Awakened (Vampire Awakenings) (12 page)

Sera whimpered softly as his hand cruelly squeezed her breast. “You feel good,” he purred as he licked her ear. 

A knock on the door froze his movements. “Are you expecting anyone?” he asked softly.

“No,” she answered honestly.

“Get rid of them.” The knife cut into her flesh. She could feel blood running down her throat. She froze, unable to move, unable to breathe as she fully realized that he would kill her. “Now!” he hissed.

She inhaled sharply as she finally managed to nod slowly. “Who is it?” she called.

“It’s me, open the door,” Liam replied.

Her heart gave a little skip of hope that quickly faded away. Liam was big, but Jacob was bigger, and obviously crazy. She didn’t want Liam to be hurt, and she knew that Jacob would kill him, or her. Hopelessness filled her as she swallowed heavily and resigned herself to what she had to do. Jacob would hurt her, but she wasn’t going to let him hurt Liam too. “I’m not feeling well,” she called out.

“Sera, open the door!” he yelled.

She was puzzled by the anger in his voice, but she didn’t have time to figure it out, and at the moment she didn’t really care. “Just go away Liam.” Her voice cracked as tears spilled down her face. “I don’t want to see you tonight.”

“Sera...” Jacob gripped her hair painfully and dug the knife in a little deeper.

“No, I don’t want to talk to you. I… uh… I just need to be alone. I need to study!”

Silence came from the other side of the door, and she held her breath as she prayed he would stay there all night. “Fine,” he finally said. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

She wanted to scream for him to help her but she kept her mouth closed as tears flowed freely and her hope vanished. Jacob’s eyes sparkled with malice. She closed her eyes, unable to look at him anymore, unable to think anymore.

The loud crash startled her eyes open. Jacob gasped in surprise as he was ripped off of her. The knife sliced her as she was knocked to the floor. She gasped in shock as she fumbled at her cut neck. Blood spilled between her fingers, ran down her arm, and dripped onto the floor. She sat numbly, barely hearing the crashes around her, and the grunts of a fight.

She stared numbly at her bloody fingers as her mind spun in directions that she didn’t understand. She couldn’t grasp hold of a single thought. Liam was suddenly before her, his face was pinched tight and there was blood around his mouth, and on his cheek.

“Are you all right?” he demanded. “Sera, are you all right!?”

She was unable to answer. He gingerly explored her wound. “Don’t move.” He moved swiftly over and shut the battered door and slid the chain lock on. She watched his legs as he strode to the other side of the room in search of something. He came back with a towel that he placed gently against her neck. She winced in response. “You’ll be okay,” he whispered, lightly stroking her hair. “It’s not deep. Just hold this on your neck.”

She nodded slowly but didn’t move. He took her trembling hand and placed it against the towel, forcing her to hold it. His eyes were dark with worry as he studied her intently. With a soft sigh, he brushed back her hair and kissed her forehead. “I’ll be right back, okay?”

She nodded again and watched as he walked away. She wondered dully where Jacob was but she couldn’t seem to form the question out loud. She heard him shuffling around on the other side of the bed. Loud music slowly registered and she dimly recalled the Halloween party going on downstairs. That was why no one had heard her, why no one had come sooner.

“Sera, do you know who this is?” She remained silent; her hand fluttered up to clutch her torn shirt together as shivers wracked her body. The blood was drying on her fingers, but she could feel more seeping into the towel. “Sera,” he said more firmly. “Do you know who this is?”

“Is he still here?” she croaked, the words sounding alien to her own ears.

“Yes. Do you know who he is?” She nodded slowly as her hand fell into her lap. “Who is he Sera?”

“Jacob.”

His narrowed sharply as he looked down at his feet. “Jacob?”

Sera started to cry as blood spilled onto her lap and seeped into her jeans. “He said I ruined his life!” she sobbed, her body shaking. He climbed quickly over the bed and grabbed the towel. He pressed it against her neck as he wrapped his arms tightly around her. “He said it was my fault. That I asked for it. I didn’t though. I didn’t.”

He held her gently, rocking her back and forth as painful sobs tore from her throat. “I know you didn’t,” he whispered. “You didn’t. How did he know you were here?”

She tried to stifle her sobs but tears continued to roll down her face. “I don’t know. He said a girlfriend of mine called him but Kathleen wouldn’t do that. I know she wouldn’t!”

Liam’s muscles were rigid as anger rocked through him. “What about Michelle?” he grated.

Sera shook her head as her trembling hands clutched at his shirt. Her tears soaked his shirt and wet his skin. He hated her tears, hated seeing her in so much pain, but he didn’t know how to take it away from her. “I never told Michelle, and Kathleen wouldn’t tell her.” she choked out.

“Would she tell anyone else?”

“No.”

Kathleen wouldn’t have told anyone else, he knew that. Just as he knew that Michelle was somehow involved. He kissed her bent head as her sobs slowly began to ease. “I need you to listen to me,” he said gently. “You need to keep this towel against your throat. I’m going to take you down to the bathroom. You’re going to take a shower, you’re going to change, and you’re going to come right back here. You can’t let anyone see you though, okay?”

She nodded slowly. He gently disentangled himself from her and stood uncertainly for a moment. Her knees were drawn up against her chest. Blood had soaked into the towel, and seeped down her neck to stain her torn shirt and jeans. Rage and helplessness battled through him in alternating waves. He should have been here to stop this from happening, but he’d been too late and she had suffered even more because of it.

He forced himself to turn away from her, before he couldn’t. Before he just scooped her up, carried her from this building, and took her far away where no one could hurt her again. He moved quickly around the room, gathering the stuff that he would need. When he was done he went back and gently helped her to stand. He led her to the doorway and pulled the chain off. Her legs suddenly buckled as she slumped against him. He wrapped his arm tightly around her waist to keep her up as he shoved the battered door aside.

Mike stood on the other side with his hand raised to knock. His eyes widened in surprise and his hand fell to his side as he took in Sera. “What happened?” he demanded.

“Go inside, I’ll be right back,” Liam ordered briskly.

Mike nodded as he slipped past Liam. He led her quickly down the hall to the bathroom, flicked the light on, and walked her in. Opening one of the glass doors of the shower, he turned the water on, and quickly adjusted the temperature. He stripped her clothes and held her at arm’s length. She tilted her head back to look at him through glazed eyes.

“Sera, you need to do this for me, do you understand?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“I’m going to leave clean clothes on the sink. There’s a bandage with them. You need to put it on your throat when you get out, all right?”

She nodded slowly, and he kissed her forehead gently. “Meet me in the room when you’re done.”

She nodded again as he led her into the shower. The fog in her mind began to lift as she ducked her head under the stinging needles of water. He watched her intently from the doorway. “I’ll be all right,” she assured him.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

He squeezed her arm gently and closed the door. She stood under the water, letting it pound against her as it eased some of the tension in her sore muscles. Blood pooled around her feet and flowed down the drain. She picked up the bar of soap and began to vigorously scrub herself. She slumped weakly against the wall as she started to cry again.

CHAPTER 9

“What the hell happened?” Mike demanded the minute that Liam entered the room.

“Don’t,” he said coldly.

“Don’t! Are you kidding me? Liam, he’s dead!”

“I know that,” he hissed.

Mike took a deep breath to calm himself. “What happened?”

Liam stared dispassionately at Jacob’s corpse. If he wasn’t already dead, Liam would kill him all over again. He had finally met Jacob, and done exactly what he had wanted to do, but it suddenly didn’t seem like enough, not nearly enough. He wished he could bring the bastard back to life so that he could destroy him all over again.

“He was hurting her,” he grated.

Mike sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. “Who is he?”

“Jacob.”

“Who the hell is Jacob?”

“I don’t have time to explain now. We have to get him out of here before Sera comes back.”

“She doesn’t know he’d dead?”

“In case you didn’t notice she’s in shock. Now help me get rid of him.”

Mike sighed again as he nodded. “Fine, but I had better get a full explanation later.”

“You will.”

Mike helped him strip the sheets from Sera’s bed and wrap Jacob within them. “Your car’s out back, in the alley.”

Liam nodded. “Can you take him down by yourself?”

Mike lifted him easily and flung him over his shoulder. “Yeah. I’ll meet you down there.”

“Is Michelle at the house?” he asked, stopping Mike in the doorway.

“I don’t know.”

Liam nodded as Mike strode out the door. He instantly busied himself with cleaning up the mess in the room. He sopped up Sera’s blood, and the little bit of Jacob’s with towels that he tossed into a plastic bag. She’d been in the bathroom for awhile, but he could still hear the shower. He had one more thing to do before he could make sure that she was all right. He crossed the room, picked up the phone, and quickly dialed the house number. His eyes searched the room for anything he might have missed, but the room appeared to be spotless.

“Is Kathleen there!?” he yelled into the phone the minute that someone answered.

“Who?” someone drunkenly yelled above the music, and the distinct chant of, “Strip, strip, strip!”

“Kathleen! Little blond, big chest!”

“Oh, yeah, hold on.”

The phone was dropped with a clatter that made him flinch at the sharp noise. “Hello!” Kathleen called into the phone.

“Kathleen, its Liam.”

“Hey! Whassup?” she asked drunkenly. “You comin ta join the party?”

“Kathleen, sober up!” he snapped.

She grew silent and the sounds of the party began to fade. “What’s wrong?” she asked, no longer having to scream into the phone.

“I just need to ask you a question.”

“Is Sera okay? What’s wrong?” Her voice raised an octave with every word.

“She’s fine, everything is fine. I was just wondering if you had told someone about Jacob?”

“Jacob who? Wait a minute, oh, the ass?”

“Yes.”

“No, of course not! Why? Don’t tell me he tried to contact her. Bastard! No, I never told anyone. I wouldn’t do that. She doesn’t think I did, does she?” she asked in a shrilly rush.

“No, no,” he assured her quickly. “Nobody thinks you did, I just had to make sure.”

“What did he say to her?”

“Nothing, don’t worry about it right now.”

“Of course I’m going to worry about it. I’ll be right there.”

“No. Stay there, we’re coming over.”

“Are you sure? Does she need me? Are you sure she’s okay?” Kathleen demanded.

“I’m positive. Just stay there. Is Michelle there?”

“Yeah, she’s here. Where else would she be?”

“I’ll be right there.”

“Okay.”

Liam hung up the phone and walked over to the door. He fiddled with the latch and put the screws back in as he fixed it to the best of his ability. There was nothing he could do about the splintered jam, but he didn’t really care. He looked into the hall as Sera emerged from the bathroom with a towel draped over her arm. Her hair hung wetly around her shoulders; her clothes were wrinkled and damp. The bandage was placed securely against the wound in her neck, a fact he was extremely grateful for.

He stepped away from the door as she walked slowly into the room. Her eyes still looked a little dazed, but she seemed calmer. Her skin was a bright, angry red. His teeth ground together as he realized that she had scrubbed herself raw. “Feeling better?” he asked.

She looked slowly around the room and nodded. “Yeah.”

“I need to go to the frat house. I need to talk to Michelle.”

She looked at him questioningly as she dropped the towel on the floor. “Why?”

He shrugged as he gently clasped hold of her arms. “I just do.”

She blinked at him for a moment and nodded slowly. “All right.”

“You’re coming with me.”

“Okay.”

He desperately wanted to ease the lost look in her eyes, but he didn’t know what to do to ease her pain. He pulled her against him as he attempted to comfort her. “It’ll be all right,” he whispered. “He’s never going to bother you again.”

“Where is he?”

“He’s gone.”

She nodded slowly as he stepped away from her. Seizing her arm, he led her out the door to the elevator. They descended quickly and he walked her out the back, avoiding the main lobby, and the party. His car was parked by the door. Mike was leaning casually against it, his arms crossed over his chest as he stared at them. Liam opened the door for Sera and helped settle her into the car. She sat numbly as he hurried to the other side and Mike slid into the back.

He drove quickly back to the frat house and pulled into the driveway. Throwing the car into park he turned to look at her. “I need you to stay here.”

“Why don’t I take her in?” Mike suggested quietly.

Liam shook his head as he squeezed her hand gently. “Will you be okay here?” She nodded slowly. He kissed her quickly as his hand lingered on her cheek. He hated to leave her but he had to go inside and take care of this. “Stay with her,” he ordered Mike.

He forced himself to release her as he flung the door open and climbed out. Mike hopped out of the back seat and slammed the door shut. “Liam, let me take her in,” he said quietly.

“No, she stays here.”

“Liam...”

“I have something that I have to do. She’s staying with me. Just watch her, I’ll be right back.”

Liam turned away and hurried into the house. He climbed the stairs quickly; the music became louder as he went. He reached the attic and flung the door open to a packed room that shook with music and reeked of alcohol.

He moved quickly through the crowd as he searched for Michelle. Kathleen found him first. “Where is Sera!?” she demanded, her hands on her round hips.

“Outside,” he answered as he peered over her head through the crowd.

“Is she all right?”

“She’s fine. Where’s Michelle?”

“She was on the dance floor. I’m going to see her.”

He grabbed Kathleen’s arm and halted her in place. “Not right now, okay?”

Kathleen glared up at him, her thick lips pinched tight. “She’s my best friend!” she protested.

“I need to do something first. Let me do this Kathleen. I promise it will be worth it.”

Kathleen relaxed in his grasp and nodded slowly. “All right, but you tell her that I love her, and I’ll talk to her soon.”

“I will, I promise.”

“I’ll help you find Michelle.”

He found her first though. She was surrounded by a group of men by the back wall. He moved through the group and leaned against the wall beside her. He took her drink out of her hand and sipped from it.

“Did I say you could have that?” she asked coldly.

“I’m used to taking what I want.” He smiled at her as he handed her cup back.

“Where’s the wife?”

“Who?”

“The little wifey. Where is she tonight?”

“I don’t know and don’t care.”

“Did you two have a lover’s quarrel last night?” Her voice was husky and seductive.

Anger flared through him at the reminder but he managed to keep it tightly under control. “Can’t quarrel with a lover unless they are your lover.”

Michelle glanced through the crowd, and he followed her eyes. Kathleen was standing off to the side watching them intently. Doug stood beside her, his mouth open, and his eyes wide as they met Liam’s. Kathleen grabbed his arm and pulled him away as she shot Liam a look over her shoulder. Liam didn’t know if Kathleen had done it on purpose, or if she was really pissed, but the look she gave him could have frozen hell.

“Is that why you’re here?” Michelle inquired through lowered lashes. “Need a little relief?”

Disgust washed through him at the thought, but he managed to keep his face impassive as he turned back to her. “Thought we could both use a little relief.”

Her eyes flew to his as she smiled slyly. “That may be true, but I don’t think I want to go there again, not after the way you treated me last time.”

“We both know we only wanted one thing that night.”

“Maybe so,” she whispered huskily. “But you didn’t have to be so mean to me after.”

“Ah, but I had to.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I can’t resist a challenge.”

She lifted a delicate brow as her mouth curved. “A challenge?”

He laughed coldly and turned to face her as he propped his hand on the wall beside her head. He leaned in close to her as his chest gently brushed against hers. Her body arched into him as her mouth parted slightly. He pushed down a shiver of revulsion as he forced himself to smile. “Everyone said that I couldn’t get near Sera. I proved that I could. I never refuse a challenge, and now it’s gone.”

“So she finally gave it up,” Michelle purred. “I thought you cared for her.”

“Now Michelle, you should know better that that.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He rested his lips softly against her ear. “I’m just like you. All we really want to do is please ourselves.”

She laughed and tossed back her hair as she stared up at him with narrowed eyes, and parted lips. “I’m not like that.”

“Oh really?” He stroked her chin and brushed back her hair. “Well, I know that you pleased me, and I know that I really pleased you.”

“Oh really?” she inquired sweetly as she took another sip of her drink. “What makes you think that?”

He glanced pointedly down at the hardened nipples pressed against his chest. “You do. I think we need to do it again.”

She touched his chest lightly. “So you can make me look like a fool again. No thanks.”

He grinned and leaned closer to her. “Whatever you say, sweetie. It’s your loss.”

She stared at him as he took a step back. “I can’t leave this party with you,” she said quickly.

He had her. “I understand beautiful. We’ll meet somewhere else.”

“Where?”

“Meet me in the park, by the gazebo. We’ll have a little picnic, and enjoy each other.”

“All right.”

“Ten minutes.” He rubbed his finger along her lip. “Don’t be late.”

“Oh, I won’t. You be ready for some real pleasure.” 

“I already am.”

He turned and walked quickly through the crowd. Kathleen was standing by the keg with Doug, Jack, and Danielle. They were all staring at him with mixed expressions of surprise, and anger. “You had better know what you’re doing,” Kathleen grated.

Liam poured himself a drink and took a long swallow. “I do.”

“If you hurt her again, I’ll kill you,” she hissed.

Liam shot her a look as he tossed the rest of his beer in the trash and walked away.

***

“Where are we?” Sera asked softly.

“The park.”

“What are we doing here?”

Liam sat back in his seat and turned to face her. Her eyes were a vivid purple in her pale face. Her bottom lip trembled slightly but her eyes were dry. “I need to take care of something.”

“What?”

“Michelle.”

She blinked in surprise. “How?”

“She’s going to meet me here.”

“What are you going to do?”

He reached out and gently stroked her cheek. “Don’t worry about it. Come here.”

He pulled her into his arms. She laid her head in his lap, her small hand curled around his thigh as her eyes drifted closed. He stroked her hair as he took in her pale face and the thick bandage on the side of her neck. Fresh anger washed through him as he realized exactly what could have happened to her. His hand clenched as he ground his jaw.