Graveyard Shifts: A Pat Wyatt Novel (18 page)

“Three!” he shouted, and I pulled and pushed. The bone made a horribly sickening cracking sound, and he screamed. Then he placed his forehead against my shoulder, breathing heavily.

“Oh God,” I breathed, terrified. “Are you all right?” I asked, and I could feel that my forehead had broken out in a cold sweat.

He nodded against my shoulder. “I’m fine. Just hold it there until it starts to set.”

“How long will that take?” We didn’t have more than five minutes to rest, and if it took any longer than that, we’d most certainly be in trouble.

He swallowed hard. “About ten minutes,” he said. That just wouldn’t do.

My body started to shake. “Don’t
ever
make me do that again,” I whispered in a shaky voice.

“I won’t,” he said, his breath hot on my bare flesh. “I promise.”

“We need a sling,” I said, looking around for some cloth. And then I had it. “Rip off my sleeve,” I commanded, and he did. Then I let go of his arm gently, wrapping the piece of fabric around his shoulder. After I admired my handiwork, another idea struck.

I got up slowly, keeping his arm in place, and picked up my stick, finding another right beside it. Next I placed them on either side of the break, and had Mike tear off the other sleeve so I could make a splint for him.

“There,” I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand. “That should hold it.”

He smiled up at me, his face looking a little better, but not by much. “Amazin’. Where’d you learn to do that?”

“One of my articles, ‘Best Survivalists’ Tips.’ I thought you of all people would know that. How are you feeling?” I asked, and I shivered as the cold air hit my now bare arms.

“Okay.” He grimaced, which showed me how he really felt. “Except for my hand.”

“I’m so sorry about that.” I didn’t know silver could do that to werewolves. “If only I knew.”

He shrugged and then whimpered at the movement. “It’s all right. You did what you had to in order to protect me.” He sighed. “In fact, I’m kinda impressed by your bravery.”

“Don’t be,” I said, sinking to my knees and bowing my head. Everything was overwhelming, and I started to sob. I hadn’t truly cried since my mother died. And after everything that happened, all of it had overwhelmed me, and I just couldn’t hold it in any longer. All those years of pent-up emotion flowed through me like Niagara Falls, and I didn’t know whether I would be able to stop it.

“Oh, Mike.” I pressed the top of my head into his chest. “I’m so sorry for all of this,” I said, my voice muffled by his blood-ridden shirt. “If I hadn’t said yes to that blood-sucking monster, you wouldn’t be in this mess.”

Mike sighed, placing his knuckles on the back of my neck. “Well, I hate to say I told you so, but…” I knew he was joking, but I cried harder. “Oh, bébé. Don’t cry,” he laughed, stroking my hair with his fist. “It was only a joke.”

“I know,” I managed to choke out through the tears. “I…can’t…help…it.” He chuckled, his chest rumbling under my head. “It’s…not…funny,” I hiccupped.

“I know it’s not,” he said, lifting my chin to kiss my eyelids. “You know,” he said, sweeping my hair from my face, “you’re the only woman I know who looks beautiful when she cries.”

“Do…not,” I sniffed.

“Do…too,” he mocked me, and I opened my tear-filled eyes to look into his smiling face. We leaned into each other and kissed.

“Oh, Pat,” he whispered against my lips, “I want you so bad.” We kissed again, and I gently pressed my hands into his back while his burned fist pressed into mine, his musky scent driving me wild. Then I heard leaves crunch from somewhere beside us. Mike must have heard it too because we broke apart and were both on our feet in an instant, preparing for a fight.

The thing came closer, and I grabbed another fallen branch while Mike crouched, teeth bared and back hunched over, looking almost animal.

My heart raced, and I could feel the tension rise between us as the shadow came closer. “Pat?” An English-accented voice called from the darkness.

I blinked. “Charlie?” I asked, and he came out of the shadows. I immediately relaxed, dropping the branch to the side of me, but Mike still held his ground. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to help you,” he said with a smile, and I noticed that he had a crossbow in his hands. That’s when I wished I hadn’t dropped my branch.

“What do you have there?” I asked, trying to sound indifferent.

“Oh,” Charlie breathed, shrugging. “Sorry.” He dropped the bow to his side. “I thought that it might help with the situation. It was just in case Mr. Satané was trying to kill you.”

“You’re a little too late for that,” Mike hissed, straightening up. When I glanced over at him, his back might have been straight, but his muscles were still tense.

“Come on, Pat,” Charlie said, holding his hand out to me. “We have no time to waste. We must get back before
they
show up.”

I grabbed hold of his hand, and we ran with Mike on our heels like a good little werewolf. “Charlie,” I said breathlessly, “who are they?”

He glanced over his shoulder at me. “The coven,” he clarified, and I tried to hold myself together. I would have a nervous breakdown about that later.

I could see the lights from the house on the horizon, and wondered why I hadn’t seen the graveyard before. Then I noticed that the house lights were so bright that we could easily see our way back. After all, they were never on, and I silently thanked Charlie for flicking the switch so we could find our way back without stumbling.

As we came closer and closer to the stone walls of the house, my heart leapt into overdrive. I knew we were in for it now. For what exactly, I wasn’t sure. But I had a feeling that it wasn’t going to end well.

.

chapter

SIXTEEN

Charlie hushed us, placing his finger over his lips as we walked up to the servant’s entrance. We were trying to be as quiet as possible until
somebody
tripped over a stone and fell onto a flowerpot. That person, who will remain nameless (Mike!), had made so much noise that I thought we’d be killed on the spot. Thankfully, no one came out, so we were safe.

We walked slowly and quietly through the servant’s quarters, making sure that Chef wasn’t around. As I thought of her, I asked Charlie if she was a magical creature too. He promptly told me that she was a sorceress bent on destroying the world and enslaving humanity.

“Really?” I asked, shocked. “But she seems so nice.”

“I was joking,” he whispered. “Don’t you know when someone is joking with you?”

“I used to,” I admitted. “But when your husband’s a vampire, and his lawyer’s a werewolf; you tend to believe everything you’re told.”

He nodded. “True.”

“Seriously though, what is she?” I whispered, not wanting to drop the subject.

“She’s a witch,” Mike said quietly from behind me. “The good kind, though. She’s actually the one who created Charlie.” That was an interesting fact. I wished I’d known earlier so I could have thanked her for all her hard work.

We turned another corner, placing our backs against the wall. “How did she come to work for Samuel?” I asked. Even though we were in the midst of danger, I wanted to know. You know, sometimes you have to have a normal conversation to calm your nerves. But to be honest, this was not one of them.

“He tricked her, just like everybody else,” Mike hissed, as we walked into the darkened foyer.

I started up the stairs, so I could get my things. And just as I placed my foot on the bottom step, there was a knock on the door.

All three of us froze. I looked at Mike, who looked at Charlie, who looked back at me. “Should I answer it?” I asked Mike in a harsh whisper.

“Hello,” Tina yelled, banging on the door again. “Is anyone home?”

“Tina?” Oh, no! I ran for the door, opening it just a crack. “What are you doing here?” I asked with a tense smile on my face. I was trying to portray a “glad to see you” expression, but I knew that it wasn’t coming off right.

“You called and invited me,” she said, hurt by my lack of memory.

My brows pulled together. “What?” As soon as the question was out of my mouth, I knew that Samuel had done it. “Oh. Right. I did call you, but now’s not a good time…um…so I’ll call you later. And we’ll discuss whatever I said we were going to. ’Kay? Bye.” I started to close the door, but a massive hand stopped it. My eyes slowly followed the large muscular arm up to a black t-shirt and then found their way to Samuel’s face.

He stood behind her, and she smiled up at him. “I called you,” he said calmly, his fangs still out for all the world to see. But Tina didn’t seem to care as he ushered her into the foyer holding a knife to her throat. “I am sorry about the confusion,” he continued, glaring at me as I backed away from them.

I looked over at Mike, whose eyes were wide. And I waved him off so he wouldn’t attack that good-for-nothing vampire while Tina was in his undead arms.

“Sure,” she slurred. “No problem.” I knew then that Samuel had her mind, but that didn’t surprise me. Then he grabbed her arm, pulling her through the foyer and over to the study doors, pressing the knife harder into her throat.

“You bastard,” I hissed trying to keep my voice level, which was impossible under the circumstances. “Let her go!”

He smiled triumphantly and said, “I would
love
to, my dear. However, you do understand that I cannot. Not unless you are willing to take her place.”

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Charlie was holding the crossbow toward Sam. I glanced over at him for a second, seeing that he had a clear shot of the vampire’s heart.

Samuel looked over at Charlie and saw that he was willing to kill him. “Put that down, Charles,” he commanded calmly, waving the golem off. And when the bow titled down, I saw that Charlie’s nerve had faltered.

“Charlie,” I pointed to him, commanding as politely as possible, “keep the bow up. You have a shot,” I said, and he nodded, raising the bow again.

“I said down,” Samuel said in a vicious hiss.

My eyes connected with Charlie, and he held my gaze. “Up,” I said softly.

“Down!” Samuel hissed again, but Charlie’s eyes were on me. “I am the one who owns you, Charles, and you will do well to obey me!”

“Charlie,” I pleaded. “No one owns you. Golem or not, you’re a creature of free will.
You
choose your master. So choose me,” I paused, his eyes filling with tears. “I love you, Charlie, and he can’t understand that. I’m willing to be your daughter, if you’re willing to be my father.”

Charlie’s lower lips quivered for a moment, and then he closed his eyes, standing up proudly for the first time since I knew him. When he opened them, the tears were gone as he turned his gaze toward Samuel. Finally, he raised the bow toward the bastard’s heart and nodded to me. He was free to choose now, and nothing was going to stop him.

Samuel sighed. “To hell with this,” he said, throwing the knife right into Charlie’s chest.

“No,” I screamed, running over to my fallen friend. “Charlie,” I cried, pulling the knife out of his chest. Curiously enough, there was no blood, just cold hard rock. “Please,” I begged him, “don’t die on me. I need you.”

“Not as much as I,” he paused, taking a ragged breath, “needed you.”

Instinctively my hands pressed against the wound, but with no blood to staunch, I knew there was nothing I could do. “Charlie,” I whispered, “you’re going to be okay. Please be okay.” I didn’t want him to die like this. I loved him so much. He was my friend and my protector from all this.

“If…you…wish…” he breathed, and I placed my head on his chest. His lungs took one last ragged breath, and as he put his hand on my head, he turned to stone.

I let out a silent cry, looking at the piece of boulder that had Charlie’s face carved into it. When I placed my hand on his cheek, he turned to rubble.

Mike let out a howl behind me, and my body started to shake with sadness. “You son of a bitch!” I hissed through tears. “How could you do that to a creature that loved you like his own son?” I picked up the rubble in my hands, and it turned to dust. Even his suit ran through my fingers like sand.

“He was disposable,” he said, waving me off, and I glared up at him. “As is your friend here.” He shook her like a rag doll, pulling a gun out of his pocket and placing it to Tina’s temple. She didn’t even flinch. All she did was smile.

He smirked at me when I stood. “You humans are
so
temperamental. A bad breakup,” he scoffed, “a lost job, and you fall to pieces. I am sure poor little Tina over here was devastated that you married before her.” He paused, chuckling. “All she needs is a gun,” he continued, shaking his hand, “and some silver bullets,” he nodded toward Mike, who back away, “and that,
sadly
, would be that. Isn’t that right, Tina?” he asked, and she nodded. “Are you depressed?” He pouted, and she nodded again. “Do you wish to kill yourself?” She nodded vigorously this time.

“Don’t listen to him!” Even though I screamed at her, her eyes never wavered from his face. Then his finger tightened its grip on the trigger, and for a moment I thought that he would shoot her, but that would’ve defeated the purpose of his scheme.

“What do you want, Samuel?” I asked softly. My eyes still filled with tears as I walked slowly toward him so I wouldn’t spook him.

“Stop,” he said, and I did. His fangs were glittering in the dim light. “I want to make a deal.” He licked his lips, as his eyes scanned my body. “Your mortality,” he pointed the gun at me, “for the lives of your family and friends.” He pressed the barrel to Tina’s temple again and smiled.

“You leave my family out of this,” I whispered. We both knew that he’d painted me into a corner, and that there was no way out of this. I would just do what he said. What else could I do?

“I will,” he assured me, “if you agree.”

“And if I refuse?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

He smirked. “Everyone whom you have ever known or have ever met will die a horrible, painful death until you have no one else left. And then you will
plead
with me to turn you.”

There was no other alternative. I was stuck between a rock and a vampire. “Deal,” I said, bowing my head, as Samuel threw Tina aside, holding his arms out to me.

Mike grabbed my elbow. I hadn’t realized he was so close. “No,” he shouted. “You can’t do this, Pat.”

I turned, touching his cheek. “What other choices do I have?” I tried to make him understand, but as I looked into his eyes, he pulled me to him giving me a passionate good-bye kiss. Then he let me go, and I turned back around to face my doom.

“Make sure Tina’s okay.” I looked back at him. “And tell my pops that I love him.” He nodded, and I knew that it would be all right. No matter what.

“Pat,” he said, reaching for me again, “I love you.”

“Oddly enough,” I said with a smile, “I knew that.” I winked at him as Samuel placed his arm around my shoulders. His eyes gleamed with triumph when he opened the study doors. He threw me inside, slamming and locking them behind us. Then he stared at me, throwing the gun onto the leather reading chair, and grabbed hold of my arm, pulling me back behind the desk.

We stood in front of the bookshelf, and I remembered taking a book from there, not noticing anything out of the ordinary. But when Samuel placed his hand on a first edition copy of
Dracula,
he pulled it downward, and it revealed that the damn thing opened like a door.

I rolled my eyes. “I should’ve known.”

“Excuse me?” Samuel asked, glaring at me.

“It’s so cliché,” I said, gesturing toward the door. “Don’t tell me. It leads down to a dungeon-like basement where you’re going to transform me into your undead bride.”

“Have you done this before?” he asked, confused.

I sneered. “No, I haven’t done this before! You’re just predictable.” He growled at me and, grabbing a fistful of my hair; shoved me into the doorway. Sure enough, there were stone stairs leading downward.

“Oh, come on!” I yelled, thrusting my hands at the stairs. It was just so unoriginal.

“Walk,” he commanded, curling his lips back over his fangs.

“Fine,” I huffed and started to walk down the stairs, making sure that I didn’t scrape my bare feet on the stone. When we reached the bottom, there was another door, and I knew that it led to a dimly-lit room.

“Open it,” he whispered into my ear, and it made me sad thinking about the first time we had met and the night we had gotten married. I was so happy, and then it all went to seed.

I pushed through the door, and it creaked open. Not surprisingly, it was a dimly lit room with a coffin by one wall and a bed in the middle. There was a damp smell in the air, but it wasn’t unpleasant. The room was filled with melted red and white candles, which created the only light. And when I looked carefully, I saw the bones and skulls of at least two people scattered in the corners. At least, now I knew where he kept some of his food. This must have been used for special occasions, and my guess was that this was one of them.

“What’s the coffin for?” I asked with a gulp. Seeing that thing scared me to no end.

Samuel grabbed my elbow, hauling me over to the bed. “Oh,” he said with a smirk, “that is mine. We shall get you one soon enough.”

“So you creatures actually do sleep in coffins.” Out of all the things,
that
surprised me the most.

He throttled my shoulders, throwing me on the dungeon bed. “Not really. But when we cannot find hallowed ground we do.” That explained why he was covered in dirt before.

“I suppose you want me to scream now?” I asked, turning my head away from him as he lay on top of me.

He kissed my neck. “If you’d like, but it will not be necessary.” With that said, he ripped off his shirt, lifting my skirt all the way to my navel as he spread my legs violently. Don’t think for a second that I didn’t notice that he had conveniently forgotten to put on my panties because I did. I guess he’d decided that it would make all of this easier for him.

“Are you scared?” he whispered, his cold breath on my neck.

“No,” I said, looking at him, and then I smacked him across the face with my open palm. He cocked his head at me, looking more like a hawk then a vampire. Then he placed his hand under my chin, tilting it up so that I couldn’t look away from him.

The blow came, not as sudden as last time, but still too fast to protect myself from it. He walloped me across my right cheek and then grabbed my chin again, doing the same to my left. The hits were hard, and I could feel my face already begin to swell.

“Are you scared now?” he asked. But I held back the tears as I started to shake. After that he became extremely violent. He took me by the shoulders, lifted me, and then slammed me down so that my head bounced on the mattress. I kept my sobs to myself, not displaying any sort of emotion toward him or what he was doing. I didn’t want to give him that kind of satisfaction.

He let me fall back for the last time, standing to unzip his black pants. Then he bent my knees, yanking me to him in one fluid motion. I couldn’t move. I was paralyzed, under Samuel’s control. I tried to fight his influence off, but it was useless. He had me.

“I am going to enjoy this,” he hissed, penetrating me right to my very core. He was wild inside me, and I felt my face contort in silent pain. I tried to cry out for him to stop, but the words were stuck in my throat. There was no way to stop him. My husband…this vampire…was raping me.

I fought against him as much as I could, which made him irritated, and it provoked him to slap me a couple more times. After that, I just stopped moving, feeling as though I was on the verge of unconsciousness. Then he leaned forward, sinking his fangs into my neck. The pain made me scream so loud that he put his hand over my mouth to stifle the noise.

Everything happened so fast after that. The wooden door split in half, and through my blurry vision I saw Mike standing there. All of his teeth were sharp as he growled at Samuel. “Let her go!” he growled again, hunched over like an animal. His nails were growing longer as he stood in the doorway.