Survive the Dawn (7 page)

Sebastian looked down into the concerned green eyes. “I had Leigh.”

“So you were all alone,” Alex repeated dryly.

“Leigh had her moments, well decades. I am a vampire, after all.”

“You’re not alone anymore,” Alex said, pulling her sweater around her. “It’s chilly.”

“Come inside,” Sebastian said in a seductive voice and opened her long leather coat. Alex easily slipped in and wrapped her arms around Sebastian’s muscular waist. She laid her head against her chest.

Sebastian wrapped the coat around her. “Better?”

“Perfect.”

They stood there in the twilight, not saying much, just listening to the night birds calling in the distance.

“I could stay here forever,” Alex whispered.

“As could I, but I must see
Gaylen
tonight.”

“Shall we have William bring the Rolls around?” Alex asked in a haughty tone and looked up into the smiling hazel eyes.

Sebastian held her in a strong embrace. “I have a much better idea,” she whispered. “Close your eyes.”

Alex closed them, and suddenly, she felt a pulling sensation in her stomach so strong, she nearly cried out. This was followed by a tremendous buzzing in her ears; she felt light-headed and at the same time, weightless as if she were floating. She tried to call out, but her breath caught in her throat, so she held on tight to Sebastian.

Just as quickly as that, it stopped. She convulsively sucked in air and opened her eyes. Sebastian was looking at her with an odd smile on her face.

“Enjoy the ride?” Sebastian asked and stepped back.

Alex teetered for a moment as her legs shook. She rubbed her forehead and looked at her surroundings. “W-where are we?” she asked in a shaky voice.

They were standing on a large stone porch, but it wasn’t Sebastian’s house. Alex looked in all directions, her gaze settling on the grinning vampire. “Okay, wiseass, where are we?”

Sebastian reached over and rang the ornate doorbell. In a moment, the heavy door opened and a young, very handsome man answered.

“Hello, Nigel,” Sebastian said.

Nigel grinned and Alex peered around Sebastian and looked at his mouth. “Yep, another one.”

“Sebastian, it’s been a long time. Does Mr. Prescott know you’ve returned?” he asked and stepped back.

Sebastian and Alex walked into the dark foyer. “He may have an idea after William’s visit. Please let him know I’m here.”

The young man glanced at Alex. “Oh, I apologize,” Sebastian said. “This is Dr. Alex Taylor.”

“Nice to meet you,” Alex said.

Nigel merely nodded and gave Sebastian a wary glance. He walked down the corridor and out of sight.

“Okay, this place gives me the creeps, as well,” Alex said with a shiver.

Sebastian put her arm around Alex’s shaking shoulders. “Gay likes to live in the dreary dark.” She leaned in and whispered, “He’s a drama queen.”

“I heard that!” a voice happily called out of the darkened hall.

Alex blinked as a tall, willowy figure seemed to float toward them. When she saw there were several inches between the floor and him, she nearly fainted.

Sebastian strengthened her embrace. “See what I mean?”

He hovered for another moment, then landed. Alex was still trying to wrap her mind around how she and Sebastian arrived at this vampire’s house. She now found herself gaping at this figure before her.

Gaylen
was as tall as Sebastian and shared her lean body type, though not as muscular. His hair was golden and fell in soft waves around the nape of his neck. His eyes were blue, almost silver, his skin milky white. He wore clothes that Alex assumed were from the late eighteenth century: skin-tight black slacks, knee-high leather boots, and a billowy black silk shirt nearly open to the waist. He raised a hand and absently brushed a wayward golden lock off his forehead in bored fashion. He was beautiful…

Sebastian narrowed her eyes at her old friend. “Is that my shirt?”

Gaylen
laughed. “You know I always coveted your wardrobe, Sebastian. You were a handsome woman back then.” He gazed up and down the length of Sebastian and gave an appreciative nod. “You still are, although you’ve cut your hair. Hmm, I like it. It enhances that brooding look I see you still have. You’re as handsome as I am...” He stopped and waved his hand. “Stunning!”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow and warned, “Gay—”

“That’s what they tell me.”

Alex stood there rooted to the spot.

Gaylen
looked down at her. “And who is this bewildered-looking creature?” He put his hand to his heart. “A mortal?”

Sebastian groaned and rubbed her temple while
Gaylen
sported a wicked grin. “I am as exasperating as ever, I know.”

“This is Dr. Alex Taylor.”

“No!” He gasped and grinned widely. He took Alex’s limp hand and shook it vigorously. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

Alex was speechless as this flamboyant vampire smiled sarcastically. “Word gets around fast in the vampire community.” He let go of her hand, then turned to Sebastian.

“Come, I’ll have Nigel prepare supper. Then you can tell me what you’ve been doing across the ocean with our cousins in America.”

Two candelabras illuminated the long dining room table. The only other light was from the fire, which crackled and roared in the huge fireplace. Sebastian sat at one end of the table,
Gaylen
Prescott at the other. Alex was stuck in the middle. She was gazing into the fire when she wasn’t gazing at
Gaylen
Prescott’s beguiling face.

Nigel walked in carrying a silver tray with two gold goblets and one crystal goblet filled with red wine. Sebastian saw the smirk on Gay’s face as she took one gold goblet. He then walked around to Alex. When she reached for the other gold goblet, both vampires leaned forward.

“Not that one!” they said simultaneously.

Alex stopped abruptly and took the crystal goblet. Sebastian sighed with relief.

“Yours is a special vintage, Dr. Taylor,”
Gaylen
said with a grin. “I hope you enjoy it.” He looked down at Sebastian with interest. “Sebastian, we have the usual.”

He took the last goblet and raised it as he cleared his throat. “Here’s to Dr. Taylor, who will be adored by some and despised by most,” he announced happily.

Alex raised her eyebrows and glanced at Sebastian, who was glaring down at her old friend.

“Stop glowering, darling. It’s all in jest,”
Gaylen
offered with a laugh. He looked at Alex. “I apologize, Dr. Taylor. I adore you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Prescott. I feel much better,” Alex said dryly. “But I don’t care who despises me as long as Sebastian is safe.”

Alex took a drink; it must have been a special vintage, the smooth red wine slid down her throat, instantly warming her body. She looked at
Gaylen
, who took a drink from his goblet. She was shocked when she saw the viscous red liquid on his lips. He licked them clean.

Sebastian smiled as she took a healthy drink. The warm blood instantly made her heart beat faster. She felt the rush and quelled the urge to drink the entire glass. She set the goblet down and gently wiped her mouth with the napkin. “Very good, Gay.”

“I thought you’d like it. Now let me present our situation as I see it,”
Gaylen
said. “To put it bluntly, darling, they’re not amused. I cannot believe you destroyed Leigh. I understand
Nicholae
is furious.”

Alex was gently swirling the contents of her glass; she stopped and looked at
Gaylen
. “Leigh was doing her best to kill me and Sebastian. She already killed Marcus Windham and burned down the research building. What was Sebastian supposed to do?” She then drained the contents of her wineglass.

Gaylen
motioned to Nigel, who refilled the glass. “I’m not accusing Sebastian, Alex. May I call you Alex?” he asked with an affable grin.

Alex nodded but said nothing as she glanced at Sebastian, who was staring at her goblet, deep in thought.

“I’m stymied by Leigh, that’s all. She and Sebastian have been together for as long as I’ve known them,” he said. “I knew the elders sent her to America, Sebastian. I was surprised when she left you here in England.”

Sebastian still stared at the gold goblet. “I was surprised, as well, but you know Leigh, she was bored easily. When she realized I was serious about the transfusions and Dr. Blundell’s work, she grew tired.” She shook her head. “That was so long ago.”

Alex exchanged glances with
Gaylen
, who looked perplexed. “On a more somber note, I am sorry about Tatiana. She was greatly respected,” he said.

“She was.
Nicholae
now has the power—”

“You, dear, have the power,”
Gaylen
interrupted her and continued, “I sensed it the moment you walked through that door. Tatiana’s death will be
Nicholae’s
undoing.”

“I just want to be left alone.” Sebastian tossed back the contents of the goblet.

Alex felt the queasiness in her stomach as she watched them drinking and glanced down at her plate. “Ugh,” she mumbled and gently pushed the plate away. She looked up to see Sebastian grimacing.

“Sorry, love,” Sebastian murmured and set down the goblet.

“Me too, love,”
Gaylen
chimed in. He saw the glare from his old friend and cleared his throat. “So, Alex, tell me about this serum.”

Alex took another drink of wine before answering. “I discovered, with Marcus Windham, that I carry the enzyme in my blood that Marcus and Sebastian have been looking for all these years. We found the appropriate combination, and when injected into a vampire’s bloodstream, it allows them to stay in the sunlight for short periods. We were going to make further studies when Leigh killed Marcus. I injected the serum into my bloodstream, saving it for the future. Now I need a lab to conduct experiments using my blood.” She looked at Sebastian and smiled.

“So if it’s in your bloodstream, is it never ending?” he asked Alex.

“It would appear so. My body has the enzyme, and now it’s mingled with my blood,” Alex said.

“And there is no side effect?”

“I’m not sure,” Alex said.

Sebastian leaned forward. “You said there were no side effects, love.”

“Stop scowling, sweetie. I just want to do some tests and make sure,” Alex assured her.

“If I may. How is Sebastian getting the serum from your bloodstream and into hers?”
Gaylen
asked.

Alex blushed and said nothing as she concentrated on her wineglass.
Gaylen
waited, not understanding. He looked across the table at Sebastian, who said with a smirk, “Use your imagination, Gay.”

Gaylen
cocked his head, then grinned. “I see. Hence the ‘love’ and ‘sweetie’ nonsense. How utterly naughty of you, Sebastian. So when do I get a bite?”

Sebastian scowled deeply as she glared at him.
Gaylen
pouted. “You’re not sharing?”

“I am not.”

Alex blushed to her roots and wondered if she could slip under the table.