Territory of the Dead (Book 2): Phase Two: Evaluate Page 9

  “You know his name?” I hissed, ignoring the pain. “And how do you know it won't happen again? Are you volunteering yourself to be his donor?” I looked at the sides of his throat before continuing, “Funny, I don't see any puncture marks. It's easy to sit there and scoff, when you haven't experienced it for yourself. Let him rip into your throat, then you tell me to calm down.”

  Kellan's eyes flared with anger. He came to his feet so fast, the chair fell over. “Don't talk to me about pain, little girl. You don't have a clue as to what it really is. A little mud in the swamp and a vampire bite are nothing, believe me. There are things that are far worse, and for your sake, you better hope you never have to find out what they are.”

  His voice was bitter at the end. There was something in his eyes and voice that made me believe he knew what he was talking about. Turning around, he quickly pulled the chair back up. When he faced us again, he was back in control. “Drake is safe, I vow it. You'll just have to take my word for it because I'm done explaining. My house, my rules. If you don't like it, you're welcome to leave.”

  One of these days, I was going to call Kellan out on that, but it wasn't the time or place. I felt too ill to walk up the stairs, much less to take him on. The day was coming when I would call his bluff, though, and I'd be prepared when I did.

  My legs trembled underneath me. Kellan stalked away, so I took the chair we'd been in. Sitting down carefully, I breathed out a sigh of relief. I was weaker than a baby. At that moment, I didn't care if I ever left it again.

  Jayden walked into the room, a furry little bundle in his arms. His expression changed to relief when our eyes met. Smiling at me, he carried her across the room.

  “It's good to see you up, Tabitha.” Jayden squatted down on the floor next to the chair, but I only had eyes for the puppy. And how adorable it was, with its shiny black eyes and fluffy fur. Somehow, he'd found a pink ribbon. It was now tied around her neck. “There's someone here that is dying to meet you.”

  He placed the puppy in my lap. “So she is okay?” I asked, almost too afraid to believe it. Maybe it was ridiculous that I wanted a pet so badly, but I couldn't help it. At that moment, it seemed like my entire world rested on whether or not I could keep her.

  Jayden grinned. “She's perfect.” He had skipped shaving, so he had a shadow of dark beard growth on his cheeks and chin. It looked rugged and sexy on his chiseled face. I smiled back at him.

  He placed the puppy on my lap. She looked at me curiously for a moment before kissing my hand. “I love the ribbon. She's so cute. Thanks for giving her a bath.”

  “No problem,” Jayden replied, staring up at me. The light caught his eyes, illuminating their golden glow. It was enough to make any girl lose her train of thought. I wasn't any exception.

  His lips curved up even more. Had he noticed my fixation with his eyes? His voice was warm as he continued, “I also fed her. She was starving.”

  I bet. She looked up at me, sniffing the air. Her fur was soft and springy, the front long enough to hide her eyes. “Do you think she's a toy poodle or a regular one?”

  “I think she's a toy poodle,” Mom said, bending over to scratch her behind her ears. The dog loved it. She rolled over and offered up her belly, much to everyone's amusement. “She's barely more than a baby. I wouldn't guess her to be more than three months old.”

  Jayden stood up. “What are you going to name her?”

  “Oh, that's easy.” I'd already decided on a name for her. Pulling her up on my chest, I continued, “I'm going to call her Destiny. It was meant for me to find her. It suits her perfectly.”

  And it was meant for her to find me. I couldn't explain it, but it was true. Despite my painful throat, and my fear of the vampire, I felt the last of my melancholy fade away.

  Destiny had arrived, and she couldn't have picked a better time.

  Chapter 8

  An hour had passed since Kellan left the room. The vampire hadn't made his appearance, yet. Knowing he was there made me uneasy. Death was all around us, both inside and outside of the chain link fence that surrounded us.

  Everyone in the house was up, even James. They all lingered in the room, staring at each other uncomfortably as they tried to keep a conversation going. I'm sure they remained out of fear. Who wanted to wander the hallways or go into a room by themselves, when a vampire was on the lose?

  They'd seen the damage he could do. I was right there in front of them, my bandaged neck a painful reminder of how vicious a vampire could be. The shot I'd received relieved a lot of the pain, but it didn't take away the memory. Nothing ever would.

  “I can't believe vampires are real,” Jayden muttered in disbelief. He looked at me, his eyes sincere. “When I heard you screaming, my heart just stopped. I thought you were a goner, Tabitha. I was sure a zombie had gotten you.”

  That would have been a lot worse. I'd survive the vampire's bite. I wouldn't have survived a zombie.

  The others stopped talking, all of them watching the two of us. “What the hell is wrong with Kellan?” James snapped out. “It's a little bit like sheltering a hungry wolf with a bunch of cattle. How are you okay with this, Dan? I mean, take a look at your daughter.”

  James gestured toward me, his cheekbones a bright shade of red. “Tabitha nearly died. I don't want that happening to my own daughter. I'm seriously considering leaving, and the rest of you should, too. Let Kellan keep him, if that's what he wants.”

  For once, I was in agreement with James.

  “Oh, don't leave on my account,” a chilly voice drawled from the doorway. We all stared, our expressions a mixture of shock and horror. Somehow I came to my feet, my eyes scanning around me for anything I could use to protect myself.

  The vampire noticed He stared at me as he said, “There's no need for that.” He stopped and smiled mockingly. “I'm actually pretty full. I prefer not to overeat. Indigestion and all.”

  “You bastard,” my dad hissed out, his voice furious. He was easygoing by nature, but once he was riled, it took a long time to settle him down. “That's my daughter you fed on. I ought to kill you where you stand.”

  The vampire stepped into the room, casually shrugging his large shoulders. He wasn't as heavily muscled as Kellan was, but he looked strong. His skin was extremely pale, his dark eyes big and luminous. There was something within their dark depths that just looked ancient. His lips were naturally red. Was it a vampire thing? I didn't know.

  He was tall, his face chiseled and aristocratic. His dark hair was long and tied in the back. He had an enticing, dangerous beauty that women would find irresistible. Even I wasn't completely immune to his charms, but I'd survived what his type could do. The memory was strong enough for me to disregard the irresistible picture he portrayed.

  Drake smiled at us, flashing his long, sharp, and pointed fangs. My mom, James, and Amanda gasped. It just enraged me. “Oh, well, if you insist,” he replied, beckoning to my dad. “I suppose I can make room for one more.”

  His meaning wasn't lost on any of us. I can't say what would have happened, had Kellan not decided to rejoin us. “Knock it off, Drake,” Kellan warned him, his voice and expression hard. “I'm not playing. You follow my rules, or you're out.”

  For some reason, I believed that Kellan was strong enough to do it. In that moment, a light bulb went off. Kellan didn't take chances. He wouldn't have let him in, not if he couldn't control him. I stared at him in horror. What was he really? It was a terrifying thought.

  The vampire relented. “I apologize for my bad behavior,” he said charmingly, walking slowly over to us. “And I apologize to you, my dear.”

  His eyes locked onto my face. He continued to stare at me as he fell silent. Naked need shot through his eyes. Kellan loudly cleared his throat. It seemed to reanimate the vampire.

  “I'm sorry,” he apologized again. Drake turned away from me, addressing everyone in the room. “It's been awhile since I've been around anyone alive. I seem to have forgotten my manner
s. My name is Drake Douglas... And I'm a vampire.”

  I stared around the room, taking in their reactions. James looked angry, but he also looked afraid. He had his hand on Amanda's arm. She was as white as a ghost.

  Dad have moved closer, in an effort to protect me I was sure. His expression was a mixture of disbelief and anger, but there was also some puzzlement. There was so much to take in, and it went against the grain for him. My dad was a simple man. He'd never put much into the supernatural world. To him, it simply never existed.

  Mom stood beside him as she tried to look brave. Both of them loved me, of that I had no doubt. I was lucky to have parents like them. Even when it came to a vampire, they did all they could to keep me safe.

  Sara was there, but she remained in the background. She couldn't have cared less. Nothing mattered to her, if it didn't involve Kellan. It was clear to me that she wanted him. Whether she'd had him or not was anyone's guess.

  Jayden stood right next to me, his arms crossed. Like the vampire, he had long hair. Usually, he wore it in a ponytail, but it was currently loose. It brushed the tops of his shoulders, straight and silky-soft.

  He might have looked calm and relaxed, but I could feel the tension within him. He wasn't looking for a fight, but he wouldn't balk at one, either. I was lucky to have his support, too.

  As for Kellan, he just looked pissed off. He was only a few feet away from Drake, watching him closely. He was testing the vampire, testing him to see if he could control himself around the living. I fervently hoped the vampire did. If he didn't, we were all dead.

  “How?” I finally asked, breaking the silence. “How can you be real?”

  My question amused him. He smiled at me in response, his body relaxed. It only increased his preternatural beauty. I was dazed, not only by his looks, but by what he was.

  “We've always been here, even in this country. We shared it with the Native Americans. They were aware of us, but they gave us a wide berth. In those days, there was plenty of room. A lot has changed since then, though. Our numbers have diminished. We felt it wise to isolate ourselves and remain hidden. Some went to ground, but the others? They have been taken.”

  “Taken?” Jayden echoed. “Who could have taken you?”

  His question only amused him even further. He laughed, but he was the only one. Even his laugh sounded dangerous. “Why humans, of course. Were you not aware of the their research facilities? They have them scattered throughout the world. Unfortunately, we didn't know their locations, though. Otherwise, we would have stopped it.”

  “You're telling us that you've been held, against your will, in some type of hidden facility?” I asked, full of doubt. None of us had ever heard of that before. “If that were the case, why wasn't it on the news?”

  Drake arched an eyebrow at me before turning to look at Kellan. “This one, she's naive, isn't she?”

  He turned back to me. “Surely, you aren't foolish enough to believe that the public really knows what's going on in their world?”

  Yes, I really was that foolish. The veil was slowly being pulled away, though. It was clear to all of us that Drake was a vampire. What reason would he have to lie about the rest? None, not that I could see.

  “Times are bad for the vampires,” Drake said, changing the subject. “I haven't seen any of my kind since escaping. If I had to guess, I would say that they've all went to ground. There's nothing alive for them, not now. All I can hope is that the humans somehow manage to find a way to overcome this annihilation.” He smiled at me. “Or we will find ourselves exterminated, too. No humans, no food.”

  I got his meaning, but it wasn't something I wanted to think about. “Where did you escape from?”

  “The Kisatchie National Forest. Three weeks ago, the research facility fell. I don't know the specifics.” Drake stopped, his pale features tightening underneath the artificial light. “Let's just say I was incapacitated. At some point, one of the guards pushed the right buttons to release us. I'm not sure why. Maybe they thought we could save them, or maybe it was because one of them felt sorry for us. Who knows? All I know is we were released. I immediately fled the vicinity before finding someone to feed on. After that, I had to go to ground.”

  He paused, slowly staring at each one of us. “My injuries were extensive. When I awoke a week ago, I attempted to go south, down to New Orleans. I wanted to reunite with some of my own, and there, a vampire has a large selection of places to dine.” Drake grinned as he flashed his fangs.

  “So why didn't you?” It wouldn't have been any hardship for me, living out the rest of my life without knowing vampires were real. I wondered if the one he fed on was still alive.

  “I did but there was nothing left,” he grimly replied. “Oh, the buildings are still there, but they are now wasted on the dead. I couldn't linger and risk being swarmed. Being bit is a bitch.”

  I glared at him. “Tell me about it.” I thought about his words. “Are you saying you've already been bit by a zombie?”

  “Once,” Drake replied, but he waved it away. “It was two days ago, but you don't have to worry, we can't turn into zombies. I heal quickly, but it requires me to feed. If I don't, it makes me lose my mind. The blood thirst, it just increases by the day until we end up losing control. It was unfortunate that you had to suffer the consequences, but I can't apologize for my hunger. It's part of being a vampire, and I love being one.”

  “You can't turn into a zombie, but what if you passed it to me?” I was upset, and with good reason. The others froze at my words. I was surprised to find myself gripping Jayden's arm.

  “Is it possible?” I asked Kellan, my voice little better than a croak. “Could I be infected?”

  If Kellan felt concerned over the possibility, it didn't show in his face. “It's doubtful,” he replied, his hands on his lean hips. “Technically, Drake is already dead. I believe it requires a live body for transmission, which is why the graves are undisturbed. It's more likely that the virus died inside of him. Just to be safe, though, let me know if you feel sick or something feels off.”

  I was fuming. Instead of being afraid, I was angry. That was all I needed, another worry. “From here on out, you make sure you keep that mouth to yourself,” I ordered Drake, my voice furious. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself, biting me and then wanting to stay here with us. Do it again, and I'll stake you myself. I swear it.”

  Drake looked amused, but he answered me in a serious voice. “I'll be sure to remember that.”

  “Back to what you were telling us,” Kellan interrupted, but to my surprise, he winked at me. “We can't go any further north than the Arkansas border. There's some kind of chasm that runs all the way across. It's too big for anyone to cross, even a vampire.” Kellan muttered an expletive. “For all intents and purposes, we're trapped.”

  He stopped and looked at us, his eyebrow raised. “Unless one of you can fly a helicopter?”

  I rolled my eyes as the rest shook their heads. Of course we couldn't. We were just simple people from northern Louisiana, not pilots. Before the apocalypse, our lives had been pretty average. We'd worked, worried about the bills, and grilled on Saturdays.

  “There went that idea,” Drake said, his voice dry. “After I stopped by here to see you, I'd planned on moving north in the hopes of finding more of my own. The human race might be experiencing a disaster of epic proportions but so are we. We all face extinction.”

  “Wait,” I interrupted, holding a hand up. Looking between Drake and Kellan, I asked, “You two know each other?”

  Kellan glared at Drake. He didn't say a word, but he didn't need to. His expression warned the vampire to back off. I saw it all, and I resented it. What was with Kellan and his secrets?

  Drake turned to me and shrugged. In other words, that door was shut.

  The pain shot must have been pretty powerful. I was almost euphoric, which was pretty amazing considering the gashes on my neck. Suddenly, none of it mattered. Not the bite, not the possibi
lity that I'd been infected, not the secrets that Kellan fought so hard to keep. I was tired of it all.

  Impulsively, I turned to Jayden. “Will you help me to my room?”

  His strong arm slid around my shaky body. I was still holding Destiny in my arms. She was sound asleep, which touched my heart. She trusted me and that meant a lot.

  “Your wish is my command,” he informed me, a half-smile on his face. Jayden was only a few years older than I was, but sometimes it seemed like a lot more than that. He was confident, he was experienced. Briefly, I wondered how many women he'd slept with before pushing it from my mind. But the thought still lingered.

  Kellan watched it all. In his eyes, I could see he didn't like it. What could he say about it, though? Really, it wasn't any of his business. I didn't speak to him again. I was upset with the half-truths.