Laney (26 page)

“Sacrifice one to save the rest,” he whispered quietly. I squeezed his hand and he halfheartedly smiled at me.

We made it out of the park unnoticed by the werewolf. I wouldn’t dare look back.

We were ducking behind cars and trees as we slowly made it down a neighboring street. I felt the ground shake again and I froze.

“What is that?” I whispered.

“There’s a group of vampires coming. They can make the ground shake like an earthquake if there are enough of them together,” Oliver said. We crouched behind the side of a car on the sidewalk and Oliver hovered over me protectively. I could feel his cool breath on my neck coming in rapid gasps.

“Good or bad?” I asked very quietly.

“I don’t know and I’m not going to try to find out.”

“I’m scared,” I whispered.

“Me too,” he whispered back. That didn’t make me feel any better.

I felt the pounding of feet on the asphalt as they drew closer. I pulled myself as close as possible against Oliver and he placed his free hand against my back, pressing me closer against him. I closed my eyes and buried my face against his chest.

The vampires passed, seeming not to notice us, and we ran in the opposite direction, which, thankfully, was the direction we had been headed in.

I recognized where we were. We were getting close to the house with all the cats. That meant we weren’t that far from home. But what if they were already at our place?

My thought was cut short by another terrifying snarl. It made me scream.

Oliver grabbed my upper arms again and got in my face. Looking into my eyes, he said fiercely, “You know that house with all the cats? The one I told you not to walk by?”

My head bobbed up and down in a nod. I was so frightened; every part of me was shaking uncontrollably.

“Run to that house now and don’t look back. Run as fast as you can.”

“What? No!” I protested. “You said not to let go.” I grasped at him desperately.

“Listen to me.” He shook me a little. “Run!” It was a whispered growl.

“I’m not going without you,” I cried, tears stinging my eyes.

“Run!” He growled and shoved me back toward the house as he took off the way we’d come.

I stumbled backwards and caught myself on a tree. I began backing toward the cat house. Then, without thinking, I ran after him.

My heart was pounding wildly with each footstep. I reached the end of the sidewalk across from the park and stopped; he had vanished. Something behind me made a noise and I spun around. There was nothing there that shouldn’t be—nothing I could see, anyway. My heart was beating so hard the sound of it filled my ears. I was gasping for breath and my lungs burned. I wanted to scream for Oliver, but I couldn’t seem to catch my breath enough to try. I doubled over, trying to calm myself and breathe. I was teetering on the brink of panic and hysteria. I needed to get to Oliver.

Suddenly a familiar presence loomed near me, but not a friendly one. I straightened up and was face to face with that evil vampire from last night. He looked like something right out of hell. Terror shot through me. He was smiling a horrifyingly wicked smile with his fangs fully extended. His eyes were completely black, no white at all, and they were full of chaos and madness. I was stunned, but managed to let out a bloodcurdling scream. If it was the last thing I did, I was going to make it count. He grabbed my throat and my scream was cut short.

“I’m surprised to find you alone out here,” he hissed. “Most people fear the dark, afraid of the unknown. You’re either really brave or unbearably stupid,” he rambled.

His rancid breath made me heave a little and that seemed to startle him. His black eyes flickered with confusion for a brief moment. There was seriously something wrong with this vampire. Reality, and common sense, were starting to kick in. Hayden’s words were replaying in my mind: ‘He hungers for your blood, your body, and your soul. Oscar has brainwashed him to think he has to kill you out of revenge.’

Oliver filled my thoughts as tears began to fill my eyes.

The nasty creature was watching me intently; his unblinking eyes glided over me.

“Let go of me,” I said through my teeth as I struggled.

“Oh, I will, once I’ve drained you,” his voice was raspy and foul.

I screeched and tears rolled down my cheeks. He covered my mouth and I cried against his filthy hand.

He turned my face to the side exposing my neck. Releasing his grip on my neck, he brushed my hair behind my shoulder. A convulsive shudder shook my body and I sobbed.
Where was my Knight?

He dropped his hand from my mouth and I caught a glimpse of his lethally sharp fangs as he reared back to bite me.

I struggled and closed my eyes. I screamed again, quiet but it was out there.
He’s going to kill me. I’m an idiot! Why did I try to follow Oliver?

I screamed again as sharp fangs sank into my neck. The pain was blinding. I screamed louder now than ever before. He pulled my body against his as my knees buckled. I could feel the warmth rushing out of me. My vision was blurry from tears, but starting to get hazy, too. He moaned and bit down harder. I let out what I figured was my final cry as my strength began to wane.

Suddenly, something hit me hard, knocking the wind out of me, and I hit the ground with a thud. I was on my back in the street, just behind a car, staring up at the swaying tree branches that loomed over me. I cupped my hand over my throat. The pain hardly registered even though I could feel the sticky warm blood oozing out. Panting for air, I scrambled to my feet and crouched behind the car. I searched around trying to figure out what had just happened and where that evil vampire had gone. I couldn’t focus on anything; my vision was still blurry. I wiped at my eyes trying to clear the tears. It helped, but only a little.

He was gone. That psychotic vampire was gone and I was on the opposite side of the street from where he had found me. What the hell had happened?

There was movement in the park, near the trees. I squinted and duck-walked to the front of the car to get a closer look, I crouched beside it still holding my neck. The evil vampire was on the ground and Oliver was standing over him with one foot on his chest. Oliver was saying something and gesturing wildly. I could hear him, but I couldn’t make out his words, almost like I couldn’t understand him.

The wicked vampire actually looked terrified, shaking his hands in front of himself and madly tearing at Oliver’s leg. Oliver stomped his foot through the other’s chest; blood sprayed up his pant leg. The evil vampire let out the most horrible shriek and his body shook violently. I covered my mouth with my free hand to stifle the scream that was threatening to escape. There was a low throaty sound, one that was quite final, and Oliver crouched down and ripped out the evil one’s heart. I wretched and began to dry heave; there was nothing in my stomach to come up.

When I looked back to Oliver, he was gone. The lifeless body was still there. I searched around for him, but I didn’t see anyone. I was suddenly jerked off the ground with great strength and I screamed. It was Oliver. I breathed a sigh of relief. His eyes were wild; he looked dark and sinister and he had blood all over his arms, splattered on his jeans, across his pale green T-shirt, and covering his shoes. He looked pissed.

“I told you to run to that house,” his voice was hard and angry. His dark eyes narrowed and his fangs were fully extended.

“You also told me to never let go,” I snapped back. My relief turned to anger and, I have to admit, I was a little scared, but I wasn’t going to show it. He glared at me.

“Your survival instincts are broken.” His eyes pierced mine, but I held my ground, still holding my neck. I was afraid to take my hand away.

“He was going to kill you,” he began, pulling me back toward the cat lady house. He had a firm grasp on my forearm.

“You’re hurting my arm.” He didn’t loosen his grip; he just kept pulling me.

“Hey, Ollie. Your little snack making you angry?” We stopped dead. It was Oscar.

Oliver’s head dropped with a sigh. “Damn it, Laney. Why didn’t you listen to me?” He sounded exhausted.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“Pretty things are often trouble.” Oscar’s voice was full of arrogance.

Oliver turned around and I followed. Oscar was crouched on the porch of the house in front of us. He appeared to be alone, but I doubted he was. Oliver pulled me into him with frightening force. Oscar rose with the grace of a tiger and started down the steps toward us. The porch was as wide as the house itself, with an extension of roof over it. There was a wooden rocker that was rocking slightly and a still body on the porch where Oscar had just been. Blinding panic ran through me and I began to shake again. Oscar was getting closer.

Oliver squeezed me tighter and very quietly whispered in my ear while keeping his eyes on Oscar, “Don’t run.” In that split second, he took Oscar down by surprise in a flying tackle. Oscar let out a dreadful scream and tried to get away.

Weasel!

Oliver was standing over him just like with the evil vampire—not that Oscar wasn’t evil, too, I just happened to know his name. Oscar looked terrified. Growls and snarls rang out from the distance. I frantically searched around us, but saw nothing.

Don’t run,
I reminded myself.

A smug look spread across Oscar’s face. “You can’t do it, brother.”

“You’d be surprised,” he said, pressing his foot down harder.

“You’ve never killed another in your unnatural life.”

He pressed even harder, causing Oscar to exhale. “Don’t push me!” he roared. “I will end you!”

Then he stepped away from him, turning his back to Oscar.

What was he doing?

“Leave, Oscar,” he said as he started back toward me.

In one smooth motion, Oscar was on his feet and coming at Oliver from behind. I screamed, but before I could form a single word, Oliver spun around and punched Oscar in the chest so hard it sent him flying two houses away. Oliver rushed toward me, scooped me into his arms, and ran toward the cat lady’s house. I watched Oscar over Oliver’s shoulder. He quickly scrambled to his feet and silently stood there, watching us go. Then he withdrew into the darkness and disappeared.

Chapter 30 - Gladys

She was standing in her yard wearing those same overalls I’d seen her in before, but this time she had a pale pink, long sleeved shirt underneath, with the arms pushed up to her elbows, and no hat. Her white picket fence was the only thing separating us from her. Oliver set me on my feet beside him.

“Gladys,” Oliver said in a level tone.

“Vampire.” A smug smile stretched across her lips. “I believe you require my assistance.”

He nodded and it was obvious this was hard for him.

She opened the little gate and gestured to the door.

“Volla,” Oliver said with a little bow.

“You’re welcome, Vampire,” she smiled at him.

“Miss Alexander! Mr. Knight!” Our eyes widened at our names being called from behind us and we slowly turned to see Professor McBaldy Bald trudging toward us from his house just across the street. “Where have the two of you been?” he questioned, as he neared the middle of the road.

If he only knew. I started shivering. Oliver’s sweatshirt wasn’t preventing the emotional chill I was beginning to feel.

“I am going to have to drop you both from my class,” he scolded.

Really? Like I give a rat’s ass right now. He can drop me all he wants.
The shiver turned into shaking.

“Quiet down, Stan,” Gladys encouraged.

He got indignant and puffed his bird cheeks out. “I will not!” He was wearing a dark robe, loosely tied around his bloated waste, over a white undershirt and pale blue pajama bottoms and dark corduroy slippers. His glasses were in place and the miniscule amount of hair that rimmed his shiny scalp was sticking up in places.

I was about to say something—I’m not sure what, but something—when a dark flash of fur hit him, taking him roughly to the ground. He screamed as his eyes met those of a werewolf.

I was stunned silent, my eyes wide in disbelief, when Oliver shouted, “Go!” and shoved me through the opening of the picket fence towards Gladys’ front door. I was right on her heels as the three of us busted through the front door together. We landed in a heap on her flowered living room area rug. Cats scrambled away, hissing and spitting. Oliver bounced to his feet and slammed the door closed behind us.

We rushed to the window and watched with terrified eyes as Professor McBaldy Bald was dragged off, kicking and screaming into the darkness behind his own house, by that massive creature that I could only assume was another werewolf.
I am so never leaving the house again during a full moon—granted, I have to survive this night first.

“Poor Stan,” Gladys sighed. “I wonder if he’ll survive.”

I stared at her, my eyes wide with shock, as she walked away from the window. I shook my head, trying to get my senses back. My body was still shaking and I ached all over from exhaustion.

I sank against the wall between the window and the front door. Sitting sounded like a good idea. I started to slide down the wall when Oliver grabbed my arm, jerking me up before my butt could hit the floor.

“She’s been bitten,” his voice was strained.

I still had my hand against my neck; it was throbbing. I was afraid it was stuck there, that if I pulled my hand away, I would rip it open. And ripping it open would cause another problem—I’m sure Oliver was having a hard enough time just being able to smell the dried blood on me.

Gladys gently took my arm from Oliver and pulled me down the hall to the bathroom. She sat me on the toilet lid and pried my hand away. It burned and I winced as she poured some kind of liquid on it. I stared at my hand in my lap covered in my own blood as she taped a bandage to the right side of my neck. “Damn neck munchers,” she muttered, as she applied the last bit of medical tape. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to control the laugh that had tried to escape.

“Thank you,” I said softly when she had finished. A sharp pain shot through my neck and I did my best to ignore it.

“You’re a tough one. You’ll be fine,” she said with a strong squeeze to my shoulder.

I looked up into her weathered face. Her long grey hair was pulled back into a braid down her back. Her hazel eyes were aged and full of wisdom and pain.

I forced a smile. She patted my shoulder and then left the bathroom. I washed my hands then found my way back to Oliver in the living room where I had left him. He seemed uneasy.

“How is being here going to keep us safe?” I whispered.

“I have given my word to do what I can to keep you and your vampire safe, young lady,” Gladys said, as she came in from the kitchen. “It doesn’t mean I have to be nice.” She exchanged a glare with Oliver. “Come, you must get away from the door.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me through her living room into the hallway. Oliver was right behind us. She spun around and faced us. She poked Oliver in the chest with her old bony finger. He tensed even more. “You!” she snapped. “You are the Dark Knight’s brother?”

He nodded.

Really? The Dark Knight? Cheesy…

He shot me a curious look, obviously sensing that emotion. I raised an eyebrow and smiled crookedly. I began to think maybe shock and an adrenaline overload had caused my mind to snap. Could it have been the vampire bite? I wasn’t as freaked out as I should’ve been, considering everything that had just happened. Maybe exhaustion had shut down parts of my brain—the rational parts, most likely.

“Your brother seems to be broken. He has caused great trouble,” she continued.

“He is ruined, not broken. You cannot fix ruined.”

She seemed to get lost in her thoughts for a moment. Oliver stared past her, avoiding eye contact with her. Then she chuckled. “I guess that makes you the Good Knight.”

He shot her a “What the hell?” look.

Okay… Apparently I’m not the only who has gone a little loopy.

Her mood shifted again and she became harsh. “You stay in the hall, against the wall there.” She pointed at the wall we were facing. “It will be safest for both of you.” With that, she left us standing there in the hallway.

Oliver let out a sigh of relief. He took my hand and gently pulled me to the wall.

“Who is she and how does she know you’re a vampire?” I asked quietly, as we leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor together, not letting go of each other’s hand.

“She’s a vampire slayer.”

“What? Why the hell are we here?” Panic crept up again.

“For exactly that reason; no vampires will be able to get to us here. You heard what she said. She gave her word to protect us.”

My panic subsided and my stomach growled.

Gladys returned just then with a roll of crackers on a plate with cheese cubes, apple slices, Oreos, and a bottle of water. She tossed what looked like an IV bag filled with blood at Oliver. “Can’t have you getting too hungry and taking this poor girl out. Not sure she could take another bite.” She winked at me as I shoved a cracker in my mouth. I was starving. Her eyes took me in and then she shot Oliver a knowing glare.

What the hell?

I took in her house as I shoveled food into my mouth. On our right, we could see down the hall to a closed door that sat across from the bathroom. There was an open bedroom door just behind us to the left and, in front of us, the hall opened up to her living room. The walls were white and bare. Her area rug was tan with flowers in blues and pinks. There was a mauve couch with carved wood legs under the big front window, two matching chairs, and an oval, dark wood coffee table all placed near her lit fireplace. Her mantel bore a single gold framed picture of two young children, a girl and a boy, and a pink vase with wilted wildflowers. I saw an occasional twitch of a tail or the shine of cat eyes peeking out from under the couch and from around corners. They would hiss and growl if we looked at them.

“You’ve got my kitties all in a huff,” she said from one of her chairs in the living room.

She was right. I guess they weren’t fond of company. There was one exception. It was a rather fat, long-haired, brown and golden striped cat with a white underside. Its head was huge with big ears, large yellow eyes, an orange nose, and whiskers that went on forever. It waddled over to us and started rubbing all over our legs, purring loudly. I stretched my arm out and the cat rubbed its face in my hand.

Gladys started calling out to her cats, calling out names like Fluffy, Snowball, Tiger, and Smokey. Then she turned back to us. “Well, you’ve upset all of them except one.”

“What’s this one’s name?” I asked, as it rubbed its face all over my arm and then moved onto Oliver who seemed almost frightened of it.

“Oh, that’s Steve.” She said it like it was a normal cat name.

I choked on my cracker. Oliver sent me a look while he was timidly petting the cat.

“Steve?” I asked with a giggle.

“Yeah, he’s an idiot. Cats don’t like vampires, but that idiot thinks they’re the greatest thing since sliced bread,” she said, as I watched Steve rub his body all over Oliver. “As you can see, vampires aren’t real fond of cats either.” She left the room and I started to giggle. I was delirious. Oliver stared at me like I’d lost my mind.

“His name’s Steve,” I said through my laughter.

Oliver began to chuckle. Then we were both laughing hard. My stomach hurt and I had tears running down my face.

Gladys walked by and shook her head at us and I started into another fit of hysterics. “I think your girl’s gone mad,” she said, as she wandered into the kitchen.

The laughter didn’t seem to bother Steve at all. He curled up against Oliver like it was where he belonged. I calmed myself with a few steady breaths. Oliver flashed me an irresistible smile as he stroked Steve’s fur and I could see the tiniest hint of fang poking out.

After I finished my snacks and water, I leaned my head back against the wall.

Oliver was staring at the blood bag. “You gonna drink that?” I asked.

He shrugged, still focused on it.

“You’ve got to be starving and I’m sure the gaping hole in my neck doesn’t help.” Another shrug.

“Hey,” I said, turning his face toward mine. A chunk of his wavy brown hair fell forward onto his forehead.
He is so gorgeous and I am so in love with him
. “What’s the matter? Talk to me,” I softened my tone. “Why won’t you drink it?” I asked, nodding toward the bag of blood.

“What if it’s bad?” he said very quietly.

“What do you mean? Expired? Does it do that?”

He raised an eyebrow at me and shook his head. “Bad blood. Like diseased or drugged or something?”

“I heard that,” Gladys said from the living room. “Like I want the wrath of…um…I mean, your boss angry with me,” she said. “I’ve seen that before; I’m not an idiot. Only idiot in this house is that damn cat.”

“See,” I said. “It’s okay.” I leaned in and kissed him. He put his hand behind my neck to pull me closer; there was something desperate in his kiss. He pulled away quickly. His eyes were still dark; just that small rim of green surrounding his overly dilated pupil. He rubbed them hard and then gave me a shy smile. The green was still gone. “Yeah, I think I need it,” he said and I caught another glimpse of his fangs.

He turned away from me. “What are you doing?” I asked.

“I don’t want you to see me doing it.”

“What? Are you kidding me? I eat in front of you all the time. And I’ve seen you down a few bottles of blood before,” I protested.

“Totally different.”

“Just do it.”

He sighed. Fangs extended, he placed his mouth on the bag and bit into it. He made a faint sucking sound as he drained it. This may be a bit morbid, but with some even more disturbing discovery, I realized it was a bit of a turn on.

His eyes were on me and full of shock; obviously he picked up that emotion.

I shrugged and whispered, “Sorry. I guess I just love everything about you.”

His eyes didn’t leave mine as I watched, fixated on him draining the bag. I felt those secret places start to stir and he lifted his free hand to my cheek and brushed my hair away. His hand slid down to my neck and his thumb rested on the vein on the left side of my neck. All the while he was slowly draining the bag, making that suckling sound, and making me ache for him.

There was a commotion outside. “It seems our friends have arrived,” Gladys said, strolling to the front window. His hand dropped from my neck and his eyes broke away from mine to follow her.

The door burst open. Oliver dropped the almost fully drained blood bag and it skidded across the floor. He jumped in front of me, crouching protectively, a rumble coming from within him. Steve had bolted as Oliver jumped up and I saw the last bit of his tail disappear around the corner into the open bedroom to the left.