Marked:
City of the Damned Book 1
An Everly Drummond Novel
Published by Everly Drummond
Copyright 2011 Everly Drummond
Smashwords Edition
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the Author’s imagination or are use fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Chapter 1
Sara startled and jumped off the couch as the book she’d been reading dropped to the floor with a loud resonating thud. Reaching over, she picked it up and placed it back on the glass coffee table that sat in the center of the room. Moonlight cascaded in through the open window, casting an iridescent glow over the sparse furnishings of her small midtown apartment, and the sound of the honking taxis on the street below could be overheard above the annoying voice of the infomercial commentator as it rang through the speakers of the dilapidated television that sat in the corner. Sitting on the edge of the couch, she rubbed her bloodshot eyes and did a double take at the clock that sat haphazardly on an unpacked box of dishes. No way could it be 3 o’clock in the morning! That meant that she’d been sleeping for over ten hours straight, but the move from Montana to New York had been exhausting, and with no one to help her, Sara had knowingly pushed herself far beyond her own physical capabilities.
At the age of 25, she had already graduated from the University of Montana with a double master’s degree in Computer Science and Media Studies, but no amount of studying could’ve prepared her for the tragic events that had recently taken place. Two weeks after graduating, Sara’s parents were on their way home from spending a weekend at the cottage when the car they were driving was struck head on by a drunk driver. It was then that Sara had decided to pack up and move to New York, wanting to be closer to her aunt and uncle, the only family she had left.
After the death of her parents, Sara had no choice but to sell her parent’s ranch. With the exception of her personal items, some clothing, and a few pieces of furniture, an estate sale was held by the local auction house, and the remainder of the items sold to the highest bidder. With the bills paid and the estate settled, not much money was left over, but it was more than enough for her to buy a small used pick-up truck and move to New York in search of a fresh start.
“Oh Phineus,” she cooed “what would I do without you?” Sara sighed and wiped away a stray tear that trickled down her cheek. The gray clump of fur pounced onto her lap, and with a resounding meow, purred contently as she gently stroked him. Aside from a few tattered photos and broken memories, Phineus was the only reminder left of home. He’d been given to her as a gift for her 10th birthday. As a child, Sara had never been fond of cats, or any animal for that matter, but the minute the old fat cat saw her, it was love at first sight. Over time, the two of them became inseparable, but just like Sara, Phineus had lost a piece of himself the day that her parents died. It was a grief they both shared and understood all too well.
The old fat cat protested as Sara shoed him to the floor and stood up. She stumbled tiredly towards the kitchen, groaning as the muscles in her legs protested against the sudden movement. It had been two days since she’d moved into the apartment, and still the cupboards were bare. Opening the door to the cupboard, she found three boxes of Toaster Tarts, a can of tomato soup, and an empty bag of cat food. Needing both cat food and something more substantial than Toaster Tarts, Sara slipped on her jacket and boots, and grabbed her purse from the table in the hall.
“I’ll be back soon.” She leaned over and gave Phineus an affectionate rub between the ears, smiling as he purred contently, and headed out into the brisk night air.
Luckily, the diner around the corner was open 24 hours, but then again, this was New York, the city that never sleeps. Even finding cat food at 3:30 in the morning was a fairly easy task. The cold air whipping against her face was invigorating, and after spending five days cooped up in the cab of a pickup driving across the country it was a welcome reprieve from the stuffy air of the truck that reeked of cat and fast food. Sara crossed the street and opened the door of the diner. The aroma of freshly cooked bacon and eggs greeted her as a small gangly Asian man stepped out from the kitchen and welcomed her. After settling on pancakes and coffee, Sara picked up a well read copy of yesterday’s paper and took a seat at the end counter as she waited for her order. Her stomach growled as the smell of “real” food lingered from the kitchen. A week of eating greasy food was more than her petit body could handle. For the most part, she tried to stay in good physical condition. Working out three times a week and eating healthy helped her to maintain her slim form and well toned body.
“Did you order pancakes and coffee?” A young girl asked as she emerged from the kitchen carrying a large Styrofoam container in one hand and a paper cup in the other.
“Yes,” Sara replied, and folded up the paper, placing it neatly on the counter.
“That’ll be five dollars.”
Sara reached into her purse and pulled out a twenty dollar bill. After paying for her meal, she headed back into the frigid night air of midtown New York. The convenience store was only two blocks away, but with the wind stirring, and the temperature dropping, the walk seemed to take longer than it should have. After a quick stop at the convenience store for a quart of milk and a bag of cat food, she picked up her pace and started jogging in the direction of her apartment, her breathing coming in short ragged breaths as the cold air invaded her lungs. As Sara turned the corner, she didn’t notice the leather clad man standing at the foot of the alley, nor did she hear the heated conversation that was taking place between him and the other man who stood in the shadow of the building, further down the lane. Before she had time to react to the presence of the sinister figure looming in the darkness, a gloved hand reached out and grabbed her by her hair, pulling her into the depths of the alley.
A scream built up in the back of her throat, but the gloved hand covered her mouth, stopping the noise from escaping. The leather clad man dragged Sara past the overflowing dumpster and across the garbage strewn pavement, pulling her further and further into the darkened bowels of the alleyway, and out of sight of any passers-by. Sara thrashed violently against the tight grip of her attacker, but his burly arms and inhuman strength held her firmly in place.
“Let the girl go,” a husky voice demanded.
The gloved hand covering Sara’s mouth pressed tightly against her skin. “And if I don’t?” asked the leather clad man.
“Your quarrel is with me, not the human. Let her go and I’ll give you what you want.”
“Promises, promises. You tell me that now, but how do I know that you’ll stick to your word, Gedeon? You’ve lied to me before.”
“Let her go, Pryse. This is your last warning.” Gedeon stepped out from the inky shadows of the building.
“You’ve always had a soft spot for humans, haven’t you?” Pryse grabbed Sara’s hair and roughly yanked her head to the side, causing her to wince in pain.
Sara stood frozen in place by fear. What did he want with her? Who was this strang
e man trying to protect her? And why did he call her a human? Panic caused Sara’s thoughts to muddle together, and she couldn’t wrap her head around the conversation that was taking place between the two men. She glanced around anxiously looking for a means of escape, but the attacker’s grip was too strong.
“I can’t really blame you though,” said Pryse “her scent is intoxicating. I may have to claim this one for myself.”
Gedeon took another step forward. His voice was menacing when he spoke, “It is against the law to mark an unwilling human. If you mark her I will kill you.”
“You mean if I do this?” Pryse raised his hand to his mouth. His fangs unsheathed and he bit down hard, piercing the tender flesh of his wrist. Blood flowed in a steady stream from the two self inflicted puncture marks.
The sight of his fangs made Sara thrashed wildly against the strong arms holding her in place. Fear mixed with the sight of blood caused the bile to rise up in the back of her throat. She looked pleadingly at the man with the black hair and husky voice, knowing that he was her only hope of escape, her only hope of survival.
“Pryse, let her go,” he demanded again. “I’ll give you what you want in exchange for the girl.”
“No thanks. I think I’ve changed my mind.”
Momentarily, the gloved hand slipped away from Sara’s mouth, only to be replaced with a bloodied wrist. The metallic taste of rust rolled across her tongue and down the back of her throat, causing her to gag.
“Don’t play games.” Gedeon’s thunderous voice echoed through the alley as he took another step forward. “I will never give you the remedy if you mark her.”
“With blood this sweet, who needs the remedy?” Pryse replied.
A gurgled scream escaped Sara’s lips as Pryse forced her head to the side and lowered his mouth to her neck. His fangs sliced easily through the rosy flesh at the base of her neck, and Sara trembled as the pain started to spread throughout her body. The skin around the puncture marks on her neck burned, and the fire quickly spread through her limbs. Trying to fight against the pain that was now consuming her, she staggered head first into the brick wall, and fell to the ground on her hands and knees, hoping that death would come quickly for her. The sounds of the two men scuffling echoed through the alley, but the fire that burned within was too intense for her to be able to concentrate on anything other than the pain. As a set of footsteps rapidly approached, she looked up to see Gedeon rushing towards her. Sara cowered in fear as he knelt down on the pavement beside her. The last thing she remembered before succumbing to the pain was the pair of aqua blue eyes that shone in the moonlight, and the heady scent of male that lingered in the air around him, permeating his clothing and the denim jacket he was wearing.
“Damn humans,” Gedeon mumbled under his breath. He bent over and effortlessly lifted the limp body of the girl into his arms. Her head rolled to the side and her cheek came to rest on his shoulder. Pryse was right, the smell of her blood was intoxicating, but it was still no reason for the bastard to unwillingly mark her. Now this poor girl would have to spend the rest of her life hiding from the monsters that lurked in the darkness.
Chapter 2
Sara awoke to a throbbing headache and unfamiliar surroundings. Sweat poured in rivulets from her forehead as the fever raged through her, burning every single nerve ending in its path. Her body felt as if it were smoldering and ready to ignite at any second. Sara tightly closed her eyes and forced herself to think through the pain, trying to make sense of where she was. Panic took hold as memories started to flood her mind; a gloved hand, the alleyway, a leather clad man, and the fangs, the long razor sharp incisors that glistened in the moonlight as they moved swiftly towards her neck.
A key in the lock alerted her to his presence. Ignoring the fiery pain that shot through her body, Sara propped herself up on her elbows. She had to get away from here, to run as fast as she could, but her body loudly protested. She lacked the strength necessary to stand, let alone run. The door creaked and swung open, and Sara closed her eyes as the man dropped the bag of groceries on the floor and ran towards her. She waited for the agonizing pain to start again, for his fangs to penetrate her skin, but it never came. Instead, a strong pair of calloused hands pushed her shoulders gently back onto the sofa.
“Don’t move,” the brutish voice ordered.
The thud of his heavy footfalls on the floor echoed throughout the room, followed by the sound of the door closing. One by one, the man picked the items up off the floor and placed them back into the bag, muttering something under his breath that Sara couldn’t make out. Closing her eyes even tighter, she lay perfectly still and listened as his footsteps retreated. Sara could tell by the noise the man was making that he was still in the apartment, but no longer in the same room. The sound of flowing water accompanied the clanging of pots and pans. Five minutes later the pungent smell of herbs filled the room.
The side of the sofa sank under his weight as the man sat down beside her. Sara could feel his hand cup the back of her head and raise it up off the pillow. The smell of the bitter herbs became stronger as he brought the cup to her mouth.
“Drink this,” he grunted, and tipped the cup forward, slowly pouring the hot tea into her mouth.
Sara coughed as she spit out the bitter tea. He tried to force it on her again, but her tightly closed her lips prevented him from forcing any more of the tea into her mouth. Defeated, he lowered her head gently back onto the pillow. Just as she was about to open her eyes and face her captor head on, his fingers pinched her nose, cutting off her air supply. Sara opened her mouth, gasping for air. As her lips parted, the man brought the cup to her mouth and poured the hot liquid down her throat, not stopping until she’d drank every last drop of the foul tasting tea. When he was satisfied that she was not going to spit it out again, he released his grip on her nose.
Certain that this stranger had just tried to poison her, Sara lay perfectly still and wondered how quickly it would all be over. Would she suffer a slow, horrible death, or would it be swift and painless? As the minutes passed by, the pain started to subside, and the fire that was ravaging her body lessened. Sara slowly opened her eyes and stared into the face of her captor. The same dazzling blue eyes that she remembered from the alley stared back at her. Jet black hair, the color of midnight, framed the harsh lines of his face.
“Gedeon,” she whispered.
“Don’t try to move yet,” he commanded. “You’re still too weak and you’ve lost too much blood.”
“Where am I? What happened?” Sara nervously looked around the unfamiliar apartment.
“I will explain everything, but first you must rest.”
“You can’t keep me here against my will.” Sara tried to yell but the words came out jumbled together. Whatever Gedeon had put in the tea was causing her to become drowsy, its effects almost immediately taking hold.
“You are free to leave whenever you wish, but know this, if you leave here, I will not be able to heal you, nor will I be able to protect you from Pryse.” Gedeon stood up and walked to a burrow in the corner of the room. When he returned, he placed her neatly folded clothes on the table beside the sofa.
Sara fought hard against the drowsiness that was pulling her under. She needed to escape this place, but her eyelids grew heavy and she succumbed to the darkness.
Whether it was two hours or ten hours later, she couldn’t tell. The windows of the small apartment had been draped with heavy black curtains that blocked out any and all traces of light. The bitter smell of the herbal tea still hung heavy in the air, as did the strong odor of sweat. Sara sat up on the couch and felt her clammy skin peel painfully away from the leather. Of course, the smell of sweat was coming from her. Fever had been ravaging her body for who knows how long, and strands of golden brown hair now clung to her face and neck. The stack of clothing still sat untouched on the table beside her. If she dressed in a hurry, she’d be able to escape undetected. A wave of dizziness overcame her. Griping the e
dge of the table, she steadied herself as she tried to stand up. As she grasped the table with both hands, the white cotton sheet that had been covering her naked body fell to a heap on the floor by her feet.
“Going somewhere?”
Sara turned quickly and came face to face with Gedeon, and for a brief moment his blue eyes flashed black. She followed his gaze to where they came to rest on her bare breasts. Reaching behind her and frantically grabbing at the pile of clothes, she tried to find something to cover herself with. Sara cast him a warning glare and took a step backwards. “Get away from me,” she growled.
“Get dressed. We have to talk.” Gedeon placed another cup of the bitter herbal tea on the table and strode off in the direction of the kitchen.
Sara fumbled with her clothes as she rushed to get dressed. Who in the hell did this guy think he was? He had no right to undress her in the first place, and he sure as hell had no right looking at her the way he did. Once dressed, she frantically searched the apartment for her purse, positive that she’d had it with her in the alley.
“Looking for this?” Gedeon’s muscular frame stood in the doorway, blocking her only means of escape. In one hand was a dish towel and in the other was her purse.
Bravely, Sara stormed towards him and snatched the purse out of his hand. “Get out of my way.”
“We need to talk,” Gedeon said pointedly.
“Get out of my way or I’m calling the police,” she threatened.
“Suit yourself,” he said, and stepped away from the door “but if you leave now I won’t be able to protect you when he comes for you.”
Sara raised her hand and cupped the bite mark on her neck. “What are you talking about? Who’s coming for me?” She could vaguely remember the details of what happened in the alley when she was attacked. There had been two men fighting, Gedeon and another named Pryse. She remembered Gedeon trying to convince Pryse to let her go, to let the human go. “What are you?” Sara gasped and stumbled backwards into the table.
Marked: City of the Damned Book 1 Page 1
