The Vampire SEAL Collection, page 28
Now what? He looked young, but his eyes told me otherwise. Even though I was a vampire and that meant I shouldn’t be afraid of anything or anyone, my Spidey sense told me to run. I inched backwards, watching the creepy vampire in front me.
“Jo, get out of here,” my father commanded.
I twisted my neck to the left. My father was standing in front of a glass room with his right hand clamped around a man’s neck. My gaze traveled upwards, resting on the man’s face. He had short brown hair and I recognized him from the photo Webb had showed us in the war room. The man my father had pinned against the glass was my Uncle Patrick.
I turned on my heel and ran to my father. I stopped and glimpsed beyond the two men into the glass room, gasping for air as my gaze fell on Sam. His lifeless body was lying in front of me with a sheath of glass separating us. My throat tightened, tears clouding my vision as anger rose, snaking its way through me.
He looked worse than he did in the picture. His arms were hanging off the sides of the metal table. His cheeks were hollow, his skin pale. I bent over, the room spinning, the light around me fading. I placed my hands on my knees, taking deep breaths, trying not to pass out.
“Jo, get up,” my father commanded. “Tripp, get over here, now!”
With my hands on my knees, I turned my head, glancing at the red-eyed vampire who stalked toward me. I should run, but I stood frozen in place. Some vampire I was, standing in the middle of an otherworldly battle with swords, daggers, vampires and now the devil. Panic crept up my spine. Shouldn’t I be brave, fighting the bastards that did this to my brother? Nope, instead, I was bent over, willing myself not to pass out.
As the red-eyed vamp approached, sword in hand, Tripp came running up behind him.
“Edmund, over here,” Tripp called out.
Edmund spun around, pointing his sword at Tripp.
“Patrick, open the door. I’m not going to ask you again,” my father said.
“That will be the last thing I do, Steven. Do you think I’m going to let your son live? After everything you’ve done to me since we were kids? Go ahead. Kill me,” Patrick barked.
A seed of hatred propelled me upright at the sound of my Uncle Patrick’s voice.
“Just break the damn glass,” I shouted. “Do it now. You have to save Sam.”
“Look. Your daughter is desperate. And for what? You forced her to change for this, to save Sam’s life. You don’t really think that’s going to work, do you?”
“What’s he talking about?” I asked.
“Tell her, Steven. Tell her what she did was all for nothing. Tell her that her immortality was just to satisfy you, so you could make up for all those lost years after you left the twins with your psycho sister-in-law.”
How did he know all this? Did my father really know where I was all these years?
“Don’t listen to him, Jo. He’s just trying to get into your head.”
“You still didn’t answer me,” I shouted. “What’s Patrick talking about? I want to know.”
“We don’t have time for a family discussion,” my father said.
I looked at Patrick whose face had turned red, his eyes closed as he hung in midair while my father choked him.
I ran up to my father. “Get Sam out of there.”
I inspected the door to the glass room. A keypad illuminated next to it with a dark, square panel just above it.
“You need the combination and his hand print,” my father said.
“Just break the glass.”
“I can’t. It’s six inches thick. It would take more than my vampire strength to crack it.”
I scanned the room for something to throw at the glass, but I couldn’t find anything in the chaos. Webb fought with his ponytailed opponent in one corner of the room. Tripp and Edmund were tangled together. Edmund had Tripp in a headlock not far from where I stood. In the opposite corner to my left, Olivia danced around with another vampire. Karate kicks and punches whipped through the air.
This whole scene was insane. Everyone was fighting and no one was saving Sam. Behind Olivia in the far corner of the room, I spied an electrical box. Would shutting off the power unlock the door?
I ran over to the corner, dodging Olivia’s dance moves, and opened the panel. I flipped off the main switch and the entire room went dark. Machines beeped. The humming of other instruments stopped, including the sound of the swords clanging. Even the vampires stopped in their tracks, their heavy breathing the only sound in the room. Then a small glow of lights turned on. I imagined the emergency power had kicked in.
I sprinted back to the glass room. The door was ajar and the panel blinked frantically. I wrapped my hands around the edge of the door and pulled, grunting in the process. It was like trying to move a glacier. I managed to move it several inches before someone pushed me from behind, knocking me to the floor. My body became wedged in the doorway.
I raised my head to look at my attacker. Edmund had a sword pointing at me as he leapt over me, making his way into the glass room. I tried to sit up, but the tip of the sword was pointed at my chest. I froze.
“You don’t want to move, little one,” he said.
No shit! I wasn’t planning on moving just yet. I looked around, examining my options. The good news—I was in Sam’s room. The bad news—I had to get away from this red-eyed devil and get Sam off the table, but I didn’t know how.
Then as if God granted me a wish, my father appeared at my feet. He grabbed the edge of the six-inch glass door and tore it from its hinges. The door fell to the floor, but it didn’t shatter, it just cracked. He towered over me, his eyes a sterling silver and his fangs smeared with blood.
I shook my head. Was this my father? It was the first time I had seen his fangs, but it was also weird to see his eyes silver. I had thought all the vampires had black eyes when they changed colors. I made a mental note to ask about that later. Right now, we needed to get Sam out of here.
“Let her go, Edmund. She is of no use to you,” my father said. He placed his left hand on his waist, moving it around.
I imagined he was searching for his sword, which was now in the hands of this Edmund dude, primed and ready to slit my jugular.
Death by my father’s sword. What a way to die.
“Steven, my friend. We go back a long way. You know that I wouldn’t dream of bringing your daughter into this mess. You know deep down she doesn’t belong in our world.” He cocked his head to one side and peered down at me. “My, my, you already turned her. For what? To save your son?” He pointed to Sam. “He’s gone. He’s not coming back.”
Why did everyone keep saying that? I didn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it. I became a vampire for one sole reason and something within me told me this jerk was lying. Nevertheless, I certainly wasn’t going to disrupt the conversation, not with a sword at my throat.
My father stared at the man, not taking his eyes off him. “How dare you lie to me? You know damn well his heart is still beating. Do you think I’m an idiot? I expected more from you, Edmund.”
I shifted my gaze slowly between them, trying to figure out how this was going to end. It seemed we were at a standstill, at least until Fernando came stalking up with a dagger aimed at my father’s back.
“Watch out!” I shouted.
My father bent down and pulled me toward him. In an instant, he turned, grabbed Fernando and threw him across the room. A loud bang was followed by a thud. Then my father jumped over me, and lunged at Edmund, both vamps falling to the floor. The sword Edmund was holding flew into the air, tumbling out of control toward me. I rolled out of the direct line of the falling sword and kept rolling until a large foot stopped me and pulled me to an upright position. I buried my face into his chest, before he released me from his grip.
I looked up and into the eyes of my estranged Uncle Patrick. Anger, hate and disgust surfaced, each emotion fighting to rise above the other. He tilted his head to one side, then studied me like I was one of his lab rats. I closed my eyes and inhaled, trying to unleash my young vampire senses. Then I exhaled sharply and opened my eyes.
“You’re still human,” I said as I stood in front of him, studying the wannabe vampire.
“Not for long,” he replied with an evil grin on his face.
My vision blurred for a second as I rushed him, throwing my body head first into Patrick. My anger won out over the hate and disgust that coursed through me. I wanted to tear him to pieces. My fangs descended and without thinking, I bit into his wrist, my canines breaking through his skin. His heart beat loudly, his pulse throbbing between my lips as I clamped down on his vein. A spurt of blood filled my mouth then slithered down my throat. It tasted bitter, almost acid-like. There was nothing good about the taste of his blood.
He screamed and threw back his head.
Arms wrapped around my stomach. Someone was trying to pull me away. I growled then kicked. It was my turn to drain my prey dry; I wasn’t letting go.
“Jo, release him.” Webb pulled at me again. “His blood is poison. He wanted you to bite him. Now release your grip.”
I couldn’t stop. I hated this man, my kin, more than anything in this world. He was evil for what he had done to Sam. His blood coated my stomach and my body started to warm. The world tilted and a rush of pain clenched my insides. What was happening to me? Suddenly, my fangs retreated and my mouth slid off his wrist. Webb, who still had his arms around me, tripped backwards as I fell on top of him. I rolled off and white foam dripped down from my lips onto the black tile floor. What the heck was that? I looked at Webb with my eyebrows pinched together.
“I don’t know what it is,” Webb said.
I staggered to my feet. Whatever was in Patrick’s blood wasn’t agreeing with me. I grabbed hold of a chair and sat down. The room began spinning. My lips curled and I smiled at Webb.
“Oh no,” he said.
“What?” I asked.
“He drugged you,” Webb said as he ran his hands through his hair.
“I’m fine. How’re you?” I laughed as I sat there.
Tripp walked up. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She drank some of Patrick’s blood,” Webb replied.
“Shit. Drugged?” Tripp asked.
“It appears so,” Webb replied.
“Sir, the Plutariums are shackled and ready for transport. The commander is taking Sam back to headquarters,” Tripp said.
“Sam? Ish…he…okay?” I asked, my words slurred. I shook my head. What was I saying? Sam wasn’t okay. “Where ish Sam?” I asked as my body swayed.
Webb placed his arm around me. “Sam is with your father. We need to get you back to headquarters ASAP.”
“Why? He’ll be dead before Steven has a chance to save him,” Patrick blurted out.
His words catapulted me out of the fog I was in. As if someone had touched me with a lighted match, I spun around with superhuman speed and lunged at the mortal monster. Killing Patrick would be a vampire blessing.
He sat still as my body blanketed his, tackling him backwards, his head hitting the floor. Without another thought, my fangs clamped down on his throat. I began to pull, ripping his skin.
“Get off him, Jo,” Tripp growled as his hands grabbed me from behind, pulling me toward him.
“Tripp, she’ll rip his throat,” Webb intoned.
Now the vamp boys were getting the idea. I wanted to mangle the asshole.
Webb bent down and whispered, “You’ll have your moment, Jo. This isn’t it. Let him go. He’s a human. We don’t kill humans.”
In my world Patrick wasn’t human. He was a beast from the depths of hell.
“Think of Sam,” Tripp said in a soft tone. “We need to get back to him. Time is critical.”
Wow, that wasn’t fair, but he was right. I was wasting precious moments.
I released my bite and looked down at Patrick as Tripp pulled me off him. As he lay there with his feet shackled and hands cuffed, he stared at me with a smirk on his face. I wanted to unleash my rage and go another round, but Sam needed me more right now.
“What are you going to do with him?” I asked. My tongue seemed to be cooperating now.
“We’ll lock all of them up in our prison wing and we’ll deal with them accordingly.”
I drew my eyebrows together and said, “What does that mean?”
“It means, Jo, that I will be seeing you again,” Patrick said.
“Shut up. I didn’t ask you,” I barked. “The only time I’ll see you is when we’re lowering you into your grave.” My fangs hadn’t retracted yet and I desperately wanted to rip out his heart, no matter how much of his drug-laden blood I drank.
He laughed. “So young and so naïve,” he said as he glared at me.
“What does that mean?” I asked, squirming for Tripp to release me.
“He’s not worth it. Besides, we have laws that protect him,” Tripp said.
“I don’t care about the stupid—”
“Get her out of here. Dr. Vieira is waiting,” Webb commanded. “Head back to the compound ASAP. Olivia and I will stay here and clean this up. We’ll meet you back at headquarters in an hour.”
I didn’t need to hold on to Tripp. His grip around me was so tight I couldn’t breathe.
“Can you loosen your arm a bit?” I pleaded.
“Not until we are out of here.”
“I can’t breathe.”
“You’re vampire now, you’ll be fine,” he said as he carried me through the basement of the hospital.
What was that suppose to mean? I might be a vampire, but I still needed to breathe to live—or did I? Boy, I have a ton to learn about all this vamp stuff.
Once outside, Tripp released me. My legs were like rubber, my knees shaking. He walked behind me as I staggered, making our way to the van. I took in a deep breath. The fresh air was a welcoming relief from the odors and smells that had me in a tizzy since I had first walked into the hospital.
I was anxious to see Dr. Vieira. I’d had my doubts when I ran from the van. He said he had been a vampire for a long time, but with two Plutariums against one Sentinel I wasn’t convinced Dr. Vieira would win.
When we reached the front of the van, Dr. Vieira wasn’t in view. The area around it seemed eerily quiet. The other car that Tripp and Olivia drove was gone.
“What happened?” Dr. Vieira said as he walked around from the back of the van. He studied me as he pulled my arms to him examining my wrists. Then he wiped my mouth with his fingers. “Whose blood is this?” His expression went from concerned to a deer-in-the-headlights look.
“Patrick’s,” Tripp said as he stood behind me, keeping me sandwiched between him and Dr. Vieira. “His blood was laced with some type of drug.”
I craned my neck and glared at him. “Thanks,” I said. The fog from whatever was in Patrick’s blood returned as the adrenaline in me seemed to disappear. My head began to hurt and with my legs on the verge of turning into Gumby, I was thankful that Tripp was at least behind me in the event I fell backwards.
“I told you to stay hidden. What have you done?” Dr. Vieira dropped his hands from my wrists. “Didn’t your father tell you that the only blood you could drink was his for the next few months?” He stood in front of me with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Yeah, but…never mind. Can we just go? Sam needs me.”
Dr. Vieira nodded. “I need to get her back so I can somehow figure out how to cleanse her system,” he said. “And the others?”
“The commander rushed Sam back to headquarters about fifteen minutes ago. Webb and Olivia will secure the premises. Viking II has taken control of the Plutariums and is taking them back to headquarters as we speak. Patrick is secured and with Webb who will escort him back,” Tripp replied.
“We need to hurry then. Between Sam and now Jo, I have my work cut out for me,” Dr. Vieira said.
I slid out from between them, praying I could at least walk to the passenger side of the van. When I reached the open door, I fell in. A few seconds later Dr. Vieira slid in and helped me into my seat. Within seconds, the van was moving. I settled in my seat and surveyed my stomach where Fernando had stabbed me. My shirt was stained with blood, but that was it. My stomach showed no signs of Fernando using me as a voodoo doll. I looked at Dr. Vieira, then back at my stomach. I shook my head a few times. I remembered the pain I went through when Cliff had stabbed me, and how my body took forever to heal. Today—not even a scratch. I didn’t know whether to be excited or shocked.
As if Dr. Vieira knew what I was thinking, he said, “It takes some getting used to. I’m surprised though, that you healed so quickly. New vampires usually take a little bit longer for the skin to heal due to their nutrient levels. But I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised since you are a Mason.”
I had no idea what he meant by his last statement, but with my new vampire life I had time to tailor that thought for now.
I sat back and tried to relax as Tripp drove back, but all I kept thinking about was Sam. Could this car go any faster? I was tapping my foot when Dr. Vieira cleared his throat.
“Jo.” His nostrils flared and he looked like he was about to explode.
What now?
“I know that all this is very hard for you. But in the future, if you don’t listen to me, if you don’t heed my words or warning when I speak, you will not last long as a vampire. In addition, when I tell you what to do when we’re back in my medical facility, you will listen. Your teenage petulance will not get in the way of my job and saving your brother. Do you understand me?”
All I could do was nod. His words were sharp, his tone unyielding. Sam was the most important person to me. For the moment, I understood what he was saying and would listen to him, but I couldn’t promise anything more after he helped save my brother’s life.
20
By the time we arrived at headquarters, the drug had waned. I didn’t feel woozy, but just to be sure I stepped out of the van and took inventory of my senses. My legs weren’t shaky and the fog surrounding my brain was gone. I gave myself the all clear sign and ran into the building through the heavy steel doors, directly to the elevator. I banged on the button until the door opened. I couldn’t wait any longer. As the door closed, a hand slid around the edge, forcing it back, and my father stepped in. I stared at the panel of buttons, avoiding him. I guess it was his turn to yell at me, to tell me how disappointed he was that I ended up in a middle of a fight when he told me to stay with Dr. Vieira. I could hear all the grown-up words and military jargon he was about to unleash on me.
