by Fawn Lowery
He steeled his body as they ran at him again, kicking out one foot as the first vampire drew close. He managed to land a solid blow to the creature’s midsection, doubling him over and halting his attack. He lunged back just as another vampire sought to land a blow to his head, narrowly evading the savage fist. He barely had time to glance to his left before two of the vampires grabbed hold of his arms and shoved him into a dark alley.
His breath was knocked from his lungs as the pair slammed his body against a brick wall. A powerful knee caught his groin and doubled him over. A resounding blow landed on the back of his head. He felt his strength ebbing. He sank to his knees as lunging blows from feet and fists assaulted his shoulders and head.
Thoughts of Selena mingled with the barrage of pain engulfing his body. He gripped his midsection as the vampires continued to rain their ire upon him. Rage gathered inside him, growing stronger with every blow he took. He gritted his teeth and pushed his body up, leaning heavily against the solid wall beneath his back.
A flash of light lit the alleyway suddenly, giving sight to the carnage and halting the rampaging assault by the six vampires. Momentarily stunned, they paused to gaze about, giving Jarharis the break he needed to rise to his feet. Feeling the numerous blows dealt his body, he sought to recover his strength when he glimpsed Mi. She passed before his eyes so quickly that he wondered if he had really seen her then another flash of light rent the sky, illuminating the alleyway moments before a towering wall of fire appeared, flaming furiously into the darkness and separating Aston’s deadly vampires from Jarharis.
Jarharis leaned against the wall and gathered his strength, his eyes pinned on the licking red and yellow flames stretching up to the roof of the adjacent building. He could hear the torturous screams of the vampires trapped behind the inferno as the fire consumed their grotesque bodies. He listened and watched, until the cries ceased and the flames dissipated.
When the fire had burned itself out, he strode forward to investigate. Scattered ashes drifted about on the slight breeze and melded with the dust in the alley. The vampires were no longer on the earth, but in their final resting place within the earth. He sighed. His mind was weary. He wanted to crawl into his sanctuary and sleep.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Weary with the killings, Jarharis returned to his sanctuary. The sun was cresting the horizon as he pushed through the front entrance. His eyes went first to the couch and the sight of Selena asleep on the cushions. He breathed a sigh of relief. She was exactly as he had left her. He crossed the room and stood near the couch, gazing down at her.
His cock stirred in his crotch, though he was bone weary and nearing the time when he had no power. He kneeled beside her sleeping form and touched her hair, brushing a blonde curl from her cheek. He replaced the wisp with his lips, kissing her lightly. He had to awaken her. She couldn’t possibly remain there during the daytime. If she should awaken, she would go in search of him and possibly find him lying upon his safe bed, dead. She would surely learn then what kind of creature he was. And he feared she would flee his sight forever.
He sighed. She looked so innocent when she slept. He smiled. She was innocent. She had no idea about the creature that had fallen helplessly in love with her. Or the torment he harbored.
She must never know. He thought then of her words of love to him. She had spoken in the heat of the moment—for she surely harbored feelings for her dead lover, Philip. He felt remorse gather inside his body. Alas. It was too hurtful to think of Selena and another man, a mortal, together, sharing actual love.
He placed one hand on her shoulder and lightly shook her awake. He would send her away, off to her job and hope that she would be safe until the night came again and he could watch over her.
“Jarharis? What time is it?”
Selena stretched and sat up. Her blonde hair was tousled and Jarharis reached out one hand, caressing the pale mass. She was hard to resist. He heaved a sigh and stood, pulling her to her feet beside him. “It’s almost daybreak. You must leave.”
She stared up at him. Shook her head in agreement. Stepped around him and walked toward the door. “If I turn around and look at the house when I get outside, will it be there?”
“No.” He shook his head. He lived in a different world than she did. And there was nothing he could do to change things.
Her brows furrowed. “Did you find Aston?”
He shook his head, refusing to tell her how many other vampires he had murdered. “Be careful.”
She strode through the door and Jarharis turned toward his bed of fragrant earth.
* * * *
Jarharis awoke and rose from his crypt. He headed toward the front door. He craved warm blood to nourish his body. And he craved Selena’s delectable body to sate his ravenous sexual lust. He would feed first, gather his strength. Then he would go to her, take her in his arms and make passionate love to her. He pushed away the final thoughts that plagued his mind just before he sent her on her way that very morning. No good could come out of thinking about her with another man. Even a dead man such as Philip. He would enjoy her for as long as he could have her then he would wander the world bereaved when she passed.
Pushing aside the morbid thought, he left his sanctuary in search of a victim. The first he came upon proved to suffice and he quickly placed the man in a trance and bit his neck, drinking his fill before releasing the poor fellow. He swiped one hand across his mouth, wiping away the blood smears before turning toward Selena’s apartment and a night of lovemaking.
Reaching the brownstone where Selena lived almost the instant he thought about it, he was aghast to find her tiny apartment dark. For a second he hovered outside the glass window, trying to reason where she might be. She knew he would be around to check on her. Why had she left without telling him so?
He thought suddenly of Tanya Sills and the fact that she was still alive. He had told Selena that Tanya was to blame for the murders of her hunter cohorts, but he wasn’t quite sure she believed him. He stifled a shudder. Selena was vulnerable to Tanya’s tricks. She was too trusting by nature. He took to the air in search of Selena. There were two funerals pending for the murdered hunters. He would check the funeral parlor, despite the fact that Selena’s mortal friends weren’t too friendly toward him.
He found her standing near Kaleb’s casket, her eyes moist. He sent her a mental message from the back of the room and she turned toward him immediately. A sweet feeling traveled through his big body as she turned her head and locked gazes with him. She had received his thought and smiled her acknowledgment. He waited near the door for her to come to him, a powerful feeling wafting through his insides. He had issued her a command and she was in the process of obeying him.
“Kaleb was an asshole, but I’m glad they didn’t tear his body to pieces.”
Jarharis curled one arm around her shoulders and led her toward the front door of the funeral chapel. She was visibly upset and tears stained her cheeks. He wanted to comfort her, but wasn’t quite sure how to go about it. They walked out onto the sidewalk in front of the building. “I want to take you to my house where you’ll be safe.”
She shook her head. “I want to stay here, Jarharis. At least until the chapel closes at ten o’clock. My friends from work are stopping by.”
He shook his head. She wouldn’t be safe until Aston was destroyed.
“Go do what you have to do and don’t worry about me. Remember, I can take care of myself. I have my dagger in my boot.”
He rolled his eyes. “Your little dagger won’t protect you, Selena.”
“It certainly will. I know how to use it and I’m not afraid to use it either.” She raised both hands to her hips, daring him to argue with her.
He raised one hand and clasped her cheek. He would grieve forever if anything ever happened to her.
She smiled and covered his hand with hers. “Okay. I’ll wait here and you can come for me.”
After making her promise that she wou
ldn’t leave the funeral home for the evening, he gave in and left her there, though he had second thoughts about the matter. He realized he couldn’t persuade her otherwise. If she was anything, she was stubborn first. He shook his head and ran one hand through his hair. He would make it his top priority to find Aston that night.
Given little choices as to where he might begin his search for Aston, Jarharis headed for the nightclub district of the city. He gazed along the streets, becoming familiar with the area almost as much as those that frequented the clubs. In the back of his mind he considered purchasing one of the nightspots. Just as soon as the ordeal with Aston was ended. He would need something to fill his time.
Unless he left the area altogether. The thought had crossed his mind. And the thought of asking Selena to accompany him had as well. But then he realized that he couldn’t impose upon her in such a manner. She didn’t really know him as well as he wished she did. But circumstances dictated his living arrangements. What I do can hardly be called living. I merely exist.
You are feeling sorry for yourself, Jarharis.
He glanced up and saw Mi. He smiled then realized that he didn’t feel annoyance at her intrusion into his thoughts. After last night, he actually believed he was beginning to like the little imp. He thought suddenly of her comment about his two brothers. His brows furrowed.
Your brothers are safe. You have no need to be concerned.
How do you know of my brothers?
The Master knows everything.
Jarharis shook his head and let the matter drop. Where are we hunting tonight?
Along the river. The vampires are having a party.
He refrained from asking further questions. Regardless of the attendance, he was destined to go. What would take place was entirely another matter altogether. He only hoped that he survived the melee.
The moon shown brightly in the sky, surrounded by a million twinkling stars. As Jarharis followed Mi through the darkness, he thought about the night and longed to make love to Selena beneath the beautiful canopy of lights. He dashed the thoughts. He was out to kill—and nothing more.
He had never been to a vampire party nor thought about creatures of the night having such events. He perched in a tree along the water’s edge and looked down upon the gathering. Hundreds of males and females cavorted among the trees. So this is Aston’s legion.
A torch blazed in a clearing. Voices carried on the wind. Jarharis tuned his ears to the sounds, listening. Several of the vampires milled about the clearing suddenly, pulling an object along the ground.
Jarharis leapt from the branch and flew closer to the gathering to get a better look. As he stared at the commotion, others joined the gathering near the torch. The object was hoisted upward and bound to a tree trunk. Suddenly a piercing yowl rose above the voices of those gathered on the riverbank.
“Release me! I command you release me!”
Jarharis stared at the body bound against the tree. It was Tanya Sills. Her fellow vampires had turned against her. They were intent on killing her. But why? Wasn’t she as vicious as the rest?
A series of loud voices rose, each sounding angrier than the last. Jarharis listened and tried to make out the reason behind Tanya’s discord with the group.
“You betrayed me!”
“No, Aston! I did not!”
“You didn’t kill the whore. You let her live.”
“I thought she was dead! I swear! I thought she was dead!”
A shiver of anger sliced through Jarharis’s body. Tanya was indeed to blame for the deaths of the three vampire hunters. And Selena’s near death. He had suspected it from the start. Now he had proof.
“You shall die because you betrayed me.”
Jarharis watched as Aston reached a hand out to Tanya. She screamed as he clutched her throat. In the next instant the vampire lunged in for the kill, sinking his fangs into her throat. Savagely he tore at her neck, slinging his head and rending her body with his hands. Parts of her torso flew through the air and plopped audibly on the ground. Jarharis watched and felt no remorse for the victim. She was a murderous vampire like her killer. She deserved no consideration from him.
Momentarily the carnage came to an end and Aston shapeshifted then took to the air. Jarharis watched him leave the gathering, readying himself for the savagery he was about to bestow on the remaining partygoers. He decided on his plan—swoop in quickly and destroy them one by one—dismembering their heads from their bodies then driving stakes into their hearts—
He heard the horrid screams and glanced down at the gathering just in time to see the fire engulfing the area. One glimpse of Mi flitting above the blaze and he knew she had captured every one of the vampires within her fire ring. He felt relieved that the pixie had taken matters into her hands and not involved him in the carnage. He leapt from his perch and shapeshifted into his vampire body. Mi would probably insist that he make certain all the vampires were ashes before he left the area in search of Aston.
The fire intensified then momentarily ebbed, sputtering yellow and red flames as the final bodies were consumed and reduced to ash. When the flames ceased altogether, he walked among the ashes, satisfied that the vampires had been destroyed.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Mi had successfully burned the remaining vampires of Aston’s legion on the bank of the river, their skinny carcasses turned to ashes and blending in with the dirt. Jarharis felt relieved, but wary at the same time. Aston was still on the loose. He had to be apprehended and disposed of. He couldn’t rest until his existence was ended.
He resumed his search for the vampire. Since he had taken to the air once he had killed Tanya Sills without giving any clue as to where he was headed, Jarharis had little idea of where to look. As previously, he could only think of one place to search and that being the nightclub area of the city. It seemed that Aston had a penchant for that section of Brooklyn, assuming that was where he chose most of his victims. Jarharis reasoned that the vampire’s blood lust was high since he had murdered Tanya and that he would be on the rampage for another victim to sate his needs.
Jarharis had just arrived in the area when he suddenly had a feeling of doom. The sensation filled his insides and consumed his mind. He raised his hands and clutched his brow, his temples suddenly pounding. Thoughts of Selena came in a flash and disappeared immediately, leaving him troubled.
Jarharis!
He sprang into the air when he heard Selena’s frantic call. She said his name with all the fright that could gather in her female body. His senses tuned in to locate her, sending him off in the direction of the funeral chapel where he had last left her. A part of his being tried to deny that the tone of her call was less than distressful. He didn’t want to think about her being in danger, knowing he would blame himself because he went away and left her vulnerable.
He materialized at the chapel, on the sidewalk before the massive brick building to find it dark, the lights illuminating its front entrance, turned out. Panic gathered inside him. He approached the front door and quickly vaporized, seeping beneath the solid wood structure. The distress call from Selena had indeed come from her while she had been at the chapel. He could find no reason for her leaving without letting him know.
He heard the voices, angry, loud, coming from the lower level of the building. He quickly located the stairway leading to the storage rooms and traversed the distance below. He came upon a closed door, paused, listened.
“You’re a murderer!”
A loud spiel of laughter came from within.
“You killed my friends!”
Jarharis recognized Selena’s voice, distressed, high-pitched and anxious. He set his shoulder to the door, forcing it inward. The structure creaked then shattered as it gave way. Shards of wood splintered and burst into the room, opening the way for Jarharis to step through.
He saw Selena across the dimly lit room, on her knees, one hand to her throat. A shaft of rage engulfed his body as he jerked his gaze to th
e other figure in the room. Aston. He stood in the center of the floor, his hands on his hips, his eyes glowing red and his long fangs bared. He whirled around to face Jarharis, snarling his rage.
Aston forced a laugh. “Your hero has come to rescue you.”
Jarharis glanced from Aston to Selena and back again, staring at the vampire with evil in his gaze.
He bit me, Jarharis! He bit me!
Jarharis sucked in a quick breath, his fears realized. Anger as he had never felt before intensified within his body. He clenched his fists. He opened his mouth and bellowed loudly, expressing his rage at the cruelty of Aston. He lunged at Aston, determined to kill him.
Aston leapt into the air, bounding over Jarharis’s head. He landed across the room, his rage intensified on his face. His red eyes glowed as he displayed his fangs. He held out his hands and long sharp nails appeared.
Jarharis saw the transformation of the vampire. He held out his own hands and brought forth his razor sharp nails. He could slash the throat of any enemy that got too close. It would be a fight to the death between he and Aston. And he resigned himself to be the victor.
He charged Aston, his arms open, his fangs gnashing. He caught the vampire by the upper chest and rammed his body into the solid wall at his back, knocking the breath out of him. He lunged his head at Aston’s neck, meaning to drive his fangs into his vein and rip his head off.
Aston bellowed and brought his arms up, pushing Jarharis away. He stepped from the wall, his body rising off the floor as Jarharis tried to regain his footing. Aston snarled his rage, his face a contorted mask of threat and deadly savagery. He flew at Jarharis, kicking his feet into his chest. Jarharis sprawled backward, sliding across the polished floor and slamming into an empty coffin on a stand. The stand veered and the heavy casket teetered then crashed to the floor.
