Shiver (9 page)

Another man near the doorway added, “Let’s shoot this monster. He doesn’t deserve to live, not after—”

“Calm down, and put your weapons down. Hogan, step away.” The woman who now strode out of the shadows looked out of place in this concrete dungeon. Her hair was dark and pulled back. She wore a long, red dress that dragged along the ground, revealing high-heeled feet with every step she took.

Knox yanked on the cuffs around his wrists, but they were secured too tightly. The metal burned his skin. At least he could drag the chains up and down along the columns on the wall so his muscles didn’t completely cramp up.

“I know what you are. You won’t be able to free yourself from silver,” the woman said in a calm and smooth voice. “So save your energy.”

He glared at her, wishing he could
order
her to release him. Couldn’t vampires do that sort of shit? There was only one thing on his mind—to leave this room and find the beautiful angel. Surely he hadn’t imagined her during his bloodlust stupor.

“I’ve got some questions for you.” The woman’s smile was cunning. “My name is Meiling Shan, and I’m the mistress of this estate. You trespassed over my land with a stolen ship. I want to know how you acquired it.”

He watched her move from side to side, the hem of her dress wet from the melting snow. It wasn’t until then that he realized snowflakes were actually falling around him, frosting his eyebrows.

When he didn’t answer, she continued. “Let’s start from the beginning. What’s your name?” She stopped in front of him, one hand resting on her slim hip, the other at her side.

“Knox.”

“Very well,
Knox
. Welcome to the Shan Estate. If you answer all of my questions with this much ease, your stay won’t be a hard one.” The smile on her thin lips didn’t seem sincere, but what else could he expect from someone who’d had him chained to a wall?

Getting stuck in hellholes was becoming a bad habit. One he desperately wanted to break.

“How did you get your hands on the ship?” Meiling’s eyes narrowed. “I know it doesn’t belong to you, because it’s one of
mine
.”

Damn!
What rotten luck. “I found it near the town of Grit, down south.” He thought it best not to mention the bartender who’d told him about it, since the bastard might have set him up. He’d seemed so sincere and helpful. Even calmed him with some hocus-pocus mind-bending mojo when he’d felt at his worst.
 

There’s always a catch.

Knox didn’t need calming now, though. Taking blood—which according to the creepy old coot in the market meant he was on his way to sealing his fate as a parasite—had helped.

Meiling cocked a thin eyebrow. “Hey! I’m talking to you.”

“And I just answered your question.”

She paused, watching him. “You
found
it in that desert wasteland?”

He nodded.

“Okay.” She stepped closer, never taking her eyes off his. “What was inside the ship when you
found
it?”

“Nothing, it was empty.” He licked his dry lips. The metallic taste still lingered. “It was abandoned. I didn’t think anyone would miss it.”

“You found it completely empty?” Her face darkened. “Surely there was someone inside.”

“No, there wasn’t.”

She raised her right leg and with a swift roundhouse kick, sliced the tip of her shoe across his bare chest. He panted, trying to tamp down the stinging pain. The cut on his left pectoral was short, but went deep. She lowered her leg, the toe of her high-heeled shoe exposed so he could see the bloody blade glinting from the end.

He tilted his head and small flecks of drift snow landed on his face. He glanced at the star-dotted, black sky above, wishing he was on his way to one of the many planets out there. The glow of the huge moon provided the only light in this cell, but somehow also sharpened his senses. Just one look and the slash along his chest no longer stung, the metal around his wrists didn’t burn as much.

Looked like he’d already found his place in the darkness.

“What did you do with my people?”

He blinked a few times, suddenly feeling woozy. How could he go from injured to feeling better, and then be back to feeling like shit? He stared at the moon, praying for the satellite to help keep him focused. Until he remembered he was becoming a vampire, not a shape-shifter.

“You better start answering my questions, Knox.” Meiling leaned over him, blocking his view of the sky. “See, you’re telling me that you found my ship abandoned, and that doesn’t make sense.”

“I’m telling you the truth.”

“Are you sure you didn’t see two men and a woman, maybe a few girls?”

He shook his head, closing his eyes for a moment as lethargy flowed through him.

She kicked him again, slicing a second line along his skin. “Are you sure?”

The pain woke him up. She’d left a bloody X on his chest, and the woozy sensation deepened. “I’m positive.”

Meiling’s eyes shone with rage.

Knox didn’t condone violence against women, but couldn’t help fantasizing about snaking his legs around this bitch’s neck so he could drag her to him and drink the life blood from her veins.

If this irritating woman got close enough,
would
he bite her?

The thought made his gums ache until the fangs elongated, and he growled to keep them at bay. He refused to become just another violent asshole. There was no denying he was already deep in thrall of the change, but he didn’t have to lose
complete
touch with his humanity. As strange as it was, remembering what the creepy old lady said helped keep him anchored, encouraging him to keep a tighter grasp on his self-control.

Knox’s knowledge of vampires wasn’t extensive, but it was enough. He needed blood to survive and would spend the rest of his life sneaking around in the dark. But he wouldn’t admit defeat by turning into a vile monster.

Meiling crouched in front of him. His determination to remain in control gave everything a surreal edge.

“Stealing something that doesn’t belong to you wasn’t a good idea, was it, Knox?” Her teeth gleamed under the moonlight.

“I told you everything I know. What do you want from me?” She was too close, causing his hunger to swell. His skin felt too tight over his bones. If she didn’t step away soon, no amount of restraint would keep her safe. He needed her blood.
Now.

“I just want to know where Keith, Garth and Carrie are. The last time I spoke to them, they claimed to have some precious cargo for me.”

He avoided her eyes, but could still smell her blood. Her heart beat louder than the others. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

She tsked. “I need to know.” She ran a hand over his bristly cheek. “We all answer to someone, don’t we?”

Knox squirmed at her cold touch.

She sighed, her breath cool on his face. He thought she might finally back off, but instead continued to caress his cheek. Her fingertips ran down the side of his neck, leaving a chilly trail along his skin. She paused near the twin bite marks.

“So these are the scars that mark what you are?”

Scars?
The last time he’d felt the vampire bite, there’d been twin punctures. “Nah, they’re from a work-related injury.”

She dragged her finger down his shoulder, pausing just above the X she’d cut into his chest. “It’s such a shame to mar this lovely body.” Her index finger slipped between the two cuts, pinching his skin but otherwise not causing much pain. “Are you leaving anything out?”

“No.”

“What did you do with my people?”

“Nothing.”

“Why did you kill them?”

“I didn’t.” He gritted his teeth, determined to keep up the charade and pretend her attempted torture was working. The real torture was having her so close, the intoxicating scent of the blood pumping through her body made him ravenous.

“Who are you, and where do you really come from?”

He collected his thoughts, trying to clear away the hunger. “I’m a warrior from the Clash Arena, damn it!” Maybe that would get her off his back.

Shock softened her features, but just for a moment. “You’re one of the gladiators?”

He clenched his jaw tight and managed a nod.

“Well, you might be more valuable than I thought.”

She was still too close. Every bit of his self-control was slowly disintegrating. All he wanted to do was unhinge his jaw because the fangs felt too big for his mouth. He growled and snapped his teeth at her to find any bit of exposed skin, but Meiling pulled away.

She scrambled backward, glaring at him with shocked, wide eyes. “Control yourself, blood-getter.”

The man with the rifle stepped closer, his weapon still aimed at Knox. “Shit, I think I remember him. He was one of the last fighters to take the stage before the arena blew up. I thought there was something familiar about him. Boss, that’s when he was bitten! Are you sure it’s a good idea to keep him around? Moe’s now MIA because he attacked him, I don’t think we should expose anyone else—”

“Hogan, calm down.” Meiling was already standing, never taking her attention from Knox. She glared at him for a few silent moments. “As much fun as this little chat has been, I have other business to attend to. But before I go, what can you tell me about Jenks Maine?”

His teeth had almost returned to normal. “I can’t tell you anything. I wasn’t exactly chatty with him.”

“I suppose that’s the first truth you’ve told me. How long were you at the arena?”

“Almost three years,” he answered.

“And
how
did you become one of his gladiators?” Meiling’s eyes shimmered, as if his answer would weigh on something she already knew.

“I didn’t
become
anything.” Knox looked away. “I was forced into that fucking arena.”
 

“Reports claim that Jenks died in the blast. Do you know for sure?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know, but I hope he did.”

“Fair enough. I’m sure many feel the same way.” Meiling turned her back on him and left the room, with three guards trailing after her.
 

One guard remained, his weapon drawn.

Knox glanced at the bloody mess on his chest, and found it was already healing into a nasty scar. His head throbbed, and his stomach felt hollow.
So much for being sated!
Getting used to this new metabolism would be a struggle.

Knox tested the chains. They slid along vertical tracks on the stone wall, but there was no give. At least he’d learned that vampires were also affected by silver, because these cuffs were burning his skin.

Laughter filled the cell. “You’re never going to break them, monster. So stop trying.”

He glared at the man. How trigger-happy was this guard? Could Knox use that against him? Maybe. Maybe not. For now, he decided to stay quiet and conserve his energy before the bloodlust drove him insane.
 

After almost attacking that Meiling woman because of his deep-rooted hunger, he wasn’t willing to tempt fate. He didn’t want the loss of any more lives at his hands. He’d done enough of that to survive while locked away in the arena.

“I saw the footage. A vampire bit you inside the arena and now you’re one too,” the guard said. “You’ve already done the same to Moe, but you won’t get the chance to do it to anyone else. Not on my watch.”

Knox focused on the exposed roof. If silver cuffs burned his skin this much, he hated to think what would happen when the sun rose.

As soon as Lian stepped inside the prisoner’s cell, she found he wasn’t alone.

Hogan stiffened and peered over his shoulder. “Li, what the hell are you doing here?” He lowered his rifle and moved toward her.

“I… I…” She tried to look past him, but Hogan stood in the way, blocking her view with his broad frame. “I just wanted to see…you.”

A small flare of hope brightened the guard’s face, making his brown eyes and skin sparkle in the moonlight.

Her heart pounded so fast she felt as if it were knocking against her ribs. She didn’t know what else to say. Lian had initially been angry with Hogan for abandoning her, but her mother would have made it hard for them to see each other. She’d probably punished him in other ways as well. He refused to talk about it whenever she’d broached the subject.

“You know we can’t be together.” Hogan’s face fell. “Not if I want to live.”

“What?” So Meiling had actually threatened his life? Lian wasn’t surprised because there was no decency left inside that cold shell of hers.

He lowered his voice and touched her cheek with the back of his gloved hand. “Your mother will have me killed if she catches us together. You should get back to your room. Don’t look at me like that—she told all of us to make sure you stayed there.”

Yet there’d been no one but Vera on her floor.

“Who let you out?”

“No one—”

“It was Vera, wasn’t it?” He shook his head. “She’s going to get into a lot of trouble one of these days. And so are you.”

Lian snorted. “You mean more trouble than if Meiling finds out the three of us are stealing slaves right from under her nose?” If she found out, Hogan’s life wouldn’t be the only one threatened.