B005EMAYWS EBOK Read online

  * * *

  In the predawn light, the abandoned streets of the mid 19th century ghost town seemed eerie, even to a vampire. A shiver made its way up Summer’s spine. She could only imagine what ghosts would inhabit such a desolate and lonely place. Since turning, she had found that she was less receptive to the spirit world, though she was not sure if it was because of the turning, or because she had been so preoccupied.

  “Why are we here,” she asked Anton.

  He brought the car to a stop near an old cabin on the outskirts of the town. “This is where I stay when I’m away from Outerlands. We don’t have enough time to get you to Beaver Creek before the sun is up.”

  It was true. She could already feel a burning sensation on her skin. Summer followed him through the door and inside the small log building. From the outside it looked as if the cabin hadn’t been used in a hundred years, but inside it appeared clean and comfortable.

  There was no need to cover the windows, they already had wooden slats nailed over them from the outside.

  “There is a lantern by the bed,” Anton told her. “I’m going to go stash the car.”

  While Anton was gone, Summer lit the lantern so that he could see when he returned. Before long he was back. Anton went to work covering any areas around the windows and doors where light might leak through.

  Since the night that they made love, he was no longer cold toward her, but still seemed somewhat reserved.

  “I can make you a bed in the closet. It is big enough that you won’t be cramped and you’ll be safe from the sun if the door is opened.”

  “Thanks,” Summer smiled. She knew that they needed to talk, but every time she tried, he would change the subject.

  Eyeing the bed at the far side of the one-room cabin, Summer wished that she could share it with Anton. It had been too long since she’d opened her eyes to find him sleeping next to her.

  Looking around the room, she saw that the cabin had just about everything they needed. There was no electricity or running water, but she saw several large jugs of water stored in the corner of the room. A battery-operated radio stood on his bedside table, along with a paperback book. For some reason she’d never really thought of him as someone that liked to read.

  Anton disappeared outside and when he returned he was carrying a large blue cooler. The cooler was where he’d been keeping Dash’s recipe. During their trip, he would stop every few hours and buy more ice to add to the cooler. She had to admit, Anton had done a great job of taking care of her.

  He placed the cooler on the floor and then went to the closet.

  “Please, can we talk?” Summer was getting desperate. She did not want their trip to end with even a hint of animosity between them.

  With a deep sigh, Anton turned to face her. “Summer … I am not sure what there is to say. I am not what you want … or need.”

  Summer glared at him. “Now how is it that you know what I want or need?”

  Anton looked away from her. “You told me remember? You told me to go away … that it was over.”

  Summer swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat. She had told him to go away, but it was only because she did not want him to hate her. How long would he endure her constant need of blood and the times when she could not control the monster within her, before he finally turned away from her?

  Stepping close to him, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Getting on her tiptoes she kissed his lips.

  She could not let him go … not yet!

  Anton returned her kiss, sensuously exploring her mouth with his tongue. Lifting Summer in his arms, he carried her to his bed. He stood above her, his eyes devouring every inch of her. It was as if he wanted to commit to memory, everything about the way she looked at that moment.

  Stepping back from the bed, he pulled off his T-shirt and unbuttoned his jeans. Though she had seen him without his clothes on several occasions, she still found the sight of his body mesmerizing. He was so perfect - so male. Just seeing him could put her into a fever.

  He lay beside her and brought his hand up to softly caress her cheeks. While he touched her, his gaze never left her face. She thought for sure she would completely lose herself in his smoldering eyes.

  Anton slowly removed her clothing as he stroked her skin in the most intimate places. Last time they’d come together it had been heated, almost violent, but this time he was taking his time. Everywhere he touched her she felt a tingling that quickly turned hot. As his fingers found their way to the soft folds between her legs, she bucked her hips, wanting to feel more of him.

  The feeling of his erection resting against her leg fed her frustration. All she could think about was how he would drive into her, and how he would fuel her desire until her need for him was sated.

  His labored breathing made it obvious that he was struggling to control his own rampant hunger, but still he held back. His teasing was intolerable and she could not take it another second. Summer pushed him onto his back and mounted his stiff flesh. The moment they came together, he threw back his head and let out a deep groan that almost sounded like a snarl. When he looked at her, she could see the beast in his eyes.

  Despite his effort to be gentle with her, their lovemaking turned savage. He bucked against her violently as she rode him with wild abandonment. They reached an explosive climax simultaneously. She felt his body become rigid as he spilled his hot seed in her eager body.

  * * *

  Summer opened her eyes to the same pitch-black space that she’d gone to sleep in. Though the closet was large, she still felt cramped. She’d gone to sleep after their lovemaking without bothering to dress, but she was wrapped in several blankets that provided her protection against the light and the never ending cold.

  Sitting up, she reached over and knocked on the closet door. “Anton … is it okay to come out?”

  She waited for an answer, but there was nothing, not even the sound of him moving around.

  Concluding that he must have gone out for some reason, Summer thought about opening the closet door to look out. She was anxious to get out of the closet, but if the sun was not down yet it could be risky.

  Taking her chances, she turned the knob and opened the door just a crack. The room was nearly as dark as the closet, but she could still see that he was not in the bed. The room appeared to be empty, but just as she was preparing to open the door all the way - she sensed movement near the door.

  Summer froze. It couldn’t be Anton. If he were in the room he would have answered her.

  Now she wished that she hadn’t called out to Anton. By doing so, she’d alerted the intruder to her whereabouts. As quietly as possible, she moved away from the door. In the end, her effort would make no difference. The door was pulled open with such tremendous forced that it was yanked from its hinges.

  The dark figure that stood in the doorway was familiar, but the deadly light in his eyes told her he was no friend. Baring her fangs, a deep - guttural snarl made its way from her throat and she flew out of the closet, knocking him to the ground.

  She was strong, but Marius was stronger. As quickly as she attacked him, he had her pinned to the ground. Summer fought to loosen his hold on her, but it was useless.

  “I knew if I waited long enough he would eventually bring you here.”

  “What have you done with Anton,” she demanded, glowering at him with angry - radiant eyes.

  Marius laughed. “You still have not learned to control your hunger. It is a shame that you did not let me be your teacher.”

  Summer renewed her struggle to break free, but it was futile. His hands were like irons holding her down.

  “What do you want from me Marius? Haven’t you had your revenge?”

  He stared down at her, his eyes angry but there was the suggestion of something else in his intense stare - passion. “Are you really so clueless sweetheart?”

  “Let me go,” she hissed.

  His mouth was on hers and he was kissing her with
a fervor that came near to sweeping her away. She resisted the urge to return his kiss, reminding herself how easily a woman could be enchanted by the vampire. Though she was now one of them, she was not entirely immune.

  When he pulled away, the murderous rage in his eyes was gone. “I love you,” he whispered. “I need you.”

  Summer again tried to push him away. “No … you don’t love me or you wouldn’t have done this. You mistook my compassion for you as something else, and now you want to use me to replace the woman you lost.”

  “Tell me you don’t feel anything when I kiss you. I know you do … I can tell.”

  “You are a killer,” she screamed. “I could not love a killer.”

  “We are all killers,” he growled. “Do not pretend that the thrill of the kill does not beckon you.”

  Summer shook her head in denial. “Please, Marius … let me go.”

  “Let you go so that you can go to the arms of your wolf?” he laughed. “You are deluding yourself. He is your enemy. The wolf may take you to his bed, but he will try and destroy you in the end.”

  “I don’t believe you,”

  Marius shrugged and kissed her again, this time with more urgency.

  “I could take you now,’ he whispered, backing away just enough to let his eyes travel down her naked body. “You are a lovely sight sweetheart.”

  Summer was ready to respond with a string of insults when she heard the door open. The room was suddenly filled with bright moonlight that permitted her to clearly see the look of disbelief on Anton’s face.

  Marius jumped up, ready to defend himself if Anton should spring on him. “What is the matter wolf man? Did you think that you could really satisfy the lusts of a vampire?”

  Summer shook her head. “Don’t believe him Anton.”

  “Vampires … you just can’t trust them,” Marius smiled.

  The wolf entered Anton’s eyes, and Summer knew it was too late to turn back. One of them would die tonight, and she feared it might be the one she loved. She couldn’t take that chance.

  Snarling, his face began to morph into something unrecognizable.

  “Anton … don’t,” she begged.

  Enough of the man still remained that he heard her pleading with him. He turned sharply in her direction. As abruptly as the wolf appeared, he retreated. Anton fixed furious eyes on her.

  “You would defend this vampire?” he growled.

  “No … it’s not that,” she told him, grabbing the blanket from the bed to cover her nakedness.

  “If he means nothing to you … then kill him,” Anton told her through clenched teeth.

  Summer’s eyes rested on Marius. Though her heart belonged to Anton and not the vampire, she felt a strange revulsion at the thought of destroying her maker. Anton sensed her hesitation.

  “You belong to him … not me,” he told her before turning and walking out the door.

  “Anton! No … don’t go. It’s not true,” she called after him.

  He either did not hear her calling to him, or chose to ignore her. Summer ran to the door. “I love you,” she screamed in desperation.

  Anton kept walking, not even bothering to look back.

  Her grief was unbearable. Summer threw her head back and wailed like a wounded animal.

  If it were not for the sound of Marius’ laughter, she would have went into a downward spiral of dark despair. Instead she turned on him.

  “You fiend!” Summer shrieked.

  Marius shrugged. “He did not leave because of anything I said. He left because you would not destroy me.”

  Summer began to shake as rage ripped through her soul.

  “Tell me my love … why couldn’t you bring yourself to kill me?”

  Her eyes shimmered with the light of the vampire and the fury that was consuming her. “That will not be a problem now,” she hissed as she began moving in his direction.

  “Now wait sweetheart. If you do destroy me, doesn’t that make you the killer that he despises?”

  His words did nothing to deter her, she continued taking slow - purposeful steps, her lips spread in a dangerous smile. “You are the one that made me a killer,”

  “Think about it Summer. Who was it that walked away from you, and who was it that came looking for you?”

  “It was because of you.”

  “He left because he does not believe in your love for him. He cannot trust your love because he believes you have the heart of a monster.” Marius took a step back.

  Summer stopped.

  Marius’ words rang true. If Anton really cared, how could he have walked away from her without at least listening to what she had to say?

  “Summer … I can give you everything you need and more. I can give you forever, he would eventually wither and die.”

  Her fingers felt as if they were being mangled as the claws of the jaguar emerged. Baring her fangs, she rushed at him. Ready for the attack, Marius held up one arm, and on impact, he sent her soaring across the room.

  “Your venom may be deadly,” he laughed, “but first you must get close enough to bite me.”

  Summer recovered quickly and jumped to her feet. Crouching down, she was ready to leap at him again. But before she could make her move, she saw him pull something out of his jacket and come at her.

  With centuries of practice, his movements were a lot swifter than hers. Almost before she realized what was happening, he was on her and covering her face with a piece of cloth. The chloroform didn’t work as quickly on her as it would have before she turned, but with enough of the substance, even a vampire would succumb.

  The last thing she could remember before slipping into unconsciousness was the harsh odor stinging her eyes.

  Chapter Eighteen

  A full moon hung suspended in the endless black sky, blanketing the mountains and valleys with its enchanting silver light. The mournful howl of a wolf cracked through the stillness of the night, shattering the illusion of solitude and tranquility.

  The wolf kept moving, stopping every so often to sniff the air. The vampire had taken her by flight, but her scent still lingered, giving the lycan some direction. The longer he followed the trail, the stronger the stench of the vampire became. There were more vampires roaming the dark forest of the Wind River Mountains than just the girl and her captor.

  * * *

  When Summer opened her eyes to the bright light of a lantern, raw pain slithered through her brain. She had to bite her tongue to keep from screaming. Expecting that she would be restrained with chains, she was surprised when she was able to freely move her arms and legs.

  Despite the pain in her skull, Summer forced herself to look around. She was lying on the dirt, in what appeared to be a large mineshaft. She remembered the mine and knew that they were close to Beaver Creek. As a child her parents had taken her to see the abandoned Cassandra Gold Mine, the largest in the area.

  Her father told her the story. According to legend, the man that started mining the Cassandra had come from the east with his family. While traveling, his daughter died of fever. The mine had been given Cassandra’s name in honor of her memory.

  Summer was convinced that’s where she was. The shaft was too large to be any other mine in the area.

  From the corner of her eye she saw movement. Marius stepped out of the shadows and knelt down next to where she lay on the cold earthen floor.

  “I know you are probably not feeling so great right now, but it will pass.”

  “Marius, just let me go. Haven’t you done enough to tear my life apart? I’m not the woman you lost, and I’m not the one that took her from you,” Summer tried to reason with him.

  Marius reached down to brush the hair out of her eyes. “None of that matters now. We are together and eventually you will grow to love me as I do you.”

  Summer pushed herself into a sitting position. “You are wrong. There is only one man that I will ever love.”

  “Even if he doesn’t really love you?”


  Summer nodded.

  Marius shook his head. “You are a foolish girl, but you’ll come around.”

  From somewhere in the darkness, Summer heard a soft - whimpering cry. After listening closely for a few seconds, she could tell that the sound was coming from behind Marius. Whoever was crying was hiding within the shadows.

  Marius was watching her, his forehead wrinkled as he drew his brows together in confusion. “What are you looking at?”

  Summer brought a finger up to her lips. “Shhh.”

  The crying continued, but as the seconds ticked by it became more audible. “Who’s there?” Summer yelled.

  The crying stopped. “I know you are still here. Who are you,” Summer asked again.

  Marius was glaring at her through narrowed eyes. “Who are you talking to?” he asked.

  Before Summer could answer, the iridescent image of a woman emerged from the dark. She was striking. It was the only word that Summer could think of to describe how lovely the girl was. She had olive skin and big dark eyes. Though her black hair appeared unkempt, if it had been brushed out it would have been a cascade of black silk.

  “It was his child.” The woman’s voice sounded hollow and far away.

  Summer’s eyes locked with Marius’. “Sabina is here now … she is telling me that it was your child she was pregnant with.”

  “What kind of trick is this?” his eyes had taken on that hard glint that Summer had come to recognize as fury.

  “I never told you,” Summer smiled, “I can communicate with the dead, though it has been difficult since turning.”

  Marius stared at her with disbelief. “She is here now?”

  Summer nodded.

  Again she heard the voice. “I could not give birth to a child like that.”

  “She wasn’t sure what the child would be like,” Summer told him, hoping to soften the blow of what she suspected the girl was really trying to say. “That is the real reason she killed herself.”

  “You are lying,” he hissed.

  “A bed of roses.” Sabina’s voice was distant and harder to hear.