Dark Seeker (27 page)

“He’s a turncoat,” Jerome spat.

Antony
shook his head. “It means he’s ashamed of vampires. Your kind is useless. You’ve adapted to human standards, no longer living like vamps should.”

“And how exactly is that?” Jerome appeared bored.

The vein in Antony’s forehead protruded, his eyes black and cold. Hatred seeped from his pours. “Humans are food, that’s it. Drain them of their blood and leave their corpses to rot.”

“And where is the vamp you call king? Where’s Tavares—huh?” Jerome said. “He was dethroned, in case you didn’t hear. He isn’t the vampire king anymore. If he’s your king, where is he now?” He put his hands out and looked around as if Tavares would suddenly appear.

“He doesn’t deal with matters like you. He sends in the big dogs.”

Jerome laughed. “Big dogs—like you? Are we done yet? I’ve got a score to settle. You’re just wastin’ my time.” The vampires dispersed.

“Oh, we’re done. Let’s go, vamp.” Antony made a “come on” motion with his fingers and signaled for his crew to resume fighting.

“Remember—Antony’s mine!” Jerome said.

The vampires and Daychildren collided. Fangs tore into flesh. Green and red blood sprayed everywhere. Antony gave orders to a set of twins. They were young and fit, maybe teenagers. Both had black hair neatly slicked back into a ponytail. They soon slipped out the way they’d come.

Jerome flew over the massacre and landed on Antony, throwing him into the wall. Drywall and splintered wood crashed down around them, clouding Kai’s view of the feuding gang leaders. Kai took the opportunity to slip in between the crowd. He passed Tanya, draining the blood of a Daychild. His body hit the floor and she shoved her blade into his skull. Kai shot her a congratulatory smirk.

Kai strode down the hallway with caution, tracking the twins’ stench. They were ahead of him, but not by much. As he advanced, the smell became stronger. Kai found himself thinking about Janie. He wondered if she had been able to stop the mass Turning. Hordes of wild newbies wearing football uniforms hadn’t swarmed the school, so the Turn hadn’t occurred yet.

Kai exited through a double metal door. He stepped down on to a path that led to the track and field. The sound of a nearby scuffle fractured his focus. Kai peered around the side of the building. The twins had someone pinned to the ground.
Janie.
He sprinted forward and grabbed one by his shirt, flinging him backward. The other twin moved out of Kai’s reach before he could do the same with him.

Abram’s cold blue eyes stared at Kai in disbelief. Anger still resonated within them, but a different type of anger lingered.

Both brothers ran off. They didn’t care about Kai or Abram. Abram had been nothing more than a roadblock. They had a job to do.

“Why did you do it?” Abram refused Kai’s hand and pushed himself upright.

“Do what? They were about to kill you.” He extended his hand again. Abram ignored Kai’s gesture and rose to his feet.

Abram brushed the dirt from his pants. “It would make your life easier. You could be with Janie without fearing your death at my hands.”

“I don’t fear you.” Kai wiped the blood from the cut along his arm with his T-shirt. He stared at the ground for a moment. He hadn’t done anything for Abram. Everything had been for Janie. He lifted his eyes to meet Abram’s. “I made the decision to leave because at the time I thought it was best for Janie.”

“And now?”

Kai didn’t know the answer Abram wanted. He didn’t care. “I haven’t decided.”

“You really do love her.” Abram shook his head. “How—it goes against everything we’ve learned. You aren’t supposed to be capable of loving a human.”

“There was a time Janie felt the same,” Kai said. “She’d learned the same lessons you learned. The same lessons you taught her. Janie and I weren’t always as close as we are now. The first time we met, she wanted to kill me.”

A satisfied smile crossed Abram’s face. “That’s my girl. How did you convince her otherwise?”

“It took awhile to gain her trust. She finally realized I wanted to help her. That I had no interest in killing her.”

“And you fell in love with her,” Abram said. It didn’t seem to be an accusation. Something else lay under his tone—an understanding.

“Only by accident. It wasn’t my intention. We’re so different. She’s innocent and I’m, well,” his mouth twitched, “not.”

Abram let down his guard, surprising Kai. “Isn’t that always how it happens? We never fall in love with the right person. They’re either too different or already hold a place in someone else’s heart.” Abram sighed. “You don’t even know how you feel until it’s too late to do anything about it.”

There was a longing in Abram’s words, a painful dip in his usually hard brow. Kai had the feeling Abram was referring to someone other than Janie.

Abram cleared his throat, pushing back any pain that had slipped out. “Anyway, I just want you to know that everything I’ve said or done has been for Janie. She’s like a daughter to me. I love her and her mo—” His words broke. He stared at the ground for a moment. “I love Janie very much. I don’t want to see her hurt in any way.”

“I feel the same.” Kai extended his hand.

Abram hesitated and shook Kai’s hand. He looked Kai directly in the eyes, as a father would regard his daughter’s boyfriend. “You’ve proven to be different. Treat her well.”

“I’d lay down my life for her.” Kai almost laughed at the sound of himself speaking those words. Not long ago, self-survival ruled his actions. He’d hunted Daychildren as a penance for his crimes, but to care more about someone other than himself was non-existent.

“I know you would.” Abram patted Kai on the back. It had a double meaning—acceptance and warning. “I
will
be watching you. . .whatever you decide to do, stay or go.”

Kai nodded. He understood. A moment of loyalty couldn’t cancel out over a decade of hatred. He’d be patient with Abram. “Let’s go find Janie and stop the Turn.” Kai stopped and turned back to Abram. “Where’s Isabelle?”

“I left her in the parking lot. There are still a few students and teachers lingering. She didn’t want them to get hurt.” He started forward again. Kai kept pace.

Relieved and furious to see Matt, Janie focused on the long object in his hand.
What is he doing? He’s going to get himself killed.
And what is he holding?
“Is that a jousting lance?”

He smiled. “Pretty cool, huh? I found it in the theater room. I think it’s real.” He hushed his tone. “Oh, and I did what you asked. It’s taken care of.”

Janie breathed out. Caleb could still hear him. “Thanks.”
Hopefully Jerome and his gang are helping Kai.

Matt’s smile straightened. He glared at Caleb. “How do I kill him?” He shuffled forward, jabbing the lance at Caleb.

 
“You’re going to kill me with that?” Caleb erupted into laughter.

Janie directed her eyes to the bottles behind them in an attempt to signal Matt. He gave her a confused look. “Smash them,” she said.

Matt focused on the bottles and nodded.

Caleb tightened his grip on Janie’s throat. “Shut up! There will be no more talking out of you. If you so much as squeak, it will be the last noise you make.”

“Why haven’t you killed me yet?” she said. “What are you waiting for?”

Matt inched forward. “Janie, do you think that’s the best thing to say right now? He does have his arm over your windpipe.”

“Listen to your boyfriend. Shut up.” Caleb squeezed her throat harder. Janie gasped for air.

“Just do it already.” Janie thrust her head backward, smashing into his nose. She winced. The pain of her earlier injury shot down her skull. Green blood oozed down his face and on to the back of her bare neck, causing her skin to burn. Her flesh sizzled. The burned stench stung her nose.

Caleb readjusted his arm around her throat. “You’re just trying to piss me off. It’s not going to work. I’ll kill you when we’re ready.”

“You will not!” Matt sprinted forward with the lance pointing outward.

Caleb’s grip loosened. Janie spun out of his hold. The lance pierced through his stomach and exited out his back.

“Nice job.” Janie shot Matt an approving look and lunged for the bottles. Caleb whirled around, knocking Janie to the ground with the part of the lance that protruded from his back. She fell inches from the bottles.

With one quick forward jerk, Caleb ripped the lance from his torso, not as wounded as Janie would have liked.

“I guess that’s not how you kill them.” Matt bent over and retrieved a second lance. “Luckily, the theater had two. I’ll aim for the head next time.”

The twins appeared under the bleachers. They wore muscle shirts, exposing their large arms. At first they ignored Janie and Matt. “Caleb, where are the bottles? You were supposed to keep them on you at all times.”

Caleb glanced down at Janie. “The Seeker got in the way. It’s okay. They’re right here.” He bent down to retrieve them. Confusion flashed across his face. “Yo, Quinn, they were right there, man.”

“Looking for these?” Janie held up both bottles and smashed them against the asphalt. The glass shattered into pieces. Vampire venom flooded the ground. Balls of screaming white lights—the lost souls—bounced in the air like large molecules with nowhere to go.

“You idiot.” Quinn struck Caleb with his fist. “Antony told you not to put those down.”

The other twin grabbed Janie by her hair and yanked her to her knees. “Miss Seeker, Antony has plans for you.”

“Let her go.” Matt jabbed at the twin with the lance.

Quinn ripped the lance out of Matt’s hands and struck him over the head with it, knocking him unconscious. “Nate, let’s go. It’s time to continue with the plan.”

“You can’t,” Janie said. “I’ve released the souls and you don’t have any more venom. You’re finished.” Quinn backhanded her. Janie spit blood.

“Quinn, where are we going?” Nate said anxiously. “We can’t Turn her without Antony.”

Quinn appeared to be the more level-headed twin. “Last I saw, Antony was fighting Jerome inside.”

“Where’s Michaela?” Nate twitched, showing Janie how much he feared Antony.

Quinn took charge. “I’ll find her and tell her to meet us inside. Get the Seeker there—now.” Quinn passed Janie off to Nate with a firm grip on her hair. She’d already been cracked over the head by a two-by-four, it stung too badly to resist. Every tug made her more nauseated.

“What about him?” Nate pointed to Matt. Janie thought she saw Matt’s eyes flutter. The twins didn’t notice. “Can we eat him?”

“Leave him. We don’t have time. He’s useless to us.” Quinn kicked the broken glass and cursed under his breath.

“He could be an athlete. We could use him.” Nate sized him up. “Look at his varsity jacket.”

Quinn became enraged. “Not now! We’ll come back for him. Our priority is the Seeker.” Quinn grabbed Caleb by the shirt and lifted him to eye level. “No more screw-ups. Go with Nate and get the Seeker to Antony.” He shoved him backward.

A puddle formed at the base of Caleb’s pants.

CHAPTER 20

Kai and Abram found Matt crouched under the bleachers. He held his lance between his knees. His hand was pressed firmly against a gash in his head. Blood seeped through his fingers. Kai felt bad for him—for a fraction of a second.

Kai tapped Matt on the head. His head shot up. He fumbled backward, pointing the lance at Kai.

“You look terrible,” Kai said. “And what are you holding?”
 
 
 
 

“Back off, Kai.” Matt rose to an unsteady stance.

“Touchy. I was only stating the obvious.” Kai’s words were brisk. “Janie told you to go home. You didn’t listen.” He plucked the lance from Matt’s hand. “And you think this is going to stop them. As I said before, you’re a dim bulb.” He threw the lance to the ground. It splintered in two.

“You can’t have her,” Matt said.

“What did you say?” Kai’s stepped inches from Matt. The demon who used to live inside him wanted to rip the boy apart. Then he realized it was the human inside of him. The demon no longer existed. Humans had evil thoughts, too. The difference was, they didn’t usually act on them. Kai wouldn’t either. He still didn’t like Matt. Matt complicated things, but Janie seemed to care about him.