On Pins and Needles: Sierra Fox, Book 3 (28 page)

“Wood or silver, straight to the heart is the only way to kill them,”
Conrad had told me earlier.
“Vamps can heal silver wounds, but not when there’s direct impact with their heart.”

I stepped back just as Baldy released an inhuman shriek. I stumbled into someone’s arms, but still held the blade at my side, ready to stab.

“Relax, it’s me,” Papan whispered in my ear. “Come on.”

The vampire’s blistered body exploded with a spray of ash and blood, but we’d already blended into the crowd.
 

Someone screamed and the sea of bodies adjusted. I barely dodged being pushed in the opposite direction and quickly ducked low to tuck the dagger back into its hilt. I wasn’t about to risk anyone seeing it—not since I hadn’t had time to redo the shrouding incantation.
 

At least the panicked, shifting crowd helped conceal what I’d done.
 

By the time we reached the metal stairs on the opposite side of the spacious room and caught up with Conrad, there was no way anyone would know I was responsible for the commotion. That thought made me feel a little smug, even if I knew being cocky in such an unstable situation wasn’t a good idea.

I sucked in a breath filled with smoke, sweat and heat, and let it out very slowly. My pulse gradually slowed. The incident on the dance floor hadn’t affected me as much as I thought it would.

“Are you two okay?” Conrad was looking over the crowd with a frown.

I nodded.

“What the fuck just happened?”
 

“Don’t worry about it,” I replied. “I took care of it.”

He shook his head. “Yeah, I can see that.”

Papan squeezed my hand and I turned to look at him. I couldn’t help but flash him a quick smile. He was probably freaked out because he’d temporarily lost me in the crowd of dancers, but I didn’t need rescuing all the time.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m positive.”

“We better get upstairs before the commotion attracts too much attention,” Conrad said with another shake of his head.

When we’d almost reached the top of the stairs, I peeked down at the dance floor. Most of the dancers on the edges still hadn’t noticed anything had happened, but there was a wide circle of gawkers in the middle.
 

“Don’t worry about them,” Papan said.
 

I turned to look at him and nodded.

His eyes had shifted to amber, which probably wasn’t a good thing. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“You found me, and that’s what matters.”
 

Conrad placed a hand on Papan’s shoulder. “Maybe you can channel that anger towards the fuckers upstairs, because I doubt Cam’s going to give Ebony up without a fight.”

“Let’s do this,” I whispered. All of the fear and expectation I’d felt while crossing the road to reach this club now intermingled with the determination to save Ebony. The sooner we found her the better.

I’m not leaving without Ebony.

Conrad continued up the rickety metal stairs. We followed close behind and stepped into a passageway painted in black—the ceiling, walls, and floor. It felt like walking into the inside of a box. Papan motioned for me to step in front of him, so I was sandwiched between the two guys.
 

The passageway wound around the side and came to a sudden end. If it wasn’t for the slim line of light underneath, I wouldn’t have known it was a door.
 

We crowded around it and I could hear the mumblings of chatter, laughter, and even some moans and groans. My heart pounded like a jackhammer and my stomach lurched.

“I can smell her,” Papan whispered. “She’s inside.”

“Are you sure?” Conrad’s hand was already poised and ready to knock.

He nodded.

Conrad knocked once.

“They’re not going to answer,” I snapped.

“They will if they’re expecting someone.” Just as Conrad said that, the door opened wide and a smiling man wearing nothing but skimpy underwear answered the door.

His beaming smile faded when he saw us. “What the fuck?”
 

Conrad smacked his elbow against the guy’s face, following it up with a quick stake through the heart.

Blood and ash flew into the air.

Conrad rushed inside and I followed while Papan shut the door behind us.
 

“Ebony!” Conrad yelled. “Where are you?” He stormed around the room like a man ready to tear the place apart with his bare hands. His body was tense and menacing as a handful of half-naked women and men stepped out of his way.

I looked around, trying to calm my breathing and heartbeat, while searching for her. But she wasn’t here.
 

Papan stepped up beside me, tapping the back of my hand. “Over there!”
 

I turned to look at where he pointed and my legs almost collapsed beneath me.
 

Ebony
was
in this room, strung up like a lamb ready for slaughter.
 

The middle of the room had several steps ascending to a small circular stage. A demented stripper’s pole was erected in the middle and Ebony’s frail body was pressed against it. A thick, silver chain crisscrossed over her chest, stomach, and legs, holding her steady. Her wrists were secured by a thinner chain dangling from the ceiling, keeping both of her arms upright and toes barely skimming the floor.
 

Several vampires stupid enough to risk sucking at her between the silver links hovered around her. Their skin puffed with smoke as they greedily slurped more blood from my friend.
 

“What the fuck?” Conrad raced ahead of us, climbing the stairs two at a time and reaching her in seconds. The bloodsuckers tormenting her hissed at him, but retreated when he kicked a few of them away and then raised his stake.

My stomach turned.
 

“Ebony, honey, wake up.” He stood in front of her, cupping her face in an attempt to rouse her, but her head lolled to the side and her eyes had the glaze of someone who’d been drugged.

I couldn’t stop the tears from blurring my vision. Her thin body looked anorexic and she was barely wearing her bra and panties. Her ribs showed through her skin and her hip bones jutted out. There were bite marks all over her petite frame. Some had bled more than others and left trails of crimson along her waxy skin.

My fists curled at my sides. Who the fuck would be so cruel and take advantage of someone like this?
 

“Ebony,” I whispered, but Papan wrapped his hand around my wrist to stop me before I could get any closer. I was about to yank out of his grip when a blond man stepped out from the shadows and onto the stage.
 

“Conrad, watch out!” I shouted.

 
It was too late. He’d already smashed Conrad on the side of the head with his fist.
 

The vampire hunter crumpled, the weapon slipping from his hand.

“I was wondering when you’d show up,” the man said with a bitter laugh. He made no attempt to hide what he was—grinning like a maniac and exposing his larger-than-average fangs. He was dressed normal enough in a black and red flannel shirt and faded jeans, but his eyes were almost see-through. His mouth was stained with blood and his hands dribbled crimson droplets onto the raised platform. “And you brought some snacks!”

Conrad shook his head, glaring at the vampire. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing to her, Cam? She offered herself willingly. Why are you being so barbaric?”

“We’re just having a bit of fun with her.” Cam made a sweeping motion with his left hand and the group of naked vampires who’d been feeding from her scampered back from the shadows. They approached Ebony like hungry beasts on their hands and knees. Each of them positioned at different sections of her almost naked body and feeding like feral animals. Some groaned, while others cried out as the silver chains burned their faces—but they all continued to bite.

I took a step. The sound of their eager slurping was making my blood boil.

“Don’t,” Papan warned.

“We can’t let them do this,” I snapped. “They’re going to kill her!”

“We’ll get her out of here. Soon, just give it a sec.”

I didn’t want to give it a second, but what could I do against all of these vampiric freaks?

Conrad rushed to his feet and closed the distance between him and Cam. “Let her go.”

“I don’t think so. We’re enjoying her so much. She really knows how to have fun. I always knew you liked the party girls, but this one’s a riot.” Cam stepped back, positioning himself next to Ebony. “She’s such a delicious specimen.” He snuck a hand between her legs, avoiding the chains, and slipped it beneath her panties. “She was so willing to yield…to
everything.
”

“You bastard,” Conrad growled, advancing. “All she wanted was to forget, not
that!
”

Vampires appeared from every corner of the room, surrounding and blocking off the vampire hunter’s approach.

“Weren’t you satisfying her at home?” Cam teased. “Oh well, it doesn’t matter now anyway. I made her forget a few painful things, including you.” He laughed, and it was filled with a vicious tenor creepy enough to make my skin crawl. “So, in the end I did what you couldn’t.”

“No.” Conrad’s hands were clenched into fists. He kicked a few of the vampires around him but more stepped forward. “You didn’t make her forget.” His voice sounded shaky. “You
can’t
make her forget about me.”

Cam looked him in the eye. “I’m afraid I already did.” His hand was still inside her panties and Ebony’s head lolled to the side. “It certainly wasn’t your name she was screaming in the throes of passion.”

“Get your hands off her!”

Cam ignored him and instead moved closer to Ebony. “Watch this,” he said, his fingers still moving between her legs. “Ebony, doll, do you like this?”

“Uh…”
 

“Tell me you like this,” he continued.

It took every bit of willpower I had left not to leap onto the stage and stab the asshole. Every time Conrad tried to creep closer, a new lot of vampires stepped in front of him.

“I wouldn’t get any closer if I was you,” Cam warned. “My fingers are
in
a very delicate place at the moment. I wouldn’t want to accidentally tear her up.” A grin split his mouth. “Not when she’s barely alive but still so wet.”

Conrad stopped his approach.

Cam licked the side of Ebony’s face and said, “Open your eyes. I need you to wake up so you can come.”

Her eyes were suddenly wide. “Oh, Cam…”

“That’s right, doll, let it sweep over you.” His fingers continued to work between Ebony’s legs, but now she raised her hips to give him further access while the feeding vamps lapped from her.

Ebony screamed out, not even noticing the room was full while a disgusting vampire brought her to orgasm.

“Eb, no,” Conrad whispered.

Cam finally pulled his hand from her panties and leaned in to kiss her. “Good girl. Now, tell us who you love and have chosen to give your life to?”

 
“I love you, Cam. I’m nothing without you.” Ebony licked her dry lips. “My life is yours to take.”

The sound of her voice actually saying those words aloud tore at my heart. How could someone wield so much control over another person? The thought terrified me, though it didn’t surprise me.
 

“No!” Conrad yelled. “Ebony, don’t say that!”

She looked at him, her eyes still unfocused. She didn’t seem to recognize him.

“It’s too late, Conrad. You can’t undo what’s already been offered.”

“You motherfucking asshole, I’m going to fucking kill you!” In spite of the vampires, Conrad threw himself against Cam. He actually leapt above them until he landed near the edge of the stage with Cam beneath him. He pounded the vampire’s face.

The vampire’s mouth was bleeding freely but he was laughing. “I’m the one who’s going to enjoy killing you.”

The room was suddenly filled with growls. Vampires crawled out from everywhere. One grabbed my left arm and two dragged Papan away, though they struggled to contain him.

“Fox!” he yelled, but another group of vampires snuck up behind him. One of them threw a thick silver chain around his neck, wrapping it tight and was soon joined by a second vamp to keep Papan stuck. “Fuck!”
 

I reached for Papan just as the vamps holding onto the chain—the chain that burned their fingers as well—dragged him farther away. He thrashed against the restraint but couldn’t shrug off the vamps.

“Papan!” The hands around me squeezed so hard I thought my arm might break. “Let go of him!” I made a move to run and slipped from the vampire’s grip only long enough to be swept up by someone else. My feet lifted off the floor and whoever was propping me up squeezed my breasts. My skin crawled at the invasion, but I couldn’t wiggle free. Whoever had me was headed for the stage, so I decided to stop wasting energy I might need later. It was clear I wasn’t going to get away from this prick, so I would bide my time.