Sire (30 page)

She took a deep breath and did her best to mimic his seemingly effortless movements, but it was a lot slower going. Of course, she still blamed the skirt and the boots.

Alexis almost fell about halfway out. She squealed and nearly slipped over the edge, but managed to catch herself. She just lay there for a minute, clutching the tree branch for dear life and trying not to hyperventilate.

When she was calm enough to move again, she carefully slid out one hand, then one leg, then the other hand, then the other leg. She moved forward maybe three inches.

It felt like to took forever, but eventually she was at the end of the branch, and Garret was helping her onto the stone surface. Thank God.

"Okay, I'll lower you down, then myself," Garret said.

Alexis nodded, and he grabbed her hands. She swallowed, forced herself to breath, and slid over the edge.

Between the length of his arms and her body, she was only three or four feet away from the ground, but that's still a pretty long way to fall. Again, in hooker boots. She hit the ground with a
thump
and was jarred from her ankles all the way up her spine. But she was down, she was safe, and she was inside.

Alexis heard Garret moving around above her, and stepped out of his way. She turned around ...

And saw two men staring at her, with two wolves next to them.

Garret landed next to her. He bent his knees as he hit, and sprang back up to his full height like it wasn't even a thing. "Okay, so we should ..." His voice trailed off when he turned around.

"Hi, guys," Alexis said. "We, um, forgot our invitations?"

***

The guards made them drop their weapons. Then they grabbed them—Alexis by her hair and Garret by the scruff of his neck—and dragged them toward the mansion. So, at least they were heading in the right direction, right?

The house was just ... Alexis had never seen anything like it. It was the kind of place you'd see in a movie or something, if the director wanted you to think "whoever lives here is a pretentious ass." Rugs and tapestries and vases and mirrors and paintings of old men. Like a freaking museum.

But that was the living part of the house. They were led into what Alexis could only call a throne room. The whole thing was white marble, and the giant, vaulted ceiling was supported by marble columns. A red carpet led to a raised platform, which held a giant black chair.

And sitting on the throne was a dainty white girl in a black dress. She had just kind of thrown herself into the chair, and her legs were hanging over the side.

That must have been Angelica.

"Your majesty," the guy dragging them along said, "we found these two trying to break in."

Angelica looked them over. She smiled a little bit when she looked at Alexis, like she knew her or something. The thought gave Alexis the creeps.

"Alexis," she said, glowing. "So nice of you to drop by!"

Oh hell. "How do you know who I am?"

"Oh, that's right," she said. "We haven't been properly introduced. Let's just say that I'm ... familiar with some of your extra-curricular activities. I suppose you're here for Evan?"

"Screw Evan," Alexis said. And she meant it. He had betrayed them, and he was on his own. If he wanted to cuddle up with this pale tramp, so be it. "I came here for Caitlin."

Angelica did a double take. "Well, young love burns fast, doesn't it? I'm afraid Caitlin is indisposed at the moment."

"I'm pretty sure she can make the time to talk to me. It's really important. I have to tell her about this pasty ho that's got designs on her boyfriend."

"Jesus, Lex, you're going to get us killed," Garret said.

"That train's already left the station, honey," Angelica said. "You're from the university? We're going to have to raise our admissions standards. I honestly don't think you're helping elevate the intellectual environment.

"But I'll tell you what. Since you want to see Caitlin so badly, I'll let you stick around for the execution. We should be ready to go in about an hour. Until then ..." she looked over their shoulders. "Would you like to keep them company?"

"My pleasure," said a voice from behind them.

Alexis turned around.

Oh.

Oh God.

Oh God no.

"Hello, lover," Bethany said.

She was looking at Garret, and her eyes were bright red.

***

Caitlin had shut down. She found herself unable to eat, or read, or talk, and had spent most of her days in bed. Sleeping was a lot easier than actually dealing with the despair that threatened to crush her.

She had turned into a ghost. The only thing that reminded her she was still alive was the blinding flash of pain that tore through her body every time they hurt Michael. They weren't just starving him, they were
torturing
him. It knocked the breath out of her, and brought tears to her eyes.

Days had passed, when Angelica finally came for her. The sun had just set when she walked into the room, carrying a dress. "Hello, Caitlin. I know this isn't as exciting for you as it is for me, but tonight's the night. Michael is ... well, I think he'll be very excited to see you. I'd like you to wear this, if you don't mind." She held up the dress.

"And if I won't?"

Angelica's eyes hardened for a fraction of a second. "I suppose I could compel Evan to ... convince you. I'd rather leave you pristine, for Michael, but really, he's not going to care."

Angelica laid the dress on the bed and turned to leave. She looked back with her hand on the doorknob. "I'll send some people to help you get ready."

They showed up an hour later. Three of them, like the freaking Brides of Dracula. But they were humans under Angelica's thrall, not vampires. Their skin was too warm for them to be vampires.

They chatted amongst themselves while they prepared Caitlin. They treated her like a doll, like she wasn't really there. They drew a bath and took off her clothes, set her in the water, washed her hair, and scrubbed her skin until it was pink. When she was clean, they dried her off, put her hair up, and did her makeup. They never once asked Caitlin's opinion, or discussed what they were doing, or talked to her at all.

Angelica was waiting for them when they were done, holding the dress. It really was beautiful, a shining, silver thing that hugged every curve of her body. Under different circumstances, Caitlin would have been thrilled to be wearing it. As a funeral shroud, though ... you should never have to see yourself in your grave clothes. Angelica watched as the Brides helped Caitlin into it.

"She looks lovely, girls. Well done."

They thanked her without looking at her, proper little servants. And then they were gone, and Caitlin was alone with the woman who was going to kill her.

"You are, you know. Lovely." She smiled. "That's why I set all of this up. The city, the university. I collect pretty things. It's a bit shallow, I guess, but forever is a long time, and beauty is so temporary. I was almost considering making you a vampire, for a while. If you hadn't gotten between Michael and me, I might have done it."

"I might have let you," Caitlin said. "Of course, if it wasn't for Michael, I wouldn't have wanted you to."

"Love triangles are a bitch," Angelica said.

"So are you," Caitlin murmured.

The vampire laughed. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. Ready?"

"Just a second. Let me put my earrings back in."

She went over to the dresser and picked up a pair of earrings, then turned toward the mirror. With her back to Angelica, Caitlin picked up the knife she had kept from her first meal, and hid it ... well, let's just say that in that dress, there were only so many places to hide things.

Caitlin steeled herself. She looked at something far, far away, and nodded. "Okay," she said. "Let's get this over with."

Angelica took Caitlin by the arm and led her out the door, the first time in days that she had been outside of the room. They descended the stairs, passed through the atrium, and entered the throne room.

A dozen vampires lined the walls, watching eagerly. Evan was there, too, his expression blank. A handful of other humans lingered around as well. Apparently Angelica had quite the stable.

"Caitlin!" Alexis screamed. God, what was
she
doing there? And Garret, too?

"Alexis, be quiet," Caitlin said. "It's okay. Don't do anything to provoke them."

Someone gave a cold laugh. "Bit late for that, don't you think?"

Caitlin turned. It was
Bethany
. Oh God, Bethany was still alive. She looked ... amazing. Her hair was thick and wavy, her skin was flawless ... and she even looked like she had lost a little weight. But what was she doing here?

Caitlin didn't have long to think about that, though.

"Bring him in," Angelica said.

Chapter Twenty Four

Caitlin took a deep breath, drew back her shoulders, and tried to be brave. But her pulse was pounding so hard that she was certain the vampires could hear it. Her knees and hands started to shake, and she had to remember to breathe. Angelica put a hand on her elbow, steadying her. That struck Caitlin as funny; the woman that was about to murder her was giving her comfort.

Caitlin heard the sounds of a struggle coming down the hallway. Then the doors slammed open, and a quartet of vampires dragged Michael in.

His appearance was horrifying. He was pale and gaunt, like a cancer victim. His shirt was torn and hanging open, and his body was covered in terrible scarlet marks. Heavy silver manacles were closed around his wrists and his neck, and smoke poured from his burning skin. Each shackle was connected to a heavy iron chain, which the vampires used to drag him along.

He snarled and thrashed and struggled against his restraints. Foam had built up at the corners of him mouth, and drool trickled down his chin. His eyes were red and wild. His fangs were bared, and he snapped at his captors. He was feral, a savage animal. Caitlin gasped. "Oh, Michael." Tears ran down her face. "What did they do to you?"

Angelica pressed up against her, one hand still on her elbow, and the other reaching around her back and resting on her waist. She leaned close and whispered in her ear, "Thank you, Caitlin."

It was now or never, and Caitlin made her move. It was desperate, maybe foolish, but she didn't have any other options. Caitlin slipped the knife out, trying desperately not to draw attention to herself, but all eyes seemed to be on Michael anyway. Caitlin whirled as fast as she could and drove the blade up underneath Angelica's left rib.

Caitlin twisted the knife, and Angelica cried out. Cool blood spilled over Caitlin's hand. She released the blade and turned to run, heading for the door Michael had come through. "Run!" she shouted to Alexis and Garret. She pushed past the vampires holding him; they were too stunned to stop her. For a moment, she almost believed that they were going to escape.

And then she ran into what felt like a brick wall. Caitlin fell backwards, and landed hard on the floor. Angelica towered over her, her face a mask of rage. She had just appeared in front of Caitlin, moving too fast for her to see. "You bitch," Angelica spat. "I should have known you'd be difficult about this." She took hold of the knife, yanked it out, and dropped it to the floor. "What was that supposed to accomplish? I'm not some Hot Topic wannabe. Even if I was stupid enough to give you true silver. I mean, God, do you keep vats of acid lying around the house? Hand out loaded guns with breakfast?"

Caitlin scrambled backwards, pushing herself away. "Well, you can't blame a girl for trying," she said, her voice shaking.

"Oh, but I can." Angelica moved in a blur, and suddenly had Caitlin by the throat. "And I do." She lifted her off the ground, and Caitlin felt her airway closing off. Caitlin grabbed at Angelica's hand and kicked her feet, but Angelica's grip was like a vice. A pained whimper escaped from Caitlin's bruised throat.

Angelica raised her free hand, and extended a single talon. Caitlin felt a quick rush of pain as the claw pierced her skin, and a small trickle of blood began to run down her throat.

Caitlin looked at Michael. He froze, his wild, crimson eyes locking on to her. Then he growled and wrestled against his restraints, striving for her. The vampires holding him at bay struggled to contain him.

Angelica dropped Caitlin unceremoniously on the ground. "Set him free," she said, her voice flat and hard. A trio of vampires approached him cautiously, from behind, and worked at the silver fetters. They came apart as one, and fell to the ground. Michael was loose.

Caitlin suddenly realized that she was going to die.

Michael rushed at her, crossing the floor with impossible speed. He lowered his shoulder and slammed into Caitlin, lifting her off her feet and driving her into the ground. Caitlin heard her ribs splinter more than she felt it, and the breath exploded out of her lungs. She tasted blood. Caitlin tried to fight against him, but it was no use. She had no strength, and her arms seemed disconnected from her brain. Michael swarmed over her, reared back, and bared his fangs.

"Michael," Caitlin said weakly, but if he heard, he gave no sign. His fangs sank deep into her neck. Caitlin cried out as her flesh was torn, but soon a warm sense of relaxation began to overtake her. She didn't know if this was some sort of vampire power, or if there was something in his saliva that was anesthetizing her, or if this was just what it felt like to die, but the pain had left her body, and with it, any sense of urgency or fear that she had felt.

An artery had been opened, and the blood flowed out. Michael's mouth was pressed hard against Caitlin's throat, and he drank from her greedily. Her heart slowed, and her vision began to fail.

Caitlin drew in one last, small breath, and whispered. "Michael. Please."

But he wasn't Michael anymore. He was just a monster.

And then everything was black.

Chapter Twenty Five

Blood poured out of his lover's body, hot and thick and metallic.

Michael was insatiable. Hunger was only a part of it. He had a
need
, and unquenchable, burning
need
to tear her flesh, to open her veins, to sever her arteries.