Feral Song

by Stephanie Bedwell-Grime

  “And the other truth you’ve never grasped is that you’re the monster.” She snarls the words from between clenched teeth. “No matter how many of us you create, you’ll still be the true monster.”

  A sudden impact sends her sprawling back into the gravel. She looks up to see Dax grasping Jeremy by the neck.

  “You’re wrong.” Dax’s voice is so filled with rage, she barely recognizes it. “I am the true monster. And I’m going to show you just how much of a monster I am.”

  Dax’s hands tighten on Jeremy’s neck as he raises him above his head. Jeremy’s legs kick furiously as he hangs in Dax’s grasp. An expression of pure fear crosses his face as he realizes Dax truly holds his life in his hands. And by the rage in Dax’s tone he seems inclined to end that life now.

  Dax’s head snakes out. It’s an inhuman movement, almost too fast for the human eye to register. Myah catches the glint of red-rimmed eyes before his mouth tightens on Jeremy’s neck.

  Jeremy issues a high-pitched shriek. He kicks out again, but Dax holds him in a vice-like grip. The sound of Dax’s swallows echo in the quiet air.

  Myah rises from the ground. She knows better than to get between a vampire and his prey. She’s been a vampire’s prey often enough. But no matter what he’s done to her, she can’t let Dax kill Jeremy. There is still too much that the authorities need to know from him. She reaches a hesitant hand toward Dax.

  “Put him down,” orders a voice from behind them.

  Dax raises his head and turns. His lips linger inches from Jeremy’s neck. Blood drips from the corner of his mouth to splash on the wound he’s made. His victim moans softly.

  Rodriguez approaches, gun drawn. “Let him go, Dax.”

  Behind Dax’s gaze the predator reigns. For an instant it shifts and Myah can see the humanity in him before the monster gains control again.

  “Release him and we’ll call it self-defense.” Rodriguez takes another step toward Dax, followed closely by Xandra. “Keep doing what you’re doing and it’ll be murder.”

  “There won’t be anything we can do to help you,” Xandra adds. “There are laws.”

  Myah watches the play of emotions across Dax’s face. The vampire in him desperately wants Jeremy’s blood. Beneath that veneer lurks the more rational Dax who wants to believe in the human system of justice. For a moment it appears like the monster will win. His head dips back toward Jeremy’s neck.

  Rodriguez inches forward. “Dax—”

  Abruptly Dax wrenches Jeremy away from him. With great effort he releases his grip and Jeremy sprawls awkwardly on the gravel roadway. In an instant Rodriguez and Xandra are on top of him. Myah hears the sound of Jeremy’s labored breaths and the snap of handcuffs.

  Rodriguez speaks into his radio. “We need a medic.”

  Xandra trades a glance with Rodriguez. “Do you think...?”

  He offers her a grim smile. “I guess we’ll find out once they have a chance to look him over.” He hauls Jeremy to his feet. “Come on, Landis. Your old cell is waiting for you. Guess we might have to reinforce the bars with silver...just in case.”

  Jeremy moans in reply.

  Dax is still standing in the road looking dazed. Myah approaches him cautiously. “You okay?”

  He gives her a curt nod. “I know you’re resistant to vampires, but stay back...just in case. Just until I get control of myself.”

  “We’re going to have take you in as well,” Xandra says from behind them. “You won’t believe the paperwork an unauthorized vampire bite generates.”

  “It was self-defense,” Dax says roughly.

  “Something like that.” Xandra grasps him by the arm, but doesn’t reach for her cuffs. Together they walk back toward the vehicles, trailed by Myah.

  Once back at the car, Dax appears more in control of himself as he turns to Myah. “I didn’t mean for you to see that. He—I was afraid he was going to hurt you. I shouldn’t have...”

  She can hear the regret in his voice. “No, you probably shouldn’t have, but it was nice to have a protector. I’ve never had one before.”

  That brings a ghost of a smile to his face.

  Xandra gives him a nudge. “Okay, into the car.” She looks at Myah. “Do you want me to send another car for you? Or do you feel safe riding with us?”

  Myah’s gaze snaps to Rodriguez who’s loading Jeremy into a more heavily-armored car. A medic has bandaged his neck and recommended further medical treatment and observation. There’s so much she wants to say to him, but she doubts she’ll have a chance to gain that closure. Despite the side of Dax he’s just shown her, she doesn’t want to leave him alone. Her testimony that Dax acted to protect her might be the only thing standing between him and charges. “I’ll come with you.”

  MYAH STANDS IN THE safe house’s kitchen. It’s been hours since she’s eaten and now that the adrenaline is wearing off, she surprised to find she’s starving. There isn’t much in the cupboards, energy bars, bottles of water and surprisingly a bottle of whiskey. She helps herself to an energy bar with a whiskey chaser and takes a seat at the table. The blinds are drawn against the morning light.

  Rodriguez has spirited Jeremy off to some high-security detention center where he’s being watched for signs of emerging vampirism. Dax is still with Xandra at the police station. After filing her report, Myah has been released to the safe house until the police can be certain none of Jeremy’s henchmen are roaming the countryside looking for more victims.

  Since it’s the middle of the day, the officers on duty are human, but Myah knows there’s a vampire officer upstairs in case of more supernatural trouble. Guess they don’t know quite what category I fall under, she thinks with a smile.

  Her thoughts are interrupted by hum of the garage door opening followed by thud of car doors closing and footsteps in the hall. She looks up to find Dax standing in the kitchen doorway.

  “Hey.”

  He’s cleaned up a bit since she saw him last. By his ruddy color, it appears he’s had some blood as well. If it weren’t for the memory of Jeremy’s blood dripping down his chin, she’d say he almost looked human.

  “Hey yourself. You okay?”

  “Tired,” she admits. “And too wound up to sleep.”

  “Yeah, me too.”

  “I hope they weren’t too hard on you at the police station.”

  He gives her a wan smile. “Not too rough, but appearances have to be kept up. Vampires have to appear as though we’re obeying the law.”

  “So no more vigilante biting?”

  Dax shakes his head. “Straight and narrow from now on.”

  He nods at her mug of whiskey. “May I?”

  “Sure.”

  He takes a sip and sighs with contentment.

  “Does that still get you drunk?”

  A shake of his head. “No, not anymore. But I remember the feeling and sometimes that’s enough.”

  Dax glances down at his torn clothing and brushes at a blood stain on his shirt. “I should really have a shower before I turn in.” He offers her a wry smile. “And maybe burn my clothes.”

  “They’ll probably want them for evidence.”

  He gets up from the table with a grimace. “They might.”

  Instead of leaving he stands awkwardly by the table. “Will I see you later, Myah? There are a lot of things I wanted to—”

  She holds up a hand. “Sure, later.”

  With a nod he turns and heads upstairs.

  His footsteps move across the floor above her. The bathroom door opens and she hears the shower turn on. She sits alone in the quiet for a moment before coming to a decision. Getting up from the table, she follows him.

  If she allows herself to admit the truth, she’s wanted Dax since she met him. Never has she felt so inexplicably drawn, especially not to a vampire. But Dax is different. He’s kind. He makes her feel safe. And somehow he’s become her personal protector.

  She pauses on the stairs. The house is quiet. She may never ha
ve a better chance.

  Surprisingly, he hasn’t locked the bathroom door. The knob turns under her hand and she steps into the steam-filled room. The shower door is glass and she’s treated to the sight of Dax in all his magnificence. His back is to her as he runs his head under the shower’s spray. She catches a glimpse of muscular shoulders tapering to a narrow waist and taut buttocks. He couldn’t be more perfect.

  Myah leans against the door for a moment. He hasn’t seen her yet. It’s not too late to leave.

  But then he turns and his eyes meet hers through the glass door.

  She’s committed now. He knows her intention.

  For an instant his expression registers surprise before his face breaks into a broad smile. He holds out his hand.

  His hungry eyes watch her every move as she strips off her clothes. He pushes open the shower door and she steps inside under the spray. His warm arms come around her as he pulls her against him.

  “Myah,” he murmurs before his mouth closes over hers.

  He kisses her gently, but she wants more. Her tongue slides between his lips, but he pulls away slightly. “Careful,” he whispers, and she realizes she wants him so badly she’s forgotten about his razor-sharp teeth.

  He tilts his head. “Let me.” His tongue teases her lips until she surrenders to him. And still he’s gentle with her, careful as he explores her, tastes her.

  He reaches behind him, grabbing the soap. And then his lathered hands slide down over her shoulders, over her lower back to caress her buttocks.

  She moves aside long enough to grasp the soap herself. Armed with the rich lather, she inflicts her own delicious torment on him, sliding her hands down over his lower back. His muscles tighten under her hands as she slides them over his butt. She can feel his interest growing between them.

  His mouth moves from her lips to rain a series of kisses down her neck. He pauses as he reaches her pulse-point and she gasps. But he leaves only a soft kiss there and continues down to her collarbone before dipping to take the peak of one breast into his mouth. She’s lost then as the sensations he creates go straight to her core. She keeps expecting to feel the scrape of his sharp teeth, but he’s careful with her, letting her know with each caress how precious she is to him.

  Dax moves his mouth to tease her other breast. He eases a hand between them to map the curve of her hip and explore the indentation of her navel. His touch continues downward. She gasps as his fingers locate their target and her knees go weak. He moves an arm behind her to support her. Her body responds in a way it never has for anyone else. The tension builds inside her only to release in a blinding wave of pleasure. The shower’s spray rains down on them muffling her sighs.

  He lifts her so her back is against the shower wall and positions himself between her legs. But he pauses there for a moment. His gaze searches hers.

  “Blood doesn’t have to be a part of this,” he whispers, his breath warm against her ear. “It can just be you and me.”

  In answer she lifts her legs and tightens them around him, putting him where she’s wanted him all along.

  The sensation of all that hard flesh inside her nearly takes her breath away. He begins to move slowly in and out and her body stretches to accommodate him. She follows his lead, settling into the rhythm he offers. But soon she wants more and she moves against him, quickening the pace until her body crests into another wave of pleasure.

  Dax tenses against her before uttering his own cry of release. She hopes the vampire police officer sleeping in the room down the hall hasn’t heard them. Vampires have keen hearing after all. She’s shocked to recognize that she doesn’t care.

  Myah allows her legs to slide to the floor of the shower stall. Dax releases her slightly, so they can finish washing off, but he keeps her anchored with his touch. He rinses the soap from her body before kissing her one last time under the spray. The water is cooling now. He reaches behind him to turn off the tap. Together they stand in silence for a moment.

  He opens the shower stall’s door, letting another puff of steam out into the room, and reaches for a towel. Gallantly, he hands it to her. They step out onto the bathmat, the steam rising around them in a warm fog. They take turns drying each other off. Their clothes lie in a pile on the bathroom floor, but she can’t even think of putting them back on. Not only are they covered in dirt from the road, they remind her of everything that went on back at the factory.

  Dax seems to have the same idea. He reaches for a clean towel off the rack and wraps it around her before knotting a towel around his waist. He stoops to gather up the clothes from the floor.

  Myah glances at the bathroom door imagining everyone in the house standing in the hallway listening. But when Dax cracks the door open, there’s no one there.

  He offers her his hand. “Come with me.”

  “We can’t just go to your room together. There are other people in the house.”

  His lips quirk into a slow smile. “There have been other people in the house all along.” He leans in to give her a soft kiss in full view of the hallway. “I’m sure they don’t care what we’re doing. And frankly, I don’t care if they do.”

  She rises to her toes to give him a kiss of her own before taking his hand.

  In deference to his vampire nature, his room is equipped with dark curtains. She can barely see the bed in the gloom. But he leads her toward it unerringly and scoops her up in his arms only to lay her down like a queen. Her towel falls open, revealing her to his gaze once more.

  The bed gives as he stretches out beside her. He runs a hand down her cheek, skimming her shoulder before continuing down over her hip. “You’re so beautiful.”

  Before she can say anything back, he covers her mouth with his.

  DAX WAKES IN THE SUDDEN way of vampires, instantly awake. For a moment the sound of heartbeat so close startles him. He reaches out a hand to find Myah sprawled across his chest sleeping soundly. The sound of her blood calls to him, but the way she’s put her trust in him douses the fire inside. After what she’s been through, that she trusts him enough to sleep with him humbles him. He runs a hand over her hair, smoothing it against her shoulder. Instinctively she turns her body to his touch. Even in sleep, it seems she desires him.

  He’s had relationships with humans before, but none quite like this. No one, human or vampire, has ever moved him quite like this. He is, he has to admit, entirely smitten. And the fact that he likes this new feeling surprises him even more.

  A sharp tap on the door rouses him from his musing. Myah awakes with a gasp, eyes searching for the source of the danger. He calms her with a hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay,” he whispers.

  “Sorry to, um, bother you,” says an unfamiliar male voice from the hallway. Evidently the shift has changed and new officers are on the job. His heightened senses tell him both that the sun has set and that the guy in the hallway is a vampire.

  “You’re wanted downstairs for an update,” the officer continues. “Ah, if you’re ready to get up.”

  “They know,” Myah says, her eyes wide in the darkness.

  “So it would appear. I’m sure that’s what they assumed when they didn’t find you in your room this evening. They are police officers after all.”

  She answers him with a light punch in the shoulder.

  “Tell them we’ll be there in a minute.”

  The officer’s footsteps echo back down the corridor.

  Myah’s gaze shifts to the door. “My clothes are in the other room.”

  Her words bring a smile to his lips, even though she probably can’t see him in the darkness. He’s seen all of her and yet she’s still so bashful. He pulls out of her embrace and reaches to turn on the light. Getting up he locates the towel she abandoned last night and holds it out for her.

  “Go find your clothes and I’ll meet you downstairs.”

  She steps into the towel, rising to brush his lips with hers as he knots it for her. “I can’t go out in the hallway like this.�
�

  Dax moves to the door and peers out. “The coast is clear.”

  After another brush of those teasing lips, she scurries across the hall.

  A FEW MINUTES LATER, they assemble in the kitchen.

  Dax is surprised to find both Xandra Wheeler and Dante Rodriguez there. He was certain they would just send someone else to apprise them of the situation. He glances from one to another. Despite everything that has happened, Rodriguez is wearing fresh clothes. The vampire police officer appears energized as though he’s had blood recently. Dax pulls his thoughts away from that topic.

  Xandra, on the other hand, looks tired and resigned, as though what’s happened has weighed on her. Dax can imagine why. When the first reports of Jeremy’s experiments hit the news feeds, it was also reported that Xandra was his daughter. The whole thing must have been a strain on her. The fact that new victims are being discovered can’t help her mood.

  Rodriguez addresses the group assembled around the table. “Our crew has finished combing the scene of the former school. They did find a substantial amount of lab equipment—which may help us in our investigation into Jeremy’s Landis’ experiments. Unfortunately they found little in the way of records.”

  Xandra leans forward. “So we won’t know who the rest of his victims are, unless they come forward.”

  “I might be able to help with that,” Myah says suddenly. “One of Jeremy’s tactics was to keep everyone separate. I didn’t know any of the other kids well, but I could tell you what kind of victim he was stalking.”

  “Any help would be appreciated. We realize anyone still out there who was subjected to Jeremy’s experiments would likely be wary, the more we know about what he was doing, the better we can help.”

  Dax shifts in his seat. He doesn’t want to ask about Jeremy, but he needs to know. He was the one who bit him. Despite the atrocities Jeremy’s committed, he may still want to press charges. “Any word on Jeremy’s condition?”

  Rodriguez clears his throat. “It would seem Mr. Landis is in the process of becoming a vampire.”