Crave (19 page)

I was thankful Elijah didn’t complain about the detour to my brother’s grave. I needed a chance to say goodbye to him. I didn’t know if I would ever get the opportunity to do it again. He turned the knob on the radio and an old rock love ballad filled the silent void between us. I had to get my head in the game. If I showed up at the club with tears streaming down my face, I would undoubtedly become a vampire snack.

I leaned over and fumbled with the radio knob until I found a good song to get me in the mood to fight. I settled on
Let the Bodies Hit the Floor
and cranked up the volume so I could no longer hear my own thoughts. Since we had lost the element of surprise with an early attack, we didn’t need to rush to get to the club. I wanted to get this over with, but I also knew this could be the last moments I got to spend with Elijah. I glanced over at him, and his eyes caught my gaze. He reached over and laced his fingers in mine. I smiled as I took in the absolute perfection that he was.

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he repeated, as he had many times before. I knew he meant it. He would die trying to save me and I would do the same for him. I squeezed his hand to let him know I trusted him. I didn’t like having to choose between two people that I cared about.
Who was I to say which should live and which should die?

We drove around the club before finding a suitable place to park. People milled around the front door, but the crowd didn’t seem overly impressive. We pulled into a closed business right down the road and prepared for war.

Elijah went through the uses of each weapon one more time to make sure I knew how to use everything correctly. We went back to the trunk of the car and loaded up with a few extra things because the vampire crowd would be larger here than just Reid’s Sector. I hoped I wouldn’t have to run or I would surely be overcome with all the extra weight I was now carrying.

“Do you think they know we are here?” I asked, scared to hear his response.

“It is hard to say how heightened Grayson’s senses are with the blood concoction. This is new territory for all of us. We can only hope he knows you are in the area, but doesn’t anticipate us coming for them.” Elijah was visibly worried but his confidence radiated through the air and my panic dissipated. “We are lucky that we waited until later. Perhaps if things get too bad you can escape into the daylight,” he added, thinking aloud.

“What about you? You will be stuck inside with the Sector.” It suddenly dawned on me that Elijah had never expected to make it out of this alive. His plan only went as far as to save me. I could feel my own fear pushing back against Elijah’s confidence that hung in the air. I was leading him to his death and the death of Grayson. He wrapped his hand around the back of my head and pulled me against him, pressing his lips to my forehead. I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed him tightly as tears pricked my eyes.

“I’d never lived before I had met you,” he whispered into my hair and I nodded my head. A lump had formed in my throat and I was afraid that if I had tried to speak, the floodgates would open. His grip tightened around me.

He kissed me hungrily. I felt an overwhelming urge to abandon our plan of attack and run away with him. I knew we wouldn’t make it far, but it would prolong our time together.

Reluctantly, he pushed himself back from me and held me at arm’s length. His eyes searched mine for a few minutes and I felt his anger and rage push through my sadness. “You can do this,” he assured me. I nodded and a small, sad smile flickered across his face, then quickly turned to stone.

He took my hand and guided me behind him through the maze of buildings and cars. We snaked our way around the back of the club to a fire exit that was unattended. The door was propped open by a bucket. I assumed the employees used it for their smoke breaks so the customers would not see them. I often used the one at my parent’s restaurant to do the same. It suddenly occurred to me I hadn’t smoked in days. I felt proud of myself for a second as the thought crossed my mind but was quickly replaced with fear as someone slid through the opening.

We ducked behind a car, but one of my weapons banged on the side making a loud clanging noise. I held my breath and locked eyes with Elijah. He kept perfectly, inhumanly still. I tried to mimic his actions, but my body shook from my intense heartbeat.

After a moment had passed, Elijah looked over the hood of the car. The scrawny man stood with his back to us, oblivious to our presence. I realized that he must be human and would be little match for Elijah. He put his finger to his lips to motion for me to be silent as he released my hand. He snuck quietly along the dark wall of the club. I stared at him in awe. He was a lion stalking his unsuspecting prey. The man had no idea his life was about to end. Part of me wanted to scream out to him in warning, but I kept silent, biting my lip as I waited for his death. This casualty was necessary if we wanted to gain access to the others. I no longer saw it as us humans against vampires. It was now just Elijah and me against the world.

Suddenly, Elijah was behind the man. In one swift motion, his hands rose in a blur and the man’s now lifeless body slumped to the ground. Elijah lifted him effortlessly and carried him behind a small divider wall. He reappeared a few minutes later, wiping the blood from his chin. I sighed with relief as he made his way back to my position.

“Now is our chance,” he whispered. I followed him as we crept across the quiet lot and slipped into the open door. The small room was lined with old couches and a busted brown coffee table. Luckily, no one was in sight. Elijah peered through the next door and nodded for me to follow him. We slipped through the opening into a dressing room. I was shocked to see several women milling about, but they didn’t seem alarmed at our presence.

In fact, they hardly noticed me at all. Elijah’s unmatched good looks took center stage. He smiled at them as we passed by and I felt a pang of jealousy as they blushed and smiled back. I struggled to keep my feelings to myself, but Elijah’s determination pushed through and kept my mind on track. A thick red velvet curtain is all that kept us from the crowd.

Elijah glanced around the entertainment room and as the last song ended, we rushed through. I raised my weapon and took aim at anything that showed its fangs. I was shocked at how relatively small the crowd was. It appeared that everyone in the audience was a vampire or a midnight snack. A tall, lanky man rushed Elijah. He blocked his advances and shouted at me to shoot. I aimed my brother’s gun and pulled the trigger. My hands were shaking uncontrollably and I missed, hitting a window.

Glass shattered and poured like rain onto the marble floor. Elijah’s body looped around mine and he slid his hand around my wrist, taking aim at whatever crossed my path. Vampires fell around us and blanketed the ground.

“Behind you,” Elijah shouted and I grabbed a stake from my waist and thrust it backward. With a loud grunt, the woman stopped in her tracks. She cried out in shock as she felt the object now embedded in her body. She was human. I instantly felt sick as she crumpled to the floor. Elijah’s body move away from me and I spun around to scan for danger. He was walking toward Grayson, his hand gripping another stake.

“Grayson,” I screamed, but the words were caught in my throat as a hand wrapped around my neck and squeezed.

“All this trouble for a
human
. What is so special about
you
?” a sickeningly sweet voice purred in my ear.

“Olivie,” I choked.

“Stop,” she yelled across the room to Elijah. He whipped around, his eyes locking onto mine. Vampires slowly closed in on him as I read the fear in his eyes. “Elijah’s death will come at the hands of the Council,” she said calmly.

“What is it they want from me?” Elijah asked, trying unsuccessfully to hide his rage.

“I think we both know the answer to that,” she replied coolly in her thick accent. Her grip tightened and the room began to fade. Grayson, unable to contain his hunger for me, leaped forward. Elijah spun around and caught his shirt as he flew overhead, causing them to both crash into us with enough force to knock me free from Olivie’s grip. Elijah slammed his body on top of Grayson. Olivie clawed at them desperately trying to break up the fight.

Grayson managed to escape the brawl as Olivie focused her attention on Elijah.

“Run,” Elijah growled. I stumbled getting to my feet, but as soon as I stood, I was sprinting. I made my way through the dressing room, crashing into a dancer so hard she went flying into a makeup table.  Grayson gripped my hair, shoving my head forward and into the cinderblock wall.

***

Scrambling to my feet, I didn’t look back as I made my way out of the back exit and into the refreshing air of the outside world. My lungs burned as I pushed myself harder.

I could see off in the distance that daylight would be coming soon. If I could keep up this pace for just a little while longer, I would be safe… but only me.

Our plan had failed miserably. None of it made any sense. Why did Olivie want Elijah dead? I thought of Elijah in the club, alone, fighting for his life. My heart sank and my legs became heavier as I realized I might never see him again. I pushed the thought to the back of my mind as I spotted a small wooded area off in the distance. I summoned all of my strength to continue.

As I entered the woods, my relief quickly turned to fear. I heard growling off in the distance and it was growing louder. I realized I had sought sanctuary in the one place the vampires could be outside in the daylight, shrouded by the trees. Ahead I could see a clearing, but I didn’t know how much more strength I had. The growling grew louder and I knew Grayson was coming for me. I could feel Elijah not far off and it gave me the courage I needed to continue. 

The sun’s rays began to shimmer and dance through the leaves. It was my glimmer of hope. I ran full speed as my legs felt like they would give out any minute. My lungs burned and I struggled to steady my breathing. I could see the meadow in the distance. I raced daylight, hoping to catch it. I broke through the tree line with Grayson at my heels.

“No,” I screamed, tears streaming down my face. I could feel Elijah’s emotional turmoil pushing down on us stronger than ever. It was an eerie calm in the middle of my own undoing. Elijah growled and hissed from the tree line as he struggled to stay hidden from the sun. Grayson pushed forward, his skin grew gray and gaunt in the rays of dawn. “Stop,” I pleaded, no longer running.

“Eva, Fight,” Elijah wailed from the woods, begging me to defend myself or flee to safety. My legs couldn’t carry me any further.

Grayson stepped heavily toward me, using all of his energy to push through the agony of his final death. I sobbed louder, losing control entirely. Grayson drudged just feet from me. His knees shook as he reached his arm out in front of him, struggling to touch me. I covered my mouth with my hands and watched in terror as he fell to his knees in agonizing torture.

“Grayson,” I choked as he growled and writhed in agony. His body twisted and contorted in an inhuman manner. His hands curled and froze in a stiff claw-like pose. I choked on my breath as he fell to the ground motionless. “No,” I screamed and lurched toward his lifeless body. Elijah’s anger washing through the air, but I didn’t stop. I placed my hand on his hard chest and the floodgates opened.

I wailed aloud in the middle of the now brightly lit meadow as birds chirped happily, oblivious to my pain. “I’m so sorry for all of this,” I whispered to Grayson as I wiped the tears from my face. I glanced at the tree line and spotted Elijah, hunched behind a giant spruce. His face was hard and unreadable. He stood slowly and hung his head.

I wondered for a moment if this is what my life would always be. Would I lose everyone one I love this way? A dull thud emanates from beneath my fingers and I jumped, startled at the sudden disturbance. Grayson’s face looked rosy and his cheeks full, his hair shiny and healthy. I pulled my hand back in shock as his eyes flash open and he sucked in a hard labored breath.

“Eva,” Elijah shouted from the forest, his voice panicked and thick with fear. I watched in horror as Grayson’s arm reaches toward me.  I jumped back instinctively, placing myself out of his grasp. He drew in another hard, long breath.

“Eva,” Grayson struggled to call for me in a raspy choked voice. My mind spun as I try to understand what is happening.

“Grayson?” I asked as the wall of tears built back up behind my eyes, threatening to spill over my lashes. His lips twisted into a grin as he held his hand out in front of him in the sunlight.

“I’m alive,” he called out to me, his face beaming brighter than the sun. I let out a nervous laugh as I cupped my mouth and tried to understand what I was seeing. He pushed to his feet and stood before me, arms outstretched.

“You’re…” I begin, but I was suddenly at a loss for words. I stepped closer and reached out my hand, touching his chest ever so slightly. The dull and steady thudding of his heartbeat pushed back against my fingertips. “You’re human,” I sputtered in shock. His grin spread showing all of his pearly white teeth, minus the fangs. “Do you know what this means?” I asked, unable to believe what I was seeing.

He took a deep breath and his expression became serious. His eyes locked dead onto mine as he wrapped his fingers around my hand and held it firmly in place on his chest. He seemed older. He had aged a lifetime in these few short weeks.

“I can save you,” He replied, his voice just above a whisper. My heart melted at his words and I instinctively wrap my arms around his neck. His skin was warm to the touch and it was a soothing and welcomed sensation. His arms laced around my body and squeezed me painfully tight.

His body was hard and muscular beneath me. I suddenly realized he was much larger than his old self. I felt… safe. Anger washed through the air and I pulled back as I looked off into the trees for Elijah. I scanned the woods, unable to locate him. Grayson’s arms wrapped tighter around my waist and I was pulled back into the moment. I reached up and stroked his cheek, not believing my eyes. He grinned and turned his face slightly to kiss the palm of my hand. I blushed involuntarily as happiness blanketed me. It was my happiness. The anger that floated through the air had evaporated with Elijah as he retreated further into the woods to avoid the daylight. I wanted to run after him, soothe him and let him know he had nothing to fear. My heart belonged to him now. Grayson gripped me tighter, nearly squeezing the air from my lungs as he lifted me into the air and swung me in a circle.

“This is impossible! After Marcus,” my voice trailed off as the sadness from losing my brother crept back into my mind.

“Eva,” Grayson spoke and I could see the regret in his eyes. I placed my hand over his lips, stopping him from ruining this happy moment.

“No, it wasn’t your fault. I’m just glad you are…you,” I explained and his expression softened.

All night I had mourned Grayson. If everything went the way we had planned, he should have been dead by now, but here he was, in my arms.

I blinked back the tears from my eyes, but my vision remained blurred. A haze fell over us and my heart began to race. Grayson’s arms were locked around me as the world faded back into the night. 

***