Deadly Beauties: Blood's Fury

by C. M. Owens

  A shudder passes through me, and I decide I've seen enough to know my house is much, much safer than this one. I don't care if it is against the light law to intentionally use magic against a human. I'll do it to push Kane out of this place if I have to.

  I rush back up the stairs, and I close my eyes to check for any presence on the other side of the hidden door. When I feel it's safe, I push through and quickly seal the door behind me, extinguishing my magical light that had lit the room.

  Just as I reach the door to escape the art room, Kane steps in, gasping when he sees me.

  "What are you doing in here?"

  Finding out you live in a dark house I have to save you from.

  "I was curious. Then I saw the um... picture of you with the wrong eye color. For such a stalker bitch, you'd think Amy could get that one detail right."

  His eyes flash to the oversized sketch of himself, and he shakes his head while cursing under his breath.

  "Come on. Let's get out of here. I don't like you being so close to such... craziness."

  I laugh a little. If he only knew the craziness we're close to. He'd probably flip the fuck out. Maybe I should show him. It might make him think some twisted serial killer lived here and he would probably leave on his own.

  I wouldn't scar him with that though.

  "Yeah. Right behind you. I still need something to eat and drink."

  He frowns, realizing I've been in here for a while now, and then he nods as I walk out in front of his ushered hand.

  "Go on to the room. I'll bring you something."

  "I can get it."

  "Please. I don't want you in this madhouse any longer. This party has gotten out of control, and I don't know all of these people. Deke has started clearing them out, but it'll take a while. Just head on."

  With a shrug, I do as he says after he kisses me on top of my head. His breath warms me through my hair, and I smile before making my way back through the sweaty bodies. I'm really glad I can't see their auras right now. I can smell the sex in the air without seeing how desperate this crowd really is.

  Shutting the door behind me, I head to the bed. Sudden panic consumes me when I feel a hand clamp over my mouth and strong arms pulling me to a body. I've tasted this scent before, and I know it well.

  Heath.

  The same pervert who trapped me not long ago has me in his clutches once more. I struggle, but he's so frigging strong. Unless I use my magic, I can only pray Kane steps in soon.

  "Easy, girl. It's just me."

  The alcohol on his breath floods my senses and makes me sick. When he's drunk, he's a fucking psycho.

  "Let me go," I try to say, but it's so muffled by his hand that it's completely lost on him.

  "I only came here tonight because I knew you'd be here. We never finished what we started, and damn you look good enough right now to make this trip worth while."

  I feel his erection in my back, and it almost makes me gag. His teeth scrape my neck as he trails his tongue over my skin.

  I squeal out in a cry, but his grip tightens on my mouth. I don't care if I do get sentenced, I'm not letting him touch me anywhere I won't recover from.

  Right as I've found my resolve, the door bursts open, and darkening the doorway is my human hero.

  "Let her the fuck go before I tear your head off your shoulders."

  The venom in Kane's eyes is unmistakably scary. It even scares me, and I know he'd never hurt me. He stalks toward us, and I feel Heath starting to tremble, almost convulsing as Kane nears with a steady approach.

  There's something... I don't know what. The air seems to be thicker, as if there's some magical... it's so odd.

  The hand over my mouth falls free, and before I realize what's going on, Kane is on top of Heath. His fists are already bloody, and Heath is unconscious as Kane continues to brutally pound the life out of him.

  "Kane!" I scream when I worry how far he might go.

  A rush of wind stirs, and suddenly Deke and Zee are ripping Kane off Heath who is a bloody mess of lifelessness.

  "Is he-"

  "No, but he's not far from," Zee interrupts. "Get Dray in here."

  I don't know who Dray is, so how do I get him in here?

  "Okay," Sierra answers from behind me, and then I realize his eyes weren't on me, but on her.

  Kane fights the two of them, and for a second, I'm worried he really is going to break free and finish the job.

  "Damn it, Kane! Let it be! You proved your point," Zee pleads.

  "Obviously, I didn't, or he wouldn't have tried touching her again. Stupid mother fucker. He has no idea who he's fucking with."

  I swear there was a low growl in his throat. I've never seen anyone so pissed in all my life.

  I walk over to step in front of him, and my arms go around his waist without hesitation. I bury my head in his chest as I fight off the tears that have been teetering.

  He stops fighting his friends, and then his arms wrap around me almost too tightly as he pulls me close, breathing me in.

  "I'm sorry, baby. I had no idea he was here."

  I shake my head, wanting his comfort instead of his guilt.

  "I'm fine. He didn't-"

  "This fool just doesn't know when to stop, does he?" a stranger asks as he comes into view.

  "Thanks, Dray. I sort of lost it," Kane says through gritted teeth, not sounding apologetic at all.

  "No worries," he says while swatting away the guilt exuding from Kane. "I'll get him patched up and then I'll ship him off to the hospital. This creep deserved much worse. See you after while."

  Dray's eyes catch mine briefly, and he tilts his head, smirking slightly. Then he throws the bloody heap of a man over his shoulder, and leaves just as quickly as he came.

  It's as if it's no big deal Kane almost killed a guy. Granted, Heath had it coming, but none of them seem very affected by the whole ordeal.

  "We'll leave you to it," Sierra says as she ushers the guys out. "Sorry about this, Alyssa."

  I start to speak, but the door closes before I can. Kane lifts me from the ground, his lips closing over mine as he carries me to the bed.

  I give up on food and drink. I'm too tired to even try to process all the events from this horrid night.

  Since the sun set, I played bait and nearly ended up being devoured by a fanged demon. I was saved by both of my enemies - dark user and night stalker. I tried breaking up with my boyfriend, told him I love him instead, had insanely hot sex, found a dungeon full of dark play toys, and I was nearly.... well, I don't even want to think about that last bit. Not to mention, I almost watched Kane kill a guy over me.

  A shiver spreads over me as the soft bed swallows me up. Kane's arms tighten around my waist, and my eyes instantly feel too heavy to hold open.

  Again, I feel... something, but I don't know what. I've got to get him out of this house. I think the dark energy is starting to affect his human mind.

  Chapter Seventeen

  "Kane," a voice whispers into what's left of the night, rousing me from my sleep.

  I stay still as Kane stirs.

  "What the fuck, Zee?" he whispers back.

  "It's Amy... again. I don't know what we're going to do with her if she keeps this up. She's gone though, and we need your help."

  "Fuck," he mumbles, and then I feel him leaning over as if to check on my sleeping status.

  I remain perfectly still, keeping my breaths even to ensure him I haven't woken up.

  "Fine. I'll be out front in a second. Make sure nothing can get in here. Keep her safe."

  "I'll stay. It's you they need. You're the only one she responds to when she loses it."

  "I think that's just the game she's playing. She's doing everything she fucking can to break me and Alyssa up. I'm sick of this shit. I plan on making that very clear."

  Their conversation halts as Kane's warmth disappears from the bed. I silently scramble to my feet the second the door shuts behind him.

  I'm tired
of this shit, too. I'm desperate to see what the hell is going on with Little Miss Crazy Bitch. I want to know why they need his help so fucking bad.

  "If she wakes up, tell her I won't be long," Kane says from the living room.

  "What should I tell her? You got a good lie lined up?"

  Lie? What the fuck?

  "No. Don't lie to her. I don't want to do that. Just tell her I'll be back. It's time to explain this shit anyway. I told her I love her."

  My heart beats fiercely. The way he says it... it's almost like he's worried about something. Is he worried he said it too soon?

  "Shit, Kane. You know she'll be coming for you now. What are you going to do?"

  What? Who? Huh?

  These guys are more confusing than immortals with their constantly cryptic conversations.

  "What I have to. No matter how bad it gets, I won't lose Alyssa because of her. Lock up. I'll be back soon."

  Who the fuck is her?

  As soon as the door shuts, I pull on my shoes and sneak onto the balcony. I'm still wearing my wrinkled clothes I never changed out of, but spy missions don't really have to have a prepared ensemble.

  Kane quickly disappears into the woods, and I have to jump from the balcony to keep up.

  At the last minute, I use my magic to call to a tree limb to me. It wraps around my waist and halts my fall, turning it into a graceful landing.

  Kane's already gone, obviously on his way to town. I can't even sense his trail at all. It's as though he's just disappeared. I'm not giving up though.

  I head out deeper, straining to hear one crunch of leaves or one snap of a twig. I'm met with only the stir of the wind against the trees. How in the hell did I lose him that quickly?

  Scowling, I trek on, but I quickly learn the woods are trickier in the dark than in the light. After an hour, I'm completely lost. This should have been a quick trip - twenty minutes at most - but now I've somehow wandered into a never-ending circle.

  Then I sense it - eyes on me. I look around, casually gauging my surroundings as I inconspicuously search for the creature lurking in the shadows, waiting for their chance to pounce.

  Glowing orange eyes appear behind a pile of brush, and my stomach flops against my sides.

  Lycan.

  I turn around, and after a heavy breath, I start running with every ounce of energy I have, regretting my thin-soled shoes immediately. I hear the furious growl and the fierce roar, and then the chase is underway behind me as the beast launches itself out of hiding to pursue its prey - me.

  I risk a glance over my shoulder to see it's too fast for me. The monstrous size of the she-devil behind me makes me gasp, and I lose my balance, pummeling to the ground with a loud thud and an accidental scream.

  I leap to my feet just as the vicious beast catches up. It swipes at me before lunging, and I hurl my body out of its path just before impact. Back on my feet again, I don't hesitate. Using mother nature's energy, the ground jumps up and pins her into place.

  The vines and plants spring to life to act as natural restraints. I'm both surprised and impressed at the power that fell out at my fingertips. I've never used my mother's power with such success before, and I'm not conflicted with the dark high that follows my father's power.

  Shock seems to cloak the glowing orange eyes. Obviously, it hadn't known it was fucking with a witch.

  I hear the cracking of the vines restraining the creature, and I start running again before it has the chance to escape. Breathless and terrified, I reach the edge of the woods, coming out behind Gage's house.

  I start to rush to the door, but Kane's voice jars me out of my attempt.

  "Alyssa! What the hell are you doing out here?"

  Shit! I have to get him out of here before that lycan catches up.

  "Kane! Go! We have to go! There's a-"

  Before I can speak again, the lycan crashes through the threshold of the forest in a mad dash for me. The desperate desire for my death radiates in its eyes. I start to summon the power, knowing I'll forever scar my love, but I don't have a choice.

  But before I can release anything, Kane appears in front of me, catching the airborne beast by the throat. I gasp in disbelief as the lycan cries out in pain from his crushing force.

  No. No. There's no way. Please, God, no. No!

  Kane's eyes glow blue as he growls at the lycan.

  "What the fuck are you doing, Amy? I'll kill you for this!"

  Amy? Oh no.

  My heart breaks and the pieces plummet to the ground. This can't be happening. This has to be a nightmare. Wake the fuck up, Alyssa.

  With a grunt from his exerted effort, Kane launches Amy backwards, throwing her lycan body back into the forest. Trees crack and break against her as she disappears into the darkness.

  I scramble backwards as Kane turns to me, his glowing blues dulling back to green as his vampiric side slinks back into hiding. Sickness attacks me without mercy, and I double over to expel the contents of my stomach in the most ungraceful manner.

  "Alyssa, baby, it's just me. I know this is a lot, but-"

  "Night stalker." The hushed words flow through my lips like a blasphemous whisper.

  He tilts his head, confusion seeming to gather in his traitorous green eyes as I back away again.

  "What did you just call me?" he asks, a touch of disbelief and anger mingling in his tone.

  "Kane!" Amy screams, her human body back intact as she runs toward us with a robe covering her nakedness. "She's a fucking witch!"

  Pain, anger, and so much more flashes through his eyes. All of this was an elaborate hoax. I was tricked into loving the enemy. My hands burn with fury as the silver grabs me and tries to pull me to the darkness, begging me to release my devious power.

  "Gage!" I cry out, but he doesn't come... doesn't hear me. I turn to Kane, my eyes watering. "It can't... You can't... I've seen you... How? Why?" I sob out, my tears pouring down.

  "You damn witch! You fucking trickster bitch!" Amy growls, and suddenly the sound of shredding fabric rings out as her body distorts and changes in front of my eyes.

  Her flesh turns from a tanned glow to a gray ash as the lycan rises to the surface. She launches herself at me again, but Kane grabs her, and rips her back. I don't give him the chance to take me down himself.

  Using the energy around me, I slash through Gage's bedroom window, shattering it as I scream once more. "Gage!"

  Within a blink, he materializes in front of me, and his eyes gauge the craziness as Kane's glowing blue eyes jump forth to show his defensive stance before he slings Amy behind him.

  "You," Kane whispers.

  "What the fuck?" Gage gushes, but I jump into his arms and throw my legs around his waist.

  "Get us out of here!"

  He doesn't waste time. We vaporize into the air and split the planes of life and death as we rush away, retreating in complete disbelief.

  The head-rush consumes me, forcing me to be even sicker than I already am as we reach the porch of the safe home I abandoned to live with the devil. No doubt, he didn't like the magic surrounding my home. I gave my innocence to the enemy, and he took much more than that.

  "What the hell is going on?" Gage demands as we start walking in.

  Before he can cross the threshold, he's launched backwards as the protective spell from my house kicks him in the chest.

  I squeal as he crashes into the cliché white picket fence and crushes it to pieces beneath his forceful slam.

  "Ow," he grumbles, no real sense of pain in his tone.

  "Sorry," I mumble numbly. "Gage can come in."

  He stands and warily makes his way back onto my porch. Skeptically, he touches the air of the threshold with the same caution a human would exert to check for an electrical current on a wire.

  Finally, he steps through without being battered again.

  "Now, I repeat... what the fuck just happened? Kane's a damn night stalker?"

  The tears almost choke me, making it impossib
le for me to speak, so I nod vigorously instead. He runs a hand through his hair to ruffle it as he shakes his head.

  "I thought you checked him out. How the hell did he not reveal himself under the influence of your mark?"

  I steady myself enough to answer, though my voice is hoarse and pitchy as I speak. "I couldn't use my mark. If he had been human, it would have killed him. I saw him at midnight over and over... he should have-"

  "Damn it, Alyssa! When will you learn? Magic isn't old anymore. Midnight doesn't mean shit nowadays. Midnight reveals them if they've taken the lives of innocent victims. Heavy emphasis on the word innocent. In this day and age, such a fucking thing doesn't exist anymore, unless they kill a child. Fuck! And your damn mark won't kill a human! Stop being so-"

  "Mine will! I've seen it, you asshole! My power comes from Calypso Coldwell and Drackus Devall. The two combined gave me more power than what should exist. Most people just don't know how fucking strong my mother is. Her mark kills too, just as my father's does. Do you understand? I couldn't risk it."

  He frowns as he lets out another exasperated breath. He grips his head as if it aches, and then he plops down on my couch.

  "Fine. Sorry. I didn't know. I knew Drackus's would kill, but I didn't know it was because of the power within. Why didn't Frankie use his?"

  The onslaught of tears I'm facing is merciless, ravaging my cheeks with their acidic flow.

  "Because he thought I used mine. Frankie doesn't know how strong I am either. Mom keeps it quiet. She's worried the world will shun me like they do my father. I'm not supposed to exist, Gage."

  His eyes soften, and he stands to walk over to me. His bare chest glows under the lone light in the room. He pulls me to him, and my tears dampen his chest.

  "I don't know what he wanted from me. I don't know why he had to make me-"

  My sobs become too uncontrollable, making speech no longer an option. Gage coos in my ear as he pulls me tighter into his embrace. His soft touch is all the comfort he can offer, but it's not enough to hold me together.

  "I'll stay with you tonight. At least we know why your spell failed at his house. You were trying to keep out the dark, when that's all that surrounded you."