by Terry Spear
He clicked the light off. When the dark enveloped them again, he pulled her against his chest. “Sleep, Crystal,” he whispered. “Tonight you’re mine. Not his. Sleep. I won’t let him get to you.”
Tonight? Only tonight? She couldn’t help desiring more. Although she knew her need for him was growing way out of bounds. She snuggled closer. With his warm skin against hers, his arms wrapped securely around her, she could sense the difference between Nicolai and Robert. They both stirred the same kind of tingling desires in her, but with Robert, no revulsion accompanied the longing. She yearned for a hunter in her life. But being the way she was, she knew it could never happen.
She’d want him always, but her being so different would drag him to his death, like a mermaid lured the sailors to theirs. Tomorrow, she’d end the vampire’s life Robert had slated to kill. Then she’d send Robert back to Oklahoma, safe from her needy but ultimately deadly grasp as he’d definitely be Nicolai’s most sought after target to kill.
Early the next morning, Crystal slipped out of Robert’s arms. She quickly dressed, reattached her weapons, then sat down to jot a note to him.
Dear Robert, I intend to take care of this matter with Yorovitch for you so that you may return to your family. I will go back to your house when I have accomplished the deed. Yours, Crystal.
She left the note on the kitchen counter. Then she returned to the bedroom. He slept like the dead. This time, she’d use the rope on him to keep him from following her.
With as gentle a touch as she could manage, she tied the hemp around his wrists, then looped the rope around a post on the headboard. One thing he’d learn about her, she didn’t get mad, she got even. She smiled. In reality, she only wished to protect him.
Leaning over the bed, she kissed his cheek. He stirred. She quickly stepped away from the bed. Her heart pounded. No way did she want to wake him prematurely.
The sun had only begun to peek into their world. Time to find as many of Nicolai and Dimitri’s lairs and do as much damage as she could.
No one would use her to make a superior vampire race. The bile rose in her throat with revulsion. She was determined, no driven, to end it now. No one would hurt Robert, if she could help it.
She entered the living room. The swords on the wall caught her eye again. Hunter’s swords. Why hadn’t she realized it before? Then she noticed a cane in a stand. She pulled it out and smiled. A sword hidden in the cane. It might come in handy.
She opened the curtains to the large glass window. Not being able to see her car down the street, she wondered if she’d parked it further away than she’d remembered. Or had someone taken it?
With a cautious step, she walked outside and headed down the redbrick walk. No sign of her car. Someone had stolen it. She ran back into the house and locked the door.
Taking a deep breath, she returned to the bedroom and rummaged through Robert’s Army trousers. In one of the pockets, she found his keys. Today, she’d be the driver of the white convertible. Once he freed himself of his bindings, he’d find he had no car to follow her either. Perfect. Later, she’d report her car stolen. But for now, every minute that slipped by, brought the night closer.
She locked the door to his garage, then climbed into the car. Once the garage door ground open, she backed out and hurriedly shut it closed again with the garage door opener. She had to ensure every action she did kept Robert safe.
When she drove into the street, she noticed two men watching her from a couple of houses down. Dressed in black with faces pale as ghosts, she assumed they served as human hosts. With the convertible’s windows being so darkly tinted, they couldn’t tell who was driving, or who might be a passenger. Time to take control of her life. Determination ruled, despite a slight nagging fear attempting to undo her resolve.
One of the men raised a cell phone to his ear. He couldn’t be reporting to Nicolai. He’d be sleeping. But someone close to him, undoubtedly.
If only she could leave her feelings out of the killing. Emotionless, that’s how the hunters dealt with the vampires and the bloodsuckers in turn handled them. They were like soldiers, taught to kill their enemy. Only they didn’t suffer from post-traumatic-stress-syndrome afterward. They just shut off a valve that handled the feelings and turned them back on when needed. But her valve was stuck, and the emotions, that could get her instantly killed, invariably got in the way.
She first drove to Dimitri’s house. Would the human hosts who resided there, let her in? Most likely, if they thought she was Crystal Anderson, Nicolai’s claimed territory. But if they thought the driver of the vehicle was Robert Parker, the one who’d kept her safe from Nicolai, no.
She hesitated. Entering a vampire’s home in broad daylight wasn’t normally done. They often moved their families to sleep during the day at other locations to ensure their safety. But she’d known them to return to a party house, even after hunters had crashed it, figuring they would not think the vampires would return there anytime soon.
The only thing was, killing a vampire while he or she slept seemed barbaric even to the hunters who had no qualms about terminating them. Considering her own problems with dealing with them at any given time, she didn’t know if she could handle it. Not only that, when they were half asleep, they were grouchier than sons-of-bitches, and even more deadly.
She opened the car door and stepped outside. Immediately, the door to the house opened. They expected her. A trickle of dread dribbled down her spine. What did they expect her to do? And who waited inside for her?
Her heart picked up its pace as the blood thundered in her ears.
After closing and locking the car door, she strode up the path. No backing out now.
Clicking the cane on the brick walk gave her confidence. A curtain in the front window pulled open slightly. No one ventured outside to greet her.
Would the human hosts attempt to tackle her when she stepped into the house? She assumed they would. Then they’d think to keep her hostage until Nicolai could come for her.
Nearly at the door, she paused. Some movement in the house made her figure they were readying themselves for her arrival. Being a welcome guest sent worry coursing through her. How would they attempt to detain her?
She readied her cane in the way she had learned in martial arts. Cane fighting, she excelled at. If the going got really rough, pulling a sword out of the hat, would enable her further.
By oath, she wasn’t supposed to hurt human hosts if she could help it. She feared she wouldn’t have a choice this time.
When she crossed into the entryway, her heart beat twice as fast. The house, darkened by the specially-lined curtains that draped all of the windows, appeared almost cave-like in the morning light.
She repeated to herself, “I will not be the host for a superior vampire race.”
Several shadows moved in the dark recesses of the house. Did they fear her? They’d fear Nicolai more if he discovered they’d had her within their grasp and didn’t try to take her.
She glanced at the curtains. They had to go first. She wasn’t working without the light to aid her.
Inching her way toward the curtains, she kept an eye on the shadowy forms that watched her. Reaching with her left hand, she yanked at the black brocade drapes and smiled as the whole curtain rod pulled out of the wall. It crashed to the floor with a bang.
With nothing covering the window, the sunlight streamed in. Now she could see three men and one woman standing, waiting across the expansive living room. She maneuvered in the same manner, keeping her back to the wall and crossed in front of the open door. She glanced outside to make sure no one was coming. Adrenaline coursed through her veins when three more men headed up the walk.
Hell. They’d called for reinforcements. The thought instantly chilled her. That’s why the others hadn’t attempted to tackle her yet. How many more would come to their aid?
She grabbed another handful of drapes and yanked them to the floor. Let there be light! Keeping active g
ave her power and helped her to quash the desire to change her mind and leave before blood was shed.
The three men entered the room and turned to her. Two of them had been at Robert’s house earlier, both black-haired and smooth-faced like the vampires.
“Put down the cane,” the tallest of the men said, his hair naturally dark, his eyes gray, his voice gruff and authoritative.
“I wish to see a man named Yorovitch.” Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed two of the hosts look up the stairs. “Only Yorovitch. You don’t serve him. If you allow me to see him, I will allow you to take me to Nicolai.”
The man’s lips moved up slightly, even the skin beneath his eyes crinkling slightly, indicating he was highly amused. “You’re a huntress at heart. That’s what Dimitri says. So no, we won’t take you to see anyone for the moment. When Nicolai wakes, we’ll let him know you’re dying to be with him. He’ll be so pleased. Then he’ll come for you.”
He motioned to one of the couches. “Have a seat.” Turning to the woman, he said, “Bring the lady something to eat and drink. Where’s our hospitality?”
Crystal bolted for the stairs. Someone slept upstairs. Someone maybe named Yorovitch.
A hand grabbed her arm. She immediately swung her cane at the man’s head, knocking him out instantly. At once, the other five male hosts attacked. Swinging her cane, she connected with one, then another. Both sprawled out on the floor.
The remaining three hesitated. She was stronger than them. But unlike the ones from Nicolai’s party, these hadn’t recently given blood and it appeared they hadn’t been awake all night either.
“Which room does Yorovitch sleep in? He’s the only one I want.”
25
The three men exchanged glances, then nodded.
They weren’t buying it. Crystal readied her cane as she rushed halfway up the stairs to locate the vampire who had killed Robert’s sister.
“Wait!”
She turned. The scrawniest of the human hosts pulled out a knife. Nasty. Human hosts were rarely armed. Hunters left them alone when they targeted the vampires, unless the hosts interfered, or threatened them with a weapon. So most didn’t arm themselves. What would Nicolai think of one who brandished a knife at her?
She slid the sword from her cane with a whoosh. The man eyed her weapon. Hers was bigger than his. She smiled.
Her smile faded when the stairs creaked behind her. Swinging around, she faced a vampire. Standing in the dark of the stairway, he glared at her. His bloodshot eyes revealed she had just awoken him.
His black silky, slightly disheveled hair hung loosely about his shoulders. A black nightshirt reached to his ankles while over this, a black velvet robe hung open at the waist. “Is she the one?” he hissed.
“She is, master,” the woman said.
He glanced down at the men Crystal had knocked out, lying motionless on the floor. Then his raven-colored eyes shifted back to her. “Nicolai will never turn you.”
“I take it you’re Yorovitch.”
His eyes widened. “How do you know my name?”
“A mutual friend wants you dead. I’ve come to help him out.”
“A huntress to do a hunter’s job? Robert Parker will die soon enough. Nicolai or I will see to it.”
Crystal considered the angle she’d have to use to shove the sword into Yorovitch’s heart. He stood too far up the staircase for her to attempt to lop off his head. She feared she couldn’t penetrate his heart from the distance she was from him with a thrust, before he thwarted her with his superior strength.
When more hosts tromped in through the front door, he turned his gaze toward them. She took the chance and thrust the sword toward the vampire’s heart. He jumped out of the blade’s reach. Then he dove at her like an eagle, talons raised and struck her cheek with his hand, knocking her against the wall. Pain radiated through her shoulder as she hit it, and her skin burned where he’d slapped her face. He would die, if she could manage killing him.
He bared his teeth. No way would he let her live despite Nicolai’s desires. She slashed at him with the sword only managing to cut his arm. The bloodlust nearly consumed him as he tackled her full force, knocking her down the stairs. She hit her head on the carpeted floor. Briefly, white stars against black satin appeared in her sight.
With his fangs extended, he hissed at her, then leaned against her with every intention of ripping her throat out. He hesitated. Her blood would kill him. Was that what he was thinking? His large hand grabbed her throat instead and squeezed.
The vampire’s choice for killing a hunter, crush the breath from him or her. Snuff out their life with a mighty hand.
Claustrophobia gripped her like a vise as she struggled to get out of his stranglehold.
The sword rested at her side, useless now. Before she lost consciousness, she released one of the spring-loaded wrist blades, and shoved it deeply into his heart.
Immediately, he released her throat, and his body sank on top of hers as the dagger worked its magic. She gasped for air, then quickly pushed him off her. When she rose to her feet, her head still ached from the fall.
No one moved toward her as Yorovitch’s body wizened into a wrinkled mess. She turned to see five more men had joined the party. They waited, a wall blocking her escape. She grabbed the sword and ran up the stairs.
After yanking the first door to the right open, she peered into the dark room. Dimitri’s room. She crossed the floor to the curtains on the windows. After yanking two down, enough sunlight streamed into the room to provide her protection from a vampire.
She hurried to the bed and pulled the curtains off the bed frame. No one slept there currently. But if any wished to, they’d have to replace the sun shielding curtains first.
Afterward, she returned to the remaining windows. It’d take a while for the human hosts to replace the bent curtain rods and fix the damage to the walls where she’d pulled the hardware out. They wouldn’t be using this house for a refuge for some time.
When she finished, she left the room. Light from Dimitri’s bedroom streamed into the hall, illuminating her way. Two of the hosts stood in front of the door across from his. Inwardly, she smiled. Another vampire must have rested there.
The only way she would be safe from Nicolai’s plans was if all of the vampires died. As much as she hated the idea, none could be left alive to come after her.
She hurried down to the next room. She didn’t trust hosts. They could act as decoys for someone sleeping in another room.
The door creaked open as she pushed it. As soon as she forced it aside, two of the hosts grabbed her arms. She’d been right. The vampire slept in this room.
She slashed at one of the hosts, who cried out and collapsed to his knees. The vampire would be awake, but couldn’t come into the hallway with sunlight now filling it.
She turned to the other host, who backed toward the stairs.
Facing the vampire’s lair, she felt her skin prickle with apprehension. Dealing with a vampire in the dark was Crystal’s worst nightmare. His odor was distinctly male. He would be stronger than a female.
The notion he could see her, but she couldn’t see him, sent panic rushing through her.
He waited for her, most likely not fully awake, just as she’d been the other night with Nicolai. Vampires awakened prematurely, were more vicious than when fully rested.
She moved into the room, hoping to reach a window. If she could kill him using the sun’s rays, so much the better. Besides, she craved the light.
The door to the bedroom slammed shut behind her, and her heart stopped dead. The bit of light from the hallway had given her courage. Now, blackness enveloped her. Her breathing sped up.
Her skin crawled as she crept toward the wall, her hand reaching for furniture to avoid tripping. Her fingers touched a chest of drawers.
Suddenly he propelled a chair into her path, and she cried out. Goose bumps raised on her arms. After the wood banged against her shins, she
bit her lip as the pain radiated through her legs.
In the same instant, she swung the sword in his direction. Fighting him without sight would never work. She’d lose for certain. She had to finish him now. Again she moved to where she thought one of the curtained windows might be.
Again, he attempted to foil her as he shoved a desk into her path this time.
She slashed her sword in the air over the top of the desk, but he remained out of reach. Her temperature elevated. She had to get to the window, or lose the game.
She skirted the desk and ran into the poster bed. Not a good sign. Climbing through the bed would put her at great risk.
With no other choice, she dove into the curtained bed.
Big mistake.
A woman screamed out. A vampire? Crystal couldn’t be certain. She scurried over the woman’s body, then jerked at the curtains on the other side, panicked.
As soon as her combat boots hit the floor, a hand grabbed her wrist. She gasped, then swung her sword at him. The blade sliced through the air like a knife cutting through melted butter, but then it struck something hard. He cried out and released her. If she didn’t cut off his head or thrust her blade into his heart, the injury she’d just given him would heal.
She bolted for the wall. Soft velvet drapes touched her cheek. Gladness overwhelmed her. She yanked the fabric with all her might.
Sunlight streamed into the room, and the vampire cried out. His hands covered his face, but he couldn’t stop the effects of the sunlight on his body. Instantly, he disintegrated into a pile of ashes.
Crystal pulled the curtains down from the bed frame. The naked woman in the bed screamed, grabbed a sheet, and ran from the room. A human host.
After yanking the remaining curtains from the windows, Crystal walked into the hall again. Two hosts waited for her. She shoved the sword into the cane and swung it hard at the first host. The sound of a crack meant she’d broken his arm as he’d raised it to defend himself.
He hurried back down the stairs. The other male host pulled out a knife. Another with a knife. Had they realized if they didn’t get her, Nicolai would take care of them? But if they injured her, wouldn’t that earn them Nicolai’s wrath?
