Good As Dead (Dying To Meet You Book 1) (16 page)

Lainey rolled her eyes and shook her head. Then she smiled, jiggled the keys in her hand and got herself comfortable. Perhaps the day wasn’t a complete disaster after all. Busy putting the keys in the ignition she almost didn’t hear his whispered words.

“She’s in my head.”

The words sounded pained, and it obviously cost him some effort to force them through his lips. As the car roared into life, Lainey found herself puzzled for a minute, not sure who
she
was. Pulling into reverse, she considered his comment. Was he referring to Kalliope? If so, and if he was reading her thoughts then...

“Oh no! You took her blood?” Lainey gasped, dropping the steering wheel in the middle of a sharp left hand turn.

Mercer swore softly, caught the wheel and let it continue on a safe trajectory. “I didn’t have much choice in the matter,” he croaked. “Now I have a raging headache and all I can hear is her voice. She’s driving me insane.”

“How much of her blood did you drink?” Lainey regained control of the steering wheel and was slowly navigating her way out into some relentless London traffic.

“I have no idea. I passed out after the first few mouthfuls. If I were to guess, I’d say a lot. My body should be replete and sated, but instead all I feel is a raging thirst for more of the same. What the hell has she done to me?”

“It’s probably the beginnings of a binding spell and the further you find yourself away from her, the worse you’ll feel. Did she take your blood?”

“No.”

“Thank God for that.” Lainey frowned at the traffic on the M4 motorway, which seemed to be at a standstill. She couldn’t wait to test out the horsepower of Mercer’s car, and she wasn’t going to get much of a chance if the congestion didn’t clear up quickly.

“Well, just a drop on her fingertip, if I remember correctly.”

“Damn. That’s all she needs. She’ll be able to track you down to the ends of the earth with that. You’re in lots of trouble.”

“Nowhere near as much as you though, huh?” he said dryly.

“You’re dead wrong,” said Lainey, who’d finally figured out how to work the satellite navigation system and was currently trying to find a shortcut.

“How do you figure that?” asked Mercer, with a disbelieving expression.

“Well, she can kill me. Even if it’s unpleasant and horribly slow, eventually I’ll be dead. It doesn’t work like that for you.” She winced as she considered exactly what Kalliope might be capable of doing.

“Oh, but it does, Lainey. After we deliver her your little experiment, she can do exactly as she pleases. With that serum, she has the chance to rule the world from the depths of the underworld to the crest of the Burj Khalifa. She’ll have almost unlimited power and the means to make herself richer than Bill Gates. A cure for cancer, Lainey! If she can bottle and sell it, she’ll rule the world.”

“And you guys will be falling over her feet to do her bidding, won’t you? You’ll have no choice. She’s clever enough to eradicate you from the face of the earth, if that’s what she desires. What did she do to your brother?”

“Trust me when I say you don’t want to know. I thought he was dead. To be fair, he is mostly but if there’s a chance I can rescue what’s left, I have no choice but to take it.”

“You know that neither us of will make it out of her clutches alive.”

“That thought had crossed my mind.”

Finally, the road in front of Lainey cleared and she slammed the accelerator pedal down. Mercer’s head cracked against the seat back, and the interior of the car suddenly exploded with all manner of cuss words. However, they didn’t slow her down.

Invaded

Kalliope’s voice was taunting Mercer in his brain and she wouldn’t shut up. Unable to form a single thought in his head without hearing all about the plans she had for him, he was ready to go mad. He’d been so exhausted he’d managed to fall asleep through the incessant chatter, but it had continued into his dreams. Somehow, she seemed to grab hold of his subconscious and make it hers, and that was even worse.

“I’m coming for you, darling.”

Mercer tried to ignore her but the lilac coloured eyes floated around in his head, shining with carnal intent. Her glossy pink lips began whispering all the things she’d like to do to him and they repeated themselves over, and over again, until he could barely prevent himself screaming.

Her breathy, throaty and seductive purr was like listening to chalk squeaking down a shiny blackboard, and all he could think of was his overriding need to wring her neck. There would be no point giving her the satisfaction in dreamland but if he ever got a chance in the flesh, he would squeeze until there was no life left in her body.

“Would you like to feel my lips around you, my darling, sucking on that proud obedient member while I plunge my fingers in your ass? You won’t be able to deny me a thing, Mercer. I will own that body of yours, heart, mind, and whatever little piece of soul remains. Every hole you possess will be fucked, and every inch of flesh will be whipped and caned for my enjoyment.”

When he refused to respond to her advances, she got a little more creative.

“I can’t wait to fuck you, Mercer. Hopefully, you’ll make a more agreeable pet than your brother but if you want to play things the same way, we can still have plenty of fun. I can chain you to the wall just like Gaius, darling. If you want to play hardball, we can try pain. I admit I’m fascinated by vampire anatomy. Your brother has taught me an awful lot, but it’s always nice to have a new subject to play with. Of course, if you prove hard to crack, I’ll simply use Guillaume instead. Perhaps, you’d like to watch as I train him first. Then you’ll know exactly what I have in store for you. It’ll be terribly exciting, darling. You can watch me work over both of them, although Gaius isn’t much fun these days. Keeping him starved is the only thing that ensures his co-operation but he’ll do everything, and anything I say now. He’s such an obedient little fellow, just like you will be. I think it would be rather nice to see Guillaume and Gaius as lovers. Don’t you agree, sweetheart? Would you like to watch me instruct those two big boys as they give us an amazing show? Or maybe you’d like to be in on the action too? I wouldn’t want you to feel left out, darling.”

She danced around in his head, and the scenery changed so rapidly he could barely keep up. One moment it was hearts and flowers, grassland and daisies, and nothing but blinding sparkling white light. In the next, there was darkness, jangling chains and torturous moans. She wanted to put him off balance. It looked like she needed an emotional reaction, but he wasn’t going to give her one.

Even when she wrapped her lithe body around him with the folds of her red organza dress teasing his flesh, he didn’t make a murmur. Though her lips caressed his flesh, and her fingers probed and stroked, he refused to give in to her advances. They were inside his head, and he ruled this domain, but she was able to read his thoughts.

“Ah, but you don’t sweetheart, or should I say
you won’t…
not for much longer anyway. I have loads of plans for you. Together with your friends, we are going to conquer the world. You’re going to be mine, Mercer. Make no mistake, I’m coming for you and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

To drive her message home, she grasped a handful of hair at the back of his head and pressed her lips to his. Forcing her tongue inside his mouth, her hands dropped to his erection and caressed the bulge there. Incensed that he was unable to remain indifferent to her advances, Mercer pushed her away roughly but in the next minute, he found himself crashing to the floor with her body on top of him. Even in the deepest depths of his dreams was he unable to fight the sheer strength of her hands, pinning him down and crushing his body to the floor. Her weight was suffocating and his whole body felt like it was being ground into dust. Although he did not need air, he began to crave the substance like a dying man. The things this woman could do to him and in his sleep no less. His fingers tightened into fists and fury rocketed through his body.

The smile she wore was one of victory. It spoke volumes, and it said,
I’ve already won the war, and the battle has barely begun.

* * *

Mercer was screaming by the time Lainey managed to pull up outside her grandmother’s house. She’d debated pulling the car over into a layby to try to help him but by that time, he was thrashing about quite a bit and she didn’t think she’d be able to subdue him on her own. Thankfully, help was on its way. Using Mercer’s cell, she’d managed to call her grandmother, probably the only person who stood a chance of helping them out of this mess and she was already waiting for them in the driveway.

Somehow, they managed to get him in the house. With an arm over each of their shoulders, they half carried half dragged him into Lainey’s room. Though it was only a few metres from the front door, both of them were panting, and out of breath, by the time they got him to a bed.

They both worked together to pull off his clothes, leaving him in nothing but his boxer shorts, and then they managed to manoeuvre him under the covers tucking his flapping limbs tightly between the sheets so he wouldn’t hurt himself.

“She’s in his head, tormenting him,” said her grandmother.

“Yes,” said Lainey. “That’s why he asked me to drive.”

Her grandmother frowned. “Then Kalliope has developed all the powers that we suspected and more.”

Watching Mercer’s face as he thrashed around twisting in pain, Lainey felt her throat compress and her body tighten. She was upset about what was happening to him but even worse she realised she was beginning to care for the vampire. However, her emotions regarding him were something she couldn’t afford to give in to because life was about to become difficult enough as it was.

“Do you have enough energy to do a healing spell? Or do you want me to try? I think it would be better if you do it if you can, dear.” Her grandmother’s eyes were kindly and concerned. Her floral skirts swished as she moved backward giving Lainey some space, and time to consider her question.

“It’s okay, Gran, I can do it. Can you get me some candles?” Lainey was already making her way to the kitchen, grabbing the stoppered bottle of salt that always sat in the centre of the breakfast bar before rooting through the cupboards, meticulously ordered as usual, where she found a stick of incense, a holder, and a box of matches.

When her grandmother walked back into the room carrying two white pillar candles, Lainey had already cast her circle and had recited her incantations. She stood alongside the bed, both of her hands out in front of her, a few inches apart, and she was calling healing energy up through her body. When she felt the warmth begin to spread inside her, she moved closer to the bed, humming softly to herself. Placing her hands on either side of Mercer’s head she held them there, waiting for them to become hot. As the heat burst through her fingertips, she centred her energies on relaxation. The tightly pinched blood vessels eased and the muscles in his back and neck slowly released. Pouring pure white healing energy all through his body, she kept her soft hum going helping her to focus the intense bubbling substance now tumbling through her. All outside sounds of their environment silenced in her mind, though she was aware that her grandmother had carved the healing runes on the candles due to the faint smell of burnt wax that infused the room. It mingled pleasantly with the incense and sent a soothing fragrance throughout.

Lainey knew the moment Kalliope left his body for Mercer arched his back, flinched, and then settled quietly, no longer thrashing and moaning. His face became less lined and more youthful as she felt him begin to slip into a peaceful dream. Moving her hands along his body, she ran them up and down his entire length, penetrating through bone, muscle and sinew letting her power work its magic. Bit by bit, his body sank into the soft mattress as the tensions of the last few hours began to leave him. Only when he was in a deep REM sleep, did she finally bring her hands back to her sides, breaking her focused concentration.

Studying his face peeking out from under the covers, she was pleased to note he looked peaceful now. She bit her lip and sighed. It wouldn’t last. His troubles were going to multiply like a flu virus very shortly, but she could do little about that. The wheels had been set in motion, and they were about to go off-course like a runaway train.

Praying fervently that he wouldn’t hate her, when all of this was said and done, she backed up towards her bedroom door knowing that she should leave him in peace but unable to stop staring at him. The shocking realisation was that she could spend a lifetime admiring his beautiful face. She was entering dangerous territory and if Mercer knew what she was thinking, he’d probably kill her.

Chapter 12

Grandmother

Quickly redirecting her thoughts, Lainey contented herself with the knowledge of a job well done. Kalliope was out of his head and although she knew the witch would be back, he would now be able to get a couple of hours of much needed rest—she hoped. Feeling an intense resentment towards Kalliope, Lainey tried to keep her state of mind positive but it was harder than expected. Mercer was her vampire and she was becoming decidedly territorial.
Oh God, here I go again.
She berated herself wondering why her thoughts kept entering such dangerous territory.

Looking at her long slim fingers, she wondered how they performed acts of healing with such ease but failed miserably at everything else. She couldn’t even perform a simple
find what is lost
spell with any degree of success. Desperately wanting to be able to help Mercer, she was worried that her skills were so limited she’d be more of a hindrance than anything else.

“He’s gorgeous, isn’t he? I told you he would be.”

Her Grandmother’s words behind her made her jump, and it gave her yet another reason to be cross at her appalling talents. A relatively easy
awareness spell
would alert her to anyone’s nearby presence. Could she master one?
Oh no
. Lainey frowned. Why was she such a terrible excuse for a witch?

Turning around and smiling fondly at her Grandma, she said, “Yes, you told me he would be. He’s a little too gorgeous, if I’m truly honest. Why do the fates have to put such temptation in my path?”

Her grandmother snorted. “I think he suffers as much as you do, my dear. He’s not immune to your charms either.” Wrapping her wrinkled arms around Lainey, she pressed her nose to her cheek and caressed the soft blonde waves for which she’d always expressed such fondness. The woman smelled of apples—and caramel. Her gran was always baking and suddenly, Lainey’s stomach rumbled. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten. “Did you do what I told you to do?”

Her grandmother gave her a quick peck on the cheek and pulled away, searching Lainey’s eyes.

“When have I not done exactly as you have instructed? I might not have been the best student, but it certainly wasn’t through a lack of obedience.” Lainey gave her a quiet smile.

“This is true.” Her grandmother pinched her cheek and gave her an affectionate look. “So you made him think you detested him and couldn’t wait to escape his disgustingly horrible body?”

Lainey gave her a hard look. “I think we’ve been through this.”

“I’m just checking.” She cackled then with a twinkle in her aging eyes, added, “I must say, you’re a better actress than I gave you credit for. I’m not sure I’d have been able to pull that off.” Her grandmother burst into fits of laughter.

“Believe it or not, it wasn’t actually that hard. He’s a domineering son-of-a—“

“Now, now, you know I’ll have none of that under my roof.” Her grandmother shook her head disapprovingly.

Lainey’s mouth opened wide in protest. “So it’s fine that we talk about sex, but when it comes to…”

“Obey your elders, Lainey. They always know best.” Her grandmother’s sharp tone brooked no argument, but she softened her hash words with a wink.

“You know everything. It’s quite annoying on occasion.” Lainey’s bitter reply came under her breath.

“I told you he’d rescue you, I told you he’d be the best lay you ever had, and I also told you that you’d need to save him. The first two have come to pass exactly as I forecast but you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you, if you’re to achieve the last.” Her grandmother did not allow those words to sink in before, with a tug on her arm, she led Lainey away from her bedroom and marched her swiftly into the lounge.

When the door opened, her grandmother gently pushed her inside and gave her a little pat on the back. The familiar smell of the elderly woman’s home made Lainey sigh and she cast her eyes about the room taking a moment to reconnect with her surroundings. There was a roaring log fire in the grate, the radio was spitting out grainy classical music, and a large multi-coloured patchwork quilt resided with the corner turned down on an old brown 1970s style sofa that had become threadbare in several places. A large slice of upside-down apple cake was waiting for her on the wooden coffee table in the middle of the room and there was a steaming-hot mug of tea to complete her idea of heaven.

“Oh, Gran, I adore you.” Giving her a quick tight hug first, Lainey ran over to the table and picked up the plate holding the slice of cake. Forking it quickly into her mouth, she practically fell onto the sofa as the trials of her day began to catch up with her. She hadn’t realised how exhausted she was until now.

“Slow down or you’ll make yourself sick,” said her grandmother, clucking her tongue as she took her own seat by the fire.

“Easy for you to say, I’ve barely eaten a thing all day,” answered Lainey, moaning as strands of caramel combined with soft sweet sponge cake, and juicy cinnamon apple pieces melted on her tongue.

“I’ve got supper in the oven. I promise you won’t starve, and you can have another slice of cake if you need it, child. Now slow down.”

Reluctantly, Lainey did as her grandmother told her, but her stomach protested the mistreatment vehemently with a loud rumble.

Pushing a stray strand of grey hair back from her forehead and tucking it behind her ear, her grandmother cleared her throat before speaking again. “She’ll bite him as soon as she thinks the coast is clear, and there’s little we can do about it. It could be anywhere, at any time but the call of her blood will drive him crazy.”

Lainey grimaced and looked away, not knowing what to say to that. It took two more mouthfuls of cake before she summoned up a reply. “There’s only so much we can do, Gran. We can hardly keep him chained to the bed, much as I’d like to.”

Her grandma nearly spat her tea out at that comment, and then she gave Lainey a sly look. “If I were twenty, well no, perhaps thirty years younger, I’d keep him chained to the bed too.” She nodded sagely.

“Grandma!” Lainey covered her ears while nearly choking on her cake but unfortunately, she’d heard the words and there was no un-hearing them. Taking a strangled breath, she put the delicate floral plate back down on the table and stretched out her fingertips, taking a few moments to consider what she would say next but her grandmother beat her to it.

“You know what you need to do. One more bite is all it would take. He just needs to lose his head with you, just once, and then the balance of power will shift. True, Kalliope will still be a formidable enemy, but nowhere near the same kind of adversary if she manages to bind the vampire to her.”

Her grandmother still had the most amazing eyes, beautifully clear sea-green gems, and they shone with passion. Lainey knew they were about to argue about Mercer, and she hated arguing with her family but there was no way to avoid it. “He won’t talk about his brother. We both know what Kalliope is capable of and if he’s somehow witnessed her mistreatment of him, Mercer’s dislike of witches will run deep. I’m lucky I’m not already dead.”

“You can’t afford to show mercy, granddaughter. Kalliope now has at least two vampires to answer to her beck, and call, although one is very weak—the brother, I’m guessing. You need Mercer. Without him, you are nothing. Don’t underestimate her ambition, Lainey. She wants to rule, she always has. You have to do this for your kin. You have no choice.”

“There is always a choice. I refuse to bind an unwilling mate to my side. If he were human then perhaps, I might consider it knowing that his pain would eventually end but for Mercer it would mean having to endure being tied to one of the beings that tortured his brother to the point of death—for an eternity. He would have to serve, and he’d have no choice in that matter. It would be an abominable thing to do to anyone, but especially cruel to a vampire. He would never forgive me.”

“Would you rather see him, and the earth, under the control of Kalliope?” Her grandmother’s gaze caught hers directly and the severity of it made Lainey flinch. “That’s the other option, dearest. Seeing all your loved ones dead and murdered, while you watch as the world crumbles around you. We are sacrificing one person’s happiness for the good of all.”

“No. I would be sacrificing one person’s happiness, and then I’d be the one who has to live with the consequences.” There was a hitch in Lainey’s voice as the old argument resurfaced. “There has to be another way.”

The desperation with which she uttered the comment seemed to worsen each time she said it. Time was running out and there was no other solution in sight. In just two days’ time, she’d be facing the might of Kalliope, and Lainey would need help. Lots of help. Her chances of success were slim at best but having Mercer on her side would give them a considerable advantage, considering she had barely performed a drop of true magic, bar healing, in her life. Sure, if she concentrated really hard things that she wanted seemed to happen, but it was a hit and miss thing. She desperately needed to be able to perform spells.

“He’ll forgive you.” The words were supposed to be soothing and comforting, uttered in a kind and gentle murmur, but they did not have the desired effect.

“Have you seen that in your visions? I cannot see Mercer forgiving me for binding him to a witch. Ever! I can see him loathing me, hating me, despising me and spending the rest of his days working on how best to get rid of me.”

Her grandmother’s lips tightened. “Then you’ll need to find a way to reach him. Make him understand that you have no choice. He’s reasonably intelligent. He’ll see sense eventually.”

“Eventually could be a very long time for a vampire. I’ll be bound to a monster. I’ll suffer as he suffers if this doesn’t work.” Lainey’s teeth snapped together and the cake remained completely forgotten on the table as her hunger waned.

“You are the only one who can do this, Lainey. You need to stop worrying about everyone else and think of the greater good. You’ll always have your family behind you.” The words were firm and unyielding, and although she knew there was love behind them, it didn’t make her imposed sentence any easier. “Have you read the latest spell book I gave you?” The change in subject was purposeful. Her grandmother had closed the door on their topic of conversation. There was no point in trying to pursue it either for the woman could be a stubborn old mule when it suited her, although Lainey loved her to distraction.

“Yes. I’ve read and re-read everything you’ve ever given me, over, and over again. I know I’ll only get one chance at this, and I’m not particularly fond of the thought of dying at only twenty-six years of age. I just hope I can put it into practise when the time comes. Right now, it seems like everything I try is a mess. What if you’ve been mistaken all these years? What then?” There was a little bit of hysteria creeping into her voice. She’d tried her best to not to think about the impending meeting between herself and Kalliope even though she’d been aware of it for a long time, but the day was nearly upon them and fear was beginning to set in.

Grabbing her mug of tea, she took a long sip of the warming brew and welcomed the heat seeping into her hands from the cup as it helped ease her trembling fingers.

“When are we visiting your stone circle?” Blowing the steam away from the surface of her cup, she took another sip and looked morosely at the fireplace as she awaited the answer. The crackling wood and the bright orange flames did little to cheer her up, but at least they gave her something to focus on.

Her grandmother’s rocking chair creaked slowly back and forth. “Tomorrow will be soon enough. Whatever the vampire sees, Kalliope sees. Remember that. At first, you won’t have to worry. You’ll be out of practise and it will be messy but if you start getting the hang of things, you’ll need to stop. She needs to believe you’re a novice.”

“Technically, I am a novice and don’t you mean
if
I manage to get the hang of things?” whispered Lainey, gulping down the hot tea uncaring that it burned a fiery path along her throat. There was not just one coven of witches relying on her ability to perform miracles, but hundreds of covens located all over the world. It was an incredible burden to bear, and it now rested heavily upon her shoulders.

“You’ll manage. We’re all behind you. Mercer will help, you’ll see. Contrary to what you believe, the vampire is already half in love with you and he’ll fall the rest of the way. Hard. You mark my words. This I have seen.”

Lainey shook her head. “Don’t think you can make me feel better with placations, Gran. Your visions can’t tell you that. You can’t see love. I remember these things. He hates me. He abhors all witches, and quite rightly so. If I take this on, there
will
be consequences and if I survive, I’ll be the one who has to deal with them somehow.” Picking up the abandoned apple cake, she began forking it inside her with her former enthusiasm. Speed comfort eating had its merits. She’d be on a sugar-high in a matter of seconds.

Coming to stand in front of her, her grandmother placed a hand on each of her shoulders. The hands were warm and they imparted healing energy. Lainey could feel it begin to seep inside her skin, her whole body tingling as her grandmother’s fingers went to work. “There are other things that I can see, Lainey Hargreaves. Trust me. This will all work out.”

Groaning and relaxing into the chair, Lainey mumbled, “I hope so. I can’t see it, but I hope so.”