Blood Curse (Pulse #8) (16 page)

          She swallowed down her tears. Had Jaegar been about to propose? Surely not. He knew about her feelings for Octavius; he knew she was in no position to make her final choice about the man, the one man, she was destined to forever love.

          And then the diamond changed color. It grew red, then orange, then yellow – a whole rainbow swirl.

          Kalina blinked through her tears and then the colors were gone. The diamond was just as it had been before.

          The door opened behind her.

          “Mom,” she turned to see Max, empty-handed. “Where's the food?”

          “What are you looking at?” Max motioned to the ring.

          “I...” Kalina swallowed. “I don't know. I don't know what it is. It was Jaegar's. But why would he carry it around, all this time, and not give it to me?”

          Max began to frown. “Give it to me.” She reached for it so violently that Kalina instinctively stepped back. “Now.”

          “Mom, what is it?”

          This voice, high and cold, wasn't like her mother. Those eyes, with such hate and cruelty in them, were not the eyes she knew and loved.

          “All this time – right under my nose...all this time.” She reached for it again; again Kalina pulled it away.

          “Mom, calm down...” But Kalina had a sneaking suspicion it wasn't her mother that clutched for the ring.

          “Come, now, girl. Don't you know you must always obey your mother...”

          “Why?”

          “Because...” Max's voice had dropped lower; it was huskier, more full of rage. “I say so.” Her body was moving; her shape was shifting; before Kalina knew it, it was Nereti that stood before her, a cruel glower upon her face.

          “Nereti?” Kalina's heart dropped into the pit of her stomach as horror overtook her. “But...where's Max? What have you done with her?”

          “She is...” Nereti looked almost confused. “She is...where I was.” For a moment it seemed as if Nereti herself were unsure of what was going on. “On her way to a place you will never reach.”

          “Your home?”

          Nereti's smile was thin. “Yes. I must confess, I did not expect to change places with her. Such a thing is unheard of in vampire lore. And it was not by my own art that I find myself here, or her there. But I am so glad it has occurred. For it means I can kill you, as I always meant to do. I felt something, some presence, lurking at the back of my mind. I thought it was you, at first. An insolent fool trying to read my thoughts. But now I know the truth. It is her that is the true link to me, not you. The older one. When she was able to withstand so much of the crystal, that great gem of the Old Place, that was when I knew. I understand it all, now...”

          “Well, I don't.” Kalina's voice was tight with fear.

          “A Life's Blood Carrier who shares your blood. That is the combination we have all been seeking. The crystals and your blood – combined into a single potent force. That is what I need. That is what I seek. The very substance of my body's make-up, which originates and has its life in the land of magic, beyond the crystal river. The land of the Fey. Not this forsaken land of filthy mortality.”

          “I don't understand.”

          “They call me ‘vampire’ now. Those who are suspicious of me. Those who know nothing. They call me the name of those little bats that hide in caves from fear. But I have another name, a truer name. Just as Columbus called ‘Indians’ those natives on a shore of which he knew nothing, so too do they call me by that which makes it easier for them to understand.” Nereti drew herself up to her full, imperious height. “No, I am a creature of the Fey…the ‘Dark’ Fey, now and forever. That is my pride. That is my heritage. That is the blood of which I am most proud. Our race, that must destroy yours, which means nothing.”

          “Well, if you like the Crystal River so much, maybe you should go back there.” Kalina tried to sound braver than she felt.

          “Not without magic, my girl. But now you have the magic I seek. And if I have to kill you to get home, that would be an added bonus.”

          “So if we're so non-magical here, how come we have all the magic, huh? Maybe you're not giving our humans enough credit.”

          “Enough talk!” cried Nereti. “I am weary of your prattle. I wish to kill you now.”

          But before she could act, the door flung open.

          Max was standing in the doorway – the real Max – and with her the most handsome man Kalina had ever seen. The man who made her heart beat so fast she thought it would burst. Octavius.

          “Kal!” Max cried. “I don't know what happened! One second I was in line for food, and the next I was suddenly...with Octavius. As if we...”

          “Traded places,” Nereti spun around to face Max.

          “Kal...” Octavius’ voice was so dreamy Kalina could have swooned. “I'm back – and ready to wreak revenge on my old tormentor...”

          “Get away from her,” Max's voice was shaking. “Kal...come to me. Don't believe a word she says about her intentions. She's lying, through and through. I heard her thoughts. I heard everything. She doesn't just want to go home. If she returns to where she came from – she'll slaughter and destroy their world the way she's tried to do in ours. We can't banish her. We can only kill her. We have to stop her.”

          Nereti's laugh was sickening. “Not if I can help it,” she cackled.

          At once she was at Max's side. “Pretty,” she crowed, motioning toward the diamond ring on Max's finger. In an instant she had whipped out a sharp silver blade and severed the finger, the ring still gleaming.

          Max yelped in pain but it was too late. Nereti was already by the window.

          “Pity...” Nereti's eyes were smoldering on Octavius. “We could have had so much fun together. I should have known the milk of human kindness would dull your sensual instincts.”

          And with that, she was gone in the blink of an eye.

          Kalina couldn't care. Octavius was here; that was what mattered. She ran into Octavius’ arms, overjoyed to have his lips press hers once more. Her love for him came rushing in like a flood.

          “I missed you so much” she cried.

          “You too, my dear one,” Octavius whispered.

          “I know why you did it. Like a general. For the cause.”

          “But my heart was always with you,” he stroked her hair.

          “I know,” she kissed him harder. “I know that now.”

          “Come on.” Max's voice interrupted them. Kalina looked on in wonder – her mother's finger had already grown back. Was it because of the diamonds or rather, the crystals she ingested? “Let's eat and then head back to the battle. We've wasted enough time. We have to go help the others.”

          “Yes,” Kalina said.

          “Here,” Max handed her a box of food. “Gulp down and drink some water. Octavius and I will head on out now, and you can follow after. Bring more rubies.” She indicated the bag and began to fill her breast pockets with rubies.

          “A shield!” Kalina said. “You’re making a shield with those rubies.”

          “Exactly. We can't be too safe. This battle will be our most dangerous yet. Now gulp down that food – and let's go.”

******

          The battle was underway. By the time Kalina had arrived at the cave complex she had left behind not too long ago, she saw at once that the numbers of Nereti's minions had been diminished. There were only half as many as there had been. And they were still fighting – a sure sign that at least some of those she loved were still alive. But which ones? She couldn't say. She squinted to make them out.

          At last she spotted Samson, fighting with his one good arm with all of his strength, Octavius and Max already at his side. But there was no sign of Justin or Jaegar anywhere.

          Octavius had the advantage. Many of the fighters still recognized him as loyal to Nereti, which gave him the element of surprise, and he was able to slaughter twenty at a single flash of his sword before they realized he had sided with Kalina now. But there were still many minions left to conquer, and only a few of them left.

          At last they were able to push the intruders back to the mouth of the cave, buying them some more time to recuperate. Samson lined the entrance to the cave with rubies, knowing it would repel the vampires.

          And then Kalina saw it. She cried aloud with horror. Justin's body lying down on the ground, his body twisted in an unnatural position. She couldn't think. Her mind went blank. Here was her brother, her beloved brother, lying in a pool of blood.

          She turned him over, gasping with terror. “Justin, no, no please! Justin, you can't be...I can't lose you a second time.” She was screaming; she was hysterical. Her own brother, the brother she loved so deeply – she knew she would not be able to bear losing him.

          “That won't help, Kal.” Octavius’ voice was soft and low alongside her.

          “Then...”

          Octavius’ smile was wry. “He's a vampire, Kal. And vampires...they turn to ash when they die.”

          How could she have been so stupid? Even after all this time, she couldn't get used to thinking of Justin as a vampire.

          “He's alive?” She could have danced in happiness.

          Justin opened his eyes and groaned. “Can't a guy get a break to rest here?” Good old Justin, Kalina thought. Keeping his good humor in spite of everything. “All this screaming and crying is really cutting into my beauty sleep.”

          “Justin!” Kalina hugged him so tight he bolted upright. “You're alive! I mean – you're here!”

          “Of course?” Justin beamed up at her. “I wouldn't leave my baby sister to fight alone, now would I? We may not be related by blood, but you're still my baby sister, and I still love you. I'm your big bro. And I'm here to stay.”

          “And Jaegar?”

          Justin looked up in confusion. “He's not here?” He wiped the blood off his face. “I could have sworn...” He looked around. “The vampire that left this mess on me – Jaegar was rushing at him. That's the last thing I remember. He saved my skin, Jaegar did. Staked at least one vamp. Then...”

          Kalina's face fell. Surely Jaegar had to be somewhere. He had to be alive! He couldn't be...that was too terrible to think about.

          They all looked around, among the piles of ash, with fear and trepidation, hoping against hope they wouldn't find any sign of...

          “Oh, no.” Octavius’ voice was full of pain.

          “What is it?”

          Octavius was holding a Life's Blood ring. Engraved in the band were those letters she knew so well. JG. Jaegar Greystone. He would never leave it anywhere. He would never give it up. Unless...

          Unless he were a pile of ash like the others.

          “No!” Kalina began to cry out. “No!” She was sobbing, wailing, screaming; she could not bear the pain. Her beloved, her dear one, her Jaegar.

          Gone. All gone.

Chapter 20

         
W
hen Kalina woke up, it took her a while to realize where she was. She wasn't in a cave, nor in an African hotel room. She was in her own room, in her own bed, in Rutherford. What was this – some sort of dream? Had she died, out there, in the caves? But the light felt real, streaming as it did through the window-panes; the sun on her face felt real.

          “How long have I been sleeping?” Her voice sounded like it was coming from a million miles away. “What the...”

          Octavius’ lips were cool on her forehead. “You've been out for a week, my love.”

          Grief. Waves of grief. So much grief she could not bear it. All coming over her, all at once. The memory of her loss, savage and anew. She could not stand it. She could not even weep.

          “She's up?”

          Jaegar! For a moment she was sure – so sure – it was his voice. It had all been a dream, that was it. A terrible nightmare. He was alive; he was safe; he was...

          “Stuart?”

          The same voice as his brother. The same face. But such a different manner. Elegant and refined where Jaegar was raffish and laid-back. Normally the sight of Stuart would fill her with relief. But now it only brought back the pain. He was half a pair. And the other half was dead.

          “Kal!” Stuart's arms were tight around her. The last time he'd held her, there had been a tension – unbearable, devastating, the force of his desire. But this time he was looking at her, holding her differently. As a brother. As a friend.

          “I'm so sorry, Kal,” Stuart whispered.

          “No, I'm sorry...” Kalina's voice was hoarse. “He's your brother. I know you must be missing him more than anyone.”

          “I know,” Stuart said softly. “I know how much we fought. But deep down we loved each other. Deep down, he was my brother. The second brother I've lost.” His voice wavered and he cleared his throat. “But, Kal, he died doing what he loved best. And none of us can cheat death forever. Most of us don't even want to. All I know is – I hope to see him again in the afterlife.” He stroked her hair. “I know how much he loved you, Kalina. So very desperately. He would want you to live on, to be happy.”

          “That's right.” A sweet, melodic female voice echoed through the room. Kalina looked up with joy to see her best friend Maeve in the doorway. “Kal, we're so happy to have you back home.”

          She was different from how Kalina had last seen her. More beautiful. Happier. There was the glow of love upon her face.

          “There's so much we have to tell you.” Maeve took Stuart's hand.

          And then Kalina understood.

          She could have burst out laughing. What a perfect pairing! She should have seen it coming from day one. Sweet, kind Maeve and honorable, upright Stuart – the ideal couple. They were made for each other. And though deep down she felt a twinge of nostalgia for what had passed between them, the idea that Stuart would end up like this, with a woman who was right for him at last, who truly loved him with an undivided heart, gave her great joy.