Why are you doing this? Stop, his mind screamed.
Truly, he couldnt. The need was too strong. He flew across the manicured vampire lawn, bypassing bonsai trees, skirting around black rose bushes. In the center of the property was a wide ring of cement poured in swirls to create an intricate design. Almost like a crop circle hed once seen on the news. A strange electrical pulse rose from it, and birds and insects stayed as far away as possible. Like I want to do.
As he had done a thousand times before, he stood in the center of the ring, unnoticed by the few vampires working around him, pulling weeds and digging in the dirt. They saw only the golden sunshine around him because thats the image he projected at them.
Perhaps they smelled him, though, because every single one of them straightened and sniffed the air.
Hurry. Tucker planted his feet inside two grooves of cement. When his heels hit the back of those grooves, the swirls around him began to move. Whirling, inter-locking, separating, twisting. He continued to project sunlight, glaring brightbrighteruntil the vampires looked away.
The center he stood upon began to descend, slowly, slowly, lowering him into the earth, into the darkness. No one would see the opening he left behind; he made sure of it. For a moment, as the sunlight illuminated the yawning pit below, he saw what awaited him.
Dead bodies littered the hard ground. In fact, when the metal finished lowering, one of those bodies was crunched, bones snapping. The smellmetallic, as if blood had sprayed. Rotten, as if the bodies were already decomposing.
He wanted to vomit. Was this the fate that awaited him?
Probably. That didnt stop him from stepping inside. Without his weight, the platform rose, higher and higher, finally closing the circle above. Darkness swathed him. Such darkness. He reminded himself that when he was ready to return, he had only to flatten his palms in the grooves on the wall, and the ring would open again. Until then
Who are these people? he whispered.
Vlad, always awake, never sleeping, heard him. They were unimportant slaves who outlived their usefulness, and you will dispose of them. His voice was stronger, far less raspy than it had been during their other meetings. The sight of them offends me.
Of course. Tucker didnt even think about refusing.
And you will bring me more.
Yes. How was he supposed to do that? Youll find a way. You want to please this man. You have to please this man.
Now why are you here? I didnt summon you yet.
Dont do this. There was his other side, fighting, wanting to live a better, sweeter life, thinking things could be different, pretending he hadnt used his power of illusion to terrify an innocent family last night, letting them think they were covered in spiders and grinning while they screamed.
That had always been his favorite trick.
Well?
II have news. He told Vlad what hed seen when hed used his illusions to sneak inside the mansion. Vampires attacking Aden. Horrible monsters rising from those vampires, protecting Aden. Aden, petting those monsters, cooing to them. Asking them to return to their hosts, watching them obey.
How did he not die before the beasts showed themselves? Vlad asked, and as usual, his mild tone was somehow mind-numbingly frightening.
Tucker gulped. He sprayed some kind of liquid on their faces.
There was a rustle of clothing. Liquid? From a ring?
No longer pretending at calm, Vlad had sounded furious. Y-yes.
And how did he win the loyalty of the beasts?
I dont know. No one knew.
Before the last word left Tuckers mouth, Vlad was screaming. He must have been stomping around, ripping up stones and tossing them into the walls, because Tucker heard the grind of rock against rock, felt the rumble of the earth as everything around him shook and cracked.
He clutched at his ears, but it was too late. Warm blood leaked, that high-pitched scream having busted his eardrums. Sharp pain exploded through his head before lancing through the rest of him.
For once, the desire to flee outweighed his desire to please and he stumbled to the wall, feeling for the grooves. But a strong hand clamped on his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.
THIS MIGHT JUST BE her last day on earth, Mary Ann thought, then chided herself for such a morbid outlook. Now that shed fed from the witch, she felt better, stronger than ever before. No way shed simply drop dead. She hoped. But she felt guilty, too, as she remembered how the witch had cursed and screamed at her, then wilted, silent.
How could I have done that to her?
And how could she return to the cabin? But she was returning, as soon as Riley finished tattooing her. Aden planned to possess the girls body and try to time-travel into her past. Maybemaybe Mary Ann would remain outside during the attempt. That way, she wouldnt take anything else from the poor girl.
Yes. Yes, thats exactly what shed do, she decided. Victoria would simply assume Mary Ann was a coward, afraid to face so powerful a creature even though she had been warded.
The wards. Ugh. Mary Ann frowned. Unlike Aden, she hadnt wanted her tattoos on her chest. She hadnt wanted to see them every day, to know they were permanent, a part of her forever.
So, shed removed her shirtblushing like crazy and thankful shed worn a pretty bra, even if Riley had seen it the night beforeand given Riley her back. And dear God, getting them hurt. Like having fire poured straight into her bloodstream.
All done, Riley finally said. He sounded pleased.
She pushed to her feet, grabbed her shirt and strode to the full-length mirror in the corner. Twisting, she saw two beautifully elaborate tattoos. One would protect her from mind manipulation, just as Aden had chosen, and one would protect her from mortal wounds. At least physical ones.
That second one wouldnt help if, say, her heart suddenly stopped because of the death spell, but Riley had insisted on that one, so that one she had picked. And it hadnt sizzled and disappeared, so obviously physical harmlike a stabbingwasnt the way the death spell would kill her.
Apparently, for wards of that magnitude, the tattoo had to be bigger, so the second ward stretched from one shoulder blade to the other. God, her dad was going to die. After he murdered her, of course.
She pulled the tee over her head, wincing against the sharp sting as the material rubbed her sensitive skin.
Ready? Victoria held out one delicate hand.
She nodded and twined their fingers. A second later, the vampire had her teleported to the outside of the cabin. Victoria disappeared without a word, returned a few seconds later with Aden, disappeared again, then returned a few seconds later with Riley. She was getting better at the teleporting thing.
Lets do this, Aden said, his urgency catching like a virus. Everyone but Mary Ann pounded up the stairs.
Im staying out here, she announced.
They stopped, looked at her.
Mary Ann studied Aden, and she couldnt help but wonder if this would be one of the last times she saw him. You have to stop thinking like that. He was such a beautiful boy. He was a natural blond, but he dyed his hair black. His eyes were multicolored, blue, green, gray and brown, each representing a soul, as well as Aden himself, and when those colors blended, his eyes looked completely black.
He was as tall as Riley and just as muscled. Where Riley was ruggedly appealing, dangerous, Aden was model handsome. His lashes were long and cast spiky shadows over his cheeks. His lips were perfectly pink and soft-looking.
Everything okay? he asked her, frowning with concern.
She loved him like a brother, and when she left this group, she was going to miss him terribly. I just think its better if I stay out here, she said as Riley said, Mary Anns not feeling well.
They shared a smile, though neither of them was amused. Last night, after hed realized beyond any doubt that she was a Drainer, he had fallen silent. He had held her while she absorbed the witchs power, strengthening, and then, after Victoria returned them to his room, he had gotten back into bed with her. Still without saying a word. She hadnt spoken, either, though.
She doubted either of them had slept. Theyd simply lain in each others arms, knowing their time together would one day end.
With a sigh, she returned her attention to Aden. She stepped up, reached out and clasped his hand. His skin was warm, callused. Good luck, she said, and be careful.
He squeezed her fingers. Always.
You were feeling fine a moment ago, Victoria said with a frown of her own. Are youafraid? You shouldnt be. Youre protected now.
Only against certain things.
Oh. Victoria shook her head, long dark hair waving around her arms. She was a beautiful girl, the perfect match to perfect Aden. Pale, flawless skin, lips of the deepest scarlet. Eyes of sapphire blue. No wonder Aden had fallen for her so quickly and so hard. I see, she said.
But she didnt. Her expression had coward written all over it, just as Mary Ann had known it would. That was okay, though. This was better than Victoria knowing the truthand trying to kill her.
So many death threats, she thought. And that she wasnt running, screaming for help, proved just how far shed come.
Victoria and Aden turned and strode into the cabin. Riley remained with her for a few seconds, watching as the pair disappeared.
Ill be fine, she assured him.
I know.
It was the first time hed spoken directly to her today, and she relished the sound of his voice.
Are you nervous? he asked. About tomorrow?
She opted not to lie to him. Yes. It just doesnt feel real, though. You know? Im fine. I feel fine. How can I die?
I know, he said again. I regret that we werenttogether last night.
Just then, so did she. She regretted so many things. She should have spent more time with her dad. Should have forgiven him sooner for how hed lied about her mother. He wouldnt recover if he lost Mary Ann, too. He would be alone, no one there to look out for him.
She couldnt leave him like that. He might blame himself, tormented by thoughts that he could have done something to save her.
I was trying to do the right thing, Riley said, bringing her back to the present. For you.
I know, she was the one to say this time. Weve had a wild few weeks, havent we?
We certainly have.
And Im sorry, I really am. You wouldnt be in this situation if it werent for me. If she hadnt met Aden, she wouldnt have met Riley, and if she hadnt met Riley, she wouldnt have spent every spare moment of her time with him, binding them closer and closer together, changing the course of his life.
Hey. Dont talk like that. The one thing I dont regret is meeting you, he said gruffly. Never that.
To be honest, she didnt either. He was one of the best things to have ever happened to her. No matter how this thing ended, she couldnt regret meeting him.
From inside the cabin, the witch cursed. At least shed recovered from Mary Anns draining enough to do so.
Riley sighed wearily. I better get in there.
Okay. Ill be here.
He leaned down and pressed a swift kiss to her lips, then strode up the rest of the steps and into the cabin, leaving her alone. Suddenly feeling just as weary as hed sounded, she settled on the bottom step, elbows resting on her knees, chin resting on her upraised palms.
The sun was bright, throwing orange-gold spots in her line of vision, and the air warmer than it had been in weeks. Sheher thoughts skidded to a halt as, in the distance, limbs rubbed together and brittle leaves crunched. She straightened, gaze homing in. Soon, a familiar face and form came into view. A boy. A football player. Tucker, her ex. He lifted a hand in a brief wave.
Mary Ann was on her feet before she realized shed moved, mouth opening and closing, heart pounding. She raced to him, praying he wouldnt bolt. The closer she came to him, the more clearly she saw him. He was so pallid she could see the blue tracery of veins beneath his skin. When theyd dated, hed been beautifully tanned. Now his face was gaunt, as if hed lost weight. His sandy hair was matted to his head, and his clothes were wrinkled and stained, ill-fitting. Torn, as if hed recently been in a fight.
The moment she was within touching distance, she saw the scars. Small, round, side by side. Punctures. From vampires. Theyd healed quicklytoo quicklyno longer scabs, as they should have been, since very little time had passed since hed been served up as an hors doeuvre at the Vampire Ball, but already scars. On his neck, his arms, even his face. No, wait. There was a fresh pair of punctures on his neck, beads of blood still leaking.
Not so long ago, shed hated this boy for cheating on her. Then shed seen him strapped to a table, near death. Her hate had drained, pity and fear taking their place. Just then, that pity and fear intensified.
Tucker, she said. How did you find us? And what are you doing here? You should be in a hospital right now.
No. No, I have to warn you. He grabbed her by the wrist and jerked her deep into the forest, so deep the trees hid them from cabin onlookers. He whirled on her, mouth opening to speak. He stilled, closed his eyes, pressed his lips together. A smile lifted the corners of his mouth. Peace. I had forgotten how wonderful I would feel, being this close to you again.
She gripped his shoulders and shook him. Whats going on, Tucker? What do you have to warn me about?
Justgive me a minute. His eyes remained closed. Please. I didnt think Id ever get you alone again, but here you are. Here I am. And its better than I could have imagined.
He radiated such bliss, she couldnt deny him. So she stood there, silent, shaking with the force of her curiosity and dread. One minute passed, two. Three, four. An eternity.
Finally, blessedly, his eyes opened. He frowned. I shouldnt be here, he said. Hell probably punish me. He laughed without humor. Probably? Hell destroy me, no question.