“Josh?” Ethan leaned against the frame of the door. Josh’s face tensed even more as he looked over his shoulder toward him.
“What?” he asked through clenched teeth. Josh and Ethan made me wonder, had I a sibling, if the mere sight of them would antagonize me the way they did each other. But I guess if Ethan were that sibling, it would be possible.
Ethan jerked his head up, urging him out of the room.
Josh huffed out a breath. “Ethan, the decision has been made. Sebastian has agreed and she’s agreed. Either you get on board or you can take your issues with it somewhere else,” he snipped back.
“Out. Here. Now.”
Josh bit down on his lips hard. He jumped up from the bed and plodded out of the room.
“What!” he demanded just outside my door. “This is getting so tiring. Do I need to ask your permission to use magic? Big brother, may I please use magic today? Pretty please? I’d be ever so grateful.” He stated in a mock trivial voice.
Ethan snarled in a low voice, “You’re going into the lion’s den and asking for his help. Are you insane?”
“Isn’t that why you’re coming?” said Josh.
There was a long silence. “I don’t like this,” Ethan’s hard voice admitted.
“Big surprise. What else is new?”
“I’m not in the mood for your smart-ass mouth.”
“And I’m not in the mood for the overbearing big brother thing. What’s the purpose of me being part of this if all you want me to do is sit down somewhere and perform minor magic tricks that a child could do? Sebastian offered me an alliance because I can do things you all can’t. Let me do what I do best. Okay?”
Josh sighed heavily, “Ethan, I am not going to keep doing this with you. We will not have this discussion again.”
“You will have this discussion as many times as I need you to.” Ethan snapped back.
“No. I won’t. As far as I’m concerned, you can continue this argument alone. Go with us or stay behind and pout, I really don’t give a shit.” Josh’s quick footsteps trotted down the stairs.
Ethan called him several times without getting a response. Heavy footsteps pounced across the hardwood floor as he went after Josh. The discussion was far from over, no matter how Josh willed it to be.
Three hours later, I followed Josh to the large SUV waiting for us. Winter was already in the driver’s seat. Ethan leaned against the SUV, drilling Josh with a reproachful glare, which Josh tried his best to ignore. Josh disappeared after his brief argument with Ethan, leaving Ethan to deal with his unexpressed anger, a skill he hadn’t mastered.
I stopped short so quickly that Josh bumped into me. My eyes widened at the massive figure that stood in front of us. Although he stood on two legs and looked human enough, something about him just didn’t seem quite so. The visitor was well over six feet eight inches tall, with black hair cut so short that he was nearly bald. Arms the size of small tree trunks were crossed over his chest. His gaze was penetratingly intense, his face withdrawn. As he followed the others toward the car, his lumbering gait didn’t match the fluid movement of the other were-animals. His were slow, reactive and mechanical as though walking on two legs were unfamiliar to him.
“He’s a bear, a transfer from northern Montana. A couple of years ago, he had some control issues and Sebastian helped him,” Josh whispered in my ear. “If he were able to tolerate his human form, he could easily be an Alpha. He’s smart, strong and a born leader, but he is turned off by his humanity.” He continued, “He often stays in the woods in Canada, coming out as needed. Sebastian sent for him a couple of days ago.”
If I saw Dakota on the street or in a deserted place, I wouldn’t be able to move fast enough to get away from him. I was glad he was on our side.
Forty minutes later, we were just outside the city walking toward a creepy mansion. Okay, it wasn’t so much of a creepy mansion as it was a gray, two-story, stucco house at the end of a darkened street. Still, it felt like we were walking up to the creepy house in every horror movie imaginable where you would ultimately meet your doom. The property was shadowy, large trees blocking much of the view; not even the moon could offer enough light to see the path in front of us. Beautifully manicured privacy hedges created a verdant tunnel, forcing us into a single file as we traveled down an increasingly midnight path. I could feel my heart pounding through my jacket. And it didn’t go unnoticed that this vampire lived very close to the overpopulated city, which I doubt was a coincidence.
The door was unlocked. The vampire didn’t seem to have problem with unwanted guest. Or was he expecting us? We entered the bleak Victorian home slowly. Our footsteps echoed against the marble floors. The home was a show room—beautiful, stringent and cold. Intricately decorated silk-papered walls were adorned with classic art. The dark, cherry wood furniture was elegant, opulent and antique. Each marking on the sofa look distinctly handcrafted. An exquisite, pearl fainting couch was placed at the entrance of the living room. Grand, elaborate drapes framed the window and were pulled closed, darkening the room.
Josh took the lead, navigating through the house with ease. It was apparent this wasn’t his first visit. He stopped briefly at the top of the basement stairs to turn on the small wall lamp that was insufficient for illuminating the stairway. We followed him down the cavernous passageway surrounded by concrete walls and steps. It was cold and stifling. The slight glimmer given off by the small light at the top of the stairs made negotiating the deep steps difficult. Josh used his phone to light the remainder of the way.
The end of the stairway was pitch black. Josh’s phone wasn’t enough to light the large area. He pulled me closer to him as we moved further into the basement.
We entered a large room, muted torchlights hung from the wall casting a marginal amount of light. A tall, slender man, wearing black slacks and a black button-down shirt, blended into the darkness as he waited for us on the other side of the room. He faced the wall, his long, lanky, pale arms tucked behind his back. A red tie held his long, dark hair neatly at the nape of his neck. He was poised elegantly and remained motionless as we approached.
“Josh,” he breathed out, his back still to us.
“Caleb,” Josh responded formally.
When he finally turned to address us, we were confronted with a vampire with crimson eyes and a face so pretty that it was wasted on a man. Ruby colored lips curled back into a smile, exposing bloodstained teeth. He licked his lips and looked in my direction. My attention shot to Josh, who was focused on the vampire.
“So to what do I owe this pleasure?” he asked, exposing his fangs proudly with each articulation. He walked toward us in a manner that was far too spectacular for a grown man who wasn’t in a theatrical production. Each step and gesture he made was deliberate and flamboyant.
“A gift—for me? You shouldn’t have,” he whispered seductively as he moved quickly behind me. Holding my breath, I kept a steady gaze on Josh, who was surprisingly calm and controlled.
“You touch her, and you won’t live long enough to savor the taste,” Josh stated so casually you could have missed the threat.
He threw back his head and laughed boisterously, once again, a very dramatic and unnecessary gesture. Not that I was fond of vampires at this point, but I really didn’t like him. He was just—too. Too pretty. Too seductive. Too dramatic. Too stereotypical vampire. Yuck!
Josh looked around the room slowly and cautiously. His eyes narrowed into a sharp line; his expression grew intense. “Reveal them,” he commanded the flamboyant vampire.
Caleb smiled impishly. “It’s okay. Show yourselves.” With his command, we were surrounded by vampires as they stepped from the shadows. Winter’s hand went to the hilt of her dagger, Ethan assumed a defensive stance, and Dakota growled angrily.
“I see you’ve been busy growing your family,” Josh acknowledged. “The question is: Why are they here? Where’s the trust?”
He made a low amused sound. “You, I tru
st. I don’t trust your ill-tempered brother. His reputation of having a short fuse and a violent response is where my trust ends. You brought him in my home and I want to make sure he behaves.”
Ethan snorted, “And you think these newbie vamps can make me behave?”
“They’ll make every effort to.”
Ethan took several steps toward him and Josh put out his arm to stop him. “I need your help and have nothing to gain from violence against you.”
Caleb stared at Josh for a long time scrutinizing him. “Very well.” He waved his hand and the ten vampires disappeared again, although I doubt they went far.
“What can I do for my Josh?” he asked in a low, suggestive voice.
Josh frowned as he approached the vampire. “I need you to answer some questions.”
“Well of course you do. You never come by just to say ‘hello.’ Why is that Josh?”
Josh didn’t answer; instead, he gave the vampire a disapproving look. Caleb licked his finger then touched it to the air, “Um, your powers have strengthened since the last time we saw each other. Exciting!” he responded in a sultry tone. I wasn’t sure if he was indeed flirting with Josh or just trying to make him uncomfortable, but Josh remained calm and unmoved by it.
“Demetrius has the Gem of Levage and he seems to want Skylar. Why? What is the link between Skylar and the gem?”
Caleb waved his hand dismissively. “The Gem of Levage is a myth.”
“I assure you it’s not. Demetrius has possession of it and plans to use it. I need to know its function and how Skylar is involved,” he said, stepping closer to the vampire. Josh’s mannerisms were slow and deliberate, indicating that he was in no mood for games.
“How would I know what dwells in the mind of Demetrius?” Caleb challenged.
“Because he is your creator, your father if you will. Tell me. What’s your father up to?”
Caleb’s eyes became distant; he swayed slowly as though he heard music. Music that I assumed could only be heard in the head of crazy dramatic vampires.
“You know, I loved him dearly,” he admitted softly. “Not the way you would a lover, father or friend, but the way you love a god. He was indeed my creator, making me something that surpassed all that I could hope for. We spent 105 years together, feeding from whom we chose, taking what and who we wanted. Every desire we could imagine was fulfilled tenfold. It was a life that others only dreamed of. And then she came into it, Lilith. She was a controlling bitch who changed life as I knew it in the worse way. He created her but only lived to please her. She wasn’t good for him—for us, or the family. She was slowly killing him, but he was too besotted by her to see it. When I killed her, he banished me from his family. He chose her over me! Hundreds he has created, trying to recreate what we had together. Now he has another, but no one will ever adore him the way I did,” he stated ardently as he guided us— reluctantly—down memory lane.
Everything that could be creepy and inappropriate about this vampire was, including his unhealthy man-crush on his creator.
“Must I hear this tale every time we meet? I grew tired of it the first time,” Josh stated, indifferent.
Caleb shook his head cleansing himself of the memories. “I’m sorry that I bored you.”
Josh shrugged. “I need to use you as a conduit.”
“What do I get in return?”
“The same payment as usual.”
Whatever “payment as usual” was had Caleb foaming at the mouth with desire. He agreed quickly. Josh rolled his eyes, visibly annoyed by the vampire. I later found out that Josh allowed him to feed from him as payment. The magic that Josh held produced a state of euphoria for vampires that surpassed any high they could get from drugs.
Josh walked over to me. “I need to use you as well, Skylar,” he said in a low voice. He took my hand into his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. I trusted Josh, but it didn’t stop my heart from pounding so loud that I knew the others could hear it.
Josh took a knife and reached for the vampire’s hand. Caleb shook his head in declination, took the knife from Josh and sliced it across his own hand. Blood flowed freely from the opening. Josh took my hand gently. “It will only hurt for a moment,” he promised. As he slid the knife across my hand, I couldn’t stop the shriek that slipped out.
Josh cut his hand and took the vampire’s hand and mine into his. Josh’s chanted words started in a slow, easy cadence but soon flowed faster as his body jerked, becoming suspended in air. A pale, incandescent light surrounded him, producing warmth that enveloped the room. The room came to a harsh stillness. Without warning, Josh crashed to the floor and both the vampire and I flew back, hitting the ground too. The gates of terror and despair opened, sending havoc throughout the room.
Covered in darkness, I forced my eyes to remain open, trying to catch sight of something familiar. My body grew rigid—paralyzed as an unknown force overtook me.
“Make it stop," I plead to Josh through the darkness. It continued to consume me as I struggled against its effect. My screams from both pain and fear pierced through the silence of the room. The vampire grabbed me in the midst of the darkness. “No!” I yelled out, pushing against the force that bound me. The vampire disappeared from sight but not before sinking his teeth into my wrist and drawing blood. The pains from his bite, combined with the existing aches, were unbearable. Something had taken my voice. I could no longer scream. I felt a new form of fear.
“Skylar,” said Josh’s voice in my head. It was soft and comforting as he attempted to calm me. But it didn’t relieve the burning and tingling that engulfed me.
Josh leaned next to me, his hands brushed my face, his lips inches from my ear. He whispered. “A-na rische . Release.”
The darkness was lifted, and I was able to see my surroundings, but the binding still held like a cocoon, restricting all movements.
Ethan, Winter and Dakota were coming back to the standing position after being floored by the power that overtook the room. Josh stood and walked toward the vampire. Two fingers pointed toward Caleb as he used magic to hold him against the wall. The vampire struggled in vain to break free but remained immobile.
I was suffocating. I Struggled to catch my breath and shake myself free of the binding. My pain-filled shrieks filled the room, making it shake uncontrollably, throwing everyone to the ground once again. Caleb was freed from his position. The only person who remained standing was Josh. He rushed over to me and touched my shoulder as he began chanting. The binding released, breathing became easier and the burning and tingling subsided. I collapsed, nauseous and aching from head to toe.
Ethan knelt in front of me, pushing sweat-drenched hair from my face. “Are you okay?” he asked. Well, there wasn’t anything broken and I was alive; but I was far from okay. I nodded slowly, trying to stabilize my ragged breathing enough to speak.
“You cannot leave without rendering payment,” the vampire yelled.
Josh turned and the rage that radiated from him made me queasy. Ethan’s attention was pulled to Josh as though he felt it to. I just wanted him to stop as it trampled over me, crushing me to the ground. Ethan lifted me, cradling me close into him. Another roaring storm from Josh’s anger hit and I felt like something reached inside and twisted the fascia in my muscles. I cringed, digging my nails into Ethan, pulling into him.
“Josh,” he called in a low controlled voice, trying to get his incensed brother’s attention. He had to call him several times before he responded. His fury eventually diminished into a tolerable wave. Instead of feeling as if I were being ground into pieces, there were just sharp pricks against my skin. It was tolerable.
“Payment forfeited. You went after her. Count yourself fortunate that you are left with the sorry existence you call a life. You won’t be so lucky in the future.” The words spewed out his mouth like venom.
Caleb stalked toward us, his fangs exposed as he lost himself to his emotions. The were-bear growled and for a brief moment, the house seeme
d to rock in unison with the sound. The vampire stopped in his tracks just before Dakota grabbed him and threw him back into the concrete wall.
We left the house, leaving Dakota behind.
Minutes later he returned, his eyes no longer exhibiting anything remotely human. The hinges of the door screamed as he opened it forcibly. “As you wished, his life has been spared, though barely,” he informed Josh.
Skylar, said Josh’s voice in my head as I rested it back against the seat on the ride home. I tried to shake off the dull aches that rolled over me.
I didn’t answer him. Skylar, he called again a little louder.
I groaned. His voice pulsed into my head and made it ache more. Are you alright?
No, I responded silently, too weak to let words form on my lips.
What’s wrong?
I’ve gone mad, and now I’m hearing voices.
He chuckled, the loudness of it made me cringe. It’s just me. You haven’t gone mad. Besides hearing my voice in your head, are you okay? he asked softly.
That damn vampire bit me. I am really getting tired of vampires snacking on me. Other than that, I’m okay, I think. I shifted to find a position that was a little less painful. Josh, what was that?
That was magic, very powerful magic that got a little out of control; and for that, I apologize. His voice was strained and remorseful.
Did you get what you needed?
Yes.
Then you have nothing to apologize for. Things got a little more intense than anticipated.
That wasn’t like Fantasia at all. I was really looking forward to seeing a light show, shooting stars and possibly a dancing broom, I admitted languidly.
He laughed.
What did you find out?
Let’s discuss it later. I need to do further research to confirm the information. I trust Caleb within limits.
Moon Tortured (Sky Brooks Series Book 1) Page 16
