Page 12 of To Love a Vampire
“You said you were my friend. I treated you like a friend while you let everyone around me plot and use me like I’m some kind of animal for their harvest. If these-” I pause, realizing how dangerous the idea is that is soaring to life in my mind. “If these vampires can help me find him,” I don’t say his name, I can’t and I just have to hope Declan understands. “You have to tell me, Dec. Please.” I nearly sob, my shaky breath parting the red mist.
He pauses, considering my words, absorbing the desperation in my eyes.
This is his moment and he knows it. He’s helped me more than anyone ever has, he’s saved my life, but he’s also lied to me, concealed things from me, something a friend would never do. Deep in the back of my mind I know I’m pressing him too hard. Declan isn’t familiar with people tolerating him, the idea of friendship is still foreign to him and I’m using that to my advantage but I can’t walk away from this request.
“Fine. But follow my instructions, these things aren’t something to play with. Mortals are exceptions to the magic here. The mortals started the rebellion and only a mortal can safely grace this land. I can’t touch the cursed rock, I won’t be able to help you if you don’t listen to me.”
Happiness explodes in my chest, a smile stretches across my face, tears almost spilling over my cheeks. My gratitude seems to make him uncomfortable and he looks away from me, his silver eyes searching the red mist around us. But before he turns to walk away—to lead the way to what could very well be our deaths—I fling my arms around him at the last minute. His strong shoulders tense under my touch and he doesn’t immediately reciprocate the gesture. But I can feel it, I can feel the moment his guard lowers. He wraps one arm carefully around me, his hand is feather light against my back. He leans his head against mine, seemingly letting go of some of the pain I know he carries with him.
A slow breath feathers against my hair before he drops his hand from me and turns away. Shielding myself and everyone else from any sign of real feelings the hybrid might possess.
Six
Atticus
The red mistisn’t as dense the farther into the valley we walk. I can now see the blue sky above, the sun burning through the curse to heat our backs as we heave ourselves through the steep inclines. We’ve trekked through the rocky trail for hours now. There’s no way we’re meeting Luca and Shane on time now. Will Declan tell them what held us up or will he lie for me? For us, really…
Declan stops abruptly and leans against a rock wall, tilting his head up as if praying to a God that may not even acknowledge his kind.
“Get the sword out, and don’t hesitate for an instant. Don’t show your fear, swallow it down, stomp it out, don’t let it come to life here. Because they’ll know, they’ll feed off of it like vultures. This is the only interaction with a human they might get for the rest of their lives. They’ll say whatever they can think of to claw into your mind or tear your defenses down long enough to kill you, which wouldn’t be long at all.” He speaks quickly and I try to catch each instruction he gives me. “One last thing,” my eyes are wide as if I can visually capture every word, “they’ll ask for your hand, and you’ll give it to them if you truly want what they can offer.”
“My hand?” My fingers twitch at my sides, nerves settling in at my fingertips.
With a nod, he looks away and I swallow, trying to ease the panic that just flooded my chest. I pull out the Crimson Sword in one swift motion. The feel of it heavy in my hand diminishes my fears. I follow behind Declan, matching his casual gait the best I can.
Our steps are cautious but announcing as rock shifts beneath our every move. The air grows thicker with each step we take within the mountains. The mist and something else is clouding my lungs. Something pungent and repulsing fills the air and makes me choke back my shallow breaths.
“Ah, the golden boy returns to us,” a taunting and raspy voice says.
Declan stops just in front of a large pile of boulders blocking an opening within a towering mountain, bits of gray and white peak through the dusty blood red film that’s overlaying the rock.
“Atticus, how are the peaks treating you these days?” Declan asks, his gun lowering at his side as if he feels at home here.
“Better today,” the voice—Atticus says, coming from a small gap between the red rock. “It’s not every day someone brings us something so pretty to look at.” I remain impassive, just watching the dark shadows between the rocks, waiting for a glimpse of the vampire locked within. “What do you want, girl?”
With cautious steps, I move closer, almost close enough to reach out and touch the shadows. My heart pounds in my chest but I try to keep my shallow breaths steady.
“I’m looking for someone and I’ve come to you for guidance,” I say as respectfully as possible.
“Hmmmm.” Fear begins to implode in my chest at the hesitant hum of his ancient voice. Not fear of Atticus, but fear that he might not help me at all. “Give me your hand, girl.”
I hold the sword tightly in my fist, the beams of sun reflecting wildly off of the shining blade, as I extend my hand toward the shadowy opening. Heart-racing fear gives me the energy to flee but my feet remain immobile. I don’t look to Declan for guidance as I slip my left hand through the tight space.
A cold skeletal like hand drifts over my skin and I suppress a shudder, my chest heaves up and down, fully taking in the decaying stench that clings to the air. Countless fingers trail over my hand, stroking my palm but only one voice dares to speak, or maybe the other two aren’t strong enough... I blink rapidly, trying my best not to pull away from their jagged nails that are raking softly over my skin.
“The hybrid you seek has not sought us out, but I can see him.” Another careful and jagged nail rakes across my knuckles. “He’s close, within walking distance.” Cold leathery flesh touches the back of my hand and the vampire inhales my scent, his nose and dry lips scrape over my skin, making my heart want to leap out of my chest. “I can almost smell him on you, and if you breathed deep enough you could probably smell him within these mountains, as well.”
Louder my heart pounds in my ears, fear starting to consume my mind, and I fight back the urge to inhale the deathlike air around me.
“I wonder if you’d still be as pretty if I skinned you alive and wore your corpse out of here like a raincoat in the sweltering sunlight.”
“That’s enough,” Declan growls, jerking my arm back so hard his nails sink into me. “Thank you for your valuable time, gentlemen.”
Declan walks away without another word, the opposite way we came. But I stand watching, holding my hand to my chest, my flesh feeling alive where they’ve clawed at my skin. I stare wide-eyed into the dark hole. The sun shines down on me, and through the mist that hangs in the air, through the shadows of the darkness, the sun’s beautiful rays illuminate a single, haunting red eye staring right at me.
* * *
It’s late when Declan and I return. The night has grown heavy, the moon held high in the sky, surrounded by endless twinkling stars, but the community is alive with music and laughter. My steps don’t slow as I storm into the war tent. Raske gives me a warm smile that seems to melt his dark chocolate gaze. Kaino glances to me, ignoring my rage filled eyes as he finishes his discussion with his father.
