IM02 - Hunters & Prey (13 page)

Experiment? What the hell!

Quentin reached above me to a shelf. My eyes trailed up his arm to see what he was reaching for. He pulled down a strange-looking needle with plastic wings. There was a tiny tube-like line attached to it on one side, ending with a collection bag.

His eyes lit up. “Ahh yes, this is what I need.”

I’d given blood enough times to recognize this setup as some form of fluid collection. But I couldn’t fathom what he would want to do with my blood.

“Maybe if I find you useful, I’ll keep you around.” He chuckled as he started prepping my restrained arm. “Hmmm, where is the best place to stick you?”

Don’t you touch me!
I jerked, trying to avoid his touch. The restraints bit into my skin. I pulled against them with all my might, but it was no use.

“Now, now. We can do this the easy way, or the hard way.”

My nostrils flared as I sucked in quick, deep breaths. I bit down as hard as I could on my gag.

“Seems like you want to do this the hard way.” He laughed. “More fun for me.”

Fuck you!

“Such language. Perhaps I should let Santino put you down.”

What the hell, how did he hear me?
Curiosity momentarily stole my focus. I had never met anyone other than a vampire with clairvoyant abilities. Not real ones, anyway. Psychics and mentalists were usually the focus of late-night infomercials and scams. A mortal, a human, with such abilities was a shock.

He jabbed the needle into my arm, and I winced at the sharp prick.

Quentin grinned and laughed at me. “You’re not the only one with special abilities. Yes, I can hear everything you are thinking. A useful little skill when dealing with your kind.”

I growled in anger.

“Tell me, how does it feel to take someone’s blood? Do you enjoy it?”

Anger and hatred flushed through my body. I wanted to rip him to shreds. I wouldn’t have any regrets ending his life.

“Does it make you feel powerful?” He laughed, mocking me. “Because I certainly feel it. Look at you. You’re a pathetic excuse for a vampire. Subdued by a human with a gun. I should just kill you to put you out of your shame.”

I felt the loss of my blood as it slowly drained out of my arm, making it limp. Pangs of hunger nagged at me, adding fuel to my rage. But I had no strength to act on it. The slow healing of my wounds was proof of how weak I was becoming. I wondered how much more blood he was going to take.

“This was far too easy; but then again, you are merely a child, aren’t you? I do hope your master will put up more of a fight. I see no need for antiquated warriors like Santino if your kind are so easily taken down.”

Rage enveloped me. I needed to be free. I needed to destroy this man. He was more than just a fanatical religious killer—he was evil, pure and simple. He took way too much pleasure from this. Still, I wondered why he left me alive. What use was my blood to him?

Coward! Release me and we will see how much of a child I am. You wouldn’t be so cocky with my teeth in your throat.

“Well, if that is the attitude you’re going to take, perhaps I have no further use for you.”

Dizziness started to take hold. I blinked a few times, struggling to remain conscious.

He held up the collection bag. Inside it was filled to the seams with my blood.

“Ahh, yes, this should be plenty.”

My body cried out for it as he held it above me. I shrieked in need of it, but the gag muffled my cry.

“Oh, now don’t be a baby, it’s only a pint. I could have drained you dry.”

Untie me, you asshole. I’ll enjoy ending you, you Acta Sanctorum piece of shit!

“I think I’ve had about enough of you for one evening. Perhaps after a little time to think, you will be more agreeable.”

Closing my eyes, I turned away so I didn’t have to look at him. I wanted to rip him to shreds, but there was nothing I could do about it at the moment.

“Look at me when I talk to you.”

Something hit me. A sharp stinging sensation started at my cheek and throbbed through my jaw. I opened my eyes to see his hand raised and cocked for another strike.

I refused to give him the pleasure of another pain filled moan. I shot him a deadly stare, calling up all the power I could muster.

He didn’t flinch or show any sign that my influence was having any effect on him. He laughed a deep, loud belly laugh. “Got a little fight left, have you? Your mind tricks have no effect on me. I’m going to have a fun time with you. Learn some respect and you might have a place with us, creating new recruits.” He patted me on the head like one would a dog. Carefully standing up, cradling the bag to his chest as if it were a precious little child, he turned away and left the room.

The door slammed behind him.

What the hell is he doing? Is he trying to create a new set of Saints? I’ve got to figure a way out of here.

My limp arms barely had the strength to move against the leather straps holding me.

Why didn’t I have an effect on him?

The lightheadedness increased, and my vision blurred. My body felt heavy, but I managed to lift my head a little. I looked at my arm. The needle was still there and the plastic tube attached was left open at the end. A slow drizzle of cherry-red liquid dripped to the floor.

The creak of the door echoed oddly in my ears. My hearing was becoming distorted. Sound reverberated off the walls.

A sweet scent, like honeysuckle, hit my nose before I could turn to see the blur of a body being tossed into the room with me.

Whatever it was, it was human, and it was bleeding. The unmistakable honeyed scent of fresh blood awakened the monster inside of me. It roared to life, demanding fresh blood. I frenzied with strength. I needed it.

Fighting harder against my restraints, I twisted and jerked, not caring about the pain wracking my body as old wounds ripped open again. My only thought was blood. The needle fell from my arm, but I could not budge the restraints. A loud, angry growl erupted from me, shaking the walls. Fresh blood. The aroma was so intoxicating. Every ounce of my being cried out for it.

The human, a female, by the high pitched sound of her whimper, stood somewhere on the other side of the room. Probably scared. I would have been too, trapped in a room with a hungry, blood-deprived vampire.

Oh, please come closer and let me have you.
I moaned through the gag.
It’s not personal. I just need your blood.
The monster inside of me was ravenous and demanding.

The human girl moved. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her stand up.

I took a long, deep inhale, savoring the smell. Fresh blood must have been dripping from an open wound to cause the scent to be so strong. It teased at my nose. I sucked in a deep breath filling my lungs with the sweet air, dying for just one little taste.

The ache in my body nagged at me. It would not be denied.

Maybe I can make her come here and untie me. Then I could have her.

I turned my head to see my soon-to-be victim.

My vision, still a little fuzzy, distorted the room, but I could easily make out the features of my once and longtime best friend.
Crap. Well, of course it’s her.
She was the reason I was in this predicament.

My heart slammed painfully in my chest and my stomach somersaulted. I fought back against the monster demanding its prize. I couldn’t let myself harm her, no matter what my need. I was the reason for all of this. Guilt flooded me, momentarily silencing the dangerous beast crying for her blood.

Her wide brown eyes were filled with fear. She backed herself into the farthest corner of the room, plastering herself against the wall. Her right hand clutched her left, and I could see that it was the source of the blood. A line of red trailed down it and was slowly dripping on the floor.

Quentin is a sadistic fuck, isn’t he?

Fallon shuddered under my hungry glare. She gripped her arm tighter.

He wants to torture me and see if I will eventually feed on her.

Every cell in my body cried for blood—her blood—but I had made Fallon a promise. I wouldn’t hurt her—and I wasn’t about to go back on my word.

I opened my mouth, trying to breathe through the gag, hoping to avoid the tempting smell threatening to send me into insanity.

I still need her to help untie me. Focus, Alyssa! C’mon, you can do this.

I tried to look as innocent as I could as I attempted to make eye contact with her.

Look at me Fallon
. I moaned through the gag.
Look at me, dammit!

She avoided my gaze at first. A smart instinct on her part, considering I hadn’t warned her about our ability to control the minds of humans. As the old saying goes, the eyes are the window to the soul. It’s a fairly accurate statement. But where vampires were concerned, the eyes were more like the welcome mat to the mind.

I moaned again, this time more pitifully.
Look at me please.

She looked up, meeting my eyes.

Perfect.

Reaching out with my mind, I sent out a silent request for her to come closer.

She blinked a few times. I could feel her trying to fight me. She had a strong mind, for a human, and I wasn’t at my best, considering all the blood I had lost this evening.

I concentrated and sent the mental request again.

Slowly, she took a step forward.

Good, Fallon. Come here, untie me. I won’t hurt you.
She took another step, then another.

That’s it, keep coming.
Fallon reached the table where I lay. The smell of her blood overpowered me. I lost concentration. My body instinctively arched toward her. Her hand hesitated on the leather strap holding down one of my wrists.

I fought against my needs, moaning as I tried to regain focus.

Please…Fallon… Untie me.

I lost the connection with her, but she still responded. Her hands wavered, but she reached out and undid one of the leather straps.

The pressure released. My arm came free.

“Please don’t hurt me,” Fallon said, her voice shaky and fearful.

The next strap came loose, and both my hands were free. I sat up, removing the gag from my mouth. “Get away from me,” I croaked.

Fallon jerked backward, slipping on the pool of blood below the table. She fell to the ground with a loud thud. Her hands slapped at the floor, smearing blood as she scrambled to get up. She slid across the floor leaving a red, smeared trail in her wake.

I groaned in frustration.
How much temptation can one take?
Thankfully, I was still partially strapped down, preventing me from lunging toward her struggling form.

Covered now in a mix of her blood and my own, Fallon got up. Sliding all the way, she crossed the room, plastering herself against the wall again.

I made quick work of the straps at my legs and feet and freed myself from the table. A low, feral growl rumbled in my chest as I turned to see Fallon, cowering in the corner.

“Don’t hurt me, Alyssa.” Fallon squeaked. “We’re friends … remember?”

CHAPTER 9

*****

F
allon trembled violently in the corner of the room. The frightened look on her face—wide eyes, quivering lips, and stuttering gasps of breath—enticed my hunger. The sweet smell of her blood permeated the room. Every synapse in my brain called out for it.

Absently licking at my fangs, I let myself imagine, for a moment, the sweet taste and soothing effect her blood would have on my poor starved body.

It would be too easy to take her.

“Don’t hurt me.” Fear leaked out in her squeaking voice.

I must have looked crazed as I fought to control the need, the urge to kill. Looking down at the floor, I inched backward, toward the far wall. Each movement took all of my concentration. I wanted—no, I needed blood. I didn’t know how much self-control I had left. I could snap at any moment. Quentin’s plan was working too well. He knew I would need to feed. He set the trap and baited it perfectly. No doubt he expected me to kill her, and he could then use that knowledge to further his cause somehow, whatever that was. Only a monster would devour her own friend.

“Alyssa,” Fallon murmured.

I heard her shuffling, sensed her getting closer but refused to look up and confirm my suspicions, fearing I would lose control.

“Stay where you are.” My voice came out as a monstrous growl.

She let out a gasp. Her body thudded back against the wall.

“Don’t trust me, Fallon,” I said through my teeth. “I don’t know how long I can hold out.” I covered my nose with my hand. The smell of her sweet blood in the room threatened to push me to insanity.