Age of Vampires- The Complete Series

by Caroline Peckham

  “The only thing I want to do right now is see my sister,” I replied.

  Erik’s gaze darkened. “I don’t think that’s a good idea for a while. She might have trouble resisting the call of your blood. If she were to hurt you, bite you, then I don’t know if she’d ever forgive herself.”

  “She’d never hurt me,” I replied instantly.

  Erik’s jaw ticked and irritation filled me as I could tell he didn’t agree.

  “Just because she’s like you now, don’t start thinking you know her better than me,” I snapped before he could say anything to contradict me. “So just get her to call me. Because if you don’t, I’ll come for her myself and if you want to stop me, you’ll have to kill me. And you can see how much she loves you after that.”

  I didn’t give him the chance to respond as I stepped away from his dream and moved back to my own body. I didn’t push myself into wakefulness though. I knew I needed to rest and my best chance of sleep would be to stay close to it now. I just hoped to be woken by the cellphone ringing soon. Or Erik Belvedere was going to find out that I always kept my promises.

  I laid in Erik's arms longer than I should have. I knew I was putting off the inevitable, but the idea of talking to Callie terrified me. What if she despised me now? What if she couldn't stand to be around me anymore? She'd only just started to see the vampires differently, would she be able to see me as I used to be? Or would she see a monster?

  I crawled out of bed, flexing my limbs which were so strong it was hard to adjust to. Every movement I made felt powerful, like the sweep of a blade. I was a weapon given life. And I was afraid of what I might be capable of.

  I moved to the bedside table, hunting through the drawers, determined to find Valentina's phone.

  When I didn't, I gazed at Erik a moment, drinking in the sight of his peaceful face. My eyes raked down to the packed muscles of his torso and energy pounced into my veins.

  I shook my head at myself, forcing my legs in the opposite direction and heading to the closet. I found some jeans and a shirt to wear, pulling them on before quietly slipping out of the room. And I really was quiet. Entirely silent. Like a cat padding around the house. I walked downstairs into the open plan kitchen-lounge.

  My gaze landed on a large shape on the couch covered with a blanket.

  My neck prickled as I stared at it. Was someone sleeping here?

  I crept toward them and steeled myself as I tugged the blanket back to see who it was. My heart lodged in my throat at the vile sight before me. Fabian's body lay in a heap next to his severed head.

  I opened my mouth in horror as his lifeless eyes gazed up at me. Erik had said he could heal from this. And I couldn't bear to look at him like that, no matter what I thought of him. My senses told me what to do and I nudged his head toward his neck with a grimace.

  As the jagged skin met, it immediately began to heal.

  I watched in horror and awe as his head knitted back onto his body then his limbs jerked to life. He flew upright in a blur of motion, rounding on me with a snarl. My lip curled back on instinct and a feral growl escaped my throat.

  I gasped, covering my mouth at the reaction I'd had.

  “Holy fucking shit,” Fabian gasped as he took me in. He was filthy, caked in dried blood and his bare chest gleaming.

  “Hi,” I said weakly, dropping my hand. I had no idea of how the hell I was supposed to explain the fact I was his kind now.

  “You're...” He moved forward, reaching out to me with bloody fingers and I recoiled.

  “How?” he demanded. “And where's your sister?” He threw a hopeful glance over my shoulder, his eyes dancing with light. “We killed the slayers, right? That's why you're here.” His excitement was evident and it burned an angry hole in my chest.

  I reached out and struck him across the face. The blow was so hard, he flew away from me and smashed into the wall. I gasped at what I'd done, gazing at the palm which had landed the hit, feeling no ounce of pain from the collision.

  Fabian scrambled upright, turning to me with a glare. “What the fuck?”

  “You listen to me,” I snarled, pointing at him. “My sister is not yours and the slayers are damn-well alive. No thanks to you. They're far away from here with Callie. And you'll never find her.”

  His eyes simmered with heat as he approached, his muscles tensing as if he intended to hurt me. I backed up, suddenly not trusting my strength against him. He was a Belvedere. He was certainly stronger than me.

  He moved within two inches of me then fell to his knees, grabbing hold of my legs. “Please tell me where she is. I'd never hurt her. I love her!”

  “Stop it.” I tried to kick him off, but he held on tight.

  “She's my life,” he begged and my face softened with pity.

  “Get up,” I urged gently.

  He rose shakily to his feet then clutched my arm. “Look at you,” he cooed, changing tact. “So beautiful. Did Erik make you? I can offer this to Callie too. Eternal life.”

  “She'd never want that.” I tried to pull my arm free but he didn't release me.

  “I can't believe she ripped my head off...she's so damn passionate.” He shifted closer, his eyes raking over my face. “You look like her in ways...”

  “You're creeping me out.” I jerked back and he finally let go.

  “Sorry,” he muttered, rubbing the skin above his heart. “I just miss her. All I wanted was to bring her here. Why did Erik let them go?”

  “Because he knows it's the gods who set up that fight. They're our true enemy.”

  Fabian nodded meekly.

  I glanced around the room and spotted the cellphone on the coffee table. A jolt of energy raced through me as I snatched it up.

  My hand trembled as I stood, gazing at the screen. As I tapped it, a whole list of missed calls were revealed from Julius.

  My heart sang with hope. If they'd been trying to call, surely that meant they still cared? They hadn't written me off as a parasite.

  I found my way to his number, my thumb hovering over the call button.

  “Do it,” Fabian urged, bouncing on his heels beside me.

  I threw him a frown. “Go away. I need to do this alone.”

  He gazed at me as if I'd hit him again.

  “Go,” I insisted and he padded off through the room with his head hung low, stepping out of a door into the hallway. I was sure he'd hear me anyway, but there wasn't much I could do about that. The last thing I wanted was for Callie to hear his voice and have to wrestle with the mark that bound her to him.

  I sank into an armchair, drawing in some air before pressing dial.

  I lifted the phone to my ear, chewing anxiously on my lower lip. One ring, two-

  “Monty?” Callie answered, her tone desperate.

  “It's me,” I confirmed, squeezing my eyes shut as fear raged inside me.

  Don't hate me.

  “I'm so sorry,” she blurted. “Are you mad at me? I didn't want to do it, but I couldn't lose you and-”

  “I'm fine,” I promised, a tear rolling from my eye, but it was icily cold instead of the heat I was used to. “Are you okay?”

  “Am I okay? Fucking hell, Monty, are you okay? Are you...did Erik...” She seemed unable to get her questions in line and my heart went out to her. She must have been driven mad with worry and guilt consumed me that I hadn't trusted she'd want to hear from me.

  “I'm alright, I promise. It's strange...but it's not all bad. And Erik is looking after me.”

  “Did you drink blood?” she asked in a deathly quiet whisper. There was no judgement in her tone, just fear. As if she was grieving over the mere idea of me having to consume it.

  I didn't answer for several seconds, hating having to admit it. But I couldn't keep anything from her. “Yes...I couldn't help myself, Callie. I didn't want to but it was the only way to stop the pain. And it was from Realm A, the place the humans live happily. So...I guess that's the best option I have.”

  A
whimper escaped her and another tear rolled down my cheek.

  “Why did you jump?” she asked, her tone laced with hurt.

  “Andvari,” I said in answer and she released a breath of anger.

  “I hate them. Him and Idun, they're monsters. Worse than anything that walks on Earth.” I knew she meant the vampires and my heart cracked at her tone. At least she was making some progress with seeing them in a better light. But they weren't just them anymore, they were me.

  “We'll work out the prophecy,” I breathed. “We'll finish this.”

  “But how? What are we going to do?”

  “I don't know. Maybe the answer lies at the holy mountain?” I suggested.

  “Yeah maybe...” She cleared her throat. “You sound different. Like you but not you.”

  “I am still me,” I swore, feeling sure of that right down to my bones. “And you know I'd never, ever hurt you. I don't care what this curse makes me feel, it doesn't mean I'd act on it.”

  “I know,” she said on a breath. “I trust you. And I want to see you.”

  “She can't.” I turned sharply at the sound of Erik's voice, finding him watching me from the doorway. “It's too risky. You could succumb to the bloodlust and hurt her.”

  Callie fell silent on the other end of the line and more tears found me. “I would never hurt my sister.”

  Erik shook his head firmly. “Until you've had time to adjust, it's best you don't-”

  “No,” I growled. “We've been apart long enough. And we're so close to figuring out the prophecy. I have to see her.”

  “I'll come, Monty. Wherever you are, I'll be there,” Callie said at last and relief ebbed through me.

  Erik's jaw ticked as he surveyed me. “Not her. One of the other slayers first. As a test. There's a cottage on the estate, I can pick them up and bring them there. But only Julius can come to the house. Not your sister.”

  I released a hollow laugh. “Fine, but once you have your proof I'd never hurt any of them, I will see Callie.”

  Erik moved toward me, taking the phone from my hand and talking down the line. “Hello, Dream Walker. Are you haunting me in my waking hours now too?” he asked, his tone cool.

  My brows arched in surprise. Callie had gone to him in his dreams? Did that mean they were forming some semblance of a friendship? I didn't think that was likely from Callie's end. But I had no doubt she was trying for my sake.

  My heightened hearing picked up her answer on the other end of the line. “I'm pretty sure it's you who's haunting me, Belvedere. So where is this cottage? Where can we meet you?”

  “Only Julius can see Montana,” Erik pressed. “Neither you or Magnar should stray too close to my home just yet. There is still the issue of Fabian-”

  “Yes,” Fabian growled as he stepped into the room. “If that slayer comes within a mile of me, I'll finish him for real this time and take my wife back.”

  I glowered and Erik turned his back on him. “I'll text you where to meet me,” he murmured before cutting the line.

  An ache filled me at not having a chance to say goodbye, but I knew he'd done it to avoid the chance of Fabian getting his hands on the phone.

  “So you're awake,” Erik turned to his brother, passing the cellphone back to me.

  “Your new vampire helped me heal. How long have I been on that couch?” Fabian growled, his hands curling into fists.

  “After the slayers dumped you in my boat and I stuffed you in the trunk of my car? About six hours,” Erik goaded him and tension crackled in the air between them.

  “Who the fuck do you think you are? We were on the verge of defeating the slayers. Why did you let them go?” Fabian demanded.

  I rose to my feet and moved to Erik's side. He wasn't alone if Fabian decided to start something. I was able to defend my husband now.

  “Because we found some common ground for once,” Erik explained. “The gods took over our bodies during that fight. They are to blame for everything. It's time we faced that fact and put our differences aside.”

  “The slayers hunted us to the ends of the Earth!” Fabian bellowed and Erik released a weary sigh.

  “That was then, this is now. We have to adapt,” Erik insisted. “And if you don't drop the issue, I'm going to ask my wife to help me detach your head again because I can't deal with your bullshit right now.”

  Fabian fell quiet, his eyes whipping to me. “Why did you turn her?” he asked, changing tact.

  “She had an accident, I'll tell you everything later,” Erik said. “All you need to know right now is she's one of us.”

  My skin tingled at his words. I was one of them. No longer a food source or a weak being to be put under the thumb. And although the idea still made me uncomfortable, it felt good to be on equal ground for once.

  Fabian stalked past us toward the stairwell. “I'm gonna have a shower.”

  “Great,” Erik muttered as he passed.

  “And touch myself while thinking about your wife's twin sister,” Fabian taunted him and my mouth parted in disgust.

  “Can we cut his hands off?” I asked Erik as Fabian disappeared into the stairway.

  “Much as I'd enjoy that, I'm sure Fabian would find other ways to pleasure himself. That's just the kind of guy he is.”

  I laughed, praying Fabian had been joking about what he'd said and forcing my mind sharply away from the idea in case he hadn't.

  Erik took my hand, light dancing in his eyes.

  “You should wash too,” I said, eyeing his mud-caked body.

  “Mhm,” he hummed, pulling me after him toward the staircase. “So you don’t like your royal husband dirty?”

  I giggled as he tugged me along. “No, it’s very embarrassing.”

  “I didn’t realise what high standards you had for me.”

  “Oh I do, and I expect you to come up to the mark, Count Erik.”

  He cornered me on the stairs and his smile fell away to an intense look. “It’s so good to have you back.” He brushed his thumb across my cheek and my heart squeezed with my love for him.

  I took his hand from my face, placing a kiss on his muddy skin. “I’m glad you turned me,” I breathed. “And I don’t ever want to be apart again.”

  “Promise,” he commanded and for once I didn’t mind giving into his bossy tone.

  “I promise.”

  I sat by the fire, listening in on Callie’s conversation with her sister even though she’d taken the call outside. I’d seen the relief in her eyes when the cellphone had woken her with its incessant jangling.

  I hadn’t followed her when she’d wandered away from me while they spoke. The excitement in her tone, the relief, the love… it brought up ideas I’d never wanted to have.

  If it turned out that Montana was still able to love her sister. If it turned out that becoming a vampire didn’t automatically make her a monster, then what of my father’s fate?

  He had begged for death so that he hadn’t succumbed to the bloodlust and hurt any of us. But what if I hadn’t taken up his blade that day? What if I’d offered him my wrist instead?

  Perhaps he could have stopped himself from drinking too much. Perhaps his love for us would have been enough for him to contain the murderous impulses of their kind. Perhaps he could have still been alive, even now.

  I frowned into the flames, my heart growing heavy as I forced myself to consider that possibility.

  What if…

  “I’m guessing that’s Montana on the phone?” Julius asked as he slipped through the door and moved to join me by the pathetic fire.

  “It is.”

  “It seems to be going well enough,” he said.

  One look at him was all I needed to let me know that his scavenging trip hadn’t gone to plan. He held nothing in his hands and exhaustion weighed on him heavily.

  “If Montana turns out to be… Montana,” I began hesitantly. “Then surely that means that our father was still-”

  “Don’t do that,” he said s
harply, shifting closer to me. “You can’t think of it like that.”

  “How can I not?” I asked, refusing to meet his gaze. If we were willing to accept that Callie’s sister might be fundamentally the same despite her transformation then surely it followed that all vampires maintained their humanity when they were created. And only their own choices turned them into monsters. And if it came down to a choice, then I knew our father would have chosen to remain true to himself.

  Julius’s hand fell on my arm as he forced me to meet his gaze. “Father begged you to end him. He never could have accepted that life and you know it. It would have been far crueler to make him exist as one of them. You did him a great kindness and I know how much it cost you to do it. What a sacrifice you made. The burden it put on your soul.”

  “I don’t know how you can still look on me with love after watching me end his life,” I muttered, voicing the thoughts which always found me in the darkness. How could my brother and mother have ever loved me the same way after watching me do that? Despite our father begging it of me. They saw me drive a blade through his heart.

  I couldn’t even look at myself the same way as I had before that fateful day. Let alone expecting them to.

  “You didn’t end his life,” Julius growled. “You ended his torment. I love you more because of it. Not less. You are a much greater man than I could ever hope to be. I’m not sure I could have done it. I have never once doubted the sacrifice you made that day. And I have never judged you poorly for it.”

  He pulled me into his arms and I gripped him fiercely, pressing my forehead against his.

  “And what if he could have survived the curse?” I asked. “If Montana can-”

  “You know in your heart he never would have wanted that life. If you hadn’t ended it for him he would have done it himself. They have ways for humans to donate blood to the vampires now but a thousand years ago he could only have fed himself by biting. And even if we’d been willing to offer our blood to him, do you think he could have lived with that? Feeding off of his children? His wife? Any of his people?”

  “Never,” I muttered. He was right. Our father had given his life in the fight to destroy the vampires. He never could have known happiness as one of them. It was unthinkable. Impossible.