Ab’et lowered his voice until Jorta, whose hearing was excellent, still had to strain to hear him. “The girl I fought was something different... and she smelled good.”
Even as they moved further back beyond the curve of the massive trunk, concealed from view, Jorta’s silver eyes swung to his father’s. Not only had their prey been nutritionally inadequate, it smelled awful. Like meat that had been left out in the sun to putrefy, the aroma alone nearly made them sick.
Ab’et nodded, his incisors lengthening and filling his mouth in anticipation of a meal, no matter how foul. “Her blood was sweet and strong. It didn’t make me ill just to be near her. I wanted a bite; I think she might keep Elise alive. At least until we can get back.” He finished. Below them on the path a young deer appeared, ears flicking forward and back, straining to hear the smallest sound. Ab’et tabled the conversation. The blood of animals was a very temporary fix. It didn’t make them ill, but nutritionally, it didn’t have even what the tainted human blood did. But beggars they were and they couldn’t afford to be fussy. Ab’et gathered himself and felt Jorta doing the same beside him. Deer were fast, but normally no match for the preternatural speed of a vampire. Weakened by hunger, it would take everything they had to bring it down before it escaped.
They waited until it was just past them, eyes looking forward when they should have been looking back. In a sudden burst of speed they were on the yearling before it knew they were coming. The kill was a quick twist of the neck and teeth sinking deep, the sounds of their feeding the only thing heard in Bane Forest. Every other creature had gone still and silent in fear. Weakened though they were, Jorta and Ab’et were still the most terrifying predator that stalked their trails. Long before they were finished, the deer barely reviving them, they lifted it between them to take it back to Elise. She’d grown so weak she could no longer join the hunt. He thought of what his father had said. If this human, this girl’s blood wasn’t tainted, they needed it. She could buy them the time they needed to escape back home.
The portal they’d come through was no good, a one way wormhole from Wyndoor to this place that was unfamiliar and killing them. They needed another way back. It had to exist, otherwise, He who sent them here in the first place couldn’t have entered. But Jorta didn’t need anyone to tell him that the chances of finding such an opening unaided was like finding the proverbial Weita leaf in a Suita forest.
They arrived back at the small outcropping of jagged rock they’d claimed. It formed a small recess in the side of a hill not unlike a small cave.
Jorta dropped his end of the kill beside her and bent down. She didn’t even stir, and his heart contracted. She slept a lot more than normal now, her body slowly shutting down and using what reserves it had left to keep their daughter alive. His heart contracted, eyes glowing red in the darkened opening. As a species that lived a nocturnal life in their own dimension and this one too, their skin was naturally pale. But the pasty pallor of Elise’s cheeks alarmed him as he ran the back of his hand over her long blond hair, the strands brittle and dry. Her eyelids fluttered and her lips parted as she slept. He could see the small blue veins pulsing in the tissue thin lids of her closed eyes. Listening to her breathe, every breath an effort, he felt the press of time. They didn’t have much left.
“Elise. Wake up, baby. You need to eat.” Her lashes, normally long and lush, fluttered and opened. The sparkle was gone. Brilliant blue eyes, now dull with hunger and sickness, stared up at him.
“Jorta,” she murmured. Her limbs moved feebly as she struggled to sit up. She looked in horror at the deer, eyes filling with tears. “Jorta, I can’t.” She reached out with trembling fingers and smoothed them down along the velvet hide.
Ab’et stood over them both. “You must. You need to eat Elise. Keep up what strength you can until we find a way back.”
Elise gave a curt laugh of contempt. “We’re not going back. We’re going to die here in this horrible place, feeding on the innocent and for what? They’re barely even keeping us alive.”
Ab’et’s mouth firmed as he looked down at his son’s woman; alarmed at the bitter edge to her words. She was the optimistic one. The first to smile or bestow a kind word. Elise was the sunshine in their small family that peeled back the darkness. But desperation had whittled away at her giving nature until all that was left was the instinct to survive and protect her child.
She stared at the young deer, her conscience playing havoc with her mind. But her stomach reminded her it was always empty, even when it was full. She felt her teeth grow full and heavy. Even as the tears fell, she was leaning forward with a snarl, the fingers of one hand splaying protectively over the hard roundness of her belly where their child struggled for life. Her other hand, fingers curled in a claw, reached out.
Beneath her diaphragm her daughter squirmed, landing a light kick that had her sucking in her breath. The ribs Lieta, the ribs.
With a mewl of need, Elise fed.
CHAPTER EIGHT
We were on our own. The sun was shining much brighter than it should have been considering our mood, which was dark. Neither Thomas nor Nick had listened to reason. Both had firmly been on the side of Drae Council and all for the Guard forging ahead to capture the vampires and bring them to justice. Even if that meant their eventual death.
Not that either of us were against justice being served. There were now five victims in the infirmary and not a one of them had yet to wake up, although one of them was showing signs of starting to come around. But who knew what the results of that might be, with the effects of such major blood loss on the brain. Were they waking up to be brain damaged burdens on their families? No one really knew. Regardless of the reasons, we couldn’t have vampires running around Drae Hallow and dining on the pedestrians every time they decided they needed to take a walk.
Still, something told me we didn’t have the full story. That same something led me to believe that like Fern had said, there was a connection between the vampire's presence in Drae Hallow, the Demon wolves, and the Tuttles disappearance on Shephard’s Mountain. Maybe things wouldn’t end well for the vampires, but I wanted to know about that connection before it was too late. Sirris agreed with me, even if the guys had their heads up their butts and couldn’t see reason.
Sirris and I swerved down Sigurd Road behind Smaug’s. The trail head was just ahead that would lead along the north edge of Bitterroot Lake and into Bane forest on the end. I checked my backpack, pulling the straps snug against my shoulders and adjusting my bow for easy reach just in case. Behind me I could hear the soft footfalls of Sirris and the snap of her water bottle as she uncapped it and took a long welcome drink. It was warming up in the last week of April and we were down to nothing but a warm flannel. I was thinking of shedding that down to my t-shirt. I glanced above me, folding my hand over my brow to block out the brightness of the sun in a cloudless sky. It was just starting to dip towards the west. Without pulling my almost worthless phone free, I estimated it was close to 2:00. We were early, and most likely wherever the vamps had holed up, they were out of the sun and resting during the day, so we should be safe enough for now at least. Still, it payed to be prepared, especially since there was just the two of us. We needed to find them before the Guard did.
“If Thomas and Nick knew we were out here alone, they’d pitch a fit.” Sirris admitted, conversational behind me.
“Yeah, well then maybe they should have heard us out and listened to reason, huh?” I huffed, still smarting from the earlier argument Nick hadn’t won.
“True. But this still may well be one of the most hair-brained adventures we’ve cooked up to date.”
I nodded, grim. How could I argue with that?
“We just need to get close enough to warn them about what’s coming. And ask our questions, of course. I’m hoping they’ll be grateful enough to share whatever information they know.” I admitted.
“I’m hoping they don’t share those teeth with my neck, that’s what I�
�m hoping. Even weaker than normal, they almost took us that night and there were four of us then. Now...”
“They should be weaker now too, though. If our theory is correct and they are starving here, that should mean they aren’t as strong, right?”
Sirris gave a nervous giggle. “Are you asking or telling? Or hoping.”
Hoping, I was definitely hoping they were weaker than we were.
“You know, even if we can do this and they give us something back, I don’t think we should trust them. Call me crazy, but I don’t think it turns out so good for the mouse to trust the cat. Know what I mean?” Sirris added.
“Oh yeah, got that one.” I wasn’t exactly the trusting type, anyway.
By then we were well down the trail as it wound through the tail end of Bitterroot Lake and we moved firmly into Bane Forest. The heavy forested canopy cut a lot of the sun and I missed it at once as the light faded to near dusk in the dense wood. We were headed much deeper than we’d gone before. We’d be coming at the lake from a fresh angle. Earlier, we’d pondered a more detailed map of Bane Lake and Woods; looking at the terrain and trying to think like a vamp who needed to have a place to rest during the day would. Near the center of Bane Forest was a heavy outcropping of boulder and rock, leftovers from the ice age moving through millions of years before. The heavy shroud of miss-matched cliffs might provide a cave-like spot or two to hide out during the day.
It didn’t miss either of our attentions that we were basically wandering into the lion’s den while they slept. It wasn’t one of our most brilliant plans.
By the time we were within spitting distance of the rocky outcroppings our talk had dwindled to whispers as we slowed down and I removed my bow just in case. Sirris had her staff ready as well. If they were here, they’d chosen well. If the forest cut out a sizeable chunk of the sunlight from hitting the forest floor, the rocky outcropping finished the job. Despite the brightness of the day, down here on the ground beneath those twenty ton rocks the gloom was complete and it ushered us into twilight.
Maybe we’d read too many vampire books when we were children, leading us to make assumptions when we shouldn’t have. For instance, it was common knowledge that they were allergic to garlic and holy water and that a wooden stake to the heart was the only thing that killed them. They liked to drain their victims dry and if those victims changed, they’d come back as newly formed-and out-of-control newbie vampires and go on a killing rampage. They slept in coffins filled with their homelands dirt and most important of all; they slept during the day because the sun turned them to dust and hunted at night. That was what we thought we knew. So when we rounded the corner and came face to face with not one, but two furious male vampires, all our predisposed beliefs took a leap out the window.
We froze where we were instantly. The taller of the two was standing beneath a heavy rock the size of a compact building, legs splayed, hands folded in front of him. I remembered his name was Jorta. The second elder vampire was on our right and leaning nonchalantly up against a huge lodgepole pine. His name had been difficult to pronounce, but I remembered they’d called him Ab’et. Neither were sleeping, and they both looked unsurprised to see us. I looked around for the third, but they were alone.
“Where’s the woman?” I asked boldly, my chin up and bolt ready to fly. But I remembered how fast they could move. I had my doubts even I could fire that fast.
Sirris spread out beside me, just far enough away to give us both room to move and not trip each other up.
They ignored my question. Jorta, eyes a bold silver, looked us both over and then stared into the wood beyond.
“Where are the others,” he countered.
Nobody was getting any answers.
Ab’et shifted his weight and stood away from the tree. “Foolish, coming out here on your own. Convenient for us though, so I have to thank you. The pickings are getting thin of late.” He glanced at Jorta. “Do you smell that? Sweet like candy. She’s not like the others. I’m not mistaken, am I?” Ab’et mused aloud, taking a deep breath.
Jorta seemed to lift his nose and scent the air, his eyes darkened and the faintest hint of red flared there. “It smells almost like the hunt at home, not quite, but close.” He closed his eyes and sighed.
I had no idea what they were talking about, but I didn’t imagine it could be good for our well-being. While they looked us over, we stared back. Time had not been kind to either of them. Never heavy, their hides hung on their gaunt frames and their already pale skin was sallow and pitted with ill health. But I wasn’t ready to underestimate their danger to our continued existence.
“We came alone to warn you about what was coming. The Guard has plans for your capture and trial in Drae Hallow for the attacks on its civilians.” I admitted, keeping my guard up the entire time. Sirris never twitched beside me.
Ab’et’s eyes gleamed in the gloom, heavy with menace. “How kind of you to tell us. Noble, but foolish.”
I agreed with him. Once again my foolishness had gotten ahead of my brain.
“You aren’t from here, are you,” Sirris asked. We had come for information.
Jorta answered, taking several steps sideways to widen the gap between himself and Ab’et. This wasn’t going to be good. My spidey senses were climbing the walls. “From here? If you mean is this woods our home? No, it’s not.”
We watched as they spread out and circled. Not yet, we weren’t ready. We needed more. “Then, where is home?” Sirris continued.
We didn’t have much time before they were on us.
“A different world, not this place,” he admitted, eyes flat on our movements as we tried to anticipate the direction of the attack we all knew was coming.
Ab’et continued to move as well. “We aren’t supposed to be here. We can’t get back,” he growled, the words forced through bitter lips.
I spoke up quick. “To Wyndoor, you mean?” Both of them jerked at the mention of the alternate dimension, eyes narrowing in speculation. I continued. “We’re looking for our friends. They disappeared several months ago.” As I spoke, I swung my bow over my shoulder. I was right, I wasn’t fast enough. I needed my hands free.
It surprised me when they both nodded. “Like your friend from the other night?” Jorta said. I had only a fleeting second to wonder if he meant like Thomas and then they were on us.
They attacked—both coming at us in a blur of speed despite their ill health. I had a moment to register Sirris scream of pain as Ab’et plowed into her and they went flying in a tangle of limbs and snapping teeth.
But then I was too busy worrying about myself as Jorta came at me, grabbing both my wrists before I could put my plan into action and call down my magic. He held both of my hands in one large clawed hand; the ends wrapping and meeting in a vice around both of my wrists. He was so strong he lifted me up and my feet, despite my own significant height, dangled off the ground. His other hand reached out to circle my neck and pull me closer to his flashing fangs. I had a moment to register the mad look of desperation in his eyes. I realized he couldn’t have stopped if he wanted to. He was out of control and his animal instinct for survival had taken over. If I wanted to live, this one was on me.
I closed my eyes and concentrated, shutting out the claws that sunk into the fleshy sinew of my wrists where muscle met bone. I blocked out the sweet breath that fanned my cheek and the sting of sharpness at my neck as his teeth pierced the thin thread of skin beneath my chin. I blocked out everything but the calling of my power as it shivered alive inside me and skimmed down my arms. And then it was there even as he opened his mouth wide to sink those teeth deep. The hair along the back of my hands expanded into a smattering of brown scales that resembled flat freckles even as my hands flamed and engulfed his where they held me.
I hadn’t gotten it all wrong. The fire took and spread along his arms with dizzying speed as he thrust me away with a howl of rage. He was on the ground at once, clawing at the dirt and creating a shower of eart
h to smother them out.
I turned to help Sirris. She had used the lightening end of her staff to hold Ab’et off. But he now had the hand holding the staff in a vice and was using his strength to squeeze and force her to release her grip. Sirris mouth opened on a moan of pain as she struggled to hold on. I was done playing around.
With a scream of my own I let my Magic loose, the twin fireballs winging through the air to whistle past his shoulders. One snagged his shirt and sputtered and smoked at once. He leapt back away from Sirris with a hiss, swatting the small flames out before they could gain much ground. He whirled on me, eyes darting to Jorta, grimacing in pain and just regaining his feet.
He looked at me with loathing as he moved, taking Jorta with him quicker than I could blink. That fast they were there and then gone.
I rushed towards Sirris side, where she rubbed at the bruises forming on her wrists, tears welling in her eyes. But before I could get there, she picked up her staff and faced me, mouth a thin determined line.
“Let’s get out of here before they change their minds and come back. They were so fast, Sadie. If you hadn’t pulled your magic... well, I think we’d have been dead.” I nodded, and we headed back the way we’d come.
“Agreed. It’s an excellent thing I’ve been paying attention in Sorcery and Enchantment. It’s coming in handy.” We hit the trail at a jog and didn’t stop until we were away from Bane Forest and on the trail leading to Bitterroot.
“WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY meant by not being able to go back?” Sirris asked me as we moved along. She had an incredible amount of stamina. Exhausted, I was huffing from the pace we’d set back. We headed towards the trailhead in Bitterroot, where we’d started before our ill-fated trip into the woods and our battle with the two vampires.
Fire Bound Dragon Page 9
