Blood on the Moon

by Jennifer Knight

He came closer to me, his mouth by my ear, smooth voice just a whisper. “I want him to watch as I drink the life from your veins, as your warm blood flows into my mouth and through my body. I want to see him suffer. And then I am going to kill him.” I smelled his breath, ripe with the rot of decay, and had to suppress a gag. “His little lookout will tell him I’ve returned and then we shall have some fun.” He smiled at me.

  As horrifying as that speech was, something about it stood out. It didn’t seem as though Vincent knew the entire pack was coming. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he kill me now and leave before they got here? He must have thought Lucas only elicited the help of a few. He had no idea what was coming.

  But I knew better. I knew it was only a matter of time before the fury of the pack descended on Vincent—and me.

  A tremor of alarm rippled down my spine as I realized I’d still be here when the werewolves arrived—if I lived that long. Would they know not to attack me?

  Somehow I didn’t think so. I knew without a doubt that I had to get out of there, and fast. There wasn’t a chance I could fight Vincent so that meant talking my way out of this. Vincent seemed fairly confident in his ability to kill Lucas. Maybe I could weaken it.

  “How do you know Lucas won’t kill you?” I asked, surprised at how normal my voice sounded. “It’s the full moon.”

  Vincent’s black gaze sharpened on me. “Lucas and I have fought when he is at his strongest more times than I can count. He has all but killed me time after time, but never once has he delivered the death blow.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because no matter how much he hates me, a part of him remembers what we were. Brothers.” Vincent’s voice was cold and uncaring. “Lucas will not kill me tonight,” he went on with supreme confidence. “I have no fear of that.”

  “And you don’t think your feelings for him will get in the way?”

  Vincent sneered at me. “I have no feelings left for that dog. I will destroy him tonight.”

  Dread consumed my thoughts as the force of his words hit me, and I was unable to speak anymore. How in God’s name am I going to get out of this alive?

  “All this concern for your mongrel,” Vincent said speculatively. “But none for yourself. Does it not concern you that I’ll be biting you in a matter of minutes? That you will die tonight?”

  Oh, it concerned me all right. But I wasn’t about to let him see it. If I was going to go down, I might as well do it my way.

  “So go ahead and do it,” I challenged. “Bite me.”

  Vincent’s left eyebrow twitched up and he chuckled deeply. I looked away. “I will miss your spunk, Faith. It makes you such a joy to be around. Almost as though I, too, am alive.” I felt his eyes on me, but I didn’t look up. “I do not have to kill you, you know.... There is another way.”

  I frowned, confused.

  Vincent leaned into me, brushing the hair away from my throat. “The one I serve has burdened me with the task of creating new vampires to join our army of undead . . . many more vampires.” He regarded me thoughtfully, his face much too close to mine. “It is quite difficult to turn a woman, especially a young woman.... Their souls are so rooted to their bodies that it is hard to separate them.” He smiled evilly. “And they taste so sweet it is hard to stop before you kill them. Hence, the abundance of bodies you humans have been whining about.” He stroked my throat with a wintry-cold finger. “Apologies, but I did do my best by them. Is it my fault they’re so delicious?”

  I kept my face blank, but inside my mind was racing. Was he actually doing this? Telling me outright that he was the serial killer as I had suspected all along? It even made sense now that the only victims found were young women because Vincent said they were harder to turn. And if that was the case, there might have been tons of others he had successfully turned that the human world had written off as runaways or missing people.

  And it was just as Rolf had said. He wasn’t doing this on a whim; his superior was making him do it. But why? Why would the vampires let Vincent risk their most guarded secret—their existence—just to create more vampires? Couldn’t they do it and still remain inconspicuous? After all, that’s what they’d been doing for centuries.

  I had to try to find out more. But I couldn’t be too obvious or else I risked Vincent growing suspicious and killing me before I could manage an escape. I tried for nonchalance, putting my hands into my hoodie pocket and shifting my weight.

  That’s when my pulse skyrocketed and hope shone in my chest like the rising sun.

  The stake.

  It was still in my pocket from when Lucas had given it to me this morning. He’d said it probably wouldn’t do me any good, but now I could have kissed him. If I could somehow manage to distract Vincent enough I might be able to stake him and get the hell out of there before the werewolves showed up.

  But I had to stay calm. I couldn’t let him suspect anything.

  “You serve someone?” I asked, trying to seem only vaguely interested. “What, like you’re a slave?”

  His vibe prickled with annoyance. “I serve only the one who created me and no other being—living or dead.”

  “Is that because you have to or because you choose to?”

  “I do it because it is vampire law,” Vincent said. “To refuse the word of my sire would put me at the mercy of the strongest vampires on this earth. No vampire crosses them without good reason.”

  “So do they know your sire is letting you leave exanguinated girls strewn all over Colorado?”

  His eyes glittered malevolently in the moonlight, seemingly pleased that I’d figured out he was the killer. “Of course. They ordered it.”

  “And why would they do that—let you leave your corpses lying around in the open? Doesn’t that risk your entire existence? What if the humans find out about you?”

  His perfect lips twisted into a smile. “Soon it will not matter if the fearsome humans discover us,” he mocked.

  I faltered. “But why not?”

  “That is not for your human ears to hear, sweet Faith.” He reached out and touched his clammy fingers to my earlobe, tugging on it gently.

  I flinched with disgust. “You’re forgetting about the werewolves,” I said, trying to keep him distracted from me. “They’ll never let you continue doing this.”

  “Let us?” He released a barking laugh. “As if those canines let us do anything. We are vampires, little human. We do whatever we like. We need no permission from a pack of mangy mutts whose existence on this earth is soon to be at its end.”

  My body went numb. “What are you talking about?”

  Vincent’s eyes became manic. “We will destroy them!” he exclaimed. “All of them, every puppy, bitch, and brute out there! They will all rot under our feet where they belong!”

  I was silent, awed by his outburst. Somewhere in the night a wolf howled. It had a grating, violent undertone, and I knew it was a werewolf.

  Vincent heard it too. “He is coming,” he whispered in my ear. “Are you ready to die, Faith?”

  I lifted my chin, but I felt my bravado shrivel. Tears began to sting behind my eyes, but I pushed them away. Crying wasn’t going to help. I needed to act. Fast.

  I took a breath to calm my nerves. I needed to think of something to distract him—throw him off for just an instant. That would be all I’d need.

  Another shrill howl sliced through me and I cringed.

  “Are you frightened?” Vincent asked in a low voice.

  I made my voice strong. “To die? No. Death is easy compared to living without him.” I gripped the wooden rod with sweaty hands, readying myself. “That’s why I—I want you to turn me.”

  That was it. The second I needed. Vincent’s eyes widened with shock, and I whipped my hand out of my hoodie. I plunged my hand toward his heart.

  But that second of shock wasn’t long enough. Vincent swatted my hand away and the stake rolled off into the shadows. He gripped my wrist in a vice and snarled in my face.

>   “That was very stupid,” he said.

  My wrist felt like it was on fire despite his frigid skin, but I remained strong. “Can you blame me?” I grunted. “Wouldn’t you do the same in my position?”

  “Challenge a three-hundred-year-old vampire? No. I would not be so foolish.” He pulled me closer to him, keeping me imprisoned in his iron arms. “But what a tantalizing suggestion you’ve made. Turning you, the love of my dearest enemy.” An evil hunger shone in his black eyes. “I must admit, I quite like the idea.”

  I struggled against him, refusing to let my fear show through my eyes. “Lucas is going to kill you,” I said through my teeth. “If you hurt me, you only ensure your own death.”

  Vincent’s eyes erupted with malice. “But what’s taking your precious Whelan so long to rescue you? Perhaps he has decided that you are not worth saving after all—that you are better off dead rather than alive.” His deathly white fingers traced swiftly over my throat, his nails ripping into my skin. “But don’t fret, Faith. I will still want you when you become like me, when your skin goes cold and the light fades from those delicious green eyes. We shall be together forever. An eternal torture for your beloved Whelan.”

  The thought was so repulsive I almost gagged as I tried to get away from him. I glared up at Vincent. I was no longer afraid that Lucas would come, I was praying for it. Whatever chance there was that Lucas would kill me was a hell of a lot smaller than my chances with Vincent. “Lucas is going to be here any second,” I yelled. “He’s gonna kick your skinny ass!”

  Vincent grabbed my face and squeezed so hard I heard my bones creak. I let out a cry of pain.

  “No,” he said viciously. “No one is going to save you. I am finally going to have my revenge on Whelan.” I felt my feet lift off of the floor, and I struggled for breath, kicking my legs wildly. Vincent seemed unconcerned. His voice was as cool as his breath. “I thought at first that I would simply kill you, but then that would leave you dead. And I have to say, Faith, that is such a shame. You are so lovely.” I saw his pupils dilate as the moonlight streaming through the window hit his eyes.

  Vincent continued, “Since I am under instructions to create new vampires, I might as well do two things at once.” He ripped my hoodie down over my shoulder, and I gasped from the cold. “And to make things even better, now I will have the added bonus of torturing you along with your mongrel lover. And this torture will last an eternity, sweet Faith. It never stops.” His hand stroked my cheek and his face glazed over with the ecstasy of feeling my skin. He placed me on my feet.

  I set my jaw, stubborn to the last millisecond of my life. “Lucas is coming,” I said.

  Vincent shoved my head to the side and ran his fingers over my throat. I felt my blood rush faster, betraying me. Then I felt Vincent’s lips just above my collarbone, and a scream tore through my chest. I pushed against him. Lucas wasn’t going to get here in time. Vincent’s lips broke into a smile over my skin, his mouth was like ice. I fought against him, but his arms were unmovable. Panic consumed me—this couldn’t be happening to me.

  “See you on the other side,” Vincent said over my skin. The tips of his teeth pressed against the hollow over my collarbone and terror took over. I screamed again, the sound ripping through the night.

  “Faith!” A voice sounded from behind us.

  Vincent froze and I heard a deep growling sound in his throat. I wriggled around enough to see who had called my name.

  It was Derek.

  He ran at us, his hand in the pocket of his coat.

  I screamed his name. Vincent let out a guttural snarl and launched himself toward Derek, but Vincent only made it a few steps. Then the sound of a gun going off rang through the night and Vincent’s body jerked. I gasped, watching him crumple to the ground.

  Stunned, I looked up at Derek standing in the doorway with Mark’s gun in his hand.

  22

  SACRIFICE

  Even from a distance I could tell Derek’s hands were shaking. I glanced from Vincent gasping on the floor to Derek, standing still as a statue. Vincent moaned, grabbing his stomach, but unless those were wooden bullets Derek had in that gun, Vincent was going to heal. Fast.

  “Derek!” I yelled. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came to . . . to make sure . . .” He was still staring vacantly at Vincent writhing on the ground.

  I threw my hands over my face. He’d come to make sure I was all right.

  “How did you even find me?” I gasped.

  “Followed the car,” he said blankly. “I got lost ... took forever to find you . . . Jesus, I just shot someone.”

  I couldn’t be happier that Derek had shot Vincent, but now he was in serious danger. I had to get him out of here before Vincent healed.

  “Derek, we have to go.”

  Derek seemed to snap out of it, his arms dropped and he started forward. He ignored me and asked, “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

  “No, but we have to leave. Now.”

  “Wait—shouldn’t we, I don’t know, call someone?”

  Vincent began to groan and grab at his chest.

  “Holy hell, is he still alive?” Derek said, gawking at Vincent.

  “Derek, let’s go!” I yelled.

  He didn’t need to be told again. Without a word, he took my hand and together we raced out of the barn. I threw a look at Vincent before smashing the door closed. He was on all fours now. He was healing. My heart stuttered.

  “Hurry!” I shouted as we ran for Derek’s car, parked out front near Vincent’s.

  We reached it, but Derek was having a hard time with the key. His hands were shaking badly.

  “Derek,” I pleaded. “Hurry.”

  The car doors clicked open and I began to get in.

  That’s when the barn door flew off its hinges, and Vincent stood silhouetted in the doorway. I screamed again.

  “Get in the car!” Derek yelled.

  I vaulted into it and slammed the door shut. Derek started the engine. And just when I thought we’d get away, Vincent appeared at the hood of the car smiling his evil smile.

  He cocked an eyebrow at me and then disappeared underneath the car. I heard Derek floor the gas, but we didn’t move.

  “What the—?”

  Derek’s question was cut off by my shriek. The car lurched forward and then back. I held to the dashboard, bracing myself as the car was lifted into the air. Derek and I were both screaming now.

  “Hold on!” Derek shouted.

  Then Vincent threw the car into the snowy field. We hit the ground hard and skidded several feet before coming to a halt. The airbags exploded, burning my arms and face. Before I had time to react, Vincent was before us again. He picked up the car and tossed it onto its side. I heard Derek cry out, cursing as he fell onto me. His window blew out on impact and glass rained down on us. I closed my eyes, trying to keep myself upright as I felt the car lift into the air again. This time Vincent threw it further.

  He obviously wasn’t trying to kill us or we’d already be dead. It was a scare tactic—and it was working.

  As we hit the ground again, I felt my head crack against the window. My vision swam, but I managed to stay conscious. Derek too, although he looked like he was in major pain. He lifted himself off me, gasping.

  I looked out of the window and saw that we were close to the woods surrounding the vast field—the very woods where I had first discovered this world. I found it morbidly ironic that I would die in the same place.

  Derek groaned and grabbed his sides. “I think my ribs are broken,” he rasped. “Are you okay?”

  “I think so, but—”

  Vincent tore my door off and yanked me out, dragging me away by my feet. He threw me to the side and I landed in a heap, covered in freezing snow and blood. I knew this was it. I knew my life was coming to a close, but Derek could still get out of here alive.

  “Derek, run!” I yelled hoarsely.

  But Derek had other plans. He pulle
d the gun out of his pocket and began shooting. The sound was deafening. One, two, three shots—he clipped Vincent in the arm. His pale face glowed with wrath. He made a hissing sound, clasping his injured arm.

  Then he turned his attention to Derek. He ran in a blur and jumped over the car, landing nimbly next to the driver’s side.

  Derek pointed the gun at him. But Vincent beat it away with a flick of his wrist and it went flying. Derek scrambled backward through the car, his eyes as big as dinner plates.

  “Run!” I clambered to my feet and raced toward them. “Derek, run!”

  But it was too late. Vincent seized Derek from the car and took hold of his face, shooting an ugly, triumphant look at me.

  “Say good-bye to your friend,” Vincent said, his fangs glistening with moisture.

  I started screaming, running and screaming. I couldn’t let this happen, not my Derek. I reached the car just in time to see Vincent lower his mouth to Derek’s throat.

  “No!” I cried.

  But Vincent’s fangs sunk deep into Derek’s skin.

  I dove forward and collided with Vincent. It was like hitting cement. My bones crunched, but Vincent didn’t even falter. I began beating his back, yelling. He shoved me aside as though I was nothing more than an irritating bug and continued drinking. I rammed backward into the car, hitting my head. I lost vision for a second and then saw Derek’s blood leaking into the snow, staining it deep scarlet.

  With what looked like a great deal of effort, Vincent pried his mouth from Derek’s throat and licked his lips. Derek was screaming, the sound delayed in reaching my ears, and it made my head swim with rage.

  Vincent shoved his sleeve up and bit his own wrist, not even wincing.

  “No!” I yelled.

  I ran at him again, not even caring that nothing I did would help. I wrapped my arms around Derek and pulled at him, trying in vain to steal him from Vincent. Derek’s body was like a limp noodle. He was paralyzed now.... The venom had already taken him. He was so pale. He was dying.

  But I wouldn’t let him become a vampire. I pulled at him, crying, but Vincent pushed me away again, harder this time. I went flying and rolled to a halt some ten feet away. My body was weak with exhaustion; it took every ounce of my energy to lift up to my hands and knees. I heard that shrill howling again somewhere in the distance—my werewolves, coming to save me . . . or kill me. Either way, it was too late for Derek.