City of the Damned
An Everly Drummond Novel
Published by Everly Drummond
Copyright 2012 Everly Drummond
Smashwords Edition
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the Author’s imagination or are use fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Table of Contents:
They say that everyone comes into your life for a reason, and that each new person brings with them a new life experience. It is those experiences that allow me to breathe life into my characters, to give them depth and personality. Therefore, this book is dedicated to all of the men in my life, past and present, that have taught me about love, life, passion, desire, and friendship. Whether you are still a part of my life, or have moved on to write a new chapter in your own life, I am thankful for our time together and the experiences we’ve shared.
Acknowledgements
When I began writing Marked, the first book in the City of the Damned series, it was intended to be one novella and nothing more. As my readership grew, so did the demand for a second book, and then a third, and then a fourth. It is because of my awesome readers that City of the Damned grew into what it is today, a series that people have grown to love. So first and foremost, I must thank you, my readers, for loving Gedeon and Sara as much as I do. You guys are amazing.
I also need to send a huge shout out to my girls; Wendy Shores and Katie Byrne. Thank you for the countless hours you’ve spent reading, rereading, editing, and critiquing everything I could throw at you, and then some. Your friendship and support mean more to me than you could ever know.
And what kind of person would I be if I didn’t say thank you to my friend and fellow author, Ivan Rusilko. Thousands of emails and messages later, and you’re still putting up with my craziness. I honestly don’t know how you do it, but thank you. Your friendship is invaluable, and I look forward to working with you on future projects.
To my mum, Loretta, I could say thank you a million times and it would never be enough. Not a day goes by that I’m not grateful for everything you do for me, and for the never ending support and encouragement you’ve given me. I love you.
Last but not least, to my uncle, family, and friends, words cannot even being to express the gratitude I have for you, and for the love, support, and encouragement you have shown me. I thank God everyday for surrounding me with so many wonderful and caring people. I love each and every one of you so very, very much.
Marked:
City of the Damned Book 1
Chapter 1
Sara startled and jumped off the couch as the book she’d been reading dropped to the floor with a loud resonating thud. Reaching over, she picked it up and placed it back on the glass coffee table that sat in the center of the room. Moonlight cascaded in through the open window, casting an iridescent glow over the sparse furnishings of her small midtown apartment, and the sound of the honking taxis on the street below could be overheard above the annoying voice of the infomercial commentator as it rang through the speakers of the dilapidated television that sat in the corner. Sitting on the edge of the couch, she rubbed her bloodshot eyes and did a double take at the clock that sat haphazardly on an unpacked box of dishes. No way could it be 3 o’clock in the morning! That meant that she’d been sleeping for over ten hours straight, but the move from Montana to New York had been exhausting, and with no one to help her, Sara had knowingly pushed herself far beyond her own physical capabilities.
At the age of 25, she had already graduated from the University of Montana with a double master’s degree in Computer Science and Media Studies, but no amount of studying could’ve prepared her for the tragic events that had recently taken place. Two weeks after graduating, Sara’s parents were on their way home from spending a weekend at the cottage when the car they were driving was struck head on by a drunk driver. It was then that Sara had decided to pack up and move to New York, wanting to be closer to her aunt and uncle, the only family she had left.
After the death of her parents, Sara had no choice but to sell her parent’s ranch. With the exception of her personal items, some clothing, and a few pieces of furniture, an estate sale was held by the local auction house, and the remainder of the items sold to the highest bidder. With the bills paid and the estate settled, not much money was left over, but it was more than enough for her to buy a small used pick-up truck and move to New York in search of a fresh start.
“Oh Phineus,” she cooed “what would I do without you?” Sara sighed and wiped away a stray tear that trickled down her cheek. The gray clump of fur pounced onto her lap, and with a resounding meow, purred contently as she gently stroked him. Aside from a few tattered photos and broken memories, Phineus was the only reminder left of home. He’d been given to her as a gift for her 10th birthday. As a child, Sara had never been fond of cats, or any animal for that matter, but the minute the old fat cat saw her, it was love at first sight. Over time, the two of them became inseparable, but just like Sara, Phineus had lost a piece of himself the day that her parents died. It was a grief they both shared and understood all too well.
The old fat cat protested as Sara shoed him to the floor and stood up. She stumbled tiredly towards the kitchen, groaning as the muscles in her legs protested against the sudden movement. It had been two days since she’d moved into the apartment, and still the cupboards were bare. Opening the door to the cupboard, she found three boxes of Toaster Tarts, a can of tomato soup, and an empty bag of cat food. Needing both cat food and something more substantial than Toaster Tarts, Sara slipped on her jacket and boots, and grabbed her purse from the table in the hall.
“I’ll be back soon.” She leaned over and gave Phineus an affectionate rub between the ears, smiling as he purred contently, and headed out into the brisk night air.
Luckily, the diner around the corner was open 24 hours, but then again, this was New York, the city that never sleeps. Even finding cat food at 3:30 in the morning was a fairly easy task. The cold air whipping against her face was invigorating, and after spending five days cooped up in the cab of a pickup driving across the country it was a welcome reprieve from the stuffy air of the truck that reeked of cat and fast food. Sara crossed the street and opened the door of the diner. The aroma of freshly cooked bacon and eggs greeted her as a small gangly Asian man stepped out from the kitchen and welcomed her. After settling on pancakes and coffee, Sara picked up a well read copy of yesterday’s paper and took a seat at the end counter as she waited for her order. Her stomach growled as the smell of “real” food lingered from the kitchen. A week of eating greasy food was more than her petit body could handle. For the most part, she tried to stay in good physical condition. Working out three times a week and eating healthy helped her to maintain her slim form and well toned body.
“Did you order pancakes and coffee?” A young girl asked as she emerged from the kitchen carrying a large Styrofoam container in one hand and a paper cup in the other.
“Yes,” Sara replied, and folded up the paper, placing it neatly on the counter.
“That’ll be five dollars.”
Sara reached into her purse and pulled out a twenty dollar bill. After paying for her meal, she headed back into the frigid night air of midtown New York. The convenience store was only two blocks away, but with the wind stirring, and the temperature dropping, the walk seemed to take longer than it should have. After a quick stop at the convenience store for a quart of milk and a bag of cat food, she picked up her pace and started jogging in the direction of her apartment, her breathing coming in short ragged breaths as the cold air invaded her lungs. As Sara turned the corner, she didn’t notice the leather clad man standing at the foot of the alley, nor did she hear the heated conversation that was taking place between him and the other man who stood in the shadow of the building, further down the lane. Before she had time to react to the presence of the sinister figure looming in the darkness, a gloved hand reached out and grabbed her by her hair, pulling her into the depths of the alley.
A scream built up in the back of her throat, but the gloved hand covered her mouth, stopping the noise from escaping. The leather clad man dragged Sara past the overflowing dumpster and across the garbage strewn pavement, pulling her further and further into the darkened bowels of the alleyway, and out of sight of any passers-by. Sara thrashed violently against the tight grip of her attacker, but his burly arms and inhuman strength held her firmly in place.
“Let the girl go,” a husky voice demanded.
The gloved hand covering Sara’s mouth pressed tightly against her skin. “And if I don’t?” asked the leather clad man.
“Your quarrel is with me, not the human. Let her go and I’ll give you what you want.”
“Promises, promises. You tell me that now, but how do I know that you’ll stick to your word, Gedeon? You’ve lied to me before.”
“Let her go, Pryse. This is your last warning.” Gedeon stepped out from the inky shadows of the building.
“You’ve always had a soft spot for humans, haven’t you?” Pryse grabbed Sara’s hair and roughly yanked her head to the side, causing her to wince in pain.
Sara stood frozen in place by fear. What did he want with her? Who was this strange man trying to protect her? And why did he call her a human? Panic caused Sara’s thoughts to muddle together, and she couldn’t wrap her head around the conversation that was taking place between the two men. She glanced around anxiously looking for a means of escape, but the attacker’s grip was too strong.
“I can’t really blame you though,” said Pryse “her scent is intoxicating. I may have to claim this one for myself.”
Gedeon took another step forward. His voice was menacing when he spoke, “It is against the law to mark an unwilling human. If you mark her I will kill you.”
“You mean if I do this?” Pryse raised his hand to his mouth. His fangs unsheathed and he bit down hard, piercing the tender flesh of his wrist. Blood flowed in a steady stream from the two self inflicted puncture marks.
The sight of his fangs made Sara thrashed wildly against the strong arms holding her in place. Fear mixed with the sight of blood caused the bile to rise up in the back of her throat. She looked pleadingly at the man with the black hair and husky voice, knowing that he was her only hope of escape, her only hope of survival.
“Pryse, let her go,” he demanded again. “I’ll give you what you want in exchange for the girl.”
“No thanks. I think I’ve changed my mind.”
Momentarily, the gloved hand slipped away from Sara’s mouth, only to be replaced with a bloodied wrist. The metallic taste of rust rolled across her tongue and down the back of her throat, causing her to gag.
“Don’t play games.” Gedeon’s thunderous voice echoed through the alley as he took another step forward. “I will never give you the remedy if you mark her.”
“With blood this sweet, who needs the remedy?” Pryse replied.
A gurgled scream escaped Sara’s lips as Pryse forced her head to the side and lowered his mouth to her neck. His fangs sliced easily through the rosy flesh at the base of her neck, and Sara trembled as the pain started to spread throughout her body. The skin around the puncture marks on her neck burned, and the fire quickly spread through her limbs. Trying to fight against the pain that was now consuming her, she staggered head first into the brick wall, and fell to the ground on her hands and knees, hoping that death would come quickly for her. The sounds of the two men scuffling echoed through the alley, but the fire that burned within was too intense for her to be able to concentrate on anything other than the pain. As a set of footsteps rapidly approached, she looked up to see Gedeon rushing towards her. Sara cowered in fear as he knelt down on the pavement beside her. The last thing she remembered before succumbing to the pain was the pair of aqua blue eyes that shone in the moonlight, and the heady scent of male that lingered in the air around him, permeating his clothing and the denim jacket he was wearing.
“Damn humans,” Gedeon mumbled under his breath. He bent over and effortlessly lifted the limp body of the girl into his arms. Her head rolled to the side and her cheek came to rest on his shoulder. Pryse was right, the smell of her blood was intoxicating, but it was still no reason for the bastard to unwillingly mark her. Now this poor girl would have to spend the rest of her life hiding from the monsters that lurked in the darkness.
Chapter 2
Sara awoke to a throbbing headache and unfamiliar surroundings. Sweat poured in rivulets from her forehead as the fever raged through her, burning every single nerve ending in its path. Her body felt as if it were smoldering and ready to ignite at any second. Sara tightly closed her eyes and forced herself to think through the pain, trying to make sense of where she was. Panic took hold as memories started to flood her mind; a gloved hand, the alleyway, a leather clad man, and the fangs, the long razor sharp incisors that glistened in the moonlight as they moved swiftly towards her neck.
A key in the lock alerted her to his presence. Ignoring the fiery pain that shot through her body, Sara propped herself up on her elbows. She had to get away from here, to run as fast as she could, but her body loudly protested. She lacked the strength necessary to stand, let alone run. The door creaked and swung open, and Sara closed her eyes as the man dropped the bag of groceries on the floor and ran towards her. She waited for the agonizing pain to start again, for his fangs to penetrate her skin, but it never came. Instead, a strong pair of calloused hands pushed her shoulders gently back onto the sofa.
“Don’t move,” the brutish voice ordered.
The thud of his heavy footfalls on the floor echoed throughout the room, followed by the sound of the door closing. One by one, the man picked the items up off the floor and placed them back into the bag, muttering something under his breath that Sara couldn’t make out. Closing her eyes even tighter, she lay perfectly still and listened as his footsteps retreated. Sara could tell by the noise the man was making that he was still in the apartment, but no longer in the same room. The sound of flowing water accompanied the clanging of pots and pans. Five minutes later the pungent smell of herbs filled the room.
The side of the sofa sank under his weight as the man sat down beside her. Sara could feel his hand cup the back of her head and raise it up off the pillow. The smell of the bitter herbs became stronger as he brought the cup to her mouth.
“Drink this,” he grunted, and tipped the cup forward, slowly pouring the hot tea into her mouth.
Sara coughed as she spit out the bitter tea. He tried to force it on her again, but her tightly closed her lips prevented him from forcing any more of the tea into her mouth. Defeated, he lowered her head gently back onto the pillow. Just as she was about to open her eyes and face her captor head on, his fingers pinched her nose, cutting off her air supply. Sara opened her mouth, gasping for air. As her lips parted, the man brought the cup to her mouth and poured the hot liquid down her throat, not stopping until she’d drank every last drop of the foul tasting tea. When he was satisfied that she was not going to spit it out again, he released his grip on her nose.
Certain that this stranger had just tried to poison her, Sara lay perfectly still and wondered how quickly it would all be over. Would she suffer a slow, horrible death, or would it be swift and painless? As the minutes passed by, the pain started to subside, and the fire that was ravaging her body lessened. Sara slowly opened her eyes and stared into the face of her captor. The same dazzling blue eyes that she remembered from the alley stared back at her. Jet black hair, the color of midnight, framed the harsh lines of his face.
“Gedeon,” she whispered.
“Don’t try to move yet,” he commanded. “You’re still too weak and you’ve lost too much blood.”
“Where am I? What happened?” Sara nervously looked around the unfamiliar apartment.
“I will explain everything, but first you must rest.”
“You can’t keep me here against my will.” Sara tried to yell but the words came out jumbled together. Whatever Gedeon had put in the tea was causing her to become drowsy, its effects almost immediately taking hold.
“You are free to leave whenever you wish, but know this, if you leave here, I will not be able to heal you, nor will I be able to protect you from Pryse.” Gedeon stood up and walked to a burrow in the corner of the room. When he returned, he placed her neatly folded clothes on the table beside the sofa.
Sara fought hard against the drowsiness that was pulling her under. She needed to escape this place, but her eyelids grew heavy and she succumbed to the darkness.
Whether it was two hours or ten hours later, she couldn’t tell. The windows of the small apartment had been draped with heavy black curtains that blocked out any and all traces of light. The bitter smell of the herbal tea still hung heavy in the air, as did the strong odor of sweat. Sara sat up on the couch and felt her clammy skin peel painfully away from the leather. Of course, the smell of sweat was coming from her. Fever had been ravaging her body for who knows how long, and strands of golden brown hair now clung to her face and neck. The stack of clothing still sat untouched on the table beside her. If she dressed in a hurry, she’d be able to escape undetected. A wave of dizziness overcame her. Griping the edge of the table, she steadied herself as she tried to stand up. As she grasped the table with both hands, the white cotton sheet that had been covering her naked body fell to a heap on the floor by her feet.
“Going somewhere?”
Sara turned quickly and came face to face with Gedeon, and for a brief moment his blue eyes flashed black. She followed his gaze to where they came to rest on her bare breasts. Reaching behind her and frantically grabbing at the pile of clothes, she tried to find something to cover herself with. Sara cast him a warning glare and took a step backwards. “Get away from me,” she growled.
“Get dressed. We have to talk.” Gedeon placed another cup of the bitter herbal tea on the table and strode off in the direction of the kitchen.
Sara fumbled with her clothes as she rushed to get dressed. Who in the hell did this guy think he was? He had no right to undress her in the first place, and he sure as hell had no right looking at her the way he did. Once dressed, she frantically searched the apartment for her purse, positive that she’d had it with her in the alley.
“Looking for this?” Gedeon’s muscular frame stood in the doorway, blocking her only means of escape. In one hand was a dish towel and in the other was her purse.
Bravely, Sara stormed towards him and snatched the purse out of his hand. “Get out of my way.”
“We need to talk,” Gedeon said pointedly.
“Get out of my way or I’m calling the police,” she threatened.
“Suit yourself,” he said, and stepped away from the door “but if you leave now I won’t be able to protect you when he comes for you.”
Sara raised her hand and cupped the bite mark on her neck. “What are you talking about? Who’s coming for me?” She could vaguely remember the details of what happened in the alley when she was attacked. There had been two men fighting, Gedeon and another named Pryse. She remembered Gedeon trying to convince Pryse to let her go, to let the human go. “What are you?” Sara gasped and stumbled backwards into the table.
“I am a healer,” Gedeon took a step towards her “and I am a vampire.”
“Don’t come any closer.” Her brain was screaming at her to run, to get as far away from this place as possible, but her instincts told her that he was telling the truth. The bite mark on her neck proved that there was validity to his words.
“Sit down and I will explain everything.”Gedeon walked past her and sat in the armchair facing the sofa. As Sara sat down, he pushed the cup of tea towards her. “Drink,” he ordered.
“There’s no way I’m drinking that.”
“It will help you to heal. You’ve lost too much blood and you need to regain your strength.”
“I don’t care,” Sara said. “There’s no way I’m letting you knock me out again.”
“The tea didn’t cause you to sleep. Your body’s need to heal itself caused you to sleep. I simply provided it with the ingredients to help you recover more quickly.” Gedeon pick up the cup and handed it to her. “Drink the tea,” he said more forcefully.
Even if she ran, Sara knew that in her present condition she wouldn’t get far. If she were in peek condition the burly man sitting across from her would easily be able to outrun her and stop her from leaving. Hesitantly, Sara raised the cup to her lips and drank. The warm tea was bitter on her tongue, but its effects could be felt almost instantly. Her body relaxed and the dull ache in her muscles diminished. Ignoring the bitterness of the tea, Sara drank until the cup was empty. “There! Are you happy now?”
“Do you feel better?” he asked.
“Yes,” she reluctantly admitted, and placed the cup on the table.
Gedeon stared at her with a quizzical look on his face. “You have many questions that you wish to ask me.”
Of course she had questions. A thousand of them ran through her mind, but she didn’t know which ones to ask first. Yesterday her life was normal, and now, she was being held against her will by someone who thought he was a vampire. “What are you and what do you want from me?”
“I already told you, I am a vampire and a healer. I don’t want anything from you, but it is my duty to protect you.”
“Yeah, I got all that before,” Sara said sarcastically. “Protect me from what?”
“You have been marked against your will, and it is my duty to protect you until Pryse can be found and justice is served.”
Sara sat back on the couch and ran a hand through her hair. Unable to wrap her mind around the conversation that was taking place, she let out an exasperated sigh. “I don’t understand.”
“Of course you don’t, how could you? You know nothing of our world.” Gedeon stared at the terrified girl sitting on his couch. How could he explain this without frightening her any more than she already was? “What is your name?”
“Pardon me?”
“You never told me your name.” Gedeon had no desire to engage in small talk, but he needed to gain this girl’s trust if he had any hopes of saving her life.
“Sara, my name’s Sara Bishop.”
“Sara, our society does not follow the same laws as yours. When a vampire unwillingly marks a human there are consequences her or she must face.”
“What are you, the vampire secret police?” she laughed.
“Do not criticize that which you know nothing about,” Gedeon barked. “We live by rules just as you do. When a vampire marks a human against their will it is punishable by death.”
Sara’s head snapped up. “You mean you’re going to kill the man that bit me?”
“He is not a man, he is a vampire, and yes, it is the only way to break the bond.”
“Whoa, wait a minute here. You’re talking about murdering someone.”
“No,” Gedeon replied “I am only going to see that justice is served. By forcing his blood on you and then taking yours, Pryse ensured that a bond was created. No matter where you go, he will be able to find you. He will come to you whenever he wants and he will take from you whatever he wants.”
“You mean that he’ll force me to give him my blood?”
“Blood is only a part of it, but he will not have to force you, you will give it to him willingly.” Gedeon was sickened by the idea of forcefully marking someone, but to mark someone who was as young and naïve as Sara made it that much worse.
“What do you mean that blood is only a part of it? What is he going to make me do?” Sara’s hands started to tremble as a million possible scenarios ran through her mind.
“Vampires are very sexual creatures by nature. For us, only two emotions exist; hunger and lust.”
Sara let out a sob and tears spilled down her face. “He’s going to force himself on me?”
“No.” Gedeon’s tone softened. “As I said before, he will not have to force you to do anything. You will freely give him whatever he wants.”
“Even sex?”
“Yes, even sex,” Gedeon replied “but it’s not what you think. A vampire will only feed from willing donors, and in exchange for their blood, we will give them pleasure beyond anything they’ve ever experienced before. Vampire bites are meant to be pleasurable, not painful. A bite is only painful the first time you exchange blood. A vampire will give the donor his blood, and while it flows through their veins he must feed from them. The pain that you experience from being bitten is caused by the mark burning itself into the very essence of your being, thus creating a bond that is breakable only by death. Most humans will choose to be marked if they have forged a connection with a vampire because it enhances the sensation of the bite. A vampire may choose to mark someone if the human’s blood is particularly appealing, and by marking them it makes their blood taste better. When you are marked, and the bond is created, he will be able to sense where you are and what you’re feeling. You will always be drawn to each other.”
“Please, you have to help me,” Sara pleaded.
“I will, but you must do exactly as I say. First you must rest and regain your strength.”
Hesitantly, Sara lay back on the sofa. Vampires couldn’t be real, couldn’t they? This had to be some sort of sick twisted nightmare. Sara was positive that she’d wake up any second now, but deep down she knew this wasn’t a nightmare. Her perception of reality had just been permanently altered. Part of her just wanted to run away and forget that any of this ever happened, but if she left now, she’d spend the rest of her life living in fear, waiting for the moment that Pryse would show up to claim what was his. No, she couldn’t let that happen, even if it meant putting her life in the hands of someone she didn’t know. Gedeon was bound to protect her, and as long as she stayed with him she’d be safe, or at least she hoped.
Chapter 3
Gedeon’s eyes flared black as he fought against the beast within. The sight of the slender girl lying on his sofa was enough to shatter his self control. Her long shapely legs and firm round breasts fueled the hunger that was growing deep within. Yes, when this was over, and she was no longer bound to Pryse, he would offer her the pleasure of his bite. Gedeon leaned back in the chair and inhaled deeply. The scent of her blood was intoxicating, but if he were to feed from her while she was marked by another it would poison him. Marking a human ensured that no other vampire could ever drink from them. When this was over, and Pryse was dead, he would offer himself to her, and hope that she’d accept. Until then, he had to bide his time and force himself to control the beast.
The smell of food caused Sara to stir. It had been at least two days since the last time she’d eaten anything solid, and her body craved sustenance. Opening her eyes, she saw the muscular form of Gedeon sitting in the chair beside her. Sitting up on the side of the sofa, she gazed at the items on the table. A clean set of clothes, her clothes, sat neatly folded in front of her. “Where did these come from?”
“You needed clean clothes and food.”
“But these are my clothes from my apartment.” Sara looked down at the table and then back to Gedeon. “How did you get into my apartment?”
“I used your keys,” Gedeon said in a matter of fact tone. “I found your address on the lease agreement in your bag. You should consider moving. You’re paying too much money for rent.”
“You went through my purse?” Sara wanted to be mad. She knew she should be mad that Gedeon had invaded her privacy, but the idea of clean clothes was too appealing. Suddenly remembering about Phineus she asked, “What about my cat, is he okay?”
“Yes, I fed him, he’s fine.” Gedeon passed her a clean towel. “You need to shower. Wash yourself twice. We have to try and mask your scent.”
“Are you trying to tell me that I stink?” Sara laughed.
“You’ve had a fever for two days, and fevers cause you to perspire. Pryse will have no difficulties picking up on your scent.”
“Thanks a lot.” Sara snatched the towel out of his hand. It had been days since the last time she’d showered, but that was no reason for Gedeon to be so blunt, so insulting.
Gedeon eyed her questioningly. The tone of her voice and her playful attitude all but disappeared within a matter seconds. Had he said something to offend this beautiful creature? No matter how hard he tried, Gedeon could not understand the range of emotions that humans experienced. “Dinner will be ready by the time you finish with your shower.”
Sara was taken aback. Despite being so beastly, underneath his rough exterior was a softness that she never expected to find. Every so often she would catch Gedeon looking at her, and the harsh lines around his mouth and eyes would soften, if only for a second. If it wasn’t for the fact that he was a vampire, Sara might have actually felt something for him. A knot twisted in her stomach as she thought about what it might be like to be bitten. Would the pleasure exceed the pain she’d experienced in the alley?
“Sara, did you hear me?” Gedeon asked. “You need to go and shower so we can get moving. It’s only a matter of time before Pryse shows up here. I figured that it would take at least three days for him to heal from his injuries, and our time is quickly running out.”
“What injuries?” Sara snapped out of her reverie and focused her attention on Gedeon.
“The injuries he sustained from out fight in the alley. I almost had him then, but he managed to slip away.” Gedeon stood up from the chair. “Go and take your shower. We can figure out a plan while we eat.”
Sara gathered her clothes from the table and walked down the hall towards the bathroom. A small rust stained bathtub sat against one wall, and a toilet and pedestal sink sat opposite the toilet. Other than the medicine cabinet that hung above the sink, the room was bare.
“Son of a bitch!” Sara cursed as she stubbed her toe on a piece of cracked linoleum tile. Droplets of blood fell to the floor as she raised her foot to inspect the damage, forming a small crimson pool on the battered tile below. Ripping a piece of toilet paper from the roll, Sara bent down and wiped it up, cleaning it as best as she could.
The water ran red as she stuck her hand under the faucet and washed away the blood. Once undressed, she stepped into the warmth of the shower. Rivulets of hot water flowed down the length of her body, and a little ribbon of pink mixed with the water and swirled on the surface of the tub before flowing down the drain. Sara let her thoughts drift as the heat caressed her skin. If she allowed Gedeon to bite her, what would it feel like? Would the pleasure be as great as the pain that she’d already experienced from Pryse’s bite? Sara could almost imagine the feel of Gedeon’s calloused hands on her skin, and she could almost picture the curves of his lean muscular body that was all too often hidden beneath his loose fitting clothes. Warmth started to pool in her belly as the naked image of Gedeon filled her mind. Sara couldn’t understand her feelings towards him. She’d only known Gedeon for a short period of time. Is this what he meant when he’d told her about humans forging a connection with a vampire? Was there some sort of a connection between her and Gedeon? Impossible, she thought, and quickly banished the idea from her mind. They hadn’t known each other long enough, had they? Was it even possible for a connection to form between them when she’d been marked by another?
An odd squeaking noise caused her daydream to shatter and her eyes to flutter open. Sara looked around for the source of the noise. Her eyes came to rest on a small gray mouse that had perched on the side of the bathtub, and was now curiously watching her as she showered. Sara opened her mouth and a blood curdling scream escaped her lips.
The sound of loud, thunderous footsteps echoed through the hall as Gedeon ran towards the bathroom. With a thud, the bathroom door flew open. Gedeon stopped suddenly as the smell of her blood overwhelmed his senses and caused his fangs to unsheathe. The hot steam from the shower only intensified the spicy aroma of her essence.
“Sara?” he asked in a hoarse voice.
Sara peaked at him from around the tattered shower curtain. His stunning eyes that were once blue now burned black, and for the first time Sara understood what it meant. Gedeon stared at her with such powerful desire that it rendered her speechless. With thoughts of the mouse all but forgotten, and without second guessing herself, Sara pushed the shower curtain aside as longing spread through her, longing for his touch.
“Sara.” Gedeon whispered as he took a step towards her. His hands lifted to her waist and he pulled her tightly into his embrace. The need to be with her, to touch her, shattered what little of his self control remained. Her lips parted in welcome as he crushed his mouth to hers. The smell of her blood that wafted through the humid air, the feel of her silken skin beneath his hands, the taste of her as his greedily tongue parted her lips and dove deeper into her, drove him mad with desire. “Sara, we can’t. Not yet,” he whispered softly against her mouth.
“Yes, Gedeon, we can.” Sara tugged lightly at the hem of his sweater, and Gedeon raised his arms as she pulled the sweatshirt up and over his head, tossing it to the floor in the corner of the room. Her hands greedily explored the curvature of his hard chest and abs, softly trailing along each contour as if trying to memorize each and every inch of him. She paused briefly as her fingers reached the button of his jeans and felt his body tense. Ignoring the butterflies in her stomach, Sara reached down and stroked the length of his massive, throbbing erection.
His body shuddered and a low guttural moan worked its way up his throat and past his lips as his cock pressed hard against its denim restraints. Gedeon reached down to stop her, but the back of his hand brushed lightly against the curly thatch of hair between her legs, and his resolve shattered. MINE. NOW. In one hurried movement, Gedeon bent over and snapped off the flow of water before sweeping Sara up into his arms. He cradled her tightly against his chest as he moved swiftly and surely down the hall towards his bedroom. He was going to take her, but not in the bathroom, and not like some lust ravaged maniac. Bringing his lips down to meet hers, Gedeon kissed her hard on the mouth. His moist tongue forced apart her lips and their kiss grew deeper as he laid her gently in the center of his bed.
The cold touch of his skin against hers sent a shiver up her spine, but provided little relief from the fire that was consuming her from within. Just like fire and ice, she thought. Sara needed Gedeon like she needed air to breath. She needed to feel his touch, to feel him in her. Only then could the raging fire be extinguished. Sara gasped as Gedeon placed a strong hand on her thigh and spread her legs.
“Take me,” she ordered, her voice rasping with need. The denim felt rough against the softness of her thighs as he positioned himself between her legs and pressed hard against her. Sara arched into him, her fingers ripping at the flesh on his shoulders as she moved her hips back and forth in a rhythmic motion. She could feel the throbbing of his cock through the fabric of his jeans as he pressed harder into her sex. She needed him to be inside her. She needed to feel every inch of him as he slowly slid into her, filling her with his arousal. “Gedeon,” Sara moaned as she buried her face in his chest.
“Not yet,” he growled. His warm breath caressed her skin as he whispered the words against her heated flesh. Grabbing her by the wrists, Gedeon pinned her arms to the bed above her head. He was going to have her, and he was going to give her what she begged for, but first he had to break the mark that bound her to another. He had to kill Pryse.
“Yes, now,” she whimpered. Sara quiver as he took her firm ripe breast into his mouth and began to suckle her. Her nipple hardened as his fangs gently grazed her milky skin. “Bite me.”
“I can’t.” He moaned in frustration. Gedeon had to force himself to say the words. His body ached for her. His mouth yearned to taste the life essence that lay just beneath her skin. The thought of the bliss he would soon feel as he sank into the warmth of her sex while drinking the sweet crimson nectar of her essence caused his erection to strain painfully against the rough denim. Sara wanted the bite of the vampire. Yes, he would give it to her, but not now, not until she was free to be his. Reluctantly, Gedeon released his grip on her wrists and sat up on the side of the bed. For now, he would have to control the beast within, but soon, very soon, he would have her. “Sara, I can’t.” When he spoke, his voice was thick with longing and regret. “Not while you’re marked by another.”
“Gedeon?” she whispered, her body aching with need. Without the feel of his body pressed against hers, Sara felt empty, as if this was all just a dream about to come to an abrupt and untimely end.
“You should get dressed. Dinner’s almost ready.” Without another word or a backwards glance, Gedeon walked out of the room, leaving Sara lying naked and alone on the bed.
Chapter 4
Sara should’ve been furious at Gedeon for walking away from her. She should’ve felt angry and rejected, but as hard she tried, she couldn’t. The logistics of being a vampire were completely unknown to her, and by the look on Gedeon’s face, Sara could tell that his desire for her ran as deep as the desire she felt for him. A soft knock on the door caused Sara to startle. Hastily reaching for the satin sheet on the bed, she used it to cover herself as the door slowly creaked opened.
“Here are your clothes.” Gedeon placed the neatly folded pile of clothes on the foot of the bed. “Dinner’s on the table.”
“Gedeon, wait,” she stammered.
“Sara, please. Don’t make this harder than it already is.” Gedeon turned his head and averted his gaze from the slim naked form that lay just beneath the sheet, and well within his reach. Soon he thought to himself, but soon couldn’t come fast enough.
A sweet and spicy aroma filled the air, soft jazz music drifted from the speakers of the stereo, and the iridescent glow of candlelight flickered gently on the walls and floor of the apartment. Sara approached the table where Gedeon sat waiting for her. If she didn’t know any better, she might have actually thought that this was a date. Gedeon raised his head and the look of something that was neither love, nor lust, nor hunger flashed in depths of his aqua blue eyes. It was longing; longing for something that he couldn’t have, longing for something that was not his to take.
“It smells delicious.” Sara sat down quietly in the seat across from him and placed the napkin in her lap.
“I hope you like Thai food.”
“I don’t know. I’ve never had it before. Stuff like this is hard to come by in backwoods Montana.” A small laugh escaped her lips. Sara knew not to push him too far. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to be able to figure out that Gedeon was very close to his breaking point.
“Listen Sara, about what just happened. I should’ve never let it get that far.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself, Gedeon.” A faint blush colored her cheeks.
“Yes, I do. I don’t want you to think for one minute that I don’t want you, because I’ve never wanted anything more in my life. But if I were to drink from you now, while you’re marked by another, it would poison me. Your blood would eat away at me from the inside out, and if I were to make love to you, I don’t know if I could control myself enough to not drink from you.” Gedeon bowed his head in shame. Never in his life did the blood of a woman have this kind of effect on him. It drove him mad with hunger and crazy with lust.
“What will happen when you kill Pryse?” Sara asked as calmly as she possibly could. The idea of killing someone, even if it was a vampire, scared the hell out of her. “If I’m no longer marked, will my blood still have the same effect on you?”
“No.” The hint of a smile crept up the corner of his mouth. “The bond will break and your blood will be clean.”
“Then we only have to wait a little while longer, don’t we?” Sara picked up the glass of wine that Gedeon had poured for her and smiled as the bitter sweet taste danced across her tongue.
Gedeon let out a husky laugh. “I hope so.”
“So do I, Gedeon. So do I.” The taste of the Thai food was unlike anything she’d ever had before. It was good, but it was something that would take some getting used to. Sara tried to keep the conversation light, but a question had been burning on the tip of her tongue all night. Building up the courage, she finally asked, “What is it that Pryse wants from you? In the alley, you told him that you’d give it to him if he let me go.”
“Pryse thinks that because I am a healer, I have the ability to make him into a day walker.”
“Do you?” Sara poured herself another glass of wine and leaned back casually in the chair, as if this conversation was nothing more than first date banter.
“Yes and no. I have an ancient recipe for an elixir, that if brewed right, will allow my kind to walk in the sun, but it is flawed. The effects are not permanent and could wear off at any time. If a vampire gets caught in direct sunlight when the effects wear off, the light from the sun will turn him to ash.”
“So why not just….” Sara began, but froze as a burst of fear shot through her body. With trembling hands, she placed the glass of wine on the table.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Gedeon sprung from his seat.
“It’s Pryse. He’s here.” Sara’s body began to shake uncontrollably and she jumped as Gedeon grabbed her by the shoulders.
“Sara, listen to me. We have to go NOW.” Gedeon shook her, desperately trying to get her attention as the sound of running footsteps echoed in the hall outside the apartment. “Go out the window to the fire escape. It’s the only way out.”
Sara sprang from her seat and ran in the direction of the open window. She glanced behind her just in time to see Gedeon pick up a small burlap bag and fling it over his shoulder.
“Go,” he yelled. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Sara squeezed through the open window and shivered as the cold night air assaulted her skin, but there was no time to go back into the apartment and get her jacket. She looked over the edge of the fire escape and took a deep, calming breath. The third storey wasn’t really that high up, unless of course you had a fear of heights. The metal ladder that led to the ground looked impossibly unsecure, and Sara wondered briefly if it would support her weight.
“Hurry up. What are you waiting for?” Gedeon shouted as he came through the window.
“Gedeon, I don’t think I can climb down.” Sara looked down at the ground and shook her head.
“Please,” he begged. The tone of his voice was urgent and desperate “You have to. Pryse is going to break through the door any second now.”
Sara nodded, and in a monumental act of bravery, she reached over and clung tightly to the metal rungs of the ladder. One by one, she lowered herself down towards the pavement below, each rung painfully cutting into the palms her hands. She breathed a sigh of relief as her feet touched solid ground. Gedeon was only two feet above her when one of Pryse’s cronies emerged at the end of the laneway.
“Shit,” he cursed, and landed with a thud on the pavement. “Follow me.” Gedeon grabbed Sara by the arm and dragged her towards the back of the apartment building.
“Where are we going?”
“I’m not sure yet.” Gedeon expertly maneuvered through the parking lot and to a path that led out to the street behind the building. The air around them vibrated, and the sound of dance music could be heard in the distance. “Hurry up, let’s go this way,” he instructed, and grabbed Sara by the arm, pulling her behind him as he ran.
“What is this place?” Sara asked as they stopped in front of the entrance to an abandoned warehouse. The loud pounding of the music reverberated through the heavy metal door.
“It’s a rave. It’ll be hard for Pryse to track your scent in here.” Gedeon opened the door and the sound was almost deafening. They skirted the outer perimeter of the dance floor where boys with blue and green hair, and girls with rainbow colored tutus, danced in a trance like state. Gedeon spotted an empty table in a darkened corner of the room and led Sara towards it.
“What wrong with them?” Sara asked as she intently watched the dancers move to the beat of music. It was unlike anything she’d ever seen before.
“Most of these kids are on ecstasy. Such a damn shame too, it makes them easy targets for us.” Gedeon looked repulsed by the idea. “If these kids weren’t strung out on drugs, most of them wouldn’t be so willing to offer up a vein.”
“You don’t actually…” Sara began, but was unable finish the question. The idea of vampires preying on these kids nauseated her. Half of the kids in here didn’t look a day over twenty.
“God no,” Gedeon replied sharply “I’ve never fed from an unwilling donor, or from someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but there are plenty of vampires out there who do.” He shook his head in disgust.
“And they can get away with it? I thought your laws protected people?”
“Our laws only state that the donor has to be willing. I don’t think they took illegal substances into consideration a thousand years ago when the laws were originally created.” Gedeon looked anxiously at the crowds of people that surrounded them. A steady stream of people now filed through the front door, making it difficult to see who was coming and going. “Wait here and do not move until I come back for you.”
“Where are you going?” Sara hated the idea of being left alone in a place like this.
“I’m going to get a drink.”
“You’re leaving me alone so you can go and toss back a cold one?” Sara yelled, but with the noise of the crowed growing louder, it didn’t have the desired effect she was hoping for.
“No, but I need something to fill the vile with. Pryse wants a remedy, so I’m going to give him one.” Gedeon reached into his burlap bag and pulled out an empty glass tube. “I need to have something to bargain with. If I’m not back in five minutes I want you to run as fast as you can to the police station. There’s a small sub-station two blocks south of here. Even Pryse wouldn’t have the balls to track you down in there. A bullet may not kill him but it would certainly put him out of commission for a while.”
“What am I supposed to tell the police, that an insane vampire is chasing me?” she said sarcastically.
“No, just tell them that you think you’re being followed, and whatever you do, stay there until I come for you.”
Sara nodded and watched as Gedeon disappeared into the throngs of party goers. Sitting at the table alone made her feel vulnerable. She waited on pins and needles as she searched the crowds for any sign of Gedeon’s return. Out of the corner of her eye, Sara noticed the brown burlap bag that sat on the stool next to her. Cautiously, she picked up the bag and untied the string. One peek would hurt, would it? Inside the bag was an assortment of glass viles filled with a various powders and dried herbs. In the bottom of the burlap bag were two shining silver stakes. Sara considered her options. Slowly, she reached into the bag and pulled out one of the silver stakes then retied the bag and placed it back on the stool exactly as she’d found it. When she was certain that no one was watching, Sara untucked her shirt and slipped the stake into the back of her jeans. Gedeon was going to be pissed that she went through his stuff, but she’d deal with his anger management issues later, once they’d taken care of Pryse. Where was Gedeon, and why was he taking so long? Sara scanned the club again, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
Before she could let out a scream, the gloved hand grabbed her from behind. She could taste the metallic tang of blood as his hand pressed hard against her mouth, cutting her lip.
“Nice boots,” Pryse said. With one hand covering her mouth, and the other wrapped tightly around her waist, he violently yanked Sara off the stool. “I’m going to uncover your mouth, but if you scream I’ll snap your pretty little neck. Do you understand me?”
Sara nodded. Even if she wanted to say no, being marked by Pryse ensured that she’d be willing to do whatever he wanted. The gloved hand slipped away from her mouth and she gasped for air. “What do you want from me?”
“I don’t want anything from you,” Pryse scoffed. “You’re nothing but a filthy little human, but you’re going to help me get something that I do want. I’m sure your boyfriend will be willing to negotiate with me when he hears you scream.”
“You didn’t have to mark me to get what you wanted. Gedeon would’ve given you the remedy if you had just let me go like he asked.”
“Don’t fool yourself. Vampires are selfish territorial creatures. Gedeon would’ve just taken you for himself, and I’d still be without the remedy. With blood as sweet as yours, it was only a matter of time before one of us claimed you.” Pryse tilted his head back and a dark sinister laugh escaped his lips. “You don’t actually think that he loves you, do you? Creatures like us aren’t capable of love.”
“Maybe a sick psychopathic bastard like you isn’t, but Gedeon is nothing like you,” Sara spat.
“Enough with the small talk,” he barked “follow me.”
Sara felt the bone in her finger snap as Pryse grabbed her by the hand and dragged her towards the steel fire door at the back of the warehouse. No matter how hard she tried to scream, she couldn’t force the sound from her mouth. Pain coursed through her hand as he led her through the door and up the stairs towards the second floor. “Where are you taking me?”
“Shut up,” Pryse barked, and stopped in front of another heavy metal door that led to the second floor of the warehouse. “In here,” he ordered. Moonlight streamed in from the skylights above, casting imposing shadows on the floor below. The room was empty except for an old wooden office chair and stack of boxes that sat against one wall. “Now we wait.”
“You won’t have to wait long.” Gedeon’s voice echoed throughout the cavernous room.
In one swift move, Pryse grabbed Sara by the waist and turned to face Gedeon. “Stay where you are.”
“Let her go Pryse. It’s not Sara that you want, it’s this.” Moonlight glinted off the glass from the small vile that Gedeon held in his hand. “This is what you’ve wanted all along.”
“Drop it on the floor and leave. When I have it in my hands I’ll let the girl go.”
“You know I can’t do that. I’m not leaving here without her.” Gedeon continued to walk towards them at a steady pace.
Pryse’s fangs unsheathed and his grip on her tightened, “Take one more step closer and I’ll drain her dry.”
Sara knew she should be afraid, she knew that she should be screaming at the top of her lungs, but being marked to Pryse made her lose all sense of reason. A shiver of anticipation ran through her at the idea that Pryse was going to drink from her. She needed his bite. She wanted his bite and the pleasure it would bring. Slowly, Sara tilted her head to the side and offered him her neck.
“Sara, don’t,” Gedeon yelled. “Look at me, and concentrate on my voice. You can fight him off.”
“Gedeon,” she whispered. The sound of his voice sparked something deep within. Her muddled thoughts began to clear as her eyes focused on the man walking towards her. In the darkness of the room Gedeon looked like a warrior ready for battle; her warrior, her vampire.
“I told you to stay where you are,” Pryse yelled, but it had little effect. Gedeon’s pace remained steady as he walked across the warehouse floor towards them.
“This is your last chance,” Gedeon warned. “Give me the girl and I’ll give you the remedy.”
“No deal. Put it on the floor and leave. If you don’t, you’ll never see her alive again.”
“Okay, have it your way.” With the flick of his wrist, Gedeon sent the vile flying into the air. Pryse released his grip on Sara and lunged for vile as it crashed to the ground. Out of the corner of his eye, Gedeon saw the reflection of moonlight on the sliver stake that Sara gripped tightly in her hand. “Sara no,” he yelled, and in once quick movement he leapt forward and pushed her out of the way.