Bloody Promises

Evernight Publishing www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2012 Allison Grey

ISBN: 978-1-77130-012-4

Cover Artist: Jinger Heaston Editor: Marie Medina

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION To every reader who has enjoyed a single word I’ve written. Thank you!

HALF-LING: BLOODY PROMISES Half-lings Series, 3 Allison Grey Copyright © 2012

Chapter One

“Is she awake?” Reney rolled over at the sound of Ahulani’s voice. He was whispering to her between the warm sheets. She glanced to their sleeping daughter’s crib. The baby girl was gorgeous, born with a full head of white-blonde curls like her mother’s. She slept peacefully, one arm extended over her pink sheets in a hug. ‘Olina was so passive and innocent. Reney smiled and turned back to Ahulani, his eyes glittering gold in the darkness. She kissed his forehead warmly. “No. And this looks like a good sleep.” Ahulani grinned. “‘Olina takes after her father,” he said softly. He ran a hand through Reney’s extensive curls. “She will sleep deeply whenever the spirit moves her.” “I love you,” Reney whispered. She took a moment to gaze at his tanned features. The sparkling gold of his eyes and his ebony hair still dazzled her. He never became common or faded to her. Every morning, it was as if she awoke next to a prince. “I love you,” Ahulani whispered. He kissed her, and they embraced for a moment before Reney became aroused as her body caressed her lover’s. The pregnancy hadn’t taken much of a toll on Reney’s figure, and the weight had wilted off her tall frame in a matter of a few weeks. Even if it had not, Reney wouldn’t have minded. ‘Olina was everything she had ever dreamed of. The moment her baby was born, an intense and

instantaneous love struck. It overtook her so much she found herself in tears at moments. With Ahulani beside her, it was somehow easy to forget all the horrors they had seen since they had met last year. Richard was the hardest to try and stop thinking about. He was the vampire who had lured Reney to the Hawaii in order to drink the blood of a half-vampire, and Reney hadn’t even known what she was yet. She was a half-ling, a half-vampire, and the blood of her kind was like ambrosia to the full vampires. They had faced him again in Romania. It was there that Reney’s former best friend, Jane, had killed him. The two women had worked together in New York as interns at So Glam magazine. Their cubicles had been side by side, and a close friendship had formed between them. But their entire friendship had been no more than a ruse, a plot to lure Reney into Richard’s hands. Jane was also a half-ling, but had known her entire life. She had been obsessed with Richard. Infatuated to the point of madness. She had killed Richard when she found out about…. Reney shook away the thought. It was all in the past now. A mistake. Jane, now a full vampire after drinking Richard’s blood, hadn’t made contact with them thus far. But Reney had feared retribution from Jane, who became furious when she found out Richard had seduced Reney. This had all taken place while she was with Ahulani, further galling Jane and mortifying Reney to the point of denial. After she had slept with him, Richard revealed to her that a special half-ling like Reney would be unable to resist the charms of a full vampire. He had used it to his advantage, to try to mate with Reney and produce an heir for himself. It was better that he had died. Reney had been terrified of an attack from Jane while she was pregnant with ‘Olina. The pregnancy had passed peacefully though, if one did not count morning sickness. Reney suspected now that Jane had regretted killing Richard shortly after the fatal staking. Hopefully she had gone too mad with grief to even seek revenge. Jane had never been one for biding her time. Reney took solace that Ahulani’s family, all powerful half-lings, surrounded her. She may be able to raise their daughter in a rather normal, safe environment. At least, she hoped so. But for now, they had a rare moment together. The first few months of ‘Olina’s life had been constant waking and feedings, and she treasured her private time with Ahulani in a whole new way. She breathed in Ahulani’s scent. That sweet cinnamon fragrance he

seemed to exude from his very pores. Reney kissed her husband, the man who had put a ring on her finger immediately after discovering the pregnancy. It had all been so fast, but Reney was fine with that. She knew in her heart she was meant to be with Ahulani for eternity. “Kiss me, you fool,” Reney said, and rolled away from him. He grabbed her by the shoulders and she giggled as he flipped her over. “Yes, Ma’am,” he smiled. He pressed his mouth to hers, engulfing Reney in his charming aroma, coveting her. She sighed. Within a few moments, her satin nightgown lay on the floor next to Ahulani’s clothing. Reney moaned, enjoying every touch as his warm hands explored her breasts. He handled her body as if she were a new and fascinating lover every time he was with her. It was faster than either of them would have liked. Ahulani writhed his warm, soft hips into her own, shaking her insides faster and faster until he ground her pussy into a shuddering orgasm. She bit her lip in an attempt to not wake the baby Her efforts were foiled by a knock on their door. In the middle of the night, it would most certainly be unwelcome news. Ahulani jumped under the covers while Reney struggled to get her nightdress on. She tried her best to pull her hair back into something suitable for company, a smooth style that wouldn’t give away their activities. ‘Olina had awoken, and Reney picked up the squealing infant. She pressed her daughter close to her heart. More than anything, motherhood had come naturally to the half-vampire. The birth of ‘Olina had sealed her bond with Ahulani to the core, bringing new life to their love. She was surprised to find Ahulani’s father at the door. “Akua,” she said. “What brings you here at this hour?” Akua, who was usually in bed by nine, rarely came by the apartment. He favored meeting in the common area downstairs, as his limbs were stiffening and he found it hard to make it upstairs. He did not partake much in the drinking of animal’s blood with the rest of the family. Akua wished to die at a typical human age, rather than live out the two hundred plus years he might acquire as a half-ling. Reney moved ‘Olina to her other hip in nervousness. If Akua had come up to the apartment, he must have important news for them.

“I am so sorry to disturb you two so late,” he said. He shifted, looking uncomfortable in her presence. “I need to speak with Ahulani urgently. I’ve had a dream…” Reney fidgeted in the doorway. Akua had prophetic dreams, and he never missed a mark. He had even known Richard would be bringing Reney to Hawaii. He was the one to warn Ahulani that it was going to happen. Ahulani’s interference in Richard’s plan had ultimately saved Reney’s life. All who knew him trusted Akua’s visions. Ahulani sat up in bed. His eyes gave a brief flash of gold, as they did whenever he experienced any intense emotion. “Dad. What is it? What did you see?” Akua glanced at Reney for a moment, then back to his son. “No,” Ahulani said. “You can tell us both. Reney is my wife now, after all.” Reney smiled. She had finally discussed her independence and need to be a part of things with Ahulani before the birth of their daughter. Apparently, he had listened. Akua sighed and leaned on his cane. He took a seat as Reney closed the door behind him. “Who is Marian?” Reney and Ahulani exchanged a confused look. “I’ve never heard that name,”Ahulani said. “Marian,” Reney said slowly. “That’s Richard’s cousin. He showed me in a vision of the past when I was at the castle. But, he said Marian was out of the picture. He never got specific. Only said that he had taken care of him.” Akua shook his head. “No, no,” he said. Akua looked as if he were struggling to piece together his thoughts. “Marian lives. Freely. He is alive. I could see his soul, and it was terrifying to behold. There is great madness and instability. There is also Jane. She is angry. They are planning things together.” Reney hugged ‘Olina closer to her chest. Ahulani got up and tied the bed sheet around his waist. He approached Akua with apprehension. “Planning things?” he asked. “They’re working together?” The nervousness dripped from Ahulani’s voice. Akua nodded.

“Jane,” he said absently. “The female vampire.” “Dad, what is it?” Ahulani asked. Reney’s heart pounded in her chest. She wanted to pass out at once. Akua just shook his head. He looked at the ground as he spoke. “Jane and Marian are in a sick love with each other. They want…they are planning….” “What are they planning?” Ahulani shouted. He grabbed his father roughly by the shoulders in his panic. Akua looked up, golden flecks lit in his aging eyes. “They want ‘Olina. Dead.”

Chapter Two Jane leaned back into the claw foot bathtub and stretched her sore neck muscles. She was a bit torn from hunting, but Marian always saw to it that she was well cared for. Upon his return to the castle, the family had been both shocked and thrilled. They had thought him dead for nearly three centuries. Marian’s concept of time had become so skewed in his underground prison, he had thought himself imprisoned only two hundred years. He was quite confused when he learned just how long it had really been. The truth had summoned his mad fury to its most severe. The pair hunted together nightly to relieve his rage. Jane had thought previously that her sadistic killings were as horrid a thing she could think of, but Marian was always filled with new and creative ideas. The killings seemed to solidify their ever-growing attachment to each other as they relished the pleas of mercy from their victims. Marian had made her particularly fond of prolonging the feeding until the last possible moment. Until she met her new lover. Jane had visited Richard’s tomb every night after she had killed him. She would sob at the great betrayal she had shown him, and press her lips to the name on his tomb. Jane had hoped that somehow, her tears might bring him back. That was when Marian had spoken to her, his voice no more than an echo beyond the wall of the tomb, heavily accented in Romanian. They had chatted back and forth for a while, and Marian had finally gotten Jane to confess how poorly Richard had treated her. He had expressed sympathy for her, and even called her beautiful. He said her very spirit smelled gorgeous, that he did not need to see her in person to know of her great exquisiteness. The poetic, romantic speech of the vampire behind the wall had enticed Jane to free him. She had not known that bringing him into her undead existence would be the best decision of her life. When they were not out hunting, Marian read classic literature. He devoured all the books he had been confined from during his imprisonment. He starved for them. When not reading or hunting, he pampered Jane as an object of artistic beauty, his lover. He was just as creative in bed and romance as he was in the killing fields. Marian loved life in a way Jane never knew possible before she

met him. She was learning to love life, too, even if they were both technically dead. Jane smiled at the thought of him. She reached her hands into the warmth of the blood she bathed in, and smiled when she caught her reflection in the mirror beside the tub. Face smeared in the red broth, she bared her fangs and hissed at herself, the sound echoing around the room. Jane giggled. The hollow voice had come to her immediately after she became a full vampire, and Marian shared the same phenomena with her. Victims became paralyzed with dread as the sound of their voices echoed together in harmony. Marian could throw his voice behind their prey to confuse them, and Jane was beginning to learn she could to the same. This served as more fodder in Jane’s mind that they were meant to be together, forever the undead lovers. The man who had provided her with the luxurious soak was dead now, lying on the other end of the room. Marian had fashioned her a keg and filled it with the fellow’s blood. The contraption hung over the tub. The blood began to slow to a trickle, and Jane scowled in disappointment. The vampiress moved forward to take a yawning sniff from the keg. The victim’s sweat and panic were still pungent. She drove her mouth into the side of the device that was untapped. Marian had pricked him only lightly with his fangs upon capture, and the man had frozen before entering convulsions. Jane slid her fangs into the hole she had made and drank deeply. She watched the dead man across the room while she drained away his life’s blood. There was little more to be taken, but Jane continued to feed. She siphoned all she could in frenzy. “I am alone and miserable,” Marian’s voice echoed around the room. He had stepped in abruptly, always as silent as a prowling cat. Jane started at her lover’s voice and paused. She took in the sight of Marian, tall and pale. His bright, blue eyes highlighted his soaring cheekbones. As usual, he was clad in the old dress of the Romanian aristocrats. He refused to change his poetic clotheshorse standard for the modern day. “Man will not associate with me,” he went on. “But one as horrible and deformed as myself would not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species and have the same defects.”

Marian leaned down and removed Jane’s eager mouth from the keg. He ran a hand across her cheek and drew closer to her face. “This being you must create,” he said in a low voice. Marian took her in a brief and bloody kiss, and then drew away from the lock to gaze at her with his wide, young eyes. Jane grinned. “That quote I know. Frankenstein. Mary Shelley. It was my favorite book as a little girl. The creature was so tragically misunderstood. He reminded me of myself in so many ways.” Marian smiled and ran his tongue over his fangs. “Yes,” he said. “You see, I’ve much reading to catch up on. How I still smite my cousin for keeping me from the classic literature of the ages.” “I’m glad I killed him,” Jane said vehemently. She felt like she could never convince him of it enough, as though Richard waited beyond death to destroy the only good she’d ever had. “Likewise,” Marian replied, and drew his hand around the back of her neck. “So unusual you are, the masochist that slayed her master.” Jane bit her lip and cast her eyes into the gruesome bath. Marian took her by the chin. “It is admirable. I have been musing over the masochist inside of you, Jane. I see no good reason not to cater to such tendencies.” Jane cocked an eyebrow. “You want to…hurt me?” He shook his head. “No, my dear,” he said. “I wish to arouse this part of your being in ways previously unexplored.” Jane smiled shyly as she wiped her face. Her breasts were bare above the liquid, and Marian took grabbed one with a swipe of his fingernails. He flicked his tongue across it, and gave a delighted smile when he reached the blood of their victim on her flesh. She moaned and allowed her head to lean back and soak the ends of her hair a bright shade of red. “You must listen closely,” he said in a low, raspy voice. “In my musings, I have surmised that the masochist such as yourself need not be tortured or commanded so violently. You are already so impatient for the pain; there is no need to force a submission. This is as my cousin was so painfully unaware, of course. The masochist

must find their enjoyment as well if you choose to make love to such a creature.” “Oh?” “Oh, yes,” he said with a smile. “And in such order as to truly please this woman, the masochist must be tortured with teasings. Come out of the bath, Jane, and allow me to demonstrate in reality some thoughts I’ve had.” Jane stood. Again, she felt the urge to obey her male partner, to surrender to his will. Yet, Marian’s sweetness, his flowery prose, made the command anything but a desperate thing. It was certainly no torture. It was what she…needed. She got out, and saw that Marian had laid several towels across the floor already. Instinctively, she lay upon them. “Yes, the distinctions of the masochists.” Marian sighed. “This keeps me entertained. I suppose I am a bit of a sadist myself, madam. At least, this is what I am always told. For example, how would you feel if I were to stroke your lovely little cunt over and over, but not allow you to come? Would you not be most upset? I wager that you would. But you would be most pleased, as well. There is your torture, Jane.” Jane bit her lip again. Her insides clenched together at his words. Just listening to the unique notions of his ever-musing mind excited her. His affluent, foreign manner of speech was always enough to send her into a sexual agitation. “My,” Marian whispered, drawing closer to her. “I can smell this innovative arousal, my dear. How sweet you taste, I can remember. I could taste you for hours, engorging your clitoris. All the same, I would not allow it to have its release for some time after the initial stimulation. I could squeeze and draw warm strokes with my tongue. I would allow it to tremble under my touch, shudder so fragilely against my tongue. It might swell and swell. Yet I would not let it burst in pleasure.” “Marian.” Jane gritted her teeth. “Yes?” he asked teasingly. He removed his shirt to show his long, lean chest. Marian was as pale as the moon’s light. The only modern thing he found pleasure in were tattoos, and he had covered the left side of his body in black portraits of devils and foreign script. “Please touch me,” Jane pleaded.

He laughed. “Sweet, sweet Jane. The masochist. You are dampened now, yes?” “Yes.” She breathed heavily as she squirmed about on the floor. She longed for just one touch. “Then I am correct in my rumination,” he said, and ran a hand across her swollen pussy. “There are so many ways to entertain one lover, if only gentlemen would ponder these things. I have always so enjoyed pleasing my lady friends. From the very foremost time I tasted a woman. And yet, none have been so magical as yourself. My sweet Jane. How fortunate I am to have found one as twisted and displeased as myself.” Jane squeezed her eyes shut as his hand ran lightly across her engorged lips again and again. He stroked her so calmly she thought she might burst. At last, Marian drew his finger up and between her moist lips. She squealed as his finger moved further upward and gave her bloated clitoris a flick. He mounted her but did not enter, studying her face with piercing blue eyes. “I could wrap my lips ever so slightly about your crimson, swollen clitoris,” he said, engulfing her face in his long, raven hair. Jane breathed in his scent, fresh cedar and sandalwood oils. “I could do all these things to you, Jane. Would you like them?” “Please,” she said. Marian laughed. “A taste, I suppose.” He took his time moving down her body. It maddened her as his fangs prodded gently at her stomach and thighs. He laid damp kisses at random across her body, until he was finally between her legs. Jane looked down in delight. Marian’s fangs had sprouted in excitement, and she wondered how long he would be able to control himself. He ran his tongue across her clit in gentle, exasperating strokes, bringing her so close to orgasm…. “Please, please, please,” Jane said, her face reddening. He sprung to his knees at once, and Jane jolted in surprise as he seized her clit with two fingers. He jerked it forward and back with intensity, and a devious smile crossed his pale features. The orgasm was immediate, and her back arched like an exclamation point. At last she was done, and she shuddered as the waves of pleasure subsided.

But he kept at it, and the sensitivity caused Jane a shrill scream before she pushed him away. “Masochist,” he said, baring his fangs at her. “What beautiful, dark pleasures, my love. The Count was without a clue as to your gratification.” Jane rose and grabbed his shoulders with a grin, her body shuddering in anticipation. Her chest heaved in a manic excitement, her red eyes aglitter. “I want to beg you to stop. I want to scream. I want to cry. I want to….” Marian grasped her throat with such speed she cried out, and he threw her down to the floor. He held her by the hair, almost yanking out a handful. He snarled at her as he did to their victims, and she trembled as the sound of it echoed away into the walls. “Like a whore, yes?” he said. “Scream then with shrillness. Struggle, my love, for you will not escape and I shall enjoy the piteousness of it all.” Sparks of ruby dazzled in her eyes when he forced himself upon her. They shared an ill smile, and he held her down with such might she could feel the skin peel away from her wrists in the pragmatic struggle. She tried with all her power to escape and found it impossible. The pain amazed her in a new, sick gratification she had never felt with Richard. He entered her in a harsh stroke, her pussy already sopped with fluids. Jane was still unable to take his entire cock without immense tenderness, and she threw back her head again and screamed as he thrust mercilessly into the tense, reddened opening. “Is this what you sought?” he asked. “Is this what you have desired?” Jane gave a quick smile, the expression being overtaken by one of pain as he plunged into her again, viciously and without warning. “No,” she said. “Please. Please let me go. Just let me go.” “You will be going nowhere until I am through,” he answered, his accent growing even stronger in his excitement, as if he might lapse into his native language. “You will lie for me until you bleed. I am so much stronger than you, my love. You cannot break away from me.”

Jane’s lips clenched around his cock at the words, his member so long it brushed against her clit with ferocity, dashing at it again and again. He released her arms and moved downward to plow his sharp fingernails into the tender flesh of her ass. She shrieked and Marian laughed as if greatly amused. “This is what you have wished for,” he said. “The scents that rise from you are perfection, my love.” When at last he came, he threw her down with a sigh and rose. He curved his back and threw his hair away from her face. Marian drew a line up his tattooed side with his nail, allowing it open to create a pool of powerful blood around her Jane reached down between her legs. She rubbed herself in a fierce whirl, and took the other hands to stiffen her nipples further. She could smell the offering, the blood of a head vampire all around her, and the scent brought her excitement to the brink. Marian looked down and smiled, his blue eyes aglow in pleasure. “You cannot stop yourself now, can you?” he asked. “You must find release again. I have done well in this, I am pleased to see.” “Yes,” she sighed. The mere words he spoke were enough to make her come and cover her palm in the slick fluids that leaked from between her lips. Marian lay back on the floor, and he cast her hand away to graze his tongue between her lips and gather the liquids. He brought all of her into his mouth and sucked at her, allowing his fangs to browse her. Jane finally pushed him away, breathing so heavily she could not budge from her position, her legs still spread. She laid her hand between them to soothe the fiery aftereffects of the orgasm. Marian took his place beside her and ran his hand through her auburn waves. He grazed her cheek with a kiss, and licked at her residue upon his fangs. “This is how I will take care of you, then,” he said. “And you mustn’t think for a moment I will neglect your other desires.” “Reney?” Jane hissed at the thought of her former friend. Marian drew her closer and took her in his arms. He massaged up and down her spine with his free hand, and planted a kiss on her forehead. “I do know how you hate to linger over this, my love,” he said. His voice soothed her. “But it is better that we have waited, yes? For now, we can cause her much more pain than if we were simply to

kill her. We may steal the babe away and feast on their daughter. Imagine the desperate pleas of her mother. I will see to it that she is unable to close her eyes as she watches the demise of her offspring. For you, Jane.” Jane beamed at him, her face covered in the blood of the evening’s prey. “You do love me so, Marian. Never go away from me.” “I am sad that you have ever questioned such a fact,” he said softly. “Yes, I will remain by your side, Jane. And we will destroy symphonically all those who would interfere with your eternal happiness. My only regret is that I was not able to drain the life from my cousin with my own hands. Yet, I love you so for doing this for me.” “Love me forever, then,” Jane said. She sighed as she leaned into his chest. “Forever and ever and ever.” Marian smiled. “And ever.”

Chapter Three Even with the entirety of Ahulani’s family on constant guard around their apartment, Reney felt like she might have a heart attack at any moment. The thought of losing ‘Olina was terrible enough by itself. But the notion of her being killed and tortured by the most deranged vampires Reney had ever heard of was simply unbearable. Studying the sweet, sleeping face of her daughter, it tied her stomach in knots to know that someone would be capable of hurting the baby. She heard the door open downstairs. Though she was expecting Ahulani home, her heart still skipped a beat. She wondered if Jane and this Marian person had simply killed all the half-lings that guarded the building, and were coming to get her now. Reney had been shocked by the transformation Jane had taken as a full vampire. The eerie, red eyes and the echoing voice were enough to put anyone off. The fact that they used to hang out and sip wine on Saturday night sent chills down Reney’s spine. She dreaded the thought of a face-off with Jane, but it seemed inevitable. Jane also knew that Reney had slept with Richard. There wasn’t a doubt in Reney’s mind that the vampire would jump on the first chance to tell Ahulani about it. Reney hadn’t really wanted to sleep with Richard, but it had happened. This, of course, was before she had known that certain half-lings were hard-wired to try and mate full vampires. They were even more attracted to powerful head vampires, as Richard had been. As one of the special half-lings blessed with the rare gift to break the hypnotic spell of full vampires, Reney’s senses had become overloaded in the mere presence of Richard. He had drugged Ahulani, and Reney went upstairs with him to negotiate for their lives. And it had happened. Reney teared that she felt another’s touch when she was with a man as wonderful as Ahulani. She would do anything to take it back, and it frustrated her that there wasn’t anything she could do to change the past. The debate in her head was endless. Tell Ahulani now, before they faced Jane and Marian? Or wait and hope the vampires would say nothing of it? Ahulani was upset as it was with the threat against their daughter. Reney knew that Jane would pick the worst moment to tell her husband that Reney had been unfaithful. Jane was a little off in the head, but she was by no means stupid.

The door to the apartment opened, and Reney jumped. It was Ahulani, but he looked tired and defeated. With the imminent threat of the vampires looming over his head, Ahulani had exhausted himself trying to plan a counter-attack. He was terrified to so much as leave the room ‘Olina slept in. Reney did her best to assure him, despite her own doubts, that they would be well protected by his family. Ahulani had gone downtown to speak with some of the few full vampires that would interact with the half-lings. He’d hoped to find out more about Jane, and especially Marian. Reney greeted him with curious eyes, one hand still planted on the edge of ‘Olina’s crib as her panic subsided. “Well?” she asked. “Would they talk to you?” Ahulani sighed. “Yes, a few of them did. This may be worse than we thought. Apparently, Jane is in a heavy relationship with this Marian guy. She’s pretty much lost her damned mind, even for an evil creature. She’s also become an incredibly powerful vampire.” Reney clenched her jaws together. “And Marian? Richard’s cousin? Is he as strong as Richard was?” Ahulani sat on the edge of their bed and pulled his wife down beside him. He held her closely to his side with one arm. “Yes. And he’s also insane. That’s what the vampires kept telling me. Apparently, he used to rule the roost when Richard was younger. The Popescu family thought he had been killed in some kind of tragic accident. But Richard had actually imprisoned him when Marian tried to claim a part of their family’s estate. He’s definitely well respected. A head vampire, and not a tyrant like Richard was. The family was thrilled to see him back. And there’s been one thought in the back of my mind ever since I found out.” “What?” “Well, what do you think happens when you lock up a guy who is already crazy for three hundred years?” Reney looked down at the floor. Her head whirled, and she fought to steady herself beside Ahulani. “He becomes absolutely insane,” she said quietly. “Yes. From what the vampires downtown told me, the killings he has been performing with Jane have become really depraved and sadistic. Some of the other vampires won’t even watch. I just don’t

see how we could fight him, not even with my entire family. He has the Popescu, and they’re mostly full vampires. They haven’t had a head vampire to guide them since Richard died. They’re loyal to him. He’s just as powerful as Richard was, maybe even more. We would have to get full vampires on our side, Reney. But I can guarantee we would never get enough to face the Popescu. And of course, we both know that vampires stick together. It’s almost as if Jane and Marian have no enemies.” “Enemies,” Reney said thoughtfully. “Maybe they do, Ahulani.” “Who, Reney?” “Richard.” Ahulani shook his head. “Yeah,” he said. “Richard would definitely be the only vampire capable of fighting them. But he’s dead, Reney.” “Does he have to…stay dead?” “You mean ask for help from Necromancers?” Ahulani asked. “My God, Reney, those are not the people you want to talk to. They are incredibly fickle, and really picky about who they will help. And besides, even if we did pull off some insane stunt like that, who’s to say Richard would even help us? We’ve certainly never been on good terms with the guy.” “I know,” Reney sighed. “And frankly, I hate him. But think about how Richard was. He would go on a rampage to kill them. Jane was his little sex slave, and she sucker-staked the guy. Then there’s Marian. Richard imprisoned him in the first place to make sure there was no competition. If he found out Marian had claimed leadership of the Popescu family, he would lose it.” “He’s with Jane, too,” Ahulani said. “You know how much I hate him, Reney. But, I have to admit it. He is the only vampire strong enough to try and kill those two. Damn it all to Hell. I hate him so much.” ‘Olina sighed in her sleep, and they both looked to her crib. Reney felt her lower lip tremble. She had to do whatever it took to protect her. Not only would resurrecting Richard be incredibly dangerous, but he also knew the terrible secret about what had taken place in Romania. Whether or not he kept his mouth shut was a chance she would have to take. She looked to Ahulani, and saw that tears welled in his golden eyes as he watched their daughter.

“I’ll go back downtown,” he said, wiping at his eyes. “The vampires will probably be able to tell me where to find the Necromancers. I’ve still got a couple bags of donated human blood I can throw at them. Tourist season is off, after all. They’re hungry.” “Are the Necromancers close by?” Reney asked. Ahulani gave her a solemn gaze. “No. I’ve only ever heard of two that will even talk to anyone. They’re brothers. And we’ll have to go to Romania again.” Reney reached down and took his hand. She glanced at ‘Olina for a moment, then turned her sights to Ahulani. “Whatever it takes?” He nodded. “Whatever it takes.”

Chapter Four Reney didn’t think she could possibly hate the trip to Romania more than the first one, but she found herself wrong in the assumption. The flight was painstakingly long, and Reney was frozen in fear. Her entire family was on the line, now. Her beautiful daughter. Her amazing husband. She slept sporadically as they flew over the Atlantic, and she dreamt of Richard. Of his cold, dark eyes staring straight through her. How he had been in bed, even. So carnally detached. There had been no romantic expectations, only physical pleasure and freedom. Then, the dreams would shift. Richard, rising from the dead like some hideous beast. He would grin at Ahulani in the vision. “Ahulani,” he would say from behind hollow, dead eyes. “You want my help, do you? Don’t you know that I’ve tasted your delicious wife? Been inside her? And she was pregnant, my friend. The whole time I fucked her.” Reney awoke. Cold sweat poured down the sides of her face. They began to gather their things as the plane landed. As before, they caught a cab from the airport into the small village where Richard and his family had originated. They even checked into the same hotel and received ominous glances from the staff once again. Richard’s portrait still hung in the lobby, and she couldn’t bear to look at it. After a quick and tasteless dinner, they got down to business. They had to hail the buggy that had brought them to Richard’s castle the year before. It was driven by a lower vampire from the village. The cabbies around town were keen to the supernatural creatures. It wasn’t like in America. The Romanians knew all about the paranormal creatures, and only the buggy would take them to the residence of the Necromancers. Reney sensed a headache coming on. She felt the entire village knew her dirty little secret, like the Necromancers themselves might just blurt it out. That was, if they even opened the door to them. Ahulani had bribed the local Hawaiian vampires to find out the location, but there was no telling how the notoriously erratic Necromancers would greet them. There were several unwelcoming deadbolts in place at the entrance of the small house. Surprisingly, one of the residents cracked the door on the first knock. A pale, blue eye peered out at them. The owner of the eye shouted something in Romanian.

“Do you speak English?” Ahulani asked. He took Reney’s hand in a tight grip. Reney caught bile inside her throat. An awful smell came from inside the house. It reminded her of the death she had smelled around Richard’s castle. “Yes,” he said, his English flawless. “What brings you all the way to Romania?” “We need to speak with you about a very important matter,” Ahulani said. “It concerns the vampires. They wish to kill our daughter. I am hoping you can help us.” The door slammed at once. Reney and Ahulani exchanged a look, and then heard the piercing sound of rusty deadbolts being unfastened. The man opened the door, and Reney took a breath of fresh air for good measure before they stepped inside. “Come in, come in,” the man said. “What is it concerning the vampires? You are half-lings, are you not?” “Can’t get anything past you Romanians,” Ahulani said with an awkward smile. “We’re here to talk about Jane and Marian. They live in the castle outside town.” “I know who they are,” he said sharply. “Everyone does. They are strange even for vampires. Abominations of the supernatural community, if you ask me. You must be very unlucky to have found yourselves in conflict with them. Have a seat.” Reney sat down cautiously in one of the chairs he offered. Ahulani took his place beside her. He looked as nervous as she felt. The Necromancer had been preparing tea, and he offered them a cup. Reney took it only out of politeness. The stench inside was enough to turn her stomach at the thought of drinking it. “They want to kidnap our infant daughter,” Reney said. “We helped to kill the vampire, Count Popescu. Only, Jane hates us for it. It’s a long story, really.” The portly Romanian scowled. He had thinning, blond hair that ran down his forehead like an exclamation point. Reney noticed that his brother was an identical twin, though he only bustled by in the shadows of the adjacent room. He appeared to be tending to something important, and she had only seen one clear glimpse of him. But there was no mistaking it. “I sympathize with your situation,” he said. “And pardon my rudeness. I am Alin. My brother is in the backroom. His name is

Andrei. He is nursing our mother, for she is quite sick. However, while I empathize with the situation at hand, I do not see why I would be obligated to help you. In fact, I do not see how I would be able to help you.” “Well,” Ahulani said. “We were hoping that you might be able to do something for us.” There was a great cough from the backroom, and Alin jumped to his feet. “One moment.” Reney and Ahulani looked at each other with a shared hesitation as Alin rushed to the back. Alin’s voice bellowed in Romanian from the room. Another cough followed, and the house became silent. After a few moments, Alin returned. “Again, my apologies,” Alin said as he retook his seat across from them. “What is it that you want from me? You do understand how rare it is for us to perform our services for any man? Or woman, pardon me.” Ahulani nodded. “I do. I know this is definitely a special request, by all means. You see, Jane and Marian are after our young daughter, like we said. I don’t know what it is we could offer you, but I’d be willing to put forward anything I could. Money, you name it. We just want her protected.” Alin frowned. “You still have not answered the question, my friend. How would I be able to help you?” Reney tried to ignore the hacking coughs coming from the backroom. She stirred her tea silently. There were tidbits of something floating in it, and she did her best to hide her repulsion. Ahulani sighed and bowed his head. “There is no way we could defeat the vampires, Alin,” he said. “I have to level with you here. There’s only one person that could. He would also be the only vampire with any incentive to.” Alin frowned. “Oh? And I take it this vampire is lifeless and buried?” “Yes,” Ahulani said. “Richard. Well, you would know him as Count Popescu.” Alin leapt to his feet. He screamed once more in his own language, and Reney fell back in surprise.

“Count Popescu? After centuries we are rid of him, and you wish to resurrect that devil? You are insane. Get out of my home at once!” Ahulani stood and took a step toward the Necromancer. His expression was gentle. “I know it’s crazy,” he said. “But he is the only one with the power to take them on. You know how sick they are. You know what they’ve been doing to people. Don’t you?” Alin shook his head and waved an angry finger at the pair. “Of course I know this. Count Popescu is as evil a man as Lord Marian and his lover. You may think he wants them dead, but you are wrong. He will trick you. They will trick you. They will work together and see us all dead. When Lord Marian was gone, it was a day of great rejoicing. For even though Count Popescu still lived, we were free of Lord Marian’s torments. He is back, yes, with the female vampire. But, while she is a nasty sort indeed, she is nothing compared to Count Popescu. I would not be surprised if they killed Jane and forgave one another. Then, they would team up as before and torture the whole of the village. You are naive and deluded to think otherwise, my friend.” Reney stood, and a sob escaped her throat. “Please,” she said. “Please. They are going to kill our daughter. You should see her. She’s so young and bright. She’s perfectly innocent in all of this. Everybody loves her so much. I love her. We hate Count Popescu just as much as you do. Believe me, he tormented both of us before his death. But they will kill my daughter, and she’s only just started her life. And Count Popescu hates Marian. He told me so himself. You are our only hope. I know it’s not what you want to do. I don’t know what else we can say to convince you. I’m begging you, Alin. Please help us.” Alin sat down and crossed his arms. His scowl had turned to a pained look. He looked sad, almost as though he might cry. Then, he shook his head. “I am sorry,” he said. “I feel for both of you. I truly do. However, I have seen first-hand the terror the Count has inflicted. I know what he and Lord Marian are capable of when together. I remain firm in my belief that just such terror would continue in a worse manner if the Count were to live again. Evil beings are quick to

forgive each other when there is dreadful work to be done, madam. I am very sorry.” Reney’s shoulders slumped in her defeat. Ahulani leaned in to put his arm around her. “Isn’t there anything we can say?” Ahulani asked. “Anything we can do to prove to you that we might just be right? Just might be able to make the situation better for everyone?” Alin looked up at them, his eyes moist. “And if you are right?” he said. “If I resurrect Count Popescu and he kills Lord Marian? What do you think he will do after that? No problems will be solved. We will have only traded one awful creature for another, friends. Do you not see that?” Reney opened her mouth to speak again, but her husband urged her toward the front the door. “Then we’re done here,” Ahulani said. He slammed the door behind them. He was furious, his eyes burning a violent gold. “I am sorry,” Alin called from the window. “Truly sorry.” “Don’t listen to him,” Ahulani muttered. He dragged Reney down the street. “He’s useless. A stupid coward.” “We should go back,” Reney said. “Plead with him. We hardly got to talk to the guy. I just know there’s a way we can convince him.” “No,” Ahulani said. “There isn’t. His mind is set. He knows what a bastard Richard was, just like the rest of us. He was probably right, anyway. Even if he is a coward, he’s a smart one. We can find other vampires to help us. Just give me time to think.” Reney pulled away from her husband and took a defiant stance in the middle of the cold street. Ahulani looked genuinely taken aback. They had never argued, at least not in seriousness. “You never listen to me, Ahulani!” Reney shouted. She began to cry. “‘Olina is going to die now, because you’re too proud to go back and talk to Alin. Let me have a say-so in something for once. You know, I have a brain too. And ideas. This is such a typical move on your part.” “Typical?” Ahulani said, and his eyes flashed. “So, I take it you’ve been wanting to say some things to me for awhile, huh?” “Awhile?” Reney said snidely. “I wouldn’t say that. I haven’t even known you awhile. You know, sometimes I wish I had just stayed in Florida. Lived a normal, not screwed-up, vampire-free life.

Or better yet, sometimes I just wish I had let Richard kill me the first time he tried.” “That has to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth,” Ahulani said darkly. “And that’s saying something for you, Reney.” “So, now I’m stupid? Mr. Can’t-Convince-A-FatNecromancer-To-Do-Shit thinks I’m stupid? Well, at least I went to college.” “I guess we all waste our time sometimes,” he snapped. His eyes smoldered. “Way to go, intern. All you got out of that was getting kidnapped by a vampire. I’m pretty sure I made more money bartending.” Reney fell to the ground. She was overcome with tears as she buried her face in her hands. She leaned into the cold walls of some stranger’s house. Her headache became the throb of a migraine. Ahulani appeared at her side and wrapped her up close to his chest. She smelled the lovely, cinnamon scent of her husband even through her runny nose. Reney lay against him and pulled him as tightly to her body as she could. In the affectionate moment, Reney wondered if she had started the fight on purpose. And not because Ahulani had taken over the conversation with Alin. Maybe just to get a taste of what he would look like if he found out about what she’d done with Richard. Bound in his loving embrace, the memory of it was enough to propel her into an uncontrollable fit of sobs. “I didn’t mean any of that,” Ahulani said softly. “Not a word. I’m so sorry, Reney. I love you. I love you so much, baby.” “I love you, too,” she said. “You and ‘Olina are my world. I can’t bear the thought of something bad happening to our family. I love our life together. I didn’t mean what I said about us. There was no need to get to know you, because I already did. Loved you from the moment I saw you.” Ahulani took a deep breath. “And I loved you, too. I still do, with every fiber of my being. Look. We are extremely stressed out right now. None of this is fair, but we have to deal with it. There’s no use taking our bad feelings out on each other. We both know that now. Let’s fly home in the morning and talk to my family. Aniani has been working on her wind power. I’m sure that if we all work together, we can fight this.”

Reney sniffled as she hid her face in his chest. The wind surrounded them in a violent gust. “Jane and Marian have a family full of vampires backing them up. There’s no way we could stand against them, not even with our whole family on our side.” “There’s always a way,” Ahulani said. “And we will find it. I promise.” “Please say you’ll find that way.” Ahulani was quiet for a moment, and then brought Reney to her feet. He shielded her from the breeze beneath his jacket. “Let’s go back to the hotel. ‘Olina is safe for now. She’s hidden away with my most powerful family members. I’ll draw you a warm bath, and we can get a good night’s sleep. There’s no use trying to plan a counter-attack when neither of us can think straight. Right?” Reney nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes. She followed her husband down the dark street in silence.

Chapter Five Their mother was dead again. Alin sighed. It seemed like no matter how many times they resurrected her, she would come back sicker than before. Her mind went a little more each time. It wasn’t supposed to work like that, and she kept telling her boys to let her die for good. Alin wouldn’t have it. Neither he nor Andrei would know what to do without their mother. She had been there their entire lives, almost one hundred and fifty years each. Whenever one twin died, the other would bring him back to life. Even though their mother said she wanted to die, Alin knew better. She didn’t really want to leave them. Andrei was preparing the circle of ritual around their mother’s bed when Alin walked in. “Hurry,” Alin said. “She is beginning to smell again. If we wait too long, she might rot. I wish you had told me earlier that she died again.” “I was distracted,” Andrei said. “I got to work carving my new checkerboard, and I figured it would be okay for a little while.” Alin rolled his eyes. “Well, have you at least gotten the circle prepared?” Andrei was pretty good at forgetting about things like that. He was scatterbrained and had the attention span of a goldfish, but Alin still couldn’t imagine life without him. “Yes, yes, of course,” Andrei said, examining the circle. “Everything’s here. Salt. Graveyard dust. Crushed roses. Dragon’s blood. Oh, the dragon’s blood. Shoot.” “Shoot?” Alin said. “Are we out of dragon’s blood? How in the world are we supposed to bring Mother back to life with no dragon’s blood, Andrei?” “I know, I know,” Andrei said. A puzzled look came over his face as he fumbled through the ritualistic materials. “I can go to the store, it should still be open. Just a few steps away, really.” Alin held up his hand. “No,” he said. “I will go. I imagine you would forget what you went to get at the store, and come home with a bouquet of daisies. Make sure everything else is in proper order while I’m gone, please.” “Of course!” Andrei said cheerfully, and Alin heaved a frustrated breath. “I mean it. I’ll be right back.”

The night was colder than Alin had expected, and he shivered as he pulled his heavy, wool coat around him. He knew vampires lurked about, but they left him alone for the most part. Necromancers were an invaluable tool to the entire supernatural community, and fickle to boot. Vampires, and even the most aggressive werewolves, were of little concern to Alin. All the creatures of the mystical world knew their place. It seemed the only people to upset the balance were the two vampires in the castle. All the residents were aware that the vampires roamed at night. Only the drunk and foolish wandered outside the safety of their village after dark. But Lord Marian and Jane had been coming closer and closer. It was apparent they no longer cared about remaining ambiguous. Since everyone knew they existed, the vampires usually only caught strays about the castle, those that hung around the graveyard a bit too close to dusk. Lord Marian and Jane walked right into town to hunt. Alin shook his head. The fragile harmony between the mortals and the immortals was beginning to shatter. The shop was just closing up, and Alin was glad to have gotten there on time. He bid the owner farewell when he was done, and headed back out into the cold. Musing over the vampires as he walked, Alin was glad he had been born a Necromancer. His kind was so rare and special, so needed. None of the paranormal creatures bothered them, even though Necromancers were helpless, as they lacked supernatural strength and speed. The half-lings that had come to see him earlier had been on his mind all day. Their situation was heartrending to him. But, he knew he was right. No good would come if he resurrected Count Popescu. Alin hoped that Lord Marian would lose interest in the half-ling baby, though he knew from experience it was highly improbable. Alin was cheered to see the orange glow of his own home’s window. It was a comfort, with the chill of the night and the terrible thoughts in his head. Soon, their mother would be alive again, and things would be back to normal. No matter how half-brained she returned, she would be there for them. He smiled and went to turn in his key in the first deadbolt, when a distinct scent rooted to him to the spot. Vampires. He could smell them. As a Necromancer, the smell of vampires was a pungent one to him. They might smell alluring to the other vampires or the victims they drew in, but Alin became

overpowered in the fearful scent of their victims that clung to them. Right now, he could smell a thousand screams. Only very strong vampires gave him that impression. From what he had gathered, the more powerful members of the Popescu family traveled often, and stayed in their quarters when in Romania. Higher-ranking vampires only hunted when bored, as they had others to do their dirty work for them. Alin frowned. Lord Marian and Jane must have wandered into his part of the village, and it angered him. They should have had the respect to stay away from the residence of the best two Necromancers in the entire world. He went to jam his key in the door again, when he heard a cry of pain. With a start, he realized that it came from inside his house. Alin gasped and fell to his knees on instinct. He hoped he was out of sight. The scream had belonged to his brother. He was sure of it as he crawled around to the back of the house. Though the windows were mostly covered, he could still see the room clearly through a sliver in the thick curtains. He saw a pale flash and shuddered, drawing his arms around himself. It had been years since he’d caught a glimpse of Count Popescu. Looking at who must be Lord Marian, he remembered how terrifying the presence of such a vampire was. They were nothing like the weaker vampires that skulked in the woods. Their mere presence could cause a strong man to weep in terror. Tears sprang to his eyes and an uncontrollable shake came over his body. Lord Marian hung upside down from the ceiling of their mother’s room, his head turned at an unnatural angle. He wore a twisted smile that Alin had to look away from. Count Popescu had been like a rush of icy air in the room. A gaze upon Lord Marian reminded him of a baneful nightmare he could not wake from. It was the first time he had seen Jane as well. She stalked about the room as she screamed at Andrei in a shrill voice that echoed off the walls. Alin covered his ears and winced. “You talked to them, you stupid bastard,” she shrieked at Andrei, who cowered on the floor. “You were going to raise Richard from the dead to kill us, weren’t you? Well it looks like you may have run out of luck. You stupid, stupid man. Did you think we wouldn’t hear about it? We are the greatest vampires in Romania.”

Andrei shook his head over and over as he pushed himself against the wall. “No, no, no,” he said. “You have it all wrong, my lady. I implore you to hear me out. I never spoke with any half-lings, and I would never raise the Count from the dead. I have only respect for you and the Lord Marian. I am but a Necromancer and would never involve myself in any conflict with vampires, especially ones such as you.” “Liar, liar, liar,” Jane said. She stomped on the ground with every word. “You fucking liar. You want us dead.” Lord Marian appeared amused as he eyed the scene. He began to crawl from the ceiling to the wall, and he contorted his body as he did. He paused and turned his head about to stare at Andrei. Alin covered his ears, but he could still hear the pop of bones in the vampire’s neck. Lord Marian smiled. “He would have passed a pleasant life of it,” the vampire said from his perch on the wall. “In despite of the Devil and all his works, if his path had not been crossed by a being that causes more perplexity to mortal man than ghosts, goblins, and the whole race of witches put together, and that was—a woman.” “‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’,” Jane said haughtily. Lord Marian nodded, his expression calm. “Yes,” he said. “You see, Necromancer, I must keep my lady in a pleasant disposition at all times. And you have disturbed such peace with a series of rather poor decisions. Do you read, Alin?” Alin startled at the window. Had the vampire seen him? It was then he realized that the terrible pair had confused the twins. He saw Andrei begin to open his mouth, possibly to correct them. Looking as if he were having second thoughts, Andrei bowed his head instead. “I enjoy comics,” Andrei said quietly. “Comics,” Jane snorted. She kicked Andrei in the ribs, causing him to double over in pain. Lord Marian grinned, and Alin saw that his fangs were sprouted. Alin’s heart beat faster and faster in his chest. If only he could do something, go inside and save Andrei. But he knew that he wouldn’t stand a chance. At least if he stayed outside and waited for them to leave, he could bring Andrei back to life after they had killed him. Yet, the fear and sadness on his twin’s face ate away at his heart.

Lord Marian turned his entire body upside down and spread his cape like a pair of wings. Alin’s heart caught in his throat as the vampire slowly descended to the floor. He appeared to almost float as he came to the ground. Andrei wrapped his arms around his body, tucking himself into the corner as tightly as the vampire approached him. “You do not read classic literature?” Lord Marian asked. “Such a shame. My love, Jane, was already quite well versed when she freed me from that horrid prison I’d lived in so long. She has made many suggestions as to what I should read, and I have taken them. But certainly, you have heard the sorrowful tale of Dorian Gray?” Andrei shook his head as tears began to run down his face. Lord Marian cocked his head and grinned. The vampire’s bright eyes flashed a hundred shades of blue all at once. “Your mother is dead,” he said. “How very deplorable I am finding this. How many times have you raised her to care for you, Alin?” Again, Andrei did not correct him. Alin looked on in shock from the window. “All of you,” Lord Marian said, beginning to pace the room. “Look down upon the vampiric creatures as most foul. Yet it is you who raise the true dead from their most eternal slumbers. You have not heard Oscar Wilde’s tale of Dorian Gray, but I am quite certain Jane has, yes?” Jane nodded. She looked eager as her fangs sprouted. Lord Marian raised a hand dramatically as he spoke. “‘How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrid, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day of June. . . . If it was only the other way! If it was I who were to be always young, and the picture that were to grow old! For this—for this—I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give!’” Jane’s sights turned to the dead woman on the bed. “The vampire’s death means only eternal youth,” Lord Marian said with closed eyes, clearly delighted in his own philosophy. His eyes snapped back open, and he grabbed Andrei by the shirt. The aristocratic vampire raised Andrei up fully and into the air.

“We have a gift for you,” he said, baring his fangs. “Jane? Won’t you show him, love?” Lord Marian held Andrei against the wall, so he was forced to watch as Jane approached his mother. “No, please,” he sobbed. “Please. She should not return like this. It is not right.” “It is you who is the sadistic monster, no?” Lord Marian asked. “You see we can restore your mother’s life to such health and vigor as in youth. Now, who is in truth the foul creature of the night, sir?” Jane drove her fangs into the old woman’s neck, draining just a bit in order to transform her into a vampire. Alin wanted to faint. They had chosen the worst way to turn her into a vampire, by waiting until the person was dead to inject the blood, rather than let them drink of it on their own accord. In the world of Necromancers, they often called it a forced transformation, though Alin doubted the vampires saw it that way. He could not have imagined the scenario, never could have planned for it. “Now, sir,” Lord Marian said as Jane finished up. “Go see your Mama.” Their mother rose from the bed, and Alin choked back a sob. Her eyes had become wild and black, and there were freshly sprouted fangs bared. She appeared confused as she surveyed the room. Jane smiled at the old woman. Blood still ran down her face. Lord Marian dropped Andrei to approach her. “Are you hungry, madam?” he asked. “I know that your mind could not be very well anymore, not after having died so many times. You must be out of sorts. And so hungry after death.” Their mother said nothing, but gave a vigorous nod of her head as she reached for Lord Marian. He embraced her in a hug, and she examined his neck excitedly. “No, no, madam,” he said. “You mustn’t bite those that are undead. Yet, you are hungry, yes?” She smiled and gave a hiss, but she did not speak. Lord Marian released her, and gestured to Andrei, who bawled in the corner. “There, miss,” Lord Marian said. “I have procured you your dinner. The vampire takes care of the vampire, no? Please, madam, drink. How hungry you must be.”

Alin could look no more. He heard his mother’s rapid footsteps cross the room, his brother’s screech. Jane burst into hysterics. Andrei’s screams became a gargle, and then faded away altogether. Alin tried his best to stay quiet as he wept. There were a few moments of silence, and then Lord Marian spoke. “No, madam, you must stay here. Do not worry, for more food will come to you in some time. There is still more to be had from this body, but you cannot accompany us. I bid you farewell and good evening.” The front door opened and shut, and Alin clenched his teeth together. He prayed they wouldn’t be able to smell him. He could still hear his mother as she clamored about in bewilderment. Lamps and other furniture crashed against the ground. Occasionally she would give a disdainful cry, and he knew her was mind completely gone. It had been gone for some time, but Alin could not have anticipated such an awful thing. He got to his feet and instinctively grabbed a sharp piece of wood that was lying about in the backyard. His face was frozen in tears and expressionless as he opened the front door to the house. Andrei lay dead in the corner, and a bloody mess surrounded his body. The kill had been so sloppy Alin couldn’t even see where the fangs had penetrated the flesh. Alin’s mother spun around when she heard him, wild-eyed. She hissed at him and began to approach with a speed Alin hadn’t seen her use since he and Andrei were boys. “Mother,” he whispered. Alin raised the stake.

Chapter Six Reney tried to relax on the bed of their hotel room. Ahulani had argued with the reservations people for over an hour in an attempt to get a plane out. It seemed impossible to get a flight back home on such short notice. They had become sitting ducks for Jane and Marian. Reney glowered at the realization. She had counted on Richard’s help, as if the Necromancer refusing to assist them had never been a possibility. She heard Ahulani slam the phone down. He walked back into the bedroom area and heaved himself down beside her. “How soon?” she asked numbly. Ahulani just sighed. “Tomorrow night. I don’t know what we should do. Aniani is going to try and get a flight out here as soon as she can. But she’s having just as much trouble trying to get a spot. I guess it’s a really busy season for Romania. The tourists like the creepy winter setting.” “If only they knew just how creepy it was,” Reney said. “I bet every flight would be empty, with the exception of supernatural creatures.” “Yeah,” Ahulani said. “I’m just hoping Jane and Marian don’t know we’re actually here. I’m not counting on it, though. Word travels fast with so many vampires around. I’m sure some of them have picked up on our scent by now. And no doubt they ran right back to the castle to tell them.” “Should we change hotels?” Reney asked. “I don’t even know if there are any other hotels in town, though. It’s not like this is some big city. Even if there were another place to stay, they wouldn’t have to go looking very hard for us. There’s no way we can fight them, at least not for long.” “I know there are other half-lings around here somewhere,” Ahulani said. “We could try to contact them, take refuge with them until we can fly out. Except I would hate to bring the wrath of the Popescu Family down on them.” Reney nodded somberly. “That won’t be necessary,” a man’s voice said. Reney and Ahulani jumped up and off the bed. In their mania, they had left the door unlocked. But it wasn’t Jane or Marian. It

wasn’t a vampire at all. Alin walked into the room, his face cheerless and pale. “You,” Ahulani said. “What do you want?” “I will do it,” Alin said. He took the chair by the television. “It is almost dusk. If we hail the buggy now, we can make it in time for the Count to rise. But I will not go alone. There is no telling what condition he will return in. Besides that, I also need the strength of half-lings to remove the heavy lid of his tomb.” Reney looked at Ahulani, puzzled. “What changed your mind?” she asked Alin. The Necromancer shook his head. Tears fell down his face. “The Lord Marian and Jane killed my family last night,” he said. “They thought that my brother was me, and that I had agreed to raise the Count on your behalf.” “You couldn’t bring them back to life?” Ahulani asked. “No,” Alin said. “They killed them quite cleverly. Jane bit my mother, and she bit Andrei. If I raised them, they would have returned as vampires. I killed my mother with my own hands.” “That’s sick,” Reney said.““Yes,” Alin answered. “I should have known they would find a sharp way around the powers of Necromancers.” “I’m sorry,” Ahulani said. He walked to Alin. “This is all our fault. If we had never come by, your family would still be alive. We’ve ruined your life.” “No,” Alin said. “It is I who was mistaken. I should have listened to you. The Lord Marian and Jane defy the unspoken restrictions of the supernatural world. No creature would ever attack a Necromancer, but they did. You wished only to protect your family. I see now even more how valuable that is to you two. And I will help you in any way possible. I still fear the Count, but Lord Marian and Jane will pay for what they have done to me, and to this town. Their reign of terror must be stopped.” Reney was quiet for a moment as tears rose in her eyes. She felt so sorry for Alin. He had come to help them even though their plea for help had gotten his family killed. “Have you hailed the buggy already?” she asked with a dab at her eyes. “Yes,” Alin said. “I am terrified. Thus, we should leave immediately. Before I lose my nerve.”

“All right then,” Ahulani said. “Let’s go.” The half-lings clattered down the stairs behind the Necromancer. Reney saw that he was as nervous as he claimed to be. Alin almost stumbled, though he kept a quick, nervous-looking pace. Reney concentrated on his footfalls and tried to ignore her own fear. The thought of bringing Richard back was a terrible one, but the idea of losing her daughter was enough to overcome the hesitation. The vampire in the buggy waited patiently in front of the hotel, well timed as he always was. He smiled and nodded at them as they got inside. “Hello again,” he said. The vampire turned briefly to tip his hat before he looked away. “I am only imagining what the halfNosferatu are doing with a Necromancer.” “We are ending the frightening ways of this place,” Alin said. The vampire frowned. “You trade one terror for another only,” he said. “I am lucky to be such a low Nosferatu. The Count will want nothing from me. I know this is the only reason you would be going up to the hill. Only Count Popescu can face the Lord Marian. I advise you to stay back when he is raised. I do not think he would be very happy to see the half-Nosferatu in his tomb.” “I know that,” Alin snapped. “I’m going to take every precaution. It is not as though I’m an amateur, though I’ve never raised an evil creature. I would rather have the Count back in lieu of his cousin. At least Count Popescu travels about, making new lives for himself in his boredom. The Lord Marian and Jane stay here and tear apart our village.” The buggy was off with a start. The horses whinnied as the whip cracked down on their backs. “Indeed he does,” the driver said. “You must hope that the Count wins in this encounter. The family will be torn in their loyalty for the Count and Lord Marian. You know this. The fight will be bloodcurdling to behold.” Reney closed her eyes and concentrated on the vibrations of the buggy as it traveled along the bumpy road. She knew the driver was right. There was no telling what Richard would do when he came back, and there was no telling how the Popescu Family would respond to his return. She wondered if they knew that Jane had killed

him. If they didn’t, Reney was ready to tell them. Perhaps that would sway them in favor of Richard instead of Marian. The graveyard was close to the castle, and Reney felt bitter apprehension as soon as the buggy came to a stop. It was nearly dark. The whole forest looked menacingly alive around them, as if the trees might reach out and grab one of them at any moment. She bit her lip and touched Ahulani’s arm for reassurance. His face was unreadable. Reney could only imagine the things that were going through his head. Here they were. Ready to raise the vampire that had killed his mother, because it was the only way to save their daughter. “I just want this to be over,” she said to him as they got out. Ahulani nodded. “Me too. I don’t even want to be in there when he comes back. But, I’m not leaving you alone in there with him. We’re going to have to do some fast-talking, or he’ll probably attack us right away. Alin, will Richard know that he’s been dead when he comes back?” “I anticipate this,” Alin said. “Lofty creatures such as the Count are aware of such things. If I were to raise a dead peasant, they would return confused and disoriented. The Count is likely to return exactly as he was. I must warn you, though. It will be unpleasant in more ways than you are probably thinking.” “What do you mean?” Reney asked nervously. “Well, he will still appear quite dead at first,” Alin explained. “It will take a few moments for him to regain his former appearance.” Reney shuddered at the thought. Richard had been gorgeous as a vampire, and it was difficult for her to imagine him as a rotted corpse. She had witnessed Jane kill him, but she hadn’t stuck around long enough for him to decompose. It was too late to turn back. Ahulani had already opened the door to the crypt. The largest and most elaborate in the graveyard, it had been easy to spot. The three stood in front of Richard’s resting place in silence. After the whole ordeal with the vampire, Reney had been comforted to think it was his final destination. Yet, now she was here to raise him back to life. It seemed so contradictory she almost couldn’t believe it was about to happen. Alin took a loud breath and broke her thoughts. He had pulled out a leather bag and encircled the grave in various herbs and salt. “Stand back while I work, please,” he said, and they moved away.

Ahulani wrapped his arm around her. “It’s the only way,” he said to her, though he sounded as if he meant to convince himself. Reney nodded her agreement. “I know. Just promise you’ll stay right by me the whole time.” “Of course.” Alin sat down cross-legged on the ground and spoke in Romanian. He waved his hands over the circle he had made. A crash of thunder sounded, and the entire tomb illuminated in the lightening. Heavy rain began to fall outside and drowned out all other sound in the crypt. “I will need you two to open it,” Alin shouted over the storm. The pair didn’t move, frozen in the corner. “Open it!” Alin said, and they walked to the tomb. Reney grabbed one side and Ahulani the other. She could feel something stir under the lid of the tomb, and hear the sound of bones as they clattered against the stone. The rain began to fall even harder and she looked to her husband with wide eyes. He gave her a nod, and they wrenched the heavy, stone cover with all their might. It gave easily under their half-ling strength, and fell to the floor with a great crash, cracking down the middle. Reney and Ahulani moved away and pressed themselves against the wall. Alin muttered a few more words and then stood to bring his hands over the open grave. Reney saw a pale and rotted hand grab the side of the tomb weakly. Alin stepped back and joined them. “You may not want to look at first, madam,” he said to Reney. “Ahulani, keep your eyes on the tomb. We do not know how the Count will receive us.” Reney couldn’t help but to look despite the warning, and her eyes fixated on the vault. Richard sat up, his formerly handsome face having rotted away to a skull. She fought back tears, quivering. Ahulani pulled her closer and tried to cover her eyes, but she brushed him off. She had to see. Richard’s face began to transform, fleshing out gradually into its old appearance. He looked forward at the wall first, and then turned to lock his gaze on them. His eyes blackened over, and Reney knew he had recognized them. Alin was the first to speak. “You must remember me, Count Popescu,” he said. “And I am sure you remember the half-lings. You have been dead for some time,

and it was their choice to resurrect you. They have come here peacefully to bring you back to life and to speak with you.” Richard said nothing, his expression unchanged. Reney saw Alin hesitate before he addressed the vampire again. “You do know you have been dead?” he asked Richard. “Of course I know I was dead,” Richard snapped, and they all jumped at the sound of his voice. “Do you think me a fool or a peasant, Necromancer?” “We’ve come here to talk to you about some troubles we’ve been having,” Ahulani said. “We think you’re going to want to help us.” “Oh, you must mean Jane,” Richard said with a cool laugh. “You cannot handle her? It’s no matter. I simply will go to the castle and tell my family what has happened. Then I will take great pleasure in killing that little bitch myself. I do, however, find this whole situation especially entertaining. You must have gone to some great trouble in procuring Alin to resurrect me. Jane is merely a sad and pathetic soul. She became a rather mediocre vampire that happened to have a fast hand.” The half-lings exchanged a look with Alin. Richard glared at them and leapt from his grave in one swift movement. His black burial cape settled around him with majesty. Reney was taken aback for a moment. She had all but forgotten how good-looking the vampire was. “What is it?” he asked. “There’s more. What are you not telling me?” Ahulani sighed. “Well, what is it, half-ling?” Richard demanded He took a step forward. Reney just pointed to the corner, to the place where Jane had moved the cursed stone to free Marian. It rested on its side against the wall, the hole it had covered now gaping. Richard raised his brow, and then turned to look at it. A powerful tension built all around them as another clap of thunder crashed outside. Reney found she held her breath as she waited for Richard to say something. He gave an abrupt laugh, and Reney looked at Ahulani in bafflement. Her husband appeared as confused as she did. “Well, that explains your reasoning,” Richard said. “How unfortunate you all are. Was it Jane who released him? I imagine she

was out here sobbing over my grave. I knew she would. I laughed often in the afterlife at the thought of it. Marian is a clever sort, not that he would have to be in order to seduce Jane. She would give herself to any man in order to find acceptance. I imagine he recited some of his awful poetry to her, and she spread her legs as quickly as if it were going out of fashion. She will not be a hitch. Marian will be difficult, although I suppose you have gathered that by now.” “I think it’s more than that,” Ahulani said, and Richard turned to face him. “Marian and Jane seem to truly be in love. And Jane has become an incredible vampire.” Richard chuckled to himself. “Marian does not love her,” he said. “Marian has only latched onto her until the time is suitable to dispose of her. If I remember my cousin, and forgive me for it has been quite some time, he will likely make artwork from her corpse when he has finished. He finds irony amusing, a side effect of burying his nose in those predictable books we call classics.” Reney shook her head at him. She had not wanted to speak to Richard, but now it seemed she must. “He does love her,” she said. “Ahulani’s father saw it in a dream. They are madly in love, and they’re after our daughter, Richard. That’s why we came here and brought you back to life. You’re the only who could help us. I know we’ve never gotten along, but we can help you reclaim your place at the head of your family.” Richard smiled at her. He eyed her body up and down, and Reney clenched her hands together until it hurt. She wondered if he had only been waiting to say something about what had happened between them. “Congratulations,” he said, and Reney‘s heartbeat slowed. “However, I do not care about the two of you reproducing. In fact, I would find it rather entertaining to see what Marian would do if he were to catch the child.” Reney felt Ahulani move forward, and she grabbed his arm. His golden eyes flashed ferociously. As usual, Richard did his best to infuriate Ahulani. “However,” Richard went on. “Jane will not get away with what she has done to me. I might even have been happy to see Marian if he were not attached to the little whore as you have indicated. I could use a bit of his flowery language, and all would have been

forgiven between us. We are family, after all. It is a shame he has to die now. I admit, after two hundred or so years, I had begun to miss the things we would do together. Children were our favorite, of course.” Reney closed her eyes. She prayed that he would stop, but he went on when she finally brought herself to look at him. He watched her from the corner of his eye. “I always so enjoyed Marian’s creativity in punishment. He found such pleasure in forcing the parents to watch the grisly demise of their beloved offspring. It’s what would have happened to you, Ahulani, had I caught you that evening I killed your mother.” Reney put her arm around Ahulani’s waist before he had a chance to budge. He shook as he struggled to maintain his selfcontrol. “Cut the crap, Richard,” Ahulani snapped. “Are you going to help us or not?” Richard smiled. Lightening flashed all around him and shone across his black eyes. “I am going to help myself,” he said. “I will kill them. However, you do realize that we are all in a bit of a pickle, don’t you?” “How so?” Reney asked. Richard gave her another teasing look instead of a reply, and she tried with all her might to ignore him. “Well?” Ahulani said. “My family, of course. They will be torn between their loyalty to Marian and myself. Marian was the head of the family for some years before I was old enough to take his place, and he was always well liked. Very charismatic. I can tell the family how Jane slayed me, of course, as I envision she lied about my death. Yet, Marian cannot only bring up his imprisonment, he can also act as if he did not know what Jane had done to me. This will be a most dramatic matter.” “Yeah,” Ahulani said bitterly. “I guess it will.” “Oh, females,” Richard said, ignoring Ahulani. “If it were not for your sort, Reney, men would not have such problems. For example, if Jane were not involved in this complicated affair, I would simply make amends with my cousin. Then we would kill you both. Marian loves the blood of half-lings just as much as I do. But he cannot stand long periods of not being with a woman as I can, so

desperately romantic is he. At least I enjoyed such carnal pleasures so shortly before my death.” Reney felt herself go numb, and she looked to her husband. He hadn’t seemed to notice, and she relaxed. Ahulani must have thought Richard referred to Jane. The vampire was beside them in a quick flash, and he placed on Reney’s shoulder. Reney saw Ahulani’s eyes burn, but he said nothing. ‘Olina was more important than Richard’s head games. “Well, then,” Richard said, leering at her. “This is my first night back. I say we go into town and have a drink. There will be much discussion as to our plan, you know. We may as well enjoy ourselves.” Ahulani ground his teeth so loudly Reney could hear it, the muscles in his biceps tightening. She could see them flex even under his jacket. Alin turned to leave, making his way towards the exit. Richard turned his attentions to the Necromancer, much to Reney’s relief. When the vampire was beside her, she could feel the natural, biological urges strongly. She had seen flashes of their night together despite her efforts to block the memory. “All of us, Alin,” Richard said. “I do know how I’ve always unnerved you, but you must at least allow me to buy a drink for the man who brought me back to life.” “Okay,” Alin said. He looked at the ground. “Then it is settled,” Richard said with a smile. “To town. Look alive, everyone!”

Chapter Seven Reney had never seen anything like it. They arrived at the pub in the village, the only one around for miles, and everyone turned around to look. Richard stood at the forefront of the group, and the entire place went silent as their cavernous eyes gaped at his presence. “You see,” he said to Reney. “I never made public appearances in town unless I was devouring a peasant on a boring evening. The afterlife brought to me new thoughts of how to obtain pleasure. I fully intend to seek it while we are on this endeavor.” Ahulani glared at him, and Reney turned away so that she faced her husband. Richard couldn’t be making things any more awkward by refusing to address Ahulani directly. When at last the frozen moment thawed, a hostess scrambled to the front of the pub as quickly as she could. Reney saw the waitresses shoo away a wealthy looking group of people from the largest table in the place. The staff rushed about to ready the table with a red velvet tablecloth that looked like it hadn’t been used in a decade. The hostess greeted them in Romanian, and Richard shook a finger at her. “Speak only in English,” he said to her. “It is the language of my friends here. You will do this?” Reney frowned when she saw his eyes cloud over. The hostess’s eyes went soft with adoration. “Yes, sir,” she said. “Only in English. Let me know whatever you need and I will see to it that it is taken care of, sir.” “Very well,” Richard said. He brushed the hostess’s hand with his own, causing the woman to all but fall to her knees. “Seat us.” The hostess hurried them to the big table. Reney could feel all the eyes of the patrons on her, surveying them all in fear and fascination. She could only ponder what they were thinking, but she knew they must all be shocked. At the table, a slew of staff waited to greet them, dusting off their chair backs and filling tall glasses with wine. “Can you even drink that, Richard?” Ahulani said. “Or will only blood do for a beast like you?” Richard smiled.

“I can drink whatever I like, boy. Not all of us are so boring and one-dimensional as you are, Ahulani.” Ahulani’s eyes flashed, and Reney gritted her teeth. She hoped this conflict wasn’t going to be going on the entire time they worked together, but she had a feeling it would be. Everyone but Richard ordered food, and Reney found that she was famished. The smells from the kitchen were made her mouth water, and she realized she hadn’t eaten a thing since they first arrived in Romania. No wonder. She had lost her appetite after Alin had denied them help the first time. Now even in the company of Richard, she didn’t care if she stuffed her face. A silence hung over the table as she ate. Ahulani and Alin only picked at their food. Ahulani kept a watchful gaze on Richard. “I am starved,” Richard said darkly. “I will have to feed before the night is over, you know. And it so amuses me. Because there isn’t a damned thing you can say about it, half-lings. I cannot help you if I am weak. You know, being dead takes quite a toll on one’s appetite.” He laughed to himself, and Ahulani stabbed violently at the meat on his plate with his knife. “You can watch if you like,” Richard said to him. “I know you only drink from Reney, so perhaps I can show you how a proper vampire conducts his feedings.” “That’s enough,” Reney said. She put her fork down. “We get it, okay? Ahulani hates you, and you love to torture him because you think it’s funny. But do you remember how much you hate Jane, Richard? She staked you. Sucker-staked you. She sent you to Hell, where you belong. I wish you were still there, actually. But we all need each other right now, so we might as well start trying to get along. Because we’re stuck together, damnit.” Everyone looked shocked. Ahulani dropped his knife with a clang, and nobody said a word for a long moment. A delighted look came over Richard’s face. “How very mature of you, Reney,” he said. “I suppose you have always been known for your rational decision-making.” “What the Hell is that supposed to mean?” Ahulani asked with a scowl. He looked to his wife and back to Richard. “Oh, nothing,” Richard said. “Reney is right is all. Let’s try to get along then. Shall we, Ahulani?”

“I will do my best to tolerate you,” Ahulani said. Her husband got up from the table. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to use the restroom.” Reney looked at him and nodded. He needed to calm down. She was proud of him, though. At least he made the effort to endure Richard, a must in their current situation. Reney watched him walk away and smiled. Richard had nearly crossed the line a moment ago, and she was glad her husband had left for a few minutes. She needed time to cool her own nerves after the comment the vampire had made. She gathered her composure before she turned to face him. It was awkward to make conversation with the man that had tried to kill her, along with all the other things he had done. In a moment of humanlike normalcy, she began to see Richard as an asshole ex-boyfriend. “Let’s get down to business, Richard,” she said. “What are we going to do about Jane and Marian?” “Kill them.” “I know that,” she said impatiently. “But how? And what about you? What are you going to do once they’re dead?” “Why, go on with my wicked life of course,” he said. “And you?” Reney‘s face burned in irritation. “You know what I mean,” she said. “Are you going to turn on us once this is all over? I mean, I’m pretty much expecting it from you at this point.” Richard sipped his wine and his eyes shot blackness at her. Reney realized he meant to assert himself with his gaze, and she knew she couldn’t let herself be intimidated. “Why, to be truthful with you, dear? I haven’t decided. I suppose I could kill you both. But the thrill is rather beginning to diminish. This whole trying to kill you and Ahulani thing. In fact, finding new opportunities to fuck with your darling husband’s head is beginning to appeal to me more than ending your lives.” Reney looked at Alin for a moment to see if he paid attention. The Necromancer seemed lost in thought as he gazed vaguely from his plate to the paintings on the wall. Reney lowered her voice to a whisper. “Don’t you pull another stunt like that again,” she said to Richard. “Your little remark. You should be ashamed of yourself.” Richard grinned and flashed his eyes again.

“What sort of remark would that be, Reney? You have me genuinely confused, dear. Surely, you couldn’t mean the sort of remark that would let Ahulani know that you gave yourself to me so willingly. Or how quickly I made you….” There was a sudden crash in the back of the pub, and Reney jumped up from the table. The intense conversation was easily forgotten as voices all around her began to scream in Romanian. Everyone in the restaurant had flown into a wild panic. Even Richard looked up in surprise. “What’s going on?” Reney shouted, grabbing one of the waitresses. The waitress tried to scramble away, and looked shocked when she realized how strong Reney was. Her eyes widened. “Nosferatu,” the waitress said, and Reney realized the woman might not speak a word of English. “Nosferatu, Nosferatu!” “Count Popescu?” Reney asked. She pointed to Richard. “He won’t hurt you.” The waitress gasped when she saw him, but shook her head. Tears ran down her face as she struggled to communicate with Reney. “More Nosferatu,” she said, and wrenched away at once to run towards the exit. Reney stood in a daze. A feeling of dread struck her. “Ahulani,” she said. She started to panic herself. “Ahulani!” She made her way through the crowd and to the restrooms with all her half-ling speed, not caring who she pushed aside. There was something terribly wrong. She could feel it. Something was wrong with Ahulani. Reney crashed through the doors of the men’s restroom and it almost flew from the hinges. The window was broken, and wintry air rushed into the room. The lightening outside flashed again, followed by a powerful clap of thunder. Her eyes were drawn to the wall. Bloody words had been scrawled across it. She screamed. “Richard!” she cried. “Richard. Richard, come here.” The vampire appeared beside her in a black flash, his lustful scent breezing through the cool air. He cocked an eyebrow, and turned to look at Reney. “It appears Marian remains as clever as he was before,” he said, and touched her arm gently.

Reney didn’t push him away. Rather, she grabbed the vampire’s arm tightly. For the moment, it was all she had. You have made a terrible mistake. Reney silently mouthed the words on the wall over and over again. You have made a terrible mistake. You have made a terrible mistake….

Chapter Eight Reney followed Richard down the dark streets, feeling jittery and emotionally scattered. She never thought she would find herself alone with the vampire again, but she had. Alin had taken one look at the words on the wall and excused himself from the ordeal. Reney agreed it was best for him. Alin apologized for leaving Reney on her own with Richard, but they all knew he needed to hide. A Necromancer would not be of much use to anyone now, and he would dead at best if he stayed. With his brother deceased, it would be the end of Alin forever if Jane and Marian got a hold of him. “Where are we going?” she asked Richard numbly. She could scarcely hold onto the back of his burial cape. “To the hotel,” he said. “Doubtlessly, they know where you are staying. Marian will contact us there.” “How do you know he will?” Reney asked. “I know Marian.” “Do you think he’s hurt Ahulani?” “Hurt, yes,” Richard said. “He is likely torturing him, but he would not have killed him. Yet.” Reney let out a sob, and she sensed Richard roll his eyes ahead of her. “How do you know they haven’t killed him?” “You ask questions as a child does,” he said. “It is as I said before. I know Marian. Now, stop your crying and hurry along. Or you may indeed lose your spouse.” Reney grabbed Richard by the shoulders. She pounded her fists upon his back, shrieking. “Tell me Ahulani is okay, you bastard!” The vampire spun around with dreadful speed, and grasped her by the front of her blouse to lift her off her feet. He wrenched her up and brought her to eye level with him. Reney froze in his clutch as she stared into the black eyes that had caused her so much terror. Working with Richard had made her forget for a while what he really was. Evil. Richard gave her a fierce glare as he spoke. “Reney,” he said slowly. “I have acquired some bit of respect for you since our introduction. After all, you even managed to trounce me for some time. You are so very exceptional for a half-ling. Yet, you have brought me back from the dead to assist you and must trust

in my judgment. Especially concerning the workings of my cousin’s mind. Do you understand?” Reney nodded, and he let her down. She remained on her knees for a long moment, shocked at Richard’s outburst. “Do you want to save your husband, Reney?” “Yes.” “On your feet then, half-ling,” he said. “There is no time to waste if you truly love that despicable Hawaiian.” Reney felt a surge of energy, and they made it to the hotel in no time. Although she wasn’t as fast as Richard, her half-ling speed still allowed her to keep up. She ignored the looks of the hotel staff as they stared at Richard in disbelief. He passed his own painting on the wall as they made their way upstairs, and one of the maids looked like she may faint. At last, they were inside the room, and Reney sat on the bed to stare at the telephone. Richard paced back and forth slowly. He held his chin, looking thoughtful. “It is funny,” he said. “What’s funny?” Reney asked with a frown. “I wonder if Marian knows how to use a telephone.” Reney laughed in spite of herself, actually finding some humor in the thought of a three hundred year old vampire fumbling with a simple cordless phone. Richard smiled briefly, and then sat beside her on the bed. “Watch it,” Reney said. “I don’t want you trying anything like last time. I’m still pissed about that, you know. And your comment at the pub was completely out of line. Hey. Are you listening to me?” Richard stared at the closet, his eyes vacant. He turned to her and shook his head for a moment as if to clear his thoughts. “Of course I am listening,” he said. “But I tend not to agree.” “Not to agree?” Reney asked incredulously. “Are you kidding me? You could have ruined my relationship, you asshole. And besides, I was already pregnant. You could never have had your heir. I also find it pretty funny that for someone who claims to hate children, you were so deadset on impregnating me.” Richard lay back on the bed and stretched his arms out behind him. He seemed somehow distracted, but managed a smile. “Yes, I tend not to agree,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I believe you have been thinking about it since my resurrection. I am sure you were able to block it out in denial after my death, but it is on

your mind again. How you must have feared Jane’s knowledge of it this entire tribulation.” Reney glowered at him. He was right, and he knew it. It pissed her off. “I confess I have been finding myself rather distracted by you, half-ling,” he said. “It is rather difficult to forget the tender curves of your body. So soft, almost edible. Even in the afterlife, I would ponder how fast you came beneath me. Shuddering and whimpering. Clinging so tightly to me in your helpless pleasures. I had never seen a woman whine so before that night.” Reney felt herself go flushed, and her pussy tightened up at his words. She shook herself off and took a sip of the cool water by the bedside. She knew it was not a good idea to be near him, but she had more confidence in her self-control now. Reney willed her arousal away as best she could. “You were in Hell, weren’t you?” she asked. She was eager to change the subject. Likely, Richard would enjoy the chance to talk about himself. He nodded. “Was it horrible?” “Horrible?” Richard asked wittily. “Quite the contrary. Did you think I would pay for my sins? No, dear. A vampire is no more than a demon walking the Earth. In Hell, demons are satisfied boundlessly. The only reason I am glad to have returned is because I rather missed being in charge. Of course, we will have to attend to that matter given the current circumstances. If you can resist your distractions. Your arousal is so very scented I have almost lost my brand name composure.” Reney overlooked his last words. “What was Satan like? Did you meet him?” Richard snorted. “Certainly not. I am no Beelzebub, dear. I am simply a demon. Yes, Hell was rather enjoyable, but I much prefer to be the devil of my own domain.” “So you didn’t suffer for any of the horrible things you’ve done?” Reney said, feeling a sudden anger. “You didn’t have to pay? You just frolicked?” Richard snickered.

“Infuriating, isn’t it? Would you like to know what might exasperate you further, Reney? You will pay for your sins when you die. Wouldn’t you like to enjoy them now, while you can? Ahulani could be as good as dead, my dear, if we are simply to ignore Marian. And with just a bite at your gentle neck, you could sin and sin without any fear of penalty in the afterlife. Without ever having to pay for anything.” “That’s despicable,” Reney said. “I wouldn’t sleep with you again if you were the last man on Earth.” “I am not a man, as you so boldly pointed out the last time I saw you. And if I should decide to take you, Reney, why there wouldn’t be a thing you could do about it. You could only lie helplessly as I overpowered you. ” “Shut up,” Reney said. She got off the bed. “You wouldn’t do that. You’re just killing time waiting for Marian to call, because you’re bored. You’re trying to scare me. That’s how you get your kicks. It always has been. From the first time you attacked me in Hawaii. You feed off of people’s fear. You’re disgusting.” “Am I disgusting to you, Reney?” Richard asked, rising from the bed. “Was I disgusting as you writhed beneath me in rapture? You came so hard I could not ever forget it. That little squeal. That diminutive ass of yours pulsating as it began, until your little pink parts were oozing all over me. Had I not died that night, it would have required quite the clean up.” He moved closer to her. Reney gulped as she eyed the door. “You cannot beat me to the exit, Reney,” Richard said, always aware. “Your Ahulani may have the speed of the true vampire, but I am much more swift than you. My strength is also greater. You would humiliate yourself trying to flee me. Why don’t you make this easy and just disrobe? Lie down on the bed and take what is coming to you, before I take it myself.” “Leave me alone!” Reney shrieked. She bolted. Richard had been right. She was thrown off balance as he caught her by the shoulders and tossed her onto the bed. She drew up into the fetal position. Her fangs sprouted in fear. “Please don’t,” she pleaded. “Don’t do this to me. I brought you back to life, even after everything that happened. You said on the way here that you respected me.”

“Indeed you did,” he said. “Did you think that I would hold some sort of allegiance to you for the deed? You brought me back because you needed me, because you are weak. And I will show you again just how weak you are, half-ling. I did try to make this easy on you, but now you have angered me so.” “No,” Reney said. She covered her face as he drew himself on top of her. “No. Richard, please. I’m begging you.” “Yes,” he said. “Listen very closely, half-ling. You must scream and carry on as if I’m doing terrible things to you, do you understand?” Reney opened her eyes in surprise. “W-what?” Richard rolled his eyes and held her wrists down to the bed with little force. “You are not much of an actress, dear,” he whispered. “Therefore I had to truly terrify you. Continue to beg me for mercy, if you would, so that I might fill you in. I would also rather enjoy your pitiful pleadings, but that is another matter.” “Don’t,” Reney said. She looked at him in confusion as she played along. “Please.” Richard reached over to the bedside lamp and pushed it over, causing a huge crash. Reney continued to scream, still bemused. “Jane is in that closet,” Richard said. “She has been since before we arrived. Thinking herself clever, she has covered herself in peasant’s clothing in order to avoid detection by scent. But I have known Jane so many times that there is no way she can cover her scent from me. She is excited by my presence despite herself, and she wants to come out. Jane also has possessed uncanny hearing since her time as a half-ling, hence why you must carry on and not just speak in whispers. Now that she thinks we are distracted, she will be making her move at any moment.” Reney nodded as they kept up the sounds of their feigned struggle. “She is also spitefully jealous,” Richard went on. “For here you are again, having me carnally. I sense that she is preparing for her attack. When she comes out, you remain lying flat on the bed. I overtake her from the front, and you come around the side to grasp her back.” “Yes.”

Reney heaved a sharp breath. Even pretending to fight the full vampire exhausted her, but she was aware that the closet door had to opened. She looked at Richard, and his eyes flashed. He looked fully alert, even with his back turned to the closet. Jane sprang forth from the closet with eerie speed. She had a stake in her hand, and she looked stunned when she saw them both clothed. Reney lay flat, as Richard had instructed. She hadn’t seen her ex-friend since she had first transformed into a full vampire, and it was an incredible sight. Her hair was no longer mouse brown, but a vibrant and rich auburn. It curled now around her crimson eyes, and the vampiric lifestyle must have toned Jane’s flimsy body into a strong one. But not enough to take on a head vampire. Richard slapped the stake from her hands and grabbed her neck violently. He threw her into the wall with a crash, and Reney glimpsed the hatred in his eyes as he seized her by the throat. Jane gagged. Her eyes glowed red with loathing. Reney remained on the bed. Guess he won’t be needing my help. “Jane,” Richard seethed. “Jane, Jane, Jane. Did you think you could hide your scent from me by merely dressing in the scents of humans? I can smell your stimulation, my dear. I have tasted it before. How pleasant to see you again. I must admit you are looking well. I trust my cousin has taken great pains to see you cared for. It really is too bad that he will never see you again.” Jane opened her mouth to say something, but the other vampire’s grasp was too powerful. Instead she retched, sounding as if she might vomit. Richard laughed and his eyes went completely black. He was clearly enjoying his retribution. “Wait,” Reney said. “Richard. Don’t kill her just yet. We have to keep her alive. She’s our only bargaining chip with Marian.” Richard scoffed at her. “Do you think I care about killing Marian? Or saving Ahulani? I do not. My only desire is to torture this little nobody into her death.” He brought his knee up and into Jane’s stomach. She couldn’t make a sound with her throat closed off, but Reney could see the pain on her face. “You can’t do this to me,” Reney said. “I can do whatever I like. I always have.”

“No,” Reney said considerately. “Not this time. Because you’ll never make up with Marian if you kill Jane. You haven’t even spoken to him yet. He hasn’t called. You said yourself you want to go back to killing with him. That spending all that time in Hell reminded you of the terrible pleasures you enjoyed with your cousin.” “Hmm,” Richard said. “I suppose I could prolong this. I would indeed like to speak with Marian, especially before we involve the family and open that unpleasant can of worms. And besides, I have found that Jane has finally become rather attractive. Perchance I could have a bit of fun before I kill her, Reney.” Richard dropped Jane into the corner. She took in air fast, gasping as she rubbed the red marks on her neck. “You would be wise to remain there,” he said, and Jane nodded. “Did you miss me, love?” “No,” Jane said, finally managing to speak in an echoing hiss. “I fucking despise you. Marian is wonderful to me. If you so much as strike me, he will kill you. You’re going to be dead for good this time, Richard.” “Ha!” Richard said. “Is that so?” Jane narrowed her red eyes at him. “You have no idea.” “Perhaps,” Richard said. He walked a small circle in front of her. “I wonder what he would do if he found out you slept with me.” “He already knows,” Jane said. “Nice try.” Reney unexpectedly felt awkward, as though something she should not witness was about to happen. “Of course he knows about that,” Richard said. He fell to his knees and looked Jane directly in the eyes. “I am talking about this time.”

Chapter Nine Ahulani struggled to clarify his vision. He had just awoken, and the room he found himself in was barely lit. He could smell a vampire somewhere in the room, but whoever it was seemed to be adept at hiding himself. Ahulani had only seen a flash of blue eyes in the restroom at the pub, and then blacked out from a potent blow. But his half-ling senses told him the identity of his attacker. The only other vampire he had come across that exuded such a powerful presence was Richard. “Marian,” Ahulani called into the darkness. “I know it’s you. I know you’re into playing games with people, but I’m not. If you want to talk, let’s talk.” He pulsed the muscles in his arms at the restraints, but whatever the vampire had bound him in was fail-proof. Clever. Ahulani heard a skitter on the wall and shuddered. Marian was closer to him now, and he must be able to crawl along the walls. The half-ling had once seen a vampire capable of the feat, and the ability freaked him out. One of the lights went out with a crash. Ahulani looked around in surprise. “Deep into that darkness peering,” Marian’s voice said in a heavier accent than Ahulani had expected. “Long I stood there, wondering, fearing.” “Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before,” Ahulani said into the darkness. “That’s Edgar Allan Poe. I understand you like to read, Marian. So do I.” He spotted the vampire, and was certain that it was because Marian wished to be seen. Ahulani looked on as Marian came into view. He swung upside down from the ceiling, black capes wrapped around him. Raven hair fell around his face, his eyes such a bright shade of blue they almost lit the entire room in a sapphire hue. Ahulani was shocked to see his adversary didn’t look much older than a teenager. “You wish to get on my good side by reciting literature, yes?” the vampire said with a smile. “I am afraid this is not possible, Ahulani.”

Ahulani took a deep breath before he spoke to his enemy. He wished that he would come down and stand before him. Even Richard didn’t give him the creeps like this. “I don’t expect to get on your good side, Marian,” he said. “But I would like to reach some sort of truce here. You and Jane really have no good reason to try and hurt my family. We want to be left alone as much as you do.” “Who has said that I wished to be left alone?” Marian asked. “No one. Only you. I find it funny, yes, that as a half-ling you do still not understand that vampires need no good reason to do anything. We simply do. Sometimes it is a pleasurable experience. Often it is disappointing, as life is in broad-spectrum. But we do as we wish and hope for gratification. It is no different than you seeking your own pleasures. You cannot understand the hobbies of the vampire.” Ahulani scowled momentarily, but maintained his composure. He knew Marian was crazy, but he had underestimated just how mad he was. He wracked his brain trying to come up with an argument or deal that might interest his captor. “Besides,” Marian said. “If you wished to leave us in solitude as you have just stated, you would not have brought my cousin back to kill us. This is what angers me in this particular moment, though I have never liked you.” “You’ve never even met me,” Ahulani said. “How can you say you don’t like me?” Marian extended his arms to stretch for a moment, and his capes unfolded like a bat’s wings. He twisted in a slow circle, and then faced Ahulani again. “I do not like you as Jane does not,” he said. “I must always please my lovers, half-ling. It is my way. And you can see that a creature such as myself gets bored with villagers, no? Now we are having adventures, Ahulani.” “Okay,” Ahulani said as evenly as he could. “I guess that in some weird way, I do understand that. But you have to comprehend that the only reason we brought Richard back was to protect ourselves. We would have been fine leaving you and Jane alone to do as you wanted. Reney and I never once discussed coming to try and kill you. We didn’t even know you existed. Let’s just strike a deal. Richard said he misses you. He wants to talk to you, Marian. Maybe this could end well for everyone involved.”

“A deal?” Marian said. He raised his brows. He jumped down from the ceiling and landed neatly. Ahulani gulped as the vampire approached him. “In this deal only you will benefit,” Marian said. “You will offer me what now? That I leave you alone? To receive nothing in return but the bane of my lover? I am thinking no. As far as my cousin the Count is concerned, I find such notions of chitchat ridiculous. He has had many years to come speak to me. He finds excitement only because he senses me about. He finds also guilt now, as he knows he has wronged me. These are the only reasons he desires to converse with me. I wish not to address him, though I must. I have notions your wife will not be the one to answer the telephone.” “You’re going to call them?” Ahulani asked. He tried to hide his excitement. “So that means that you are going to work out some kind of deal, then?” Marian laughed. His voice echoed off the walls in a hideous reverberation. Ahulani jumped in his shackles. “No, no, half-ling,” Marian said. “So misguided are you. I call them only so your wife may hear you scream. Then, I kill you. Then, Jane kills them. You see this logic, yes? I leave no loose ends, my lovely.” Ahulani began to shake despite his pledge to himself. The promise to show no fear to Marian. “What?” he said. “You’re going to kill me? And Jane? Where is she? She isn’t here with you?” “No,” Marian answered. “She has gone hiding at your hotel. I am hoping she has had the patience to wait for my call before acting. You see half-ling, she wants so badly to torture your wife. Who am I to stop her? To catch my cousin by surprise again will be most ironic as well. I am a fan of irony, you know this?” Ahulani smiled in a surge of confidence. “You really think that Jane is going to be able to kill Richard?” he asked with a sneer. “Don’t you know he can overtake her? She doesn’t stand a chance against a head vampire.” Ahulani regretted his words when he saw the look in his captor’s eyes. It was not anger, but some sort of sick glee. Marian reached into his robes and drew a long blade out. It let off a wicked glitter in the low light.

“Do I think Jane will kill him?” Marian said. He slid the blade across Ahulani’s throat gently. “I am thinking this, yes, for I am a head vampire. You did not know this? Why I bicker so with my own relation is that we both are top vampires. You do know how she killed him before; I see no point in asking if you do. Surprise, my friend. Surprise, surprise, Count Popescu. But perhaps she is just now killing him or has just done so. Then, she would be tormenting your wife. You may hear each other over the telephone, but we will not allow you to see each other again.” “Stop,” Ahulani said. He eyed the weapon with nervousness. Marian drew the blade down the front of the half-ling’s shirt and the fabric slit evenly. “This will all be most tragic for you,” Marian said. “My, what a chest you are in possession of. You must lift many weights. I am curious as to what the inside of it looks like. I have seen many insides but never closely examined the muscles, as the opportunity has not presented itself. But it has now. How lucky you are to provide me with this prospect. We shall see how fierce your screams become before I phone your wife, yes?” “Marian,” Ahulani said, beginning to panic. “Marian, come on. Let’s talk. There has to be something you want from me.” “I have just told you what I want,” Marian said coolly. “To explore closely the muscles. Let us see one, shall we?” Marian gashed down Ahulani’s right pectoral and flesh split. Ahulani cried out and fought his restraints. The pain was terrible. He fought his body’s urge to go into shock. The last thing he needed was to lose his wits around a madman. Marian frowned. “You are in so much pain, sir, and I am just starting. I do not know if you will last long. This is my problem now. No matter. I will enjoy this while I can. You are fighting the pain, but you should not. If you allow yourself the shock now, the pain will be lessened, yes?” Ahulani gritted his teeth. “You bastard,” he said. “Go ahead. Do your worst. It’s going to take a lot more than that to make me lose my mind. And if you do call my wife, I’m not going to scream. No matter what you do to me. The last thing Reney will hear from me is how much I love her.” Marian cocked his head at an odd angle, like a curious animal. “Worst? My lovely, please. You do not understand my worst.”

The vampire slowly separated the slit he had made in Ahulani’s chest. He peered at the gash with fascination. Potent halfling blood started to seep from the wound, and Marian bared his fangs. He drew a long, sharp fingernail through the injury, causing an immense sting. Ahulani rolled his eyes around in a daze, aware that music scratched along on what had to be a very old record player. Marian smiled at him. “Beautiful, yes?” he asked. “Ave Maria. I understand now it is the modern formula to play this while tormenting innocent souls. As I have always mocked the empty collective mind, I find this comical. More irony. See? I even stimulate your dullness in this process. Lovely, you should be flattered I am entertaining myself with you.” “You’re sick,” Ahulani said in a pained whisper. “You’re fucked up in the head, Marian.” “Terrible language, sir,” Marian said. “A shame on you. Ahulani, have you heard of the thumbscrew? It is a minute and simple vice, yet highly useful. I find it enthralling. I have read extensively of it. A man carried one about in his pocket to show others the dreadfulness of torture when white men settled in the states and used the thumbscrew on their slaves. In consequence, such use of this was eventually forbidden, making this implement hard to obtain. But I have acquired one.” Marian reached into his coat and produced a small, black instrument. Ahulani shook his head. “Stop, Marian,” he said. “Please. You’re a smart guy. We can work something out. There has to be something I can do for you.” “Yes,” Marian said, and reached down to capture Ahulani’s hand in the device. “You can scream for me, lovely.” Marian gave the screw a twist, and Ahulani shouted out in pain. He could feel his thumb become crushed in the vice. “You say earlier you will not scream,” Marian said. “Yet you do.” “Just stop. Stop it.” Ahulani’s vision blurred again, and Marian looked at his victim as though he were a wonderful painting he had just completed. His eyes grew wide and intensely blue as he inspected his work. “I will stop for a few moments,” the vampire said. “Just to drink of you. Half-ling blood is such vice to me. I cannot stop myself in its presence.”

He pressed his face against the wound in Ahulani’s chest and suckled deeply. Ahulani was almost glad to lose the blood. It was less painful than the thumbscrew, and the lightheaded feeling it gave him was nearly a relief. He felt close to passing out, and Reney’s face began flashing in his mind. Their first kiss on the beach. The wedding, her beautiful, blonde hair flowing in the Hawaiian winds. ‘Olina, tiny and red, being thrust into his hands as his wife looked at him in adoration and wonder. He couldn’t die. Certainly not like this. He started to pray. “Haumea,” he said. “Haumea, give me strength. Give me strength to save my family. Give me strength to defeat this evil. Stand by me, please.” Marian looked up inquisitively. His ashen face was covered in blood. “You pray?” Ahulani could only nod yes. Marian laughed. “Now, I will inflict pain to hear your prayers. I so love unanswered prayers. You are old enough to know evil is king in this world, now, no? Prayers always unanswered. Children starve as vermin upon the streets. Rich men stuff their pockets in sullied wealth. And the brilliant prophets of this world, the artists, remain melancholy in their fantasy. You know why the artists are so wanted, yes?” Ahulani shook his head. He hoped Marian’s monologue would distract the vampire and give him a break. “Our morose daydreams bring delight to the dim, and yet we suffer and thrash in our ideals. Always I am pushed in my head to create more for such dullards, but why? I receive no rewards. I might paint beautiful pictures you would not value. We cannot know contentment. No man is bringing us to our castles in the sky. You fill yourself like a glutton with the dreams of the artists and want not for entertainment. You can now see why I am content to be evil, lovely? No being receives my pity, for they torment my intellect. But you are appreciating my fantasies, now, yes?” Ahulani braced himself for the pain. He couldn’t imagine what Marian would cook up next. A phone rang in the room and startled both of them. Marian frowned, looking dismayed that his speech had been interrupted. Blood flowed down the front of his garments when he stood.

“This must be Jane,” he said, wiping his hand across Ahulani’s chest. He licked the blood from his hand before he turned away. “I will return. You pray.” Ahulani did, praying fervently to Haumea. He pushed at the chains that bound him with all his might, but they didn’t give. He couldn’t fathom what they were made of, but Marian must have planned the scenario for some time. An ordinary man would not require such elaborate restraints. He shuddered as he heard the vampire’s footsteps approach again. Marian stood tall before him, and Ahulani immediately saw that he was furious. All the pleasure he had expressed before while torturing him had diminished from his eyes. Now they were filled with rage. “Perhaps your prayers were of assistance to you,” Marian said. “Perhaps the Goddess you pray to has listened. You have brought this upon me?” “W-what?” Ahulani asked in disbelief. “Yes, I believe your prayers did bring this,” he said. “You are lucky we must leave at once.” “We’re leaving?” “We are leaving,” Marian said. He pulled Ahulani out of his seat, but kept the shackles about his victim. Ahulani tumbled to the floor, and Marian was upon him again to feed off the open wound. He spoke as he drank the blood. It was hideous to listen to, and Ahulani was glad he neared unconsciousness. “We must go,” Marian said heatedly as he fed. “But I am promising now that you will die tonight. And I am promising such work will always be appreciated.”

Chapter Ten “I’m not sleeping with you,” Jane snarled at Richard. “You’re out of your mind. You know damn well that if you do anything to me, Marian will kill you.” “Marian will kill me?” Richard said. He feigned a shocked look. “Marian cannot kill me, you hapless woman. I have outsmarted my cousin before, and I shall do it again. That is, if he does not decide to join me. You are not so special, Jane, as Marian has made you think.” Reney shifted uncomfortably on the bed. She felt out of place as the two former lovers argued. Everything in her wanted to leave, but she was stuck in the hotel with two vampires. Both of who had tried to kill her before. Awkward. “You can say anything you like,” Jane said. “But I’m different now, Richard. True, you’re still a stronger vampire than I am, but I don’t need you anymore. I don’t need your attention to feel good about myself. Marian treats me like a Queen.” “Be quiet now, Jane,” Richard said dismissively. “I am trying to think.” “Ha!” Jane said. Her eyes glowed a fierce red. “Trying to think? About how you’re going to die again? I certainly hope you enjoy your brief stay here, Richard, because it’s not going to last much….” Richard turned and struck Jane across the face. Reney gasped and covered her mouth in surprise as Jane slumped against the floor. “Oh my God, Richard. Did you kill her?” “No, I didn’t kill her,” Richard said. The vampire rolled his eyes. “I was just growing fairly sick of hearing her run her mouth. She seems to have gotten quite the big head since becoming a vampire. I thought she might actually have become useful, but she is still an emotional wreck.” “Richard,” Reney said slowly. “You know, you kind of made her that way.” He turned to look at her, and gave a small laugh. “I did not make her that way, Reney,” he said. “I merely took advantage of the way she already was. If she were not a half-ling and

in possession of such effective blood, I never would have become involved with her. You do know she is crazy, don’t you?” “Yeah,” Reney muttered. “I guess I can’t help but feel a little sorry for her, though. As screwed up as it sounds, I was almost glad she found Marian. They seem to make each other happy.” “That’s because they’re both mad,” Richard said, and a thoughtful look crossed his face. “Mad. Yes, indeed. Jane is completely mad. She always has been.” “Richard, what are you getting at?” “Oh, just watch,” he said. “This is going to be so amusing. Would you like to see just how crazy she is, Reney? You will find your own enjoyment in it as well.” Reney glared at him. “I’m not into whatever it is you’re planning, I can tell you that right now. I’m sure it’s sick and in poor taste.” “Would you expect anything less from me, dear?” Reney said nothing, but continued to frown at him. “Just watch,” he said. He knelt beside Jane and ran a slow touch across her cheek. Jane’s eyes fluttered open, and she looked at him in surprise. “Richard? You bastard. Get away from me.” “What?” he said, and jerked her up by the chin. “What sort of dreams have you been having, Jane? Were you in charge of something? Were you someone great? You must have been in fantasy to ever think you could address me so in reality.” Jane shook her head, auburn hair fluttering all around her. She looked genuinely confused, like she fought with her own mind. She reached out for the other vampire. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I did, baby. I had the craziest dream. It was so nice in some places, though…. Oh my God, what is Reney doing here?” “She is our prisoner, you silly girl,” Richard said. “I suppose you do not remember capturing her, either. You hit your head, you know. I assume that accounts for all this strangeness.” Reney gazed at the floor. She hated to play along with his sick game, but she had to admit he knew what he was doing. It was sad, though. She wondered what would happen once Jane realized she hadn’t hit her head, and that she certainly hadn’t been dreaming.

“I’m really sorry,” Jane said. She scrambled to her knees before her former master. “Really. I guess I did hit my head hard. I don’t know. I just feel so different. Did you make me a vampire while I was sleeping, Richard?” He snorted in his customary contempt. “As if. You have yet to prove yourself, Jane. How many times must I reiterate this to you? You are likely feeling the effects of a rather solid bump to the head. No matter.” “Are you hungry?” Jane asked, going to pull up her sleeves. “No,” Richard said quickly. He held up a hand to stop her. “I am in desire of other things.” “Oh,” Jane giggled, and she unfastened her top without hesitation. “With Reney watching and everything? You are so wicked.” “Yes,” he said. “What do you think of that, Reney?” Reney said nothing as she wrought her hands together. It was all so wrong. She almost wished Marian would call before the whole thing went any further. The phone sat silently as she watched Jane pull off her top to reveal small breasts with brightly colored peach nipples. Richard took one between his fingers and gave it a forceful yank. Jane gasped and Reney started to turn her head, but a gaze from Richard captured her. He smiled at her, and she became aroused. It was seemed like he was doing it for her, but that couldn’t be. Yet, his black gaze had caught her once more and forced her to watch. She tried not to imagine herself in Jane’s place, where it seemed wonderful, if not utterly sick. “I think she must want to watch secretly,” he said into Jane’s ear. “Who would not? And here you have been so worried that I wanted her sexually, Jane.” “You do love me, Richard?” “I do, dear,” Richard said. He kissed her and wrapped his arms around her back in an embrace. Jane looked taken aback, and Reney realized with gloom that Richard had probably never shown her former friend any such affection. Jane’s eyes lit to a vivacious scarlet as the vampire kissed her, making Reney tear up. “You’ve never been like this before,” Jane said. “What has gotten into you?”

“Shh,” Richard said as he pulled down the rest of her garments. “I am going to make you a full vampire tonight, Jane. I was only fooling moments ago. You have proven yourself to me. Look, now. We have captured Reney. You are more than worthy of the transformation.” “Ohhh,” Jane sighed. “Thank you, baby.” “No thanks required,” Richard said, and kissed her again. Reney didn’t want to watch anymore. She went to avert her eyes, and Richard’s cold gaze stopped her once more. Jane was naked now, and Reney saw that she had become beautiful as a vampire. Her body had become a lean figure eight, the skin creamy white and unblemished. Ginger hair ruffled around her crotch, and Reney could see that Jane had become so aroused the pink lips swelled out and around the cherry curls. Richard looked a bit taken aback by her change, but his hand traveled down and smoothed the swollen nub of her clit for a moment, gathering her growing moisture to rub the bud in a gentle circle. “Hmm,” he said, as if weighing his options. “I may have to taste you there, dear.” Jane’s eyes widened like the mousy, little intern she had been. “I don’t know what I did to deserve this.” Richard said nothing, running his eyes up and down her in observation. He finally lifted one lithe leg to his face. He sprouted his fangs and ran down her calf to break little patches of skin, and he sucked away at the bloody marks. Jane’s face turned red, and her whole body trembled. “Oh, God, baby,” she said. “Oh, God. I don’t know what I did for you.” Reney felt sick as she tried to fight her own arousal. Richard looked at her as he fed, his black irises piercing through her. She could feel him touch her, though he remained with Jane. Reney rubbed her legs together to relieve some of the tension, rocking back and forth. She hoped the vampire wouldn’t notice, but of course, he did. He hissed at her, and she turned away to stare at her water glass. “Reney,” he said in such a low voice she could hardly hear him. She gave the edge of her glass a furious tap. Richard threw his burial cape towards her, and it smelled more of his expensive scents

than it did of the grave. She pushed it away and stared at the floorboards. She heard Jane shriek and looked to them in spite of herself. Richard had arched his back, the lean muscles forming smooth knots like wings, and he wrapped Jane’s legs up and around himself. He had already entered her, and he jerked her up roughly into a deep penetration. Jane bit her lip in a squeal, her face blushing as the other vampire examined her in silence, his emotionless expression unchanged. Just watch. There’s nothing wrong with that. I don’t have a choice, after all. Reney felt like a voyeur, as though she should be smoking a cigarette in an overstuffed armchair as she watched. “Oh,” Jane said. “It’s happening already.” “I can tell,” Richard said. Reney shook her head. It was so reminiscent of when she had been with him. There was an odd fascination in his outward disinterest in his partner. She grabbed the ends of her long hair and twirled the blonde locks. Reney gave serious consideration to a brief retreat to the bathroom, when she saw Richard go towards Jane’s neck. Damnit. That clever bastard. Though it was considered taboo, Reney knew from Ahulani’s family that a vampire ingesting the blood of their own kind was an incredible act of rejuvenation. They could collect far more power than they received from drinking the blood of the half-lings. Jane, on the other hand, was going to get very weak. Reney hated to admit how quick he truly was, but the sick act would turn the odds in their favor. Jane’s eyes widened when the fangs hit her neck. It became obvious to Reney that Jane had gone into shock, as Richard had chosen the moment of her orgasm to feed from her. Reney and Ahulani had fed from each other before, but it was nothing like what she was witnessing. She realized she had never actually seen a vampire kill one of its victims, and if it was worse than what Richard was doing, then it was a horror she hoped to never become familiar with. His attack was aggressive, and caused Jane’s eyes to turn wild shades of red as she weakened. He withdrew himself from her pelvis and came to his knees, bringing Jane with him. Jane had started to convulse, and she grabbed Richard’s shoulders as if to push him away, but he continued to drain her.

“I don’t feel well, Richard,” she said. “You told me before that it would feel good.” “It will pass,” he said. Richard removed his fangs from her neck and lapped at the deep wounds with hunger. Reney wanted to vomit. The smell of the vampire’s blood made her own hunger rise. Liquid power spilled from Richard’s jaws and stained the carpet. He released a demonic sound and his eyes became black mirrors. He looked to Reney, bloody and vicious, and she caught her own terrified reflection in the evil pools. He dropped the other vampire on the floor with a thump and snatched his clothing off the bed. Jane’s head spun around for a few moments, and Reney thought she saw her become sick on the floor. Richard rose and wrapped his cape around himself. With a smooth turn, he extended his hand to Reney, and she watched in horror as the tempting liquid dripped on the floor in front of her. “Want a spot?” he said sardonically. His typical composure had returned at once. Reney glared at him. Jane seemed to collect herself a bit, and she shouted at them as she fumbled for her clothing in vain. She bled out in gushes. “You just read my mind, Richard. You did. Why? Why? What did you want to know?” Reney sighed and crossed her legs. “A phone number,” Richard said. “Whose?” Jane asked. “Why didn’t you just ask me? Who could you possibly need to call, baby?” Richard smiled at her at her when he picked up the bedside phone. “Why, I have to call Marian, dear,” he said to Jane. “He is such a fan of irony, you know, as an artiste and all.” “Marian!” Jane screamed. She clawed at the walls and fell, her eyes a dim red. “It wasn’t a dream,” she muttered to herself. “It wasn’t a dream.” “No, it was not,” Richard said. He punched the number into the phone pad with merriment. “I would not try to move just now, Jane. You are likely to pass out from the effort. I think I am becoming a fan of irony as well. You see, you became a powerful vampire because you drank my blood. And now, I have taken it back.”

“I love Marian,” Jane sobbed. “No wonder I thought it was all a dream. He is so kind to me. And you have ruined it, you bastard. You have ruined it.” She gave a frantic look around the room. “He will forgive me,” she said. “He must. He will forgive me. He still loves me. Reney? Reney?” Reney didn’t answer. She chewed a fingernail and tried to ignore both of them. “Reney, I understand what he did to you now,” Jane said. “I understand. Reney, we were friends. Don’t you remember? Richard tricked us both.” “Do not listen to her,” Richard said. He tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for Marian to answer the phone. “She is mad.” “Do listen to me,” Jane said. “Reney, he ruins everything. He ruined our friendship. I liked you. I used to love hanging out with you. You were so much fun. Then, he ruined that. And then he tried to mess up what you have with Ahulani. And what I have with Marian. We should kill him.” Richard rolled his eyes. “Reney, talk to me,” Jane insisted. “Fine,” Reney said at last. “You have a point, Jane. A great point. But, you know what? Richard might be an asshole, but so are you. You’re a conniving bitch, and honestly, I don’t feel sorry for you. You would betray anyone to get some sort of affirmation from a man. You wanted to kill my daughter, Jane. Did you think I would forget that?” Jane pulled her clothes back on slowly. She looked so weak that Reney knew she could probably kill the full vampire if she wanted to. It was a pathetic sight. “I only got that way because of what Richard was doing to me,” she said. “And when I became a full vampire, I became evil.” “You still are a full vampire,” Reney said. “Nothing changed because Richard just outsmarted you. You’re still evil, and if you weren’t so weak right now, you’d try to kill us both. I felt for you at one point, Jane. But not anymore. You deserve this.” Jane leaned back against the wall. Her eyes changed to various changes of pink, and she looked like she might faint. Reney wished she would. She didn’t want to hear any more crap from vampires.

“Marian,” Richard said into the phone. “It is Vladimir. No, I prefer to speak in English now, actually. How delightful it is to hear your voice after all these years. Pity we have a bad connection, yes?” He paused. Reney watched Jane try to crawl towards them. Richard covered the mouthpiece of the phone for a moment to speak to Reney. “Reney, would you take care of her, please? I assure you, there is nothing to fear. A peasant could strike her dead right now, with what I took from her.” Reney reluctantly got up and pushed Jane back down into the corner. Jane glowered at her, but she was too weak to do anything more. “Yes, Marian,” Richard went on. “I always admired your creativity, but in a twist of that irony you so love, you made a terrible mistake yourself. As many times as I have had Jane, did you think I would not smell her in the room with us?” Reney could hear Marian scream at his cousin in Romanian. Richard smiled, and then spoke in his native language for the first time since Reney had met him. “N-am facut nimic greşit, Marian,” he said. “Aveti. Intalneştema la crypt. A miezul nopţii. La revedere!” Richard hung the phone up. Reney stared at him. “What in the world did you just say?” “I take it you did not attend Romanian language classes in college,” Richard said. “I told him it was his own fault, and to meet us at the crypt at midnight. It has been so long since I spoke my own language. It is so much more beautiful than English.” “Does he have Ahulani?” she asked, wringing her hands together. “Yes, yes,” Richard said. “He is alive, though I suspect he is not well. We will trade him for Jane if you wish. It is not as if she is a threat. Marian wishes to take me on himself, and I will attempt to kill him first, I suppose. Then, you will leave and let me eliminate Jane in my own way. He is furious, as you may have gathered by his subconscious transition to screaming in our own tongue. His English grammar is poor, anyway. I suppose three hundred years underground will do that to you.”

“Can you beat Marian?” Reney asked. “All ego aside, really. You were both strong enough to be head vampires to the family. Wouldn’t that make him as powerful as you?” Richard sighed. “It will be a long battle, half-ling. Have you ever seen two full vampires fight? Aside from Jane and myself, of course. Marian is in an entirely different league. That was my principal reason in drinking Jane’s blood. To empower myself for battling him. I suspect Marian has had a bit of half-ling blood by now.” Reney fought back tears at the thought of Ahulani being drained by the crazed artist. “No,” she said. “I’ve never seen such a thing.” “Ahulani is weakened,” Richard said. “Are you prepared to assist me?” Reney gulped. “You want me to fight Marian?” Richard stared at her intently. His eyes went black. “Do you want to survive?”

Chapter Eleven Reney could smell Ahulani as they approached the crypt, but Marian must have been clever enough to hide his scent for tracking. She sensed that he was injured, and when she went to cry out for him, Richard shushed her. “Do you have a death wish?” he asked. “Marian is hiding somewhere inside. I suspect the ceiling. It is his favorite trick, after all.” “God,” Reney said, and tears began to fall in her fear. “I can’t fight Marian, Richard. There’s no way in Hell.” “I’ll be doing most of the work, half-ling. You are to only assist me if he gets an edge. If things had not gone as they have, there wouldn’t be a physical conflict. But it’s a little late for that now. Isn’t it, Jane?” Jane was in the back of the buggy, still dazed from the blood loss. She managed to smile at them anyway. “Marian is going to kill you both,” she said. “And we will go back to the way we were, without you, Richard.” “Is that so, Jane?” Richard asked. “What if I tell him I had you just hours ago?” “He will forgive me,” she murmured with a smile. “Marian loves me. He’s so different. So perfect for me.” Richard rubbed his temples as if a headache were coming on. “You are getting rather obnoxious, Jane. I would kill you now if I didn’t wish to have Reney’s assistance in battle.” “You got that right,” Reney snapped. “I am getting Ahulani back.” Richard instructed the buggy to park a bit off in the woods, and Reney followed him nervously to the crypt, pitch black in the midnight hour. She could sense Marian, and it was a sick feeling. Richard had always had the ability to unnerve and freeze her. Marian, though she had never seen him, felt like a thousand chilly bugs that crawled along her skin. “Are you hiding, dear cousin?” Richard called into the darkness as they came upon the crypt. “You know I am aware of all your favorite tricks. And a surprise attack is not in your best interest. Do not forget that I have your Jane. In fact, she is so weakened she

may die at any moment. Do you love your games so much that you would allow that to happen?” An electric vibration filled the air. Reney fell back, behind Richard. Two head vampires were going to battle. And she knew she couldn’t keep hiding. It was a huge possibility that Richard would need her to fight his cousin, and she couldn’t back down. At least, not if she wanted to see Ahulani alive again. She had gone so far as to raise her worst enemy from the dead for this, and as unprepared as she felt, it was finally time. “I had no plans of surprise,” Marian said from atop the crypt. Reney watched him rise and come into view, his tall figure black in the moonlight. “I was merely enjoying the evening air. You have never taken time for such things, Vladimir. But certainly you agree, the sky is most beautiful this nightfall, yes?” A cold sweat overtook her, and her heartbeat quickened. Marian sat down cross-legged on the roof of the crypt. He smiled at her. He was telling her, she knew, that he had been waiting for her. With even more vehemence than he had waited for his revenge on Richard, because her fear of him was so great. She tried to move away from his gaze, but felt like the vampire could look through walls if he pleased. “You appear rather collected,” Richard said. He narrowed his eyes. “Yet, you were so furious when we spoke on the phone.” Marian sighed. “I am always capable of composing myself, friend. You of all men should know such things. After all, I did not create a way to kill myself in all the years you kept me beneath the earth. You yourself have complimented my great imagination. I wanted so badly to live more. I knew that one day I would be freed, inside my discontented heart. This heart is not empty as yours is. I am amazed you did not suspect this as a possibility. Did you not once fear retribution, my beloved relation?” “No,” Richard said. “I never imagined someone so stupid as to free you, and of course, the family knew the crypt was off limits. In fact, it has been so long since I have seen you, Marian. Why do you not just come down and speak with me face to face? I do not see the point in keeping up this useless prattle. You and I both know this will end in physical battle.” Marian snorted contemptuously.

“It did not have to, Vladimir,” he said. “I am in disbelief that you have joined half-lings to kill the family you already betrayed. Do you feel no guilt at any of your actions? I gave you my protection for many years in your youth. The very family you have ruled over would have devoured you, yes? Drained you as soon as they learned of your mother’s unfortunate death. Though so young myself, I saved us both from this certainty. I waited and transformed you, even though we all knew I was a head vampire as well. To see you grow into a man and hand you things belonging to you. All I wanted? To be left in silence and create things. Instead, I hissed at the family and allowed you life. More of a man than I appear, as I will now appear for eternity. This means nothing to you.” “You should not have tried to stake claim to my estate,” Richard countered. “You could have stayed here dancing in the moonlight if you were not so selfish.” “I wanted little!” Marian spat. He leapt down from the roof and landed face-to-face with Richard. Reney resisted the urge to grab Richard for protection. She reminded herself that she was a part of this. Likely, she would come in contact with Marian. The vampire was taller than she had expected, and looked almost boyish. She could remembered the first time she had traveled to Romania, and the vision in which Richard had shown her Marian and himself in their youth. It was eerie that Marian’s features remained the same, though he was older than Richard. He had transformed that long-ago day, forever immortalizing his appearance. “You, Count,” he said. “So selfish. Colder even than all creatures of the night. What torture your existence must be, though I wonder if you are aware. Although I spent centuries beneath this most wretched crypt, you are the one who suffers. You will never enjoy a woman as I do, appreciate her taste and the tender folds of flesh about your body. You will never feel simple joys. Give me the half-ling, cousin. I will most delight in her pleas and whimpers. I can eat these sounds in just my imagination. She cannot know what I plan for her, for she cannot envision it. I am accepting you are not feeling anything, Vladimir, and this brings me pity. I have blood feelings toward you still. I am remembering you as a sobbing boy upon the sullen corpse of your mother, cast into the street by half-lings. This is when all your sentiment died, with her. Did I not make artwork of

them for you, cousin, as I had promised that night? I even brought them to you to share my inspirations. End this. Join me at the head of the Popescu family, as it should be.” “I’m afraid that’s not possible,” Richard said, and Reney heaved a sigh of relief. “Jane will die tonight, Marian. You know well the force of my vendettas. The family cannot and will not have two masters. I do not share my throne with anyone. If you were to allow me Jane’s murder, I would permit you to serve me as they do. But you are a head vampire, Marian, and you will neither leave nor serve. For what little left I do feel, my cousin, I regret our inability to reach a compromise.” “Yes,” Marian said. “I am well aware of this, though you choose to toy with me. To waste my time with frolicsome chatter. I suspect you are frightened to truly face me, Vladimir. I deduce your guilt is overcoming the fear you feel. You know well the difficulties you will face if you attack, yes? You recognize the odds lean in favor of neither you nor I, but rather evenly.” “Marian,” Reney said softly. “Where is Ahulani? If you let me have him back, I’ll give you Jane.” Marian looked over Richard’s shoulder at her. A smile crossed his face. “You will not let the half-ling address me to my face?” he asked Richard. Richard turned to her. Reney held her breath for a moment, and then gave a nod. Richard moved away to put her in front of Marian. She not to appear frightened, but she knew she must. “I only want to know where my husband is,” Reney said. “I have no issues with you, Marian. I want him back. And you can have Jane. And then you and Richard can have it out, or work it out. Whatever you want. I just want my family together again. Safe.” Marian reached toward her face, and Reney closed her eyes. She felt the whispers of a breeze before he ran a light touch across her temples. A tremble moved down her spine. “Why is it, half-ling?” he asked. “Why is it you think I am caring about what you want? Do you think you have some say in a fight of head vampires? Do you think you may sway me with clever words? I am over three hundred years old, my sweetness. I infer you incapable of understanding my agendas. You cannot even fully understand the Count’s. You are an infant. You understand nothing,

and yet you stand here as if you have some place among the most powerful vampires the world has seen. You should have run, miss. You should have taken your babe and run and run, for this would be the only way you would ever escape me. You know I am correct, yes?” Reney opened her eyes, shocked to see that Marian had moved closer, his face almost contacting her own. “What do you mean? Richard’s agenda?” Marian laughed. “You think he will not kill you if he wins? You are resigned to death on this evening, half-ling. A vampire will win tonight, this is already known. This vampire will kill you. I would like to taste you if I am the winner. I shall take one breast and Jane the other. This is where the women drain most deliciously. Did you know this? You are pleasing to look upon, and this excites my ideas even more as I am crafting them. How I love the female structure in all forms, most when it is dying. It is like a writhing hourglass, filled with pain. The soft skin is vulnerably bound about my fangs, as yours may be so soon, my sweetness. What gratification.” “He is lying to you, Reney,” Richard said. He stepped between them harshly. “You know I do not give a damn about killing you anymore. The only one I want dead here, truly, is Jane. Listen to him. He rants on like a madman.” Reney’s head spun. Even if what Marian said was true, her lone hope was Richard. Marian would kill her regardless. He was undoubtedly more than eager to see her die, planning it even as he faced down Richard. She felt a sting of pain in her heart in the knowledge that Marian had Ahulani. Reney suspected Marian found some kind of artistic satisfaction in the torment of his male victims as well. “Yes,” Marian said. He paced back and forth and eyed Reney as she hid behind his cousin. “You are finding death tonight, though you will trust in the Count as the vapid creature you have proven yourself. And so you know, my cherished cousin, I can smell Jane. She is weak, but not dead. I am aware precisely of her location. I think now that I shall kill you both.” Reney shrieked. Marian had leapt upon Richard with startling speed. Although the fight was a black blur of snarls, she saw that the injuries mounted quickly. Blood flew in her direction, though she

didn’t know whom it belonged to. She tried to duck it, but it hit her in the face. Reney wiped at her mouth in horror. If she ingested too much, she would turn into a vampire. The brawl was so rapid Reney couldn’t make a decision as to whether Richard needed her or not. If she leapt in between them, she could be lashing out at either one of them. She backed away and tried to catch a better whiff of Ahulani, but Marian had done something to hide his scent very well. A great crash broke her thoughts apart. Marian had thrown Richard through the stone door of the crypt. She was so dismayed by the ability of the full vampires that she remained frozen to the spot for several moments. “Reney!” she heard Richard cry, and she rushed towards the building. Richard was badly injured on the floor of the crypt. Marian appeared to be just as hurt, but he still stood, his eyes like blue fire. His upper body heaved as he looked down on his cousin with eerie echoes of laughter. Marian turned to her, and Reney sprouted her fangs in a defensive hiss. The vampire took another deep breath, and then snickered. He moved toward her. Reney balled up her fist and aimed for his jaw. Marian easily dodged the blow, moving to one side. Reney swung again, and he caught her by the arm. Marian wrapped his hands around her shoulders in a deathly strong grip. He slammed Reney up and against the wall, and she whimpered. He had knocked the wind right out of her in the attack. “How this amuses me,” he said. “Thinking yourself capable of fighting vampires in any capacity. Only if Vladimir stood would you have any probability of striking me, and the force of such strikes would be a bee’s sting to me. If I was not finding your outlook so quaint, I might become livid at your arrogance.” He lifted Reney up to his eye level. “I will most enjoy killing you now,” Marian said, and scraped a gash in her cheek with his nails. He ran his finger down the wound to gather the blood, and suckled it off slowly. Marian leaned his head back as though enraptured, and gave a soft sigh. “My,” he said. “Ahulani’s blood is not so sweet as yours, though admittedly it was delicious. Young and strong he was. Before I ate him, darling. Gorgeous female half-lings are certainly my worst decadence. Your kind remains my favorite. Fight at my restraint

harder, I am insisting upon this. I find the sensation of your pitiful struggle against me elation.” “He’s not dead,” she snarled. “You’re a liar.” Reney grabbed his arm and twisted at the limb, but his grip didn’t budge. He was incredibly strong, his clutch on her like a vise. Reney felt a wave of sadness wash over her. Marian had won. He had been right, too. There was no way she could exchange blows with a full vampire, especially a head vampire. What a stupid idea it had all been. And now Ahulani would die. And Marian would find ‘Olina. Her precious baby girl would die at the hand of a psychopath. Marian laughed and wrapped a hand around her neck. He pressed two fingers against the slight walls of her throat. The vampire brought her to the brink of unconsciousness quickly, and then loosened his grip. She fought for air as he repeated the process over and over, bringing her in and out of an unclear reality. She thought she heard him say something to her, but the noise around her became nothing but a buzz. Reney felt certain that she was dead, and a smile crossed her face. Her body warmed as though wrapped in a blanket on a winter’s night, safe. She smelt nothing but sweet cinnamon as she floated away from her tormentor. It was so peaceful to escape that she didn’t fight it at all. She wondered why she had ever feared death. It was perfect peace. Ahulani stood in front of her in the twilight hour and beamed down at her with elegant, golden eyes. Yellow sparks lit about his irises, a beautiful rarity that happened only in moments of great pleasure. The ocean’s waves crashed against the wet sands at the shoreline, and frothed just a few feet away. Reney’s hand traveled to her stomach. Her belly was swollen with ‘Olina, and her knee-length wedding dress blew across the pregnant stomach. She drew in a deep breath and grasped Ahulani’s hands. His family stood all around them. Everyone moved his or her mouths as thought laughing, but no noise came. Marian must have told her the truth. Ahulani was here with her, after all. “Is ‘Olina safe?” she tried to ask, but her voice would not arrive. Ahulani smiled and took her hand. He slid a delicate silver band down her finger. Her wedding ring. Reney smiled, but something wasn’t right. She spotted someone close by, a stark black form that didn’t belong on the beautiful beach at all.

“Snap out of it, half-ling.” Richard. He approached her rapidly. When nobody took notice, Reney became more than confused. What the Hell? “How are you in my head?” she asked, and was relieved that the words manifested themselves. “Spells, spells, spells,” he said. “Easy to cast one on a halfdead spell breaker.” “I’m not already dead?” she said uneasily. The scene around her faded, and she reached out for Ahulani too late. He disappeared into nothingness, and it was only she and Richard. “You will be shortly if you do not wake up,” Richard said, his eyes blackened over in hypnotism. “Marian is prolonging your death as long as he can. You are quite the sight right now, I admit. Every time he lets you wake up, you scream. You have no idea what you are doing, do you?” “I thought he already killed me,” Reney said. “And Ahulani. I thought I was going to Heaven, Richard.” “Psst,” Richard said. “I am hurt, badly, Reney. But Marian is so caught up in his little game with you, he is allowing me time to recover. I was dead so long myself. I did not realize the toll it would take on my physical competence, and Marian has made a fool of me. I thought drinking Jane’s blood would revive me to full capacity, but it has not. It will take both of us with all of our capabilities to fight him, and we must attack together. I am almost recovered now. He thinks me unconscious as I am hypnotizing you, but I warn you we must act quickly. Marian is a telepath. He may catch onto what I am doing right now.” “He’s a telepath?” she asked. “I didn’t know that.” “You would not have known,” he sneered at her. “You are not a telepath, you are a spell breaker. That quality alone blocks out most extrasensory contact for you. Marian can only speak directly to other telepathic creatures, but certainly not from where I had him. If he could, I assure you he would have escaped that hole many years ago. It was irrelevant information. Now, if you could find the will to bring yourself out of this, I could go find Ahulani’s mind and likely rouse him to battle.”

Reney closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on bringing herself to reality. She was hit with an immediate pain, her throat and head aflame. “Oh, God,” she moaned. “It hurts, Richard. It hurts there. I want to die.” “Think of your daughter,” Richard said. “Would you like Marian to play such games with her? Picture that for a few moments, Reney.” Reney closed her eyes again, filled with determination at the vision of her daughter. “Find Ahulani,” she said. “Are you certain?” Richard asked. “I should not leave if you cannot do this.” “I can,” she said. “Find Ahulani. Find him and wake him up.” “Very well, then,” Richard said. “Marian has a terrible grasp on your throat, but when you awaken, you must speak. Tell him of what Jane did with me this evening. You will alarm him, and we will make our move. You are absolutely certain you can do this?” “Yes,” Reney said. “Go find Ahulani. Now, damnit.” “Stay away from the light,” Richard said, his voice beginning to fade. “Towards the pain, half-ling.” With that, he was gone. Reney had to fight her will, as she never had before. Every part of her wanted to head towards the warmth and comfort of death. The other side was cold, intense torture. She could heard Marian’s voice, and the hollow quality had become concentrated. Reney ground her teeth together and thrust herself forward, into the darkness. Her eyes opened, and she let out a howl of pain. Marian giggled. The evil nature of it swept the room in an echo. “Now you have fully awoken,” he said. “What fun I was having with you, woman. Every shriek more pained than its predecessor. I am going to take you away now, to my personal manor, and we will use your blood to revive Jane. Would you like to be tortured for many days? This situation is easily arrangeable.” “Jane!” she said in a gasp. “She slept with Richard in the hotel room. Just tonight. She did it willingly, Marian.” Reney glanced at Richard. His black eyes had opened, but he remained silent. Marian’s sadistic smile was gone, his expression changed to one of shock. He dropped Reney on the floor, and she

groaned. Her head had almost cracked on the hard stone. She saw Marian lean down towards Richard and sniff at the other vampire. “This is true,” he said. “Jane has done this with you? Why?” Richard heaved a laugh. “Because she is absolutely mad, Marian,” he said. “She imagined you were but a dream, that I was still her master. How do you think I managed to drink her blood so easily? She thought I was going to finally transform her into a vampire.” “Untrue!” Marian said, but Reney could tell he didn’t believe his own words. “You deceived her. Your betrayals are ceaseless, Vladimir.” “Is that so?” Richard said, bringing himself up to a seated position. “I am afraid you are correct, cousin.” In one swift motion, Richard kicked his legs forward towards his enemy. Marian flew backward, and Reney watched as he tumbled into the hole in the crypt. The hole Richard had kept him in for so many years. Richard rose to his feet and turned to Reney. “Thank you, half-ling,” he said. “You know, if I felt things, I would find this entire situation very sad. I had planned to kill Jane first, but it appears you are more convenient at the moment.” “No,” Reney said in disbelief. She backed away in terror. “We had a deal. And where is Ahulani? You said you would get him.” “Still a fool and an idealist,” Richard said. He grabbed at her. “You should have listened to Marian. Though, in the end this is best for you if you consider the other option. I will kill you quickly. Marian would have...” He stopped to chuckle. “Well, I suppose you have a pretty good idea of what Marian would have done by now.” “No,” Reney repeated. She jumped to one side to avoid his grasp. “That’s beyond fucked up, Richard. This is messed up even for you.” “As I said,” Richard said. “You should have taken Marian’s advice and run, run, run, my dear. My cousin may be mad, but he is never ill advised. How right he was when he stated you do not comprehend the nature of full vampires, Reney.” Reney closed her eyes and willed Ahulani to rise. She was dreadfully hurt, but there was fight left yet. If only Ahulani would come, Richard might back down from them like he had in Hawaii.

Richard gave a loud curse, and her eyes sprang open. He was being dragged away. She spotted Marian’s pale hand wrapped around his ankle in exhibition of the death grip he had held on her earlier. “You son of a bitch,” Richard snarled, and then he disappeared inside the blackness. Reney stood still for a moment, shocked. “There,” she said. “Now you’re both over.” The scent of cinnamon boiled into the room, and Reney’s eyes welled with tears. She turned. At the opening of the crypt stood Ahulani. He had Jane with him. Although he was injured, she drooped in his grasp, hanging by the back of her neck. He dropped her in the corner, rushing to Reney. “My God,” Reney said, embracing him. “It’s over, Ahulani. They’re both down there now. Richard turned on me. Marian dragged him in. It’s over. Really over this time.” “Oh,” Ahulani said. “Reney, help me. Move it.” One of the vampires grasped at the opening of the hole, and Ahulani hurried toward the rock. Reney grabbed the other end of it as fast as she could, and they rolled it over the opening. It prompted a stream of incomprehensible curses from the prison. “Marian is dead?” Jane asked. Reney and Ahulani exchanged a confused look. It seemed Jane had not followed a word of what Reney had said. Ahulani gave his wife a knowing nod. “Yes, Jane,” Reney said. “Richard killed him. But I kicked Richard down that hole. They’re both gone.” Jane managed to stand, her eyes a pitiful, pale red. She sobbed and braced herself against the crypt walls. “Marian,” she said. “I want Marian.” “Maybe we should just go,” Ahulani said quietly. “This is kind of sad, Reney.” Jane looked up at them, and she smiled, as if happy. Reney jumped, prepared to fight, but realized immediately that Jane didn’t have an ounce of strength left in her. “Reney,” she said. “I hope you have a good life, Reney. I’m sorry for everything that happened between us. One day, I hope you’ll forgive me. I don’t blame you if you don’t. I’m not even going to tell your secrets. It’s not over for me, really. Marian is waiting for me. I’m going to see him soon. Richard drained me so much. All I have to

do is go to sleep. Would you just do me one favor? For the good of us all?” “What’s that?” Reney asked tentatively. “Wait here for a little while,” Jane said sleepily. “Wait here, and then bury me somewhere off the property. If the family finds my body, they will find Richard and free him. Everything, all of this, is his fault. All of this.” Ahulani nodded. “We can do that.” “I will see you soon, my love,” Jane said. She lay down and curled up in the corner. She breathed for a few more minutes, occasionally giving a small sigh. Each sound was softer than the last. A silence came over the tomb, and Reney looked to Ahulani. “Ahulani,” Reney said. “I can’t tell you why I care at all, but there’s something in me that feels strange. She won’t see him ever again.” “I know,” Ahulani whispered. He pulled Reney to him and kissing her forehead. “I know.”

Chapter Twelve Reney stretched out in her chair, the sunlight casting a sparkle on her pale legs. She and Ahulani had just bought the house, and she was already in love with it. Even the unpleasant phone call she was having with her mother could not disdain her. ‘Olina was crawling now, and she darted under the chair and then back again, giggling as she played. Reney smiled at her and crossed her ankles. “No, Mom,” she said into the phone. “Not gonna happen. Sorry. She’s not my problem. She’s her own. Big girl now, Mom, remember?” Reney sighed. Her mother had hung up on her, again. But ever since defeating Richard, Jane and Marian, all of life’s little problems seemed trivial. The sight of Ahulani and Aniani coming through the door added to her seemingly constant good mood. The brother and sister smiled at her. “Where is my little niece?” Aniani asked. She scooped the baby up in her arms. ‘Olina responded with a giggle, and her face crinkled into a smile under golden curls. Aniani walked to the door and smiled at Reney with cat-like features. “You two enjoy your date night,” she said. “You certainly deserve it.” “Thanks, Aniani,” Reney said. “We appreciate it.” Aniani laughed and kissed the side of ‘Olina’s face as she started out the door. “Careful! You may not get her back!” The door shut. Ahulani made his way over to sit in the chair beside her. He ran his fingers through her soft, pale locks. “Something the matter?” “Oh,” Reney said, and gave him a dramatic scowl. “Mom hung up on me again.” “Your sister?” “Yeah,” Reney said. “Margo. Twenty-two going on twelve. I guess she broke up with her boyfriend, got kicked out. She hasn’t dealt well with the whole finding out she’s half-vampire. As in, she has embraced it so much she drove her boyfriend away. It’s really all Mom’s fault, anyway. She always told Margo all the voices she was hearing were her ‘muses’. I’m surprised my poor sister never went

crazy with all the creatures trying to communicate with her. Mom’s trying to pawn her off on me now. A fresh start in paradise.” “I take it that your mother hanging up on you meant you answered with a pretty strong ‘no’,” Ahulani said with a smile. “Make that a ‘Hell no’.” Reney said, smiling at him. “Margo can use her power to send her little messages to my head, but what she doesn’t know is that I can block them out. Joke’s on you, sis. So, what’s on the agenda for date night?” “You know,” Ahulani said. “I thought we might stay in.” Reney cocked an eyebrow and gave a coy look. “Ooo-la-la. Sounds like the best news I’ve heard all day. You know, Ahulani, since we got rid of all the vampires, I think every idea is a good idea. At least we can actually relax now. Like, really relax, you know?” “Yeah,” Ahulani said. “But, I wanted to ask you something, Reney. I’ve been wanting to ask for a while, now.” “What?” Reney said with concern. “Is something wrong?” “You tell me,” Ahulani said. “I hope not. I’m happier than Hell, babe. It’s about what Jane said at the crypt before she died. About not telling your secrets. Was that just crazy Jane talk?” Reney felt a wave of ice go over her entire body. It was the moment she had dreaded. Through the whole ordeal with the vampires, not once had her night with Richard been revealed. At least, not mentioned to Ahulani. She closed her eyes for a moment and took in a deep breath. “No,” she said quietly. “Ahulani, there is something I’ve been wanting to tell you for a really long time. But I just couldn’t. I hope you understand. I didn’t want to ruin anything. Something terrible happened the first time we went to Romania.” Ahulani stared at her with golden eyes. A small flash crossed them. “What, Reney?” “When you were knocked out downstairs and I went upstairs with Richard? You remember that?” He nodded. “I slept with him, Ahulani. It was like I couldn’t help myself. He told me why it happened, later. That half-lings like me couldn’t resist….”

“I knew that, Reney,” Ahulani said, startling her. “I could smell it all over you.” “W-what?” she asked. “You haven’t said a word to me about it this whole time.” “I figured you would tell me when the time was right, Reney. I wanted you to tell me. I know all about the half-lings, are you forgetting? If you think I like the idea, you’re wrong. But, I know what he did to you. There used to be a female head vampire around here, and she did the same thing to me. Frankly, I’ve been trying to forget about it just as much as you have. I couldn’t, though. Not until you told me.” Reney grasped the edges of her chair in skepticism. Ahulani seemed so cool and collected. She had expected a divorce decree in her lap by the end of the conversation. “How do you feel about me after that, Ahulani?” she asked at last. “Do you see me differently?” “I feel like you went upstairs with him because you didn’t have a choice,” he said. “And he used his superior knowledge of supernatural creatures to trick you. I don’t know if you enjoyed it at all. I don’t want to know. I hope you never think about it like that. I’m just really glad it’s out there, now. That you came clean. I don’t know how much longer I would have been able to withhold myself from asking about it. I won’t lie to you, I was really angry for a long time. But I couldn’t show that to you, because it wasn’t really your fault. And, well, it has been a long time. I’ve kind of simmered over, though seeing Richard didn’t help.” Reney began to cry gently, and Ahulani got up to take her in his arms. “It’s okay,” he said, washing her in his scent. “It’s all over now, really over. And we’re in this big, new house, and we have ‘Olina. We have each other.” Reney smiled through her tears. Ahulani brushed them from her cheeks. He lay a single kiss on her lips. “Make love to me, Ahulani,” she said. “As if you’ve never experienced a woman before.” “I never have,” he said with a smile, and walked to the bed. “Not like this. Not like you.”

Reney pulled her lover atop her ferociously and pressed into his lips with hunger. Sparks flew in his eyes, and the entire room lit with a golden hue. “Oh,” she sighed through the kiss. “Oh, Ahulani. I love you.” He flipped her over and lifted her into the air, ripping her silky top in half. Reney shuddered. It was not like Ahulani to be so aggressive. She couldn’t complain. Reney tore her own bra apart to reveal her pert breasts. Ahulani’s eyes sparked and lit the room again, and he took her breasts in his mouth. His tongue slid across them with heat as he kneaded them together. Reney gasped and reached down to grab his cock, fully erect beneath his jeans. She gave it a firm stroke through the rough fabric, and Ahulani groaned. “I am going to wash that vampire off of you,” he said, taking her chin in his hand. “Tell me how you want it, Reney.” Reney hesitated. “You’re sure?” Ahulani nodded, his firework eyes almost exploding in color. Her pale body became tanned in the golden light. “There was something you liked about him, Reney. Tell me what it was, and I will take that memory away from both of us forever.” “Rough,” Reney whispered. “I want your love, rough.” “Then it is yours,” he said, and threw her back down upon the bed. He pulled his jeans down to reveal his stiffness. The blue-green veins about his cock rose in desire. Reney couldn’t help herself. She took him in her mouth and whirled her tongue around the head of his member, so large and swollen. He grunted and then pushed her away, yanking at her skirt. When it wouldn’t give, he tore it apart, the fabric ripping to expose her bare ass. He cupped the pale cheeks in his hands, grasping them so tightly she almost cried out. “God,” Reney said, rolling her head back. “God, babe.” He reached down and jerked her legs open. He took in the sight of her swollen pussy for a moment before he parted the lips to expose the tender, pink opening. Ahulani shoved his fingers in her mouth, and she sucked them, wetting them in immense heat. He pulled away, and his fingers entered her pussy in a rapid thrust. Reney’s hips rose to the touch, and her walls clenched around his

fingers. She came without expectation, and her pussy tautened around the digits. The juices came before she could even react to the sudden orgasm, running down Ahulani’s tanned hand. He smiled. “Ahulani, I….” “Shh,” he said. She saw the bulging member for only a moment before it entered her. Reney cried out as she rode out the last sensations of the orgasm on Ahulani. She shrieked and pushed her hips up farther and farther to allow him deeper entry. “Am I hurting you?” he asked. She nodded and dug her nails into his shoulders, leaving bloody red marks down his arms. Reney could not resist of the blood when it hit her, and she fed. She drank avidly as the heat in her pussy threatened her with another orgasm. When it came, she ground her hips harder into his, feeling the empowerment of her lover’s half-ling blood run through her. Sparks flew around her, and she realized that they were indeed real, manifestations of Ahulani’s passion. She had never seen such a thing, but she could not stop the moment for admiration. She slurped at the blood with hunger, aware that she did not care how much she took. Ahulani pulled her away. He took a light hold on her throat, and a grin crossed his face. He gave a mighty thrust, driving himself inside her so deeply she thought she might burst. “My turn,” he said, and Reney was shocked when he went for her neck. His fangs sprouted, sharper and larger than she had ever seen them. Reney braced herself for pain, yet the power she had taken from his blood made the knife-like sensation pleasurable. She moaned and held onto his ass as he crushed her pussy, suckling at her neck with the viciousness of the full vampires. Ahulani released his fangs and threw his head back. Her blood ran down his chest in a red gleam. “My God,” Reney muttered. She licked her own blood from his chest and ran her mouth down to his cock, tasting her own pleasures there. He moved into her mouth and took the back of her head in his palms, attacking her throat over and over. Reney reached down, grasping her clit wetly between two fingers and pulling at it as fast as she could. Ahulani took her mouth as his own, wiggling the member in her mouth until he pulled away

and caught the cum in his own hand. Reney laughed and fell over on the bed. Her husband grinned as he wiped his fluids away on the sheets. “What did you think of that?” he asked. “I could go all night, if you wanted. That was just too much. Fuck.” “That was just enough,” Reney said, and she smiled. “And you know what the best part is?” “What’s that?” he asked, flopping down beside her. “No more vampires. No more. They’re all dead or trapped. And we can live now, Ahulani. Live our lives and chase our dreams. Raise our daughter without the constant fear of being attacked by nutty vamps.” “Naw,” Ahulani said, nuzzling into her neck, petting the fang marks. “The best part is that we can leave ‘Olina with a babysitter at night and get it on for hours. Because we aren’t afraid of them showing up.” Reney kissed him on the nose. “I’ll take it.” The End

Other Books by Allison Grey: Half-ling: The Discovery Half-ling: Secrets

Evernight Publishing www.evernightpublishing.com