Surrender

by Cassandre Dayne

Snarling, Aleks slammed his hand on the steering wheel.

  “This has nothing to do with Logan Mitchell, does it?”

  “No, detective. It was to do with the power of my family and one that wants to take it over.”

  “Your brother?” Jax could see the Russian hesitate. “No. You think it’s someone else, don’t you?”

  “I will know for certain when we find them.”

  Shaking his head, Jax put the ugly thoughts about nightmares and demons out of his mind but certain faces remained haunting him. Gazing out the window, he realized they were headed for Aleks’ studio. “I ask you again, where are we going?”

  “To the location where I hid the woman. It was too risky bringing her to my building.”

  Jax snapped his head back. “The club owner? Oh my God. You’re involved with her.”

  “You knew she has been my snack since I came to town.”

  “Snack?” He gauged Aleks’ stoic face and took a stab in the dark. “And the child?”

  It was Aleks’ turn to be surprised. Hissing, he gripped the steering wheel. “What do you know about Dimitri?”

  “Nothing until you just told me. Who really is Felicity and her son to you? Is he your son?” Seeing the hesitation, Jax laughed. “Oh I forgot. Monsters can’t procreate.” It was the nervous tick that Aleks had at the corner of his mouth that gave him pause.

  “You know nothing.” Jerking into the parking lot of a dilapidated building, he turned off the engine.

  “Of course.” Jax gripped the passenger door handle.

  Aleks wrapped his hand around Jax’s arm. “You need to hear me. No matter what you think you know and don’t believe, my brother will stop at nothing to take what he rightfully believes to be his throne. There are things…horrible things happening here that I thought I could control but I’m been too blind.”

  Jax gazed at the man, sensing so much more to the story. “What is so important about the dagger?”

  Aleks turned his head slowly. “It’s a family heirloom of sorts and one that shouldn’t have turned up here.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning the ultimate betrayal.”

  Snorting, Jax yanked out and inserted a new clip into his gun, snapping it together forcefully. “More riddles. Just allow me to protect the women.”

  “As you wish, detective.” As he climbed out of the car, Aleks sniffed and gazed up at the building.

  “What is it?”

  “He’s here.”

  “Oh goody. Whatever happens the woman aren’t to be harmed!” Jax snapped.

  Turning a deadly cold stare in Jax’s direction, he growled. “I assure you, Jax that I’m not your enemy. The full moon is in two days and if in two days the boy is not in safe hands many of your kind will die.”

  Shivering, Jax refused to believe yet flashes of nightmares pulsed through the back of his mind. “Let’s go.” Trailing behind Aleks, the further into the bowels of the building they went the more his hackles were raised and at every turn Aleks seemed to turn more and more into a predator. Bells and whistles went off in his mind as he listened for any sounds. The abandoned building was a hollow reminder of long since forgotten times at the turn o the century. Why the crumbling building was allowed to remain standing he’d never know but somehow its ominous shell was a gentle reminder that he was living a real nightmare.

  Aleks held out his hand as they rounded a corner and stared down at the end of the hall. “They’re here.”

  “Are they alone?”

  Aleks shook his head. “No.” Taking long strides down the length of the hallway, he kicked the last door open.

  “Shit!” Of course, we’re talkin’ about vampires. This could not be happening. As he trotted down the hall and into the room, he gasped.

  “Well well, the party’s all here. How good of your to come, brother. Seems that our friend kept many a secret.”

  Jax gazed back and forth at the two blond men, surprised at their resemblance. A strangled whimper dragged his attention to the side. Amanda and Felicity were bound and gagged in the shadowed corner of the room but as he stole a quick glance around the perimeter, he didn’t see a boy. Amanda’s eyes were saucers and from where he stood he could see her struggling with both her bindings.

  “Such a practiced ruse for simply luring me into your tangled web, Nikolay,” Aleks hissed as he glided further into the room.

  “Would you have come if I’d asked? No. As soon as you found out about your mate here, you would have remained in the states. That’s why I came to find you. It was easy with the help of Durac.” Nikolay smiled and leaned against the back wall. “Why don’t you introduce me to the hottie? Since he’s going to die here today along with the bitch he’s sleeping with, he might as well get to know us.”

  Jax unclipped the safety and held out the gun. “I don’t know what I’ve slithered into the middle of here but we’re going to do this my way. The entire police department is on their way here so we’re going to simply go downstairs and wait for them.”

  Nikolay burst into laughter. “I must admit, Aleksandr, this one is tasty. I can see why you fell in lust with him.” He sniffed. “Ah I can tell you’ve consummated your relationship dragging him further into hell. Good. And he does have some of your blood. Too bad the effects won’t last.”

  There was something about Aleks’ cagey motions that troubled Jax. He eyed the room again sensing a heightened electric vibe. It was as if every one of his senses was on fire. His body shaking, he licked his dry lips as beads of perspiration trickled down his spine.

  Aleks sighed and walked closer to Nikolay. “What do you really want? The throne? My soul?”

  “Too bad we’re of the same loin, brother because I would enjoy fighting you to the death but there are truths you don’t understand. I have the amulet.”

  “And the potion?” Aleks smiled “You don’t have that, do you?”

  “I…” Nikolay shook his head.

  Jax used the moment to glide toward the women. He could tell neither one was hurt but fear and a level of understanding raged through Amanda. Her eyes were those of knowing he was forever changed and in them Jax could not only see terror but disgust.

  “Stop! Do not touch them, cop or I’ll kill them now!” Nikolay commanded. Snarling, he closed the distance to Aleks. “Give me the potion.”

  “I don’t have it. It seems we’ve both been duped.” Aleks grabbed Nikolay’s wrist. “Durac has more power than I anticipated. Where is the boy?”

  Nikolay cocked his head. “Boy?”

  Jax stood still but his cop instincts told him that there was another presence. Moving in front of the two women, he stole glances around the room.

  “Durac!” Aleks snarled and turned slowly. “Lascala, derfure. Taian becalia.

  Hearing Aleks speak in an odd language, Jax realized it was the same inflections he’d heard before. Fear trickled down his spine and for some reason he realized that he was dealing with something not of this world, or perhaps from the very beginnings of the world. As he glared at the mysterious stranger he realized that he’d seen him before in the street the day with Amanda an experienced him in Amanda’s garden. This creature was the real killer.

  “It was tremendous fun to play one against the other,” the dark voice boomed. “Betwa dormagnon elan.”

  Amanda squeaked her eyes opening wide as the man glided into the room.

  “Of course. You betrayed not only the two of us but our people,” Aleks hissed. “You wanted the throne all along.” Holding up the dagger, he shook his head. “This was meant to kill me with.”

  Jax watched as Aleks’ face grew dark.

  “Touché lover. Yes. I see my real minion had no clue how to take care of certain situations. No matter. I have other ways of destroying you. While you were running as far away from our home as you could get and your brother was fighting the other side, I forged bonds that won’t be broken. I’ll have what you didn’t want.”

  “You used Logan
to get to me, why?”

  “Fodder. Nothing more. He wanted revenge and I wanted to get close to you again. He was in love with you and you threw him away. I must admit that he might have been fun to keep around for a little while given his bent on torture. Tsk Tsk. You should’ve kept up with your studies, Aleks. You would have been more prepared to meet your future mate and in turn perhaps you could’ve had everything you threw away,” Durac laughed.

  Mate? The word had been thrown around more than once. Jax stepped into the shadows and peered down at the rope holding Amanda. By the amount of blood chafed into the rope, she had been trying to loosen her bindings for some time.

  Amanda glanced up as him quickly and whimpered.

  Jax placed his fingers over his mouth and nodded to both women.

  Nikolay flanked Aleks’ side. “What is you hope to achieve, Durac? You’ve not the blood to take our kind into the next moment of passing.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. I have the boy and the rightful heir,” Durac kept his gaze pinned onto Aleksandr. “And my ex lover led me to him. How gracious of you.”

  Aleks shook. Snarling, he opened his mouth, allowing his fangs to erupt. “You won’t get away with this. The families will know what you’ve done.”

  Durac laughed. “That’s where you’re wrong. You fell right into this, Aleksandr. When you left and I was imprisoned, I had plenty of time to read all the old scriptures. The telling of exactly what would happen before the next full moon has proven to be very helpful. You see, Felicity came to me for help and there was no doubt she was the host. So a little plan was put into motion. She was paid well and sent to Nikolay first before following you to the states and seducing you. Your little minion allowed for food and fun and a shroud to hide behind. I’ve enjoyed being in your fair little city. Oddly enough the boy you threw away Aleksandr was trying to go behind my back as well. You’ve done me a service by killing the traitor.”

  “Unbelievable. Tell me Durac, what are your plans for our good detective?” Aleks moved in front of the line of site of Jax’s body.

  “He’s your mate and I must say that torturing his soul has been quite delicious. I thought my artwork was incredible. Did you know the kills mirrored something our little detective couldn’t control a few years ago?”

  Clenching his fists, Jax refused to take the bait. Concentrate on getting the women out. Do it Jax.

  “You’re a bastard and will be cast out of the family!” Aleks snarled.

  “I doubt it.” Durac laughed.

  “I see there has been lying all the way around, Durac. Why should I have believed you at all?” Nikolay shook his head.

  “Because we all want something,” Durac stated. “For some of us the stakes are simply higher.”

  Jax slowly dropped to the floor. Hidden behind a steel column, he laid the gun down slowly and fumbled with the rope.

  “You’re mad!” Nikolay roared.

  “No, I’m cunning. Do you know why you never knew that you were brothers?” Durac chuckled. “Because I was the woman’s caretaker. A fucking caretaker. I’d been with the family since almost the beginning and promised wealth and my own station and instead I was made a caretaker first to a woman and then her bastard sons. You see, your father and king of our people wanted nothing to do with you, Aleksandr. As soon as twins were born, I realized that I had the upper hand. So I killed them and sold one off to the Jicard family ensuring that one way or the other I would have everything I wanted.”

  Jax loosened the bindings just enough that he knew she could get loose. Leaning over, he whispered in Amanda’s ear. “Be very still but you should be able to get the rest.”

  “You killed our father and mother? How were you able to get away with it?” Nikolay breathed.

  “Let’s see. Your mother died in childbirth as most did in those days and your father, well, even the powerful vampire than at had ruled for centuries has foibles. He enjoyed the drink a little too much. You do know what happens when vampires ingest acid, don’t you?” Laughing hysterically, Durac sniffed.

  Jax could tell Aleks was stunned. Standing slowly, he eased toward Felicity. A sharp jab of electricity coursed through his body. Tipping his head, Aleks gazed at him. As a connection was made, he realized what Aleks was trying to say. Nodding, he dropped to his knees and crawled to Felicity immediately fiddling with her ties. He prayed the monster wasn’t going to see him.

  Nikolay eyed his brother and moved behind Durac. “You have one problem, Durac. You need the potion, the amulet and the key and the key is thought to be missing.”

  Durac threw his head back and laughed. “Another mistake. Such children. Tell him my lover.”

  Hissing, Aleks pulled his necklace out from under his shirt. “You played this well. While the others are fighting amongst themselves and the Jicard family, you came in under the radar.”

  “Yes. I have the potion and the little boy meant to be King. And I will offer one of you this, a single and very final offer. One of you may come with me and together we’ll rule the planet,” Durac smiled.

  “Or we’ll kill you together,” Nikolay hissed.

  “You thought of everything. If the boy isn’t taken back to the family, we will begin the Fade.”

  “He’s my son?” Nikolay gazed across the room at Felicity.

  “Yes. And the blood that will bring the two families together.” Aleks sighed.

  “Such a shame you two kill each other off and I have to be the hero. Damn!” Durac laughed. “I promise to raise him right so that when he kills the humans that come across his path, it’ll be in your honor, Nikolay.”

  Jax stood up and walked closer. He could do no more without drawing attention. “It’s time to take the party outside boys.” Giving Aleks a nod, he only hoped that he understood. He had to get the women out of the building.

  “Where’s the boy, Durac?” Aleks demanded.

  “Somewhere safe. You didn’t think I’d be foolish enough to keep him here, did you?” Durac grinned. “Now, I’m growing bored so it’s about time I left the little party.”

  Nikolay moved toward Durac. “You bastard! We won’t stand for this. Working together we can best you.”

  As the air in the entire building crackled becoming dense with a level of electricity that Jax knew from the past, instinct kicked in. He turned his head slowly and nodded to the women.

  “I’ve learned a few party tricks that I think you’ll both appreciate,” Durac smiled. Holding out his hands, he grinned. “As you’ve figured out, I’m not your maker therefore I can’t kill you with my bare hands but I can use something else and it’s much more powerful and much more deadly. Are you certain you don’t want to become my lover and allow me to rule, Aleksandr?”

  “Over my dead body!” Aleks snarled as he cocked his head.

  Amanda’s eyes grew wide.

  Durac smiled. “So be it. See you in hell.”

  In the next several seconds, everything happened in slow motion. Jax cocked his gun and in a flash, took off running toward the three men. Aiming his pistol at the man called Durac, he bellowed and clipped off several shots, hitting him squarely in the shoulder just as a flash if intense light and heat engulfed the entire room.

  “No!” Aleks screamed as a rocket of fire slammed into his shoulder.

  Durac hissed and snapped his head toward Jax enabling Aleks to rush him.

  Another bolt of fire pulsed from Durac’s hand barely missing Jax. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the two women race toward the door.

  Durac swung around and shot a stream of blazing fire toward them catching Felicity in the back.

  Totally engulfed by flames, she screamed and dropped to the floor.

  Jax raced toward her as Nikolay stepped directly in front of the next blast meant for Felicity. He fell on top of her and rolled, forcing them both out the door.

  “Jax, what’s happening?” Amanda screamed over the sound of shattering glass.

  “Run! Get the hell out o
f the building!”

  Amanda stood still, panting.

  “Go!”

  She nodded and took off running, her actions jerky.

  Tamping out the flames, Jax jerked Felicity to her feet and dragged her down the hallway, making it to the stairs just as a rumble roared down the hallway. “Fuck!” As heat and flames licked at their every step as they raced down the stairs, he kept them pushing on realizing the building was going to explode. “Ggggggoooo!” Nearing the bottom of the stairs, a whooshing sound enveloped the entire stairwell. “Go! Go! Go!” Pushing them forward, Jax shook as adrenaline kicked in.

  Tumbling out the door, they barely made it before the entire building erupted. A series of flames roared out the door, sending metal, wood and hot embers pulsing around them.

  Amanda fell with a hard thud and Jax pushed Felicity down, covering both women with his body as flames danced around them, the intense heat scorching the ground.

  Jax closed his eyes and tried to make sense of what had happened. When the roar turned into a dull rumble, only then did Jax allow a stolen glance. Completely in flames, there was no way that anyone could have survived the blaze. Coughing, he spat out streams of blood and bile as he tried to catch his breath. Panting, he groaned as he moved to the side slowly and gazed at the flaming building.” You two okay?”

  “I’m…fine,” Amanda wheezed. “I think…she’s hurt. Let me look at her.”

  Jax nodded and wiped sweat from his brow. Rising to his feet, he stared at the crumbling building and shook his head. Whatever had happened he wouldn’t be able to fathom but at least the monsters were gone. Now he had to find the boy, if he really existed. Gazing down at his hands, he knew he was changed somehow and while terror would have racked his body, instead he was filled with an odd sense of peace.

  “Jax, she’s bleeding and in a lot of pain. We need to get her to a hospital.”

  “All right. Yeah…okay. Let me call the office.” Gazing across the perimeter of the building, an intense sensation roared through his body.

  Groaning, Felicity opened her eyes. “Help…me.”

  “It’s okay.” Amanda pressed her fingers over Felicity’s forehead.