Angels and Hunters (Stoker Sisters 2)

Prologue

The air smelled stagnant with the stench of death and decay. Not even the salty ocean air can wash away the pungent odor of copper and ash. Blood hung in the air like a crimson curtain heavily fragrant with the scent of life flowing away. Human blood. The scent was everywhere. Sadie could taste it in the air, and although she felt the hunger gnaw her at the pit of her stomach, she held back. She was tempted to feed on these humans, but she held herself to a higher standard. These were not the kind of humans she would allow herself to gorge on, to act like an uncontrollable beast with. These were Keegan’s men. She at least owed him that small bit of decency. She would fight them to fend them off, but she would not indulge the dark side of her nature with them. As the battle between mortal hunters, good vampires and Strigois came to an end and the chaos of it all ceased, Sadie gazed into the darkness as she sought Alexis. She knew her sister to be strong and capable, but the sheer number of hunters they’d had to fight off had been more challenging than anything they’d ever faced before.

The hunters had been aggressive and the Strigois’ presence had added to the fury. But for all their determination, most of the hunters had fallen.

With heavy chagrin and a deep sense of loss, Sadie took in the many men lying about, a few moaning and groaning from wounds that would no doubt take their lives shortly; most not moving at all. Despite Keegan’s forceful leadership, his hunters had not been able to withstand the powerful enemies they’d faced.

Sadie wanted to retch at the sight of so many mangled and mutilated bodies. Blood stained the grass and soaked the soil beneath each man, leaving the air with the stagnate scent of drying blood.

Only hours earlier this had been a pleasant and lovely park; a place to come picnic with children, laugh and play in the joyful rays of the sun and breath in the fresh, fragrant air. Trees rose high and majestic, offering shade to those who scorned the sun, while flowering shrubs exploded with an array of colorful blooms that sliced through the green fields of grass. It was the perfect place to bring a Frisbee, ball and mitt or even a football.

It was the perfect place to come to life. This was where people came to feel alive and commune with nature, taking in the sun on lazy Sundays or taking a reprieve from a hard day of work.

In a matter of hours it had been transformed into a dismal and pathetically bloody scene, one filled with death and the woeful cries of the dying.

Sadie thought of Alexis’ pleasure in it all. She’d always known Alexis to have a hard and dark side. Never one to play the nice girl, Alexis was forever prepared to prove herself and the questionable powers within her.

As she’d attacked and killed one hunter after another, the satisfaction in her eyes and the hunger in her smirk had made it painfully clear to Sadie that her sister was already well on her way to becoming a Strigoi, vampires who had succumbed to the evilness of their nature, vampires who had no regard for humans nor the vampires who cared for humans.

She could very well be with the worst Strigoi of all, Skars, at this very moment. The thought was too much to bear. It pained her to see Alexis slip so willingly to the other side. Her aversion to remain a good vampire grew with each passing day, and there was little Sadie could do to help her.

Killing mortals was something she’d always avoided at all cost, never draining one’s blood to the point of death. She’d prided herself as being among the good vampires, and she’d strived to keep Alexis good as well. Born of the same blood, she often wondered how two sisters could be so vastly different.

If Strigois were so shunned and undesirable, how could her sister gravitate so willingly towards them. Having witnessed Alexis kill for the pleasure of it, enjoying each spurt of blood, each cry of pain, made Sadie realize just how hopelessly gone she was. How could she ever save her now?

And Keegan. Had he survived the bloody battle? Her heart ached at the thought that he could be hurt. Despite what he was, despite what she was, they had fallen in love. He had even denied it at first, but when he had the advantage of staking her, he could not bring himself to do it. That was how Sadie could tell Keegan still had feelings for her. That was before the battle, before all of Keegan’s men stretched out wounded or dead in the park before her.

Tears blurred her vision as she walked past the dead, fearful of finding Keegan among them. Everything had happened so fast. So many bodies had thrown themselves at each other, clashing with fists, knives and swords. It had been difficult discerning good from bad as everyone came together in a blood soaked dance.

She’d quickly lost track of him and now dared hope to find him alive.

Peering through the dark night, she clung to the hope of spotting his tall, powerful frame as well as the strong, but feminine form of her sister.

Chapter 1

She turned to the voice of her sister, hiding the immense relief she felt.

“The wimps have all scampered away,” Alexis said as she casually shoved her hands into her pockets, her gaze still scanning her surroundings. “I think I even saw Skars disappear into the night on the wings of a bat.”

Sadie frowned at her sister’s light take of the evenings events. “Very funny.”

“And I bet you thought I’d flown off with him,” Alexis challenged.

“I haven’t really gotten the chance to see where you’ve gone off to or how,” she lied. “As you can see, the carnage here is reprehensible. How could it all come to this?”

Alexis glanced around and shrugged. Sadie wanted to comment on her complete lack of empathy, but Alexis suddenly stiffened and threw back her shoulders as she craned her neck, her nostrils attentive to the shift of the wind. “Got that?”

“Yeah,” Sadie said, immediately tensing as she prepared for another battle. Fatigue clung to her and she dreaded the thought of starting the battle up again. But the scent of an approaching vampire was strong and undeniable.

“There’s something…” Alexis paused as she concentrated on the scent. She, too, had taken on a stance intended on another battle.

“Different,” Sadie finished.

In the bat of an eye, a black figure, indescribable in form, moved from one fallen mortal to the other. Despite her enhanced vampire vision, Sadie could make out little more than a vague figure. While it took her a moment to decide what her next move should be, Alexis had already fallen to the four paws of a wolf and was avidly chasing the shifting shadow.

Sadie, choosing to remain on two legs, took up chase as well. For a while it seemed the illusive figure would forever outrun them, but when it turned back to see a befallen mortal, Sadie rushed it, taking it by surprise by pushing it to the ground.

With a firm hold, she turned the vampire to face her.

Her lips parted in disbelief as she took in the identity of this new vampire. Her brain was slow in processing the confusing information that simply didn’t make sense. Memories from the past flashed before her, but she was reluctant to believe her past had caught up with her.

“Delilah?” Sadie whispered. The name remained on her lips for a moment as the reality set in. Each syllable had felt odd and strange on her tongue. She released her hold on her childhood tutor and simply stared. “What are you…?”

Still rushing about on all fours, Alexis hurried to push Delilah up against a tree. Drooling from the heat of the chase, Alexis snarled and bared her teeth. Her huge paws pressed into Delilah’s shoulders, keeping her securely pinned to the tree.

Chic and modern in a black cat suit and thigh high boots, Delilah seemed nonplussed by the attack. “Very cute, Alexis.” She reached up to dutifully pat Alexis on the head. “I know it’s you. You can let me go now.”

Alexis paused a moment before reverting to her natural form. “Of all the people… you’re the last person I would have ever expect to see here… in the midst of all this.”

“I thought it was about time I reconnected with you two.” She looked at one girl then the other. “You know I’ve missed you girls.”

Sadie continued to stare, dumbfounded by the quick series of events. “We thought you’d died,” she whispered, still barely believing it was really her.

Alexis shrugged and waved Sadie’s heavy sentiments away. “Don’t pay attention to her. She gets sentimental at the slightest. I knew you’d made it. I always sensed you weren’t too far away from me.”

“After losing Mama and Papa, we were devastated to learn you’d also perished in the fire.” Sadie took a tentative step towards the woman who’d been so important to her childhood. With tears in her eyes, she fell into Delilah’s arms, feeling like a young girl again as her governess hugged her and kissed the top of her head.

A dark chuckle accompanied Alexis’s grin. “See what I mean,” she said to Delilah.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to make my safety known to you earlier. But all of this…” She spread her arms out around her, gesturing at the bodies that surrounded them. “Has made it imperative I speak to you now.”

Sadie pulled away just enough to look at her. Growing suspicion kept her on her guard, but the warm and secure hug kept her close. Eager to hear what Delilah had to say, she gazed into her eyes, silently begging her to explain her presence.

Brushing her hand through Sadie’s hair, Delilah held a hard and intense gaze on her. “I’m really the one who lost you back then, aren’t I?”

Sadie’s eyes narrowed. How much did she know? But…

The full reality of Delilah’s presence in this time and place suddenly struck Sadie. “But, even if you’d survived that fire, how is it that…?” She stared at her, remembering all the time she’d spent with her as a girl. “How is it that you are here… now? How have you come to be here, in California, all these years later? You should have…”

“Died a hundred years ago,” Delilah said with a nod. “Yes, I should have.”

Sadie gaped, stunned by what her governess was implying.

“You’re…?”

“Like you.” Sadness filled Delilah’s eyes a moment before she cocked her brow and offered the girls a warm, but knowing smile. “How is it that this happened to you? How were you turned?”

Sadie was reluctant to revisit that horrible time so long ago. She dreaded drudging up the feelings, feelings of pain, of loss and of shame. “I’d been hurt,” she finally said. “Choked by the smoke and on the verge of suffocating when he swept in to save me.”

“Lord Ashwin?”

Sadie nodded. “He saved my life.”

Delilah’s inquisitive gaze turned to Alexis. “And why did you succumb?”

For a moment, Alexis appeared prepared to challenge Delilah. Defiance veiled her eyes, and Sadie was quickly brought back to a time when they’d both been so innocent. A time when trying to outsmart Delilah’s endless wit was a game, a test of their own ability to use their intellect and knowledge.

Alexis hung her head and kicked at the ground, refusing to answer.

“She wanted him to love her,” Sadie blurted out.

With a disgusted sigh, Delilah closed her eyes and leaned back against the tree. “That’s what I was afraid of.” She shook her head, her eyes glazing over as she drifted to a time long ago. “I failed you. I knew of the danger Lord Ashwin brought to Stoker Manor. I tried to warn him, to tell him to stay away from you… both of you. I knew he was up to something… the way he looked at you, the way he spoke. Far too charming. Far too worldly for two young innocents as you were.”

“Our home was completely destroyed, every wing, every room. Where did you go? How is it that no one found you?” While she wanted to empathize with Delilah’s sense of loss and guilt, Sadie needed to know what had really happened.

“I’d tried so hard to protect you. I knew Lord Ashwin was far more dangerous than his charm let on. Dracule had always been so adamant.” She looked directly at Sadie then turned to Alexis. “He never wanted a vampire to even get close to you. You were his pure descendants, he liked to say. And he certainly wanted you to remain that way.

“But that night, I was unable to come to your aid. I was overpowered, brought out to a nearby forest and chained to a tree where I was left to burn in the sun that was soon to rise. By the time I slipped out of those chains and returned to Stoker Manor, you were both gone, disappeared. No one had seen you. No one knew where you’d gone. And before I could even try to look for you, a band of hunters arrived, hungry to get to me again.”

“You seem so… so normal,” Sadie muttered, still caught up in her disbelief.

“Yeah, well.” Alexis seemed completely unfazed by the new development. “I seem pretty normal, too. I don’t hear you making a fuss over that.”

Delilah let out a light laugh and her eyes twinkled as they’d done so many times at Stoker Manor. “You girls really haven’t changed much. Sadie, still out to save the world, and Alexis…you still have a biting tongue and exceptional wit.”

“Dracule,” Sadie said, almost to herself.

“Yes,” Delilah said, gently reaching for Sadie’s hand. “You were never to know of your vampire heritage. He deemed you the Pure Ones. You were to remain pure, remain human.”

“Remain human?” Sadie said.

“It’s a long story and the night is already…”

“We were turned hundreds of years ago. Why now? Why have you come back to us now?”

“Because you two are the fulfillment of Dracule’s legacy. You two provide the hope for all vampires. Dracule was the beginning. You two are to be the end.”

“I have so many questions,” Sadie said as she turned away and tried to make sense of it all. It was too much to take in. “Too many questions.”

Frustrated and feeling she’d been betrayed, she turned to face Delilah again. “After we were turned, we did what we thought best to survive as vampires. We didn’t know what we were doing, but we did our best.” She looked at Alexis who seemed just as drawn into the past as she was. “We found our own ways of dealing with it.”

“That’s understandable,” Delilah said.

Sadie shook her head. “I have vague, unclear memories of the night of our turning, of the fire. I often have flashbacks, but they’re blurry, many events blending in together and making one confusing image.”

Delilah’s sudden reappearance added to her confusion. For years she and Alexis had gone through life, adjusting to the needs of their vampirism and learning to deal with life on their own. They’d been orphaned, bad enough for any child to deal with. Taking everything into consideration, Sadie thought they’d done rather well for themselves despite it all.

She looked Delilah in the eyes, her need to know about it all, her heritage, her future, taking precedence. “Who chained you to the tree? Why didn’t you find us earlier? How long have you been here in California?”

The softness in Delilah’s eyes, brought on by the unexpected reunion, quickly changed to anger. “Skars,” she spat, the name bringing a grimace to her red apple tinted lips. “He’s the one who set the fire, after he’d drained your parents of their blood.”

A stabbing pain gripped Sadie. Knowing she’d let him get away this night angered her all the more. Though her parents were a distant memory, the emptiness left by their sudden and violent death still left her aching.

“The eternal nemesis to Dracule, and the leader of the Strigois, Skars killed not only your parents, but all the occupants and many of the workers of Stoker Manor before setting it aflame.”

“Keegan’s parents,” the girls said in unison.

Sadie had been reluctant to believe Keegan’s telling of the story. Dr. Franz had blamed the fire on a vampire. “All this time, we always believed the hunters were responsible for the fire, for all the deaths.”

Raging more than she thought herself capable of, Sadie took a few steps back and began pacing as her heart pumped each beat in anger. She caught a glimpse of Alexis and knew that she, too, was disturbed by this latest revelation.

She knew her sister was increasingly drawn to the Strigoi leader. Perhaps learning of his part in the death of their parents would finally set her straight. But in the very moment that hope crossed her mind, she saw Alexis’ gaze turn to the wounded that lay about them, her tongue coming out to moisten her lips. Her eyes narrowed in hunger as she rounded her shoulders and prepared to find a meal.

“The wounded have begun to stir,” Sadie said with a touch of surprise. “I’d thought them all beyond help, all on the verge of death. How is it that so many of them are now regaining consciousness?”

A self-satisfied smile came to Delilah’s lips as she left the support of the tree and came to Sadie’s side. “I gave them a few drops of my blood.”

Confused by her action and the results, Sadie turned to her. “Your blood? And how is it that…?”

“The healing capacity of vampire blood can be quite powerful.”

“I had no idea,” Sadie said softly. Though now a vampire for over a hundred years, there was still so much she didn’t know. Her choice to lead a life away from other vampires, to lead a life as close to human as possible had kept her innocent of some vampire ways.

The murmurings around them increased and a few of the men were rising, many now walking away.

“Why?” Alexis spat. Her fists were clenched in anger and her eyes like venom. “They’re leaving. We’re to simply let them walk away… to come hunt us down again?”

Sadie and Delilah turned to her.

“I’ve spent the last hours fighting off these hunters, men who are out to kill me, to destroy me. I succeeded in maiming many if not all of them and you now want to heal them? They're out here hunting us down, trying their best to kill us. Shouldn’t we be doing everything possible to kill them before they succeed?”

“Only Strigois kill, Alexis. Your purpose here is not to kill.” Delilah held Alexis’ defiant gaze, staring at her, almost staring into her. When Alexis tried to turn away, Delilah stepped in front of her, taking a stance just inches away from her. “Not all vampires become monsters. We don’t all turn to the dark side. If anything many of us try to steer clear of the dreadful rendering Bram Stoker conjured up so many years ago. He painted Dracule as a villain; the devil himself. But we do have a choice.”

She put her hand to Alexis’ shoulder. “You have a choice… to be good or to be bad. Float on the wings of an angel or crawl to the lowest depths of humanity. Do you not want to be an angel… one who helps humanity, as Dracule wished? And as for the hunters… you know what they do.”

While she’d always remained on the side of good vampires, and her love of humanity was fierce, Sadie couldn’t understand Delilah’s argument. “But these hunters tried to kill us. They’re only purpose is to hunt us down and rid the world of us.”

Delilah looked at them, her love for her charges evident in her eyes. “I can’t deny the hatred mankind has for vampires. Then again you can’t deny how many vampires have brought that hatred upon themselves.” She looked at Sadie. “It is unfortunate that the actions of a few monsters like Skars and his Strigois make it difficult for all vampires to survive in society.”

Alexis turned away again, fidgeting in the way she was apt to do when in an uncomfortable situation.

“I would hate to see you add to that awful reputation.” Delilah directed her words to the back of Alexis’ head. “There is so much hatred already. We must do what we can to help humans against the Strigois. We must fight the power of the Strigois.”

“That makes us like the hunters… human vampire hunters,” Sadie said. “We’re like Keegan.”

Delilah smiled. “In a way, trying to keep the peace in the vampire world requires us to fight against Strigois, sometimes enlisting the help of vampire hunters. I know of Keegan Knowles, the famous immortal vampire hunter.”

Sadie blushed and hoped Delilah didn’t notice. Alexis turned and looked up, suddenly very interested in hearing what Delilah had to say about the handsome young man…the very man whom both sisters loved against their better judgment.

“He is one of the best vampire hunters in the world today and many Strigois know of him… even fear him. Immortality was bestowed upon him because of his great abilities and his determination. Skars must favor him…he sent him after me. Keegan is so adept at killing vampires, so wise and crafty in his approach, even I knew to stay away. But alas… I know Skars, and he has your Keegan. Your vampire hunter has lost favor in Skars’ eyes and had been captured by him.”

Sadie and while Alexis stared at her with disbelief.

“Why?” Sadie asked. “What does he intend to do with him?”

Delilah looked from one girl to the other, hesitating before she finally spoke. “Kill him.”

Chapter 2

It took a moment for Keegan’s eyes to adjust to the darkness. Still, he could barely focus on anything that would tell him where he was. A thin trail of light cut across the floor that was dusty and bare.

The air was damp. He could smell it. Despite day-old stubble, he could feel it on his cheeks. He’d initially thought he was in a basement, but perhaps he’d been brought to a cave.

The pain in his stiff shoulders caused him to strain against the rope that bound his wrists at his back. How long had he been sitting there? He’d dozed off for a while, but the chill of the night and soreness in his back had brought him back.

With his awakening came the memory of the conversation he’d had with Skars, if one could call any verbal exchange with such a monster a conversation. After he’d been shoved into the back of a van and his hands tightly bound, he’d faced the most violent and heartless of all vampires.

Skars’ eyes had held a gleam of pleasure as he’d enjoyed every moment of tormenting Keegan with the fate that awaited him.

“What a handsome young hunter you make, Keegan,” Skars had said. His hand had held Keegan’s chin up, his thumb fingering his unshaven skin. “It’s no wonder you’ve managed to have both Stoker sisters so enamored with you.”

The van seemed to be moving perilously fast, throwing Keegan off balance with every turn. Though he was clearly at a disadvantage, he refused himself the luxury of feeling vulnerable. Even with his hands tied back and his body weak from hours of fighting, he spat in Skars hand and pulled away from his touch.

A deep and sinister rumble echoed in the vehicle and crawled slowly across Keegan’s shoulders as Skars snickered. “Worry not, dear boy. You're really not my type.”

“I’ve known you long enough to know that when it comes to blood, any human can be your type.”

“How positively astute.” Skars clapped his hands together and sat back to eye Keegan. “I’m flattered. But judging by how you’ve been having your way with sweet Sadie and tawdry Alexis, I would think that any human or vampire could be your type as well.”

“They’re vampires. It’s my life’s duty to hunt them down and kill them, just as I’ve killed so many before them, just as I’ve killed for you.”

“Spoken like a young man who lusts so desperately for their…”

Keegan spat again, his saliva reaching Skars’ shoes.

Skars shook his head and grinned. “The truth pains you, does it not? Falling in love with not one, but two vampires. They’re both quite lovely and I can’t say that I blame you.” He came closer, his eyes glaring intently into Keegan’s. “If you were to become a vampire, you could have them, be with them, love them without guilt or remorse. You could share in their livelihoods.”

“Never.”

“Or better yet, as a Strigoi you could reign over them.”

Keegan’s heart pounded and his fists clenched. He fought to control his breathing, determined to hide his growing fear from Skars. He’d seen thousands of vampires over the centuries and he’d slain his share of Strigois as well. But Skars’ reputation was well known. He brought a degree of cruelty to his victims that made many vampires cringe.

“If I were to become as you are, who would then take a stand and protect you from your enemies, enemies that seem to increase in number with every passing year?”

“I made you what you are, Keegan,” Skars said. “Your very presence here today, in this time and space, is solely due to my keeping my word to you so long ago. I survived well before you came along and I’ll survive beyond your turning.”

That was a part of his life Keegan rarely went back to think about. How Skars’ had captured Dr. Franz. How Keegan had bargained with Skars for his mentor’s life. The long and eternal years Keegan had hunted down Skars’ many enemies. Yes, his immortality was Skars’ doing, but his debt to the old vampire had long been paid.

“I can bring you there, dear boy. The ultimate power of the strongest vampire. The ultimate hunger that is never sated.” That dark snicker filled the van once more. “I will bring you there, I promise.”

I promise, I promise… the words now echoed in the darkness of the cave as Keegan sat helplessly awaiting his fate. The image of Skars’ grimace, determined and hateful, remained in his mind’s eye.

He struggled against the rope again. He had to free himself before Skars returned, but the rope was tight and his strength drained.

If Skars hadn’t yet turned him, there had to be a reason. Could the years Keegan faithfully protected him from his enemies have Skars debating whether turning him was the right thing to do after all?

No, Keegan thought. Skars didn’t really have the capacity to think such things through. No doubt the years spent protecting him were viewed as an entitlement and not an act for which he needed to be grateful.

The answer came to him then, so clearly, so undeniably, he couldn’t believe he did not think of it earlier. Skars couldn’t truly afford to lose Keegan as a protector, but he did have a strong desire to sink his teeth into the Stokers.

Keegan grunted as he realized he was no more than live bait for the girls. He leaned back and closed his eyes, wondering how much Skars knew of his relationship to the Stoker sisters.

His heart betrayed him as he went on to consider what this could mean for the girls, particularly Sadie. Yes, she was a vampire, but he’d seen enough of her to know how much she cared for him and how she loathed Skars.

Though no longer for the same reasons, Keegan once again began to fight against the ropes that bound him. He wouldn’t allow Skars to use him to get to Sadie.

While his eyes had adjusted to the dim light, he could still see nothing that could indicate where he was. He could make out the faint lines of furniture and to the right, he thought he glimpsed a ray of moonlight.

He wasn’t in a cave at all, but a home; a large and lavish home.

The door opened, cutting his breathing off as he anticipated the worse. A silent figure entered the room, a flickering candle in his hand. It wasn’t Skars that harbored behind the fluttering light of the candle, but that pansy that had turned the Stoker sisters.

Keegan felt the blood in his veins turn cold at what was to come. But the pansy vampire who turned the sisters in Georgian England, seemed uninterested in harming him. He approached the large desk across from him and glanced at Keegan with curiosity.

Lord Ashwin set his candle on the old and dust-covered desk. “Forgive Skars his lack of housekeeping skills. He’s not resided here in a while and he let most of the help go ages ago.” With a sweep of his handkerchief, he cleaned off a corner of the desk and sat down to stare at Keegan.

The scant light of his candle threw shadows on the walls, exposing fine works of art, a wall lined with leather bound books and a pair of Louis XVI chaises. What Skars lacked in housekeeping skills he made up for with his taste for the finer things in life.

Keegan couldn’t help but cock a surprised and impressed brow at Skars’ home.

“Yes,” Ashwin said. “Skars old ties to his royal roots still cling to him. He never could go for the hovels and caverns some vampires choose to reside in.”

Though he’d been told of Skars’ royal blood and fine lineage, Keegan had always doubted the validity of those stories. Nothing he’d ever seen in Skars’ stance or air had ever hinted at nobility of any kind.

His gaze returned to Ashwin who simply stared at him. For a long moment, he returned the stare, anticipating his next move. The silence lingered and Keegan fought not to fidget under Ashwin’s steady gaze which passed from his face, down to his bare torso and over his shoulders and arms. Was he sizing him up? Assessing the possible strength he had?

Unable to stand it any longer, Keegan said, “What are you staring at?”

“You're a handsome young man,” Ashwin said. “Strong, well-sculpted, muscular, broad-shoulder and rugged in that way so many young women find attractive these days. Yet for all that appeal, I can’t fathom what the Stoker sisters see in you.”

Keegan let out a light chuckle.

“Particularly Sadie. In no way are you her type and yet, she seems truly enamored with you. There must be something I don’t see that has her so attracted to you.” His lips twitched, displaying the jealousy he felt.

“Pansies were the rage during your reign of Stoker Manor, but women today want a man. It’s a wonder Sadie was ever attracted to you in the first place. I’m sure, were she to see you again today, she’d wonder the very same thing.”

“And Alexis,” Ashwin countered. “She’s always had a hunger for the finer things in life, things you obviously could never give her. I suppose she’s just enjoying the sibling rivalry. She has always had that very competitive streak, you know?”

“I’m not about to discuss them with you.”

“What an honorable chap that makes you.” Ashwin slid off the desk and came to stand near Keegan. “But what really intrigues me is your attraction to them. The world renowned hunter falling in love with two vampires…it doesn’t make sense. While I certainly do understand their mesmerizing appeal – after all, I once succumbed to their endless charms – I thought you better than that.”

“And I would have thought an innocent like Sadie would have been beneath you. Far too innocent for a Strigoi like you.”

In an instant Ashwin’s fingers were clamped tightly around Keegan’s neck. His eyes open wide, Keegan fought to breathe.

A satisfied smile crept across Ashwin’s face as he slowly loosened his grip. “As wonderful as it was playing with those two young sisters so long ago, nothing will change what I must now do. Despite my inability to understand her attraction to you, it is that attraction that I’ll now use to get her right where I need her to be. No doubt you know her kind and generous nature. No doubt you know how quickly she’ll come running to help you should she hear of the trouble you find yourself in.”

He leaned in close, his eyes level with Keegan’s. “No doubt she’ll give her life to save you.”

Keegan winced and knew immediately he’d been unable to hide it from Ashwin.

“Oh,” Ashwin cooed. “The thought displeases you, does it not?”

“I should have killed the bastard when I had the chance.”

“If she wants to live, all she needs to do is drain you of your blood. He wants two Strigois. Alexis won’t be a problem. She’s already shown her desire to follow Skars to the ends of the earth. She’s naturally incline toward the darkness, as Skars.”

“And you’ll just allow him to kill Sadie… the woman you love?” It was all Keegan could do to control his anger. “And you wonder how Sadie could fall for me? How fatally mistaken she was to ever feel anything other than repulsion for you.”

Ashwin’s jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed.

“You may as well kill her with your own hands.”

“How dare you, Hunter,” Ashwin spat as he lifted Keegan out of the chair with a chokehold to his neck. “You’ve no concept of the love I have for her. Were it not for the hold Skars has on me, I would never harm her.”

“How noble of you,” Keegan choked out.

“Skars held me prisoner, as he now holds you… he left me with little choice.”

“There’s no excusing what you’re doing.” Struggling against the ropes and Ashwin’s hand, Keegan thrashed about, his anger growing to dangerous proportions. “It will kill Sadie to become a Strigoi. You are sending her to her grave.”

The rising anger provoked by Ashwin’s action soon had Keegan breaking free of his bindings. With blinding rage, he rushed Ashwin and shoved him up against the wall. Strong, but thrown off guard, Ashwin turned to bite into Keegan, but Keegan’s furious fist made its way to the vampire’s jaw before he could even part his lips.

While the blow would have easily broken the jaw of a mere mortal, Ashwin’s head barely whipped back before he brought his annoyed gaze back at Keegan.

“You disappoint me, Hunter.” Ashwin gripped Keegan’s shoulders and effortlessly pushed him back, sending him pounding into the neighboring wall. “I would have thought you had more than that to offer.”

The room reverberated with the force of the impact.

Still riding on a wave of rage, Keegan turned to attack Ashwin once again, but, now on guard, the vampire easily sidestepped his assailant. Keegan overran his objective, but was quick to turn around and plunge into the back of Ashwin’s knees, sending him sprawling to the ground.

“I won’t let you get to them,” Keegan said as he pinned Ashwin to the floor. “I won’t let you win.”

“There’s nothing you can do to stop Skars’ plan,” Ashwin said with a grim, almost regrettable chuckle.

Keegan grabbed his collar, pulled him inches away from the floor and violently pounded his head back against the hard wood floor. With an agile sweep of his leg, he kicked one of the Louis XVI chair closer. Taking a firm hold of one of the legs, he lifted the chair into the air and brought it to the floor with splintering force.

Now with a leg to serve as stake, he lifted his weapon high into the air, prepared to finally take Ashwin out of the Stoker’s lives for good.

“Lord Ashwin.”

Keegan turned to the sound of the young female voice. The servant, just as surprised to see him as he was to see her, gaped as her tray laden with the Lord’s lunch crashed to the floor.

His chance at escape was at hand and killing Ashwin would have to come later. Without hesitation Keegan bolted for the door.

Chapter 3

“I have to hand it to you,” Delilah said as she made herself comfortable in the cushy loveseat Sadie had recently purchased. “You really have a knack for all of that human décor thing. No one would ever think you were a vampire.”

“Well.” Alexis looked at her as if hundreds of years had not passed. Just like when they’d been girls, Sadie was now still Delilah’s favorite. “I hardly think that’s why people don’t think her a vampire. I mean, what did you expect? That everything would be black, macabre and demonic? Even I know not to decorate a house like that.”

The years had hardened her, made her strong, and little ever got to her. But she could feel that little girl of long ago creep up on her…the anger she’d always felt when Delilah praised Sadie, the pain of knowing Sadie could do no wrong while it seemed Alexis was always being punished for some trivial offence or another.

Now it was the same thing all over again. Delilah ran her hand over the smooth fabric of the loveseat, sighing at its softness.

“Do you want some tea as well, Alexis?” Sadie set the tea tray on the coffee table and poured a cup for Delilah.

“You know I hate tea.”

Delilah took a cautious sip and cocked her brow. “Hmmm, Earl Grey… you remembered.”

“I never drink anything else,” Sadie said with a giggle.

“I never drink anything else,” Alexis mimicked with disgust.

“What was that?” Sadie turned to her, the innocence in her gaze driving Alexis mad.

“I think I’ll have a cup,” Alexis said, wondering what all the fuss could be about.

“I remember how you would sit with your lovely little tea set. I always wanted to sit with you and have a sip, but you would always tell me I was too young.”

“That’s not true. You never asked me. I would have been more than happy to sit and have tea with you.”

Sadie laughed, her dainty little hand coming up to cover her lips. Alexis wanted to spit.

“Come to think of it, I think I never asked you.” She giggled again, her eyes shining with the memory of those days so long ago. “You always seemed so serene, so calm in those quiet moments that I never dared intrude.”

“Isn’t that just like you to be so considerate? I would have been more than happy to welcome you.”

“Yes,” Alexis said with a yawn. “Isn’t it just like her to be so considerate?”

“Oh, Delilah,” Sadie went on, ignoring Alexis. “I loved those days at Stoker Manor. You have no idea how many times I’ve thought of you over the years, always wondering what had become of you, always saddened by the loss.”

Alexis glared at Sadie, certain her darling little sister was deliberately kissing up to their old tutor. Did she not remember the hours of studying, the difficult hours pouring over books, the endless homework that never seemed to be complete?

The freedom they’d had this past century was far more fulfilling and educational than the time they’d spent with Delilah.

“Perhaps we wouldn’t have found ourselves in the midst of such a horrendous fight had we had you mentoring us all these years.”

Alexis grimaced and glared at her sister. Had she forgotten all they’d been through? Had they not come to California on their own? Had they not survived more than one attack by experienced hunters? Had they not blended in well with American society? All without the invaluable aid of dear Miss Delilah?

“Well,” Alexis finally said as she set her full cup of tea on the table. “It tastes just like hot water to me, so, if you guys don’t mind, I’m going to head out for some real action.”

Sadie and Delilah looked up at her, their gazes almost surprised to see she was still there.

“No offense, Delilah, but reminiscing really isn’t my thing.”

“None taken, but where are you headed to so fast?”

“Hunting for a meal,” Sadie quickly answered.

Alexis glared at her, a deadly stare that would have had anyone else cringing, but her dear sister simply smiled.

“You need blood?” Delilah asked.

Her eyes were veiled with concern, something that surprised Alexis. Nonetheless, Alexis felted compelled to look away. Admitting she wanted to go on the hunt just didn’t seem to fit in with the cozy little tea party they were having.

“I know where you can go,” Delilah said. “And you don’t have to kill anyone to get your fill.” She turned to Sadie. “You’re probably going to need some, too, if you're going to fight Skars.”

*******

Though Sadie hadn’t had time to really think of her hunger, the sudden mention of a meal had her suddenly realizing just how famished she was. And the thought of getting her meal in a pain-free way intrigued her.

They piled into Delilah’s car, Alexis with her doubts and Sadie with her hopes. Delilah drove them into town. Delilah expertly maneuvered the sports car through the evening traffic into smaller side streets. They pulled up in front of a building that seemed like all the office buildings around the business district downtown.

Sadie glanced at Alexis. While her sister followed Delilah without hesitation, Sadie could see her apprehension.

Where was Delilah taking them?

“What is this, an office building?” Sadie entered the tiny elevator, instantly suffocated by the small enclosure.

“There are no workers around. Who are we supposed to get blood from if no one’s here?” Alexis asked.

“Still just as impatient as ever,” Delilah said as she punched the number five into the elevator panel.

When the doors slid open, they walked the length of a narrow corridor and finally entered a brightly lit laboratory.

The handsome young man with dark clean cut wavy hair, busily mixing the contents of a vile into a beaker, glanced up. The moment his eyes met Delilah’s, he set vile and beaker aside, and rushed to welcome her.

“Delilah, what an unexpected yet pleasant surprise.”

Delilah chuckled, a decidedly seductive sound, as she spread her fingers through his hair and reached up to kiss him passionately.

Sadie wanted to blush for the intensity of their heated embrace. While she’d never imagined Delilah to be a prude, she’d never thought of her as a sexual being. She was her tutor, her governess, although a very attractive one.

By contrast, Alexis gazed at their tutor with open admiration.

“Dante,” Delilah said when she finally pulled away from him. “I’m so happy to see you're still here.”

“I see you brought along a few friends.”

Delilah came to stand between Sadie and Alexis and slipped an arm around the shoulder of each girl. “These are more than mere friends. They’re virtually my daughters, nieces from Dorset. If they’re so gracious and strong today, I’m proud to say I had a hand in that, albeit a rather small hand.”

Sadie smiled while Alexis positively glowed.

“I’ve not yet had the pleasure of meeting anyone from Delilah’s distant past.” Dante shook Sadie’s hand.

“And what an honor it is to meet someone from Delilah’s present,” Alexis said, her gaze unabashedly giving the young man the once over.

Sadie wanted to crawl under the counter as her sister blatantly flirted with their tutor’s man. She even caught Alexis’ discreet sniff at the young man. Even from a distance, Sadie could detect his distinctively human scent.

“I must say, Delilah,” Alexis purred. “You certainly have an eye for the finest of the male specimen. Tall, dark and devilishly handsome. Perhaps you still have some things to show me after all.” She grasped his hand tightly, holding it for an uncomfortably long length of time.

Delilah’s smile spoke of her complete lack of concern for Alexis’ juvenile attempt at her man. She pulled Alexis’ hand out of Dante’s and turned her to a set of double doors at the far end of the lab. “We came here to get you a meal, not a man, remember?” She pulled open the door and they entered a small refrigerated room.

Shelves lined the walls and each shelf was stack with cartons.

“Are these…?” Sadie asked as she reached out to finger a carton.

“Cartons of blood, specifically formulated for vampires.”

“That we could keep in the fridge like a carton of milk?” Alexis said with a hint of suspicion.

Delilah laughed and glanced up at Dante.

“But where does it all come from?” Sadie asked. “I mean, how did you get all this?”

“It’s not human. It’s a formula I’ve been working on for so long. A blend of cow’s blood enriched with all the nutrients needed to keep a vampire healthy. It’s been complicated and a long time coming, but we’re finally pretty close to having the perfect blood to keep any vampire happy.”

Sadie shook her head in disbelief. The thought of ever being able to feed without even harming a human in the slightest was something she’d never even dreamed of. It seemed so impossible.

“I was able to meet up with the biologists here in Summerlin. The facilities were perfect and I had everything I needed. We’re in the heart of medical research at the University of California, Irvine.”

“I knew it,” Sadie suddenly shot out. “I knew there was a reason I felt so incredibly drawn to California. It’s almost as if I could hear you calling to me, telling me to come out here. Since we’ve been out here Alexis hasn’t stopped nagging me about my choice, but now it’s clear.”

Alexis picked up a carton and weighed it in her palm. She turned it over and over in her hand while her eyes still showed her doubt of Delilah’s words. “Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Sadie said.

“To keep vampires from hunting humans.” Delilah tilted her head to gaze curiously at Alexis. “This project is the very reason I came to California. I’ve had too many centuries of watching humans suffer at the hands of vampires.” She turned to glance at Sadie. “Good and bad.”

“You know, hunting isn’t just a matter of getting a good meal,” Alexis argued. “It’s a ritual. It’s the invigorating hunt. It’s part of what a vampire does. You can’t honestly tell me you think we’re all going to just stock up on cow’s blood and sit home nice and comfy and sip blood from a tumbler.”

“Forever the skeptic,” Delilah said. She took the carton from Alexis’ hand, popped the tab open, poured some into two beakers and handed them to Alexis and Sadie. “Try it.”

“Oh, for crying out loud.” Alexis held up the beaker and swirled it around. “This is so lame. What’ll you have us do next?”

“Just try it.” Sadie held her beaker up to her sister and took a big gulp. “Hmmm, not bad.”

Alexis took a reluctant sip, let it sit on her tongue a moment, then downed the rest of the beaker. “Okay, so it tastes good. That doesn’t mean I’m ready to give up my nightly prowls.”

“I’m glad you enjoy it. I’ve been testing and trying for years. I once had the blood of Countess Valencia back in the 1500s and I’ve had a craving for that particular taste ever since…the most delicious blood, which I wanted recreated here.”

“Really?” Alexis asked.

“Yes, didn’t you ever have a particularly tasty meal that you truly relished?”

“Actually I was referring to your age. I mean 1500s? Just how old are you?”

“Alexis!” Sadie shouted.

Delilah waved her arm away. “I’m as ancient as they come, girls. From the days of Dracule.”

Alexis set her beaker down, now completely impressed with the tutor she’d barely ever paid attention to before. “That makes you one of the strong ones.”

“I guess it does.”

“Like Skars.”

The tutor in Delilah emerged as she gave her student a reprimanding glare. “I can’t say I enjoy being compared to the likes of such a creature, but yes, I am strong, just like Skars. I have the ability to bring immortality to humans, much as Skars did Keegan.”

“Without turning them into vampires,” Sadie finished for her.

“Yes.” Delilah handed several cartons to the girls. “Take these. Try them out and see how you feel. I guarantee you’ll be back for more. Once you see what this high quality, highly nutritious blood does to your skin, your nails, and… oh girls, the luster you’ll see in your hair… you’ll forever thank me for introducing you…”

“In that case, I’ll take one more.” Alexis helped herself to another carton.

Chapter 4

The drive home was filled with laughter and giggles as the girls joked about the contained blood. But once the car pulled up in front of the house, Delilah turned solemn and quiet.

“You girls go inside,” Delilah ordered. “There’s something I have to go check on.”

A sense of dread and discomfort took over Sadie’s good mood. “What do you…?” As she turned to question Delilah, she barely caught a glimpse of her trim figure as she fled into the darkness.

“She’s probably gone back to hook up with that cute Dr. Dante,” Alexis said with a hint of envy. Getting out of the car she glanced in the direction Delilah had disappeared into. “I know if I had a guy like that waiting for me, I wouldn’t be hanging out with us.”

Sadie got out, her cartons of blood in hand, and glared at her sister, kicking the car door for annoyed emphasis. “Not every woman think of men as often as you do, Alexis. I’m sure if she left us so quickly it’s for a good reason.”

“Not every woman is a cold prune like you, either, little sister. Some of us do have hot blood running through our veins, so to speak.” She followed Sadie’s quick steps to the front door, her own cartons of blood tucked under each arm. “If anything, having a man in your life would probably take some of that rough edge off you, Sadie. You need to loosen up, stop being such a cold prude.”

As Sadie turned the key and opened the door, she turned to glance back at her befuddled sibling. “Me, rough edge, cold prude? I’m the nice sister, remember. You're the one with the rough edge, if rough can even begin to describe your abrasive personality.”

“Well, maybe you're right. Rough isn’t quite right for you. Dull is more what I was looking for.”

Though the house was dark as they entered, Sadie felt blinded by the anger that was slowly rising. Alexis was in no position to criticize her, not after all she’d done. This very house, the one Alexis returned to everyday, would not be theirs if Sadie hadn’t been so… dull.

They’d had this conversation so many times before, and she wasn’t about to get into it again. She reached out to flick on the light, but suddenly found herself pressed against the wall by a heavy force, her precious cartons of blood falling to the floor. Disoriented and momentarily confused, she wondered if Alexis wasn’t playing some stupid trick on her.

“Alexis?” she squeaked out. Her head was being held against the wall, her cheeks scrunched and tight, making it difficult to speak.

But the pressure at her back was hard, too painful for even Alexis to exert for play. This was more than a stupid trick. The seconds of hesitation had already cost her far too much. Her assailant had the upper hand, easily keeping her in a hold that left little wiggle room.

Struggling only brought more pressure to her back and face. Then she heard Alexis’ distinctive war cry. It was at times like these Sadie was grateful for her sister’s rough edges. Her complete lack of compassion and deep rooted hatred for humans and hunters made her a worthy opponent.

Despite all Alexis’ strength and anger, Sadie could make out the muffled sounds of defeat. Whoever was up against Alexis was winning. A thud, followed by a hollow crash had Sadie seriously concerned for her sister’s safety.

“Get your filthy hands off me, you slimy piece of worthless dung,” Alexis’ voice sputtered.

Sadie cracked a dismal smile. Her sister may be down, but she definitely wasn’t defeated. But it was the assailant at her back who took offence at Alexis’ unflattering words, pushing Sadie into the wall with increased force, force that could only be that of another vampire.

A third party entered the melee and while Sadie could barely make out the form, a sense of doom weighed in on her.

The light was flicked on, momentarily blinding her. She could make out Alexis’ elegant boots kicking into the air where she was pinned to the floor by a young male. As her eyes adjusted to the new glare, she saw the young man’s knee was pushed forcefully into Alexis’ back, leaving her flailing arms and legs useless.

Then Sadie saw a small and young fragile girl come to her side, a stake casually held in her tiny hand. She knew it had to be a vision.

The small girl couldn’t be more than fourteen years old. Thin, gawky and with a nose and teeth that seemed disproportionately large compared to the rest of her pubescent face, the girl was dismally unattractive. Her stringy black hair shielded much of her pale face as it cascaded down to her waist, adding to the sad image she portrayed.

“So these are the Stoker sisters,” the young girl said with disdain.

“What do you want?” Sadie asked, her voice as controlled and calm as possible.

“Let us go,” Alexis shouted.

The young girl, calm and sure of the power that surrounded her, took a step towards Alexis and put her heavy Doc Marten on her face, squeezing her cheeks together until her lips were forced into an unattractive pout. She tapped the stake to Alexis’ shoulder, her face contemplative and amused. “You don’t really seem to be in much of a position to tell me what to do. So how about you keep that lovely trap of yours closed and I’ll decide what to do.”

“Byotch,” Alexis managed to slur.

This only served to acquire her an additional squeeze from the girl’s boot before she turned her attention to Sadie. With a subtle gesture of her head, the young man at Sadie’s back turned her around and effectively pinned her to the wall with a broad hand to her chest bone. The pressure was so great, she could barely breathe.

“Where is he?” the young girl asked.

“Who?”

The girl smiled, obviously enjoying her moment of grandeur and power. “The Vampire Hunter. Keegan. The man you spent those last few hours battling with.” She turned to glare at Alexis then returned her gaze to Sadie. “We know you fought the hunters, leaving them for dead… and enjoying it.”

Keegan, Sadie thought. If this girl was concerned with Keegan’s safety, surely she could be reasoned with. She attempted a warm smile. “I understand your concern. Are you one of his hunters?”

“I don’t see how that’s your business, vampire.”

“But, I know where he is. I want to help him. I want to get him out.”

“Ah,” the young girl sighed, as a grim smile exposed a row of her large crooked teeth and white gums. “So you do know where he is.”

“I’m concerned for his safety as well,” Sadie said, wanting to reassure her. “We will get him out.”

“Out?”

“Out of Skars’ hands.”

“Skars?”

“Yes,” Sadie said, feeling growing optimism. “The worst Strigoi of all. You know of him, don’t you?”

The girl chuckled, not with relief of joy as Sadie would have expected, but with something dark and ugly. The sound reflected the girl’s soul… lost.

“I’ve every intention of getting him out safely.” As the words fell off her tongue, Sadie knew Keegan’s safety was not this girl’s concern.

Raising her hand and leaning the pointed edge of the stake at Sadie’s breast, the girl’s eyes took on a demonic glimmer that Skars himself could not even compete with. “If Keegan is with Skars, I really have no need for either of you.” She gestured back to Alexis with an inhuman tilt of her head, but her eyes, black and lusting for blood, remained on Sadie.

“I don’t understand,” Sadie muttered.

The young girl grinned and raised the stake high into the air. “You don’t need to.”

Sadie felt the pressure rise off her chest as the heavy hand of the young man was pulled back to allow the small girl’s deadly strike. The stake came to her with startling speed and she braced herself for the blow. Just as she thought her world was about to end, she saw the stake fall harmlessly to the floor and the girl was thrown against the wall.

The flurry of color moved with lightning speed, rendering the man who’d pinned her to the wall helpless and on his knees. Just as quickly, the colorful whirlwind threw Alexis’ assailant clear across the room, hitting the wall with a loud thud.

Though clearly incapacitated by the blows, the three assailants were soon left with a stake in their hearts. All Sadie could make out was the dying cry of the young girl as her heart was pierced and her life was brought to an end. It all happened so fast, in such a blur, Sadie wondered if it had happened at all.

When the fury of deadly action was over, a tall figure, one whom made Sadie’s heart skip a beat, was standing before her. Lord Ashwin.

“Wha…?” Alexis muttered in disbelief as she got to her feet.

“How can…?” Sadie muttered in her own fog of confusion and disbelief.

The stake in his hand dripped blood all over the living room floor while the bodies that surrounded them dried up, crumbled and turned to harmless mounds of dust.

“Strigois?” Sadie asked.

“The girl seemed so human… so real,” Alexis said.

“That’s what makes them so successful… usually. They blend in with the human race, just as well as you do, Sadie.” He turned to Alexis. “Not all vampires enjoy drawing attention to themselves like you do.” He winked.

“She seemed to care about Keegan.” Sadie said, still trying to make sense of it all.

“She cared about all the hunters I wounded and maimed,” Alexis countered.

“Claudine didn’t care about them. She’s upset that you didn’t kill them all. She’s always been a hard one, that kid. Back in France she was known as the Sadist Child. Since she’d been turned at such a young age, she never developed into the woman she could have been. I think that frustrated her.”

“Talk about retained hormones. To be condemned to a life of acne and that geeky awkward stage.” Alexis grimaced and shivered with disdain.

“Whatever the cause, Claudine was never one to back down from a fight and never one to leave a vampire or hunter standing. She may have been small, but she had tenacity.”

Alexis came up to him and patted his shoulder, “Well, I guess you just swept in and saved the day, Ash?”

Sadie brushed Alexis aside. “Why does she want Keegan?”

“That I don’t know. Keegan was Skars’ best hunter, the only hunter Skars ever made immortal… to my knowledge. As his henchmen, Keegan got the star treatment.” Ashwin gazed intently into Sadie’s eyes. “Keegan staked more than his share of our kind under Skars’ direction.”

“I know he’s a hunter, Ashwin. You don’t have to try to convince me whose side he’s on. But he also kills only the worst of the worst. Those who’ve crossed the line between feeding on humans to stay alive and those who kill for sport. He hunts Strigois.”

Ashwin gripped Sadie’s shoulders, his expression grim and sad as he shook his head. “He hunted all vampires, Sadie – Strigois as well as vampires like you and Alexis.

Sadie didn’t want to argue the point. She knew Keegan and knew he wasn’t that ruthless. “And what’s Claudine’s connection to Keegan?” she asked.

A wicked smile crossed Ashwin’s lips and he shrugged with hesitation. “Word has it Keegan was quite popular among Skars’ harem. His great abilities were not restricted to hunting vampires. He had an uncanny way with the ladies. It was said he could charm the… well, clothes off any female he desired.”

Alexis chuckled while Sadie fought to contain her emotions. She refused to believe Keegan could be so callous, so womanizing. “Well,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound too defensive. “Isn’t that just like a man?”

“Indeed,” Alexis chimed in. “I guess your little angel isn’t so angelic after all.”

Sadie pulled away from Ashwin and turned to look out the window into the black night. No wonder he’d played Alexis against her. Toying with two sisters was probably just another fun distraction for him. He knew exactly what he was doing all along, seducing Alexis all while playing innocent with her.

She turned back to look at Ashwin and instantly hated herself for the look of pity and concern she saw in his eyes. She didn’t want him to know of the affection she had for Keegan, as misplaced as it may be.

Ashwin reached out and gently cupped her chin, his eyes searching hers.

Had the hurt left her gaze? Was her sense of betrayal still evident?

“He’ll only break your heart like so many before you.”

“Don’t kick yourself, Sadie.” Alexis came up to stand at Ashwin’s side. “You're not the first to be taken in by a cute guy like Keegan and you won’t be the last… that is unless I can get my hands on him and get rid of him once and for all.”

You were just as taken in by him, Sadie wanted to shout. Tears of frustration, of heartache worked their way to her eyes and it took every ounce of strength to keep them from flooding her cheeks.

She wouldn’t cry in front of Ashwin, not for Keegan.

“I’m so sorry to have to tell you all this. It breaks my heart to see you in such pain. He’s with Skars and…”

“I know,” Sadie cut in. “I’m still going to get him out.”

Ashwin shook his head. “Sadie, as angelic and sweet as that boy may appear to be, he’s far from being innocent. You can’t trust him. Going after him now will only ensure your own death. Don’t you see that?”

“I have to admit I find that hard to believe as well,” Alexis said, for the first time showing her weakness for Keegan.

Ashwin backed away from both girls, his eyes going from one to the other. “You girls can believe it or not, but Keegan has been a loyal hunter for Skars for hundreds of years. Even if Keegan wanted to, he cannot break his bond with him. Skars’ granted him immortality, but for a price… and that price is the head of every living vampire, and yours are no exception.”

“But he was so…”

“Kind? Funny? Amusing? Charming?” Ashwin gazed at Sadie. “Do you need me to go on?”

She shook her head. She knew she was innocent in the ways of men and needed to wise up, but believing Keegan to be the monster Ashwin portrayed was inconceivable.

“I hate to see you like this, Sadie.” Ashwin approached her and brought his hand to her cheek. “You're too good to have to suffer such pain, and I know the heartache this is causing you, but I’d rather see you suffer this heartbreak than see you killed at the hand of that deceiving bastard.”

The warmth of his hand on her cheek brought her back to the days too many years ago. She’d been truly innocent then and truly enamored with this man. Her lids fell heavily over her eyes as she was carried back to that time at Stoker Manor.

“I care for you far too much to let that happen, Sadie. I wish I could take back the hurt he’s already caused you, but I’m too late for that. However, I promise to do everything within my power to keep him from hurting you any further.”

Sadie felt the warmth of his breath as he approached and opened her eyes. In that moment, she wanted to drown in the love she saw in his eyes. The young and inexperienced woman she’d been back then re-emerged and wanted to lose herself in this man’s embrace.

Forgetting Alexis’ presence, she allowed Ashwin to come closer and lay his lips over hers. Soft, yet heated with bridled passion, his lips were quick to erase all the hurt of these past moments. Thoughts of Keegan disappeared and the recent fights and conflicts evaporated. She willingly let the world slip away as she lost herself to his kiss.

A loud shuffle sounded nearby, but she wanted to ignore it. This kiss was too heavenly and too blissful to think of any distractions. Then reality hit with all the intensity her loving sister could muster.

“Well, isn’t this just grand?” Alexis snapped. “Why don’t you just go on as if I wasn’t here at all?”

With a sense of responsibility that overrode the pleasure of Ashwin’s kiss, Sadie turned to look at Alexis and was shocked to see the degree of anger, hurt, and jealousy reflected in her sister’s stance.

“You two can just go…” Alexis grabbed her bag and stormed out before Sadie could even free herself of Ashwin’s hold.

**************

Her heels stomped the pavement, echoing in the still night as Alexis sought a meal. Not so much out of a need to feed, but a need to vent. She wouldn’t let herself cry. She wouldn’t give Ashwin or Sadie that satisfaction. All these years she waited for him, loved him, and became a vampire for him, yet he loved Sadie more. It was always Sadie. She knew it back at Stoker Manor the night he turned Sadie out of mercy, that he loved Sadie instead of her. He lusted after her, like most men, however, it was Sadie whom he wanted. Yet Alexis still wanted him so much. What a fool she had been.

With her eyes filled with unshed tears of sadness and fury, she stalked the streets at night. Tonight, she wanted to kill everyone in sight, but she would wait for the right moment to make the kill.

Tonight, it was evident Sadie was the one Ashwin wanted. Sickly, sweet Sadie. From the moment he’d entered their home, from the moment he’d killed their assailants his eyes had barely strayed from Sadie’s face. She was all he wanted, all he cared about. Alexis’ heart crumbled in pain, and the way she knew how to deal with pain was to create pain.

Well, if that’s what he wanted, so be it.

And if Strigois were what he hated, well then she’d give him plenty of reason to hate her.

Chapter 5

Her anger dissipated as Alexis found plenty of humans from which to choose her next kill. Due to the overabundance of homeless junkies, crack heads and troubled teen runaways, the park near the beach was one of her favorite hunting grounds. Never had she left the park empty-handed and never had she heard of a search for any of her victims. These were the people society simply didn’t miss when one disappeared.

Strolling casually by a group of head-bangers, she ignored their sneers and catcalls and focused her attention on a young strung-out couple making out. The sight of lovers only made her think of Ashwin and Sadie…how she hated anyone in love right now. The guy was big and muscular, holding the girl pressed up against a tree, his hands and arms all over the place.

Great, Alexis thought. A two for one.

The lovey dovey scene only exacerbated the residual anger she felt for Ashwin and his obvious love for Sadie. To think she’d harbored such deep affection for him all this time, only to have him fall for…

“Damn it,” she muttered, willing herself to put the pair out of her mind. They deserved each other for all she cared. Ashwin wasn’t the only man to be had. Keegan wasn’t the only man, either. She steeled herself and made a promise to herself to never let herself fall in love again. The pain of having her heart trample was unbearable. From now on, she was going to have men for what they are to her as a vampire: either a meal or for pleasure or both. She was a vampire…she was not supposed to harbor any feelings of love anyways.

She approached the couple, her mind now intent on her meal. Her mind played out a variety of kills. Strike them both at once. Or perhaps get the large guy and make the girl watch as she sucked him dry. “Love is so overrated,” she griped.

Only a few feet away from them, she realized they weren’t making out at all, but were in the midst of a heated and physical argument. The hands she’d thought were fondling and groping the girl were actually wrestling and punching.

A few more steps revealed they weren’t even human. Had she been so preoccupied with all her mixed emotions surrounding Ashwin that she’d not picked up on the scent sooner?

Her muscles tensed, but not with the intent to kill for fun. Now she might have to kill to survive. The crunch of a branch underfoot caught the couple’s attention and they both turned to her.

Alexis gasped as the woman looked at her.

“Help me, Alexis.”

“Delilah?”

The muscular man, annoyed by the disruption, stared at her for one eternally long moment. His eyes were red and the more he stared at her the brighter they glowed.

“Please, Alexis.”

An inhuman growl emanated from deep within the young man’s chest. Without even glancing at Delilah, he shoved his hand to her throat, effectively depriving her of air.

Delilah’s eyes widened as her hands reached for his arm.

Alexis remained immobile, her feet firmly planted where she was. Mesmerized by the Strigoi’s eyes, her mind went blank. Fighting a Strigoi once again. After a night of battle, she hardly felt prepared to fight off another Strigoi.

He bared his fangs suddenly, his intent to kill Delilah clear in his demonic eyes.

“Alex…” Delilah croaked.

The tortured call of her childhood nanny finally reached deep into her consciousness, spurring her into action. Driven by the urgency of the moment, she grabbed a broken tree branch and, without hesitation, speared the Strigoi with less effort than she expected.

Still gasping for air, Delilah brought her hands to her sore throat and watched the young man crumble into nothing more than a pile of dust. “What took you so long?” she asked, trying to catch her breath. In the moment the question came out, she shook her hand and waved the question away. “Never mind. I’m just glad you finally came around. I was ambushed and tricked. He had a human helping him who carried holy water and a silver blade. I thought the human was in trouble, but when I got close, she threw holy water on me and stabbed me with silver. Before I knew it, that Strigoi was at my throat.”

“I didn’t expect to see you here and…”

“I know. And I didn’t expect to be attacked. The bastard was strong and a little more cunning than I expected. We’d been going at it for almost an hour when you arrived.”

Alexis looked at the small pile of dust on the ground. She knew she’d had no choice. She couldn’t just stand by and let him kill Delilah. But still… the thought of having to kill another vampire did not appeal to her.

Still staring at the pile, Alexis sensed Delilah’s close presence then the warmth of her arm as Delilah wrapped her arm around her. “Even after a huge night of fighting, you still have the speed, agility and wherewithal to save my life.”

“Sorry I froze for a second there.”

“You know, we’d make a great team. Why, we could eliminate Strigois in no time. I bait them in and you stake them.”

“The bait and stake… how quaint.” Though she tried to sound nonchalant, Delilah’s words of praise greatly affected her. She could hardly remember the last time someone had congratulated her. All Sadie ever did was complain and criticize.

Delilah gave her a tight hug and Alexis was a young girl all over again, only now she’d finally become the favored one.

“Are you out here alone?” Delilah asked. “Where’s Sadie?”

The euphoria evaporated at the very sound of her sister’s name. Why was everyone so concerned with Sadie?

“She’s home. She’s not big on these late-nighters.” Alexis backed away, trying to hide her disappointment. “Besides, she has Ashwin to keep her busy tonight.”

“Ashwin? Are you sure?”

“Well, he was there when I left the house and he certainly didn’t seem to be in any rush to leave. As a matter of fact Ashwin was all over Sadie when I left them.”

“Alexis, we can’t leave them alone. We have to hurry back.”

“Why? They were more than happy to see me leave.” Though she caught the alarm in Delilah’s eyes, she couldn’t imagine what could be so urgent. Sadie wasn’t that naïve in the ways of men.

“Why?” Delilah shot back. “Why? For crying out loud, Alexis. Ashwin isn’t there on some social call. He was sent by Skars to lure you and Sadie.”

It was her turn to be alarmed. “What?”

“Alexis, he was sent all those years ago to turn you. It was all Skars’ doing. All part of his plot.”

“Everything he did? Everything he said? It was all to…?”

“He’s good at what he does. It’s all so effortless for such a man as charming as he is.”

“But tonight, as he looked in Sadie’s eyes… he was so…” The pain of this betrayal was like no other. Thoughts of intimate moments wrapped in his arms returned to haunt her. Tears welled in her eyes, not only for her, but for Sadie. Sadie was so innocent and trusting. “How could I not have known? How did I not see it?”

Delilah nodded knowingly as she grabbed Alexis by the arm and dragged her out of the park. “I’d love to explain it all to you, but we really have to move it. Once Skars gets a hold of Sadie, saving her will be virtually impossible.”

The few seconds it took to get home felt like an eternity. For all her free spirited ways, Alexis did care about Sadie, more than Sadie would ever know.

From the sidewalk she saw the front door was open and felt a sinking sensation in her gut.

“Sadie,” Alexis shouted as she ran inside. “Sadie!”

She rushed to her sister’s bedroom and back into the kitchen. There was no sign of her. Returning to the living room, she saw Delilah with Sadie’s purse in her hands.

“No,” Alexis said, shaking her head and refusing to believe she was gone.

“He’s already taken her.”

Chapter 6

Sadie watched the streetlights flash by them as they veered off onto the highway and headed out of town. Ashwin’s car was comfortable and warm, just like his embrace had been. How long she’d yearned for that warm kiss. How desperately she’d wanted to find herself as she was now, alone with him.

It had all happened so fast, she’d not even had time to leave word to Alexis. Smiling, she stared out at the darkened horizon, her skin still tingling at the thought of that heated kiss.

When she’d pulled away from him, his eyes had been filled with such longing, such desire, she never wanted to be separated from him again.

“Do you realize just how special you are to me, Sadie,” he’d asked as his hands had played through her hair. He leaned into her, pressing her to the wall.

“You’ve always left me so confused, what with Alexis and…” Her gaze had left his a moment as she once again thought of her sister. She didn’t want to compete with her. She didn’t want to have to claw her way past Alexis in order to truly win over the affections of this man.

“Alexis could never compare to you, never compare to what you mean to me. You know, for years Skars tortured me. You wouldn’t believe what he put me through. But every time I closed my eyes, it was your angelic smile that came to save me. I can’t count the number of times I thought I’d reached the bottom, the lowest of the low. Skars did everything he could to harden me like all his other Strigois.”

Her heart pounded as she listened to him, wanting more than anything to belong to him. So prevalent was that need that she barely took note of what he’d just said.

“I knew I’d see you again someday. I knew I’d find you. That thought alone is what kept me sane. You kept me from turning into the monster Skars so desperately wanted me to become.”

Though her lips were still warm from his touch and her body ached to get closer still, she pushed him back to look at him, finally allowing her mind to completely process what he was telling her. “You're a Strigoi?”

“You could say that, but I’m not your stereotypical Strigoi. Despite Skars’ every attempt, my mind proved to be a greater opponent than he’d anticipated. The depravity, bloodlust and ruthlessness he fosters among his followers escaped me, though he’s convinced he has me exactly where he wants me.”

“Skars sees everything.”

“Not what’s in my heart, Sadie. He has no idea how you’ve touched me and how your gentle soul saved mine.” He leaned in to kiss her, deep, powerful and all consuming.

Her heart floated on air and the world no longer existed. His hands, his lips, his tongue; it was all more than she’d ever imagined it could be. Though gentle and patient, his every touch held restrained hunger and desire. She could just feel it, hear it and taste it.

Sensations rushed through her veins, bringing her body to life for the first time in her eternally long life. Was this what love felt like, she wondered. If so, she wanted to love him, now and forever.

For the moment, consequences were inconsequential, tomorrow didn’t matter and her whole world was in Ashwin’s hands.

When he pulled away, she leaned into him, wanting more, needing to lose herself in his kiss. The absence of his lips over hers left her cold and hungry. The embrace had been far too short and far from fulfilling.

“Come with me,” he said through heavy breaths.

“Now?” She looked at him, wondering if she’s heard right. “Where?”

“One of my favorite places here in California. It’s my private little heaven on earth and I want to share it with you.”

“But Alexis. She’ll be back soon and she’d probably want to come…”

He held her close and she knew she would follow him anywhere.

“I want to be alone with you. Completely and totally alone. I want this to be a special time for just you and me.” He teased her with a soft and warm kiss. “As fond as I am of your sister, as charming and delightful as she can be, it’s you I love. It’s you I want to be with, alone.”

She looked at him, wanting so badly to believe every single word.

“I love you, Sadie. The moment I saw you with Keegan… The moment I saw how you looked into his eyes, I knew I couldn’t let you slip away.”

The mention of Keegan’s name brought back the dire situation he found himself in. How could she have been so selfish as to lose herself in Ashwin’s kiss while Keegan was living unbearable torture? “Ashwin, we have to save Keegan. He’s being held by Skars and I have to get him away.”

“You can’t do that, Sadie. It’s more dangerous than you realize. Please promise me you won’t try to help him. Promise me you won’t even get close to Skars.”

“I have to, Ashwin. I can’t just leave him there. If something happened to him…”

“No. I can’t let you do it. I won’t. You may not be too pleased to hear that, but I can’t let you go after Keegan.”

“It’s been a while since you’ve seen me. I’ve learned to take pretty good care of myself over the years. You’d be surprised to see the capable fighter I’ve become.”

“As well as that may be, this is outside your realm. Skars has set a trap. All he needs to do now is wait for you to fall into it. I won’t let him win… not with you.”

“And what will become of Keegan. Am I to live with his death hanging over my head for all eternity?”

“You don’t need to worry about him, I promise.” He shifted and looked away a moment, suddenly seeming unsure and edgy. When he returned his gaze to her it was with fierce determination in his eyes, though he was clearly agitated. “I set him free.”

“What? How did you…?”

“Considering he’s my greatest rival, I knew I had to do it.”

“How did you get close enough to him to help release him?”

“I didn’t so much release him as I simply allowed him to think he’d fought his way free.”

Sadie tilted her head quizzically.

“I’ve known Skars for a long time. He trusts me. When I went in to see Keegan, to discuss his fate with him, I knew we’d be alone. Skars never did like getting too involved with this aspect of his plot. After a brief discussion with your charming young Keegan, our exchange became somewhat heated. Then it simply came to fists. Too much testosterone for one little room.”

“Did you hurt him?”

“Not as much as he did me. I wanted to set him free, remember. I held back, though I did put on a convincing performance. Don’t worry. I don’t think I even bruised him.”

Sadie turned away a moment, confused by the conflicting emotions. She was concerned for Keegan. He’d come to mean too much to her these past months. But Ashwin… She’d clung to thoughts of him for so long. It was too heavenly being with him now.

Her gaze still at the floor, she turned to Ashwin and looked at his fashionable shoes. It just didn’t make sense. When she brought her gaze to meet him, she saw the love in his eyes, but was too concerned with Keegan to really take it in. “Why did you help Keegan?” she asked in a voice that was barely audible.

If he loved her so, why should he care about Keegan at all?

He cupped her cheek and thumbed the tender skin of her cheek. “Did you see how your eyes lit up when I mentioned his name? Have you heard the tremble in your voice since you’ve spoken his name? I would have to be quite a fool not to see how much you care for him. Should anything happen to him you would no doubt be devastated. I couldn’t let that happen.”

She smiled, touched by his sacrifice and selflessness.

“See that?” he said, his thumb running over her lower lip. “That smile. That perfectly angelic smile. That’s why I did it.”

Chapter 7

Keegan ran hard, eager to get out of Skars’ realm. Freedom felt good, as did the cool air of the night. Only when he reached the city limits did he slow the pace to a quick jog and finally to a brisk walk.

The church, his sanctuary, was just around the corner. He’d escaped Skars by proving himself stronger than that inept pansy. How Ashwin had come to be Skars’ trusted assistant was beyond him. The man was obviously ill equipped to tend to any adversary Skars could possibly face.

This brought about the question of Sadie and Alexis’ attraction to the silly little man. Could it be Ashwin’s distant ties to royalty? Were the girls even aware their chosen dandy was once a prince?

He doubted it. Just as much as he doubted their knowledge of Ashwin’s ties to Dracule. They probably didn’t know Ashwin was Dracule’s progeny, as was Delilah. They would surely be devastated were they to find out.

Sadie… He stopped walking a moment as his mind caught on a vision of her. Beautiful, wise, serene and so seemingly innocent. Yes, she seemed innocent enough, but… How did she come to be involved in such a miserable story?

Keegan had fought Ashwin off with such ease. Too much ease. Surely Sadie had not been attracted to the Lord’s strength and power, for he was sadly lacking in that department.

Ashwin had not even been smart enough to outwit him, yet Keegan knew how Sadie was drawn to those who showed intelligence. She’d allowed that man to turn her into a vampire… there had to be something that drew her to him.

That fight had been so easy, he mused, smiling as he took up his stride again. Almost as if Ashwin had deliberately allowed him to run. But no. With Skars undoubtedly breathing down that seedy little man’s neck, Ashwin wouldn’t be that foolish.

No, he’d gotten away from him based on his own ability to fight strong. Ashwin was simply growing old, showing signs of no longer being the fierce fighter that once kept him at Dracule’s side.

Keegan walked up the narrow steps that led to the side entrance of the church. His hand on the door handle, he stopped to take in one last cool breath of air. For the moment he had to set all thought of Sadie aside. For whatever reason, she’d fallen for Ashwin, and for now Keegan had to concentrate on the battle that was sure to come.

He pulled back the door and stepped inside, now completely safe in the one place a vampire would never transpire. The scent of candles and incense gave him that sense of comfort he’d always enjoyed. After spending a few hours bond to a chair and awaiting an unpleasant fate, it was good to know he was now back on his own turf.

A few long strides had him standing in the side aisle. Pews were empty and the only sound was the echo of his own steps. With reverence and a deep sense of gratitude he turned to the crucifix, crossed himself and turned back to take the stairs that led below the church.

To anyone who happened along, it looked like any administrative workplace. Computers were set up on several desks while filing cabinets lined the far wall. Each desk had a phone, a comfy chair and a print of the Virgin Mary pinned to the backboard.

But to Keegan, this was where wars were prepared for. He walked to the closet and pulled open the old oak door that still squeaked loudly. It never failed to grind on his nerves. A duster coat hung at the back and he quickly pulled it out and shrugged it over his shoulders.

“Ha,” he let out with a loud huff. The effect never diminished. Pulling the coat on could still bring a new sense of strength and invisibility. This duster, similar to the one he usually wore, the one Skars had promptly rid him of upon his capture, was as trusty as the strongest armor for all the confidence and power it brought to him.

No doubt Skars was aware of that fact. Responsible for Keegan’s immortality, Skars knew of all the weakness and strengths the young man had. After years as the most trusted hunter to the ultimate Strigoi, Keegan had developed a strange love hate relationship with the vampire, a sense of paternity.

After all, were it not for the twisted needs of that old vampire, Keegan wouldn’t even be alive today.

Today… a day that had shown Keegan just how evil Skars could be when he wanted things his way. The day when he would have to end the reign of the man who’d given him eternity.

If he didn’t succeed, Skars would not hesitate to terminate him, just as he’d done Dr. Franz. Up until that moment when his mentor’s lifeless body had been found, Keegan had all but forgotten about Skars and the years he’d hunted for him. Now, there was no way Keegan was going to meet the same fate as Dr. Franz.

In order to keep in Skars’ good favor, Keegan had to portray the faithful hunter he’d always been… and his first task was tending to Skars’ most annoying thorn in his side; Delilah.

He opened a filing cabinet to find dozens of bottles that contained holy water and shoved a few in his pockets. Several stakes were then shoved into the longer pockets that lined the inside of the duster and finally he clasped a crucifix hung on a chain around his neck and tucked the cross under his shirt.

Three long strides had him at his desk before a computer. A flick of the mouse and the screen lit up. He tapped in the coordinates he wanted and his screen came alive with the goings on at one of his hideouts. Before he returned outside and made a move, he wanted to be sure Skars hadn’t penetrated any of them.

The first, a shabby shack on the outskirts of town, looked clean, but he didn’t want to have to go that far. The second, the attic of one of the grandest mansions in town, also seemed undisturbed, but he knew the Morrisons were now back in town and heading there could be risky.

Then he turned to the surveillance camera he’d set up at Rusty’s Bar and Grill, a restaurant down by the beach. Keegan had known the owners for more years than he could count. From Europe, Martha and Frank had done everything they could to get as far away from Skars as they could. Vampires who truly did all they could to minimize their impact on human society, Keegan had spared them.

Poised to stake Frank, Keegan had hesitated as Martha had made an argument for their considerate and compassionate lifestyle. For once in his life, the only time in his hunting career, Keegan had turned his back to them and allowed them to escape.

Now, the surveillance camera was on Martha, pretty with her hair pulled back and her trim figure fashionably dressed in dark jeans and pale halter top. As she chatted with a customer, Frank passed behind her, lovingly patting her back on his way to greet the couple who’d just entered.

Frank was quick to shake the man’s hand and he nodded as he led the pair to a table. As they came closer and closer to the camera, Keegan’s eyes fastened onto the young woman with the long flowing blond hair.

She looked vaguely familiar, but he still only had an obscured view of her, thanks to an unhappy patron who vied for Frank’s attention. As soon as the annoying patron cleared the path, Keegan could plainly see how the young woman smiled and seemed happy, elated even. Her eyes never left her date, and her heart was clearly all his.

His recognition of the young woman came slowly, as though a dagger was piercing his heart at a torturously slow pace. He turned away, stood and walked around the desk before returning to shove his face before the screen again.

It couldn’t be. The resolution of the screen wasn’t optimal. Perhaps it was just a play of low pixel count. Or maybe the hours spent tied and bound had affected his eyesight in some way.

“Sadie,” he murmured as he brought his index finger to the screen and traced over her.

It wasn’t seeing her at Rusty’s that upset him so. It wasn’t even the fact that she was with that… that weasel, Ashwin. What killed him was that smile, full of love and admiration. She was literally melting in front of the man who’d kept him prisoner and had threatened him with the eternal life of a blood sucker. And she obviously didn’t doubt what her grand Lord was up to.

Keegan hadn’t foreseen Ashwin’s quick success in getting so close to Sadie. And he certainly hadn’t anticipated seeing Sadie so ecstatic about being with Ashwin. No doubt the old vampire held a wealth of charm that worked well on a young innocent like Sadie. Bringing her to Skars would be child’s play for such a master of the heart. Keegan could already see the smirk of victory on Ashwin’s face.

His response, from his toes to his fingertips, ran through to his heart with painful accuracy, surprising Keegan for all its intensity. He’d never been a man of the heart, a man to allow emotions to come into play. While he’d had his fair share of meaningless encounters over the years, no one had ever touched him. No one had ever come close to touching his heart.

Until…

“Damn it.” He slammed his fist on the desk as he watched Ashwin pull a chair out for Sadie. She gazed lovingly at him, coquette and absolute putty in the fallen prince’s hands. “Of all the men you could have… Why him? How could you possibly waste your time with him?”

Keegan closed his eyes a moment and reminded himself what he was dealing with. Sadie was a vampire. As attractive and pretty and wholesome as she was, as human as she appeared, as sweet and tempting as she could be, she was ultimately no better than any other bloodsucker out there.

As Martha came up to greet the happy pair, Keegan deliberately ignored the fact that she and Frank had proven vampires could lead sensible lives.

He clicked off the computer and stormed out of the office, stomping with anger as he made his way up the steps. He was ready for battle and questioning Sadie’s reasons for her choice in men would have to come later. For now he had to get to her before Ashwin succeeded in luring her to her own demise.

As he reached for the handle and prepared to push the door open, he heard loud shuffling outside. He froze. Already? He knew word of his escape would reach Skars quickly, but he’d made the rookie mistake of thinking he’d have ample time to go safely into hiding.

Backing to the wall beside the door, he pulled a stake out and prepared for a quick kill. The door creaked open, slow and hesitant, as if the intruder knew of the danger that lurked inside.

The dark figure, lean and tall, entered, his nostrils taking in a long and loud intake of air. In the time it took for Keegan to raise the stake and prepare to plunge it deep into the intruder’s heart, the lean figure turned and gasped at the sight of the raised stake.

“Keegan,” the young man shouted. “It’s me, Ethan.”

“Crap, Ethan.” Keegan let the stake fall to his side, but his fingers still grasped it tightly. “I could have killed you. What are you doing sneaking in here like that?”

“Man, I’ve been looking for you everywhere. So many of our men were down, I was sure you were among them. Or worse still…”

“How are they all?”

“Despite fatal wounds, despite mutilation, every man is back on his feet and ready to fight again. All except one. I’m afraid we’ve lost Drew.”

Keegan nodded thoughtfully as he gazed at the floor. While it always pained him to hear of the loss of one of his men, he was grateful it wasn’t worse than that. When he’d left the park he’d felt certain a dozen or more men had lost their lives to that battle.

“There was so much blood everywhere,” Keegan said. “I thought I’d lost them all.” He looked up to see Ethan smiling, eager to respond.

“You won’t believe me.”

“Try me.” Keegan tried to hide his exasperation.

“A vampire, a woman, she went around, with lightning speed. So fast I was barely able to make her out, barely able to see her for the most part, but she was there, like some dark angel sent to give a second chance to the fallen and fatally wounded.”

“A dark angel? What are you talking about?”

“I’m saying she brought them back to life. She mended the wounded, stopped the blood from flowing. She saved your army, and she used her own blood to do it.”

Keegan chuckled, at first with disbelief, but then he realized who his young friend was speaking of. There could only be a handful of vampires who had that ability. One of the Ancients.

“I thought that Master Vampire, Skars, was the only one capable of doing that, but I swear, this vampire was a woman. She moved fast, but she had curves. Definite curves, and in all the right places.”

“For crying out loud, Ethan. You’ve seen a woman before…”

“Yeah, but this one… in a black cat suit, and man did she fill it out.”

Keegan reached for the door. “That was Delilah.” The very vampire he’d been sent to America to hunt down. Skars had been explicit in his orders; kill Delilah. “After all these years she’s finally decided to show herself. I wonder what brought her out.”

“What does all that mean?” Ethan frowned.

“It means a shift in power is underway.” Keegan stood motionless, pensive as the information was absorbed. Delilah… he’d searched far and wide for her, fastidiously going to the furthest corners of the earth whenever he got a lead. And now she was here, practically under his thumb. “We’re on the cusp of a major war, Ethan. A war that will change things for humans everywhere.”

If Skars won, there would be a worldwide feeding frenzy. As Dracule’s second in command, Delilah was no doubt preparing to tear Skars down.

“Dracule’s rules,” Keegan said softly, as though afraid to speak his thoughts aloud. “If Skars wins, he’ll shred those old vampire laws to pieces. We’ll all be reduced to living in utter chaos.”

Ethan pulled a stake out from his jacket lining. “We’ll fight them. We’ll kill them all.”

Keegan put his hand to Ethan’s shoulder. Though pleased to see how zealous the young man was, this battle had to be waged with thorough planning and precision. “If the Strigois change Dracule’s rules, battling them will no longer be the same. Our strategy will have to change. Today the ratio of Strigois and vampires is manageable, just barely. But when that balance shifts to the other side, how will we keep up?”

Ethan stared blankly at him.

“Dracule’s voice of reason,” Keegan whispered. “His offsprings.” He had to get to Sadie.

“Dracule had offsprings?”

“Sadie and Alexis.” Despite his hatred for vampires, he knew Sadie had a kind and gentle heart. He’d spent too much time with her and he kicked himself now for having ignored it for so long. His desire to rid the world of vampires had blinded him to the woman she truly was.

And Alexis… She had a rough edge and was a tough girl, a girl with too much to prove, but beneath that harsh veneer Keegan knew there was a real girl with a heart.

Ethan’s lips parted, prepared to question further, but Keegan had lost enough time. He rushed out to find Sadie.

Chapter 8

Sadie smiled as Ashwin took her hand and examined it closely.

“How lovely you are, Sadie. Right down to your fingertips.” He brought each finger to his lips. “Lovely and delicious.”

He was even more charming and romantic than she remembered. Or had she matured, now more able to take in and appreciate how he treated her?

When he’d suggested this restaurant, she’d thought it peculiar; after all, vampires didn’t traditionally eat food as humans did. They had no need for it, though some did enjoy the culinary delights some humans concocted.

But beyond the food, it was the location that impressed her, right on the beach. And the atmosphere, cozy, yet lively, casual, yet so romantic, and that touched Sadie so. It felt very grown up being there, and being with Ashwin only added to that sense of a truly grown up and mature relationship, the kind she’d grown up watching with her parents.

“I can’t believe that you're back, a hundred years later, and you're still just as charming as ever.”

He kissed the back of her hand. “I’m sorry I’ve not been around. I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you all this time. No doubt you’ve discovered how difficult it can be to maintain a stable home life when you have dozens, if not hundreds, of hunters chasing you down. We can’t always go where we please.”

“I didn’t mean to make it sound like an attack, Ashwin. I’m just happy to see you again, happy you finally found us.”

“Skars made it imperative I find you. His plan to get his hands on you pressed me to find you before he could.”

Sadie leaned in closer and whispered, “Do you really think it’s safe to talk openly of Skars? His men are everywhere.”

“This restaurant is a safe haven for vampires such as you and I. Skars’ men would be easily recognized and refused admittance here.”

“How do you know all this?”

He winked, squeezed her hand and smiled knowingly. “I know the owners, and I also know their opinion of Skars. They don’t let on at all, but Frank and Martha are vampires.”

Sadie’s jaw fell slack as she glanced toward the bar to see the pair pass each other, each reaching out to gently touch their partner. “They’re vampires?” She glanced skeptically at Ashwin. “Then why did they let you in? You work for Skars.”

“I told you. I’m not truly in alliance with Skars. Sure, to the outside world, I’m Skars’ number one man. Even Keegan is convinced of that. But here…” He glanced around, his gaze resting briefly and affectionately on Martha. “They know who I really am, and they know where my allegiance lies. I’ve known them since our years in Europe and they are just as dedicated to Dracule as I am.”

It was all so much to take in. In such a short amount of time, so much had happened. The huge fight with Skars’ men, the return of Delilah, blood in a container… and Ashwin.

Had a day passed without thinking of him these past years? She knew she’d dreamt of him often, each dream different in location and context, but the sense of the dream always the same; he’d come back to claim her.

She’d always awakened, alone and feeling lonelier for having sensed him so close only to awake to an empty room.

And now he was here, his flesh warm against hers, his eyes deep and soulful.

“Do you trust me, Sadie?”

“You’ve be gone for so long.”

“If you are to survive, you must trust me.”

“I trusted you then. I would have given you my world, and yet you…”

“I’m a powerful man, Sadie. My ties to Dracule and obligation to Skars secured me a great deal of power, but it was not enough to overcome what kept me from you all these years. The demands of fighting for Skars didn’t afford me the luxury of coming to find you before now.”

“How long before you simply vanish again?”

“Sadie,” he said, bringing her hand to his lips. “I’m here for you now, and I have no intention of going anywhere. Please, trust that I have your best interest at heart. Trust that I will do all I can to protect you from Skars. I have every intention of keeping my promise to Dracule.”

“Dracule?” Sadie repeated. Again, he was going back to Dracule. How was he tied to Dracule?

“Yes,” Ashwin said. “Or, as the Americans say, Dracula.”

Startled, Sadie sat back as a young waitress came to take their order. She could barely make out what Ashwin said as he ordered for them.

“You okay?” he asked once the waitress left them alone again.

“It’s been such a hyped up myth. And unbelievable legend.”

“You do know you’re his descendants, don’t you?”

Staring blindly at the blue tablecloth that covered the small table, Sadie nodded, shook her head, then nodded again. “Yes,” she said softly. “Well, we didn’t really believe it.”

Ashwin leaned forward, urging Sadie to look at him.

“Delilah told us, Alexis and I, but… It was just so farfetched, so unbelievable. We didn’t argue, and perhaps Alexis believed it right away, but I just… it doesn’t make sense.”

“I admit there is something rather amusing about the Stoker/Dracule connection.”

“Yes. Father’s brother was always thought to have such a fertile imagination. The fabrication of such a beast, such a man. He knew how to reach inside the heart of every woman and create immense fear all while…” Her voice trailed off as she thought of the romantic mystique that so surrounded Dracule.

“All while evoking primitive emotions many women refused to admit.”

She smiled, remembering the number of times she’d heard young women yearning to be bitten, yearning for the touch of a man such as Dracule.

The book may have been romanticized, the man not so much. Dracule was far more intent on maintaining the power he had over the vampires he ruled than seducing young women.

“Mother and Father. What was their connection to Dracule? How did we come to have such normal parents?”

“Dracule wanted you to be raised away from the lifestyle he was condemned to. He knew of your mother through the hired help he had at his manor. She was newly married then, and, sadly, barren. Her misfortune turned out to be the answer to Dracule’s problem.”

“If he did all he could to ensure we would be raised as normal human beings, why did you turn us? Isn’t that contradictory to what Dracule wanted for us?”

“I’ve questioned that a thousand times. But you were about to die, Sadie. That night, at the fire, your breathing was shallow, your pulse barely distinguishable, and help was miles away. Would Dracule prefer I allow you to die, right there in my arms, while I held within my power the ability to give you immortality? Perhaps, but I wasn’t about to allow it to happen. I couldn’t.” He closed his eyes, his lips pressed into a pensive and solemn line. “I loved you already then. It was selfish of me, I know, but I didn’t want to let you go.”

Sadie brought her hand to his cheek and traced a line over his jaw and down his neck. “I’ve often been confused about the sudden transformation Alexis and I underwent. We had no guidance, no way of knowing what we were meant to do, to be. And, yes, there have been moments I wished I’d never met you, but…” She nodded as she thought of the years since she’d last seen him. “I’ve more often found myself thankful. I don’t bemoan the fate I met. I’m grateful.”

He looked at her, his love evident and clear.

“You turned Alexis, too,” Sadie went on. “Did you love her as well? Do you love her?”

Ashwin cocked his brow and smirked. “I’ll admit I may have been confused for a while. Your sister could be very convincing when she chooses. But, no, I’ve never loved her, and I think she’s always known it. I think it’s what pushed her to get my attention all the more. You know your sister. Never one to be outdone, least of all by you.”

He knew her all too well, Sadie thought as she smiled back at Ashwin.

“Besides, I thought it would be best if you had someone with you through your existence as a vampire. Someone you knew and loved. For all her flaws, your sister does love you and I knew she’d do all she could to protect you. I would say she has succeeded on that point. You're just as pure and innocent as the day I left you.”

“Well, I appreciate the thought, though living a hundred years with Alexis hasn’t always been easy. Yes, she has been at my side for many battles, but she has continually entered and left my life over the years, disappearing for months on end only to reappear without warning, and sometimes bringing along a new danger of her own. She protected me all right, but often from the very trouble she brought on herself.”

The waitress arrived with a bottle of wine and a plate of bite size morsels to sample. Her gaze was intently set on Ashwin’s face, her attraction to him undeniable. She offered a seductive smile that bordered on offensive, as far as Sadie was concerned. After all, Ashwin was with someone. Didn’t the young woman have an ounce of respect for another woman’s man?

“Thank you,” Ashwin said with a smile.

The young woman lingered a moment longer than necessary, her eyes riveted to Ashwin’s smile.

But Sadie saw in Ashwin’s grin what the young woman was unable to detect. Sadie knew that smile. She’d seen it thousands of times over the years. That same smile came to the vast majority of vampires who’d unexpectedly stumbled upon an easy meal. The young woman was in for a surprising turn of events as the evening progressed, Sadie thought.

“I believe I may have heard of a few of Alexis’ adventures,” Ashwin said when the young woman finally stepped away. “It’s amazing she has survived for so long.”

“Tranquility simply does not suit my sister. Where I cursed my fate, she embraced it. And where I attempted to make the most of the power I had, she sought only to abuse it. She managed to walk the line for a long time, but of late her penchant towards…” Sadie’s gaze followed the retreating waitress.

“I know.” Ashwin squeezed Sadie’s hand, redirecting her gaze back to him. “Don’t mind her,” he said with a reassuring smile. “The owners here are quite aware of vampires’ need for a meal from time to time.”

“I understand completely.” She felt a blush rise to her cheeks, just as she felt an ounce of insecurity in light of the attractive young woman’s persistence. She didn’t want to be one of those jealous and possessive women, but…

“You’ve grown unbelievably beautiful since I’ve last seen you. That young wench has nothing on you.”

“I didn’t mean to…”

“Besides, I’d say you have your own share of admirers.”

Frowning quizzically, she looked at Ashwin then followed his gaze to the band of young college men hanging around the bar, looking her way. While two were quick to turn away, one smiled brazenly at her and another even raised his mug of beer.

Apparently, Ashwin’s presence was no deterrent to these men.

“I’m a very lucky man, Sadie.” Ashwin brought her hand to his lips then pressed it to his cheek. “And they all know it. What man wouldn’t want to be in my shoes?”

“Young college men,” Sadie said with disenchanted shrug. “They’ll jump on any skirt that moves.”

The slow, delicious smile that came to Ashwin’s lips made Sadie thankful she was seated. Her knees would surely have abandoned her. And as his gaze touched her eyes, nose, lips then dipped to the opening of her blouse before returning to her eyes, she felt certain she would succumb to him right then and there.

“Look around you, my love. How many other women here are attracting as much attention as you are?”

He leaned in closer, and closer. She felt his breath, saw the sparkling specs of green in his eyes and heard the yearning groan that rumbled in his chest before rising to his throat. “I will devour you before the evening ends,” he whispered.

His lips brushed across hers and for a moment Sadie felt overly conscious of her surroundings. Not one to favor public displays of affection, she felt the disapproving eyes of patrons on her.

“No doubt those young men wish they could…” He brushed his lips over hers teasing her with a touch that was delicate yet possessive.

As Ashwin’s lips pressed over hers, devoured her and pull her in, body and soul, the people around her, as well as their opinion of her, became insignificant.

Though seated beside one another, their small table was suddenly an annoyance. She wanted to climb over him, straddle him, get closer, obscenely close. She wanted to feel his warmth, feel the touch of his hands over her skin. She felt him deepening his kiss until she could feel his fangs against her tongue. How wonderful it would be to just let go and let him ravish her.

When he pulled back, she sighed her disappointment, eager to taste so much more of him.

“Let’s get out of here,” Ashwin said, getting up and holding out a hand to her.

Giggling and feeling sinfully alive for the first time in a long while, Sadie stood, her hand securely in his as she followed him outside. “I thought you were hungry.”

He stopped, turned to her and cupped her cheeks. “I am,” he said in a deep rich tone that melted any remaining reserve she had. “More than you can imagine. The innocence that once enveloped you has now turned into burning passion. I must admit, the slight reserve I still sense in you has me eager to seduce you, while the passion that burns at your fingertips leaves me dizzy.” Ashwin’s genteel way with words left her reeling. He was of a time of romance and dreams…a time when men were gentlemen and women were ladies in speech and behavior. He made her feel like a princess, like she was the only woman in the world, precious and desired.

With fierce determination Ashwin led her to his car and, once inside, she found herself wrapped securely in his arms, strong, possessive and unrelenting. She wanted to lose herself in that embrace, to fill her senses with every ounce of him.

“How I’ve waited to have you, Sadie. How I’ve anticipated the woman you’d become; passionate, fiery and wanton.” His lips burned over her ears and down her neck.

“Well, the years have brought about a degree of maturity and…” Her voice trailed off as she realized what had unleashed the passion she now felt. That night with Keegan. She’d been so intent on showing herself to be just as sexy and arousing as Alexis, she’d thrown herself at Keegan.

Though Ashwin’s lips played over her skin and returned to taste her mouth, her mind’s eye was filled with images of Keegan. With an increasingly heavy sense of guilt weighing in on her, Sadie was about to pull away from Ashwin when he suddenly stopped kissing her and pulled back.

She stared at him. Had he read her mind? Could he sense how her sentiments had suddenly shifted?

His eyes were distant, hard and defiant as they stared over Sadie’s head and out the passenger door window. She turned to find the source of Ashwin’s sudden anger and the blood drained from her face as she turned to face Keegan.

Chapter 9

“Keegan,” she whispered in disbelief. “He really did escape.”

“It pains me to know you didn’t take me on my word.”

Shocked and barely able to breathe, she turned to Ashwin. “You're one of Skars’ men. I just…”

“I’ve lied to Skars more times than I care to count. But you… You're the pure-hearted one. The Angel. I would never lie to the one destined to give vampires hope in their battle against Strigois.”

While relieved to see Keegan alive and well, knowing he’d seen her in Ashwin’s arms, with Ashwin’s lips all over her left her feeling unsure. She glanced sidelong at Keegan as he stood a few feet away from Ashwin’s car. He seemed calm and sure of himself as he waved them out to see him.

He didn’t appear angry, Sadie noticed with disappointment. She knew their relationship had never truly been solid, but still. Didn’t it bother him that she was in another man’s arms? Didn’t he care at all?

Then again, he was a hunter; a hunter whose duty it was to kill vampires, including herself.

“What do I do?” she asked Ashwin, her gaze still on Keegan as she tried to analyze his emotions. His eyes hardened, but was it with anger for the scene he’d just witnessed or his hunting instincts kicking in?

“Well, we could ignore him.” Ashwin’s tone was heavy with his intent and his hand was already at the ignition. “I certainly would like to continue where we were. However, if confrontations are more to your liking, we can get out and go to him, though he doesn’t exactly appear to be in a talkative mood. He’s just as likely to stake me the moment I get within arms’ reach.”

Ashwin took a tight hold of Sadie’s hand, making her all the more aware of the dangerous situation they could potentially be facing.

“And seeing how he doesn’t look too happy with you, I’d say you run the risk of meeting with a stake quickly enough, too. We should just get out of here and continue having a pleasant evening. Fighting wasn’t really in my plans for tonight.”

“I can’t just leave. I have to talk to him. At least let him know how happy I am to see he’s okay. Maybe let him know that I’m okay as well.”

“He’s a well-trained hunter who’s just as likely to stake you as he is to hear a word you have to…”

Sadie was out and heading toward Keegan before Ashwin could finish cautioning her. She knew Keegan. He wouldn’t hurt her. However as she focused on Keegan, her heart suddenly began pounding with unexpected violence. It was not with the strong emotions he’d so easily brought about many times before, but with fear. His gaze was harder than she’d ever seen, even on the night of the battle.

Before she could reach Keegan, Ashwin was out of the car and at her side.

“Ashwin,” Sadie hissed. “You don’t have to chaperone me. Keegan won’t touch me.” Silently, however, she thanked Ashwin for staying close.

Keegan’s eyes steeled and his hand went to the stake at his belt as Ashwin approached.

“Keegan, I wanted to talk to you,” Sadie said, hoping to soften his stance. “Ashwin has no desire to harm you. And you know how I feel about you. I’d never do anything to put you in harm’s way.”

A long silent moment followed as the men eyed each other. Tension became palpable and Sadie felt one of them may explode at any moment. Would Keegan really stake Ashwin? Would Ashwin have time to fight back, perhaps kill Keegan?

Keegan took a step closer to Sadie and she had to fight to remain immobile. Her breathing became weighted with fear of his next move. Though he was still a few feet away, she could feel him, feel the heat of his skin, even through his duster. She sensed the tension, the anger, and through it all, she thought she sensed his pain.

“Don’t let him get too close, Sadie. He’s a hunter and you're his prey. Don’t fall into his trap.”

Sadie hated to admit that Ashwin could be right. She could be in danger. Keegan had a mission. Could he forget all they’d gone through and simply decide to go through with his orders to kill her? “Will you? Will you stake me, Keegan?”

“If I’d intended to stake you, Sadie, I’d have done so already.” Keegan’s eyes never left Ashwin. “He’s the one you should be wary of.”

“Touch her, Hunter, and you’ll have to deal with me.”

“She knows how I feel about her. She knows I’d never harm her. You, however. Does she know what your intentions are? Does she know what you owe Skars?”

“Who are you to speak of owing Skars? We all know how Skars has pushed you to kill Sadie, and I won’t just sit by and allow you to harm her.”

Keegan cocked his head to one side and snickered. “Who are you protecting, Strigoi? What has Skars asked of his most important henchman?”

Sadie turned to Ashwin. She knew of his connection to Skars, had listened to his explanation of that tie, had even believed him, but…

“Don’t listen to him, Sadie. I have to keep up appearances in order to do what I truly must. People, vampires, they must absolutely believe that my allegiance is to Skars, but it’s not.”

“I’m not going to let her take that chance. I’ve had plenty of experience with Strigois, Ashwin, none of it good.” Keegan closed the space between him and Sadie, and wrapped his arm around her waist.

She barely had time to feel the warmth of his hand on her than Ashwin moved in to push Keegan out of the way. His speed was such that Sadie didn’t see him coming and his approach so forceful, Keegan flew clear across the parking lot and hit the wall of the restaurant.

“Quick, get in,” Ashwin ordered as he grabbed Sadie’s arm, opened the car door and shoved her inside. Wasting no time, he jumped over the hood of the car, got into the driver’s seat and took off.

*********

The force with which he’d been thrown out of the way surprised Keegan, something that didn’t happen very often in his confrontations with vampires. As he watched Ashwin’s car turn the corner and disappear, Keegan struggled to get to his feet, shaking off a heavy sense of defeat.

Ashwin was an old vampire, almost as old as Delilah, and this rendered him incredibly powerful when he so desired. But he’d shown such weakness when Keegan had escaped Skars’ manor. Had Ashwin deliberately displayed a lack of strength? Had he intended to allow Keegan to slip away?

It seemed improbable, yet there was no other explanation.

Why? Strigois weren’t exactly known for their compassionate streak. Deliberately allowing a hunter to escape and protecting a young vampire from becoming a Strigoi just didn’t make sense.

Sadie could be safe with Ashwin, for now. But Keegan didn’t trust Ashwin to keep her safe for long.

He wanted to ignore how she made him feel. The fear, the pain and the need to protect her. She was a vampire. How had he found himself in the position of protecting a vampire so much?

The answer was all too simple, he thought as he took to the street and headed into town. She was an angel. Vampire or not, she was the kindest most generous person he’d even known. Many humans he’d known over the centuries didn’t have half the charitable nature Sadie constantly displayed.

In the distance he saw Ashwin’s car drive away. Sadie had turned to Ashwin and the sight of her gripped Keegan’s heart. That she be charmed enough to come to dinner with Ashwin was one thing. To end up in his arms, in his embrace, in his passionate kiss, Keegan simply couldn’t understand.

Over the years, much had been said about Ashwin and his ways with women. Some even claimed he was the original Casanova. An innocent and inexperienced girl like Sadie was all too easy for such a worldly man.

What lies he must have told her. What stories he would spin in order to have her exactly where he wanted her. For all he knew Sadie could already be in love with the centuries old rake.

For a moment Keegan considered chasing the car. He was fast and strong and could no doubt overtake the vehicle, but to what end?

No, he had to find a better strategy. He had to find a way to prove Ashwin’s motives weren’t as noble as he let on. Before Ashwin could lead Sadie to Skars, before Skars could turn Sadie into a Strigoi, Keegan had to win Sadie’s trust.

Chapter 10

“Wouldn’t it go faster if we could just pick up her scent and fly out to her?” Alexis said as she got into Sadie’s lime green VW bug.

Delilah looked annoyed and distracted as she opened the driver’s door and got in. Ashwin had already been with Sadie for far too long and she feared finding her too late. “They took Ashwin’s car, Alexis. Picking up their scent is virtually impossible. We’ll have better luck using the same mode of transportation they’ve used.”

Alexis wanted to argue, but then watched as Delilah tilted her head back and closed her eyes. She had one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the stick shift, both hands alternately gripping, tightening and releasing.

“They took an old deserted road to get down to the beach. Ashwin’s little sports car, silver, it’s in the parking lot. There’s sand in the lot, it’s that close to the beach.”

“I thought you said we couldn’t pick up their scent,” Alexis said.

“Their scent no,” Delilah said, her hands still gripping the steering wheel. “But I can trace their steps. I can feel Ashwin behind the wheel of his car and see the turns he took. I’m able to tap into Sadie’s thoughts as well, and she’ll lead us exactly where we need to be.”

“How do you do that?” Alexis was intrigued by this new ability. Vampires had many powers, but she’d never seen one who had the capacity to read a fellow vampire’s mind. She’d give anything to be able to tap into someone’s thoughts. What a powerful tool.

“It is a powerful tool,” Delilah said with a knowing smile.

“Hey,” Alexis complained. She’d not even spoken her thought aloud. “That’s not fair. I don’t want you using that ability on me.”

“Honestly, Alexis, I don’t have to work very hard to know what you're thinking. You're practically an open book most of the time.” Delilah turned the key in the ignition and headed out to find Sadie.

“So how can I learn to do it, then?”

“The sixth sense doesn’t often come easily to most vampires. I’ve always had an open and easy connection to Sadie. Even as a child, pre-vampire, I always knew what she was up to. Sometimes I think she intentionally called out to me.”

“But I have a blood bond with her. Why can’t I connect to her?”

“Like I said, it’s not that easy. A blood bond helps, yes, but all vampires can communicate if they put the effort and discipline into learning how.”

“I have plenty of discipline when I put my mind to something,” Alexis insisted.

“I don’t know, Alexis. You’ve always had this rebellious side to you. You never really wanted to learn much from me, remember? I don’t know if I have the patience to sit with you and try to get you to learn something.”

“I was a kid. What kid wants to learn from an in house tutor who is always on her back about something or other? I wanted to play and have fun. There were boys at the manor all the time and concentrating on history and numbers just wasn’t where my head was at the time. But I’ve grown, so much, so very much and I know I could master this if you’d just give me the chance to learn.”

Delilah drove safe and sure, but fast. “I guess there’d be no harm in showing you a bit more of what you can do with your vampire powers.”

“Great,” Alexis let out with more enthusiasm than she’d planned. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been excited to learn something. She glanced as her childhood tutor with new respect and admiration. This woman, attractive, strong and wise, had always intimidated Alexis far more than she’d ever let on.

Barely recognizing it as such, Alexis had always felt a rivalry, a competition with this beautiful woman who seemed to know everything and always had a word of wisdom to offer, much to Alexis’ annoyance.

Over the years Alexis had continued to compete with any other woman who ever entered her realm. Taken great pride in her body, she never missed an opportunity to ooze her sexuality around men, much to the chagrin of her sister and much to the disadvantage of other young women who only wished they could offer so much to a man.

Wherever she went, Alexis commanded male attention and held a possessive grip of that command. Perhaps it had always been her desire to outdo Delilah that had always pushed her.

But Delilah displayed more than simple sexuality. She combined sophisticated sensuality with confidence, self-assurance and intelligence.

“Thank you,” Delilah said with a pleased smile.

Alexis’ jaw dropped, but she quickly recovered. “Will you stop doing that?” Delilah had just read her mind.

“It’s all good, Alexis. You finally see me as a tutor rather than a rival. You’ve grown and matured, and that can lend well to your ability to master mind reading. Now stop fussing about the thoughts I pick up on and simply concentrate on what you really want to tell me. Keep your lips sealed and let your mind open and connect with mine.”

Alexis turned to Delilah and looked straight at her. How did you meet Dante?

“How did I what?”

Meet Dante?

Delilah smiled. I see he made quite an impression on you.

I’ll say.

“Well, actually he’s the one who found me.” Though her eyes remained on the road, it was clear her mind was elsewhere. Her smile betrayed her. “He knew I was a vampire. I guess he knew I’d be interested in what he was up to.”

Seeing the adoration in Delilah’s eyes, Alexis’ thoughts turned to the man she thought she’d loved; Ashwin. The aching in her heart gripped her. She’d never been weak enough to allow such silly emotions to truly affect her. Love was frivolous and meant for mere humans who were incapable of living alone. Love was for romantics who needed a fantasy to cling to. She was far too pragmatic. She lived in the moment, not on the hopes of a man’s love.

But when Ashwin returned, she realized she’d loved him far more than she’d even allowed herself to believe. Seeing him with Sadie, the love in his eyes, the tenderness of his touch as he’d held her, the softness of his voice as he cooed words of love and affection to her; it was unbearable.

She’d allowed herself to be turned, she’d become a vampire, she’d forsaken her life as a mortal all for the love of a man who loved her sibling. A heavy and pained sigh escaped her as she turned away from Delilah and looked out the window.”

“I know how you feel.” Delilah’s voice was as soft as the hand she lay over Alexis’. “Ashwin is one of the most charming men I’ve ever come across. Despite my years of experience, I almost succumbed to him myself… so many years ago. He has a cunning way with words, and a persuasive way with his touch. I dare say I believe I’m one of the few women who didn’t entirely fall for his ruse.”

“I fell for it all,” Alexis let out in a meek and tired voice she didn’t even recognize.

“I know.”

“And Sadie. My God what will he do to her?”

“I seriously doubt his plans have her wellbeing in mind.”

“She’s doomed, isn’t she?”

Delilah’s foot grew heavy on the accelerator. “Not if we can help it.”

Chapter 11

Sadie clung to the car door as Ashwin took to the highway with reckless speed. While the ocean below twinkled under the starlight, the road ahead was dark and riddled with quick curves and tight bends.

“Is it okay with you if we arrive in one piece?” Sadie asked, trying to keep the annoyance out of her voice.

“Sorry, dear,” Ashwin said, immediately pulling back on the accelerator. “I guess the whole encounter with Keegan has me shaken up.”

Though she hated to admit it herself, Sadie knew her mind was more caught up with seeing Keegan than Ashwin’s driving abilities. She thought she’d managed to put her feelings for Keegan aside. But seeing him again, seeing how he looked at her with pain, love, and confusion, brought her back to the memories she had of him before she knew he was a hunter. She thought she’d come to truly realize how much Ashwin meant to her, but now her heart was filled with the affection she felt for the young man she’d grown so attached to.

She’d long to touch him, just to reach out and take his hand, but Ashwin had been so quick, so adamant in keeping them apart.

“You didn’t really have to be so hard on Keegan.” The statement escaped her lips before Sadie could contain it. She could still see Keegan flying through the air from Ashwin’s force and she couldn’t help but wonder how he was doing.

He was strong, that she knew. No doubt he was back on his feet seconds after they’d departed. But emotionally. Was he aching as she was? Did he think of her as she did him? Did he long…?

“Here we are.” Ashwin’s voice cut into her thoughts.

After passing through a menacing-looking wrought iron gate, Ashwin pulled into an endless driveway. The estate seemed to go on forever as they passed by meticulously kept lawns, neatly trimmed hedges and towering oaks that blocked out the night’s stars.

Discreetly and strategically lit, the drive to the manor was mysterious and intriguing as shadows shifted amidst the trees, played hide and seek with bushes, all to finally culminate in the splendor of warm glow as Ashwin’s home finally came into view.

Sadie gasped, but bit her tongue before she could make an adolescent and juvenile remark. It was so unbelievably opulent. Her childhood notion of a fine lady’s manor house could not compete.

But when the garage door opened and Ashwin drove his Beamer and parked it between a black Porsche and electric blue Mercedes she couldn’t contain herself.

“My God, Ashwin. This is incredible.”

“Men and their toys, right?” He chuckled and killed the engine. “Men have invented many fascinating toys over the years. Many have helped mankind, some may have hindered, but the automobile… By far my favorite invention ever.”

“But there are so many.”

“Women love shoes. Men love cars.”

Sadie looked past the Mercedes to the white vintage Corvette and beyond to the bright yellow Hummer. The far wall of the garage was lined with a variety of motorbikes. And on the other side of the Porsche, a gold Bentley, red Lamborghini and a huge pearly white Cadillac pick-up truck.

“I can promise you that I don’t have as many shoes as you have cars.”

He reached for her hand and brought her fingertips to his lips. “We’ll have to remedy that, won’t we?” His eyes still fastened to hers, he opened the car door. “Come on. I’ll show you around.”

Stepping out of the car Sadie realized just how expansive the garage was. “This is a veritable showroom.” She caught a peek of an old Model-T, an exquisite Alfa Romeo and a sporty, emerald green T-Bird. Then she turned to see a dusty dark grey hatchback. “What is that?”

Ashwin chuckled. “Never mind.” He took her by the hand. “Come on. The house is far more enticing than the garage.”

“But, is that…,” she persisted, pointing to the car that simply didn’t fit in with the rest. For all the elegance and class of his cars, that odd looking hatchback was almost an eyesore.

“That’s from a time when I was experimenting. It simply reminds me of grand times.”

“In a Gremlin?” She squeezed his hand and giggled.

“It just so happened to be a very efficient car.”

“It’s nice to know.”

With a hint of concern, he glanced sidelong at her. “Nice to know?”

“For all the blue blood and refinement, you have a down to earth streak. It’s cute.”

“Cute,” he echoed wryly. “Now that’s not something I’ve heard often over the centuries.”

The door he pulled open allowed them into a wide and endless corridor. Paintings, sketches and prints from every era and every artistic trend littered the walls. Andy Warhol faced Picasso while Van Gogh shared a wall with an Egyptian print.

Again she was faced with Ashwin’s taste for the finer things in life as well as his whimsical side. “You love art as much as cars?”

“Almost,” he said. “You must understand, spending decades upon decades locked up in one of Skars’ darkest, dankest and dingiest dungeons has its effect on a man, on his moral, his will to live. Finding freedom, the scent of fresh air and seeing all that is truly magnificent in the world, it seemed I just couldn’t get enough of filling my life with every beautiful item I could get my hands on.”

Their gentle footfalls echoed increasingly louder on the marble floor as they entered the large front foyer. Gilded, sparkling, golden and ornate; everything spoke of the lavish, almost outrageous style the great Lord lived in.

“I didn’t even realize America had such sumptuous homes. This is a true palace. A castle a princess wouldn’t even dare dream of.”

A grand staircase, wide, sprawling and mesmerizing rose with elegant curves to the second floor.

“For all the grand rooms in this house, my favorite is this one,” Ashwin said as he led her down another hallway and pushed open a heavy oak door.

“Books,” Sadie gasped as her eyes darted from one heavily leaden shelf to the other. “This is glorious.”

“I thought you’d like it.” He guided her in, his eyes beaming with pride. “Far beyond the cars, the homes and the art, these are easily my most treasured possessions.”

Sadie shared his sentiment, falling in love with title after title as she perused the shelves. The world’s most famed authors were squeezed in together.

“Oh my,” Sadie shouted out. She tore her disbelieving eyes off the book to glance at Ashwin. His teasing smile told her he’d expected her to make such a find. “Ashwin, how did you get this?”

“I’ve waited for hundreds of years…”

With tears of joy, Sadie turned to the white leather bound book flanked by a brown tattered classic and a blood red bound thriller. Her fingers rose of their own volition, coming to gently touch the letters deeply embossed in the leather.

Reverence filled her, keeping her itchy fingers calm as she reached in to pull the book free of the shelf’s clutches. “It’s exactly the same, except…”

Narrowing her eyes, she turned the book over and tilted her head to the side as she tried to understand the slash that cut through the cover and clear through more than half the pages.

“I’ve been diligent in keeping it just as you’d left it. I sheltered it from the elements. I held it in safekeeping, ensuring no one else ever put their hands on it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t always able to keep my eye on it.”

“Pride and Prejudice,” she mumbled softly. “Jane Austen was my idol. This book was my bible.” Despite the wound her cherished book had suffered, she was overjoyed. With the same sense of wonder and excitement she experienced every Christmas as a child, she pulled back the cover and ran her fingers over the bookplate inside. Her name, in perfect adolescent cursive, was inscribed inside, just as she remembered.

“Are you pleased?”

She hugged the book to her chest. “Oh, Ashwin. I can’t believe you brought this back to me. But how were you able to save it from the fire?”

“You all but slept with this book clutched in your arms. I couldn’t resist swooping it up just as I swept you into my arms that fateful night.”

Still clinging to the cherished childhood possession, she turned to Ashwin, tears of joy and nostalgia welling in her eyes. “The last time I flipped through the pages of this book, I was human. I was at home, with my parents. My life was normal. I was normal.”

“You’ve gone through a lot since then.”

“I’ll say.”

“Enough to fill a book of your own, no doubt.”

She laughed, remembering her childhood dream of becoming a world renowned writer.

“We’ve always shared a love for the finer things in life; the arts, literature, cuisine. For years I’ve longed to see that look of pure joy as you once again found yourself with your favorite author. And now, I look forward to seeing that look of joy on your face day after day as we discover the world together.”

“You make it sound so romantic, Ashwin. But have you forgotten about Alexis?”

“Alexis has never had an appreciation for anything more refined than micro-brewed beer. If I’d had the mind to keep any memento from her childhood, it most likely would have been a lacy corset or frilly garter.”

Shocked, Sadie gasped. “Ashwin!”

“Are you willing to argue the point?”

She laughed and knew he was right. “Of course not, but the thought that you could say such a thing.”

“When was the last time you saw her pick up a book… any book?”

Sadie bit back a smile. “She joined my book club for a while.”

“Really?” His tone was more incredulous than intrigued.

“Of course she wreaked havoc over every encounter and her knowledge of the book that week was dismal. Actually it was non-existent.”

“You can’t expect everyone to be lured in by mere words the way you and I are.

“I know. I can’t imagine a life without books, yet Alexis can’t seem to last a day without causing trouble, or at the very least drama.”

Before she knew what had happened, Sadie found herself crushed against Ashwin’s chest as he pulled her into his arms and squeezed her tight.

“How I’ve missed you, Sadie. You're a breath of fresh air.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. “And your sister, well, you have no control over what becomes of her, no matter how much you try,”

Sadie nodded. “I know.”

“And you have to be able to find happiness in your own life.”

She knew he was right. “Let me read you my favorite passage.” She gently pulled back, but remained snuggly in Ashwin’s embrace. Happiness was at her fingertips as she flipped through the pages, the scent of the paper instantly bringing her back to Stoker Manor.

A scheme of which every part promises delight can never be successful; and general disappointment is only warded off by the defense of some little peculiar vexation.

Ashwin listened, intent, reverent and pensive. “Reading the words off a page is a pleasure in it of itself. To hear those words spoken from your lips is a privilege. Though I do question your choice of passage. Should I read any meaning into it?”

Smiling, she closed the book and brought it lovingly to her bosom. “I’ve just always thought there was something rather enlightening in her choices of words, in her point of view. Too many times I’ve anticipated promising delights only to be disappointed.”

“I’ll certainly do all I can to ensure the delights you anticipate in me don’t disappoint.”

“Oh, Ashwin,” she said. Her heart pounded under the sheer intensity of his gaze. Patting her hand over her cherished Jane Austen, she tried to cool the heat that sizzled between Ashwin and herself. “I can’t thank you enough for having saved this for me.”

“The book saved my sanity on more than one occasion. I clung to it, knowing that one day I would be able to share it with you. That thought alone kept me together.”

His eyes suddenly grew somber, dark and thoughtful as he tugged the book from her chest and fingered the slash. “It also literally saved my life.”

“Jane Austen saved your life?”

“That night after I left you, she was tucked into my vest. I’d forgotten all about it… that is until that hunter attempted to stake me. He had me. The surprise attack had taken me aback and I was a dead man. When he raised that stake, when I saw the determination in his eyes, I thought I’d never see another day. But your Jane Austen took the brunt of the strike.”

“Another reason for me to love her,” Sadie said as she snuggled up against Ashwin’s chest.

“She saved my life, but it’s my love for you that saved me from eternal damnation. I’m no different from all vampires in having a strong fear of that fate.” He pulled her closer, hugging her tight.

His love overwhelmed her. For years she thought his heart belonged to Alexis. The many times she had replayed various scenes from her childhood, Alexis had always come out the victor. She’d always held his gaze longer, always enticed him more easily.

Sadie lacked the abandon Alexis had. Reserved and quiet it was hard to compete with the tempest her sister often proved to be.

But now… Sadie pulled back and looked into Ashwin’s eyes. “Alexis would do anything to be with you,” she said. Part of her wanted to tempt and test him. Knowing that Alexis could easily be his, heart and soul, would he falter?

Staring up at him, her heart began to pound with deafening persistence as she awaited his response.

“Alexis may have held my curiosity for a moment, but you’re the one who has always, always had complete control of my heart.”

Her heart swelled, filled her senses and left her feeling dizzy. And when his lips pressed against hers, she was flooded with warmth and love as she never dared dream of.

“I have no doubts where my heart lies,” he whispered as he continued to pepper her eyes, cheeks and neck with passionate kisses. “Unlike Keegan, I know how I feel for you. I have no questions or hesitations.”

Overjoyed with the depth of emotions he was displaying, Sadie wanted to cling to the moment and never let it go. Being in his arms, in his embrace, in his kiss; it was where she belonged and where she wanted to be for the rest of her life.

Lord Ashwin, she thought. A prince and a man of the world. And he loved her.

“For years I’ve suffered at the hands of Skars, all for the purpose of seeing you again, being with you again. Pledging servitude to him is a small price to pay just to hold you in my arms.”

His lips enveloped hers and her head reeled from the pleasurable sensations he brought her. Was love always this wonderful? Was the tender embrace of a man always so welcoming and reassuring?

“But my true pledge is to you, Sadie.” He pulled back suddenly and held her gaze with fierce determination. “I want to do all that I can to keep you safe, and with Skars’ devilish scheme looming over you, it won’t always be easy.”

“Am I really in that much danger? I mean with so many vampires out there, why does he want me?”

“Your lineage precedes you. You can’t escape it, at least not entirely.”

“What do you mean, not entirely?”

“Alexis. You need to break away from her, cut off ties.”

“Ashwin, do you realize what you're asking me to do?”

“She can only bring you danger.”

“She’s my sister. I can’t abandon her.”

“She’s closer to the Darkness than you think, Sadie. I know you want to save her, and I admire you for that. Your love for her is commendable, but it may also be your downfall.”

“What do you propose I do? Just run off, without so much as leaving a word to her?”

“She’ll turn on you if you don’t.” He gripped her shoulders, his fingers digging in as he pressed on. “Stay with me, Sadie. Let me keep you safe. Let me keep you out of Skars’ clutches. Perhaps when it’s safe you can return to help Alexis, but if she turns on you, you’ll never be able to keep her from turning completely to the dark side.”

“Ashwin, I want to be with you so much, and for always, but…”

“Don’t say no, Sadie. Don’t turn me down, my angel.” He took hold of a lock of hair and twirled it around his finger. “My angel. The Angel Skars wants beyond anything. He’s out to get Delilah and there’s little I can do to save her. But you… You’ve no idea what he’ll do to get you. I’ve traveled through centuries and across continents to find you again. I can’t lose you, not to him. I can’t sit by and watch him destroy you.”

“You're scaring me, Ashwin.”

“Good.” His fingers continued to twirl the lock of hair while his eyes positively mesmerized her. “Good.”

Her lips parted and the words that emerged were not her own. “I know it’s not safe for me out there. I trust you, Ashwin. I know you’ll keep me safe.”

“Perfect,” Ashwin whispered. “But we don’t want Skars to suspect you're with me. He has to believe you're with Keegan.”

Chapter 12

It took a long moment for Keegan to finally relent and simply turn around. Watching Sadie leave with the likes of Ashwin killed him. He put his hand to the door handle of Rusty’s and pulled, unsure why he really wanted to enter the restaurant at all.

Frank was quick to come to him the moment Keegan sat at the counter, friendly and welcoming as usual.

“What can I do you for?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” Keegan smiled, but knew his heart wasn’t really in it. “I’m not really hungry.”

“Oh, I see.” Frank leaned in. “You're here about a particularly pretty blond.”

Keegan hid his surprise. “Sadie?”

“She’s the one, isn’t she?”

“You mean the Angel?”

Frank shot him an avuncular grin. “That and perhaps the girl who has really touched your heart.”

“I’m not exactly sure about that.” Keegan thought of Alexis, wondering if she could possibly be the Angel. Stranger things had happened. All her drama and rebellion could just be for show. Beneath it all, she could be the pure one, the angel amongst vampires. She certainly had the mouth to end the feud between Strigois and good vampires.

Alexis had helped him when he’d been attacked, even taking the time to bring him to the hospital. Not many aspiring Strigois would do that. Though he’d not known she was a vampire back then, he now realized how hungry she must have been that night, after all she’d been out to get a meal. Yet she’d shoved that aside in order to tend to his wellbeing.

It made sense. Somewhere in there, beneath the hard veneer and sharp tongue, was the little girl who sought approval and praise. She’d proved that night just how kind hearted she truly was. She hid it so well, this good little girl, but she could very well be an Angel, just like Sadie.

“Frank,” Keegan said, his heart heavy with the thought of Sadie lost out there with that weasel. “Sadie was in here with Ashley.”

“I believe his name is…”

“I know perfectly well what his name is. It just sticks to my tongue and refuses to emerge as it should.” Ignoring Frank’s amused grin, he brought more urgency to his question. “Why did you allow Sadie to leave with him?”

“You don’t see the whole picture.”

“Then enlighten me. Ashley is a Strigoi and when he strolled in here neither you nor Martha batted an eye. You didn’t alert me or any other hunter.”

“He may be a Strigoi, but…”

“What did he tell you to win such trust from you?”

“Don’t get on the defensive, Hunter.”

Keegan grinded his teeth on hearing Frank’s derogatory tone.

“I should be just as wary of you as Ashwin. You're our enemy, remember?”

Busying his hands with the folding and unfolding of a paper napkin, Keegan kept his gaze on the counter. He couldn’t argue that point with Frank.

“Ashwin is more than just an average Strigoi. He’s strong. Much stronger than you can imagine. Maybe it’s because he’s one of the Ancients before he went to Skars.”

“That hardly changes anything. He’s still a Strigoi.”

“Keegan,” Frank said softly as he leaned closer. “Ashwin saved Martha’s life.”

“I’m sure he had his own reasons for doing so.”

Taking a quick glance at Martha at the other end of the restaurant, Frank shook his head.

“She was on Skars’ death list. As one of Dracule’s followers, she was to be eliminated should she choose not to join Skars’ forces. Ashwin had her, right there in his clutches and of course Martha refused to have anything to do with Skars.”

“Let me guess, he let her go.”

“Yes.”

“Right.”

“That Bulgarian prince had a change of heart, Keegan, just like you did.”

“Perhaps it’s simply Martha who has an overpowering hold on everyone.”

Frank frown his lack of amusement at the remark. “You need to relax, kid.”

“Yeah, right. I’m trying to figure out what that wuss wants with Sadie and I should relax,” Keegan said with an annoyed smirk. “Other than charming her straight into Skars’ hands, I can’t see what he’s doing with her.”

“Maybe the same thing you're trying to do.” The soft feminine voice wafted from across the bar carrying an edge of wisdom with it.

Feeling the sudden wave of heat sneaking up on him, Keegan glanced at Martha who just looked at him with loving pity.

“You're not the only one to have noticed just how attractive she is,” she went on. “I think Ashwin could really be in love with her.”

“In love?” Keegan echoed in disbelief.

Her smile broadening as she approached, Martha came around the bar and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. “You know, Ashwin may actually be trying to protect Sadie from you.”

“Get serious.”

“You are a hunter, Keegan,” she argued. “You may be a lovesick hunter, but a hunter nonetheless.”

“So you really think she’s safe with him?”

“He’s not Skars,” Frank interjected. “If anything, he loathes Skars and everything he stands for. He’ll do everything he can to keep Sadie away from Skars.” Frank straightened up and looked at Keegan. “Besides, she didn’t really give me the impression of being a frail flower. Despite her delicate beauty, she looked pretty headstrong and capable. After all, she’s Dracule’s daughter. I bet she can stand up for herself well enough.”

“She may have the power of a vampire, but she’s not that strong. She needs protection, true protection. That pansy can hardly be trusted to be with Sadie.”

Martha giggled. “Trusted to protect her or trusted to simply be with her. I do believe you’re allowing a little green monster to take over, Keegan.”

“I have no time for useless emotions like jealousy. My only concern is in keeping her away from Skars.” The flash of an image of Sadie in Ashwin’s arms came to Keegan’s mind and he fought to keep from crumpling the tattered napkin he still nervously played with. Sadie wasn’t his girl. Despite what he’d seen in her eyes – the affection, longing and caring – he had made it clear to her they weren’t a pair.

“Opposites…” Martha whispered as her eyes rolled up to the ceiling.

“We’re a little more than simple opposites. We’re literally on opposing teams. She’s about as far from being the right type of girl for me as a girl can get. She may as well be the lamb to my cougar, the small fish to my shark, the…”

“Yeah, I see where you're going with all this, but that doesn’t change the fact that you love…”

Keegan’s mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t listen anymore to anyone around him...his mind was on Sadie. Her soft skin against his rough stubble. The silky long hair through his calloused fingers. She was everything he wasn’t… and everything he needed. Lord help him, he did love her, and he loved her with a fierceness he had never experienced. “I have to find her.”

“You better believe you do.”

Keegan would have recognized that sultry and raspy voice anywhere.

“And since you know where to look…”

The click of her heels sounded against the hardwood floor and every pair of eyes in the place turned towards the door. Keeping his cool, Keegan turned, unhurried and relaxed. He was not about to be frazzled by the likes of Alexis.

“Wah…” he uttered beneath his breath as he laid his eyes on her. Her jeans were virtually painted on and the delicate fabric of her sheer blouse fluttered angelically about her, all while revealing far too much of her devilishly toned body. Cleavage exposing part of her breasts, high, firm and enticing, beckoned him.

Damn it. How could she affect him so?

“Hey, baby,” a young college guy called out. “If you’re looking for some real action, I’m your man.”

No doubt accustomed to such attention, Alexis eyed the guy with cool reserve then directed her gaze and stride to Keegan.

“Ah, come on, honey,” another college student called out as he wrapped his arm around two obviously inebriated buddies. “We’re here to party. Join the fun.”

Though she refused to look their way, Keegan saw the curve of pride at the corners of her mouth.

“Afraid we’ll be too much for you, sweetie?” The tallest one among the young group called out.

Keegan recognized them from earlier when they’d ogled Sadie. Did they realize they were now all over her sister?

“Maybe she’s more of a prude than she’s let on,” the drunk called out. “Tease!”

“Yeah,” his buddy shouted. “Tease.”

“Tease,” they all shouted in unison.

Her gaze shifted. It was almost imperceptible at first, but Keegan saw the challenge in her eyes. She flipped back the thick waves of wild curls and winked at him. “I’ll take care of you in a minute,” she whispered before strutting off to tend to her admirers.

“Oooh,” they chanted.

“Coming over to teach us a lesson?” one ventured.

Her stride was slow and deliberate as she swayed her hips, licked her lips and shook her hair until it fell wantonly over her face.

“My God, does she know how to play a room,” Martha muttered in awe.

The men hushed, enraptured by the vision that approached them. A few even backed away.

“I’m looking for action,” she rasped. “So,” she went on, looking at the first guy who’d called to her. “You're my man, huh?”

“Umm.” He licked his lips, hungry and nervous as he stood his ground.

She grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulled him to her, crushing her breasts to his chest. “Let’s see.” She pressed her lips to his, plundered his mouth with her tongue, then traced her lips along his jaw and up to his ear where she whispered.

Keegan, along with every other patron in the restaurant, male or female, watched Alexis turn the poor young man into pudding. When she finally released him, his lips were thick, his eyes bleary and his knees barely able to hold him up.

“Not bad,” Alexis muttered as she dusted her hands off of his shirt. “But I wouldn’t go off bragging about it.”

Twirling about with a swing of her hips, she returned to Keegan, every step forward blowing her hair back and giving her an allure that was virtually impossible to resist.

Sadie, Keegan reminded himself. Sadie is the one I want.

“Now, let’s get down to business.”

Silently, Keegan waited for her to go on.

“Can I see you outside?”

“Lucky guy,” one of the college guys said in a feeble attempt to rile the gang up again.

Slipping off the stool, Keegan shot a glance at Frank and Martha. “Thanks for everything. Apparently I’m wanted outside.”

As he followed the sultry movements of Alexis’ hips, he tried to remember who was really important to him… Sadie.

But the moment he stepped outside and turned the corner of the building he was jumped. Within seconds, his duster was stripped off him, along with every weapon he’d brought with him.

“The famous Keegan Knowles,” a sweet but seductively raspy voice whispered in his ear.

He turned to face the delicate and exquisite features of a petite woman. “The famous Delilah Wu,” he said. How long had he been hunting her? A hundred, two hundred years? And here she was, black spike heels, tight black dress and luscious red lips… definitely more of a woman than he’d anticipated. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

“As I have you, Mr. Knowles.” She leaned in to sniff him. “And that scent. Very enticing, interesting.”

He couldn’t help the arrogant grin that came to his lips.

“I’ll keep my distance,” Delilah added. “If not I may very well give up container blood and sink my teeth into him.”

“So, you smell it, too?” Alexis approached and took a whiff. “I was taken in the very first time I smelled him… and it was only a remnant of his scent on Sadie’s backpack. We were both completely taken in by him.”

“I commend you both,” Delilah said with an impressed cock of her brow. “It must not have been easy. You two are still relatively young and new at the world of vampirism and showing such restraint is something I’ve only rarely seen over the years.”

Keegan watched the exchange and was stunned when he actually saw a hint of humility in Alexis. Though the lighting wasn’t optimal, he could have sworn he’d seen her blush.

“It was hard, harder than I would have thought, but we managed.”

The two women turned to Keegan, their lips parted, their tongue hungering as their eyes devoured him.

“He is a good-looking guy,” Delilah said, patting Alexis on the shoulder.

Tempted to point out how impolite it was to speak of him as though he weren’t even there, Keegan simply stood his ground in silence. Though he’d befriended Alexis when he’d first met Sadie, their relationship was now limited to that of hunter and vampire. He really didn’t have anything much to discuss with her.

But keeping quiet and still didn’t keep Delilah from finally ending the idolizing and getting down to business. In the blink of an eye she was all over him, pushing him to the wall and pressing her fingers into his throat.

“Where’s Sadie, Hunter?”

“I don’t know,” he choked out, his Adam’s apple stressing against her hold.

“You're smart, Hunter,” Delilah moaned. “Too smart to let Sadie out of your sight.”

Alexis nudged Delilah aside and came in close to Keegan, her fierce blue eyes staring right through him. “Listen to me, Keeg. We can do this the hard way if you insist, or we can do this the hard way.”

Keegan knew that look, knew the threat and though he tried to fight the compulsion, he felt his will wither away.

“Now, why did he have to go and be so darn cute?” Alexis asked Delilah. “I mean, look at this guy. Strong, sweet, sexy, yet so darned innocent you just want to scoop him up and hug him forever.”

She came closer, sucked in a breath as he exhaled, and covered his mouth with her lips. The kiss was deep and passionate, demanding and giving. She pressed him to the wall, the swell of her breasts welcomed and exciting against his chest.

“Get a grip, Alexis,” Delilah cut in. “We need to get a few answers from him before you turn him into a completely useless mound of mush.”

Stepping back, Alexis sighed. “Heavens. Sorry, I lost myself for a moment there. I’ve wanted to taste him for so long. But Sadie… damn she was always in the way.”

Taking in the sultry sight of him a moment longer, Alexis smiled. The smile disappeared and her hand made a quick job of bringing him back to the reality of the situation.

She turned to Delilah. “Proceed.”

“What happened?” Keegan asked. His lips felt swollen and hot. And the scent of vampire was closer than it should be… on him, in him.

“Injustice,” Alexis answered as she turned away. “Sadie always gets the guy.”

“We don’t have all night, Keegan. Skars and Ashwin are out to do her great harm. So where is Sadie?” Delilah said.

“I told you I don’t know where she is.” He looked at them and knew they truly wanted what was best for Sadie. “All I know is that Ashwin has her.”

“You're one of the world’s most successful vampire hunters. If you really put your mind to it, I’m sure you’d find her.”

“And you're one of the world’s more famous and ancient vampires, with powers that far outshine mine. Why don’t you just tap into her thoughts and go after her?”

Creasing her brow with concern, Delilah shook her head. “Ashwin is as ancient as I am and his powers are well honed. He’s blocking me, shutting me out of Sadie’s mind.

“That pansy? He’s blocking you?” The man had barely seemed capable of swatting a fly, never mind blocking telephathic powers. But thoughts of the last time he’d seen the ancient Lord and prince were swept away as he took in just how attractive and enticing the old Delilah was. So unlike what he’d envisioned. She was a rare beauty, made all the more appealing with the wisdom, power and wit she had.

“I’m impressed,” Alexis threw in. “I didn’t really think Ashwin had such power. It’s thrilling.”

Keegan shot her a hard glance. Could she really be taken in by that fruit? His jaw tightened as he realized the hold Ashwin had on both girls.

“Unfortunately, yes.” Delilah grimaced. “As Dracule’s progeny.” The grimace turned to wistfulness. “He’s also quite the charmer. He even had me going for a while.”

Alexis looked shocked, something that both amused and surprised Keegan. Did she really think Ashwin hadn’t practiced his charms on others before her?

The night went silent for a moment as Delilah reached out to grip Alexis’ wrist, her gaze suddenly distant and intent. “Ashwin has faltered. I was able to get through to Sadie.”

“Where is she?”

“Get in the car,” Delilah shouted. “She knows she has to leave. She’s just realizing the danger she’s in.”

Chapter 13

“I’ve brought some of that old world charm in to blend with many of the more contemporary lines,” Ashwin said as he led Sadie through the foyer and up the grand staircase. “Art deco really inspired me, but I also fell in love with some aspects of country French.”

“You certainly do have an eye for color and texture. Every room has its own personality and flair.”

Ashwin opened the door to a pleasant bedroom that was alive with color. Bright and colorful, it was a splash of sunshine with a touch of whimsy and fun.

“I didn’t really think you were the daisy type, Ashwin.”

“It’s a favorite among guests’ children.” He pushed another door open. “This one is preferred by guests who are stressed and pressed by the rigors of business life. Very Zen.”

Taupe, black and eggshell white streaked across the room in straight lines with no fuss or muss. The furniture was tasteful, but lacked ornamentation of any kind.

“Not my cup of tea,” he admitted, “but many enjoy the simplicity.”

When they reached the last door down at the end of the eastern wing, Ashwin paused. His hand on the doorknob, he leaned closer to Sadie. “This room will tell you exactly the man that I truly am.”

Sadie smiled as Ashwin pushed the door open to reveal his room. Strong and masculine, the room lacked frills and flora. The furniture, dark, heavy oak, was skillfully crafted without being overly ornate. The hardwood floors were darker than the remainder of the house, although a rich and thick rug was thrown beneath the bed.

Earth tones blended well with the occasional scattering of brushed silver and heavy pewter. The bed, massive with its four posters and heavy drapes, took center stage.

“For an eternity I’ve waited to share such splendor with you.”

His hand was gentle, yet hungry as it lured Sadie to the bed. A single white rose lay on a black pillow and Sadie had to smile. “So you brought in a feminine touch after all.”

Picking up the rose, Ashwin brought the scented flower to his nose before handing it to Sadie. “While I have a great love of the arts and all that is beautiful, I needed to have a space that left no room for lace, satin or ruffles. The only femininity I need in here is the one you possess.”

He scooped her up into his arms and laid her down, his nose diving into the crux of her neck, into the web of her hair. “But the moment I make you mine, you can have free reign over this room or any other for that matter.”

A sense of giddy anticipation overtook her, bringing a tingling sensation all the way down to her toes. Her life with him, here. It was more than she’d ever dreamed of. Her eyes locked on his and reveled in the love she saw reflected in them. Smiling, sure and confident, he was every bit the man she’d fallen in love with so long ago.

When he brought his lips to hers, she instantly knew what it was like to be a woman in love; a woman who was loved. All the words her sister was so apt to call out came to her suddenly; prude, prim, chaste. Alexis had never understood Sadie’s need to maintain her innocence with regards to men.

Admittedly, there had been moments when Sadie had question that need herself. Sex was everywhere, prevalent and so easy to obtain. She often felt she was the only virgin left in the world. But now, with Ashwin’s lips warming hers, with his arms wrapping her with love, with his body close, so close… she knew her decision had been the right one. The wait and the wonder had been worth it.

“You're the most ravishing and enticing creature I’ve ever known,” Ashwin said. He’d pulled away from her and was propped up on his elbow, looking down at her with awe and admiration.

“Were you aware that Mama and Papa wanted us betrothed? From the moment they saw you…” Her heart skipped a beat as she looked into his eyes. Her hands roamed up the length of his arms and over his shoulders. “I had never seen my parents so charmed. Before long everyone was scheming to get us together. Can you imagine? You, the grand Lord, and me, the Lady.”

“I can imagine it all too easily. Truth be told, I understood the perfect match we made the very first time I spoke to you. There was a light in your eye, a love of life that instantly captured me. The life of a Lord isn’t always fun and games. It can be dreary and stifling. You brought laughter into my life, and a fresh and innocent way of looking at the world around me. I never forgot that.”

His gaze dipped to her lips and down to the opening of her shirt. With a feather touch, he brought the back of his hand to her cheek and brushed it lightly over her jaw and down to where his gaze had paused.

Her breath caught in her throat. “Oh, how I loved you then, Lord Ashwin.” She heard her roots in her voice, the sound of Dorset, the English accent she worked so hard to hide since arriving in America. “It was impossible for me to act upon it, being the proper young lady of modest standing that I was. Why, simply being alone in the same room with you was scandalous.”

She could feel the slow and mischievous smile make its way to her lips. Proper young lady… if her mother could see her now.

“You were my Mr. Darcy, even after I learned what you truly were, a vampire, I couldn’t stop loving you.”

“Then don’t stop loving me, my dearest Sadie.” His grin was wicked, his eyes pure passion. “Love me all you wish.” He leaned closer and whispered, “I’m all yours.”

She reached up to touch his lips with her own. The need to devour him, to have him was suddenly overwhelming. Her body ached for him.

For a moment he held back, keeping his weight off her. The challenge excited her all the more and her lips grew hungrier over his. Her hands snaked around his neck and she pulled him closer.

“Ashwin,” she whispered in a strange rasp that startled her. “Don’t play with me. I’m here, now, and I want you.”

“Lord help me,” he grunted before allowing his full weight to bear down on her.

Her body’s response was instantaneous. Every fiber of her being yearned for more contact with his skin. Thrills shot through her as Ashwin made quick work of her clothes. Heated and sweaty, her skin crushed against his.

“You’re delicious, my angel,” Ashwin whispered as he lavished her with tiny kisses.

In the distance, she heard a knocking. It couldn’t be. Perhaps it was simply the erratic beating of her heart.

But the persistent sound came again, louder and insistent.

“Damn,” Ashwin spat as he shot up and stepped over to a small console by the door.

The sound of fist meeting wood sounded again, beyond insistent, it was now furious.

“No one knows I’m here,” Ashwin muttered. Anger sizzling down to his fingertips, he clicked on the monitor.

Sitting up, Sadie glimpsed over his shoulder, trying to see who the intruder could be. A variety of screens lit up, many showing one empty room after another, and even more peering out into the darkened grounds outside. Finally she came upon the screen that displayed the main front entrance. A chill ran up to the base of neck. The screen was virtually blotted out by the backside of a large bulky man.

“Is that a Strigoi?” Sadie ventured.

Ashwin simply nodded in disgust as his fingers moved to verify other surveillance cameras.

“How do they know you’re here?”

“I have no idea,” he grunted. Stepping away from the wall of screens he turned to Sadie. “We have to go.”

“Is he one of Skars’ men?” Hearing the urgency in his voice, Sadie reached for her clothes and threw everything on as quickly as she could.

“I wouldn’t be surprised, but we can’t stick around to confirm.” Though lacking the slick polish of his usually pristine appearance, Ashwin pulled his clothes on, all while keeping his eyes on the screens.

The man on the main screen turned to face the camera.

“Ruthless.”

“What?” Sadie said as she struggled with her sandals.

“Mikael Ruthless, one of Skars’ best.”

“I’m assuming he wears his name well.”

“Too well.” He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the door.

With only one sandal secured to her foot, Sadie hobbled behind him.

At the door he stopped suddenly. On guard and tense, he listened through the door.

His tension was quickly transmitted to Sadie. Her body shook. The heat of moments ago was replaced with a deadly chill. Skars’ men were already here. How long before they actually got their hands on her?

Satisfied with the silence from outside the room, Ashwin opened the door and led her down the hall.

“We can’t go out by the garage. That’s exactly what he’ll expect. We’ll have to walk out the back.”

At the end of the hall he pushed open a short, thin door the led to a narrow stairwell.

Choosing to leave the stairwell in the dark, Ashwin made quick work of each step, but with only one sandal on, no knowledge of the twist and turns of the stairwell and losing her hold of Ashwin’s hand, Sadie stumbled her way through.

“Ashwin,” she called out.

His steps were silent.

“Ashwin,” she called again.

Her hands as her guide, she felt the wall turn sharply in front of her then make another sharp turn. A thin, dim line of light appeared far below her. Quickening her pace, she headed for the light that was streaming in from under a door on the main floor.

“What’s keeping you?” Ashwin opened the door and appeared suddenly in a yellowish glow.

“Sorry, I’m trying to keep up.”

“No,” he said remorsefully, taking a firm hold of her hand. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have let go of you.” He squeezed her hand. “I won’t let you fall behind again.”

Following the hazy glow, he meandered past a table, some chairs and around a wall, finally coming to a glass door.

“Ready,” he said, his hand poised on the doorknob.

Balancing on one foot, Sadie reached for her one sandal and pulled it off, letting it fall gently to the floor. “Okay.”

Ashwin turned the doorknob and inched his way out. Sadie stayed close, her heart thundering so loud, she felt certain it would lead Skars’ henchman directly to them.

Only a few feet out of the house and her premonition proved too accurate. The huge bulk that had taken up the whole monitor moments earlier now turned the corner. His monstrous features were made downright demonic by the snarl and sneer that accompanied him.

Before Sadie even had a chance to consider letting out a scream of horror, Ashwin shoved her aside, sending her flying into the nearby bushes before the beast could spot her.

Eager to be out of the monster’s reach, she hid among the branches, her eyes riveted to every move Ashwin made.

The beast, his face pockmarked and oozing with puss, put on a jovial grin. “Ashwin,” he said in a voice filled with gravel. “I wanted to stop by for a visit. We’ve been wondering what you’ve been up to. We haven’t seen you around for a while. Skars is starting to ask questions, you know?”

“I can imagine.”

“Did you know that Keegan guy, the Hunter, escaped? Skars was a little upset, you know. I mean having him under his thumb was kinda important, you know.”

“You stopped by for a visit?” Ashwin’s voice was steady and cool. “How did you even know where I lived?”

The chuckle that rippled through Ruthless’ throat left Sadie feeling sick to her stomach. They were playing polite. How long before the calm conversation turned ugly and bloody?

“You know how Skars is about knowing the whereabouts of his people. You're his people. He’s always known where you are, and always will. What he doesn’t know is what you're doing out here. Skars is assembling all of us. Strigois from Europe, Asia and Africa. The time has finally come, Ashwin. We’re going to exterminate human-loving vampires once and for all.”

“You don’t say.”

“Not only is he angry with you for the goof with the Hunter, but Delilah is giving him another headache.”

“I’ve heard she has that effect on people.”

“Yeah, well, she has some freakin’ ridiculous idea that’s supposed to save all humans from all vampires. They’re not going to need human blood anymore, at least not directly from the vein, you know what I mean.”

“I’m not sure I do, but then again, I’ve never been able to understand you much.”

That demonic chuckle rose into the air again as Ruthless leaned back and let his feigned amusement roar. “Well, understand this. That twit wants to save human beings. Save them for what? For later?” He roared with laughter.

The laughter stopped just as abruptly as it had begun. Suddenly deadly serious, Ruthless looked suspiciously at Ashwin. “Weren’t you supposed to get the Dracule girl? Skars said he was waiting for you to return with her… to turn her.”

“Yeah, I know. What can I say?” Ashwin took a step closer, his hands clapping his thighs. “The girl was a little more elusive than I’d planned for.”

He set his hand on the tall beast’s shoulder, jovial and pleasant as he smiled up at the monster. “She certainly has Dracule’s blood running through her. She’s really smart. Smarter than I expected. Smarter than…”

In a flash, he pulled out a stake and drove it deep into the tall man’s chest.

Stunned, Sadie gripped the branches around her, reluctant to let out a sigh of relief. Was it over? Had Ashwin so easily saved her from the fate Skars had in mind for her?

“Nice try, Ashwin,” Ruthless said, barely phased by Ashwin’s attempt. “But I don’t really take well to traitors, little man.” He grabbed Ashwin by the throat and lifted him off his feet.

Snarling and now hungry for blood, long fangs, longer than Sadie had ever seen, emerged from the beast’s gums.

Ashwin grunted and groan, momentarily at a loss. But the moment Ruthless pinned him to the wall, he had the leverage he needed to fight free. Both feet rose to push violently into Ruthless’ chest, leaving the hungry monster angrier still.

Wide eyed, Sadie stared as Ashwin, the prim Lord, the fancy dandy, the bourgeois Bulgarian Prince transformed into his full vampire form…his fangs extended long as Ruthless’, his body became larger, taller until he was towering over Ruthless, and his eyes flashed red. He was no longer the gentleman vampire He was no longer the Georgian era Lord, but the largest vampire Sadie had ever seen. With a roar, Ashwin rushed into Ruthless, lifting him high over his head and tossing him to the ground. Ruthless, stunned for a few seconds, rose to his feet and rushed at Ashwin, baring his fangs. Ashwin sidestepped him and tripped Ruthless. Deftly keeping out of Ruthless’ grasp, he delivered a deadly blow.

Ruthless staggered back, but found his balance and prepared to face Ashwin again. After a loud and annoyed groan, he bent over and rammed Ashwin, his head butting into Ashwin’s chest.

Both men fell to the ground, rolling and groaning as they alternated in giving each other a wounding blow. Ashwin had grown larger, but Ruthless was formidable, too, slightly smaller than Ashwin’s full vampire form, and just as muscular, but that didn’t keep the Bulgarian prince from wrestling his opponent onto his back.

Arms and legs flailed about as both struggled to have the upper hand. Ruthless delivered a punch worthy of his name. The blow struck Ashwin square in the face, but the only reaction Ashwin displayed was a slight annoyance. After a few more exchanges Ashwin pressed his elbow into the neck of the oversized Strigoi, the power struggle shifting.

With his elbow choking the breath out of Ruthless, Ashwin reached for his fallen stake.

Sadie watched, itching to spring from the cover of her bush in order to help him. If she could just give the stake a little kick, a little shove.

But Ashwin didn’t need her help. His fingers wrapped around the stake while his elbow dug in a little deeper. The eyes of the beast widened as breathing became more and more difficult. And when he saw the stake, high and strong above his chest, the look of horror almost left Sadie feeling sorry for him.

Ashwin plunged the stake in, deep.

If this didn’t kill him, nothing would, Sadie thought.

With a smile of victory, Ashwin rose and gazed down upon his fallen enemy.

Ruthless let out a death gurgle as blood oozed from the wound. As his life ebbed away, his remains dried, crumbled and accumulated into a large pile of grey dust.

“Sadie,” Ashwin called, still in his angry full vampire warrior form.

Her legs twitched, eager to run to him, but something stopped her, held her back.

“Sadie!” His impatience was quickly evident.

She inched back, unsure where she was to go, but knowing she couldn’t stay.

Chapter 14

Leaning back against the trunk of a huge elm, Sadie got her bearings. What had just happened? Her prince, so dashing, at times almost delicate, had fought like an experienced warrior, a ruthless and blood-thirsty warrior. How many brutal battles had he won throughout the Dark Ages?

Had she not been with him just seconds before his ire took over, she may very well have thought she was dealing with two completely different men; the charming Bulgarian prince, the man who thoughtfully saved and held onto her Pride and Prejudice for her, and the deft fighter, bold, daring and able to bring down a Strigoi almost twice as large as Skars.

She loved Ashwin, but the vampire warrior she had just seen frightened her somewhat. He was like a Strigoi…there was no denying it…his eyes flashed red, and he fought with such brute force, with no emotions or remorse for his opponent. With her hand to her heart she listened to her breathing a moment. It was finally resuming its normal rhythm. Sprinting away from Ashwin, she’d allow a dangerous degree of panic to guide her, and she now find herself lost in the immense grounds that surrounded Ashwin’s palatial home.

“Sadie!”

Her heart jumped and for a moment she felt the longing to be in his arms once again. Watching him fight had been a more exhilarating experience than she would have ever thought. His strength, power, confidence all made him dangerously enticing. Frightening, but enticing. He fought with deadly precision and that thrilled her.

But his conversation with Ruthless left her frightened and unsure. Ashwin hadn’t argued when Ruthless had mentioned Skars’ plan to capture her and turn her. Though she’d hoped with all her heart that he would deny the plot, denounce the ploy and call Ruthless a fool for even thinking up such an absurdity, Ashwin had simply played the inept little prince incapable of getting his hands on the frail little Sadie.

“Damn,” she spat as she set off on another sprint.

Every step brought her more conviction. Keegan hadn’t trusted Ashwin. Surely his years of experience as a hunter was worth something. Keegan had yet to give Sadie any reason not to trust him.

Sadie, get away from Ashwin!

The wise feminine voice was faint and weak as it echoed at the back of her mind.

Get away as fast as you can. He’s going to take you to Skars.

Stronger and more urgent, Delilah’s voice was now recognizable as it came to the forefront. Sadie’s heart fell. Keegan and Delilah had warned her of Ashwin, but still her heart fought against their warning. The Ashwin they knew could not be the Ashwin she had just spent hours with finding out how much he loved her, for centuries, across continents.

Reaching the edge of the expansive property, Sadie scaled the wall and headed for the lights glowing over the nearby road. Running on automatic, she followed the stretch of road until the ocean came into view.

When her bare feet hit the softness of the sand, she slowed, certain she’d lost Ashwin.

“But I don’t want to lose you,” she mumbled as tears blurred her vision.

He’d proven beyond question that he was the man she wanted. She’d even had the audacity to imagine a future with him, the Lord she had originally been intended for, the nobleman whom her parents thought was well-matched for her..

“Stupid, stupid girl,” she said.

Her heart breaking, she glanced back from where she’d come. Her splendid warrior. His transformation had been so radical, so unbelievable. Could he be the Destroyer? It seemed the only logical explanation. He couldn’t simply be a common vampire, not even a run of the mill Strigoi.

A haggard breath choked her, but she refused to cry. She’d simply allowed herself to become enamored with his charm, with the romance of it all.

Her ear caught a hush, the gentle sound of footsteps in the sand. They were coming from the left, and gaining fast.

“You're kidding me,” she muttered to herself, angry she’d not picked up on the sound earlier. Scolding herself for paying more attention to her breaking heart than her surroundings, she turned to run back to the road. Her feet dug into the loose sand, making every step a chore.

The black night became a whirlwind of sand as she was tackled and thrown to the ground.

“Sadie.”

Fighting with all she had, she hit, kicked and bit into whatever inch of flesh she could.

“Sadie! You're okay. Stop it.”

Her body tense and the need to fight immense, she continued her onslaught of punches. When her fist made contact enough to make a nauseating crunching sound, she knew she’d made a dent in her attacker’s armor.

He slacked his hold of her and rose to his knees, but still maintained a tight enough hold of her arm to keep her from wiggling free.

“What are you doing? Sadie, I’m trying to save you. It’s me; Ashwin.”

She’d recognized his voice from his very first utterance of her name. Being honest with herself, she realized she’d even recognized his scent from a distance, but the need to fight him, remained.

“I know.” Sitting up, she looked him straight in the eyes.

“Then what are you doing? Why’d you run away?” His hand to his nose, he tried to stem the bleeding her well-aimed blow had brought on.

“I know what you’re doing. I know what you're up to, Ashwin.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your plan to bring me to Skars. Don’t deny it, Ashwin. I heard your friend, Mikael, say it. I heard you agree.”

“Sadie, you…”

“You lied to me,” she screeched, unable to contain the wealth of emotions that was quickly gaining control. “You charmed me, you lied, you pretended to care for me, seducing me, making me believe it was possible for a future for us…”

“I do care. I care for you more than you know.”

“Delilah has even been sending me urgent messages to run from you. Why? Why, Ashwin, would she tell me to run if you’ve no intention to harm me?”

“Sadie, you're hysterical.” He gripped her shoulders, effectively keeping her immobile. “The run-in with Ruthless has ruffled you more than you realize. But everything is okay now. He can’t get to you.”

“What are you?” Sadie whispered. The fight had ebbed out of her, but her breaking heart still wanted answers. Her eyes dipped to his nose. It had already healed, quickly, even for a vampire.

“I’m a vampire.”

“You're more than just a vampire, Ashwin. I saw you. I saw the monster you became. You portray yourself as a prince, well-mannered, polite, yet…. I know there’s something you're not telling me.”

Shifting over, Ashwin sat beside her and grasped her hand like the tender lover he’d been earlier. “I’m a warrior vampire, an Ancient vampire turned by Dracule. I became his warrior, his guard. Dracule found me dying in the battlefield.”

“I thought you were a prince.”

“I was, though not what you would typically expect from a Bulgarian Prince. The battlefield was where I felt the most at home. I’d led many battles, many successful battles. However, when it came to battling Dracule, I had my work cut out for me. One particular battle caught me unaware. I’d allowed my guard to falter and I paid heavily for it. Thankfully, Dracule saw the value of having me in his army rather than dead. He turned me so that I would forever serve him as his warrior. Because he was the greatest of all Ancients, the King of Vampires, his turning of me for this purpose alone left me with the ability to turn into the warrior I am today. I am Gideon, the Destroyer vampire, commander of Dracule’s army.”

Sadie stared at him, awed by his story, but still cautious of all the power he possessed. “What about Skars? Can’t you just fight him, then? Aren’t you stronger?”

“Unfortunately, no. Skars is an Ancient as well. Each Ancient serves a purpose for Dracule, and we are aptly named for it when we were turned. The only one stronger than all Ancients is Dracule himself.” He turned to look Sadie more directly, his hand tightening around hers. “And perhaps a few of his descendants.”

It took a moment for his words to sink in. Was he really implying that she could be stronger than Skars? That was impossible.

“I was weakened by Skars over a period of years. I withered away in a dungeon with no blood to drink. As an Ancient, he knew how to weaken one, and as the Ancient who turned to the Demon for power, he became fearless. He turned to the darker nature of vampires, one that wiped away all compassion, love, sympathy, and anything remotely human. Unlike me. I’ve never succumbed to the darker side. It was love and humanity that kept me sane. Only thoughts of you kept me breathing every day. I knew I had to get back to you.”

“He has no power over you now?” His story seemed unlikely, but she wanted so badly to believe him.

“Yes and no. At my weakest, I came to an agreement with him, much as Keegan did. I hate myself for having allowed him to win, but I needed blood and could barely think straight. He traded my eternal servitude for enough blood to save me. His power is limited, however, and my heart, my loyalty belongs to you; you and Dracule.”

“Delilah was adamant in her warning. I was to run and escape from you.”

He sighed and gazed out at the tranquil ocean for a moment. “She’s furious with me,” he said softly. His hand squeezed hers a brief moment before he brought her fingers to his lips. “I had strict orders never to turn you… or Alexis. It goes against everything Dracule wanted. It goes against her duty to Dracule. Delilah, Delilah,” Ashwin sighed again. “Good, passionate, yet infuriating woman.”

“She’s always been rather protective of us.”

“You were at death’s door.” He turned to her, his eyes brimming with tears. “Would she have preferred I sit by and watch you breathe your last breath? I loved you. I love you, and I admit my actions were completely selfish. I wanted you.”

Releasing her hand, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. “I wanted to keep you at my side… forever.”

A shuffling whisper in the distance came to Sadie’s ears and she wondered if Ashwin had heard it. His eyes still filled with tears, he looked into her eyes, all his love so obvious and intense. He seemed oblivious.

Within seconds the soft shuffling sound was upon them and Ashwin was shoved, face first into the sand. A knee firmly planted between his shoulder blades, Ashwin couldn’t move as Delilah turned to Sadie with a victorious smile.

“I thought I told you to run.”

Chapter 15

Stunned, Sadie just watched as Delilah controlled Ashwin, the feat made all the more impressive considering her slight frame and delicate features.

“Delilah,” Ashwin spat slightly amused. “You are making an abominable show of your powers. Now, please get off me, my darling Mina.”

“Either you're hard of hearing or you simply have a hard head. If I remember correctly, I distinctly and repeatedly told you to stay away from Sadie. What was it in my directives that you didn’t comprehend, dear Gideon?”

“You’ve got it all wrong. This isn’t what you think. I was just…”

“I’ve known you long enough to know what you were just…. Your life is full of ‘I was just….’ You’re playing the dutiful puppy to Skars and I won't have it. If that scum of a rat wants to see me, have him come straight out to find me instead of going through Sadie or Alexis.”

Ashwin twisted slightly under Delilah’s weight, settling onto his back and into a more comfortable position in which to discuss the girls’ fate. “You know he wants all three of you, Delilah. And he wants you most of all. He’s never forgiven you for what you did when we were all with Dracule. Your need to protect humans… he simply won’t stand for it.”

“I never did expect him to understand or accept what I felt I had to do. He was turned to become Agar the Gatherer. As a vampire whose main objective it is to gather as many humans as possible to either become vampires or to feed vampires, he’ll never understand where I’m coming from. He’ll never understand my need to do everything I can to stop him.”

“An eternal battle.”

“One I admit I’ve grown weary of fighting, but I won’t stop, not now Ashwin. This is too important.” She sat back, partially releasing him from her hold.

“My precious Mina,” Ashwin murmured as he reached out to cup her cheek. “So beautiful, so wise and so compassionate. Remember when it was just the three of us. Mina the Protector, Skars who was Agar the Gatherer and I, Gideon the Destroyer. As Dracule’s Best, the names he bestowed upon us had meaning.”

The strange exchange left Sadie feeling exasperated and confused. Delilah and Ashwin fought, much like rivaling brother and sister, yet they seemed to hold a certain degree of reverence and respect for one another. “Can someone tell me what’s going on here?”

Surprising Sadie by suddenly appearing, Alexis stepped up to them, her eyes asking the very same question.

“Yeah,” a rich male voice added. Keegan. He walked up where Sadie, Alexis, Delilah, and Ashwin were taking a step closer to the small group, but still maintaining a safe distance. He glanced briefly at Sadie, his gaze distrustful, yet concerned, before returning his gaze to the reminiscing pair. “Considering Skars is after Sadie and Alexis, I think we need to know more about you Ancients. What are you, and how do we defeat Skars?”

Delilah’s jaw tightened as did her fist as it grabbed a handful of sand. “Now’s not the time for explanations.” Sand shifted through her fingers as she opened her hand.

“Delilah,” Ashwin complained as he tried to wiggle out from under the weight she still maintained on his legs. “Stop being so childish. I promise to behave.”

“Behave like what?”

He glared at her. “Look, it’s time the girls learned the truth… about us, about Dracule… about everything.”

Staring at him a long hard moment, Delilah seemed reluctant to agree. Yet, in the end, “Yes,” she said. “I think you're right.”

She turned to the girls, her gaze quickly skittering over one face than another. Then she turned to Keegan.

“Join the girls if you want to hear what I’ve got to say.”

Looking down, he kicked the sand then reluctantly made his way to Sadie’s side.

“I’m glad to see you're okay,” he whispered, the back of his hand lightly brushing against hers.

“And me you,” Sadie said, her smile betraying just how happy she was to be close to him again.

“For the time being, we only have the luxury of a few moments, so I’ll try to be brief.” Delilah got comfortable.

“Dracule was the first undead,” she began. “We’re not sure how he was turned or when – a hundred years ago… perhaps a thousand. Regardless, he needed blood in order to survive, blood from living sources, blood with the essence of live souls. However, despite this need, he had a great love for his family and country. As a prince, he took to heart his duty to protect his people.”

“He was one of the greatest warriors of his time,” Ashwin interjected.

Delilah nodded. “When Romania was attacked by enemies from the south and tribes from the east, the stronghold that held back enemy invaders sought to destroy western civilization. Under the rule of Prince Dracule, Romania was the gateway that would either save or break apart civilization as we know today.”

“As an undead, he had a great advantage,” Ashwin said, his admiration for the old ruler gleaming in his eyes. “He created an incredible army. His intention was not to brutalize his enemies, but to have mercy upon his own people.”

“I was a warrior from the East,” Delilah said with pride. “Commander of my own tribe set to fight against Dracule.”

Sadie and Alexis glanced at one another.

“Don’t look so surprised,” Delilah went on. “Female warriors such as myself were not so uncommon where I’m from. From one of Dracule’s discontent tribes, I had joined the Eastern Army to fight our way into the East. I was a fearless fighter.”

“Even before she was turned,” Ashwin added as he playfully jabbed her in the ribs with his elbow. “Her reputation was wide spread.”

She smiled, her gaze leaving the beach sand and heading to a time long ago. “As strong as I was, I still managed to get myself stabbed. Despite the wound, I still made my way closer and closer to Dracule himself. I was virtually upon him, his death within my reach, but one of his men shot an arrow… right through me. Not trusting he’d wounded me sufficiently, he jumped off his horse and came to me, his sword high and ready to impale me, or decapitate me. I had no fight left in me. My blood was draining from the wounds I’d already suffered. If anything I may have welcomed the quick death that was upon me.”

“What a great loss the world would have suffered had that been allowed,” Ashwin said with a cocky grin.

“Dracule stopped him. At first I thought he simply wanted to prolong my ultimate fate. Torture, perhaps even rape me, as so many warriors were apt to do. I even came upon the thought of ending my life myself, just to deprive him of the pleasure of doing so. But weakness prevailed and I was limp and helpless when he took me into his arms, lifted me to his horse and brought me back to his tent where I was to be mended.

“He was meticulous in his tending of me, ensuring I always had someone to inspect my wound, check my fever and give me sufficient nourishment. Despite all that, my wounds proved too much for me to overcome. I’d lost too much blood and had a series of infections. The pain was incredible and I wanted to put an end to my suffering. Dracule wouldn’t hear of it. He asked me to join him.”

“Or die,” Ashwin added.

“Or die,” Delilah admitted. “I loathed the idea – vampires – they were everything I’d been taught to hate, to destroy, to eliminate and yet… he offered to take me under his wing, promised vampirism wasn’t what I’d heard it was. He would teach me, guide me and show me how I could retain my humanity through it all, as long as I do not succumb to the darker nature, the Demons of the Dark. I had a warrior’s heart, he’d said, and I was a strong fighter, one of the strongest he’d ever seen.”

“You accepted,” Sadie said with awe.

“He named me Mina,” Delilah said as her head bobbed slowly. “It means protector.”

“I remember reading about a Mina in Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” Sadie said softly.

“Yes,” Delilah said through a dry chuckle. “Bram Stoker certainly did take a few liberties with the telling of Dracule’s life. Many misconceptions circulated, many theories and suppositions were fabricated and many simply invented portions of the story in order to heighten the mystique, the horror of his existence.

“I’d met Stoker but briefly, and though I thought I’d barely made an impression on him, I was surprised to learn how he’d integrated me into Dracule’s story. Quite an imaginative man, I must say.”

“Were you and Dracule actually lovers, then? Alexis asked, her interest in the story bringing an excited glow to her cheeks.

“Oh,” Delilah cooed with ageless affection. “I did fall in love with him, yes. How could I not? He was not the monster the world made him out to be. He was loving and kind… generous, romantic. He was everything to me.”

“But where did the Ancients come from,” Keegan asked. “Where does Skars fit in?”

Delilah shook off the reverie, though with obvious reluctance. “Yes, the Ancients.” Passing her hand through her hair, she glanced at Ashwin before continuing. “Years later another battle ensued. This time it was a handsome young Bulgarian Prince, fierce, yet delicate, who caught Dracule’s eye. While it was his handsome features that so attracted many of the women in Dracule’s kingdom, it was his bravery in battle that appealed to Dracule.

“I never knew you considered me so handsome, Delilah,” Ashwin smiled.

“Oh, please.” Delilah shot an annoyed gaze at the stars then glanced at the girls a moment as she yawned and gestured towards Ashwin with her head. “I was young, naïve, innocent and probably a little short-sighted. I thought every young man was handsome.”

“Don’t try to deny it now,” Ashwin said.

“Can we stray away from your ego a moment and return to the story at hand?”

Ashwin grinned.

“Despite his looks, he found himself fatally wounded and was turned by Dracule. Having single-handedly destroyed hundreds of Dracule’s strongest fighters, he was named the young prince, Gideon the Destroyer. Of course, you girls got to know the more charming side of him, the Lord Ashwin side of him.”

“And Skars?” Keegan asked with impatience.

“Skars was the last one Dracule added to his army before he died. Just a bit younger than Ashwin, he was the youngest among us. But Dracule may have been mistaken in turning him. It was a mercy turning, if you will. Skars was young and striking with his flash of blond hair and eyes that whispered of innocence despite his mercilessness on the battlefield. Right from the start, we realized he was a dissenter and power-hungry. Skars had done everything to bring Dracule down. He’d gathered a number of tribes to come together to battle against the Romanian prince. The fact that Dracule turned him, saved his life, did little to diminish the animosity Skars felt for him.”

“Skars has always had an endless hunger for power,” Ashwin added. “He wanted Dracule to build a larger army, not to protect the people, but to rule over all vampires. Already at that time, rogue vampires were indiscriminately turning others. Vampire tribes were growing and Skars wanted to harness all the power they could bring him.”

“He wanted to rule humanity,” Delilah spat. “That’s what he wanted. What he still wants. He thinks he’s invincible as a vampire and he has great disdain for the weak… humans or protector of humans.”

“Like you,” Sadie said.

Delilah nodded. “Of course Dracule disagreed with Skars’ view. Skars didn’t understand what it meant to be Dracule’s Ancient. He had complete disregard for the rules that had been established. When Dracule made it clear that I was to reign over the vampire kingdom the day he should perish, Skars would hear nothing of it. He was jealous beyond reason. He’d already grown to hate me and the thought that Dracule could chose me over him left him livid. I’d been entrusted with Dracule’s descendants…Dracule’s most precious possession, the power of Dracule within their veins… something Skars simply could not abide by.”

“To spite Dracule, Skars broke away and began his own vampire tribe,” Ashwin said. “With complete disregard for everything Dracule had ever stood for, Skars encouraged cruelty, mercilessness and a complete lack of sympathy or empathy for humans. When Dracule died, Skars believed it was his love of humans that was responsible, and he was not about to let the same thing happen to him.”

Delilah suddenly looked tired as she looked from Sadie to Alexis and back again. “Over the years he has always tried to defeat me, to stop me. His feasts of human blood made him stronger and more powerful, too powerful. I have to admit that my desire to spare humans left me weaker in comparison. The blood of animals or of old donors, as I was apt to nourish myself on, was not as potent as the blood of humans.

“Nothing will ever stop him. He’s ruthless. He even managed to get to Ashwin. With Dracule gone, no one could stop him and all Strigois from causing the ravages they have. And now, only Dracule’s descendants have the power to stop him.” Delilah looked at the girls, her smile soft and filled with regret. “That’s why Skars’ so adamant. That’s why he wants to have you both at his side, to better control you.”

“He also believes his power will be greatly amplified should he drink of your blood.” Ashwin reached out to Sadie and Alexis’ hands. “It is believed that when Dracule perished, he prayed to God – yes, as strange as it may seem he did believe in God – and he asked for mercy. Due to all he’d done to help humanity, despite being one of the undead, God did have mercy on him and granted Dracule the promise that his descendants would one day save his people from the curse. Yet they are to remain pure, for the ones who are, will be the Angel amongst vampires.”

Chapter 16

The discussion stopped as Delilah sat up and listened intently. “They’re here,” she whispered.

Everyone stiffened with anticipation.

“Be prepared to fight,” she went on. “Skars has his trusted Strigois at his side. This battle is going to be rough.”

Sadie glanced at Keegan a moment before daring to turn to look behind her. She saw the fear in his eyes and knew, with all her heart, he feared for her.

“You’ll be okay,” he whispered.

Not too far off, they were there, an army of Strigois, ready to fight, ready to kill.

“I’m right beside you,” Keegan said as they stood and prepared for the fight of their lives.

“My God,” Sadie said in a hushed tone. “How many of them are there?”

Turning back to glance at Delilah and Ashwin, she hoped to find strength in their will. But when she looked at Ashwin, she was surprised by the conflicting emotions that played in his eyes.

“Ashwin.” In need of reassurance, she stepped closer to him. “You said you were on my side… on Dracule’s side. Are you having doubts? Are you still with me?”

His eyes darted from the band of vampires quickly approaching Sadie. He gripped her arm and pulled her to him, his kiss hard, possessive and passionate as he kissed her in front of everyone.

Startled, Sadie stiffened and tried to understand the sudden show of emotion. Was it his true love for her or was it the regret at what he was about to do?

“I meant it, Sadie. I meant all of it, but you have to trust me. You have to let me play the game my way… Skars’ way. If I don’t play the submissive role to Skars’ reign, he’ll know he’s been duped. Trust me. I beg of you, trust me.”

“I’m scared.”

“I know you are.” His eyes claimed hers and held on as he swallowed. “I’ll die protecting you.”

His grip suddenly tightened as he dragged her towards Skars.

“No,” Keegan shouted as he stepped forward to stop them. “Damn, I knew we couldn’t trust him.”

Ashwin shoved him out of the way, effortlessly sending him falling into the soft beach sand.

“We have to go after him,” Alexis said. “We can’t let him do this to her.”

“Hush,” Delilah said with patience and wisdom. “We have to let the game play out as Ashwin has planned it. He may be a Strigoi, but I know him. Seeing him again just now, I now know I was wrong about his intentions. He’s completely devoted to Dracule. He has something on his mind. I sense the Strigoi in him dying. He won’t let Sadie down.”

“But, Delilah,” Alexis shouted with anger and fear. “He’s taking her to Skars. Right there in front of our eyes, Skars is going to turn her and…”

“Ashwin won’t let that happen. He’s clever, more than one would think. When I knew him, he was completely devoted to Dracule. He would have easily laid down his life for him. He won’t let him down now. I know he’ll do what is right.”

Skars’ army was close, close enough to judge their size, their anger and their desire to fight to the end. Close enough to see the definition of their muscles and the red hatred in their eyes.

Sadie squirmed. Hearing Delilah’s confidence in Ashwin’s ploy didn’t help matters. She was the one being brought to this demon. She was the one who risked losing everything, her very life, should Delilah be wrong. She’d known Ashwin hundreds of years earlier. Since her arrival, Delilah hadn’t trusted him and perhaps she’d been right not to.

The sand gave way under every step as she felt helpless under Ashwin’s hold. But Skars’ imposing figure was getting closer and her heart was thumping louder. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t go through with this attempt to dupe Skars.

She was the one being duped, she suddenly realized. Ashwin had played her all too well right from the beginning. Casanova…the skilled lover, Ashwin knew what to say and what to do too easily to have Sadie believe he loved her and wanted what was best for her.

Oh, my God, she thought as she looked into Skars eyes and saw what evil looked like from close up.

Suddenly rushed with the will to live, the need to survive, Sadie fought with all the strength she had. For a moment she broke free of Ashwin’s hold, but he quickly regained control, wrapping his arm around her waist and yanking her into the air where her arms and legs flailed uselessly.

With forceful and determined strides, Ashwin carried Sadie to Skars. “As requested and as promised, I’ve brought you Dracule’s daughter. I’ve brought you the Angel.”

Skars cocked a sardonic brow and chuckled from deep in his throat. He gazed down at Sadie with a blend of disdain, disgust and victory. “Well done, Ashwin. I didn’t really think you had it in you to succeed. Despite all your strength and power on the battlefield, I’ve always suspected you were a little two weak of the heart to truly do what you must. I’m impressed. You're a stronger vampire than I gave you credit for.”

Sadie squirmed in Ashwin’s arms. Why wasn’t anyone coming to her aid? “Ashwin, please don’t do this.”

His face was a cold slate. Void of emotions, he set her on her feet, never once gazing down at her. His response, cold and calculated, left no question as to his intention. His hand quickly wrapped around the nape of her neck, tightening to the point Sadie thought she’d faint right there.

“Ashwin,” she whimpered as Skars reached out to touch her. She backed into Ashwin, desperate to avoid the evil touch, but Ashwin remained cold, reminding her of her fate with a quick squeeze to her nape.

“Though Dracule may have sired you, I must admit you are a fetching wench,” Skars said, looking at Sadie from head to toe.

Unable to control her anger and frustration, Sadie spat at him.

It only brought about an angry chuckle that promised of deadly anger.

“I’m happy to see she pleases you on so many levels, Skars. After having waited for her for so long, I’m sure you’ll now find her to be fulfilling in more ways than one.”

“Ashwin,” Sadie said under a wave of panic. “How can you do this to me?”

The love, passion and heat of just moments ago, of the kisses they shared was now a distant memory. All that remained was Gideon the Destroyer, determined to do as was asked.

“Get over here, darling Angel,” Skars growled as he wrapped his dry, hard claws around her delicate wrist. He yanked her out of Ashwin’s hold with such force, the impact of crushing against his chest left her winded.

She screamed and fought back so violently, Skars temporarily lost his hold of her. With a quick start, she turned to bolt away, only to be captured by Ashwin. At first her on-going screams obliterated everything, including the whispers he brushed against her ear.

“Kiss him.”

No, she thought as she kicked wildly to break free. Surely she’d not heard him correctly. He expected her to kiss Skars? What madness!

“You're Dracule’s angel,” Ashwin continued through her protests. “You're kiss to a Strigoi is redemption. Kiss him.” He wrapped his arms securely around her and returned her to Skars’ hold.

“She’s all yours.” His voice betrayed nothing. “She’s got quite a temper. I suggest you try to calm it before she gives you a headache.”

Skars gripped her wrist with one hand and a fistful of hair with the other. “Don’t worry. She’ll not free herself of my hold again.”

Sadie looked up at her captor, wanting to believe Ashwin, wanting to win over Skars, but fearing the outcome. What if her kiss only exacerbated the situation?

Skars gaze shifted and Sadie immediately knew he’d grown suspicious. His fist tightened about her hair and Sadie winced as tears of pain filled her eyes.

“What freakin’ game do you think you're playing?” Skars shouted. He yanked her away from him, holding her at arms’ length, her feet barely touching the sand.

“Ah!” she cried, no longer able to contain the tears. In the distance she saw Keegan, shift and jitter as Delilah kept control of him with hushed words to his ear. But the Strigois were quickly approaching and the battle was about to begin. If they were to do something to save her it would have to be now.

But it was Ashwin who finally ceased playing the game. He rammed into Skars, his physique suddenly bulking up larger and darker than Sadie had ever seen. Gideon the Destroyer had returned in full vampire warrior form. Skars finally released his painful hold of her and she fell helplessly into the sand, her head aching.

Skars also shifted in form, turning into an ox of a vampire.

Ashwin took a hold of Skars’ head and jammed it into his knee. The blow threw Skars off, sending him reeling back a few steps, but he quickly shook it off and set on the attack.

His leg rose, high and strong, striking Ashwin in the jaw.

Of similar size and strength, their fight was vicious and unrelenting. One fierce blow brought on another and neither man would back down.

In the distance, Keegan, Alexis and Delilah were equally busy fighting off one Strigoi after another.

“You're a traitor,” Skars called out to Ashwin as blood trickled from his nose. Standing a few paces from Ashwin, he seemed as winded as he was angered. “You dare turn on me, Gideon? You dare turn your back on who you are… what you are? You're a Strigoi.”

“I’m of Dracule.”

“You made a pact!”

“You're nothing but a demon. Your power means nothing to me.”

Skars threw a punch into the air, missing Ashwin by a foot.

“You allowed the demonic side of vampirism to take over. You invited the demonic dark side into your life as a vampire. From the very beginning, you’ve deliberately defied Dracule’s rules. Thanks to you, the world now views vampires as evil. Thanks to you, Dracule lost his life.”

“Dracule painted a beautiful but unrealistic picture of what vampires were, of what they could be. His rules were ridiculous and his dream of saving the world that of a seven year old boy.”

The insults darkened Ashwin until Gideon the Destroyer grew larger, huge, dangerous and determined. In response, Skars grew larger still, releasing the wrath and power of the Agar. When they clashed together again, their blows led to more blood.

Feeling helpless and powerless, Sadie crawled back away from the violence of their blows as their fighting came closer and closer to her. Blood splattered and dotted her clothing. She could feel the splatterings on her face.

She had to do something, yet she felt paralyzed. In the distance, Alexis threw a Strigoi over her head with ease. Keegan staked another, his war cry filling the air. And Delilah, no longer frail looking and delicate as she took on her larger, fiercer form as Mina, fought for her life, for the lives of all vampires.

If Sadie had admired her before for being the wise and beautiful mentor, nanny and friend she’d always been, she was in complete awe now as she watched her fight with ease and confidence. Not a trace of fear showed in her eyes; not a moment of hesitation or confusion. Each move was measured, sure and meant to kill.

With a stake in each hand, she easily killed more Strigois than Keegan and Alexis combined.

Chapter 17

Sadie was temporarily paralyzed as everything buzzed so quickly around her. Everyone she loved was in the distance fighting off a veritable army of Strigois, while Ashwin fought Skars with everything he had.

She had to do something to help, but her mind was a blur of vague thoughts as she contemplated everything that had happened in the last hour; her passionate embrace with Ashwin, Keegan returning to her side with such concern in his eyes, and Delilah and her sister ready to fight so valiantly.

Her heart ached for all the love she had to give and all the betrayal she’d felt as Ashwin had released her into Skars’ hands. Shaking off all the emotions and pain, she turned to Delilah and Alexis. Above all that was where her heart truly needed to be. But the moment she’d determined her next step, to go to their aid, Skars snaked his hand around her neck and quickly brought her back into his hold.

She struggled, kicking and clawing, tearing at his skin, biting into his jacket, but incapable of breaking skin. As though dealing with an errant child, Skars lifted her off her feet and carried her away.

“Ashwin,” she shouted as she instinctively called for help from the man she nonetheless trusted.

Sadie felt the jolt as Skars’ jerked back. Ashwin had jumped his back, but his attempt to save her was quickly halted by warrior Strigois. Despite the imposing figure he was as the Destroyer, he was brought to his knees as three large Strigois rushed at him, knocking him to the ground.

In a heartbeat, Skars shifted into high gear, quickly leaving everyone behind as he floated across the beach sand. Sounds of fighting and battling soon faded into a distant hush as Skars easily carried her away, unhindered.

His speed increased, making the nearby ocean waves a blur of salty froth. Helpless to fight him, Sadie prayed as she was brought higher and higher into the blackened sky.

An answer to her prayer came in the way of a tight grip on her ankle. Glancing down, Sadie saw Mina holding on tight. The grip was almost painful, but Mina succeeded in pulling Sadie free of Skars’ grasp. She fell, from higher than she had imagined they’d flown, but it was no longer Mina there to soften her fall, but Delilah.

Skars stopped, suddenly, his face painted with crimson rage. His roar of anger filled the air and his eyes blazed with the animosity of a thousand years as he gazed upon his lifelong nemesis.

“It’s time you fought me directly, Agar, and not my students.” Delilah quickly reached him, flying up to wage a battle in the night sky. “Are you afraid of what a battle with an Ancient can do to you?”

“Fear not for me,” Skars said through a sneer.

He threw himself at her, and they tumbled together high above as Sadie could only watch from the sand below. Her admiration of her tutor and mentor grew with every strike from the delicate and fragile Delilah. Each blow had Skars reeling and struggling to keep the upper hand. Not only did Delilah show her immeasurable strength, but she continually outsmarted Skars, twisting around in the air and attacking him from behind, flying around to surprise him as he anticipated a blow from the left, only to receive an unexpected kick from the right.

She was winning. She’d saved Sadie from certain ill fate. Just as she’d done so many times throughout her childhood, Delilah proved once again to be worthy of her charges.

Under the pale glow of the moonlight, Delilah prepared for a fatal blow. She pulled back, hung in the air for a tense moment then charged Skars. But the old demon would not succumb so easily. Anticipating Delilah’s move, he held one huge hand out at the last moment, seized her by the neck and brought her in close for a deadly bite.

Horrified, Sadie stood back as her beloved mentor plummeted through the air to land at her feet. Though softened by the sandy beach, her fall nonetheless resulted in a painful thud, her head left to lay at an odd angle.

Chapter 18

A loud cry pierced the sky. At first Ashwin was certain it was Sadie’s cry of pain and anguish at her fallen mentor. In an instant she was up and rushing to Delilah’s aid. But he quickly realized the cry of sorrow emanated from his own mouth. Before Sadie could even approach her, he was at Delilah’s side.

Throughout their lives, he’d always shared Delilah’s pain, though never as intensely as he did that very moment. Surely her wounds were far more severe than they had ever been before.

His grief hung on every gasp and cry as he reached out for her and pulled her limp body to his chest.

Their bond was something that had grown throughout the centuries. From her days as Mina, when Ashwin had first been turned, he’d held her in high regard. He’d even reluctantly admitted to himself that he’d once harbored a great desire to have her for his own, to gain her love. Not the brotherly love she’d so easily adorned him with, but the passionate and fiery love… the love she’d reserved only for Dracule.

As he held her in his arms he gazed at Sadie, truly understanding for the first time his intense attraction to her. Sadie and Alexis, both raised by Delilah’s hand, held the qualities he’d so cherished in Delilah, especially Sadie.

And now, as she looked at him with love, concern and fear for Delilah’s life clearly written in her eyes, he knew she felt the same foreboding sense of loss that he felt.

“Mina,” he whispered into Delilah’s hair. “My dearest Mina. You can’t leave me now. We’ve still so much to accomplish. Come back to me now, Mina, and help me finish what we’ve started in this battle against Skars.”

He pulled her closer, willing her to return to him. “Dracule’s legacy cannot survive without you. Mina, you must hear me.” He laid his lips to her forehead, remembering the young vampire he’d first known. His beloved Mina. Not only had she been forever beautiful to behold, but her wisdom, patience and diligence as she’d guided him into the world of vampirism had greatly touched him.

A new vampire herself and she was already doing all she could to help ease his transition from human to new vampire. He fell in love with her then, and though she never returned his love, he always held the hope that one day she would. She’d impressed him from the very first moment they’d met. She’d guided him from the daydreams of a silly adolescent to the worldly ideals of a man. She was the woman he could never have…her heart belong to Dracule, and he was as devoted to his maker as she. As his first post vampire crush, she’d proven to be what all women should be; strong, intelligent, independent and with a heart filled with compassion for mankind.

Delilah was dying. His Delilah, his Mina. They were the only two Ancients who can stop Skars, who can help guide Dracule’s daughters to their destiny. He loved her, and he loved Dracule…his descendants. But Delilah…she had always been there for him, even when they were apart, he knew she was around…that her presence was enough to keep him loyal to Dracule. She was the glue to holding his legacy together, for fulfilling the vampire legend, for keeping all vampires from succumbing to the demons all vampires faced. He set his lips over hers, tentatively at first, as though fearing the effect on her fragile state. Though cold, her lips tasted sweet and he knew he’d not completely lost her.

A soft sigh, as gentle as the evening’s breeze, hushed in his ear.

“Yes, Mina,” he said, kissing her cheeks and squeezing her tighter. “Come back to me, my sweet Mina.”

“Ashwin?”

Smiling he gazed down at her, eager to meet her gaze. Her eyes were still tightly closed, and on hearing a light stirring at his side, he realized his name had not been called by Mina but by Sadie. In his desire to bring back Delilah, he’d forgotten her presence.

The moment he looked up at her, he knew the wealth of pain he’d callously showered upon her. His passionate embrace with Delilah… Sadie had witnessed it all.

“Sadie…” Ashwin said, looking pained and torn. “Delilah and I had so much history together…I can’t let her die. I have to do everything I can to help her, to save her. Please forgive me.”

Sadie turned away. How could Ashwin not love Delilah? They were the only Ancients left, besides Skars. Skars, Delilah, and Ashwin…entwined together forever as Dracule’s legacy.

“You okay, Sadie?” Keegan said as he came to her side, his arm sliding easily around her waist.

***********

Her heart stopped. Just as sure as if Skars had staked her, drained her of her blood and left her to turn to dust. Every fiber of her being died as Sadie watched Ashwin give his heart, so easily, so freely, so completely to Delilah. His love for her was undeniable and definitely not that of siblings.

“Sadie,” Keegan said again. “You okay?”

She couldn’t even bring herself to nod. She’d been just moments from giving him everything in those few passionate embraces. She’d envisioned a life with him, in his manor, and now his embraces were meant for another.

She wanted to hate Delilah, but couldn’t. After all, what man could truly resist such a phenomenal woman?

Keegan pulled her into his arms, helping to push the pain back of Ashwin’s betrayal. Yes, she thought with consolation, she had Keegan’s love and that was something she could cling to.

“I’m here for you, Sadie,” Keegan went on. “I’ll always be here for you.”

He gave her a tight squeeze and set a gentle kiss to her temple.

Sadie wanted to shake the pain away; wanted to embrace Keegan’s word of reassurance, but she simply wasn’t ready for that yet. Give me a moment, she wanted to tell him. Give me a minute to allow all that has happened to sink in.

Sadie sunk her face into Keegan’s chest, willing the painful image of Ashwin’s passionate kiss of Delilah to disappear. Gideon the Destroyer… yet here he was being gentler and more loving than she’d ever seen him. It was too much to bear.

“It’s okay, my sweet Sadie,” Keegan hushed into her hair. “Lean on me.”

Her arms snaked around him and she finally found the strength to squeeze him back. “I can’t believe I was so stupid,” she muttered, feeling all the more idiotic as the words spilled from her tongue. Stupid, stupid, stupid, that’s what she was.

“You’re beautifully innocent and enchantingly naïve, but far, far from stupid.” Keegan pushed her away and held her at arms’ length. “You're a loving and compassionate woman who allowed herself to be taken in by a man who some believe to be the original Casanova. He played you artfully and you were at his mercy. Don’t hate yourself for that. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

“And what of your intentions,” Sadie said, her voice quick to take on an accusatory tone as Alexis came into view. “Ashwin played us against the other, and you’ve done no better.”

Fresh blood still drizzled off the end of the stake Alexis held in her hand. Pride played in her eyes, while a curious gaze took in the happenings.

“Sadie,” Keegan said quietly. “I love you both, differently. I came to know both of you at the same time, and while I’ll admit to a few moments of doubt and confusion, I know my heart truly lies in your hands. It is you that I think about all the time; you that I so terribly want to be with every moment of every day.”

“You say that now…”

“Yes, now because I realized, from the moment I saw you in Ashwin’s arms, just how much I love you. You mean more to me than my own life. Doesn’t the fact that I’m out here tonight prove that? I put my hatred of vampires aside and found myself fighting alongside your sister and mentor.”

Beyond everything, in that moment Sadie needed to believe him. She pulled in closer and clung to him as she reached up to capture his lips with hers. “I knew it was you I was meant to be with all along,” she whispered. Her lips were aflame as she kissed him more passionately, realizing just how true those words were. “I tried to bury the pain of your love for Alexis by convincing myself I belonged with Ashwin, but it was always you… You in the back of my mind, you in my heart.”

Keegan let out a gentle groan as he heated the embrace by deepening his kiss.

“What the…?” Alexis shouted.

Sadie glanced at her sister. The pride has disappeared and was taken over by complete confusion and anger. “I just risked my life for you and you turn around and…”

It was easy to recognize just how furious Alexis was. Her fists were white, her eyes red and her lips pulled back baring her teeth. “You’ve never care about me, Sadie, just yourself. Take Ashwin. Take Keegan. For crying out loud, why don’t you just take my life while you're at it?”

Before Sadie could say a word, Alexis turned her gaze to Ashwin and Delilah. A distinctive look of disgust played over her features as she looked upon her fallen mentor. The disgust turned to disdain when her eyes then settled on Ashwin.

“You’re all a bunch of pathetic losers,” she muttered. “The Ancients are nothing but an older and more tired generation of vampires. Delilah’s dead? Well, isn’t that just as it should be? If she was too weak to fight… To hell with all of you.”

Chapter 19

As Alexis took in the dismal turn of events, she noticed a shadow lurking not far away, preparing to turn the night even deadlier. So caught up in their cozy embraces, both couples hardly noticed the danger they suddenly found themselves in.

Before Alexis could shout out a warning, Skars swooped down on Keegan. His head clearly not on another battle, Keegan fell easily to the ground. But what really sparked Alexis’ anger was seeing Sadie fall roughly to the sand.

“It’s time you paid for your treason, Hunter,” Skars spat. He reared his head and roared into the night. “You dare defy me after all I’ve done, after I’ve granted you immortality. You owe your very life to me, yet you spit on the opportunity to serve the strongest vampire who ever walked the earth. I might come to comprehend Ashwin and Delilah’s betrayal, but you? You made a pact, Hunter, an ironclad pact.”

Keegan got to his feet and wiped the sand from his mouth with the back of his hand. Anger and determination splashed across his face. “Is that what brought you to kill Dr. Franz? Did you deliberately make it look like some amateur vampire job, when all along it was you?”

Skars sneered.

“Why?”

“He took too much space in your life and I needed your loyalty to me to be absolute. He had to go.”

“You're a selfish and conceited…”

“Yes. I don’t expect you to understand the intricacies of vampire domination. That is why you are the Hunter and I’m the Gatherer, which is why I also have to remove the two rather charming Stoker sisters from your life. While their distraction is quite understandable, it is not acceptable.”

“How dare you,” Keegan shouted, his anger taking control.

“You need to be reminded who you are pledged to, Hunter,” Skars shouted with fervor.

Keegan charged Skars, his eyes bulging with rage, his fists tightly secured about two stakes. He managed to thrust one deep into Skars’ left arm, rendering the vampire temporarily incapacitated, but the reprieve was short lived.

Skars returned to throw Keegan to the ground, shoving his face deep into the sand.

Spitting and struggling to keep his eyes open, Keegan fought to stay atop the increasingly violent battle. Skars refused to relent, kicking Keegan in the belly, ensuring the young hunter remained on the ground.

“I’ll make an example of you and the world will know not to turn their back on Agar the Gatherer.” Easily overpowering Keegan, Skars pinned him to the ground, grinned in victory and sunk his fangs deep into Keegan’s vulnerable neck.

By the time Alexis reached him, Sadie close at her side, much of Keegan’s blood had been drained and his life hung by a thread. Sadie quickly wrapped her arm around Skars’ neck, choking him while Alexis punched and kicked him.

Only once Alexis had Skars secured and in control did Sadie leave him to go to Keegan’s aid. Was she too late?

Chapter 20

Though fighting off Skars was vital, Alexis wanted desperately to be the one holding Keegan, bringing him back to life. Seeing him at death’s door made the love she felt for him all the more evident. She needed him and would do anything to save him.

For a brief moment, she let her guard down as she watched her sister, Keegan’s head in her lap. That brief moment was enough to allow Skars a serious blow to the back of her head. The stars in the sky paled in comparison to the stars that now played before her eyes.

If Skars had been able to get the best of Delilah, as trained, experienced and strong as she was, it was no wonder he now came to her so easily. He struck her with a vengeance, sending more stars swirling about her head. With difficulty, she shook off the wave of dizziness that tried to gain control and found the strength to fight again.

As she fought, thoughts of her mentor plagued her. For all she relished being the rebel, she did care about Delilah. Could Skars have taken the life of the woman who’d meant so much to her for so long, the woman who seemed indestructible?

She struck Skars with a stiff blow to his jaw, her peripheral focus entirely on Ashwin as he struggled to bring Delilah back to life. Despite his diligent feeding of his blood through her lax lips, Delilah still showed no sign of life.

Alexis’ anger spurred on even more, she threw all her weight, as slight as it might be, onto Skars’ back, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck while raising her stake high. She would kill him, she thought with bloodlust. She had to kill him once and for all.

As determined as she was, she still couldn’t maintain a strong hold of him and he threw her off his back with ease.

Alexis, what do I do?

The voice was distant, vague and weak. The voice was coming through…like Delilah’s had, penetrating through all thoughts.

Alexis, help me. He’ll die…

She finally realized the plaintive and helpless voice was that of Sadie. She glanced back, saw the deathly white pallor of his face and knew Sadie contemplated turning him.

What do I do? I can’t just let him go…

Alexis didn’t know what to do either. Her heart wanted to tell Sadie to save him at all costs, but…

Before she could respond to Sadie’s cry for help, Alexis was torn from the earth and jerked high into the air. The cold, clammy hand of Skars held her tight while his acrid breath filled her ears.

Sadie was too preoccupied with Keegan to help. Her mentor was at death’s door. No one could help her and Alexis knew there was little she could do to battle the strength of this Ancient.

“I love you, Sadie,” she whispered just seconds before her world disappeared and she was teleported to a whole other sphere with Skars.

Epilogue

“Let go of me, you idiot leech,” Alexis shouted into the vacuum that seemed to envelope her.

“You know that will never happen,” Skars said, his voice sure and confident. “I know you all too well. With Sadie so preoccupied with Keegan, and Delilah, whether dead or alive, entrenched far into the heart of Ashwin, there is no place for you in that mortal’s world. I know of the heartache you now suffer. I know of the pain you’ve endured. And I know that I am the one who can deliver you from that pain and suffering.”

“You have no idea what I’m about. And what do you know of pain other than ensuring everyone around you aches and suffers at your hand?”

“You’ve allowed a few unfortunate rumors to sully your opinion of me. Seems not so long ago you were all too eager to become one with me.”

“You're sadly mistaken. I may have once fantasized escaping the dull routine and drudgery of vampirism in California, but my place is not with you, not then and not now. Release me now and let me get back to where I belong.”

“Life as a Strigoi is more suited to your temperament than you realize, my delicious Alexis. Your lack of scruples and your capacity to be so cold-hearted are exactly the qualities I look for in new recruits. You have that, and all nicely wrapped up in a rather attractive package that appeals to me.”

“You're wrong.”

“Come with me and find out what it is to live without pain, without heartache, without jealousy or envy. Come find the pride in who and what you are, the joy of hunting, feeding, living. My men will all lose their hearts to you, my princess. Yet you’ll be mine.”

Alexis struggled against his hold, but to no avail. For the time being she would have to succumb to his wish and wait for the right opportunity when she could be free again.

************

Staring down at Keegan, Sadie willed him to regain consciousness. She’d never realized his immortality was so fragile, that his immortality only gave him everlasting life, but was not strong enough to stave off death should a mortal wound come to him.

She knew she had to save him. Biting into her wrist, she drew a narrow but steady stream of blood. When she brought her wrist to Keegan’s lips, she urged him to drink of her blood.

His lips refuse to cooperate.

“Please, Keegan, drink. Drink and stay with me.”

He swallowed a few drops, but his eyes remained closed. He drank with increasing hunger, but still his body remained limp.

“Good,” she whispered. “Don’t stop, Keegan.” As she spoke, she ran her fingers through his hair, encouraged by the strength she suddenly felt building up inside him. Tears fill her eyes as her longing to have him live became urgent, almost desperate. She needed him, she realized. “I love you, Keegan. I love you so much it hurts. Don’t leave me now.”

Though his eyes remained closed, his fingers wrapped around her hand.

“I know you're a hunter and I shouldn’t love you so, but my heart doesn’t care what you're called. All it knows is the wonderful upstanding man you are. All it knows is how you make me feel, just by looking at me. Say a word and I’m yours, Keegan. Love me and I’ll be yours forever. Stay with me… Stay with me now.”

His hand tightened around hers and his eyes opened for a brief moment, a moment filled with questions, doubt and accusations.

“I know I don’t deserve you. I’m everything you’ve fought against for so long. I’ve taken so much blood from so many humans, drank to nourish myself, taken what was not mine to take. But I can’t help what I feel for you… and I can’t help keep hoping you feel something for me too.”

A single tear fell and splattered on his cheek.

His fingers slackened around her wrist and she knew she was losing him. Her blood wasn’t enough. Her love wasn’t enough. Yet she knew in her heart that she couldn’t let him go.

“Forgive me, Keegan,” she whispered. “I know you’ll hate becoming a vampire and I know I risk having you hate me for all eternity for having turned you, but…”

She looked up into the night sky, her gazed fixed upon the exact spot where her sister had disappeared. Alexis had fought against Skars, though she could have escaped and saved herself. No doubt she wanted to help Keegan. No doubt she wanted to see him live as well.

“I must do this, right, Alexis?”

Sadie closed her eyes, visions of Keegan’s joyful smile instantly coming to her. Her fangs emerged, ready to take a bite. “Forgive me.” With all the love in her heart, Sadie sank her fangs into his neck and sucked of his blood until little was left.

***********

The Stoker Sisters Series

continues in

Book 3

Sister of the Strigois

Fall 2011

EXCERPT FROM

dark beginnings

Phantom Diaries Beginnings

kailin gow

Prologue

Paris 1859

Just weeks after her eighteenth birthday, Veronique was finally allowed a bit of freedom. As the horses slowed their pace and trotted up to a charming and elegant townhouse, she stared out the carriage with excitement and anticipation of the adventure to come.

Paris, she thought. If there ever was a city alive and vibrant, it was Paris.

“Mademoiselle Veronique.” A tall, thin and exceptionally well-dressed woman stepped out with true regal finesse and glided down the steps to greet her. “How wonderful it is to finally meet you.”

With a helping hand from the driver, Veronique got out of the carriage and quickly straightened her skirts before facing her new chaperone. “It’s my pleasure to meet you, Madame Fourquin. My father has told me so much about you.”

As elegant and beautiful as she was, the sunlight revealed a little more of Madame’s age. Little lines were evident in the corners of her eyes and deep creases surrounded her smile. Maturity had been a strong point for Veronique’s father. He’d been adamant in his desire to see her well versed in etiquette and fine manners and Madame Fourquin was deemed perfect for the task.

“And how is Monsieur Dumouchel?”

While the driver tended to Veronique’s bags, Madame Fourquin led Veronique to the door of the impressive townhouse.

“Quite busy,” Veronique said. “Work on that opera house is proving to be a larger task than anyone had anticipated. They’ve been besieged by a number of delays and Papa is going to be in town for more weeks than he’d originally planned.

“A more lengthy stay in Paris is never an unpleasant ordeal.” Madame Fourquin smiled and patted Veronique’s arm.

“I totally agree, but Father has a different view on the matter. Work is work, whether it’s in Paris or Devonshire it doesn’t really matter much to him.”

The interior of the townhouse was just as elegant as the exterior promised. Fine woodwork, intricate details and luxurious fabrics were the mainstay. The furnishings were all small and delicate. The boudoir, a fanciful burst of dusty pink with plenty of lace, was touched by Madame’s feminine hand.

The foyer, grounded with heavy wood furniture was topped off with a whimsy of white and yellow fabrics that brightened the room.

“What a magnificent home you have, Madame Fourquin.”

“I do love to keep an immaculate residence. I hope you’ll be vigilant in maintaining your quarters tidy.”

“Of course.”

Madame Fourquin led the way up the stairs and turned to the third door on her right. “Your room has an exceptional view of the gardens, but also overlooks the street below.”

The large room was more than Veronique had expected. Decorated almost exclusively in white, the room was elegant while still retaining a youthful charm. A thick tapestry hung on the far wall, depicting a summer’s day picnic while the other wall boasted a whimsical charcoal caricature. “How creative and unique,” Veronique said as she approached the sketch. “Wherever did you find such a piece of art?”

“I do enjoy encouraging new talent in Paris. This was done by a young man who I found to have much promise.”

Veronique approached the framed sketched and read the scribbled signature. “Monet?”

“Yes, dear. He certainly is impressive to watch as he works.” Madame Fourquin walked to the large armoire that would house Veronique’s wardrobe. “As you can see, you’ll have plenty of storage space.

Veronique nodded, pleased with her new living space.

The two large windows took up much of the remaining walls, letting in a breathtaking amount of sunlight and fresh air. Glancing down at the small garden, Veronique knew where she’d be spending many late afternoons, reading or tending to her needlepoint.

“This street is relatively quiet so you shouldn’t be bothered by passersby.”

Veronique headed for the other window and looked down. The driver was still pulling out her valises, but he’d been interrupted by two young men who seemed engrossed in a deep conversation with him.

Madame Fourquin came to stand beside her. “The young Aragon men,” she said with a touch of surprise.

“Really?” Veronique said. She’d heard the name before, often associated with great wealth and power. She’d never imagined they could be so young and attractive. Though one was fair and elegant while the other was dark and raw, they both carried themselves with an air of unflappable confidence.

“I do hope you’ll be comfortable here.” Madame Fourquin seemed eager to change the subject.

“I’ve no doubt I will.” Veronique couldn’t take her eyes off the two young men. How wonderful indeed it was going to be living in Paris.

****************

On hearing the feminine voice Martin Aragon looked up to catch a glimpse of the young woman by the window and was immediately enchanted. Though she demurely turned away and returned her attention to Madame Fourquin the moment he raised his glance to her, he was mesmerized by the exquisite beauty of this young woman. Her dark hair was pinned up in an innocent chignon that displayed her lack of refinement, but added to her allure; naïve and unrefined. Martin was instantly drawn to the spark he caught in her eye as she conversed with Madame Fourquin.

“Just my type,” Philippe challenged as he followed the direction of Martin’s gaze.

“She’s nothing like your type. Even from here you can clearly see she lacks the haughty air you so admire in your women.”

“I take great offense at that, Martin. My love of women far exceeds their lineage. Why just last week I spent an enjoyable time with a lovely milkmaid who was a minx and a half.”

Martin chuckled. He knew his cousin far more than he should. A womanizer of the worst kind, Philippe had left a thick and deep trail of broken hearts across Paris and back. Few young women trusted him, though unfortunately, few could resist him.

“Don’t look at me like that, cousin. You and I both know you are far from innocent when it comes to the hearts of young women. Though I can claim a small handful of conquests, I far from deserve the title of rake that you’ve acquired.”

“Touché.” Martin smirked as his eyes played over the delicate features of the young woman’s face. She was lovely in the most enchanting and beguiling of ways. The many women he’d known in his young life paled in comparison to her fresh beauty.

“If I remember correctly you're the Aragon with the reputation for mischief and heartache.” Philippe slapped his gloves across his hand repeatedly as he eyed the young woman above.

Martin yawned to show how bored he was with the conversation. His reputation was far exaggerated and the trail of heartache he’d left behind was greatly due to the young women he’d met. They failed to truly see him as he was and insisted he was more angelic than he ever could be. Despite his warnings to the contrary, they never believed him and ultimately learned the hard way.

“What do you say to a small wager?” Philippe asked.

An intrigued brow rose as Martin waited for him to go on.

“The first to win the heart of the new mademoiselle in town.”

Martin glanced up just in time to catch his future conquest walk away. This bet would be too easy to win. “You're on.”

Chapter 1

Veronique hummed a sprite tune as she settled into her new room. The excitement of Paris was electric and filled the air, even from this distance. Though kilometers away, she could just smell le Louvre, imagine la Tour Eiffel and taste the fresh baguettes and robust wines.

Blended with all that was the scent of freedom. This was the first time she’d ever been away from her father’s home. It was frightening, exciting, thrilling and enthralling all at the same time. What would Paris hold for her? What adventures would she now have the freedom to embark upon?

The streets of Paris were hers to discover and she longed to stroll them at her leisure. Of course, Madame Fourquin would always be at her side.

Her valise lay open on the bed, filled with the finest garments she had. She ignored how outdated some of the items were and pulled them out to hang in her simply but spacious armoire. Finances had been tight of late and her wardrobe had suffered. Perhaps now in the heart of the world’s fashion capital she would find a few items to refine her look.

A gentle knock at the door was followed by Madame Fourquin’s entrance. “And how are we settling in?”

“Everything is perfect. The room is more than large enough and I’ve not even filled half of this armoire.”

With an attempt at discretion, Madame Fourquin glanced down at the dress still laid out on the bed.

“Yes, I know.” Veronique shifted uneasily. “It is fearfully outdated.”

“I’ve a few free hours and a good friend I’d like to visit. Marie Rousell just happens to be one of the finest dressmakers this side of le Louvre.”

Veronique was instantly excited by the prospect. Only hours into her new residence and Madame Fourquin was already proving to be all that her father had hoped for and more. In dire need of a woman’s presence since the passing of her mother years before, Veronique longed to forge a strong bond with this new woman in her life, and what better way than by planning a new wardrobe?

Their arrival at the dress shop was loud and boisterous as the older women exchanged a few pleasantries. Quickly brought up to date with each other’s lives, they turned to Veronique.

“I’ve told Mademoiselle Dumouchel how talented you were, Marie, and here we are.”

Indeed, she was talented. Veronique placed an order for three simple yet elegant day dresses and two ball gowns. Fascinated by the brilliance of the luxurious fabrics, she couldn’t resist the splurge. She loved the leg of mutton sleeves, sloping shoulders and conical skirt.

“You’ll be more than prepared to be presented now, Mademoiselle.” Madame Fourquin seemed proud of the purchases made.

Stepping out of the enchanting boutique, Veronique smiled as a young and dapper man approached them. His hair was fair, with neat curls that framed his face. He looked familiar, but his name escaped her.

“Madame Fourquin,” he greeted. His hand was quickly extended to her. “What a pleasure to run into you on such a fabulous spring afternoon.”

“Monsieur Aragon. How handsome and elegant you look.”

Veronique instantly remembered the young man she’d seen at her window. How incredibly handsome he was at this proximity. His features were elegant yet masculine.

His eyes shifted to Veronique with a touch of recognition that left her feeling uneasy.

“Oh, my heavens. You do always leave me forgetting my manners.” Madame Fourquin turned to Veronique. “This beautiful young lady is my new charge. We’ve just spent the last few hours enhancing her wardrobe.”

He bowed deeply and with reverence, making Veronique chuckle. Never had a man of his standing displayed such manners towards her. When he took her hand and tenderly laid his soft lips over her skin, she was stunned by the effect he had on her.

“It is my greatest pleasure to meet you, sweet Mademoiselle.” His smile was sincere, yet filled with mischief.

“Pleased to meet you, Mons…”

“Ah, ah, ah.” He shook his head and waved a scolding finger at her. “Please, call me Philippe.”

“Ah, yes, of course.” She smiled demurely and calmly while inside her nerves were shattering. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Philippe.”

The playful twinkle remained in his eyes as his gaze scanned her face. If he didn’t stop soon, she would surely burst into a shamefully adolescent blush that she would never live down.

“Have you ladies had time to dine during this shopping spree?”

“I’m afraid not,” Madame Fourquin replied. The tilt of her head made it evident she’d welcome his invitation.

“Then may I propose we dine together at André’s Bistro around the corner? I hear they’ve recently acquired a new Bordeaux and I’ve been dying to try it.”

“That sounds absolutely divine.” Madame Fourquin quickly hooked one hand around Veronique’s arm and slid the other into Philippe’s offered arm. Whether it was her chaperoning instincts that bade her to keep them apart, or simply her desire to monopolize Philippe’s attention, Veronique couldn’t be sure.

The corner bistro waved them in with the tantalizing aroma of fresh bread, warm soups and strong cheeses. Seated at a small table, Veronique was just as intrigued by the artful hangings on the wall as she was with Philippe’s intent gaze on her.

“This is…” Veronique didn’t know what description to give the restaurant. Quaint wasn’t quite the word and neither was elegant. Several risqué posters hung on the walls leaving only the word tawdry on her lips.

“You don’t appreciate this art form?” Philippe asked.

Veronique bit her lip. “I suppose it’s all just too new to me. Excuse my naiveté, but I would have thought such displays scandalous.”

“Artists have a variety of ways of depicting life. Some seek out the purity and innocence of their subjects while others dig deeper to find the more sordid and raw aspects of the human race.”

“While I can appreciate a lovely painting, I know very little about art,” Veronique admitted.

“Something we’ll see too soon enough,” Madame Fourquin interjected.

“My father has an extensive collection of works he proudly displays around the estate. Granted his pursuit of such art works is to impress the galleries, not appreciate the works on their merit.”

“What can I bring you?” A young lady arrived at the table prepared to take the order.

Her attire reflected the posters and Veronique tried not to be shocked. But the emotion she really tried to keep in check was the biting sense of envy and jealousy she felt. Envy for the young woman who was obviously at ease with her provocative dress and a hint of jealousy for Philippe’s sidelong glance into the woman’s deep cleavage.

Perhaps the ball gown she’d just ordered was too prim. Biting her lip and glancing once again at the young woman’s dress, she promised herself she’d return to the dressmaker to make the proper adjustments.

“Does that sound good to you, Veronique?”

Drawn out of her reverie, Veronique looked at Philippe with no idea of what he spoke.

“Do you approve of what I ordered?”

“Of course.” She smiled and wondered what he had indeed ordered.

A perfectly crisp and hot baguette arrived moments later with a large wedge of soft and creamy cheese. The Bordeaux was perfect, though Veronique had little in the way of experience with fine wines.

The effect of the scant bit of wine she’d tasted remained with her as they exited the bistro and strolled through the streets of Paris. While Philippe regaled them with stories and tales of his youth, Veronique tried not to giggle like a schoolgirl.

“As shocking as it may seem, I was once contracted to model for the great Enzo Milano.”

“Were you truly?” Her eyes wide with innocence, Veronique was impressed and shocked.

“He’d been commissioned to paint a series of female nudes and he wanted to add a male in the mix.”

Now undeniably shocked, Veronique gasped and heard it echoed from Madame Fourquin.

Philippe winked at Veronique and continued to convincingly tell the tale to Madame Fourquin.

“I was young and wild and wanted nothing more than to contradict my parents. The more they tried to hold me back, the more I wanted to go out and sully my reputation as well as theirs.”

Veronique smiled and wondered just how much of his tale was true. Looking at him today, it was difficult to believe he could ever conceive doing such a thing. He looked every inch the fine young gentleman and though the touch of mischief was always in his eyes, the true refinement of his upbringing superseded it all.

“When the paintings were revealed, my father nearly disowned me. My mother fainted and lay in bed for over a week.”

“I always knew you had a wild streak beneath that aristocratic veneer,” Madame Fourquin said. Her eyes danced with amusement and seemed to silently congratulate his youthful escapade.

“Believe it or not, it sold for almost twice as much as any of the female nudes. I was asked to pose again, but had to refuse. There was only so much my poor parents could take.”

Veronique’s gaze remained on his face throughout the telling of the tale. He was enigmatic and charming beyond anything she’d ever known. Though initially shocking, she was mesmerized by his ability to be so refined, yet so untamed. While the docile and innocent young lady in her hoped the story was a complete fabrication, the underlying nymph that sought thrills and excitement fervently hoped it was true.