chapter EIGHT
“Take the front,” Maggie said, his voice low. “I’ll go around back and see if I can get some of this on video.”
“What are they talking about? Doing?” Denver asked, as she glanced from one man to the other.
Both men looked at Denver. “Does it matter?” They said in unison, and then stared at each other before looking back at Denver.
“They’re celebrating,” said Reed, disgust, evident in his tone. Anger so evident it pulsed in his jaw.
Reed and Denver stood with their backs against the wall and watched Maggie disappear around the corner. Reed closed his eyes and inhaled through a slight parting of his lips. He sniffed the air. She didn’t want to disturb him. There was something mysterious, masculine about what he was doing, how he looked. Raw hunger etched his face. Nonetheless she knew what he was doing and why. She’d seen it before. She wanted to touch him, pull him back from this trance like state but not just for that. Standing this close to him while he was in this feral state sent a wave of unfamiliar sensations through her body. If she thought much about it, she could say she was wet, and trembling in places she shouldn’t be, hadn’t been in a long time.
Denver closed her eyes, shook her head and blew out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She opened her eyes to stare into the deep dark orbs of Reed’s.
So she did. “What are they talking about?”
“Cleansing the earth of the impurities. Their golden rewards when they are finished.”
Cold slivered across her skin, raising the hairs. But she wasn’t cold. Sweat dripped down her back and between her breasts. A wave of energy prickled her body but it wasn’t hers. It was Reed’s. And… it wasn’t good.
Denver reached out a reluctant hand and touched him. He didn’t move, just stared at her.
“Are you okay?” She made her voice as soft as humanly possible.
He shook his head, sucked in a breath and blew it out.
“Let’s do this.”
One step and everything went to hell. The window on the wall above their heads blew in… or was it out. It was hard to tell with a million shards of glass raining down on their heads. Reed dragged Denver to the ground and covered her body like a blanket. His movement so fast she didn’t have time to think.
Screams fractured the air and displaced the quiet. They weren’t familiar. That was a good thing. Hopefully no one saw them. But where was Maggie? Damn, Denver wished she hadn’t let her power go to waste. If she’d been as strong as she was before she decided to live among the humans, dress like them, become them, she would have been able to find Maggie just by thinking about him.
Reed pulled her to her feet, almost throwing her over his shoulder before another blast shook the ground under their feet.
“Put me down. I’m okay.” She shoved at his shoulder.
“You weren’t talking, just staring into space. I thought--”
“I was trying to find Maggie.” She hoped she wouldn’t have to explain.
“Did you-- find him?”
Denver shook her head.
“We gotta go. There’s someone coming.”
She didn’t ask him how he knew. If she didn’t understand everything about Reed, she understood that. He smelled it.
Damn. What a waste she’d become.
They ran for the trees and where they’d left the car. Whatever was going on inside the warehouse wasn’t a battle they were prepared to fight that day so they’d wait. They’d wait until they could wreak their vengeance without an audience.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”
Denver and Reed froze; coldness engulfed her body as if she’d been dipped in a vat of ice water. Reed tightened his grip on her hand as he slowly turned to face the person who’d spoken the words. They both knew it wasn’t Maggie.
Shit.
“Who are you? No, don’t answer that.” The man walked a circle around them, the gun in his hand pointing at Reed’s head. “Better yet, how the hell did you find us?” He asked as if he knew why they were there.
“We ran out of gas and were looking for a phone.” Denver lied, trying to cover the low growl slipping between Reed’s teeth. She tightened her grip on his hand.
Wasted or not, Denver shivered when Reed’s energy crawled up her arms and settled at the nape of her neck. Trying to reach out to Reed or Maggie or anyone, she closed her eyes and projected.
Nothing.
Nothing but wave after wave of electrical energy wrapped around her body. It was almost dizzying.
Reed took a step toward the man. The man took a step back.
“Holy crap!” The man took another step back, but he brought the hand up and stretched out the arm holding the gun. “You’s one of them. I thought we killed all of you. Brian! Get the hell over here!”
Reed struck. He leapt on the man, crashing him to the ground. His body pinned the man like a wolf would restrain his prey, right before the kill. Reed captured the man’s head between his hands and jerked. The man’s neck popped before he could get another syllable between his lips. The snapping sound was sickening to Denver’s ears, sending a wave of nausea to the pit of her stomach.
In a split second, Reed transformed into a man she didn’t know and Denver wasn’t sure she wanted to. His beast’s killer instinct was released and the man never had a chance. She almost felt sorry for him. That was until the images of Laura’s broken and beaten body returned to the fore front of her mind.
“We need to get out of here,” she said as she glanced over her shoulders, then back to Reed. He was up and running in a blur of speed, her hand tucked tightly in his grip. She wasn’t sure if her feet were touching the ground. A minute later Reed came to a sudden stop.
“Son of a bitch.”
Denver looked in the direction he was staring. She fought and lost the urge to keep her mouth shut when it wanted to drop open.
The car they’d driven was gone.
Gone?
Where the hell was the car? Where the hell was Maggie? Reed grabbed Denver’s hand and started walking back the way they’d come. He shook his head when Denver opened her mouth to say something. She closed it and tugged her hand out of Reed’s grip.
“I know how to walk.” She didn’t try to smooth the anger in her tone. She knew what Reed was thinking. No way would Maggie do this. There is no way he’d abandon them-- her out in no man’s land and within a hair’s breath away from the very men they were hunting.
“It’s going to take hours to get to safety.” Reed finally spoke after several long minutes of silence.
“I know what you’re thinking.”
“No-- you don’t.”
What could she say to that? She probably didn’t know what he was thinking. Damn. Today she didn’t know what anyone was thinking. If she did, she wouldn’t be in this predicament. She would have known all along that Maggie was a traitor, a cheat and a liar. Just one more thing she’d hate herself for.
* * *
The sun was high in the sky. They’d already walked for over two hours. Stopping briefly a time or two to seek out a bit of shade and to gauge if they were being followed. Thankfully, they were alone. That she couldn’t understand. Surely those creeps missed the man Reed disposed of. Denver glanced up toward the sun and quickly shielded her eyes from the burning rays. Her skin had been itching for quite some time. She wasn’t sure when it started but she knew the signs. First the itching, then the sunburn and heat radiating from her skin. The blisters would come next. If she didn’t find shelter and food soon they wouldn’t have to worry about finding and killing her. Mother Earth’s curse would do it gladly enough.
Reed wasn’t talking to her. It was probably better that way. He could remain mad. She didn’t care. This way when they went their separate ways, it wouldn’t hurt as bad. She glanced at the sun, her watch and then the back of Reed’s head.
He had a nice head. Closely shaven. No bumps or protrusions. His hair looked silky. Denver reached out to touch it but he was too far away. She brought her hand up to her face, flexed and un-flexed her fingers. They wavered in the light, reminding her of snakes slithering out from her wrist. She swallowed the hot air gagging her and tightening her throat, making her cough.
She took a step and stumbled. Reed was by her side before she could call his name.
“Denver. Denver, what’s the matter?”
She shook her head as she grasped the collar of her tee, fanning it.
“Too hot. Need water. ” Blood would work nicely too. She pushed up to stand. And a dark room.
Reed grasped her arm and steadied her when she began to fall backward. His gaze settled on the minute blisters ballooning up on her skin. Her chest where the skin was uncovered and her face were the worst. But it was okay. It didn’t hurt… much.
“God. Why didn’t you say something?” Reed started tugging his shirt from his pants. He pulled it over his head and wrapped it around her, pulling it up just enough to cover her head and forehead. He tucked her arms inside the shirt. “I’ve got to get you to shelter.”
Wrapping his arms around her body, he lifted her into his arms and pulled her snug to his chest. “You’re burning up.”
“Put me down, Reed.” She slapped at his shoulder. “I can walk.” Even to her the words sounded like a lie. They lacked punch, as did her hands.
Her energy was fading fast. He was right. If he didn’t get her to shelter, today would be her last day on Earth. She’d never blistered this fast. But then again, she’d never been out walking in the damn desert like sun at high noon either.
“Shut up, Denver.” He pulled the shirt further down to cover her eyes. “Damn it, I’m so sorry. I should have remembered.”
“It’s not your fault.” Her voice cracked. “I should have remembered.” She closed her eyes and burrowed into Reed’s grip.
* * *
He’d been walking for hours, seeking, searching for a place, a hole, anything that could provide shade for Denver. She’d stopped squirming thirty minutes prior. At one time he thought she’d died in his arms. Her respirations so slow and shallow he stopped walking to stare at her chest, thanking God when he witnessed the rise and fall of it.
She hadn’t spoken in such a long time it was almost frightening. What if it was too late? What if finding the shade wouldn’t be enough to bring her back? Would she be the same person? He’d heard stories of vamps that’d been dark starved and it drove them crazy; so crazy they had to be put down like rabid dogs.
He shook his head to remove those thoughts. No way would he do that. Couldn’t. Reed glanced up at the sun as it scorched the land surrounding them, ignoring the steady stream of sweat dripping down his back.
Focusing on the dirt road stretching out in front of him, he wondered how much of a mistake it was to veer off the main highway. At least if they stayed there, then maybe a car would have driven by. However, that also opened them up to a closer encounter with the enemy. Reed paused, shifted Denver in his arms to allow circulation to the arm that was falling asleep. He focused his eyes and searched the land stretching out before him. His gaze passed what he thought an aberration twice before his eyes focused on it.
And old abandoned hippie van sat dead alongside the road, looking as if it had been there for years. Reed didn’t care if it had been there one hundred years. It was shelter.
“Look baby, it’ll do until night fall.”
Denver didn’t stir. Reed laid her down beside the van. He pulled on the door, only to find that it wouldn’t open, probably rusted tight. He kicked the door and tried again. It opened. Sliding one arm under Denver’s legs, the other around her back, he lifted her into his arms one more time and stepped up into the van. He placed her on the floor, not wanting to lay her on the seat that was stained and discolored with things he didn’t want to think about.
Nonetheless, the fabric would make good shades. “I’m gonna shade the windows the best I can,” he said to her, knowing she wasn’t going to respond.
Luckily for them the windows were coated with inches of dirt and dust. It wouldn’t take much to block out the remaining sun. With bare hands and teeth he ripped and tore the stained material. Minutes later he had covered the front window and two side windows with his shirt, pants, ripped fabric from the seats and her Cami. He wasn’t sure if it was good to remove her shirt because of the blisters but he knew he had to shield her from as much sun as possible.
God he wished there was some water. He’d even settle for radiator water but he knew that was a moot point.
“That’s as good as I can get it, baby,” he said as he sat down beside Denver and laid her head in his lap, his fingers snaking through her matted hair.
The heat radiating from her skin worried him. There were more blisters on her now. At least he thought there were. Glancing at his watch, he realized it would be hours before the sun was set enough before they could venture out of the van. If anything, maybe he could close his eyes if only for a few minutes.
Reed relaxed back against the chair cushion only to jerk back to alert when Denver moaned. The sound tore at his heart. It was anguish filled, riddled with pain.
“Shh, Denver,” he whispered into her ear. He had to do something, anything.
Denver’s back bowed with the next moan, her muscles spasmed and contorted with each sound erupting from her throat.
“Damn it, Denver. Don’t you die on me.”
He knew what he had to do. She needed to feed. She needed the only nourishment possible to heal her, bring her strength back to peak. She needed… blood. His mind fluttered back to her allowing Magnimus to feed from her when he was bleeding and injured. Magnimus healed instantaneously with just a small amount of her blood. Reed would gladly give her his if it meant saving her life. He shifted his weight, cradled Denver’s head in the palm of his hand and brought her mouth up to his neck.
Nothing.
“Wake up, damn it!” He shook her, tapped his hand to her face. “Wake the hell up and feed, Denver!” He pressed her mouth to his neck again. Denver moaned, burrowed into his shoulder and curled into a ball.
Shaking his head in disgust, Reed laid her back on the floor, got up and started searching for anything that could help, anything that he could use to draw blood. Frustration growing, his anger so thick he could taste it on the tip of his tongue. He swept his hand under the driver’s seat, stopping on what felt like a knife. It wasn’t, but what he found would do the trick.
The chunk of broken glass weighed light in his hand. He prayed it didn’t crumble as he slid it across his hand. He didn’t even feel it but the thin line of blood bubbling up proved it worked. At first he thought to slit his wrist but knew the blood from the neck would be better, easier to control. Why he didn’t know but it was closer to the heart, warmer, stronger.
He knew if this were to work, he was going to have to act fast. He smeared the blood on his neck at the pulse point then repositioned Denver so she was facing him. Holding his hand above her mouth, he drizzled the blood onto her lips. She didn’t move.
“Open your mouth, Denver. Drink the damn blood!” He stroked his finger down her throat until her lips parted. “That’s right, baby. Open your mouth.”
Her eyes sprang open, white, opaque. “No.” Denver closed her eyes and turned her face toward his chest.
“Yes, damn it. I won’t let you die.” He cupped her head and brought her to his neck. She mumbled words just barely audible.
“At some point I won’t be able to stop.” She hissed and the stab of pain in his neck almost bowed his back.
The pain, icy, hot and sharp like a pick dipped in fire and then cooled with ice. But then her lips suctioned to his skin and she began to drink. Soft moans fractured the air around his head. Her hands clawed at his arms, shoulder, pulled him tighter to her body. Never did he think being bled by a vamp would feel so good. Sensations rippled through him awakening nerve endings and boiling his blood.
His life force pumped even harder, filling her mouth, strengthening her heart. Reed closed his eyes and he could hear her heart beat as it pounded to life. She drank for what seemed like minutes. The room began to spin and light turned to gray as Denver’s words floated back into his consciousness. At some point I won’t be able to stop. If he didn’t stop her, he’d give her all of it, every single crimson drop, freely.
“Enough,” he whispered. He knew he had to stop her but the sensations were so good down deep he didn’t want to. Her moans, erotic filled, tightened his groin, and curled his toes. “That’s enough.” This time his words were louder. Grabbing her hair in his fist, he tugged on Denver’s head, not wanting to pull too hard for fear she might rip his jugular vein out of his neck. He wasn’t sure if he could heal himself from that type of injury.
He pulled Denver away from him, grimacing when she moaned and then grabbed his shoulders in an attempt to pull him back to her.
“That’s all I can give you, Denver.” For now.
Her eyes popped open, lit with the fire raging in her blood. They captured his gaze, sending another surge of electrical impulses across his body. Why didn’t she speak, say something, anything? Had the blood been enough? Did she need more? His gaze trailed from her eyes to her mouth, capturing the smudged blood on her lips, her tongue as she slid it across her top lip.
Reed swallowed and did the only thing that came to mind. He cupped her head, brought her closer to him and captured her mouth. Forcing his tongue between her teeth and ignoring the sting of fang slicing flesh, the coppery taste of his crimson blood mixed with the heat of desire bouncing between the two of them drove him mad. What was it about the mingling of their blood, of their essence? His blood tingled his tongue, sending more sensations through his body. Moans and grunts fractured the silence of the van. It wasn’t a gentle kiss. No, there was such power, such force between their embrace another second and he’d be inside her, his shaft pounding her core until she wouldn’t know where her body began and where his ended. He wanted her wet heat surrounding him, milking him in the silken glove he knew it to be.
It ended as fast as it started. Denver pulled back first, her eyes trailed a heated gaze from his mouth to his eyes, then his neck and back to his eyes. She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, suddenly captured by sudden somnolence. Soft purrs escaped her throat as her hand played the soft hairs of his chest.
Reed closed his eyes and savored the aura of rest floating from Denver’s body. Her skin was soft and pliable, her lips hot and desirable. Everything about her tortured him. He knew he couldn’t have her even if he wanted.
He needed to keep his mind focused. He needed to disseminate the information at hand and act on it. First, find this group and bring them down. Second, find Magnimus and kill him for what he’s done to Denver. Reed was tired of seeing the hurt and pain in Denver’s eyes and he planned to put a stop to it. He needed it filled with light and fire and things he couldn’t think of because his groin was already hard from her lying next to him. She was asleep but her fingers sensuously played across his chest. Wondering what things floated through her mind, he placed his hand atop hers and let it rest there.
Warmth radiated up his arm and settled in his heart. God he loved the way her skin felt against his. Her softness against his hard body. Her silk against his steel. Her heat against his cool. He ignored the grunt sliding between his teeth and closed his eyes. With the setting sun, danger awaited them. They needed to be ready… or they would die.