Fashionably Dead (33 page)

She laughed and drew me to her neck, “I’ve heard he’s one hot piece of ass.” God, she was profane.

Finally, I went to my Gemma, who was snarfing Black Raspberry Chip for me. I realized as I drank from her that Black Raspberry Chip ice cream was not better than sex with Ethan. This made me sad. That asshole had ruined me for all other men, and ice cream too. Maybe there were Vampyre Nuns. I may as well join an order and be celibate, rather than be disappointed the rest of my life. There was no comparing anyone to that jerk bastard.

I finished eating and put my head into my hands. Why was my life always so messy?

“Astrid?”

I looked up. Heathcliff was standing in my living room. I was alone on my couch and Jerry Springer was still spouting nonsense on the TV.

“Do you actually watch that?” he asked, smiling.

“No,” I said, “well . . . sometimes. Why are you here?” I wondered where my family had gone and if they were gone for good.

“We’ve found the Rogues headquarters and we’re going in.” He handed me my katana, a dagger and several throwing stars. “Are you ready?”

I nodded. He had no idea. “Let’s go,” I said. Today was as good a day to die as any.

Chapter 30

Heathcliff seemed shocked I could fly. Hell, he’d pass out cold if I showed him the rest of my party tricks. He held my hand as we flew through the night. I felt safe with him. Furthermore, I’d never flown outside and it didn’t appeal to me to run into a cell tower or, God forbid, a low-flying plane.

I could tell we were flying south, directly toward Mammoth Caves.
Shit, were we going to fight in the caves?
It was impossible to communicate with Heathcliff. We were traveling over a hundred miles an hour. It was insane. I had never felt so free in my life. As we came in for a landing, Heathcliff brought his legs down in front of him, kicking mine forward as he did so. We both landed smoothly on our feet in a field about a half mile from the main cave entrance.

“Thanks,” I smiled, exhilarated from our flight. As giddy as I felt about flying, I was getting panicked about what was to come and who I was going to have to see. I looked around and saw my team of Samuel, Luke, David, Venus, Cathy and the rest. Princess Lelia and Princess Raquel, my two kind-of ex sister-in-laws who tried to kill me a while back in the graveyard, were also here. I noticed the redhead, Princess Raquel, giving Heathcliff the evil eye. Oh My God, I bet Heathcliff was the one that ripped her arms off all those years ago.

“Bastard,” she hissed as she walked by him.

“Bitch,” he grinned broadly, displaying his beautiful dimples. This seemed to piss her off greatly and delight him tremendously.

“Astrid,” Princess Lelia cooed. The mocha-skinned beauty, approached me with a shit eating grin on her face and a wild sparkle in her amethyst eyes. Princess Raquel, composing herself from her exchange with Heathcliff, followed closely behind her sister. “Aren’t you the sneaky one,” Princess Lelia laughed. “I’m so glad we didn’t kill you. That would have been a major cluster!”

Princess Raquel grabbed me by my shoulders and studied my face. “You really are beautiful. Welcome to the family, although you do have my sympathy for mating with my brother,” she laughed and kissed me soundly on the lips. Clearly she hadn’t spoken with her brother or she’d realize we were definitely not related.

He was here. I didn’t see him, but I could feel him. My stomach was doing flips and his scent was making me dizzy. He was trying to get into my head to gauge my feelings, but I was not going to let him in. I was starting to come undone. I touched my wings and shut the doors in my mind. He was not welcome inside me ever again.

“Astrid,” a child called out to me. I turned, but there was no child in sight. There was a beautiful teenage Vampyre girl in front of me. She had a rockin’ layered bob, a stunning face and turquoise eyes. Turquoise, like the ocean in the Caribbean. I’d have paid big bucks for the jeans and spike-heeled boots she had on. Her top was one I’d been admiring in the Anthropologie catalog for weeks. Now that I could see it in person, I was definitely ordering it. I wanted to see what size she was wearing. I wondered if she’d let me try it on . . .

“Astrid,” she said, smiling at me.

“Paris?” I choked out.

“Yes.” She still sounded like a little girl, but she looked like a million bucks.

“Holy shit,” I gasped. “What in the hell happened to you?” Paris Hilton was gorgeous. I grabbed her and swung her around like a three year old. “You are so beautiful!”

Was I screaming? Yes . . . yes I was.

“Niecey and the gal in the back of the art class whose name always escapes me gave me a makeover,” she said shyly.

“Oh my God, I had no idea a beautiful girl was hiding under all that Goth shit.”

“Are you happy with me?” she asked.

“Oh, Paris . . . ” I put her down and took her hands. “I’ve always been bizarrely happy with you. You are amazing and strong and good. The only thing your makeover does is make the outside as beautiful as the inside. This is who you are. You don’t need to cover up your beauty with all those black clothes and black makeup and . . . Wait, are you wearing contact lenses?” I marveled at her turquoise eyes.

“No,” she said, embarrassed. “I used to wear black contacts. I thought it was cool . . . the old gals didn’t,” she laughed.

“Are you here to fight?” I asked.

“Yes, I would do anything for my Prince and my King . . . and for you,” she added quietly.

I kissed both of her cheeks. “Be careful,” I told her and moved away to find out the plan. I turned and ran smack into the person I was trying to avoid. I jumped back as if burned and saw the pain flash across in his eyes.

“She looks lovely,” Ethan said, referring to Paris. “Thank you.”

“Yes, she does,” I snapped, “and don’t bother thanking me. I didn’t do it, my old ladies did.”

I turned my back on him and tried to walk away. He grabbed my arm and hauled me up against his body. If everyone was watching, I was unaware. The only thing I could focus on was Ethan—the feel of him, the smell of him. My body automatically began to mold to his.
No. This was no time for my inner slut to take over.
I tried to jerk away, but he imprisoned me firmly against his body. What did he want from me? He’d already destroyed me. As much as I hated him, all I wanted to do was lean in, wrap my arms around him, and press my lips to his.

“Let me go,” I hissed.

“Astrid,” he said, his voice tight, “we need to talk.”

“No, Ethan, we don’t,” I cut him off. “I will fulfill all my duties as the Chosen One and then I will go away from you. Away from all of you.”

I thought he had already decimated my heart, but the pain I felt now let me know there was more damage to be done. God, if he didn’t let me go soon there was no telling how I would betray myself.

“Angel, I lov . . . ”

“Stop,” I lashed out, disengaging myself from him. My whole body trembled. “You have to stop. You and I were a mistake.” He flinched. “You were a mistake I will never repeat. I’ll do my duty and nothing more.”

Damn it, I was going to cry.

“Part of your duty as the Chosen One is to be mine,” Ethan said quietly.

“Maybe at one time,” I told him flatly. “Not anymore.”

I walked away. And he let me.

***

It was unnerving to be in the caves at night. These were definitely not the caves that were open to the public. The caves went on for over three hundred and ninety miles, but the areas of extreme paranormal strength were way off the beaten path. They were on a path the mortals knew nothing about.

The plan was to spread out and take down as many Rogues as possible. Kill if we had to, but leave some alive for questioning. If there were humans, we were to get them to safety.

I was part of the Alpha Group. We would spearhead and be the first unit in. It was the most dangerous position. Alpha consisted of Samuel, Heathcliff, Cathy, Luke, Ethan and myself. I saw Cathy roll her eyes when I was called to Alpha Group. She was never going to like me. I could only hope that she would have my back if I needed her.

“No,” Ethan said firmly, “Astrid will go with Unit Two. She has no combat experience.”

I heard Cathy snicker.

“With all due respect, my Liege,” Samuel cut in, “you’re wrong. She is the deadliest weapon we have. She can do far more damage than all of us combined.”

Samuel has the biggest balls I’d ever witnessed. Nobody second-guessed the Prince. Not to mention that Samuel was high if he thought I was stronger than a whole bunch of Vamps put together. Ethan looked down. His hands clenched into fists. He did not like to be challenged. However, I supposed if you were as old as Samuel you might know a thing or two. I was in no position to speak, but I knew I was ready for Alpha Group. I watched Ethan’s internal debate.

“Your Highness,” Heathcliff added, “Astrid is ready and we need her. Samuel is right.”

Ethan looked up and his eyes bored into mine. “You will be with me.” He left no room for argument. “We will move in groups of two. After ten minutes, unless someone signals, Unit Two will follow with Unit Three close behind. We have the element of surprise on our side. Move silently and quickly.”

We wore small black watches on our wrists. They were mini computers with communication capabilities and alarm signals built in. Vampyres adored electronics. I almost asked if we had flashlights. Thank God that didn’t pass my lips. I would have been thrown into Unit Five Hundred if I’d asked a question so stupid. Vampyres could see better in the dark than in the light.

The tunnels were unbelievable, truly one of nature’s miracles. I reached out and ran my fingers over the calcite stalagmites and stalactites. They looked like crystals and diamonds hanging from the ceilings and walls and bursting out of the floors of the caves. No one, no matter how talented, could out-do Mother Nature. I could feel the power flowing through the currents in the air. It felt good and I felt strong

The six of us entered together and immediately split into our groups of two. I could make out sounds in the distance . . . screaming, laughing, gunfire and . . . slapping? I felt for my weapons and gently pressed my fingertips to my wings. I had a feeling I’d be using brute strength and Magic more than anything else.

“You will stay behind me at all times,” Ethan informed me in a harsh whisper.

I yanked him to a stop and got right up in his face. In these tight quarters, my breasts were pressed firmly against his chest. I did my best to ignore the jolt of pleasure that ripped through me at the contact. “You are full of shit. I am the Chosen One. My job is to protect you,” I hissed at him. “We will watch each other’s backs and we will focus on the job at hand . . . not our problems with each other. Do you understand me?” I demanded.

His burning gaze made me fear I’d gone too far. I didn’t want to fight him. I wanted to kiss him, but I didn’t

“I understand you.” His voice was terse. I could tell he wanted to say a lot more, but I walked ahead and didn’t give him the chance.

We moved quickly together through the tunnels. I was losing my human self. My eyes turned green and my fangs descended. My senses sharpened. I was a Vampyre now and I was okay with it. It was the first time I think I truly accepted and embraced what I had become. I could see, hear and smell with more accuracy than I ever had.

As we moved closer to the noise, I could smell Vampyres and mortals. I scented anger, hatred, hunger, lust and fear. At first, I was unsure if the humans were alive or dead. From the agonized screaming I heard, I guessed that even if some were alive, it wouldn’t be for long.

I kept one hand on Ethan so we didn’t lose each other. We were moving very quickly. I planned to save humans, kill Rogues, and protect the man I hated. I realized that I would die for him. Happily. That’s how much I hated him. Why did he have to be such an ass?

We neared what sounded like one of Dante’s Circles of Hell. I could never have been prepared for what I saw. We came to a ledge about forty feet above the carnage below. The Rogue Vampyres were so agitated and involved in their feeding frenzy that they didn’t scent or see us. I was able to take in the horrific scene.

It was dimly lit by torches. There were four or five mounds of human remains. They had been drained and some had flesh missing. They’d been eaten. There were fifteen to twenty bodies in each mound. The stench of rotting human flesh was revolting. I gagged and felt an anger begin to build in me like I’d never known.

There were about twenty Rogues down below and just as many barely alive humans. The Rogues were letting the mortals try to escape. It was sad and horrifying to watch the hope in those poor people. They ran around like caged rats, moaning and crying while the scum of the earth Rogues laughed maniacally and picked them off one by one.

I moved to enter the cavern, but Ethan held me back.
Not yet
, he mouthed and very quietly punched a code into his watch. We waited and he watched the sick activity below with a look of horror and disgust on his face equal to my own.

His watch beeped softly. He looked at me. There was a lot in that look that I had no time to decipher. He took my hand and whispered, “Let’s go.”