Deadly Beasts (The Curse of the Rose Book 1)

by T. M. Watkins

  My eyes lit up with delight, smiling at William who was smiling back at me. Like me, he could see the goodness in the moment.

  “I laughed at him. Not a feigned laugh to belittle him but a good belly laugh. He stopped and looked at me as if I had two heads and it was then that I stopped and told him what I thought. I told him that I could see through him, that I could see that he missed me and wanted to be with me and that he wasn't going to get me because I didn't want him. I told him that he was a vile man that was abusive towards children and a rapist, that there was a special place in hell waiting just for him. And I said it loud enough so that those within earshot could hear it. Suddenly he became quiet and backed off. I told him that if he ever touched me again, I would break whatever it was that touched me, if he spoke to me I would rip his tongue out and if he looked at me, I'd take them out too. And look.”

  I opened my mouth just a fraction, showing the fangs that were still sharp. The hunger was still there, like a whisper in my mind that was always taunting me. I had ignored it for a moment but I knew I couldn't ignore it forever. Time was ticking away slowly, drawing me closer to the moment where I would have to feed.

  “He saw them, his eyes widened and he backed off even more. I sweetly smiled at him, waving goodbye as he turned and took off, tail between his legs.”

  William chuckled as he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his body for an engulfing hug.

  “Such a fae. Oh my dear, this world shall tremble at your feet.”

  He pulled me down to lay on the seats again in the hope that we might find sleep. Laying in his arms was pure bliss, I closed my eyes and tried to block the sounds of the movie. As I focused on the patter of his heart, I slowly slipped into a much needed sleep.

  I had found a deep sleep, resting on William I found a greater sense of ease, relaxing into a blissful slumber until I had a dream. It was about blood. Not mine, not anyone that might be mortally wounded, just fangs sinking into a neck and oozing red hot liquid into me. It was consuming my thoughts as I was gently jostled awake, William lifted me as he sat up.

  “Forgive me my love but the movie is over. I fear that as much as it was a good idea, it was not nearly sufficient.”

  Sleepily I nodded, my head was too heavy to lift from his shoulder. Pain was raging through my body, the smell of his blood was so tantalising as the thump of his heart beat against my body.

  “I'm hungry.” I whispered.

  “I suppose we could venture to another food establishment, what do you want to eat? Fast food, a proper meal, something quick and easy?”

  I shook my head, feeling pain rip through me. “I dreamt of blood.” I lifted my head, feeling so hungry I was actually about to start crying. “I'm so hungry.”

  William let out a long and pained sigh as he pulled me into a hug. “Soon, we shall find something for you, something that will dispel the thoughts and quell the rising hunger.”

  “But where?” I whimpered. “It's glaringly bright out there? How can I feed when there are so many eyes watching and what about the cameras? Every single section of this place is watched, there is always a camera pointed at something or someone.”

  “You forget so easily when you are distracted. The lust for blood overrides all sensibility. We will find something for you, do not fret.”

  My stomach cramped with a burning sensation, protesting at me for ignoring it. The vein on his neck pulsed close to the surface of his skin, my mind when into a dizzied state as I engorged my senses on the scent.

  “Just a little?”

  “I'm afraid that won't satisfy you Mary.” He shook his head wearily. “First time is always a drainer, no matter how much you think you can stop, you can't. Whoever it is, it has to be someone that you do not care for.”

  He held me tight to his body as the last of the credits rolled up the screen, the lights were far too bright for me and the pain that was in my stomach was slowly making its way higher. My body was lethargic, I could barely lift my head from William's body, I wanted to close my eyes and sleep forever.

  “Alright Mary, time to go. I have held off as long as I could but I am afraid that we must go otherwise we will be kicked out.”

  Gently he pulled me away from his body, I sagged with the weight of tiredness. I could barely open my eyes, all I could see was his sympathetic smile.

  “Too long around me and the terrible two-some, that is your problem my love. Fear not, I shall find something for you.”

  He lifted me to my feet, even though I had no want to stand and didn't think that I could, I was able to stay upright. William wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close to him. We were a mismatched pair, him in his fine suit, looking like he should be going to work in an upscale city office and me, a misfit from the wrong side of the tracks in my jeans, the top and the boots. I had left the jacket in the car knowing that it would not be cold in the mall. As I wrapped my arms around his waist, I could feel his slight frame underneath the finery. He needed to modernise, otherwise we were going to stand out in the crowd. I couldn't help but wonder if he would agree to something more current. Maybe he might submit to a bit of eye fluttering and pretty pouting, after I have fed. It was an odd thought, I was so desperate that I wanted it, I was ready to end a life just to stop the pain.

  “Why do you call your meals something, why not someone?”

  “Ordinarily, I do.” I could hear the humour in the tone of his voice. “I was trying to make it easier on you seeing as this will be your first time.”

  We stepped out into the lobby, there was a few people waiting to go into different theatres, people leaving, stopping to look at the new release posters. It was normal life and it was relaxing to this tired soul. William held me tight, he knew I could hear the soft patter of the hearts beating around us, the smell of their blood. I could feel the fangs pushing through the gums as my mouth salivated with the intoxicating scent.

  “Tell me more about this man, what did he look like?”

  “Adrian? He's about the same height as you, a little more on the bones but not fat. Sandy blonde hair cut short back and sides. Cold and cruel brown eyes. Want me to keep going or have you satisfied the need to identify the man following us?”

  He chuckled and kissed the top of my head. “You know me too well. How did you know, did you see him too?”

  “Yeah.” I breathed out hard. “What am I going to do?”

  “Well I have an idea, maybe we can call it, continuing Mary's empowerment.”

  I looked up at him with a grin, he looked down at me with a wicked glint in his eye. He had a devilish plan and I couldn't wait to find out what it was.

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  We had walked through the mall and found the exit to the car park where his car was parked. The cool wind blasted through the doors as it opened for us, William decided that sleeping in the boot would be a bright idea for our second attempt at finding darkened solitude. Reluctantly I took the keys from him, he was going to try and find Marty and Nick to tell them where we were and I was going to move the bags out of the boot and make the nest a little more comfortable. Apparently the ride here wasn't fun. William kissed me softly on the cheek and wandered off into the crowd, leaving me to look at the doors and the darkened car park beyond them.

  “Don't fear the dark Mary.” I whispered. “Strong and capable, nothing scares me any more.”

  I walked through the cars to the row that we had parked in, the car was nestled in the corner far away from the view of those around us. The place was reasonably packed with the after Christmas sale shoppers. I tried to count how many days it had been since Christmas. I had lost track of time again and without the calendar, I was useless. Maybe we were already up to the new year, I had no clue. The cold concrete lined the walls, ceiling and floor like a dull box of ominous doom. A place this empty of life could be someone's undoing. Maybe a snatched purse, maybe a car theft, maybe a life cut short. Anything was possible if you thought macabre enough. A sha
rp gust of wind burst along the driveway as I stepped out from between the cars, howling along the row to remind me that I should have rethought my leaving the jacket in the car. I was only a few steps from it, I could feel the warmth already.

  As I shrugged the jacket on, I looked around the car park. It looked like the place was full, not another park to be had. Some cars were circling trying to find a park, one had even waited for me to leave. I waived her off and ignored the disgruntle face on the woman. She looked like she was moments away from giving me her own special hand signal, showing her festive spirit. Lifting the lid to the boot, I pulled a few bags from it, taking a peek in some of them. There was nothing but clothes and blankets. I kept digging, finding a bag of female shoes. Were all of these bags Marty's things? It wouldn't surprise me, I hadn't seen her wear the same thing twice. A shiver went up my spine when I was half way through moving the bags from the boot to the back seat, the dragon started acting up. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, praying for strength in these next few minutes.

  “Stealing his car Mary?”

  Even without looking at him, I could tell he was sneering at me. I turned to him, watching him as he moved closer.

  “Mind your own business.”

  I slammed the boot shut, looking at him with pure hatred. Every single memory of the pain that he had inflicted on me was surfacing in my mind, reminding me of how much I wanted him dead.

  “Still with the smart mouth.” His eyes narrowed as he grabbed my arms and pushed me against the side of the car. “I think you need to be punished, I think you need to be reminded who is the better person.”

  Adrian pushed the back door open more, wrestling me into position so that he could push me onto the back seat. In my last moments of standing, I saw a shadow lingering in the distance, watching and waiting. I fell back to the leather seat, disgust washed through me as he wiped his mouth like he was drooling at the thought of what was about to happen. The hunger was killing me, he was taking too long. I was becoming desperate with thoughts of the burning hot need that pumped through his body. Adrian unzipped his fly as he kneeled on the edge of the seat, heated need flowing over him as he became more crazed and desperate. His eyes flamed with carnal lust, pushing me back to the leather as he tried to close the door behind him. Problem was, there was a man standing behind him.

  His gaze was just as crazed and just as desperate. Desperate for his love to have her justice. William smiled darkly, the fangs were more prominent than the other teeth.

  “My love, enjoy your first feed.” He said as he slammed the door shut, encasing me in the car with a dead man.

  Adrian's eyes were lit with fear as he turned to me, William's fangs had glistened from the light that was above him and they were more prominent than his other teeth. My hand slapped to his mouth as I pushed him back onto the seat, overpowering him with little thought or effort. His scream was muffled as I bared the fangs, hissing with the heart thumping fury that was blood lust. My body was engorging on the scent of his fear and the intoxicating blood that called to me. The yearning dragged me to his neck, tasting the salty slick of perspiration. A thunderous cacophony of his heart beating boomed through my head like a tribal beat, going faster and faster. I knew what heaven was when I sank my fangs in and felt that first rush of searing hot blood into me. As the fangs pierced the flesh he cried out, trying to push me off his body, thumping at me. Nothing could pull me away, he could not match my strength. I drank without thought, the need was relentless and hounded my mind and would not let up. The blood was sickly sweet, even when I remembered that it was Adrian that I was drinking from hit me, I still yearned for more.

  When the booming beat slowed and eventually stopped, I looked down to the dead body. Adrian was a handsome man when he wasn't abusing me or looking at me with cruel eyes. I was certain that he could have his pick of the women, which led me to wonder why he insisted on tormenting the young. The last of the blood trickled out of the wounds, I lapped my tongue over them, soaking it in. His skin was sweaty from the heat of the car and the panic, lines of perspiration trickled over his forehead. I don't know what was better, the relief from the pain that was the burning hunger or the look on his face when he knew his time was up.

  “You could have been such a good man Adrian.” I whispered sadly. “If you had treated me better then this would have been someone else's fate, not yours.”

  As I sniffed I dragged in the scent of the car, groaning in protest. William opened the door and screwed up his face with a crinkled sneer.

  “Did he really have to empty his bladder in my car?”

  “Oh jeepers, what is that smell?” Marty cringed.

  “He did it!” I interjected before I was accused of being unable to control my bodily functions.

  Marty looked at the dead man on the seat, I was laying on the bags that I had intentionally put in here to create more space. This was William's grand plan, knowing that we were being followed, even though it was at a considerable distance. Pretend to separate and lure him into thinking I was alone and vulnerable. Marty and Nick were ready to go back to the car, thinking that the boot was a good place to sleep too. Now the car smelled of urine, no thanks to the man that saw a set of fangs. The feed was satisfying, I don't think that I have ever felt this good. William was right about first feeds, I could not stop. I had to have every single drop that was in him, though I don't know if it was actually possible to completely drain someone.

  “What are we going to do with him?”

  “Dump him at night fall. It will side track us for a few moments but it will be okay.”

  I wiggled my way out of the car, flicking the blanket over the creep.

  “I'd be more worried about that smell. How can we sleep with that stench?”

  “Go and fetch something from the grocery store.” William held out a card. “Whatever it takes, I don't care how much it costs. Just get rid of this foul odour.”

  Marty scurried over to Nick who had been making his way toward us, obviously distracted by something pretty. It was normal for Nick to be like that, it was something that I had recently discovered about him. His world revolved around little Nick as he called him. Though he was quick to elaborate that little Nick was just a name and not an indication of his true weight. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him, instead of referring to himself in length or girth, little Nick was all about the weight. Apparently he was a thumper. I wasn't about to find out, I could imagine what William would say. No amount of loyalty or friendship would save Nick from the chopping block if he pulled little Nick out to show me.

  William watched them as they passed through to the next row, turning back to me with a grin that I had seen before. It was subdued but filled with lust. His eyes were lowered as he poured over me, taking my hand into his. The cold pressed into my hand, creeping through the veins as he pressed his thumb over the knuckles.

  “A true delight to watch a first feed, I don't think I shall ever tire of it. And to watch you do it, intense is barely enough to describe it. I've seen newborn turns unable to cope with taking a life and go mad within their first day but not you my love. You were made to be a killer.”

  He moved closer, pressing me against the car. I could feel how much he enjoyed watching my first kill, how much he wanted me. He lifted my legs around his waist as he pressed deep against me.

  “You are deadly.” He whispered as he kissed my neck. “You are the perfect vampire.”

  “But I'm not.” I said quietly though it sounded like a moan. “I'm like a chameleon. I change to whatever being I'm around for too long.”

  His eyes caught mine as he kissed his way up my neck to my chin, slowly making his way closer to my lips. “You are the perfect vampire Mary even if you aren't really one. You can feed as we do, sleep as much as we do and yet you can walk out into the day light if you so choose. You are a fighter, you do not step down from a tense moment. You might be scared of things but you do not back away. There is loyalty to those abov
e you yet you do not cower to them, making them realise their mistakes.”

  He grinned as his fingers traced over my cheek, taking a soft kiss. I figured he was referring to the clamp thing, which meant that we were cool on it, there wasn't going to be an almighty fight about him being lord and master of his people and all that nonsense. The soft kiss deepened, in the cold of the car park we kissed with growing need. My fingers laced into the hair on the back of his head as his hands found the edge of my shirt, slipping under to the skin below.

  The problem with being so wrapped up in someone is that sometimes, things get missed. Sometimes you don't hear the person yelling at you from across the car park even if their voice is familiar or filled with panic. Sometimes you don't notice your early warning system going completely nuts, acting independent of each other even though their owners are together. And sometimes, you don't notice the white van with blackened windows slowly creeping closer to you, watching you and waiting for the opportune moment to strike. By the time we had seen the van it was too late. It had been making its way along the back wall, pretending to be a parked car. Even in the dulled light of the car park no one had noticed that the driver had his or her foot on the brake, the lights shining like a bright red beacon. Once they realised they had been seen, they stepped up their efforts. The car screeched around the corner, stopping right in front of us. The side door slid open and two people stepped out, both in black from head to toe. One was holding an odd looking cross bow, the other nothing but outstretched hands. William quickly set me to my feet and pushed me behind him, protecting me as he stepped backwards.