Savor (20 page)

“They are just humans. It is best if we deal with them.”

“Humans? But why would they attack us? And who is ‘we’?” I pushed his arms off me and started to make my way toward the front of the palace, but Arrick ran ahead of me and stopped.

“Listen to me, Claire.”

I huffed, “Fine.”

He seemed to relax a bit and exhaled before explaining. “
We
as in Blood Mates.  Fox and I and the human palace guards. Humans don’t know about us, so they will think we are one of them. If I had to guess, I would say that they are attacking the palace because of what happened at the coronation ball and it’s probably in the best interest of everyone if vampires don’t get involved in any part of this attack.”

I could see the logic in his words and fought my stubborn nature. “Fine, I’ll go, but don’t think I’m the kind of girl who just runs away every time something looks dangerous. I’m not that kind of princess. You get me?” I pointed my finger at him and he gave me a knowing wink.

“Oh, I know you’re not. Now go and don’t open the door for anyone but me.  Okay?”

The interior of the palace was pandemonium. Palace guards were rushing through hallways, taking up multiple positions. I steadily made my way down the hall, deftly dodging a running guard or frantic servant as I proceeded to my room. Several of the guards recognized me and demanded they escort me to my quarters for safety, but I raised my hand and did my best to politely decline, stating that the safety of the palace was more important than accompanying me to my room.

It was obvious they struggled with my resistance, but when I continued my march without giving them time to comment, they quickly refocused on the task at hand.

I quickened my pace the closer I got to my room. I wanted to check on Robin. I had a feeling she was probably frantic with worry and then a sinking feeling crept into my gut. Maybe she wasn’t worried, nor Dmitry for that matter. I had a Blood Mate now, who was sworn to protect me, so they would have no need to worry for my safety.

As I entered my hallway, I sped to my bedroom door and flew into the room with precision velocity. I closed the latch behind me. The tiny bolt gave me very little sense of safety. My room was eerily quiet even though the sounds of shouting and hissing flames rumbled through the night.

I yanked off my cape and threw it onto the coffee table, making my way to the balcony. As I pulled open the curtains, another explosion erupted, violently shaking the walls of the palace. I braced myself by hanging onto the velvety curtains. The fabric began to rip from the rod and I nearly fell to the floor.  I steadied myself and flung the tattered curtain to the side as I leaned out over the balcony. Black smoke billowed from below me and the wind blew it directly into my face, blocking my view.

I could hear people shouting and screaming, vampires growling and the crackling sounds of fire consuming everything in its path below me. I didn’t understand the humans’ violent actions, it just didn’t make sense. I knew after the second explosion, the vampires wouldn’t stand by idly and leave the palace’s defense just to Fox and his guards. Vengeance ran too strong in our veins and I could feel it burning through mine. The desire to extinguish the threat was almost irresistible.

I no longer cared about following orders and turned to head out of my room to join in the fight. I barely took a step when my nerves shot through me with violent force and my body stood on alert. Another vampire was nearby.  The hair on my body was on end and my mouth opened as a growl began to build in my chest.

My bedroom door flew open in one crashing movement. The small, bolted latch flew onto the ground and scattered across the floor. Ana and Luka stood before me, their teeth bared and my vision swirled with rage. Everything made sense. Ana wanted me out, she wanted me dead and this was her chance.

“Poor little princess is all alone,” she giggled wickedly as she strolled into the room. Luka pushed the doors closed behind her and stood guard.

I watched Ana’s every move as she ambled into the room, taking her time like she was savoring every moment. Shock was frozen on my face.

“It was you, wasn’t it?” I hissed at her, clenching my hands into fists at my sides. The muscles in my legs began to flex as my instincts prepared me for her attack. My eyes flicked to Luka, but he remained at the door, seemingly uninterested in the inevitable battle.

“If you haven’t figured it out by now, then you are dumber than I thought you were. You’ve taken what was rightfully mine and I demand you give it back.” She seethed as she flung her arm out, sending a porcelain vase soaring toward my feet.  It shattered all of its pieces of broken beauty and flowers beneath me.

I giggled at her childish mentality. She really was causing all this trouble because she was a spoiled brat. “That’s seriously it? You’re having a little temper tantrum cause you can’t have what you want? News flash, Ana! It was never yours and now it certainly never will be!”

She growled loudly and lunged at me. She lashed out, but I anticipated it and twirled to the side, smashing the back of my fist across her face. My knuckles connected with her cheekbone painfully, but if felt good to finally hit her. I readied my stance as I finished my spin, half expecting her to come back for a counter attack, but she stood gazing at me, clearly looking like she enjoyed my assault. 

Her tongue trailed along the inside of her mouth and she spat blood onto the floor, wiping her lip with her arm. “Not bad, Princess. Maybe this will be more fun than I thought. Daddy told me you wouldn’t put up much of a fight.”

This time, she shrieked like a banshee and flew at me. The momentum of her speed knocked me backwards. She took advantage of my stagger, hitting me hard twice in the face. I had never been hit before and the pain and shock disoriented me for only a moment; but that’s all it took. She began running in circles around me at incredible speed slashing, punching and kicking me. My body jolted and endured every ruthless impact. The pain became intense, causing my tears to fall freely.

I swung at her, but kept missing as she ran faster and faster, giggling all the while. That’s when I saw it - her hair. Her long, blonde ponytail floated behind her as she ran. I bared my fangs, waiting for her next hit. She slashed at my face, cutting through the flesh on my jaw and sending warm blood dribbling down my throat.

I knew the wound was deep, but I didn’t want to lose my chance. I pounced and grabbed hold of her hair, yanking it down as hard as I could. Her head snapped back and she shrieked in pain while her head slammed with a sickening thud onto the hardwood floor. Ana yanked at my hand holding her hair and swung at me with the other, but I caught it. I cringed, but managed to bend her arm at the most unnatural angle I could. Her screams grew louder as she writhed and shrieked beneath me. I knew I was stronger than she and needed to use it to my advantage. I might not have known how to fight, but I did know whatever I was doing was really hurting her, so I pressed harder until I heard her bone snap.

Shocked momentarily at what I had done, my animal instincts first cheered in victory and then urged me to bite her. The blood pounded in her throat as she wailed in anguished distress. Tears streaked with black ran down her face and I opened my mouth, baring my fangs as my thirst yearned to drain her.

Her eyes widened when she realized what I was about to do and she forgot her hair and slapped me hard across my face. Her ring-laden fingers tore open the thin skin above my eye. Blood poured out of the open gash, burning my eye and blinding me. I rolled over as she jumped out from under me. The pain was so intense I couldn’t inhale enough breath to scream.

I heard Ana shouting to, Luka and although I couldn’t make out the words, I knew what she would say, “Finish her!” 

There was nothing I could do. I turned onto my knees, feebly trying to get away as I cupped my hand to my face. I sensed Luka at my side. He hesitated, but Ana was cheering him on. He swiftly sent his heavy boot into my stomach. 

I cried out and fell onto my side again. An end table was beside me and I latched onto it, trying to pull myself away, but Luka sped to my side again and landed another excruciating kick into my abdomen. I rolled over as the urge to vomit seized me.

Ana ran over to Luka and hugged him. They smiled and rejoiced as I writhed on the floor. They were truly evil incarnate. I had never seen two people, human or vampire, so demented in all my life. The sight of their glee over my agony fueled my last surge of energy and I lifted myself up from the floor.

I knew I couldn’t take them both on, but I wasn’t going to let them kill me without at least taking one of them out. I stumbled my way to the fireplace and pulled out the wrought iron poker from its base. The metal made a loud scraping noise that echoed throughout the room, causing Ana and Luka to cease their victory celebration.

Ana smiled at me, her fangs bared and she licked at them like a lion would before sinking them into the carotid artery of its prey. They lunged simultaneously and I held my breath as I timed my swing. The poker connected perfectly with the side of Luka’s head. He fell to the ground with a heavy thud and black blood oozed out of his skull. Maniacally enraged, Ana landed on me, knocking me to the floor, as she clamped firmly onto my neck. I could feel her sucking the blood from my body like a straw. My hands searched for where I dropped the poker, but my strength was quickly deteriorating. Unlike the beatings, her feeding on me wasn’t painful, but definitely effective. I could feel the life draining rapidly from me like water dripping through cupped hands.

I finally felt the cold metal beneath my fingers, but I didn’t have the strength to lift it. My eyes rolled back and forth inside my head and Ana lifted her face from my neck as she took a deep breath. Blood, my blood, dripped from her mouth and down her chin in dark trails. She had drunk her fill, yet I wanted her to finish me. I didn’t want to be left on the ground to bleed out…alone. I closed my eyes as I accepted my fate, waiting for her fangs to pierce my flesh yet again.

Instead, I heard a loud shriek as her weight was lifted from me. I opened my eyes to see Arrick and Dmitry standing in the doorway. Dmitry looked at me with complete sadness, his attention on me alone. Seeing his presence jolted the animal inside me with a renewed energy.

My fingers gripped the poker firmly, and with one solid swing, I hoisted it upward, colliding against Ana’s jaw. She fell a few steps backward, total surprise plastered on her blood-covered face. “In tenebris venit!” she hissed before spitting blood everywhere.

I used the poker to pull myself up. My breathing was ragged and gurgly, but I squared my shoulders and flew at her. If I only had moments of life left, I would use them to take hers. I locked my eyes with Ana’s for one cold instant, before the poker crashed into her temple. She screamed out and toppled backward over the railing. Her shrieks fading as she plummeted to the ground.

Dmitry flashed to my side as I collapsed to the floor and lifted me into his arms. Arrick didn’t so much as look at me as he passed, making his advance toward the balcony. His eyes were fixed with a rage no vampire could imitate.  It was the rage of a Blood Mate and his anger was steaming, its heat erupting all around him. Hearing his growl of challenge made my heart expand with love. 

I could feel Dmitry assessing my wounds, but what little was left of my being was focused solely on what I could sense of Arrick. He was nearby and I knew I would be safe.

“Is she dead?” I heard Dmitry ask as Arrick rushed to my side.

“I don’t know. She’s gone. You need to move!” Arrick pushed Dmitry aside without the slightest effort and quickly ripped the sleeve from his shirt. I looked at him with my blurring vision and opened my mouth to talk, but was only capable hot tears and a broken smile.

“You’re going to be okay, Claire. I promise. What did she say?” Dmitry spoke frantically at my side.

“The dark is coming.” Arrick replied, concern wrinkling his brow as beads of sweat rolled down his temples.

“The dark? What’s that supposed to mean? I’m going to get help.”

Arrick completely ignored him and Dmitry flashed away with his incredible speed. “Claire!” Arrick tugged at my chin to angle my face toward him. “Stay with me! I need you to bite me, okay?” He pressed the flesh of his wrist against my mouth. I did my best to bite, but there was no strength left within me. I could barely put enough pressure to keep my mouth from sagging open.

“Bite, Claire!” he ordered again. Our bond gave me the strong desire to please him, to obey his command, but my body was incapable of executing it.

“Shit!” Arrick stood up and ran. Panic coursed through me when he was out of my sight. I needed him here with me. I didn’t want to die alone.

“Arr-ig,” I could manage to gurgle some version of his name. I heard glass shatter and Arrick was quickly by my side again. 

“I’m still here. I won’t ever leave you,” he said, his voice was steady and reassuring. Something sparkled in my vision and when I was able to focus on it, my body panicked and my eyes widened. Arrick was holding a piece of broken glass, and in one swift movement, he slid it across his wrist. I heard him grunt in pain and his jawline flexed as he bit his lip.

His emerald eyes locked onto mine before he pressed his bloody wrist against my mouth. His warm life blood poured into my mouth and I recognized the taste. It was his blood that I had drunk from the day I became a vampire. It never tasted so good and energy quickly revitalized me. I raised my hands and pressed his arm harder against my lips. As much as I wanted to, I resisted the urge to bite onto his wound and focused solely on his eyes. They were so full of love and strength. I released his arm to take a breath and licked my lips, not wanting to waste a drop.

“We need to go.  Can you stand?” I nodded and allowed him to lift me up. I saw him wince as I rested my weight on his wounded arm.

“Are you going to be all right?” I said, almost in a whisper as I pointed to his wrist.

“Can you close it for me?” I looked at him questioningly. “Lick it.” I quickly obeyed, sliding my tongue across the wound, feeling it bubble underneath. The last drops of blood lingered on my tongue and I savored its flavor. I didn’t know if he let me drink from him as a last resort to save my life, but it was so delicious that I had to fight the urge to drink more. “You’ll need more, Claire, but we don’t have time now. We have to go.”             

The hunger and desire must have been clearly evident on my face, or maybe he could feel it through our connection. Either way, there was no way to hide it. “Where are we going?” I asked as I let him guide me out of my room and down the servants’ hallway.