BORNE VAMPIRES III:
WULF’S REDEMPTION
BY
W.M. PETZLER
‘Fear the night, children, for it has teeth and seeks to devour you.’
Copyright © September 2015, Wend Petzler
Cover Design © September 2015, Aaron Barton
Kindle Edition
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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
~For Charlotte, the best daughter and friend a mom could ever dream to have. I love you~
Chapter One
“Mayday! Mayday, we are going down! I repeat; we are going down! Please, is anyone hearing me?”
Static.
“Shit.” Sweat dripped down his forehead, right into his eyes, blurring his vision. Risking it, Dan swiped his arm across his face and quickly latched back onto the airplane’s violently vibrating yoke with a death grip. Together, he and Steve fought to keep the floundering plane’s nose in the air.
“Steve, we’re in deep here.” He sucked in air and let it out in a rush, making his decision. “I’ve got to go in back and wake ‘em up.”
“Dan, you can’t! They’re in sleep mode! Hell, even if you could wake them, they’ll fry in the sunlight!”
“We’re dead if I don’t try!” he yelled as he yanked his headphones off.
Resigned, Steve nodded. “You’re right. Okay, ready to let go?”
“Hang on tight!” Dan released his grip on the yoke. The plane dove. Steve braced his feet, straining as he pulled back hard on his yoke, successfully straightening out the plane … for now.
“Got it?” Dan asked, praying he did.
“Hurry, man, don’t know how long I can hold her steady!”
Unbuckling his harness and seatbelt, he made it to the cockpit door and opened it. “Shit!”
“What’s wrong?” Steve yelled, glancing back at him.
He shouted back, “There’s a freaking hole near the rear of the plane!”
“Are the coffins safe?”
Chrome coffins gleamed in the faint light cast through the jagged hole. “Yeah, they appear to be fine.”
“What the hell you waiting for? Wake Walker! He’ll know what to do!”
Struggling against the rushing wind and wild roller coaster ride as the plane bucked it, Dan made his way to the nearest coffin. Unsnapping the three locks, he managed to open the lid and sighed in relief. The man lying inside seemed unhurt. Dark gold and brown hair whipped about the man’s sleeping features, oblivious to the disaster befallen them. Handsome to the point of being too good-looking, there was in the set of his mouth the grimness of a man who’d seen too much in his life. Then again, Alexander Walker wasn’t human — he was vampire.
“Forgive me, sir. We need your help.” Shaking the unresponsive vampire to no avail, his gaze dropped to his wrists and an idea struck him.
Grabbing a knife off the bar, Dan cut his wrist as he hurried back to the vampire. Dripping blood onto Walker’s mouth, it had the effect he’d hoped. The vampire licked it off his lips. Without warning, Walker’s eyes flew open, glowing emerald-green in the shadows of the coffin. In a blur of movement, he was out of it, standing beside him. Fangs long, Walker paused. Surprise lit his features as he stared at the sunlight streaming through the torn side of the plane. In a flash, he was beside the other coffin and had it open. Inside was Kai Jordan and she appeared to be uninjured, too.
Shielding his eyes against the faint sunlight streaming in through the hole, Walker yelled at him over the roaring wind, his English accent sharp and precise, “What in the bloody hell hit us?”
“Don’t know, sir,” he shouted back. “But we’re going down!”
“Where are we?”
“Thirty miles west of Magdeburg, Germany.”
“Magdeburg?” The vampire’s eyes closed, as if physically pained by the name of the city. His eyes flew open as he cocked his head to the side, listening to something.
Walker shoved him toward the cockpit. “Put on your parachutes, the plane is lost!”
A whine split the air.
Running to the small, oval window, Dan saw the rocket sidewinding right for them. “Ah, shit!”
It made direct impact the plane’s tail. The explosion sent him and Walker flying upward into the ceiling before dropping them hard onto the floor. The tail of the plane splintered, metal shredded, screeching, as the wind grabbed it and ripped it clear off.
Dan screamed as he was sucked out of the cabin.
✝✝✝
The earsplitting growl of the engines sputtered, switching to a high-pitched whine as the plane plunged downward. Fighting his way back to the now upended coffin, Kai lay on the floor, still shut down. Alex lifted her into his arms. Conflicted about what to do for Steve, he heard the hissing of another rocket approaching. Gripping tighter his precious load, he leapt out of the plane by way of the missing tail, narrowly missing the rocket as it made a direct hit.
The blast was deafening.
Focusing, he partially shifted, growing bat wings large enough to carry him and Kai away from the raining fire and debris. What was left of the plane struck the forest below. The wreckage sent a massive fireball of jet fuel and flames shooting straight for them. He managed a burst of speed, veering away before the fire could claim him and Kai. Not that it mattered.
The full force of the mid-morning sun hit him. His face burned as sunlight touched him. There was nowhere he could hide. Smoke issued off his exposed skin. Damn, his hair was on fire! Gritting his teeth, he held onto Kai and made for the safety of the trees. Close. So close! Smoke and flames rolled off him, the leathery vanes of his wings ignited like crepe paper. Pain unlike anything he had ever endured in his centuries walking the Earth engulfed him. Blinded by blood and flames, he made out a huge tree below him. Quickly, he tucked himself closer to Kai just as his legs struck jagged limbs. Smacking the back of his head, he saw stars briefly. Unable to stop their descent, he braced Kai as they hit the ground.
Dirt exploded around them. Winded, he inhaled dirt and choked on it. Coughing made the agony he suffered intensify. At last he could draw in a wheezing gasps, he found his body was beginning to numb as his fried flesh made contact with the cool soil. Mercifully, the trees blocked out the glaring sun. Groaning, he forced his blistered and blackened hand up and summoned dirt to cover him and Kai. In the earth, he would heal and recover.
Before sleep overcame him,
the word so hated, so filled with anguish and torment arose in his mind. Magdeburg.
Aw, bloody hell.
Chapter Two
January 13, 1819, Magdeburg, Germany
“Alex, you must stop.” Lisle giggled as he licked the sensitive skin of her bared, inner thigh. “We cannot make love again. My husband will be home soon. If he finds you in our bed, he will surely kill us both.”
She gasped, writhing in delight as he advanced upon her womanhood and sampled her sweet nectar. Well-versed in the art of pleasuring a woman, he suckled and nipped at her tender flesh until she whimpered her desperate need for release. He lifted his head and grinned at her, refusing to give her what she craved. Moaning, Lisle bumped her plump, creamy white thighs at him, demanding he finish what he’d initiated. Instead, he rolled off the bed and walked in all his naked glory to where his discarded clothes littered the Prussian carpets. He tugged on his drawers, donned on his leather breeches, and laced them closed.
“Alexander, are you truly leaving me?” She stared at him in disbelief as he drew on his white dress shirt and dark green waist coat, quickly buttoning them.
Shoving the matching green silk neckcloth in his coat pocket, he sat down on the armchair set beside the bricked fireplace and pulled on his Wellington boots. “As you stated, madam, your husband will return home soon, and I’d rather not face the Magistrate over the infidelity of his lovely wife.”
Amused as she thumped her hands in frustration upon the bed, he held back his laughter as she wailed, “You are a cruel beast, Alexander Wulf! Why do you enjoy tormenting me so?”
He replied mockingly, “Why, dearest Lisle, I only profess to have your best interest in mind. To protect you, I must be on my way.”
Lisle jumped off the rumpled bed and snatched the filmy, sea-green robe draped across a silk, pink and cream striped settee and gracefully slipped it on. Pulling her long, disheveled silver-blonde hair from under her robe, she stomped to stand in front of him. Clenching her small hands into fists, she shouted, “You bastard! Never come to my bed again! You sicken me with your foppish ways.”
Slipping on his heavy, black wool coat, he shrugged. “As you wish. There are plenty of women in Magdeburg who would lovingly fulfill my needs.”
“Alexander, you will not touch another woman! If you do, I’ll make you pay dearly!” Lisle snarled at him, folding her arms across her ample bosom.
Chuckling at her, he spread his hands out, palms up, and inquired, “And what do you propose to do to me, Lisle, if I refuse to bend to your threat?”
Her light blue eyes narrowed to malicious slits and in the glow of the candles’ lit darkened to indigo. She hissed, “I’ll tell my husband what you are.”
His amusement vanished. Advancing upon her, he asked softly as he towered over her, “And what exactly am I?” He could see her fear as it clawed at her throat. Smelt it as she struggled to contain it.
Just when he thought she’d lost courage and would end her threat, a sneer curled her lush, pink lips. “A creature of the night, you be. You are vampyre. A bloodthir—”
Before she could finish, he grabbed her by the throat, yanked her closer to him. “Why think you I am vampyre?”
“You are never seen during the daytime. I’ve offered you food and have declined it!”
“Not that I need defend myself to you or anyone else, why would I be in town during the day when I am at home? As to food, I merely hunger for you whenever I call upon you,” he whispered as he tilted her head back, exposing her throat. Pressing his lips to her warm skin, molding them to caress her, he swirled his tongue along the soft muscles of her neck. She relaxed in his grip and moaned as he raked his teeth against her heated flesh.
“Alex, make love to me,” she begged.
Hovering his mouth above hers, he made to kiss her, only to withdraw. Observing her cheeks flushed with her desire, he found he no longer wanted her. “Lisle, I regret I must leave.”
“Will you return to me tomorrow night?”
Releasing her, he shook his head. “No, Lisle. I will not return.”
She blinked, breaking the sensual trance he’d woven around her. Fury replaced desire. “Then I shall ensure the good people of Magdeburg know what you are! I’ll wager your entire family is vampyres! You will be driven out of town!”
“Take care your threats, Lisle. I do not take kindly to them and deal harshly with those who issue them to me!”
“To hell with you and your threats! You can’t hurt me. My husband will protect me!”
Forcing a calm demeanor, he replied, “Mrs. Breber, I must advise you that spreading lies about me and my family is unwise. Point in fact; you have secrets you wish kept. For example, how will your husband, such a prominent and well-respected man of the law, react when he learns his wife spreads her legs like a common whore? Accusing me of being a vampyre would be minuet in comparison to his rage at your unfaithfulness, would it not?”
“Fine.” Lisle lifted her chin. “Go then. See if I care whose thighs you crawl between.” He released her and went to the window, opening it.
She screamed at him, “I hope your cock rots off, you bastard!”
Alex placed his black velvet top hat on his head, setting it at a jaunty angle. “My thanks for a pleasurable evening.”
Shrieking her rage, her delicate, porcelain features mottling. “I hate you! Leave my house immediately!” She thrust her finger at the window.
“As you wish, madam.” Tipping his hat to her mockingly, Alex heard his brother whistle outside. Sparing a glance down at the snow-covered street below, he saw Aldric waving at him. He returned the gesture him. Alex gave her a short bow. “Lisle, I am regretful our affair ended on such a sour note.”
“Sour?” she repeated as her eyes went wide. A blast of cold wind blew out the candles, leaving only the fire as light. Gazing upon Lisle, he drew back in alarm as her eyes became feral-looking in the reddish-glow cast the chamber. The skin along her cheeks seemed to stretch taunt, dark hollows formed under her eyes.
Her voice deepened as she spoke, “You bring death and suffering to the innocent. None of us will be safe from you. No one.” Her words lay heavy in the air, foreboding rippled in dark, menacing waves, and it left Alex apprehensive.
Before he could form a response, the shadows around her dispersed and she was the same beautiful woman he had bedded half an hour ago. Perhaps he should make her forget their affair? He made to take her into his arms when he heard his brother call out to him from outside.
“Alex, move your ass! We need make haste for Wulf Manor.”
Smirking at him, as if she knew what he’d intended to do, she dipped into a curtsy and danced away to the bed. “You should not keep your brother waiting. Dawn is only a few hours away,” Lisle said cheerfully as the vivacious woman he had bedded numerous occasions reclined upon the soft mattress and stretched out.
“Farewell, Mrs. Breber.” Ducking out the opened window, he stepped off the ledge and landed beside his twin brother, who was elder by ten minutes.
None could tell them apart. Identical in every physical detail were he and Aldric, with the exception of temperament. Aldric was quiet and scholarly, a gentle soul. Not him. No, he lived life to the fullest, enjoying every manner of mischief and trouble-making, behind their father’s back, of course.
Speaking of trouble, Lisle’s words haunted him. Perhaps he should return to her and take her blood, placing her under his power? No, if he did and his father found out he’d tampered mentally and physically with the Magistrate’s wife, there’d be hell to pay. No, he would have to trust Lisle would fear his telling her husband about her infidelity and keep silent her theory he was a vampyre.
“Alex?” Looking at his brother, he saw Aldric’s concern. “What ails you this early morn, brother?”
“I ended my tryst with Lisle Breber.” He started walking, needing to place distance between him and the Brebers’ tidy three-story brick townhouse.
“She did not
take it well, I gather?”
“No. In fact, she threatened to tell her husband details about me, or rather what I am.”
“The part of you bedding her or that we’re—” Aldric left his question hanging.
“The ‘or’ part. She has somehow managed to discern what we are and threatens to expose me to her husband.”
Stopping in his tracks, Aldric demanded, “How does she know what we are? We have been extremely careful since we moved here from Berlin.”
“I am clueless how she has gleaned such knowledge. I’ve never even fed on the woman! She pointed out I am not seen during the day and never witnessed me eating food. How she connected that to vampirism is beyond me.”
“Her conclusion is quite a stretch without witnessing us feeding or angered,” Aldric commented, appearing anxious.
Equally worried, Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I will watch her and discover if her threat is merely the jealous ranting of a jilted lover or if she seeks to truly bring me ruin.” Jerking his collar up to cover his ears more to ward off his uneasiness than the biting cold, he grumbled, “Where is our carriage? Herrick knows better than to wander off with dawn closing upon us.”
“At Post’s Livery. The horses were nervous, so I told Herrick to station the team inside where they would be warm and safe.” The mournful wail of a lone wolf broke the eerie silence belonging only to the early hour before the dawn.
Eyeing the dark slopes of the Harz Mountain, he said, “The horses can sense the wolves are near.” Inhaling the chilled air deep in his lungs, he smelt the dry, dusty scent, recognizing it as the coming of yet another snowstorm. Already the River Elba was frozen over and several feet of snow blanketed it, the city, and countryside.
“It is der Wolfmonat: the month of the wolf. And it’s proving the worst winter in Magdeburg’s history. If this foul weather does not break soon, life will become perilous for both man and beast. The mortals will be forced to send out hunting parties to subdue the wolves, who only seek to stay alive.”
Wulf's Redemption (Borne Vampires Book 3) Page 1
