Vampires Dead Ahead

THIRTY-TWO



I opened my eyes as I appeared in the darkness on Colin’s doorstep.

My stomach heaved and I threw up.

“Nyx?” Colin’s shocked voice came from behind me as I wrapped my arms around my belly and heaved again on the ground beside his door.

He hooked his arm around my shoulders, and I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

Harsh reality beat at me over and over and over again and I felt a sense of hopelessness. Rodán was murdered. I was a Vampire.

“Talk to me.” Colin squeezed my shoulders as I rose.

“Avanna.” My throat was tight as I said the Elvin magic word, cleaning away the vomit from the ground and cleaning myself from head to toe. I didn’t really care. I did it more for Colin than for myself.

“Hey.” Colin brought me around so that I was looking at him. “I can’t believe you’re alive, that you’re here.”

I threw myself against him, wrapping my arms around his waist and burying my face against his chest. I just wanted to hold him and not let go.

Pain enveloped me, my whole body shaking with the force of it. I sobbed for Rodán, for all of those lost, and I cried for myself.

And then I realized my face was wet. So was Colin’s T-shirt.

I hiccuped as I drew away from Colin. I couldn’t speak as I brought my fingers to my face—

And felt wetness.

My eyes were wet.

No coherent thought would come. I put my finger into my mouth. Salty.

Drops leaked from my eyes, and I followed the paths they made with my fingers.

I looked up at Colin. “I’m crying.” It didn’t make sense. After a lifetime of wishing I had tears, I was now crying.

“You are.” Colin caught my chin in his fingers and tilted my head back. “Let’s get inside my apartment. I think you have a lot to tell me.”

He held my hand and he drew me inside before locking the door shut behind us.

“I’m crying.” I felt numb yet confused as I repeated the words.

Colin hugged me close to him and I felt him tense. I squeezed my eyes tight and more tears rolled down my cheeks. He was recognizing now that I was a Vampire.

“Explain everything to me.” He didn’t sound judgmental. He sounded caring.

I raised my head and looked at him. “You know already. Volod turned me.” My Vampire fangs had dropped, and I knew Colin could see them.

Colin dragged his hand down his face then took a deep breath. “All I know is that you’re the Nyx I fell in love with.” He put his forehead against mine, wrapped his arms around me and held me tight “Even if you do have fangs.”

“I love you, too.” The words came out in a hoarse whisper.

He drew away and rubbed one of my tears away with his thumb. “Why don’t you tell me what happened?”

“I don’t know what happened immediately after Volod bit me.” I leaned my head against his shoulder. “All I know is that I woke up buried in a coffin and what happened after that.”

“And that was?” He prodded gently, as if knowing that right now I needed to talk.

I told him about my initial allegiance to Volod, how Rodán had been planning a coup, Elizabeth killing Monique, and then finished with the fight and how Rodán had died saving my life.

I hiccuped and more tears rolled down my face. “He’s really dead now.”

The pain I felt was as fresh as when Rodán had been turned. Only this time I had control over my elements. And maybe I handled it better because I’d already been through losing him once.

Colin rocked me as I cried.

When my tears started to dry I straightened in my seat on the couch. “How ironic the tears are now.” I wiped the last of them away with my fingers. “I finally learned to cry by becoming the one thing I hate the most.”

“So there’s a silver lining,” he said with a gently teasing expression.

My stomach rumbled and I realized I was hungry. And it wasn’t for a hamburger.

I was hungry for blood.

And I could smell Colin’s. Sweet, pure paranorm blood. What Volod had given me earlier had only been a taste. A way for him to gain more control over me.

I felt such a mix of emotions bottled up inside me. I could only attribute it to the Drow side fighting the Vampire side. I felt disgust for what I was, yet this intense desire for blood seemed natural and good. I wanted blood. Colin’s blood.

“You need to take what I have, Nyx.” Colin moved closer to me and I opened my eyes. His scent was raw, masculine, but it was nothing compared with the smell of his blood.

I could picture myself sliding my fangs into his carotid artery like Volod had shown me earlier. I could almost taste Colin’s blood. It would be better even than the Doppler female’s had been.

It was surreal. How could I be thinking of drinking his blood? Of drinking anyone’s? Yet I was and it was powerful.

“You can’t hurt me,” he said as I opened my eyes. “You know that Dragons are immune to a Vampire’s bite and also to the pain of the bite. You can drink from me.”

I felt like I was going to go crazy with the urge to feed while being repulsed by it at the same time. My mouth watered as I looked at him. I shook my head. “I can’t—”

“You can.” Colin drew his T-shirt away from his neck, exposing the big vein and the life that was pumping through it. “I need you to be fully yourself,” he said. “If we’re going to fix all this, you can’t be hungry and distracted.”

It made sense. And the call of his blood was too much for me to resist.

I moved my lips along the soft skin over the vein.

Erotic sensations suddenly filled me, moved through me. At the same time I wanted to drink from him, I wanted him in every other way possible. How could I feel this way after what I’d just experienced?

I straddled his lap and felt his excitement. He groaned as I skimmed his flesh with my fangs before I slid them into the vein.

Colin placed his hands on my hips and pressed me tight against him as I drank of him.

His blood flowed over my tongue, my mouth tingling. It tasted better than the Doppler’s had. Colin’s was so sweet and pure. Dragon’s blood was exquisite.

I felt wild and erotic as I moved against him. He ran his hands up and down my body, exploring my curves. I moaned as I drew what I wanted, what I needed from him.

Then I felt Colin’s hand on the back of my head. “I think that’s enough, honey,” he said. “Why don’t you save some for a snack later?”

We both started laughing. How could I laugh now? But maybe I needed it.

If I weren’t a Vampire now, my cheeks would have been burning because I’d lost control. I drew my fangs out then licked the spot with my tongue to stop the bleeding, like I’d done instinctively with the Doppler female.

I frowned. “I didn’t hurt you when I bit you, did I?”

“I loved it.” Colin ran his fingertips down my cheek. He brought his fingers to my own artery. He kissed me, long and loving.

I rested my head against his chest for a long moment. It felt so good being with him that I didn’t want to face reality.

Finally, I took one of his hands in mine. “We have a lot to talk about. Maybe we should have discussed it all sooner—”

“You needed to get your strength,” Colin said, interrupting. “It will be better for us to talk about everything now.”

I met his gaze and took a deep breath. “What happened after I was taken?” I was almost afraid to ask.

Colin dragged his hand down his face. “We were outnumbered. I tried to get to you before Volod could take you away. Too many Vampires and Vampire paranorms were between me and you.” He nearly growled with frustration. “And then you were gone. Those of us who weren’t killed or bitten had to retreat.”

“Who did we lose?” Fear gripped me as I thought about my fellow Trackers and friends. “Volod told me that Lawan and Gentry have been turned. They were supposed to rise twenty-four hours after me.”

“We were afraid of that.” Colin looked grim. “Hades and Phyllis are dead.”

My face felt drained of all blood. “They’re dead?”

He nodded. “Out of the eleven of us, two died and three, counting you, were taken.”

I braced my elbows on my knees and put my face in my hands. Their faces spun through my mind. “It’s my responsibility,” I said as I rose and looked at Colin. “I led the team. I should have brought more of us.”

“You did what you had to and the only way that seemed plausible,” Colin said. “Don’t second-guess yourself on this.”

It was hard not to.

“What about my parents and Olivia?” I held my hands to my belly. They would be so devastated right now.

“Olivia is pissed enough to take on Volod herself.” Colin gave a grim smile. “I talked with Tristan late last night.”

I straightened in my seat. “I need to get word to Olivia, Tristan, and my parents that I’m all right.” I pushed my hair out of my face. “Well, as all right as a half-Drow, half-human Vampire can be.”

“As you can imagine, your father is furious,” Colin said. “I believe he’s planning on sending a small contingent of warriors over here with a goal of wiping out Vampires.”

I shook my head. “This isn’t the way I’d hoped to get his help.” I rubbed my palms on the dress that I was still wearing and echoed my earlier thought. “They must be devastated.”

“Now that you’re back we’ll get word to them,” Colin said.

“First we call Olivia.” I raised my hands as I realized Volod had taken my things. “My phone, weapons … everything is gone.”

Colin drew his cell phone out of a pocket. “I’m not going to tell her about you over the phone.”

I nodded. “That’s probably best.”

He dialed her number. “Olivia,” he said.

I heard her voice from where I was sitting. “What, Smokey?”

Classic Olivia, but I didn’t hear the normal sarcastic edge to her voice.

“I need you over at my place as soon as you can get here.” Colin cut off what was sure to happen next. “Please don’t argue. It’s important.”

Olivia paused. “Don’t get your scales all stuck in a bunch. I’ll be right there.”

“Thanks.” He hung up.

“What else has happened while I’ve been gone?” I said when I had his attention. “It’s been eleven, no, twelve days now.”

Colin’s expression went dark. “Vampire attacks on norms and paranorms are out of control. We suspect Volod is building his ranks.”

“How are we going to stop him?” I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. “It all seems so hopeless, Colin. After all that we’ve been through, I never thought it possible.”

“Don’t give up hope, Nyx.” He traced his thumb along my jaw.

“Look at what Volod has done.” My voice rose in pitch. “He has decimated our team. He has turned and controls some of the strongest paranorm Trackers across this continent.” I swallowed, my throat feeling raw, almost sore. “It seems impossible to stop him. So hopeless.”

“We just need to think it through, Nyx. We are not done for,” Colin said. “This isn’t the Nyx I know talking.”

I paused before I said, “It’s obvious, though, that we can’t do it on our own. We need help. And more help than Armand and his gang.”

“Armand has already been in contact with the Proctor Directorate,” Colin said. “Trackers are being recruited all over the United States and Canada, and they’ll be arriving within the next day or two.”

“What then?” I studied Colin’s eyes. “Does Armand have a plan?”

“We’re all still working on it.” He took my hands in his. “The details of where Volod is, where he’s keeping his Vampire ranks—all of that we don’t know.”

“I know where Volod’s place is here in the city.” I frowned. “He’s probably left by now since I escaped. He won’t know whether I came back to you all.

“Maybe we should get a team together now and meet,” I added. “Armand should know what I know.”

“Nyx.” Colin put his hand on mine. “Armand said he’d kill anyone who was turned, and he meant it. He believes he’s doing the right thing by eliminating Vampires. He’ll kill you, Nyx. He’s already said that.”

“He told me that before I was bit, but I’m not one of them. I’m not, Colin. I’ll control what I am and I’ll fight to defeat Volod’s evil. I’m not a full Vampire like the others.”

“You’re right, but I’m afraid Armand won’t see it that way,” Colin said, shaking his head. “I know he won’t.

“Here is what I’ll do. We’ll call our people … our Tracker team, but I won’t tell them about you until they’re all here. Then we only have to tell everyone once about everything that’s happened with you.”

My stomach twisted as Colin made the phone calls to all of the Trackers as well as Desmond. Penrod and Tristan were the only beings Colin clued in on my presence. The Sprite and my brother had been in training together.

Thanks to Tristan’s inherited ability and Penrod’s gift of transference from a Sorceress, they would arrive at the specified time.

I still wore the ridiculous dress, but there hadn’t been time to go to my apartment. I wasn’t even sure I could in case Armand had it staked out. In order to have me staked. After what Colin had said—and what Armand had told me—I figured it was a good bet.

I waited in Colin’s bedroom and traced my fingers over the bed’s comforter. My mind traveled back to when we had shared his bed. It seemed like another lifetime.

A loud I am here knock sounded at the door. It was Olivia’s.

I got to my feet and stared at the door. Colin glanced at me before going to it and opening it.

“What’s so important that I had to run down—” Olivia’s mouth dropped. “Nyx?”

Colin closed the door behind her as she and I walked toward each other.

When we stood face-to-face she put her hands on her hips.

She tried to talk but couldn’t.

“I’ve never seen you speechless,” I said with a smile. “Don’t worry, I don’t bite.”

“Better not. Try to suck my blood,” she said, “and I’ll kick your ass across Manhattan.”

“It’s all good or I wouldn’t have called you,” Colin said.

“Yeah, it’s all real good, Colin,” I added. “I’m glad to see you, too, Olivia.” And then I hugged her. I smelled her familiar scent along with the richness of her blood. It was stronger and better than any perfume.

Olivia gave me a fierce hug before she stepped back. “This is growing old—you facing certain death and now dying. I’ve had it.”

I was glad to see she was wearing one of her T-shirts. When I was injected with a lethal serum, she had gone blank-T-shirt on me.

“You’re gonna be lucky if someone doesn’t stake you the next time they see you.” She gestured to my dress. “Hell, I’m ready to stake you for wearing that. You look like a reject from a Renaissance fair.”

I raised my hands as I looked down at myself. “And to think I was going to change up my entire wardrobe.”

“Start talking,” she said. “I want you to tell me every damn thing that happened and how it is that you’ve gone all Vampire on us but you’re standing here.”

Another knock at the door. I stilled.

“It’s Tristan,” Colin said. When he opened the door my brother rushed to me and hugged me tight.

“I cannot lose you, little sister.” Tristan rocked me back and forth as he squeezed me. “When Colin told me that you were here and alive, I let Father and your mother know at once. That is what took me so long.”

Words were hard to come by, and I choked back more tears. “Thank you for telling them.”

When Tristan and I separated, I said, “Let’s go into Colin’s bedroom.” I cocked my head in that direction. “The others will be arriving soon, and I want to wait until they’re all here before I come out. I’ll tell you everything I can in there.”

Olivia smirked. “Always have to make an entrance.”

By the time I finished telling Olivia and Tristan my story, nearly everyone had arrived. My nerves had settled—some.

Voices came through the door, and my stomach clenched.

The door to the bedroom opened. Colin peeked his head in and gave me an encouraging smile.

It was now or never.