Romancing the Paranormal

by Stephanie Rowe

  She slowly backed away from Mya. Pat would have to make a choice, her or the girl.

  “No, no, no, detective,” he chided. “Gun on the ground. Now.”

  Sydney forced a cold smile onto her face and gently laid the weapon down on the woolen carpet. Adrenaline pumped as she considered her next move. He took a step toward her, and she launched herself at Scurlock. As she tackled him to the floor, he fired off a shot. The slug whizzed by Mya’s head, shattering a Tiffany lamp. Sydney ignored the exploding shards of colored glass and wrestled Pat onto his back. She pinned his wrists to the ground, and he spat at her face. The slimy sputum dripped down her temple, and she coughed at the foul-scented nicotine.

  “Get off me, bitch!”

  “You’re dead,” Sydney hissed. Her fangs lengthened as she tasted victory.

  As she reared her head to bite him, a loud pop fired into the air, and the heat of a bullet sliced into her thigh. Although it pierced her flesh clean through, the silver metal poisoned her system and she was unable to hold onto her prey. Tears streamed down her face, as her back hit the wooden planks. Through the haze of the moisture, the outline of a woman came into view…Mya.

  “I’m sorry,” Mya mumbled. As if she were drugged, her words came out jumbled.

  “Why?” Sydney wiped her face with the back of her hand, refusing to give in to the excruciating pain.

  “I can’t…he’s always loved me…mother…mother needs him.” The gun tumbled from Mya’s hands and Pat shoved to his feet and grabbed her by the back of her neck.

  “About time, you dumb bitch. She almost killed me. At least you didn’t kill her.” He dragged Mya over to the tarp and threw her to the floor.

  Confused, Sydney tried to process what was happening. He’d abused Mya, yet she’d saved him. As she pushed up onto her elbows, Sydney heard the click of heels in the hallway. Tearing off her jacket, she wrapped it around her thigh in an attempt to stem the flow of blood pouring out from her wound. The tapping grew closer, and she sensed a vampire was near.

  She crawled toward the wall and clutched at it, using it as leverage. But as she hoisted herself upward, she lost her footing and slipped in her own blood. She shoved onto her hands and knees, clawed at the chair rail and fought to right herself against the wall. Pat’s maniacal laughter echoed in her ears. She knew he’d let her rally, to prolong her suffering. He’d allowed his victims to heal, even if it took weeks, so that he could torment them over and over.

  Heaving for breath, she stared into his seething eyes as he fell back onto the sofa and chuckled. Pat waved the gun, his arms spread wide across the back of the couch. He broke eye contact, and Sydney turned to see who’d caught his attention. Her heart dropped as the vampire entered the room, holding the victim by the back of her hair. Sydney released a cry she hadn’t known she possessed as her eyes locked on Samantha’s. With her mouth duct taped shut, she was unable to speak, and the tears in her eyes told Sydney that she was unable to use her magic.

  “How could you do this?” Sydney exclaimed.

  She moved to rescue Samantha, but the pain was too much. As her leg became numb, she shifted all her weight to one foot in an effort to stand.

  “Hello, Sydney. We’ve been expecting you,” the vampire told her.

  “Kade’s going to kill you.” Sydney sucked a breath, summoning every last ounce of energy that remained.

  The vampire merely laughed, throwing the pregnant prisoner to the ground. Sydney fell reaching to catch Samantha. The shock of her leg hitting the floor shot a stabbing pain throughout her entire body. She grasped at the carpet, dragging herself over to her friend. When Sydney reached Samantha, she took her into her arms, and glared at her attacker. Dominique.

  Chapter Twelve

  “I told you not to make a mess.” Dominique glared at Pat.

  “I swear I’ll clean it up. It’s her fault. Look what she made me do,” he complained.

  “You’re a disgrace.”

  “No, stop saying that,” he whined.

  “Look what you did. All this blood wasted...”

  “Let me kill her…she deserves to die. She put me away. She ruined my life.”

  “How can you do this?” Sydney interrupted their conversation.

  “Shut up, bitch.” He pointed the gun at her.

  “There’s still the matter of Issacson.” Dominique smoothed a stray hair from her face and brushed a tiny speck of lint off her crisp white sleeve.

  “I don’t care anymore. I just want her dead.”

  “You never did master torture the way I taught you. Such a disappointment you are.” Dominique glanced at Sydney, and gave a strong kick to her injured leg. Ignoring her cries, she approached Mya. “And her, she’s never been anything. No matter how hard I’ve tried, she’s failed me.”

  “If you’d just make us vampires, we wouldn’t have to do this…”

  “Silence, you idiot. The only reason I brought you down here…allowed you to come here into my home was to take her out.” She pointed at Sydney. “And you haven’t even done that right. Now look what you made me do.”

  “How could you do this?” Sydney couldn’t fathom why Dominique would attack her. “I know we haven’t always been friends but this isn’t you.”

  “You don’t even know who I am,” she snapped.

  “Why don’t you tell me then, because Kade’s going to be here soon and I’ll tell you what, he’s going to kill you… and him.” She looked over to Pat.

  “He’s not going anywhere.”

  “Luca’s going to find him and they’ll be coming for you.”

  “Yeah well, not anymore. Once he sees that I’ve got his precious cargo on board, he’ll leave Kade with me.” Dominique spun and snatched a tissue out of her small purse. She knelt down and began to scour a tiny smudge of blood, which soon blended into a pink blob on the cream-colored carpet. “I can’t believe you ruined my rug. It’s an antique.”

  “I didn’t mean to do it…accidents happen.” Pat scrubbed the barrel of the gun against his chin.

  “Must I do everything myself?” Dominique leaned over and grabbed Samantha by her arms, yanking her up to her feet.

  “Mother,” Pat declared, pushing off the sofa. “This is your responsibility.”

  Dominique is Pat Scurlock’s mother? What the ever loving fuck? If she is his mother, then who is …? Sydney’s eyes fell onto Mya, who’d fallen back into a drug-induced haze. Unresponsive, she lay passed out in the corner. Dominique laughed, and Sydney’s attention was drawn back to the vampire who dangled Samantha like a rag doll. Shocked, she studied the red-haired vampire, who looked identical to her friend. No, no, no. Dominique would not do this.

  Sydney focused on Pat as he crossed the room and approached the one he’d called Mother. Sydney began to feel dizzy; she’d lost too much blood. Her heart started to race. If she didn’t feed soon, she’d pass out like she’d done in Mya’s apartment. Her mind went fuzzy. As if she’d entered an alternative universe, she observed Pat take Dominique’s free hand. He began to kiss it, not like a son, but as a lover. Sydney fought the bile that rose in her stomach. By the time his lips met Dominique’s, Sydney’s vision had begun to blur. She prayed to God that Kade and Luca would arrive soon. She wouldn’t last much longer.

  Kade’s voice bellowed through the robin’s-egg-blue steel cellar doors. Anthony secured his gun with both hands, keeping it upright. His heart pounded against his ribs in anticipation. Luca held his fingers to his lips and reached for the handle. Anthony had never been one to cower away from a dangerous situation, but he was well aware that he was no match for the supernatural forces that lay in wait. But having made a connection with Kade, he’d known he’d give his own life to save him.

  The creaking storm door flew open, and within seconds he and Luca had broken down the oak door which stood as the home’s last defense. As he stepped into the darkness, he choked on the stench of urine. Reaching for his small flashlight, he flicked it on and caught sight of Lu
ca wrestling a vampire into the far corner of the basement. He swiveled to the right and spied a woman lying motionless on a stained futon. Her blouse had been torn open, her neck littered with small bites. Her eyes bulged, blindly staring into the rafters. Certain she was dead, he moved to Kade, who groaned his name.

  “It’s okay, man.” Anthony stifled his reaction as he shone the light onto his friend. Tethered by silver to sewer pipes, Kade’s pale skin had been marred with cigarette burns.

  “Get me out of here,” Kade pleaded; his voice, usually strong, wavered.

  “How many are there?”

  “Maybe four or five. I’m not sure.”

  “I got ya.”

  “Tony…there’s a guard. Where’s Luca?” Kade coughed, his chin lolling forward onto his chest.

  “I’m good,” Luca yelled from across the room. The clatter of wood breaking sounded in the corner.

  “Is he smiling?” Kade joked.

  “You know he loves a good ass kicking.” Anthony couldn’t believe Kade was making light of the situation, given his condition. He gingerly tried to remove the silver chains, but they’d been wound in knots, a padlock securing them in place. “You couldn’t get tied up by something a little easier? Cuffs I could do. Rope even. But a fucking padlock? Jesus Christ.”

  “Stop complaining.”

  “Yeah, yeah, gotcha.” Anthony laughed. He pushed up onto his feet, searching for a tool to open the lock. It wasn’t lost on him that Kade had called him Tony. As long as he’d known him, Kade had maintained a formal disposition, one that set him apart from vampires and mortals alike. Anthony suspected that his vulnerability had altered his usual reserved demeanor, but he decided not to call attention to it. A loud grunt sounded from the corner, and he flashed the light over to Luca, who’d taken a right hook to his cheek. “You need some help over there?”

  “Hell, no. We’re just having a little fun.” Luca dug his foot into the guy’s chest, and sent him flying across the room. “Now would you stop jerkin’ off over there and get Kade loose?”

  “Goddamned fucking vampires.” Anthony shoved boxes to the side, looking for something he could use as a tool. He picked up what he thought was a screwdriver but it was made out of plastic. Hurling it across the room, he spied what he needed in a cobwebbed corner. “The only reason I’m here is because Sydney was once human. A very nice human.”

  “We were all human once. Luca’s right. Stop fucking around and get this off me,” Kade goaded.

  “Ungrateful motherfuck…” Anthony wrapped his hands around an axe and hauled it out of the debris. It lodged in the boxes, and he continued to yank it toward him until he broke it free.

  “No need for name calling.” Luca smashed an antique crib headboard over his knee, and broke a jagged shard off into his fist.

  “Scurlock is human,” Kade reminded him.

  “Glass houses.” Luca lunged at the vampire.

  “Pot meet kettle.” Kade spat up blood and a sickening gurgle came forth from his throat. His eyes fluttered shut.

  “Fuck, no. Now, you listen to me, Kade. You’re not going to die on me, man.” Anthony rushed to Kade’s side, tapping the side of his cheek with the palm of his hand. Pulling out the silver, he extended it far enough so he could break it off without snaring one of Kade’s arms. He lifted the sharp instrument into the air and swung down hard. The metal sparked as the chain split open, and Kade’s head slammed against the concrete floor. “Not on my watch.”

  “Shit.” Anthony threw the axe onto the floor. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Luca staking the vampire. “About fucking time.”

  “What?” Luca asked breathlessly, his lips curled in victory.

  “Help me. There’s somethin’ wrong with him.” Anthony slid his hands under Kade’s arms and dragged him into the middle of the room. He sat on the concrete, pulling his injured friend onto his lap. Cradling him, he shined the flashlight onto his skin and checked his pulse.

  “He’s gonna be fine,” Luca assured Anthony. He knelt down and thumbed open one of Kade’s eyelids. “He’s gotta eat, though.”

  “I got this.” Anthony rolled up a sleeve. “Check on the girl over there. I think she’s dead.”

  “Aw, shit.” .

  “You know her?”

  “Name’s Gemma. Used to be a donor. She’s gone.”

  “This isn’t working.” Anthony held his arm to Kade’s mouth but he didn’t move to feed.

  “You aren’t doing it right.” Luca stood and towered above him. “Open his lips with your fingers. Put your skin right on his tongue. He’s alive. He’ll get the hint.”

  “I swear to God, I’m never hangin’ out with the two of you again.” Anthony reluctantly did as Luca told him. Recalling his reaction to Sydney’s bite, he attempted to remain calm. He wasn’t sure which would be worse, the sting or the ecstasy. He’d never been attracted to a man before but with Kade and Sydney, lines became blurred.

  “You do realize Sydney’s up there? Hurry up with it.”

  “Fuck off.” Anthony sucked a breath as Kade’s tongue traced a warm path along his wrist. His body jerked; fangs sliced into his skin. “Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit…ahh.”

  “Buck up. You humans are such weaklings,” Luca chastised with disdain.

  “This is so wrong.” The rush of pleasure overcame Anthony as Kade suctioned his blood. Masculine hands grabbed his forearm, tightening the seal on his flesh. His cock jerked in response and his eyes rolled up into his head. “Is it over yet? I can’t do this. Come on, Kade. Are we good, man?”

  “We’re good,” Kade breathed, licking at the wound.

  “Hold on a second. Jesus,” Anthony said, his semi-hard dick pressing at his zipper.

  “Shake it off. Let’s get moving.” Kade jumped to his feet, energized by his feeding.

  “Yeah, I’ll get right to that.” Anthony gingerly pushed to his feet and adjusted himself.

  “I think your donor liked it,” Luca noted.

  “I’m not his fucking donor.” Anthony pulled his shirt down over the bulge in his pants.

  “Of course he liked it. They all like it when I do it.” Kade smiled at Anthony and clapped his hand on his shoulder, then shoved him toward Luca.

  “You guys are assholes, you know that, right?” Anthony retrieved his gun from its holster.

  “We love you too.” Kade moved to the stairs. “Now where the hell is my woman?”

  “How do you know we let her come with us?” Anthony asked.

  “I know my mate. There is no ‘letting’ Sydney do anything. I knew she’d come for me. It was just a matter of when.” Kade ran up to her, his feet barely touching the steps.

  Chapter Thirteen

  A gunshot sounded and Kade tore through the house. As he rounded into the living room, confusion crossed his face. Dominique smiled coldly back at him, her arm wrapped around Samantha’s neck. He held his hands up to halt Anthony from coming any further, but it didn’t stop Luca from bursting past him.

  “Don’t move another step,” Dominique sneered, her fangs inches from Samantha’s neck. “I always enjoyed the taste of a pregnant woman. There’s nothing like the innocence of the unborn.”

  “Get the fuck off her,” Luca yelled.

  “Dom. What’s going on here?” Kade regarded her face. The woman before him looked like Dominique but the fine lines around her lips appeared deeper, as if she was a long time smoker.

  His eyes fell to Sydney, who stared blankly back at him. Her sallow complexion indicated significant blood loss, and his anger spiked at the sight. A flicker of recognition flared in her eyes, and he suspected she was purposely feigning despondence.

  “My son has a bone to pick with your fiancée…her bones,” she laughed, tightening her grip on Samantha’s neck. “And this witch? Pity she can’t chant her mumbo jumbo with her mouth taped shut.”

  “Let her go,” Luca demanded, taking a step toward her.

  “Get back,” she hissed. “This is between P
atty and his detective. If you leave right now, I may let her go.” She licked Samantha’s neck clear up to her cheek and temple. “Or not.” She gave a wicked smile and lapped at the skin. “I’ve forgotten how delicious witches can be. Mmm...I can taste the infant in her belly.”

  “No!” Pat waved his gun in the air. “Kade stays here. I want to play. You never let me play, mother.”

  “Only when you’ve earned it,” she chided. “Look what you’ve done to my house. A punishment is in order.”

  “No!” He stomped his foot like a petulant child.

  “All of you leave now, and the witch stays alive,” she explained calmly.

  “I’m not leaving you.” Luca’s eyes locked on Samantha’s. She violently shook her head. Smothered garbled words came from underneath her gag.

  “See? The little woman agrees with me,” Dominique told him.

  “I don’t know who you are or what you did with Dominique, but you aren’t her.” Kade’s fangs descended and he caught sight of Sydney reaching for her gun that had been tossed underneath the sofa.

  “Clever, clever boy. Doesn’t matter much what I am now, does it? I hold the cards.” With ease, her fangs pierced Samantha’s creamy white flesh. Instantly, she retracted them, laughing as blood ran down her face. Samantha began to heave, the adhesive gag restricting her breathing.

  “Stop, you’re hurting her. Take me,” Luca pleaded, inching closer.

  “Tsk, tsk, tsk…you’ve always been a killjoy, Macquarie.” She licked her lips and glanced at Pat and then to Sydney. “Kill her now. I’m bored.”

  “But mother…”

  “No arguing,” she spat at him. “No one better move to stop him or the witch dies too.”

  Pat slowly turned to Sydney, who raised her gaze to meet his. With his gun trained on her, he reached for her collar. Kade had seen her sneak her weapon behind her back, but he couldn’t be sure that she had enough strength to use it. Sydney gave her attacker a bitter smile, her sharp teeth beckoning him. As he hauled her to her feet, she spun around and aimed at Dominique. Firing off a shot, she clipped her shoulder.