To Love a Vampire - A.K. Koonce Page 0,18
large pile of boulders blocking an opening within a towering mountain, bits of gray and white peak through the dusty blood red film that’s overlaying the rock.
“Atticus, how are the peaks treating you these days?” Declan asks, his gun lowering at his side as if he feels at home here.
“Better today,” the voice—Atticus says, coming from a small gap between the red rock. “It’s not every day someone brings us something so pretty to look at.” I remain impassive, just watching the dark shadows between the rocks, waiting for a glimpse of the vampire locked within. “What do you want, girl?”
With cautious steps, I move closer, almost close enough to reach out and touch the shadows. My heart pounds in my chest but I try to keep my shallow breaths steady.
“I’m looking for someone and I’ve come to you for guidance,” I say as respectfully as possible.
“Hmmmm.” Fear begins to implode in my chest at the hesitant hum of his ancient voice. Not fear of Atticus, but fear that he might not help me at all. “Give me your hand, girl.”
I hold the sword tightly in my fist, the beams of sun reflecting wildly off of the shining blade, as I extend my hand toward the shadowy opening. Heart-racing fear gives me the energy to flee but my feet remain immobile. I don’t look to Declan for guidance as I slip my left hand through the tight space.
A cold skeletal like hand drifts over my skin and I suppress a shudder, my chest heaves up and down, fully taking in the decaying stench that clings to the air. Countless fingers trail over my hand, stroking my palm but only one voice dares to speak, or maybe the other two aren’t strong enough... I blink rapidly, trying my best not to pull away from their jagged nails that are raking softly over my skin.
“The hybrid you seek has not sought us out, but I can see him.” Another careful and jagged nail rakes across my knuckles. “He’s close, within walking distance.” Cold leathery flesh touches the back of my hand and the vampire inhales my scent, his nose and dry lips scrape over my skin, making my heart want to leap out of my chest. “I can almost smell him on you, and if you breathed deep enough you could probably smell him within these mountains, as well.”
Louder my heart pounds in my ears, fear starting to consume my mind, and I fight back the urge to inhale the deathlike air around me.
“I wonder if you’d still be as pretty if I skinned you alive and wore your corpse out of here like a raincoat in the sweltering sunlight.”
“That’s enough,” Declan growls, jerking my arm back so hard his nails sink into me. “Thank you for your valuable time, gentlemen.”
Declan walks away without another word, the opposite way we came. But I stand watching, holding my hand to my chest, my flesh feeling alive where they’ve clawed at my skin. I stare wide-eyed into the dark hole. The sun shines down on me, and through the mist that hangs in the air, through the shadows of the darkness, the sun’s beautiful rays illuminate a single, haunting red eye staring right at me.
It’s late when Declan and I return. The night has grown heavy, the moon held high in the sky, surrounded by endless twinkling stars, but the community is alive with music and laughter. My steps don’t slow as I storm into the war tent. Raske gives me a warm smile that seems to melt his dark chocolate gaze. Kaino glances to me, ignoring my rage filled eyes as he finishes his discussion with his father.
I’ve had hours to dwell on what Declan confessed to me and the longer we walked the more I wanted to rip this place apart, the place I’ve called my home for the past year. The leader I’ve looked to for guidance and honesty has lied to me every day for a year.
“You want to use me to find peace between the mortals and the mystics?”
The dozen or so warriors within the room stop to appreciate my outburst. Some of them just leave, choosing to walk away while they have the chance. Declan clears his throat behind me but my aggression won’t allow me to acknowledge him. My heart beats almost painfully as I wait for Raske to say something.
Raske glances around the room at the few stragglers, nodding at them in silence. They trail from