Vampire in Conflict

by Dale Mayer

  "God, yes," he exclaimed. "I only went this way because it seemed like there was no other option."

  Tessa nodded. "I'd wondered."

  "Tessa?" David asked. He'd stepped up to her side. "What are you doing?"

  "I'm thinking we could use this one." She shifted her hand to Lew and then to a second man. "And maybe him."

  "Hey, what about me. I can help," protested the third man who Cody had flung to the side.

  "You're not my problem. That's up to the Human Council. As far as I'm concerned, you're a dead man walking."

  "What? Why? What are you talking about?"

  "Well, the vamps will know that you were cornered, and very soon they'll come looking. Did I mention there was talk of other blood farms? Ones we didn't find?"

  He collapsed to his knees. "No! You have to help me."

  "No, I don't." As she went to turn away, she stopped at the accountant and did something strange. She reached out a hand and tugged at a cloud of blackness from the man’s belly. "There's some kind of implant here."

  He gasped. The others gathered around. Rhia couldn't believe what she was seeing. Not only was Tessa in complete command of the situation, she was the only one who was. Cody and David both deferred to her, and damn if Goran didn't as well. He stood at the back, the silent, surly watch guard, just hoping someone would make a wrong move.

  She missed what Tessa did, but suddenly she held up a small metal pill-sized object. She handed it off to David casually.

  He held it up. "This looks like the implant you had, Tessa."

  Rhia stiffened. "What?" she said furiously.

  Serus called to David. "Likely the same lab."

  Tessa stood in front of Lew, and damn if he didn't open his eyes and smile gratefully at her. "Thank you. There's been pain there for weeks."

  Cody reached down and hauled the man to his feet. "Remember, your agreement. If you don't, I'll be sure to bring Tessa back for a visit."

  Instead of cringing, the man said, "I'd like that." He smiled at Tessa and reached out a hand. "Thank you."

  Rhia stared in shock as her daughter shook hands with one of the men who'd attacked her.

  She said in a furious whisper to her husband. "What the hell has happened here? Where is my daughter? What have all of you done to her?"

  ***

  Now that things were calming down, David pulled out his phone and checked for messages. He'd had it on mute since before arriving at Councilman Adamson's. They'd left so fast he hadn't had a chance to change the settings. Crap. Four messages. All from Wendy.

  He listened to the first one, spun, and grabbed Cody by the shoulder. "Listen," he ordered and held the phone up for both of them to hear.

  Cody's face turned from surprise, to shock, and finally fear.

  "Oh no. Not Ian."

  "What about Ian?" Goran said, nodding at the phone. "Is that boy in trouble again?

  David nodded and set his cell phone to replay the messages then called his parents over. Tessa stood behind him. When everyone was within hearing distance, he replayed all the messages. Wendy's teary voice filled the air as she tried to explain what happened and where she was. She ended the last line with, "Please hurry."

  David immediately called her back. When she answered the phone, he ran a tired hand down over his face. "Wendy, I'm on the way. Stay exactly where you are and make sure you can be seen in public. If anyone tries anything, scream like hell. We'll be there in ten minutes. Got it?"

  "Yes," she said, her voice trembling. "Thank heavens you called. Please hurry."

  "We’re on the way."

  David closed the phone. "Okay, this is bad. In a big way. We have to get Wendy, and now I'm terrified about Jewel. She's in the same place as Ian."

  ***

  Wendy slumped into the big scoop chair. Her heart was slamming against her chest when two men sat down not far from her. She'd been prepared to ignore them. They were young, after all. Then they'd started pointing and making snide comments.

  As a single lone female, that was always a problem, but the mall should have afforded her some protection. Instead, she was wondering if she hadn't played into the assholes’ hands. The place was almost deserted. Then again, most vamps would be sleeping or safe in their houses right now. However, like many human teens, the young vamps hung around to look cool. Or to look for trouble.

  She didn't want any trouble. In fact, she'd be happy to never have any more trouble ever again.

  She checked her phone. Nothing new. Once again, she searched the area. No one she knew. A few people came and went. No females. And that made her leery. There should be female vamps here. Shouldn’t there?

  She sank lower into her chair. And closed her eyes.

  Hurry, David.

  She didn't dare think about Ian. Or what those assholes could be doing to him. It was the endless unanswered questions swirling in her head about what and why that was killing her. And the thought that Ian might already be dead.

  Another young male joined the two that had been sitting and watching her.

  This was getting scary. She sent another text to David. The last thing she wanted was to have her friends walk into a trap.

  Chapter 12

  Tessa bowed her head against the oncoming headache. She knew the blood farm cleanup would be a bitch, but she hadn't really thought to be involved at this level. She'd been devastated to be left behind at home while her family had taken off to mop up. She'd hoped to be included in a minor way. That was it. And yet it seemed like it was once again on their shoulders to sort this mess out.

  Well, she'd done what she could here.

  Good thing. Ian was next. No – Wendy. She didn't know how many people were at the mall for Wendy to hide amongst, and that was a problem. The vampire mall wouldn’t be busy right now given that it was daylight outside, yet for that reason it had an underground entrance like so many of their social and business venues.

  Tessa glanced around and caught the eye of the Councilman she'd deemed to be free of the black energy earlier. She walked over. "We have to go. Can you handle these guys?" She motioned to the various humans around them.

  He nodded. "We've got this. Your parents came to ask for our help to stop the rioting. We see now that it's partly our fault too and will do what we can to help."

  He held out his hand. She shook it. Her parents stepped forward and shook his hand as well. Sian said, "We can coordinate our methods to make this as clean and least damaging for both our people."

  Tessa left them talking and headed over to David, who was already walking out the front door. "David, wait up."

  "You stay here. I'm going to pick up Wendy. I need to take her home. We can plan our next move from there."

  Tessa waffled. She didn't know if she should go with him. Or go to the school and talk to the principal.

  Cody made the decision for her. He said, "We all stay together, David. If the humans are rampaging, we shouldn't be separated."

  "And our parents?" David asked.

  Tessa stopped and turned back to see her parents in heavy discussion with Sian and the Councilman.

  "They don't look ready to leave. Maybe they can get down to business now," Goran said, standing at the edge of the commotion. "Serus won't leave your mother, and I'm not leaving you kids. So that's how this gets divided."

  Tessa shrugged. "Works for me.

  David stood impatiently at the door. "Come on. We have to hurry." His phone rang at that moment. “It's Wendy." After answering it, he held it up for the others to hear her speak.

  "David, where are you? There's a group of vamps hanging around here. I'm getting scared."

  "We're on the way. Hold tight." He raced out to the car, yelling back. "Let's go."

  Tessa followed him. They were in the car and racing down the street in seconds.

  She hated to think of anything happening to Wendy. Thankfully the mall was close. They ripped into the underground parking lot and came to a screeching halt. She had the d
oor open and was running toward the stairs when she heard the others call her.

  "The elevators will be faster, Tessa." David called.

  She shook her head. "Maybe, but they are more dangerous."

  She was through the door and halfway up the first flight before she heard the others behind her. Once at the mall level, she walked quickly toward the spot Wendy said she'd be.

  "Wait up, Tessa."

  She turned and tossed Cody a big grin. "Why are you so slow?"

  He grabbed her arms and said in a low voice, "Wendy texted again. She thinks the group is after her. Either waiting for someone else to arrive or waiting for more people to leave so they won't be noticed."

  Tessa stopped and checked their position. Wendy should be just around the corner. Ahead, a group of three young males loitered. And damn if their energy wasn't completely black.

  Tessa studied their faces. She didn't recognize any of them. Cody, do you know these guys? They have to be your age. Have you seen them before? Their energy is black.

  Cody walked slowly forward to her side and studied them.

  No. One maybe I've seen with Jacob, but not the other two.

  Strolling along quietly as if looking at the store windows, Tessa wondered when the men would notice their presence.

  They aren't very aware, are they? she asked mentally.

  No. Maybe they are too young for this. Or just tired. Or…he sighed. Maybe they have nothing to do with this mess and they are totally unconcerned. Not everyone is a bad guy.

  Do you think Wendy was imagining these guys?

  Not necessarily. But remember in the blood farm after being chased? It seemed like every vamp we met after seemed to be against us. As if our perspective at the time was slanted.

  Tessa did remember. She'd thought, hoped, that stage of looking at every vamp sideways was over.

  David passed and walked around the corner, purpose in his step. The men sat up and watched.

  Here we go, she said. Asshole alert.

  The men stood up and followed David.

  Tessa and Cody tracked them. She didn't know where Goran was, but he'd be around.

  And likely show up when least expected.

  ***

  David sped past Tessa and Cody doing their mind thing. He couldn't stop the thread of tension running down his lean body. If Ian was in trouble, then Jewel was in trouble. And that he couldn't handle.

  Tessa and Cody were safe together, so where the hell was Jewel? He'd texted her several times since hearing from Wendy and so far nothing. He'd tried calling, but it went straight to voice mail. He'd also tried to contact Ian.

  Next he planned to contact Motre. Many of his friends had been in that same damn hospital. Although none of the others that David knew about had been drugged the same number of times that Ian and Jewel had. If he wasn’t so suspicious, he'd think they'd kept the two of them in longer for more testing. Now he figured they wanted to see the results of their earlier work.

  David noticed the three punks lounging in the chairs. There were young males always hanging out here. With a game shop and an all-night blood club around the corner, Wendy couldn't possibly have picked a more dangerous area to be alone. She wasn't as striking as Jewel or as unusual looking at his sister, but Wendy was one of those curvaceous females that always had men sniffing around her.

  That Ian had won that particular contest still surprised David. Then again, maybe not. Ian had gone quiet with more excuses to not go out these last few months. David had been grateful as it had given him time with Jewel, so he hadn't paid much attention to what the others in the group were doing. Of course, Tessa had noticed.

  Up ahead, he saw a small collection of scoop chairs. But no sign of Wendy. Shit.

  Wendy stood up from where she'd been hiding on the far side of the last chair. "Oh thank God, David. I thought you'd never get here."

  She threw herself into his arms. "Please tell me you didn't come alone?" she said nervously, her gaze locking on something behind his shoulder.

  David turned to see the three punks standing behind them. He curled a lip. He hoped they tried something. He was in the mood to tear them apart.

  Behind them, his sister and Cody moved into position. David grinned and called out. "There's enough to share. Don't you be getting greedy."

  Cody called back. "Nah, they are all mine."

  The three men stopped and looked from one group to the other. One man swallowed convulsively, his huge Adam’s apple bobbing with his words. He tried to back away from the other two, his hands out in front.

  "Hey, no need for talk like that." He motioned to the door in front of Wendy. It was one of the exits that led outside. "We were just leaving."

  David snarled. "Then go. We'll watch to make sure you make it."

  The one man furrowed his brow, then took several steps forward.

  "Hardy, don't be an idiot."

  The third man never said a word. He spun around and grabbed Tessa.

  Then put a knife at her throat.

  ***

  Cody hated surprises. And not seeing the third man make his move was one of those unpleasant ones.

  He growled and stepped toward Tessa. Don't move, Tessa.

  She closed her eyes. I wasn't planning on it, but now that you mention it…she lifted her hand to grab the arm around her throat.

  Cody watched, wondering if she could do that energy trick.

  No, I can't get to his energy from this position.

  Take it easy, Cody said. We'll get out of this.

  Yes, we will, but I'm still pissed at getting caught. She glared at him when his lips twitched.

  I didn't even see him make his move, Cody admitted.

  Yeah, he was fast. Too fast. Tessa said somberly. He's on enhancements. In his case, I'd have to say they are working.

  Great. Cody shifted his mind to the possibilities when the asshole spoke.

  "This is how we're going to play this. We want the other girl. And you want this one. So we'll swap. Straight across."

  Do it, Tessa whispered into his mind. As soon as I have a better position, I can take this one out.

  Cody hated to do so, but regardless of what agreement he made, he'd never let these assholes leave with Tessa. "Fine," he said, his voice cold and edgy. These guys had no idea how close they'd come to death. But they'd find out. In about three seconds.

  "Move over to the other male. And send the female over to me."

  "Ha. You three back up," Cody snapped. "Both women can step into the middle and then move to each side."

  The man seemed to consider it.

  He stepped back as if to follow instructions.

  And Cody watched his forearm tighten. The bastard was going to slice Tessa.

  I know. I just need…

  And damn if her nails didn't elongate and stab into the man's arm.

  The man screamed, the knife falling from his arm as she spun and did her weird hand thingy. Cody jumped the guy with the big Adam's apple. He went down without a fight. Damn it. He hadn't meant to knock him out. He spun around to find David holding his male in a headlock on the floor. Yes. Now they had someone to answer questions.

  Tessa, on the other hand, hadn't bothered with the niceties. It looked like her guy was dead.

  "Damn it, Tessa. I wanted to kill that guy," he complained.

  She crouched beside the downed man. "Do I let him live?" She turned to look at the other two. "It's different now that we're not in the mine."

  "He's big in the organization."

  "But not everyone had a choice, so we'll give him one chance." Tessa nodded, reached down, and waved her hand quickly. The guy gasped for breath.

  "Of course, I might have left it too long," she said. "There could be some permanent damage."

  The injured man continued to gasp for air, and then he shuddered and opened his eyes. He focused on her. And groaned. "You must be Tessa."

  She curled her lips. "And you must have a death wish."


  He shuddered. "I think I just stared death in the face."

  "You did, and I brought you back. Don't make me regret it."

  "Then you should have killed me," he said quietly. "Now my father will just have to do the job."

  Cody walked over to stand behind Tessa. "Who is your father?"

  "Councilman Baker. I'm Vince."

  Tessa shook her head. "He was one of the Councilmen we weren't sure about, Adamson brought him in to help early on. Him and Councilman Wilson."

  "They are running the hospital together."

  Cody reached down and hauled the kid to his feet. "And speaking of that hospital, what the hell are they doing to our friends?"

  The kid coughed several times. "Checking the results of all the drugs they'd administered. And giving them more."

  Wendy cried out at the news. David hauled the conscious male over, Hardy, and dropped him by Vince's side.

  "You do realize these are vamps like us," David said, dragging the Adam's apple guy over.

  Hardy shouted. "You don't get it. We weren't part of that whole gross blood farm thing, but the team is out of men. You killed off their up and coming vamps so we've all been pressed into this. It's your fault we're in this mess in the first place."

  David shook him hard. "Do you think we care? We've been attacked and damn near killed a dozen times, and still this isn't over. We want it to be over. We want out. But instead our friends are captive again – when they should have been safe."

  "There is no out. Don't you see," Vince said. "There is no safe. This is it. They have the power and they aren't going to let go. There's no school anymore, there's no business future. It's with them or against them." He leaned back and closed his eyes. "And now that we've failed, there is nothing left for us."

  "Maybe there is." Tessa stood up. She studied the energy of the three men. "What drugs are you taking?"

  "Who knows," Hardy spat. "We don't have a choice with that either. They took samples of our blood, cross-referenced it with something else and bam…." He collapsed onto the floor beside his friend. "We're given something based on the results."