Ever After

by Heather McBride

  “Does Leo think he can cover up all the human deaths your coven leaves where ever they go? It’s insane, it’s not like the old days, which you know nothing about since you are a mere fledgling vamp. Yes, in the past vamps could pull of feeding on humans, and blame disease and accidents on their victim’s demise.” Will laughed and shook his head.

  “Today, well it is not that way. You and Leo all of your coven will face it one day.” I knew what Will was doing, he was buying time. If he could keep my idiot ex boyfriend Todd and his sidekicks talking long enough, Roth would get there to help him.

  Todd sighed and smiled at William. “We are masters at what we do, and you know it.”

  “We also don’t try to pose as humans and co exist with our food!” Kyle added with a sneer. “Leo makes sure we are never under any suspicion for the deaths we cause.” He winked at the other vamp, which they called Chad.

  “No, I think you’re wrong, one day one of you will get caught, and all of you will go down. I highly doubt the authorities will take very kindly to a coven of human eating vampires being around. You all will be locked up and have scientist doing testing on you, it’s only a matter of time.” Will argued.

  “No, don’t think so pretty boy, very un likely. Doc has under estimated his brother. Leo does nothing without thinking it through, you can be assured if that.” Kyle snapped. I worried they were getting bored, and I was right. Todd looked around the surrounding woods, he seemed on edge.

  “Leo will expect us back man, quit the peace talks with that guy ok?” Chad complained he seemed more nervous than Todd did.

  “Yeah, cut the crap Todd, we have a time schedule here, Leo will be pissed.” Kyle now moved closer to Todd, who was nearly within arm’s length of William.

  “Fine, look pretty boy, if you know where your pain in the butt little girl friend is, we will take you to Leo not to badly beaten. If we have to look for her ourselves and waist time we don’t have, well… you will be feeling it.”

  Todd was now in Will’s face. Will took a step backward quickly. I worried time had run out, Todd wanted to get this over with, and Roth was no place in sight. “You must know where she is, that’s why you’re out here, spill it now!” Todd snapped as he moved even closer to Will, who kept backing up. I knew if any of them hit Will, he would be hurt badly. I also knew he would try to fight them, of that, I was positive.

  “I have no idea where she is; thanks to you she may be dead. That’s just like you Downs, to prey on the weak and innocent. Did it make you feel more like a man when you slapped her and hurt her? Did you think you were some big thing because you hit women?” Will glared at Todd now, his rage and anger were building.

  “You sure have some gut’s Darcy. I will say that. It’s either that or you’re just a dumb ass, you haven’t got a chance against us alone.” I knew Todd was right, why was Will pushing him? I knew he wanted to buy more time for Roth to get here, but what he was doing now was suicide.

  “He knows we can’t kill him, you moron!” Kyle shoved Todd. “He knows Leo wants him back with the Dark coven, hell who doesn’t. Leo has made it clear to everyone he wants’ Vincent’s only true blood linked vampire, half blood or not back in the coven.”

  “Ok well whatever.” Todd glared back at Kyle, who stood staring at him with his arms crossed, clearly annoyed.

  “So, back to Corrine, tell us where she is already, don’t make me beat it out of you!”

  “You will have to kill me first. I would never tell you where she was.”

  “Too bad for you then.” Todd came after Will with that very statement; he ran right toward him, hitting him full force. I winced when he hit the ground dangerously close to where I was hiding. I could see the hit was bad, as Will got up very slowly.

  “It will take more than shoving me down, Todd!” Will yelled, he braced his body for another impact. I hated this, it was so unfair. Will was out numbered, and by all full bloods. I hoped and prayed, Roth, Taylor or any Follower for that matter would show up.

  “Really, is that the case?” Todd held his fists; up they circled each other like wild animals.

  “Todd, remember, he wants Darcy alive you idiot. If you kill him, you’re a dead man too!” Kyle warned.

  “To hell with Leo!” Todd yelled back, he was losing it. I had seen him do this before, at parties, and at football games. If someone ticked him off, he was ready to beat them to death. He wanted to be in control at all times, he hated to be told what to do. I was really shocked he had stayed with the Dark coven; it seemed to me he would be a rouge vamp, and travel alone.

  “To hell with Leo?” Kyle tilted his head sideways amused by Todd’s statement. “You are sealing your own death warrant, Todd! Leo will cut off your head and drain all the blood in your body, for even thinking a thing like that. I do believe he told you if you deviated from his set plan for retrieving William, he would in fact torture you than kill you!” Kyle said in a loud voice. I could see Todd, thinking over Kyle’s words.

  “Fine, but I never agreed to deliver him in mint condition. I will have some fun with him, before Leo get’s him!”

  “Whatever Todd, just don’t kill him ok, that’s all.” Chad groaned as he scratched his head, obviously frustrated.

  Todd moved again towards William, who this time did not move back. The two again circled each other, like two wolves set to attack. I scooted up, slightly to see them better, and hoping to see Roth come out of the shadows. Todd grabbed Will before he could move and twisted his arm, then threw him into a tree near me. I winced knowing it had to hurt him badly.

  I could see him get to his knees, he was holding his head. When he moved his hand, it was covered in blood. He had hit the trunk of the tree with the side of his head. He slowly got back up. Todd got close but this time Will punched him hard in the face and he feel backwards into a thicket of bushes.

  “Not bad for a half blood, but you will have to do better than that.” Todd laughed quickly getting to his feet. In seconds, he had his hand on Will’s throat and slammed him up against another tree, choking him.

  “Todd watch it. He’s not a frigging full blood, you’ll kill him!” Kyle was now holding the arm Todd was using to choke Will.

  “Get off!” Todd snapped he had a crazy look in his eyes.

  “Knock it off Todd, your cutting off his air, he’s a half blood he needs to breath damn it! I’m not getting executed because you are a damn nut job!” Kyle clamped his hand down hard on Todd’s wrist, he gasped in pain. “You are a young vamp; don’t forget you’re weaker than me that will be your first mistake. I refuse to take the heat for this if you kill this guy!”

  “Ok, “Todd rubbed his wrist giving Kyle a nasty look. I could see the hit Will gave Todd gave him a bloody nose as he wiped his sleeve. I was happy to see that. I put my head down, holding it up was too much. Todd began to look around the clearing, and I felt my stomach drop, he was sensing me. I had no idea how, but he was. I tried not to even breathe but it was no use. In seconds he was up under my little pine tree cave. I looked up, and saw into the eyes of a crazed man.

  “Well, now look what we have here!” He knelt down, touching my frozen hair. “A bit cold are we, not good weather for someone like you to be out in.” Will was instantly in front of me blocking Todd.

  “Get away from her Todd; she’s sick she can’t even move.” Will growled.

  “Really? Well to bad for her. I’m only going to carry out my orders, she dies William. Leo told me to kill her, when and if we found her.” Todd smiled evilly down at me.

  Will held his arms out blocking Todd, from me. I tried to curl back next to the tree but was too weak.

  “Move and let me finish this Darcy!” Todd stepped closer.

  Will shoved him back hard, as he tripped over a log and fell back wards. He hopped back up immediately, not even fazed by the fall. I knew I was in major trouble; they had made it very clear I was the one who would be dying tonight. Will, was ready again, as Todd rushed him, the two f
ell to the ground both swinging punches violently.

  They rolled across the ground right in front of me. Kyle and Chad remained motionless and silent as they watched. Todd got William by the throat once again, choking him. It was killing me to watch this, helpless to do anything to help him.

  “Stop it!” I shocked myself when I yelled. I could not watch this anymore. Todd gave Will a hard shove into another tree. Will was dazed, as he got back up off the ground.

  “Give up William; you know you aren’t going to win this!” Todd laughed, as he turned his head towards me, a glint in his eye sent shivers down my spine.

  “Now Corrine, you want us to stop, did you say?”

  “Yes.” I whispered looking down at the snow-covered ground.

  “Your wish is my command; we will stop, as I have grown tired of using your beloved William for a punching bag for now.” It was a split second later, and Todd was next to me, pulling me up on to my feet. I stumbled, as he shook me, making me stand next to him.

  “Stand damn you!” Todd yelled, jerking my arm so hard. I thought he would pull it out of the socket. I gasped in pain as his fingers dug in to my arm.

  “Please stop.” I begged, trying not to panic. William waited as Todd watched me.

  Will was now standing up, ready to move if Todd tried to hurt me. I prayed he wouldn’t. Todd was supposed to not kill Will, but if he got in the way of killing me, he probably would.

  “Get away from her Downs; you've done enough to her in this lifetime.” Will was walking toward us now, slowly.

  “Oh I don’t think I have, you see of all the things I have done to her, it’s never been what I really wanted.” I tried to pull away, but his grip was so strong, he would snap my arm in two if I pulled anymore.

  “You know what that is, Corrine? I have wanted to kill you for over a year, and now it seems I get my chance.” I was shaking so hard, I was not sure if it was from the bitter cold, or from fear. I looked at Will, who was watching every move Todd made intensely; he was ready to jump at him.

  “This time I will not fail. I am tired of you and as I will honor my word to Leo, you will in fact die here tonight.” I had no chance to think to move or to take one more breath after his last word.

  He pulled my body next to his. I could smell his cheap cologne, and the usual vodka on his breath. I turned my head away. I could feel his grip tighten, as he yanked the hair of my neck. I knew what he was going to do now; he was going to bite me, knowing I could not handle venom just yet. I struggled to break away.

  I started to scream as loud as I could. I looked to Will, who must have made a move toward Todd as Kyle and Chad. He had his arms pulled behind his back so he could not move. I felt hot tears streaming down my cheeks, as I tried to keep him away from my neck. The next instant, I felt it. Todd sank his new fangs deeply into the hollow of my neck. I was paralyzed in fear and in pain.

  I cried out as he took my blood, and poisoned my system with his venom. He held my head as he wound his hand up under my hair. I could hear William yelling trying to break away from Kyle and Chad. He screamed “no” repeatedly, it echoed in my head, as I felt the life literally draining out of me. I was getting weaker and weaker, my body started to go limp, and I slumped over on to Todd. He finally let me drop to the ground.

  “It’s true; half bloods do taste like fine wine, even better!” He said looking into my eyes, wiping my blood off his lips.

  Will was struggling violently to get to me. I knew I didn’t have long, as I lay there, my head spinning. The whole world seemed to be in slow motion now. I could see Todd go towards Will. It was then; I heard a crash in the woods. Roth burst out of the darkness, his eyes were pure black.

  “Will, hang on ok? I’ve got this!” Roth yelled as he plowed into, Kyle and Chad, knocking them over.

  Will hoped to his feet and ran into Todd; he hit him so hard I could hear it. Roth was behind him, he too slammed his fist into Todd’s back. Chad took off running, but Kyle went after Will again. Roth blocked him and grabbed both Todd and Kyle one in each hand. He rammed their heads together, which knocked them both out.

  Will was at my side, as Roth dealt with the idiots.

  “Corrine, my God can you hear me?” He pleaded; he took off his coat and covered me. He put his scarf around my still bleeding neck.

  “Yes.” I mange to whisper. He scooped me up in his arms, he was shaking too. I knew that fight had been too much for him, he was too weak to do such things.

  “Hang on please; Roth has Doc and Pratt coming.” I could see Roth on his cell phone, trying to tell Doc where to find us.

  “I can’t feel anything…nothing at all.” I closed my eyes, the effort to speak was nearly too much.

  “You can do this now; it will only be minutes ok. You can do this!’ He kissed my fore head. “I love you Corrine, please try for me love, and fight. You have to fight, don’t go to sleep, you have to keep talking to me ok?” I nodded, feeling the pain in my neck from Todd’s brutal bite.

  “It’s so cold, so dark here.” I felt delirious now; bright flashes mixed with waves of new intense pain came in waves through my already frozen and weak body.

  I could see flashed of my childhood. I wondered was it really true your life did flash before your eyes, right before you died. I even saw my mother, whom I had only ever seen in pictures. I was merely an infant when she passed. I reached out to her, she waved to me, but she was telling me to go back, away from her.

  I wondered why. Why would she tell me to go away? I had dreamed of the day I would get to see her, and now she was telling me to turn away from her. I felt sad, seeing her. She looked so real, and beautiful. I wanted to hug her and ask her if I was really dead.

  “Who are you reaching for?” Will asked. “I’m right here.” He wrapped my out stretched arm into his own.

  “My mom, she is here. I see her, but she wants me to go back.” I struggled to whisper.

  “Listen to her; it’s not your time Corrine. It is normal to see loved ones who have passed before us as we die, but she’s telling you it’s not your time now. You must listen to her love. Listen to her please.”

  Will’s voice was getting muffled, but I understood him. Slowly my mother’s image faded away. I knew somehow, it was not time for me to see her yet. I still had thing so many things to do here on earth, especially with William. I took a painful deep breath and did my best to fight the deep fog my body was trying to slip into. I felt so tired, and wanted desperately to just sleep, but the sleep I feared would be permanent, one from which I would never wake from.

  I watched Roth shove Todd and Kyle, down making sure they were in fact knocked out. I was amazed at Roth’s strength, but it stood to reason, he was a power lifter in his human life, and he was in the military as well. I was thankful he came when he did, or William would be dying as I was now.

  Chapter 28

  Roth’s Past

  Roth had been drafted to the Vietnam War shortly before his twentieth birthday. Will had told me the night before he was to be deployed; he went to China town in New York with some other guys from his barracks, to enjoy one last night at home. Roth had been separated, from his group and gotten lost, being drunk did not help.

  A woman, who he had stopped to ask directions from, attacked him. It was an elderly lady or she appeared to be anyway. The woman led him to a small house tucked in a back alley. She gave him some coffee to sober himself up with, or so he thought.

  The coffee turned out to be laced with opium, and it knocked him out cold. When he awoke he was in gut wrenching pain, the woman had bit his neck, and tied him to a steel post in her home. The woman turned out to be a vampire, and wanted Roth for a companion. She was not in fact old, but nearly his age and very beautiful.

  Roth stayed with her, for a number of years, until he felt he could no longer take human lives, to sustain his own. He wandered alone for several years, until he ran into Taylor who was a member of the Followers. Roth had not known other vampires existe
d that hated killing humans. He was relieved to know he wasn’t alone.

  Taylor brought Roth to the coven and to Doc where he stayed and found peace. It was amazing that I could think if Roth’s life story as I lay here, but so many things ran through my mind as we waited for Doc and Pratt to come for us.

  “Hurry up, she looks bad, that jack ass Todd bit her...” I heard Roth on the phone; his eyes were on William and me as he spoke. “No, he’s ok he’s beat up but not too bad. I knocked out those two, one ran into the woods. I have no vial, or I would have killed his ass!”

  I knew he was taking about Todd. I too wished he had a “vial” (of dead blood) of course. I hated to think after we left here, Todd would wake up and be even more hell bent to get me. Roth hung up and came to kneel next to Will. I could see how dark green his eyes were, as he seemed to be studying me.