Embrace The Dawning (The Covenant Series Book 1) (15 page)

“Do you think my eyes will stay like this?” Kayci asked suddenly. She glanced from Rosemary to Elise, admiring the details of their faces, the mountains and valleys in their skin, the designs in their irises. Kayci caught Elise’s shiver.

“My eyes are freaking Elise out,” Kayci said to Rosemary matter of factly. “Probably won’t go over well with the clients either.”

Rosemary smiled. “You’re currently experiencing what I think vampires call
the
vampire high
. All your senses are heightened, and you are seeing everything differently now. It will fade, and you’ll become accustomed to it. What seems amazing and new now will become normal to you.”

“Oh,” Kayci replied, disappointed. “So as my excitement settles, so will the color of my eyes.”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s good news,” Kayci lied. She didn’t want the newness and excitement to end.

Elise studied Kayci’s expression. Elise always knew when she was lying just by looking at her. Elise shivered again. She quickly glanced away from Kayci, obviously uncomfortable looking at her. Kayci felt relieved. She didn’t want Elise to know she utterly enjoyed her new state.

“There is one thing though,” Kayci pointed out.

“Yes?” Rosemary invited her to continue.

“I…how do I explain this? I have hunger pains and am more attentive to…ah…”

“Our blood?” Rosemary finished for her.

“I don’t need to drink blood, do I?” Kayci asked uncomfortably.

Kayci watched Elise lean as far back in her chair as she could.

Rosemary looked at Elise and then Kayci, giving them a reassuring smile. “I noticed you didn’t sprout fangs, so I think you’re in the clear. However, I imagine you’ll crave it but won’t need it. You’re still part human. Regular food should sustain you. Maybe order your meat a little more rare, and you should be fine,” Rosemary jested.

Kayci smiled at Rosemary’s intent to make light of the situation. “Thank you, Rosemary. Thank you for everything,” Kayci said as she sat back in the chair, finally feeling relaxed since she first put the necklace on.

“Oh, thank god!” Elise suddenly blurted. “You’re eyes are changing back.”

Kayci grinned. “They really freak you out, don’t they?”

“You don’t look like you when they’re gold colored. It’s freaky.”

Kayci laughed before returning her attention to Rosemary. “How much do I owe you for the spell, stone, and necklace?”

“I’ll calculate that at the register.” Rosemary motioned toward that part of the shop as she rose from her chair. Kayci and Elise followed after gathering Elise’s items at the end of the table. Kayci immediately noticed the incredible smells and colors as she walked into the shop. She stood for a moment, taking it all in. The herbs and candles were a frenzy of odors, their scents intoxicating and difficult to differentiate. Reds, oranges, and yellows stood out more than any other colors. She was visually drawn to the items with those colors. She had an overwhelming impulse to run her hands over everything she saw. To feel the materials with her new and heightened senses.

In her peripheral, Kayci could see Rosemary and Elise staring at her again. She didn’t want to frighten Elise with her golden eyes, so she closed them, taking two deep breaths while holding her fists firmly at her sides. Once her feeling of elation began to subside, Kayci opened her eyes and slowly walked to the register, intentionally ignoring everything around her.

Rosemary smiled at Kayci as she stepped up to the register. “You’re learning to control your emotions quite quickly, my dear. It’s impressive.”

It was more difficult than it looked. Admittedly, she did it for Elise’s sanity.

Rosemary quickly rang up their items, giving them both discounts. They expressed their appreciation for her kindness and said their good-byes.

“Ladies, feel free to come back if you need anything. Anything at all. I’m happy to help. Kayci, my dear…” Rosemary’s caring face became serious. “Take care of yourself.”

Kayci nodded.

As they strolled out of the shop, Rosemary turned the closed sign behind them but not before giving one last kind wave.

Kayci stopped walking as soon as she stepped outside. The sights, scents, and sounds hit her like a tidal wave. She immediately closed her eyes and tried to settle her reaction to the multitude of sensory igniters.

“I can’t believe we spent the whole day in there!” Elise proclaimed as she headed toward Kayci’s car. Kayci was brought back to the moment by Elise’s voice breaking through the flurry of stimulants. She centered her focus on one thing and stepped forward, trying not to reveal her inner turmoil to Elise.

Kayci nodded. “I’m not surprised. Happened to me the last time I was there.”

“Rosemary is fascinating. I’m glad you brought me with you today. Even if you did vamp-out on me.” Elise looked at Kayci as they settled into the car. “So are you hungry at all?” she asked apprehensively. “Because I am
starving
.”

“Yes, actually, I am pretty hungry. I better not get too excited about eating though, or I might
vamp-out
on you again,” Kayci mocked.

Elise rolled her eyes. “All right, all right, I freaked out a bit. I’ll try not to be so awkward the next time.”

“Thanks. So where to?”

“Amigo’s,” Elise suggested.

“Sounds good,” Kayci replied as she put her car into drive.

***

The cement grave gave way to the hands of the vampire as he lifted and slid the cover away from the coffin. The crypt he had been residing in for the last twenty-six years was pitch black. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust. He made his way toward the stairs by memory. His hunger came as relentless waves, reminding him of how long it had been since he had last fed. He moved sluggishly up the stairs, supporting himself by placing his hands along the wall as he went. As he came to the entry room of the crypt above ground, the air became thinner. He breathed it in deep, smelling the life that flourished just outside. His eyes, an intense gold, reflected the light of the moon streaming in through the small window of the crypt. He pushed open the crypt door only to be overwhelmed by the smells beyond it. His hunger was uncontrollable. He immediately followed the scent leading to the humans in the small village. He would need to feed a great deal in order to replenish his body. It was essential for the long journey ahead of him.

Chapter 8

Danika watched as Kayci’s car pulled up in front of her house. She whistled to the other two vampires with her and nodded for one of them to come in from a different direction. She stayed with the other vampire and waited.

“I’m impressed with how well you held it together at the restaurant. I think your eyes filled with gold specks only about three times,” Elise teased.

“That burrito was amazing,” Kayci enthused. “It was like eating food for the first time. So delicious.”

“Must be nice to have all your senses so heightened?” Elise asked. “I still can’t believe that my best friend is a half-breed vampire. Although it fits when I think back over the years and all the crazy things that happened and your strange attributes, as you would call them. I wish you could have seen the way you looked after you put on that stone. Those eyes will definitely take some getting used to. And when I touched you, I felt like I was drunk. Rosemary said it was an enchantment. What’s the deal with that?”

Kayci stepped out of the vehicle while internally smiling at Elise’s rambling. This was her friend’s way of working through everything that had happened.

“I’m not entirely sure. I guess you felt part of my vampire energy. Rosemary said vampires have adapted the ability to feed from humans without hurting them. You must have felt whatever that ability is.”

“Yeah, well, I definitely don’t want to ever feel that again,” Elise stated firmly.

As they headed toward the front door, a strange new sensation rose up Kayci’s spine and across her arms, similar to goose bumps but without the actual bumps. The sensation was followed by a strange scent drifting through the air. The sun had gone down at least an hour and a half ago. It didn’t take much for Kayci to comprehend the warning signs. She grabbed Elise’s arm just as she saw a figure moving through the brush near the woods.

“Kayci, what’s wrong? Your eyes are changing.”

Kayci leaned in toward Elise and brought her voice to a whisper. She put her keychain with her car and house key on it into Elise’s hand, making sure the house key was what Elise took hold of.

“Stay calm and listen to me. There are vampires nearby. When I let go of your arm, I want you to run inside the house as fast as you can.”

Kayci let go of Elise’s arm. Elise took off for the front door. Her hands shook as she shoved the key into the lock. Her right hand turned the knob as a vampire grabbed her from behind.

Kayci was there instantly. She kicked the vampire’s knee in from behind. His leg went down. He released Elise as he tried to catch his fall. Elise took her moment of opportunity and rushed through the door. Kayci put full strength into her swing and punched the vampire in the back of the neck. He buckled onto the porch floor. Kayci grabbed a fistful of the vampire’s hair and directed his gaze right toward the talisman hanging on the door. She saw a bright light flash and squinted as she turned her own gaze away from it. A moment later the vampire’s skin was covered in flames. His screaming pierced Kayci’s ears. She looked away from the disgusting sight and forced down the bile rising in her throat, induced by the foul stench.

Elise held the door open for Kayci to follow her in. Kayci saw another vampire running toward the porch.

“Close the door!”

The second male vampire reached the porch just before Elise closed the door. Kayci had no time to react. The vampire rushed past her. He opened the door so forcefully, Kayci heard the hinges splinter. Elise screamed in terror. As the vampire tried to enter, he hit an invisible wall. Kayci was incredibly relieved. Rosemary’s spell had worked. More comfortable with Elise safe inside, Kayci jumped off the side railing of the porch and took off for the back of the house, intentionally leading the vampires away from the entrance. The female she’d spotted with Adrian—Danika—closed in behind her. As she took the corner of the house, she felt Danika’s powerful grip on her shoulder. Kayci lost her footing and hit the ground hard. Danika fell with her.

Before Kayci could get up, Danika was on top of her, trying to bite her. Kayci wrapped her legs and left her arm around Danika’s body, pulling her in closer, giving her the opportunity to punch Danika’s face and side. Danika wiggled out of her grip, then jerked away before quickly standing up. Kayci rolled away from Danika, just missing a kick to her side. Kayci stood up and took off toward the front of the house.

The second male vampire clotheslined Kayci in the chest, knocking the wind out of her. She didn’t get up quickly enough. Danika attacked her again. Kayci kicked Danika in the stomach as she lunged at her. Danika fell back momentarily. The second vampire charged as Kayci tried to pick herself up. Kayci kicked her leg sideways, knocking the vampire out from under himself. Danika leapt onto her from above. She hit Kayci in the face this time. Kayci recognized the familiar metallic taste as the blood oozed from her lip. Danika’s eyes flashed gold. Her fangs extracted. She leaned in to bite Kayci.

Kayci used all the strength she had left to avoid being bitten. Her adrenaline had been pumping for a while and was beginning to wane. She worried she wouldn’t make it out of this. As she blocked her face and neck with her arm, Danika’s fangs sliced across her skin, causing blood to pour out. The laceration blazed with painful heat. A knot developed in her throat. She tried to swallow it down. Her vision became hazy. She thought she heard the other vampire groan in pain, but she wasn’t sure. She swung her fist at Danika but missed, as Danika was suddenly pulled off her and thrown to the ground.

Adrian stood over them both, eyes gold and fangs completely visible. Kayci glimpsed the other vampire running away. With him gone, her attention returned to Danika and Adrian.

Adrian held Danika steadily by the throat. Her feet dangled several inches above the ground. She bucked aggressively trying to break free. Without warning, Adrian punched her in the stomach, throwing her though the air several feet. Kayci heard the escape of air as Danika hit the ground. She recovered quickly and used the space between her and Adrian to flee into the woods. Her silhouette faded into the darkness instantly.

Adrian frantically scanned Kayci from head to toe. Blood dripped down her chin and onto her shirt from a swollen, battered lip. Bruises already marked her face and body. Blood oozed from a gash on her arm. She barely held herself up.

The part that worried him the most—the eyes looking back at him were bright gold. His thoughts drifted away from her eyes as he saw her collapse. He rushed over, gathering her into his arms just before she hit the ground. He cradled her against his own body and carried her to the front door.

Elise removed the charm from the door once she saw the vampires had fled. She held the door open for Adrian to bring Kayci inside.

“Is she okay?” Elise had tears in her eyes. “She saved my life.”

Adrian laid Kayci gently on the couch. “How many were there?”

“Three, I think. Are they all gone?” Elise placed the charm back on its nail, then hurried into the kitchen.

“Yes.” Adrian observed the wounds on Kayci’s arm and lip beginning to heal. “She fought all three of them?”

“I think so.” Elise returned with a wet washcloth. She carefully wiped the blood off Kayci’s arm and face. “She got me inside safely. I tried to see what was going on outside, but couldn’t see everything. One of them attacked me at the front door. She knocked him out, and I think…I think she killed him. I heard him screaming as he burned. Then he disappeared. I saw two attacking her outside the window.” She pointed toward the back of the house.

“It was awful. They kept attacking her, and she kept fighting back. You got here just in time. I don’t think she would have made it if you hadn’t arrived when you did.” Tears welled in her eyes again.

“What were you doing here anyway?” she asked.

“I came to check on her.”

“Do you think you could stay awhile in case they come back?”

Adrian reached out and touched Kayci’s face. He couldn’t feel her energy. His fangs slipped out between his lips as he struggled to control his fury.

“Yes. I’ll stay.”

Elise smiled in relief as she pulled the blanket off the top of the couch and tucked it around Kayci.

“Thank you. I might be able to get some sleep tonight knowing you’re here. Just don’t bite me in my sleep, okay?” Her expression revealed her awkward discomfort with wanting him to stay and her wariness of him being a vampire.

Adrian sank into the chair next to the couch to keep vigil over Kayci. Her eyes had been gold colored. He was sure of it. Now she was healing before his eyes after a fight with not one but three vampires. He worried about where his thoughts led him. What would the Covenant do if they knew of her existence?

Elise slipped under the foot of the same blanket that covered Kayci. Her heavy eyelids closed for a moment, then shot open to check that Adrian hadn’t moved.

“You know she’s like you, right?”

Adrian’s eyes shifted to Elise. He waited for her to continue.

“She’s not a normal human. She has vampire blood in her. A witch told her that she was born from both a vampire and a human. She’s some kind of mix between the two.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“I think you’re the only one that can really help her.”

***

A meek knock sounded at the door. Eva looked around at the other vampires that formed the Covenant. She sensed their irritation rising. They had received communication from Danika that she would be sending a messenger to them with important information.

When Florence opened the door, she saw a very young and new vampire. Eva immediately sensed the young vampire was of Danika’s making. She had made him without the Covenant’s consent. Eva saw Florence’s fangs slip out. She wondered how long he would let this fledgling live.

“Let him in, Florence.” Eva’s words were gentle but unyielding.

Florence stepped aside and eyed the young vampire as he made his way into the room. Eva motioned for him to have a seat. The young vampire’s movements were apprehensive, his fear evident. He obviously knew the dangers surrounding him.

“What is your message, youngling?” Eva asked him gently.

The young vampire gathered his confidence. “Danika has valuable information for you. She asks for clemency in exchange for this information.”

Florence took his seat next to Eva. He leaned forward aggressively, his fangs exposed. “You,
youngling
, nor your sire, has any privilege to ask for such things.”

Eva agreed. However, she wanted to hear what the young vampire had to say. “He is right, youngling. It is best that you tell us what you have to say and then take a message back to Danika for us. This
is
your only option.” The last few words were spoken slowly, her tone firm and more unyielding than before.

The young vampire nodded. His fear had heightened. “Danika has discovered a half-breed vampire under the care of Adrian. She saw her
tonight
with her own eyes.”

Eva exchanged glances with the Covenant vampires, taking in their shock and disbelief.

Eva brought their attention back to the young vampire. “You mean Adrian has created a new vampire, a fledgling like yourself.”

“No, she is not like me. She is human
and
vampire. She walks during the day but has vampire abilities.”

Eva turned her head away from the rest of the Covenant, hiding her expression.
She
couldn’t believe that he had succeeded
. “You must go. Go back to Danika and tell her there is no clemency to be had here.”

The young vampire jumped up and tried to make a quick exit. Before he could reach the door, Florence grabbed him. The young vampire squirmed beneath Florence’s grip, his strength no match against Florence’s. The fledgling’s body went limp. His head lay separated from his body on the floor.

“Danika will get our message when her darling fledgling does not return.”

Eva, deep in her thoughts, barely noticed a couple vampires enter the room to remove the fledgling’s remains.

Natalia, clearly pensive, eyed Eva. “What does this mean?”

Orrick spoke up. “It means we have a situation that must be dealt with. The solution is the same as always. Our laws must be adhered to, or their will be chaos. This creature cannot be allowed to live.”

Eva looked directly at Orrick. “The same was once said of us.”

“Perhaps we should meet this creature. We should know if she is dangerous to our existence,” Beatrice said with a neutral tone.

“We should hear what Adrian has to say.” Vladimir spoke directly to Eva.

Florence leaned forward, his eyes narrowed as he studied Eva. “She is your brother’s daughter. Isn’t she?” His tone dripped venom.

Eva matched his glare. “That is yet to be known.”