Burning Sky (Burning Sky Series) (3 page)

“I have to say you out did yourself; I never thought camping could be comfortable.” I laughed, as I looked at the shelter.

“I do what I can my lady. Makes me miss tents, and cots though. Funny how then I missed beds and houses but now look at us.”  Trevor said a smile on his face even with the somberness of the comment.

I watched his face, it looked happy and charming but I still wondered. Trevor began sifting through the food pack and pulled out a MRE, he opened it and started to hand it off to me.

I waved it back, “No thanks.” I said the smell of the prepackaged food was grotesque and I ate blood.

“You have to eat something.” Trevor said, but began eating it himself.

“I had a large meal last night, besides I prefer much fresher food.”  I gestured to the prepackaged food, as if it were lethal.

“Well I’ll take what I can get.” Trevor said, finishing off the last of the gruesome smelling food.

Once he had tossed the paper from his food onto the fire they set together talking about how hard it was to come by decent food. Various subject floating into the conversation and finally landing on hunting skills.

“I love to hunt, I can teach you if you like.” Trevor said his emerald eyes narrowing as he looked at me, who did he think he was.

“I already know how to hunt but thanks anyways.” I said laughing; something in the breeze caught my attention.

A snapping sound in the trees made both of us go silent and still, out of habit I sniffed the breeze. I could tell there was a man in the trees, he was hidden from view but I could feel his blood pumping.  I was on my feet facing in the direction of the intruder in the darkness, Trevor followed suit.  His eyes were on me, I could feel them burning into my skin, he must have noticed the speed with which I had moved. I needed to be more carefully, or I wouldn’t have a choice but to kill Trevor.

“Show yourself, or we will shoot first and ask questions later.” Trevor called, his sawed of gun pointed in the direction I was looking,

He moved up beside me, looking from me to the woods. I felt the man’s pulse jump and knew he was nervous, what he was plotting. I was about to lunge into the trees and drag him out, when a voice rang out.

“I’m unarmed. I don’t mean anybody any harm.” It was a man’s voice calling, just as I had suspected.

I stood ready to pounce as he walked out of the darkness, his appearance told me to kill him. Dressed in black, a hunter’s pack strapped to his back. There was no way he was unarmed, he was hunting something or someone. He was tall and lean like Trevor, but looked more rugged and worn. His eyes burned brown as he closed in on the campsite, the fire light up what had been hidden.

“What you want?” the words slipped from my lips before I even realized it; even I could hear the venomous edge.

“I mean no harm young lady. I’m just trying and find a warm place to bunk down for the night. Maybe I could come and warm myself by that fire.”  The man came closer, his hands up as if to ensure his innocence.

“You got a name mister? “  Trevor asked his voice was suddenly full of southern charm, it sent a chill across my skin.

“Yes sir. My name is Zachary.” His voice was robust as he spoke he lowered his arm showing his muscular frame in the fire lite.

I didn’t like the looks of him, but Trevor seemed to be accepting him.  If I wasn’t hiding the fact that I was a vampire from Trevor, this man would already be dead.

“May I sit by the fire?” Zachary asked he was already moving forward.

I didn’t want him here, “No.” I spoke to fast, judgment on my voice.

“Sky, it’s OK. We can’t leave him out there without a place to keep warm; come on the camp is big enough for one more.” Trevor reasoned, beckoning Zachary forward.

I took a deep breath, looked at Trevor to see a welcoming smile. His hand was touching my shoulder, in an effort to subdue my temper. It only mad me angry, this is why I didn’t like humans... they were too easily swayed by their emotions.

“Now look, I don’t want to upset your friend.” Zachary said, but he still made his way to the camps edge.

Anger was boiling in me, but I let it go... for the moment. I turned and dropped into my seat, leaning back on the log I was growing fond of.  I felt an evil smile turn my lips... the good part was if good ole Zach pulled anything, I would get to eat two nights in a row. The bad part... I glanced at Trevor as he played host..  The bad part would be that Trevor would know the truth.  I wondered how he would react.

Zachary entered the camp, tossing his pack on the ground and falling to sit next to it.  Trevor moved to sit so they were in a triangle around the fire.  So much for a quiet night. Zachary and Trevor began talking as if they were old friends; war was the subject of choice.  I sat quietly, watching them bond over there manly stories. Zachary moved closer to Trevor, he seemed safe enough but my instincts said he wasn’t. I couldn’t handle listening to their jabber; my mind was already full of voices all yelling to just kill the hunter. Trying to void my thoughts, I rolled up in a ball against my log, and pretended to fall asleep.

I watched the two talk, through barely open eyes; they of course assumed I was sleeping. As time passed, the two had managed to move close enough to be talking in whispers, tossing twigs into the fire. They talked of war neither of them noticing me, I could tell something was wrong by the way Zachary kept looking in my direction. I stayed as still as I could, waiting, to see what Zachary was going to do. Trevor didn’t seem to notice anything was wrong.  He was too trusting; after all he had stayed with me, another silly human flaw.

“You have been an awful good storyteller, I love to hear about others who went overseas to fight for freedom. Though fighting doesn’t seem to have done us much good, at least since the meteor shower hit. Yet we seem to still be fighting... now it’s here for our survival rather than for freedom. I wish you were going to be around to chat with again sometime.” Zachary moved like a cat on the prowl, his muscles spring loaded.

“I’m sure I will be around.” Trevor said smiling, he looked in my direction and I knew what came next.

Zachary moved fast, you could see the training in his movements. Trevor was suddenly on the ground; his gun was in the shelter so he only had his hands.  Zachary, on the offensive, had a knife in his right hand, and his aim was Trevor’s throat.

“You should have listened to your friend over there, once I’m done with you I will make sure and let her know how right she was.” Zachary said. I hadn’t moved... yet.

I laid there watching as the two wrestled on the ground, the only way I could assist Trevor was to forfeit my secret.  Since Zachary had a weapon, he automatically had the upper hand.  Trevor could only lie on his back and try to fight the bastard off.

I needed to kill the human. A tingling of hunger began to spread deep inside my body; suddenly my muscles were aching to move. I hoped that Trevor would understand, but I had doubts that he would.

In a flash, I was on my feet and a snarl erupted from my chest. Trevor glanced at him... his eyes growing wider. He would soon know my secret.

I let my fangs flash as I grabbed Zachary from behind, lifting him off of Trevor with little effort.

“What the hell?” Zachary said, lunging at me with his knife.

I glanced his blow, using his own momentum to pin him in the dirt. I twisted his arm behind his back, tossing his weapon out into the trees.

“Looks like the tables turned on you now, you fucking prick. I hope you relish true pain,” I smiled wickedly. Before Zachary could utter a single syllable, I sank my teeth into his shoulder.

He screamed for a moment, trying to fight against me as I drained him.  Soon, his body went limp.  I stayed sitting over his body, bathing in the glory of my kill. 

I suddenly realized that I had momentarily forgotten about Trevor.  I glanced over my shoulder, expecting the worst.  He was sitting across the fire, his face warped with astonishment. I'm sure I looked a sight too, with blood running down my lips... holding the old bastard to my body.  I closed my eyes, wiping a droplet of blood from my chin and dropped the husk that had been Zachary to the ground. 

“Sky...” Trevor’s voice was hushed... I imagined it was because of the horror he had just witnessed. 

A grimace formed on my lips as I stood, turning to face him.

Confusion was clearly written on his handsome face.  Amazingly, there was no fear in his eyes.  I could tell that he was trying to wrap his mind around something... I imagined he was trying to decide if he should stay or walk backwards out of the camp.

“Thanks.”  Trevor said a smile forming on his lips.

I gasped... did he really just say thanks? I didn't expected him to thank me for being a killer.  I just stared at him for a moment.  “Are you... okay?  You're not... frightened... of me?”

Trevor slowly shook his head.

I frowned.  “Why?”  My body began relaxing as I stepped closer to the fire, shielding the dead body behind me.

A soft smile spread over Trevor’s lips as his emerald eyes gleamed at me.  “I know that you didn't choose to be what you are now.  It's happened to many people, believe it or not.”  His he tilted up as he watched the treetops blow in the slight breeze.  “I'd probably be dead now if you hadn't leaped on him.”

I couldn’t believe it... but I was smiling.  Not an evil smile, but one of... happiness?  It disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.  Trevor wasn't scared or horrified. 

I sighed, now I had to clean the mess up. I turned around and grabbed Zachary’s body hoisted it up and began pulling it out of camp.  Trevor watched me with a smile on his face. 

I took the carcass to the area where I had disposed of the bodies from the night before; carelessly tossing the body onto the other remains. Trevor was sitting in the same spot by the fire when I got back to the camp. I picked up the dead man’s pack and tossed it with the ones; I could sort it out later.

“So, what now?” Trevor asked, a slight smile crossing his lips.

“What you mean?” I asked wiping I mouth again, the rich coppery taste of blood still on my tongue.

“Well, I’m going to assume that the highway men from last night met the same end as ole Zachary. Are you going to follow the same after-dinner happenings... as last night?”  Boyish charm glittered through the handsome man's eyes.  “I’m all for that as long as binding my hands isn't involved.”

He was referring to sex.  I blinked hard.  Was he serious?  “Did... did you miss what happened here?  I just bit into that guys neck and drained him of his blood.  I’m a vampire.... and... you’re OK with that?” Complete astonishment hit me, mixed emotions flooded my mind.  I wasn’t prepared for him to be so accepting; it made the fact that I had feelings for him harder to handle.  Was this actually happening?

Trevor stood without responding.  His look was all business now, not a hint of a smile remained on his face.  In one fluid motion, he rounded the fire with his eyes focused on me and pulled his shirt over his head. The sight of his bare muscles caused a spasm deep within my abdomen, wetness spreading between my thighs.  I felt my knees weaken as Trevor pulled me against his warm body.  I wanted to resist but his warmth drew me in. Our lips came together in a hungry kiss. My hands were working on unfastening his jeans as he ran his hands under my shirt, kneading the soft flesh he found there. I pulled back from his lips just long enough to yank my shirt over my head. As I leaned back into Trevor’s body, he unzipped my jeans, letting them pool around my feet.  His lips were like fire, he tongue flicking against mine as he explored my mouth. Trevor pulled me into the timber shelter, pushing me from his lips.

“Lay back.”  Trevor gently pushed me down to the ground, his hands roaming my body.

I lay on the pile of leaves and Trevor made good on his word of using his fingers on me. Soon, I was writhing in ecstasy as his thick digits slid inside my body, his mouth covering my breast.  Easily, he brought me to the edge.  As he increased the motion of his fingers, I fell over into the starry abyss.  I couldn’t help it when I cried his name out softly.