"It's time we go in, Sire."
Andrei nodded. "Let's do this." He stepped into the sun and ran for the cave, his skin blistering as he sped across the valley. Thank God, he still had his supernatural speed. Today revealed another weakness, and he wondered how much more he could endure. What would be next? The answer lurked in the shadows. He would turn into the very thing he hated. The beast he hunted.
“I’ll go first. They should all be in a deep sleep, but we can't take any chances. Who the hell knows what other kind of weakness you've gained today,” Roman stated.
Andrei hated that his friend was right, but nodded in agreement and followed Roman into the caves. Both men held a dagger firm in their grip as they headed into to the musty darkness. Downward they went, along slippery rocks, until they were in total blackness. Fortunately, Andrei’s eyesight was no different in the night than it was in the day. At least that hadn’t changed. He stopped and held up his hand. "Can you smell that?"
Roman lifted his head. “The blood is getting stronger. It smells fresh, so either the victim is still alive or has recently died."
Andrei shifted. "This could end up being a rescue mission. Be prepared." He moved forward, stepping over large rocks. At one point, he had to turn sideways in order to squeeze through. He hoped the passage didn't narrow much more; otherwise, neither he nor Roman would be able to make it. The other vampires were smaller in stature than they were and would have no trouble navigating the narrow passage. The transformation would have shrunk them slightly from their original size and made some much less bulky than they would've been in their human life. Fortunately, as they continued deeper into the cave, the passage widened until it opened into a large room. Not only had the smell become stronger, but Andrei detected life. They didn't have much time to work.
“I sense at least twenty, how about you?" Roman asked.
"At least that, if not a couple more who might be hiding somewhere else. We need to move quickly. Darkness will be here soon."
Both men pressed forward and began making quick work of decapitating the vampires, tossing their heads into the center of the large room. After Andrei had slain at least five, maybe six, he came across the vampire's latest victim. "Son of a bitch. Roman, over here." Footsteps rushed forward, and Roman stood beside him.
"Damn it. There's no saving this one, you know what has to be done." Roman moved away and left Andrei with the task of taking the human's life. Not that there was much of it left. The young kid––probably a college student—hung from the ceiling. Heavy metal hooks pierced into his back between his shoulder blades and came out the front. While the wounds were not fatal, the kid was covered in bites. The son of a bitches had hung him up and then feasted on him.
The kid’s breath rattled with death, and once that came he would turn into the same evil that had taken his life. Andrei would spare him at least that much. He raised his arm and shoved his dagger straight through the human’s heart, giving a twist so he was sure he shredded it. For a brief moment, the kid opened his eyes. Andrei swore he had given him a look of gratitude before letting out his last breath.
“I’ll come back for you,” he promised. He would have to pull the body down so they could burn it with the remains of the vampires. The last thing they wanted was to leave any evidence behind. He turned to look for Roman, who was busy tossing grotesque heads into the center of the cave. Andrei jumped back in and continued to force his blade through sinew and bone until he was covered in blood. Roman shouted.
“Sire, quickly. You must see this.”
Andrei was there instantly. “What is it?” He stared at Roman, who held the head of his latest victim. Obviously a female.
“Look at this one’s right arm.”
He leaned down to inspect the creature’s arm. “It can’t be.”
“That’s what I thought, but it appears it is,” Roman stated then tossed the head into the pile.
“Can’t be.” Andrei squatted so he could get a closer look, but damn if it wasn’t. The creature had a marking on her right wrist that looked much like a mating mark. “Son of a bitch.” It was more than Andrei could wrap his mind around. Never had it occurred to him these vampires would be able to mate. That destiny would shine on such evil and bless it with a female. He wondered if the male was in the cave. “Did you notice a male with the same mark?”
“No. I even checked again, but it’s possible he was killed.”
Andrei scratched his chin. “I suppose. We need to finish up here. We can address this later. I don't sense any more, do you?"
Roman sheathed his dagger and wiped his hand across his brow. "No. I also checked and it doesn't appear this cave goes any further. It dead-ends here so this should be all of them. You were right, I counted at least twenty heads over there in the pile."
"Fine, let's start a fire." As long as they burned the heads, the rest of the bodies would disintegrate on their own and leave no evidence behind for anyone who might one day discover this cave. As promised, Andrei went back and hefted the young kid off the hooks, tossed him over his shoulder then carried him to the pile, gently laying him among the other remains. "Sorry kid."
Andrei focused on the shirt of the kid, rearranging the molecules until a tendril of smoke curled upward, followed by flames. He commanded the fire to fan out until everything was engulfed. The smell of burning flesh enough to gag even him.
"We need to get out of here." Roman stared at the flames, and Andrei felt the sadness roll off his friend. Both men hated what they had to do, which was why Andrei had to find a way to fix it. Time was running out for all of them.
Sonia unlocked the door to the shop and flipped on the lights. She’d been awake for several hours after her grandmother’s tarot reading. She never believed those cards. Did she? However, this was too much of a coincidence for even her skeptical mind. When sleep finally did pull her under its weight, she dreamt of him, but this time it had been different. He tried to hide his sorrow, yet she had seen right through it. The urge to comfort him had left her shattered and unsettled. Even now, her heart felt like it had lost a long-time lover.
What the hell is wrong with me? Why do I feel like if I don’t find this man, I will die? Literally.
She marched across the room and stopped behind the glass case which held the annoying trinket. Yep, still there, so she freed it from the velvet and held it up to the light. The necklace had also been on her mind, and she’d felt compelled to seek it out.
“What secrets do you hold?” She stared at the swirling design, and again swore something inside the crystal turned liquid and began to spin on its own. She brought it closer until she was almost cross-eyed from looking at it. Suddenly, fear and anger collided with each other, but she didn’t understand why. A vision began to form.
It was him.
His face was clearer than it had ever been and stunning green eyes held her mesmerized. His blond hair was tied back and hard lines etched into his handsome face. It was then she noticed he was covered in blood. Was it his? Or did it belong to someone else? He ran through a forest as if he had lived there his entire life, and she felt the stir of a beast deep inside her. It screamed to be let loose. To run free and feel the wind ruffle its fur. Dodging trees and keeping to their shadows, he appeared to be avoiding the sunlight. He came to a sudden halt and slowly turned his head as if to stare at her.
Sonia, dragoste.
“Sonia?”
She was jerked free of her dream and looked around wondering where she was. “Huh?”
Korinna stood in front of her, a hand placed on Sonia’s shoulder. “I asked if you were all right. You seemed to be somewhere else.”
She dragged in a breath and tried to calm her racing heart. “I... Yes. I’m fine.”
Her boss raised a red brow. “I don’t think so. I called your name several times. It was as if you were in a trance. What’s going on?” She eyed the necklace in Sonia’s hand. How the hell did she explain what just happened when she wasn’t even sure herself?
“I don’t know.”
“Come and sit before you fall over.” Korinna grabbed her by the arm and practically dragged her into the office, guiding her to the love seat. “What were you doing with the necklace?”
Oh, no! Did Korinna think she meant to steal it? Why else would she have pulled it from the case? “I...I couldn’t stop thinking about it.” She held it out to her boss who had sat next to her. “I don’t know what I was doing.” Suddenly she burst into tears.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Korinna ran her hand down Sonia’s hair. “What is the matter? Please trust me to help you.”
Sonia hesitated. Unsure where to even begin. However, the woman in front of her gave her a sense of comfort, and she trusted Korinna. "I'm not sure, it might've started last night with a conversation with my grandmother. Or maybe it was the tarot reading.” She sighed. “No. I think it all started well before that. A year ago? Maybe more, I can’t even remember.”
Korinna tilted her head. “Go on.”
Sonia explained the dreams, her grandmother’s story, and the reading. She let it all spill out until she was left empty and exhausted. Korinna let her regain her composure before speaking.
“What do you think it all means?”
“That I’m crazy?” Sonia tried to laugh.
Korinna smiled. “No. You are not crazy. What does the necklace mean to you?”
Sonia shook her head. "I have no idea. I'm just attracted to it and..."
"You saw something, didn't you?"
She nodded. “I did. It was him. It was strange, though. I somehow knew he was in pain." She pulled her hand free and rubbed her face. "It was as if I were actually standing there yet not part of it. I don't know how to explain it, but I know it was the same man from my dreams. He looked right at me and spoke my name.” That had rattled her more than anything.
"You were having a vision. That's what was happening to you when I walked in." Korinna studied the necklace in her grip. "I had no idea you would be the one." Her gaze met Sonia's. "Tell me truthfully. You're fighting the urge right now to rip this necklace out of my hand. Aren't you?"
Sonia chewed her bottom lip and tried to swallow the sandpaper that filled her mouth. Her heart raced and beads of sweat formed on her brow.
Desperation.
She wondered if this was what a drug addict felt like when they needed a fix. For some unknown reason, she had to have the gem that sat in the palm of her boss’ hand. Even knew she would resort to violence to get it. "What's happening to me?"
Korinna opened the clasp on the chain and placed the necklace around Sonia's neck. "You need to wear this before the urges become so strong they drive you crazy." Just then the chime rang, indicating a customer had come through the door. Korinna gave her a pat on the knee and stood. "I'll go take care of this, you sit here and rest. Later, I will explain everything."
Andrei and Roman sat in the study drinking Cognac and discussing the day, when he finally confessed. “She has the necklace.”
Roman looked up from his glass. “What?”
“My mate. She has the necklace.” He closed his eyes and opened his mind. Even though it was a bad idea, he wanted to see her again. Her name still sat on his tongue, and he liked the taste of it.
Slowly, a vision came to him of a young woman with flowing, dark hair and eyes that matched. Her lips were plump and ripe for kissing, but it was the tears that stained her cheeks that caused his muscles to tighten. Who had made her cry? Confusion and sadness surrounded her, and he could only assume she had somehow connected to him through the necklace. His blood would call out to her. Forcing her into a world she didn’t understand. One that would ultimately end her life.
He shot from his seat. His wolf clawed to escape and beat against him. The raven sent a screeching call. Both creatures wanted to soothe their mate. Kiss away her tears and assure her they would protect her. Always. Instead, the creatures were as helpless as he was.
“Sire, where are you going?” Roman’s voice broke through the hell Andrei burned in.
“Out,” he growled, feeling like a man caught between two worlds. One held the woman he’d waited an eternity for. The other snuffed out both of their lives, yet allowed so many others to live.
“Sire. Perhaps that isn’t a wise choice given...” Roman stood in front of him, blocking his path to destruction. Andrei grabbed Roman by the throat and lifted him off the ground.
“Do not try to stop me. I don’t care if I spill the blood of this entire village.” His fangs thickened at the thought, and he knew his eyes darkened with rage. He walked a fine line. One which was going to plummet him into the darkness. Would he come back once he’d bathed in the blood of so many innocents? At the moment, he hoped not. It was the only way he would be able to look at the woman named Sonia Covaci and take her life. Turn her into the very thing he despised most.
Andrei dropped Roman with a snarl and shoved him across the room. “Do not think to interfere, or I will kill you.” He wasn’t sure if the statement was made as a threat, or a warning of the pending darkness he was about to leap into. He only knew no one was safe this night.
Andrei stepped into the night air. A light rain pelted his skin, but he welcomed the coolness. He tipped his face toward the sky and allowed the droplets to wash across his forehead and cheeks as he tried to push the images of the woman who belonged to him out of his mind.
It didn't work.
He still saw her face. A look of confusion and sadness filled her eyes, and he knew it was because of him. The connection between them had to be stronger than what he had anticipated. Was it possible she had felt his own agony? He would have to do a better job of blocking out his inner turmoil. It was enough he had to take her life. He would not be responsible for her suffering with his emotions.
This madness had to end and soon. There was no sense in prolonging the inevitable. He had searched for decades for a way to break this curse and had found nothing. Korinna the witch had pointed out the obvious. Well, it hadn't been obvious to him. He had no idea his mate would be the one who would finally end the misery of his people locked on the other side of the mist. As well as the people here who were terrorized nightly by his own creations.
He dug his nails into his palms until he felt the warm wetness drip between his fingers. He hated this fucking world. He hated everything about it, but he had been born a ruler, and his choices were clear. He had made a vow to his people, to his brothers, to save them.
They all had to come first. Otherwise, his entire species would vanish.
Pulling in a calm breath, he once again found the connection to her. She was comfortably snuggled in her bed in a deep sleep. The perfect time to learn all about her and force his suggestions upon her.
Sonia. You must come to me, dragoste. I am desperate for you.
He felt her stir. At least his compulsion still worked, but who knew for how much longer. Everything seemed to be falling apart, and he didn't know from one day to the next what he would wake up to. Today, he'd suddenly become allergic to the sun and was slowly becoming a creature of the night. Tomorrow? Who the hell knew? Maybe his hair would fall out, and his ears would grow pointed. His face would elongate, and his fangs would grow twice the size they were now. He’d look just like the creatures he created. Pathetic, hideous, and most definitely evil. At least once the curse was lifted, and he was gone, his people could hunt and eradicate any of those left behind, and then hopefully resume their normal lives. The thought that these beasts had the ability to form a mating bond caused him to shudder. They had to be stopped and soon.