by M. L. Guida
Scratches were on her hands and cheeks, but nothing took away from her beauty.
“What are you doin’ here? Dubois—”
She put her small hand over his. “No, Celeste and Dubois don’t know I’m here. They’re busy managing a defense.”
Her touch took away his pulsing pain, and it kindled the heat of desire rushing through his bloodstream. He ached to kiss her sweet lips. But he shoved the feeling behind. “Against who?”
“Your friends.”
Hope chased away his doubts. “Friends?”
“Aye, Mariah and William.”
“How—”
She smiled. “I stumbled upon them at a small pond. William gave me quite a scare.” She snatched the keys dangling off the wall. “We must hurry. I don’t know how long William can hold them off.”
He swallowed hard, thinking of the cave. “Chloe?”
“She’s safe.”
He narrowed his eyes and tightened the bars. “She’s not ridin’ William, is she?” He could barely contain himself from yelling
“Mariah’s holding her.”
“Damn it! She’s just a small poppet.”
“Shhh,” she glanced over her shoulder. “They’ll hear you.” She put the lantern down to unlock the door.
Amadi swung open the creaking metal door. Violet rushed into his arms and molded her luscious body against his. He held her tight, inhaling her loving smell of jungle flowers. He brushed his fingers down her face and cherished the shape of her eyes, the fullness of her lips, the softness of her cheeks. She was perfect. Vampire or man, he wanted her to lick her skin to discover her hidden passions, but he settled for a kiss. Not able to resist, he twirled his tongue over her pulse, and need pounded into him so hard that his body squeezed painfully.
Violet exhaled a soft sound, somewhere between desire and excitement. She moved slightly.
The small movement sent pressure and hunger draining all of his good judgment. “You are my heart, Violet. I’ll protect you with my life.” He blurted out the words, filled with more intensity than he’d ever felt before. His heart sank to his knotted gut, afraid she’d push him away—a mere slave.
She clasped his chin and kissed him on the lips, her breath honey warm. “And I you.”
An explosion broke Amadi’s concentration. “No time for kissin’.” He clutched Violet’s hand. “Come with me. We must escape. All of us.”
Violet reached for the lantern. “All of us? What do you mean?”
He brought her trembling hand to his lips and kissed it. “I will not allow Celeste and her minions to torture another soul on dis blasted plantation.”
“Amadi, there’s no way you can take on all of them.”
He pulled her toward him. “Aye, I can. My eyes are becomin’ keener, my thirst hungrier.”
“Do you need—”
He put his finger on delicate lips. “Not from you.” His fangs elongated. He nibbled behind her ear.
She shivered and rubbed her hands down his lashed back.
He flinched.
She stopped. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He scraped his teeth down her throat, refusing to taste one ounce of her precious blood. “I’ve other plans for you.”
She arched her back, offering more of her throat.
Amadi closed his eyes and pushed back his desire to taste her again. He trembled and a fine sheen of sweat coated his body. Worse was the hunger gnawing at his soul. The bloodlust took him over, demanding he take her and indulge in what she freely offered.
Violet kissed him. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothin’.” Not true. He was about to forget where they were and take her on the filthy floor. Drawing on his iron will, he clasped her hand.
“That’s not true.”
He bristled. “You know I want you. I always want you but dis is not da time.”
She squeezed his hand. “I know.”
He picked up the lantern and blew out the candle. “I can see without it.”
Not making a sound, he led her up the steep stairs. Screams and yells grew louder.
“The sugarcane is on fire!”
Amadi stopped. ’Twas a female. He’d heard the voice before and thought maybe it was a maid.
“Where is da flying demon?” Another woman said. Perhaps the cook.
He cracked open the door. Two female servants wearing aprons crowded against the window. Where was everyone else?
Quietly, he led Violet out of the stairwell into the kitchen. Violet clutched his hand tight.
The robust cook turned around, and her eyes widened. She put her hand on her throat. “Oh my God.” Her voice was more of a squeak for such a big woman.
The smaller woman screamed.
Angry footsteps thundered through the house. Amadi shoved Violet behind him.
Dubois ran into the kitchen with a flintlock drawn. Two other men were on either side of him. “What the hell happened to you, boy?”
All fear left Amadi. He walked toward the men. “I am your worst horror.”
Chapter Twelve
Amadi cracked his neck and drew on his vampire powers as he walked toward Dubois and his men. “Time for you to pay for your devilry, Dubois.”
This time, Amadi didn’t fight the curse—the thinning of his veins, the slowing of his heart, the dry thirst.
The men clicked on the half-cock, rotating it to full-cock.
“Take another step.” Dubois aimed his flintlock at Violet. “And she’s dead.”
An explosion burst outside. The two men flinched then glanced over their shoulders.
Amadi had no idea what William was doing, but he didn’t hesitate and charged.
Dubois fired. Smoke and the smell of gunpowder filled the kitchen.
Amadi winced, hot burning pain buried in his shoulder. But he ignored it. He lunged at Dubois, knocking the weapon out of his hand.
Dubois took a step back. Fear flickered in his wide eyes. “Fire, you fools!”
Amadi grabbed both men and slammed them together. They cried out then went silent. He didn’t want them. He wanted to feast on Dubois.
One of the women screamed, “’Tis a demon. Lord, save us!”
“Run!” the other yelled.
Both men threw their hands over their head and ran.
Amadi seized Dubois by the neck and dug his fangs into his throat. He sucked hard. Warm blood flushed through his veins, satisfying the demanding hunger. But he wanted more, much more, and for the first time, he’d disobey the capt’n.
Dubois smacked him in the temple with the pistol. Blinding torment slammed into Amadi, blurring his vision, but he held onto his prey.
Dubois pushed on Amadi’s chest and hit him with the pistol and his fist. “Release me!” There was a frayed edge to his voice, something terrified and desperate.
Sweet blood pumped through Amadi; energy soared through him. The harder he guzzled, Dubois’s punches went from hard smacks to soft slaps. His heart slowed, the beat faint and fainter, then his arms dropped to his side. Bang. The pistol crashed onto the kitchen floor.
Amadi released him. Dubois fell, his eyes wide, but there was no light, no flicker. Wetness dripped down Amadi’s chin onto his chest. He wiped his mouth on his arm.
“You killed him, oui?” a syrupy voice accused.
He whirled around and his heart stopped.
Celeste had a sword held below Violet’s chin. “What are you?”
“I’m a vampire.”
“A vampire? I see it, but I do not believe it.” She shook Violet. “Is he telling the truth?” She pressed the sword closer to Violet’s throat, and blood seeped down her neck. “Lie to me and you are dead.”
“Aye, he’s telling the truth.”
“Mon Dieu, I did not know they existed. I have heard many stories, some pleasant, some not so pleasant.”
“Let her go.”
“I do not think so. You plan on killing me, no?” Celeste narrowed her eyes, but rather than
fear or hate, excitement flashed in them. She curled her lips into a sneer. “I do not like to lose. Step back, or I will kill her.”
Amadi did as he was told but pulled back his lips, revealing his fangs. His hands twitched. If he attacked, could he rescue Violet in time?
Black smoke billowed outside the kitchen window. Pistols exploded. Fire flickered against the night sky. A loud shriek echoed outside.
Celeste moistened her lip. Her face paled. Perspiration trickled down her temples, and her hand holding the sword shook.
“Tell me, Maîtresse,” Amadi said. His voice was low and mocking. “Are you afraid of a dragon?”
“Êtes un imbécile. Who would not be afraid of a dragon?” And the voice, the sneering voice of the Maitresse, now sounded different, quiet, hysterical.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not afraid.”
“Then you’re a fool. Stay where you are.” She forced Violet to move backward, but Violet dug her heels into the floor and closed her fights, striking Celeste’s thighs.
“Keep struggling, Violet, and I will slit your throat, mon pet.”
“Violet, stop,” Amadi ordered. He could not bear to see her bleed, not because of her enticing blood, but because she was the woman of his fantasy—fearlessness, determined, strong.
You’re not going to fight for your plantation?” Amadi asked.
Celeste laughed, but instead of her usual devilish laugh, ’twas nervous, as if she was trying too hard to sound brave. “If it is burned to the ground, I can rebuild. I will not be burned alive.”
“What about your men?”
She shrugged. “They are expendable. I can get new men. I am rich.”
Her heartlessness churned his gut. She was even more selfish than her evil brother. “You actually think you’ll survive?”
Celeste cocked her eyebrow. “Cerainement. Je suis la Maîtresse.”
“You’re wrong, dead wrong.” Amadi hoped he pushed back the fear in his voice. If Celeste suspected he was vulnerable to her hurting Violet, she’d use it against him. Something he could not afford. “Wherever you hide, I will hunt you down.”
“Move, Violet.”
Violet mouthed the words. “I love you.”
Amadi’s heart quickened. He knew he looked like a creature right out of hell, but this woman accepted him, even loved him—him, a lowly slave.
“Stay alive.”
“She will live, as long as you do not do anything stupide.” She dragged Violet toward the fireplace in the kitchen.
“What are you doing?”
Celeste flashed him a triumphant smile. “You will see, beau.” She pushed on a brick in the fireplace, and the wall next to it, swung open. A secret passage. She shoved Violet inside.
Amadi rushed toward the opening, determined not to be separated from Violet.
“No!” Violet cried on the other side.
He pressed the same brick, and the wall moved again, but when he stepped inside, darkness blanketed the tunnel. Cold, stale air and cobwebs hit him in the face. Stairs plummeted into blackness. Even with his vampire eyes, he could not see make out any two forms. “Violet, where are you?”
A muffled cry answered. Not caring what awaited him below, he rushed down the stairs. “Violet! Answer me!”
“No!” Violet yelled. She pushed Celeste, who stumbled and fired. A shot whizzed past Amadi’s ear.
He rushed toward Celeste, but before he could reach her, she whipped out her sword and stabbed Violet in the chest. Violet crumpled onto the floor, blood pouring between her breasts.
His soul turned cold. Violet lay motionless on the floor. He detected her beating heart, but her breath was shallow, too shallow.
“She lied to me for the last time, no?”
“You bitch!” Amadi rushed toward Celeste, his arms stretched out, determined to strangle her.
But fire blasted through the darkness, slamming into his chest. Amadi flew backward and smashed his head on the back of the stairs. Pain and dizziness seized him. He needed more blood.
“Now, who is at my mercy?”
Amadi recoiled at Celeste’s overconfidence. His strength was waning. Blood, he needed more. He had to save Violet, get her out of here.
He scanned his surroundings. ’Twas a cellar, filled with barrels, but what caught his eye was the pistols and muskets in gun cases and swords piled against the wall. This was her armory. No telling how many weapons she had.
He opened his mouth to swear at Celeste but changed his mind. He forced himself to lay still and closed his eyes.
Celeste kicked him in the foot. “Vampire. What a disappointment.” The sound of another pistol being cocked froze his breath. He waited for pain.
It fired and the stench of sulfur choked him.
Agony stabbed his gut like a hot poker, and he bit back a moan. He wouldn’t die, not with a pistol shot. Only slicing off his head would kill him. But then Celeste was a twisted wench, and her depravity had no bounds. She’d cut off his head on a whim, just for the fun of it.
His heart beat so hard he was afraid Celeste would hear.
Celeste walked up the steps, her shoes scraping on the stone.
Pushing the pain behind him, Amadi swung his arm and smacked her in her legs. She screamed and fell forward. He seized her wrist. She still clutched the sword and sliced his thigh.
He squeezed her fingers and she cried out. The sword banged onto the stone, then clanged, clanged, clanged down the steps into the cellar.
“No, stop.”
“I’ve just begun.” He tossed her onto her back and covered her with his body.
She squirmed. “Get off me this instant. You are a slave. You will obey me. Or I will—”
“You days of tyranny are over.” He was tired of listening to her piercing voice. He bit into her flesh. The stench of citrus choked him, but he pushed past it. Being this close to her twisted his insides.
She gurgled and screamed. With other victims, he’d always been tender and careful, but not with Celeste. She wasn’t human. She was a monster. A monster whose lifeline had just run out.
He drank deeper, wanting to get this over with. He hated taking her warm blood, but he needed it to heal. The pain in his shoulder lessened, and the burning in his gut dulled. Her salty blood satisfied the curse.
She slowly stopped moving beneath him, and her heart stopped beating against his chest. ’Twas over. She was dead.
He got off her and stood tall. He’d dreamed of killing her over and over again, and each time, he’d felt happier than when he escaped from the Sorcière de Mer. But now, all he felt was numbness. No excitement. No joy. No elation.
A small gasp grabbed his attention. He rushed over to Violet and lifted her into his arms. “Violet, Violet, can you hear me?”
Her warm breath exhaled onto his face, her heart faint. She was dying. Tears blurred his eyes. He swallowed hard sorrow, terrified he’d lose her.
He snatched a sword then ran up the stairs two at a time and burst into the kitchen. If any man tried to stop him, he’d cut his head off.
He needed William. William could fly back to them back to the Soaring Phoenix to Doc. Doc could save her. He had to save her.
***
Amadi skidded to halt and held Violet close to his pounding heart. The crew of the Soaring Phoenix stood in the kitchen, all armed and all vampires. They came. They came to find him. The capt’n hadn’t given up, just like Amadi knew he wouldn’t. Emotions flooded through him, robbing him of his voice, squeezing his throat.
Captain Kane O’Brien, Sean Mallory, and Ronan MacMillan all stood behind Doc, who knelt next to Dubois’s body. “Dead, capt’n. Drained.”
Finally, Amadi spoke. His voice was strained and a bit crusty. “Capt’n, Doc?”
The Capt’n raised his eyebrow. Perception reflected in his keen eyes. “And here I thought you’d need rescuing.”
Amadi could hear the pride and admiration rolling off his Irish lit. He’d be blushing ins
ide if it weren’t for Violet. All that mattered was saving her. “Doc?”
Doc stood, and concern flooded his red eyes. “What de ye have dere, Amadi?”
“Violet. She’s hurt.” Amadi’s voice choked. He wasn’t the strong master gunner, always so sure of himself. He was a man, panicked over losing the woman he loved.
Doc rushed over and examined the wound in Violet’s chest. “I’ve got to stop da bleedin’.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I need time, Capt’n. I’ve got to get her back to the ship, or she’ll die.”
Amadi held Violet tighter. “No.”
The capt’n tilted his head. “Sean, find William.”
“Aye, aye, Capt’n,” Sean said. He ran out of the kitchen. He always reminded Amadi of a fierce blond angel with his too-good looks, tall form, and fierce fighting skills.
The Capt’n clutched Amadi’s shoulder. “Your woman?”
Amadi nodded. “Aye.”
“Anyone else alive below?”
“No.” Amadi hardened his voice. “Da bitch’s dead.”
“Jacques’s sister?” the Capt’n asked.
Hate dwelt in Amadi’s heart like a pistol shot as he thought of the humiliation, the despair, the fear. “She was worse than Jacques.”
Ronan shook his dark head. “So much evil in one family.” He held a sword in his hand, but he stuffed his right wrist into his pocket. He’d lost his hand in the last battle they’d fought against the demon Zuto. He’d been brooding last time Amadi saw him, never leaving his cabin. For him to leave honored Amadi.
“Da slaves?” Amadi asked. “You didn’t—”
“They’re safe,” the capt’n said. “We will take them aboard the ship. They won’t be able to stay here. We’ll burn this place to the ground.”
Amadi smiled. “Good.” But he couldn’t dwell in the triumphant of defeating Celeste, not if Violet died. His world would end. He couldn’t imagine a world without his little truthful seer. A white woman sacrificed her life for him.
Sean rushed inside. “William’s outside.”
“Go back with Doc and her,” Capt’n said. “We’ll take care of this place. You won’t be much good here anyway, worrying about her.”
Amadi hated riding dragon style—he didn’t have much choice. He couldn’t change into a bat and carry Violet. Even vampire bats weren’t as quick as a dragon.
