Star, Starland Vamp Series, Book 1 (33 page)

The other two burly vamps laughed appreciatively.

But before he could reply, the tapping of stiletto heels resonated throughout the room coming from the second-floor landing across the room. “I thought I told you never to come back here again, Marilyn,” a very familiar voice called across the room. When I looked up, it was Annie, dressed in a loose flowing shimmering mini dress, revealing her nice legs. She wore silver strappy heels to match.

“I’m not here for Michaels,” I replied in Marilyn’s breathy soprano. “I’m here for Drake.”

Then a broad smile stretched across Annie’s beatific face as she leaned onto the steel railing. “Well, in that case, come on up!” she replied, motioning me toward her.

“Wait a minute,” the burly henchmen said, stopping me with his Uzi before I could move.

“Let her through!” Annie sternly replied. “I’ll take her to freshen up before Drake sees her.” Then her eyes narrowed as she continued, her voice thick with sarcasm. “You wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise now, would you?”

Burly slowly lowered the Uzi, then reluctantly said, “Well, I guess not.” Then he added after thinking about it for a moment. “But don’t take too long.”

Then I ran a hand seductively across his shoulders, and leaned in to whisper into his ear. “Don’t worry, Hun. I won’t.” Then I gave Verus one last look, but he gave nothing away as he released my hand and I turned toward the stairs.

Every pair of eyes in the room watched as I walked toward the stairs. The only sound was the light tapping of my stilettos against the steel floor.

“You’ll never guess what I’ve been through tonight!” Verus said to the other men, diverting their attention from me. Then he told them about the humans with the crow bars, but his version involved his Corvette and was completely different than what we had endured that night. In a moment, I was forgotten as I reached the top of the stairs where Annie waited.

“Right this way,” Annie replied, turning away without a second glance as she walked down a hallway toward rooms, expecting me to follow. As I watched Annie walking in front of me, I wondered if she was really with them. Well, I knew that time would tell, and it would tell pretty quick.

When we were out of ear shot, Annie quickly turned to me. “Star, what the hell are you doing, coming in the front door like that? You nearly gave me a heart attack!”

“Who’s Star?” I asked, feigning innocence in Marilyn’s breathy voice. “I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about.”

Suddenly, she pinned me against the wall. “Star, don’t you dare play dumb with me!” Annie said in a low voice. “It’s me, Annie, remember?”

In a flash, I had her pinned by the throat against the wall. “Whose side are you on, Annie?” I asked, my green eyes flaring. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I’m undercover ...”

“The hell you are!” I replied, cutting her off. “If you were, Abbott would have told me!” Then my green eyes narrowed, “Try again.”

“Just like he told you about Verus, huh?” Annie replied. “By the way, Verus is one of them, Star! He just delivered you to Drake on a silver platter and you fell for it!”

“My God …” I replied, releasing Annie. “Abbott is going to have to start telling us when there are other agents in the area.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Annie’s eyes narrowed as she smoothed her dress, undeterred.

“Because V said the same thing about you, Annie,” I replied, taking another deep breath. “He’s on our side.”

“For your sake,” Annie said in a rushed low voice. “You’d better hope so.”  Then she looked around to make sure we were alone and looked me in the eye again. “We don’t have a lot of time.”

Then a thought occurred to me as I backed away, my eyes narrowing. “Annie, why didn’t you tell me about Michaels when you saw me in Cooperstown?”

“That’s not important, Star …”

“The hell it isn’t!” I said, preparing for the worst.

Annie sighed. “I’ve been undercover with Michaels for a few months now. Michaels heard you were in Cooperstown and sent me. He has no idea I’m an agent and as far as the agency is concerned, my cover is that I’ve gone rogue.”

I sighed, not sure what to believe. But at this point, I knew I had to believe her. I had no choice. “Okay, what do you know?” I knew we only had a few minutes before we were interrupted.

“Rick is in the basement,” Annie said in rushed, low tones.

“How is he?” I asked, my eyebrows pulling together.

“Not good, Star,” Annie replied, then added, placing her hands on my shoulders. “They’ve been experimenting with his venom.”

“Why the hell haven’t you gotten him out, Annie?” I asked in a low, urgent voice.

“If I did, they would have known it was me,” Annie said, shaking her head. “It’s been just me, Abigail! I had no idea that Verus was with us until he came in with you. I’m still not sure of it. Anyway, I couldn’t get Rick out of here and kill Drake by myself. I’ve been waiting for you. I’ve been sneaking Rick blood, though.”

I nodded, thinking quickly, trying to process everything I was hearing, now in full agent mode.

“There’s more, Abbey,” Annie said, reluctant to continue.

“What?” I asked, fearing the worse.

“Zac is here, too,” Annie replied and her words fell like a bomb into the pit of my stomach.

I nodded, “I figured as much. Do you know where they’re keeping him?”

“I’m not sure,” Annie said, looking around. “But I think he’s probably not far from Rick.”

I nodded, my eyes narrowing. “How is he?”

“I’m not sure,” Annie said in a rushed voice. “I haven’t seen him, but Michaels and Drake have been talking about him.” Then Annie’s eyes narrowed. “How did Drake get him, Star?”

“It’s a long story,” I replied, knowing we didn’t have much time. “Drake’s a shape shifter, too.”

Annie’s eyes narrowed. “I figured as much.”

“Where’s Drake and Michaels now?” I asked, looking around.

“I’m not sure where Drake is, but Michaels is in his room,” Annie said, her eyes narrowing. “We don’t have much time. Let’s go.”

Quickly, Annie darted down a hallway, past some rooms. I followed her, hoping we could get Rick and Zac out quietly, then come back for Drake and Michaels. But I knew that was wishful thinking.

“What do we have here?” a baritone voice asked as we rounded a corridor, stopping us in our tracks. It was Michaels.

“I’m taking her to freshen up,” Annie replied, undeterred.

Then Michaels took my hand and kissed it, never taking his eyes from mine. “It’s good to see you again,” he said seductively.

“She’s here for Drake,” Annie quickly interrupted, her eyes narrowing, feigning jealousy, expertly playing her part. “She’s a surprise for
him
.”

“I see,” Michaels replied with a sneer, looking my body up and down.

“Yeah, Sugar,” I replied in Marilyn’s breathy voice. Then I said low so only he could hear, “Maybe next time.” Annie rolled her eyes. “Where is Drake anyway?”

“He’s downstairs, waiting for you,” Michaels said, holding out an arm to both Annie and I.

I laughed seductively, then said, “He knows I’m here?”

“Word travels quickly,” Michaels replied, leading us down another flight of stairs. I glanced at Annie, but she gave nothing away.

At the bottom of the stairs was a hallway. Offering each of us an arm, Michaels led us to a secluded room with two couches, a bar, and elaborate furnishings.   

As we entered the room, a vamp with white hair stood behind the bar with his back to us, mixing a drink.

“Drake, look who we have here,” Michaels said, motioning toward me.

Suddenly, the white-haired vamp turned around, holding a martini glass in each hand, and I instantly recognized him. His skin looked young despite his obvious age and white hair. “Hello, Star,” he said with a knowing sneer. “Care for a drink?”

Annie casually sat on the couch, crossing her legs, as Michaels handed her a drink.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Drake …” I replied in Marilyn’s breathy soprano.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Star,” he said, crossing the room, offering me one of the Martini glasses. “I’ve been expecting you.”  Then he took my hand into his, raised it to his lips, and kissed it. “It’s been a while.”

“Not long enough,” I replied, relenting. “Corporal Clark.” He was the same Corporal Clark that tried to kill me, and who killed my father, so many years ago in the Revolutionary War.

Clark laughed menacingly. “It’s Drake now. I’ve been waiting a long time for this day.”

“I thought Rick killed you,” I replied, my eyes narrowing.

“Yes,” Drake replied, leaning in for effect. “But I’m sure you know. I was already a vampire.”

Without taking a drink, I set the Martini glass on a nearby end table. “I figured as much.”

“I just played dead until Fredrick carried you off, then I followed you both to the cave,” Drake replied.

Michaels sat on the couch beside Annie, sliding an arm behind her across the back of the couch as Annie slid into his side, undeterred. Annie was playing her part well. But I also knew if she was the one who sold me out, I would burn her alive, friend or not.

I nodded, turning my attention back to Drake, listening.

“Won’t you sit down?” Drake replied, indicating the other couch sitting kitty corner from the one where Michaels and Annie comfortably sat. Then Drake picked up my drink and handed it to me again.

I knocked the drink from his hand, sending the glass flying across the room. It crashed loudly into a million shards as it hit the wall then fell to the floor. “I’d rather stand,” I said casually, my eyes narrowing.

“Come now, dear,” Drake replied, taking my hand into his, then looked directly into my eyes. “There’s no reason why we can’t be civil.”

“Tell that to everyone you murdered during the war!” I replied, my eyes narrowing, refusing to give in.

Drake laughed. “Which war?”

I glared at him as Michaels chuckled. Annie, watched, casually running a finger along the top of her glass.

“Yes, I was talking to the Fuhrer about you, Star,” Drake said, then his eyes narrowed. “That is, before you came in and killed him.”
   “Hitler,” I replied, understanding. Of course. I knew Hitler and his Nazis had been experimenting with genetics during WWII, and many other inhumane things. It would make sense that they might be experimenting with shape shifters and vamps, too.

“Of course,” Drake said, with a sneer. “Hitler had the right idea. To make a super race, but not of humans.” Then he laughed, and his voice grew soft and menacing. “That was just a rouse.” Then Drake looked down at his glass. “Yes, I knew Hitler and I had his ear.” Then Drake crossed the room as he spoke, running his hand along the end table as he passed. “He was experimenting with vamps as well as humans, but when I told him about you, he was very interested.”

“You unimaginable bastard!” I replied, my eyes narrowing.

Drake grinned and nodded, raising his glass as if I had just paid him a great compliment as he paused at the bar.

“How did you find out about me?” I asked, my curiosity winning out.

“I’ve been watching you for a long time, Star,” Drake replied, his eyes narrowing. “I’ve known what you are for a while.”

“I see,” I replied, nodding. “What do you want with me, Clark?”

Drake’s eyes narrowed as he slowly crossed the room. “I want what he wanted.”

“Hitler.”

“Yes,” Drake replied, approaching, then stopped before me. “With an army of shape shifting vampires, I could rule the world.”

I laughed until tears came to my eyes. “Don’t you know you can’t rule the world, you moron?”

Drake hit me hard on the side of my cheek, but it only moved my head, and I was so angry I felt nothing. I eyed him, my green eyes flaring. “I’ve had enough of this,” Drake replied. Then he turned to face Michaels. “Take her to Mengele.”

“Josef Mengele? The scientist who did obscene human experimentation for Hitler? He’s here?” I asked, unable to believe my ears. He was a notorious scientist who was single-handedly responsible for the torture and death of many Jews, which included children as well as adults.

Drake’s green eyes flared as he stepped closer to me, looking me straight in the eye. “Yes, the Angel of Death.”

“He was no angel,” I replied, undeterred, staring him down. “I thought he was dead.”

“So did a lot of people,” Drake replied, motioning toward Michaels. Annie put her drink down onto the glass coffee table and stood, too. “He escaped you in Germany. I found him and he’s been continuing the Fuhrer’s work. But now it’s my work.”

“You’re a mad man!” I replied, my eyes narrowing.

“Take her to Mengele!” Drake said to Michaels, ignoring me. He was becoming unnerved, growing tired of our banter. “Now!” 

Michaels grabbed me roughly by the arm, pulling me toward the door.

“You won’t get away with this!” I replied, as Michaels shoved me roughly to the door. Every instinct within my body was telling me to act—to change and blow their heads off—but I knew if I did that, I’d never find Rick and Zac. I was sure they were with Mengele, and my blood boiled. I knew I had to let Drake and Michaels take me to them, but deep down inside, I knew I would not leave this building alive without taking them down.