Dalakis Passion 4 - Eternal Brothers (32 page)

She hurt everywhere and was shivering with a combination of fear and cold, but she
didn't want him to know it. "Why? Why do you believe?" She sensed his need to talk,
to glory in his actions.
He smiled, his long, white fangs gleaming in the candlelight. "Because, Ms. Daring.
I am one."
Her breath caught in her throat, almost choking her. Impossible! "But you were out
in the daylight." This was almost too much for her to comprehend.
He laughed and it wasn't a pleasant sound. "Not impossible when you consider
that I started life as a human embryo. You see, my mother was pregnant with me when
her vampire mate discovered her. He converted her, not caring if I lived or died. I lived,
but my mother's conversion changed me as well.
Perhaps because I was partly formed,
but not fully when she was changed.
We'll never know for sure." He caught her chin in
a tight grip, squeezing her cheeks. "Make no mistake. I am a vampire. But I am a hybrid
of sorts, able to stay out almost an hour past dawn and move around outside an hour
before sunset. It makes life much easier, I find."
Releasing his hold on her, he sauntered to the other side of the room. Sophia's mind
was whirling with the implications. A hybrid vampire! She shook her head, desperately
trying to clear it. She had to get her bearings, had to figure out some way of escaping. If
what he'd said was true, and she had little reason to doubt him, then help wasn't
coming anytime soon. She was well and truly on her own.
Only a dim lantern lit the space, but Sophia felt they were in a shed of some kind.
She looked around the walls and realized the space wasn't all that big. Her captor had
set up some of his things on a long table. She squinted to see better and froze as horror
spread through her limbs. That wasn't a table. That was a coffin. Her breathing became
quicker and more swallow as she realized where she was.
A mausoleum.
Oh God. They were in a cemetery in a crypt.
She screamed. It bounced off the walls and came back at her. Spencer whirled
around, his eyes glowing with pleasure. "You just figured it out, did you? You can
scream all you like. There is no one around to hear you and the walls are quite thick."
He ambled toward her with a silver dagger in one hand and a chalice in the other.
"Your blood leaves a lovely aftertaste. I thought I'd enjoy a glass while we talk further."
Sophia tugged at the restraints. She didn't waste her time screaming out loud, but
turned inward, calling out to Zane. Maybe if she could break her captor's concentration,
he wouldn't be able to block her mental messages to Zane. He dragged the flat side of
the blade over the curve of her breast. "Leave me alone!" she cried, kicking out at him.
"I can't do that, Sophia. You had your choice and you made it. Unfortunately, you
didn't choose wisely. But then, humans seldom do." He shifted the blade upward over
the underside of her arm and pushed inward. She hissed as she felt the knife slice her
skin and the blood began to flow down her arm, into the chalice he pressed against her.
Laurel Rose canted her head to one side and listened. "Did you hear that?" Both
men stopped and stared at her, shaking their heads.
Frustration rolled off Zane in waves, but Laurel Rose ignored it, focusing her
powers. "There it is again."
Stefan shook his head. "I hear nothing."
"We're wasting time." Zane started moving swiftly down the back alley. They were
searching the section of town where both murdered women had lived. It seemed the
mostly likely place to start. In truth, it was the only place they knew to look.
Stefan shook his head and started after his cousin, but she didn't move. Sometimes
these men forgot that she was psychic before she'd ever become a vampire and that the
conversion had only heightened her skills. Taking a deep breath, she relaxed her mind
and listened, picturing Sophia.
Zane
! Laurel Rose heard the scream in her mind as if Sophia were standing
alongside her. Whirling around, she sped toward the cemetery, yelling out to her
husband in her mind as she ran. Stefan and Zane were quite a distance away, but Laurel
Rose couldn't wait for them. Sophia was in immediate danger. She could feel the other
woman's fear. She could also feel the fact that Sophia was weakening.
Pushing herself even harder, Laurel Rose entered the cemetery. She knew exactly
where to find them.
The air in the chamber thickened. The lantern flickered, almost extinguishing before
flaring upward. Her captor whirled away from her as the wall began to vibrate. Sophia
could swear she could see the wall pulsing. The door to the mausoleum was slammed
back against the wall before bouncing shut.
"
Dalakis
, is that you?" Excitement tinged his voice as he turned back to her,
grabbing her by the neck and placing the knife against it.
"Yes, but perhaps not the one you were waiting for." Laurel Rose stepped into the
light. She stared at the man holding Sophia by the neck, studying him. "Your name is
Spencer, but you've had many others."
He tilted his head toward her, conceding her the point. "You are very skilled, my
dear.
Even more so than Jeremiah Stoner ever imagined.
I have had many names over
the past one hundred years."
"You're also like us, yet not like us."
"You are indeed very astute. As I explained to Ms. Daring, I was already a babe in
my mother's stomach when she was converted. As a result, I have a few special abilities
that the rest of you don't have."
"I imagine that there are some...deficiencies as well."
"Touché, my dear."
As she listened to the conversation with half an ear, Sophia wondered what Laurel
Rose was doing here on her own. Where the heck was Stefan? And, more importantly,
where was Zane? She kept still, not wanting to bring Spencer's attention back to her.
Laurel Rose was doing her best to keep him occupied.
Maybe too good a job.
Dropping his hand from her neck, he took a step toward Laurel Rose.
"I imagine
that your blood would be absolutely delectable."
"Stoner thought so too."
Sophia watched as Spencer moved closer. "Run, Laurel Rose," she yelled. She
didn't want the other woman to face this madman on her own.
But Laurel Rose didn't run. Instead she braced herself for his attack. Spencer smiled
as he released the knife from his hand in a blur of motion. Laurel Rose dodged at the
very last second, but she still wasn't quick enough. The blade lodged in her shoulder
and the impact sent her reeling against the wall. She yanked out the bloody knife and
lunged at Spencer with it. He struck her arm, sending her weapon clattering to the floor.
"Stop it!" Sophia screamed at Spencer as she tugged at the metal cuffs holding her
captive. Blood coated her wrists, making them slippery. She yanked harder as Spencer
flew at Laurel Rose, grabbing her by the shoulders.
Laurel Rose fought back, catching him in the face with a sharp right hook. He
howled but didn't let go of her. Instead, his fingers dug into her shoulders so hard he
drew blood.
Sophia ignored the pain encompassing her entire body. She had to help Laurel
Rose. She had to get free. Sucking in a deep breath, she gave one mighty yank. One of
her hands slipped free of the metal cuffs. She'd left blood and flesh behind, but at least
one of her hands was free. Grabbing the short iron chain that held the manacle to the
stone wall, she pulled with both hands. The ancient stone began to crumble. She could
hear the grunts and sounds of fighting behind her, but didn't pause to look. She needed
to be free!
Digging deep within her, she found the strength to pull again. This time she gave a
mighty yell as she yanked the chain. The chain held, but the moorings broke away from
the wall of the old mausoleum. Sophia fell backward and hit the hard floor with a bang.
Her vision blurred but she ignored it as she dragged herself to her feet. Spencer was
bending closer to Laurel Rose's neck, his fangs bared. Sophia didn't hesitate. Taking a
running leap, she jumped on his back, wrapped her arm around his neck and hauled it
back with all her might.
He growled and cursed, releasing his hold on Laurel Rose. Reaching around, he
pulled her off his back, swatting her aside as if she was nothing more than a pesky gnat.
Sophia landed on the hard stone floor with a thump that knocked the wind out of her.
As she lay there, Spencer turned back to Laurel Rose. The other woman was dirty, her
clothing torn and bloody, her breath coming in hard gasps.
The door of the crypt slammed inward. Sophia covered her head as debris fell
around her. Stefan leapt through the door and positioned himself in front of Laurel
Rose.
Spencer grabbed a knife from on top of the coffin and yanked Sophia into his arms,
holding the knife to her throat. It happened so fast, she hadn't seen it coming, hadn't
been able to stop it.
Sophia blinked, and as she did, Zane seemed to materialize in front of them. Sophia
had never seen a more welcome sight in her life. His eyes devoured her in one quick
sweep and then he was focused totally on the man holding her captive.
Sophia sensed Spencer's growing anticipation as he shoved the blade tighter to her
throat, but it was now tinged with fear. Blood trickled as the sharp blade pricked her
skin. Sophia was afraid to move.
"This is wonderful." She almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
He had no idea what he
was up against. He might be a vampire, but he was no match for both Zane and Stefan.
"If you want her to live, you'll chain yourself to the wall." Sophia hadn't noticed
that there was more than one set of chains hammered into the stone.
"Why would I do that, Spencer?" Zane cocked his head and stared at the man. "It is
Spencer, isn't it?"
He nodded.
"He's just as crazy as Jeremiah Stoner was.
More so, really.
He's a vampire as well,
a hybrid one with special powers. He thinks that makes him better than everyone else."
This from Laurel Rose, who took a step forward.
"He likes to prey on the weak. It
makes him feel strong. But in reality, he's the weak one," she taunted.
"You're the one Stoner wanted though, aren't you? Laurel Rose." The knife pressed
deeper against Sophia's throat and she could feel the warm dribble of blood down her
neck. "I want your blood.
The taste.
The power.
And I will have it." He licked his lips.
"Enough." The word was barely a whisper, but it echoed like a yell. Zane stared at
Spencer, his green eyes blazing. As she watched they turned to red, like flames leaping
to life within him. His fangs lengthened. "I will tell you the same thing that Stefan told
Stoner. There is power in the blood, but you have no idea just how much."
As if by some giant unseen hand, Spencer was ripped away from Sophia and
thrown against the wall. Both she and the blade fell to the floor. He jerked but didn't
fall, held upright by Zane's force of will. The hair on the back of Sophia's neck rose as
she witnessed Zane's power in action. It was incredible and terrifying at the same time.
If he ever chose to use his abilities for evil rather than good, no one would be safe.
"Blood will be spilled." Zane walked slowly forward, his eyes never leaving the
man. "But it will be yours."
"Perhaps." Spencer broke away from Zane's mental hold and threw a mental blast
of his own at Zane. As Sophia watched, Zane flew to one side, hitting the wall so hard
that some of the stone crumbled and fell to the floor.
With a mighty roar, Spencer flew at Zane, who met him partway. The two of them
collided with deadly force. They grappled, teeth bared, eyes flashing red. Stefan was off
to one side with Laurel Rose, attending to his wife's wounds. Sophia knew it was up to
her to help Zane.
Although there wasn't one spot on her body that didn't ache, she dragged herself
up, doing her best to avoid the two men as they battled. She cringed as the coffin was
knocked off its pedestal and crashed to the floor. Sophia took a second to be grateful
that the lid had stayed shut. She looked around for something she could use to help.
Anything.
A flash on the ground caught her attention.
Spencer's knife.
Grabbing it, she held it
in her hand, but the handle was quickly soaked in the blood that covered her palms.
Sweat dripped into her eyes and she swiped it with the back of her hand.
Zane's hands were locked around the other man's throat, choking him. Sophia
wasn't sure that would do much good. She remembered what Zane had told her.
Sunlight, beheading and a stake in the heart.
She didn't have a stake, but she did have a
knife. Waiting, she watched for her opportunity and when Spencer's back was to her,
she leapt forward and jammed her knife in his back. She hoped the blade was long
enough to reach his heart.
Spencer jerked back, his eyes widening with fear as he whirled to face her. Then he
jerked again. Sophia could see that Zane had pulled the knife from Spencer's back and
now had it in his hand. Without hesitation, he plunged the blade directly into Spencer's
chest, using his preternatural strength to drive it deep into his heart. Spit flew from
Spencer's lips as he struggled to remove the knife, but Zane held on tight.
"It's time to pay for your crimes." Zane pushed harder. Blood spurted everywhere,
soaking the ground around them. Sophia couldn't move as she watched Spencer drop
to the floor. She didn't know how long it took until his limbs stopped flailing. Finally he
was still. It was done.
"Not quite done," she whispered, knowing she still had a part to play in all of this.
Zane whirled to face her, his eyes blazing, teeth
bared
, but Sophia wasn't afraid. His
chest rose and fell with anger as his eyes fell on her throbbing neck. "He hurt you."
He said it as if that justified his actions and, she supposed, in his mind it did. But
even though Spencer was dead, her job here wasn't done. "I promised Janice Barton
that I'd get her justice. I owe her and Ariel Woodland and their families."
Zane glared at her and then back at Spencer, who was still lying on the floor as
blood seeped out of him. Ignoring the man, Zane stalked toward her and she shivered