Deeper than the Night - By Amanda Ashley Page 0,113

darkness.

"Drop your weapon," Alex said.

"No way. Where's Jarvis?"

"Taking a nap. Drop your gun, Barrett. It's over."

"I don't think so." Barrett glanced around. "So, this is where you live."

"And this is where you die, unless you drop your gun."

"You must think I'm a fool."

"That's the best thing I ever thought of you. Why'd you kill Hamblin?"

"I didn't kill anybody."

"Maybe you didn't pull the trigger, but you killed him just the same."

"You can't prove a thing," Barrett said, his voice thick with contempt. "Even if you went to the police, who'd believe you?"

"I'm not going to the police. We're going to settle this here and now."

A gunshot ripped through the night. Alex ducked as he felt the heat of the bullet near his head, swore under his breath as Barrett fired off another round, and then another.

Alex!He heard Kara's voice inside his mind, knew she was standing at the portal, beating her fists against the door.

I'm all right, natayah.

Let me out of here!

Soon . . .

Moving silently through the underbrush, he changed position. "Barrett," he called, "drop the gun."

Muttering an oath, the doctor whirled around and fired in the direction of Alex's voice. "Damn you," he cried, "show yourself!"

"I'm here," Alex called, then flung himself to the ground as two gunshots rent the stillness of the night.

"We're doing this all wrong," Barrett said placatingly. "I'm not your enemy. We should be working together." He peered into the darkness. "We could do wonderful things for humanity. Think of the lives we could save."

"The money you could make."

"I'll split it with you. Fifty-fifty."

"That's mighty damn generous of you, doc."

"All right. Sixty-forty."

"No deal."

A wordless cry of frustration rumbled in Barrett's throat as he fired into the shadows.

"That's six," Alex remarked, stepping onto the ledge.

Barrett froze, and then cursed softly. "So, what now? You gonna kill me?"

"Right the first time."

Barrett took a step backward, the blood draining from his face. "You wouldn't. You can't."

"Who's going to stop me?"

Barrett stared at him for stretched seconds; then, with a wordless sob, he whirled around and plunged into the darkness.

The scent of fear stained the clear night air. Between one breath and the next, Alex felt the thin veneer of civilization slip away, felt the ancient urge to hunt sweepover him, and with it the almost overwhelming desire to kill, to feast on the blood of the man who had caused Kara pain. Neither of them would know a moment's peace until Dale Barrett was no longer a threat.

Tossing the gun aside, Alex ran after the doctor.

He could hear Barrett moving through the underbrush, hear the harsh rasp of his breathing, feel the vibration of his footsteps as he ran through the darkness.

The scent of Barrett's fear grew stronger as Alex closed the distance between them. Age-old legends of his warrior ancestors raced through his mind, tales of ArkLa the Terrible, who had gorged himself on the blood of his enemies.

He felt a thrill of exhilaration as he realized that Barrett was running in circles. Soon he would be back at the entrance to the cavern with nowhere else to run, nowhere to hide.

And then Barrett was in front of him, his back pressed against the wall of the cavern, his eyes wide with fear as he realized he was well and truly caught.

Slowly, inexorably, Alex closed the distance between them. Barrett let out a high-pitched squeak of fear as Alex's hand closed around his throat, slowly, slowly, choking the life from his body.

Alex stared down at the man squirming in his grasp, felt the lust for blood rise up within him swift and hot and sure.

And then he heard Kara's voice penetrate the red haze that engulfed him.

Alex?

He took a deep breath. Everything's all right, Kara. Don't worry.

Where's Barrett?

Alex's hand closed a little tighter around Barrett's throat. Right here.

You haven't . . .

Not yet.

Alex, don't. Please don't.

He stared down into Barrett's face. The doctor's eyes were white with terror, his face red with the effort to draw a breath.

Alex? It isn't worth it. Please . . .

The sound of her voice, sweet and pure, stilled the rage within him. He took a deep breath and relaxed his grip on Barrett's throat. Kara, bring me something to tie him up with.

Why?

Just do it.

I can't. The door's locked.

It's open now.

"You're a lucky man, Barrett."

"What . . . what are you gonna do to me?" Barrett asked tremulously.

"You'll never know."

Barrett swallowed hard. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Alex grinned as he stepped forward and struck Barrett across the temple with the butt