CHAPTER NINETEEN

 

Sonya closed her eyes for a moment, then took a deep breath and decided that the smart thing to do was to follow Jack. Knowing how powerful Smythe was, she was no longer sure Jack could kill him. She also knew he was serious about going out to greet the sunrise.

Following him wasn’t easy. He took Roulette, which left her on foot in the snow and the cold because Smythe still had her horse. She knew where Jack was going, so she set out toward the mine, too. Could vampires find one another through some sort of mental link? She wasn’t sure, but Jack seemed to know where he was going. She pulled her coat tighter, leaned into the brutal wind and kept following his tracks.

* * *

Why is it so hard to get a decent slave? Smythe wondered when the sound of footsteps in the mine awoke him. He found Ted sleeping on the job. The moron sat slumped against an ore cart, a lantern barely glowing by his side. He kicked Ted’s boot.

“You’re supposed to be guarding me,” Smythe said.

Ted rubbed sleep from his eyes. “I got bored. Ain’t nothin’ to do but look at the snow out there. And it’s cold out there, so I came deeper into the mine to warm up. Nobody’s gonna come up here through the storm. It just ain’t gonna happen.”

Jack Talon eased himself into the lantern-light. “I understand I have you to blame for my current condition,” Jack said.

Ted started and scrambled to his feet. “How long have you been here?”

“A while,” Jack said.

Smythe gave Ted a disgusted look. “Nobody will come up here through the storm?” Then Smythe turned his attention to Jack. “Nice of you to pay us a visit. How did you find me?”

“Wilkins had a map at his place showing the mine’s location. I wasn’t sure I’d found the right place until your buddy came out to relieve himself.”

”What can I do for you?”

“You turned me into a monster,” Jack said.

“If it makes you feel any better, my intention was to drain you, but I got distracted.”

“I’m here to kill you.”

“I expected as much.” Smythe spread his arms to open himself up. “You still have a stake, I trust? Feel free to run me through.”

Jack pulled the stake, flipped it around a few times. “Just like that?”

“I won’t try to defend myself, Jack. You’re welcome to stake me.”

Jack stepped forward, raised the stake and drew back his arm to drive it into the center of Smythe’s chest. But his arm remained back and Smythe knew that no matter how hard he tried, Jack would not be able to make good on his threat.

“What are you waiting for, Jack? Stake me.”

Jack tensed and his brow furrowed. He relaxed and let his arm drop to his side, then tried to attack again, but Smythe knew there was nothing Jack could do.

“I sired you, Jack. It wasn’t intentional, but the laws still apply. You’re within my range and as such you are unable to do me harm.”

“So we can’t hurt each other?” Jack asked.

“It works in only one direction. You can’t hurt me. But I sired you, so I can certainly hurt you.” Smythe slapped Jack across the face.

Jack glared at him.

“I’ll find a way to kill you,” he said, undeterred.

“That doesn’t give me much incentive to keep you around. I know you’re a creative man. I was rather creative myself. I trusted the wrong man and he betrayed me. Of course, you have faith in Sonya and that’s why you held her in reserve.” Smythe nodded toward the entrance of the mine.

Jack turned as Sonya entered.

“Am I late to the ball?”

“You’re right on time, my dear,” Smythe said. “I’m going to use you as a demonstration. You wanted me to turn you.”

“Yes.”

“Sonya,” Jack said, “don’t do this.”

Smythe shoved Jack back a step. “Let this be your first lesson. I am the master and you can’t do anything to stop me from doing whatever I choose to do. And right now, I choose to turn your wife.”

Jack rushed toward Sonya, who stood on the track, but Smythe anticipated the move and shoved the ore cart into his back. Jack staggered, and Smythe darted around the other side of the cart. He reached Sonya first. Jack stopped as soon as Smythe grabbed her.

“She’s mine now, Jack. All you can do is watch.”

“Do it,” Sonya said, offering her throat.

“No!” Jack said. “This is between us. Leave her out of it.”

Smythe gave Jack a sad smile. “Terribly sorry, but she’s already a part of it.”

Smythe bent Sonya’s head back and sank his fangs into her flesh. She winced from the pain. Smythe drank and drank, but before he completely drained her, he exerted his will to stop, letting her dying body fall to the ground.

“She’ll be dead in a few moments. Tell her goodbye. Of course, if I left her enough blood, she’ll rise tomorrow night.”

Jack rushed to Sonya’s side and held her as she expelled her final breath.