either side of the door. For the time being, only Atticus is allowed access to these rooms. If anyone other than him gets in, kill them.”

  The four guards nodded.

  Natalie sighed and plopped into a chair, her legs straight out, arms hanging on either sides of the chair. Duncan walked down the hallway, his hand at the small of Kimber’s back, and pushed open the door to the bedroom, guiding her inside. Now that it was all over, he felt like he could sleep for a week. After he made love to Kimber for a week. Or a lifetime. But there were other matters to be taken care of first. He helped her get settled onto the bed and pulled the covers over her. She was still exhausted, and the trip from the café had taken a lot out of her. Her eyes drooped and within seconds she was asleep again.

  “So I’ll be going, then.” Aodhán paused inside the doorway.

  “Going?” Natalie yelled from the living room. She appeared behind Aodhán. “Going where?”

  “Back to my people, lass.” Aodhán kept his voice low and looked at
Duncan. “The only reason I’ve stayed as long as I have is because I promised you I’d look after Kimber. Now there’s no more need.” He paused. “I assume she and Nat will be staying here.”

  “Yes.” Duncan scrubbed the back of his neck. “The vampires who support me have the same philosophy as I do about humans. Kimber and Natalie have been given sanctuary here. Everyone here recognizes the sanctity of that promise.”

  “Good.” Aodhán turned to Natalie and without another word yanked her into his arms. One big hand cradled the back of her head and the other clamped onto her ass to haul her as close as he could get her. His mouth slammed down onto hers.

  Duncan watched with one brow raised. He’d known there was attraction between the two, but Aodhán had never acted on it beyond verbal taunting and a kiss here or there. Nothing like this. This…

  This was a kiss good-bye.

  When Aodhán released Natalie she staggered. He held her until she was steady, then stroked his fingers down her cheek. “Be safe, mo chroí.” He turned away from her and clasped hands with Duncan. His bright blue eyes burned with regret and determination. “Take care of yourself, my friend.” He turned toward Kimber and leaned over her to plant a kiss on her cheek. She never stirred. “Good-bye, mo chara.”Aodhán’s lips curved with a slight smile and he walked out without a backward glance.

  Duncan glanced at Natalie to see a tear drip down one cheek. “That’s it?” she asked, bewilderment lining her forehead. “He’s leaving, just like that?” Her face hardened and small fists clenched. “The hell he is.” She stormed out of the room and Duncan heard her yell, “Aodhán, you big freaking fairy bastard! Get back here.”

  With a smothered grin, Duncan turned back toward the bed and saw Kimber staring at him with wide eyes. “Why do you do that?” she asked in a soft voice.