Relentless (38 page)

He did not respond to that. We stayed in the back of the car until Tarak got out and came around to my side. They were obviously not taking any chances with me making a run for it.

“Check her,” Haism said harshly and I gasped as Tarak pulled me from the car and started to pat me down. My mouth went dry when his hands felt the weapon concealed inside my coat. He yanked open my coat and pulled out the silver knife to show Haism.

Stars exploded before my eyes and pain shot through the left side of my face as a fist came out of nowhere.  My ears rang and I staggered backwards and would have fallen if Tarak had not caught me. Blood dribbled down my lips from my nose and I dabbed it away with my sleeve.

“
Sharmoota!
” Haism shouted, his spittle spraying my face. “You think you can trick me?” He reached for me again and I flinched, waiting for the next strike. Instead he pulled a plastic cable tie from his pocket. He wrenched my arms painfully and tied my hands behind my back. When that was done he bent down and pulled off my sneakers and threw them into the woods.

“There. Try to run away now,” he jeered. He took the knife from Tarak and flung it after the sneakers then barked an order at the black-haired man. Tarak nodded and took up a lookout position near the car.

Haism grabbed my arm and pushed me hard so I stumbled and almost fell again. Jerking me upright, he shoved me forward again. “Which way? And do not try anything. I will think nothing of breaking your neck and leaving you here for the animals to feed on.”

I nodded in the direction we needed to go. “That way.”

Walking over uneven terrain with your hands tied behind your back is difficult. Doing it with no shoes is excruciating. Within five minutes my socks were bloody from the rocks and sharp sticks jabbing me mercilessly. The left side of my face had gone numb and my eye had swollen and half closed up making it harder to see where I was going. Haism yanked me forward viciously every time I faltered and I pressed my lips together to keep from crying out. I would not give him the satisfaction.

“I am curious,” he said as he waited for me to step over a fallen tree. “These trolls are savage creatures, even vampires fear them. You must be quite valuable to the vampires for them to willingly risk themselves to capture the young trolls.”

“Is that a question or a statement?”

He scowled at me. “How is it that a human girl is able to befriend such beasts? How did you get your hands on the bile and live to speak of it?”

“You would never understand.” In truth, there were very few people who could comprehend my relationship with Remy. I certainly wasn’t about to explain it to the person who would terrorize children and who was about to hand me over to a vampire.

“Then perhaps you will tell me why that vampire wants you so badly. He is most determined to have you.”

Just the mention of Eli made me stumble and bile rise in my throat. “He tried to kill me and I got away. I guess he doesn’t like it when that happens.”

Haism barked a laugh. “All of that for a meal? I think not. He has worked too hard to possess you to end it that quick.”

My stomach churned. How could he talk about my death so casually? He had to know what Eli would do to me. Terror rose up, threatening to suffocate me and I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted blood. The sharp pain sliced through the dizzying fear so I could think a little clearer.

I knew from the beginning that Haism had no intention of letting me go after I gave him what he wanted. His sheik had a deal with Eli and Haism was going to deliver me as promised. His tone told me he actually enjoyed the idea of the horrors that awaited me. Even with a demon inside me, I was more human than the monster walking next to me.

The woods were somber and quiet except for the occasional bird call. Walking like a prisoner to my execution, it was hard to believe I’d spent so many happy hours in this place. There would be no Remy now to scold me or little Minka sneaking up to ambush me in a fit of giggles. The trolls could be watching me right now and none of them would come to my rescue. It didn’t matter that I had saved the little ones last night; to the elders I had only been righting the wrong I had done to them. I might have stopped a rampage, but I wasn’t even close to earning their forgiveness. I was truly alone now. No one was coming to save me this time.

It was time to help myself. I took stock of my situation. I was shoeless, weaponless, and bound; there was no way I was running away from Haism like this. But we were headed for the cliffs and I knew them better than almost anyone. And Haism would have to untie me to retrieve the bile. There had to be a way to escape him at the cliffs – because there was no way I’d let him turn me over to Eli. I swallowed hard as I made my decision. If I could not escape my captor there was another way out and one leap was all it would take. One leap, a few seconds of fear and then nothing. I would die on my own terms before I let Eli touch me.

As soon as I made my resolve, a sense of calm acceptance settled over me. It was soon followed by sadness over the things I might never see or do and regrets for the unfinished things I was leaving behind. My biggest regret was Nate and all the time I’d lost that I could have spent building a relationship with him. He didn’t deserve what I’d put him through, and if I didn’t come back he would have to carry that with him for the rest of his life. My only comfort was that I’d been able to save him at least. I had made so many mistakes and people I cared deeply about had been hurt because of me. Saving the trolls and Roland’s life might have redeemed me if I hadn’t put them in danger in the first place. Scott too. He was a jerk but I’d never wanted him to get hurt. He was just one more victim I’d left in my wake.

A phone rang. Haism pulled out his cell phone and rushed to answer it. He spoke in Arabic and something in his submissive tone and posture told me it was the sheik. Haism appeared to explain something to him then his voice took on an apologetic, almost groveling tone. It was clear the sheik was not happy. I could hear his voice as he shouted at Haism and I watched my captor’s face grow pale and slack from the verbal lashing.

Haism slanted a look at me as if he realized for the first time that I was witnessing his castigation. His mouth twisted and he pushed me roughly to the ground. I cried out as I landed in a heap with my arms twisted painfully beneath me. With great effort I scuttled backwards until I was half sitting with my back against a tree. The rough bark cut into my hands and a low branch snagged my hair making tears spring to my eyes. I was a mass of scrapes, cuts, and bruises and I hadn’t even been turned over to my real tormentor yet.

“Stay,” Haism commanded sharply like he was talking to a dog. His frigid gaze swept over me before he walked a small distance away, now pleading with the man on the other end of the line.

To distract myself from my discomfort, I thought about Nate, Remy, Roland, and Peter and tried to remember a happy time with each of them. It surprised me to find myself thinking about Nikolas too, though in a way it made sense to think of him now. For the last month, almost everywhere I went he was there, jumping in to save me, stalking me, protecting me, scolding me. I remembered his teasing laughter that night at my place and the look in his eyes whenever he was furious at me. We were like two magnets constantly pushing at each other and as much as he aggravated me, I had grown used to having him around.

I could almost hear him saying “I told you so” at the mess I’d landed in this time, and I could only imagine how angry he was at this moment because I didn’t listen to him – once again. Was he at my place now, trying to figure out where I was? He was pretty serious about this protection thing. How long would he search before he admitted I was lost this time?

A pang of sorrow stabbed me at the thought of Nikolas giving up on me and moving on with his life after everything we’d been through. My Mori stirred and gave a mournful sigh.
I know,
I consoled the demon.
He kind of grows on you.

Consumed by my sorrow, I barely noticed the fleeting movement against my hand. It came again and I held my breath as something warm touched my skin for a second. A mouse maybe. Animals were not afraid of me; it wasn’t unusual for one to come up to me.

Another touch came but this time it was not warm. This time something cold caressed the back of my hand. I sucked air in sharply as I heard a snip.

The cable binding my hands fell away.

Not daring to move, I shot a glance at Haism to see if he noticed anything. But he was still talking agitatedly into his phone and barely looking my way. Slowly I turned my head to look over my shoulder.

Whatever I was expecting, it wasn’t a pair of owlish eyes in a small brown face partly hidden by a mass of untamed yellow hair. I almost fell over at the sight of the surly little creature I’d healed weeks ago. “Nog?” I whispered.

The goblin did not speak as he bent down to press something in my hand. I recognized the shape of a knife, my knife. My heart swelled with the knowledge that I wasn’t alone out here after all. I raised my eyes to his again. He stared at me solemnly and I wanted to say something, to thank him.

I blinked and he disappeared.

The knife was still there and I wrapped my fingers possessively around the handle that fit my palm like it was made for me.
Made for a warrior.

I looked at Haism who had his back to me now, speaking fervently in low tones – as if I could understand a word of it either way. He was distracted, gesturing with his free hand and pacing.

I might never get another chance. I flexed my aching arms and got soundlessly to my feet.

Then I ran.

I did not
make it far before shouts rang out behind me, followed by the sounds of Haism crashing through the woods after me. I didn’t look back to see where he was or if he was gaining on me. I ran as fast as my abused and bloody feet would go. Haism was strong and fast and even with the knife, I would be no match for him if he caught me.

He might hold the advantage physically, but I knew these woods better than anyone. We weren’t that far from the cliffs and if I could reach them, I could shimmy down to my cave. It took a lot of nerve and agility to climb that cliff face and I doubted that even Haism or his men could do it without a rope. I still had my cell phone because Tarek had stopped searching me after he found the knife so I could call Nikolas and hole up in the cave until he came. I had a plan, now I just had to execute it.

A stream loomed ahead and I scrambled across a dead tree I always used as a bridge. Seconds later I heard my pursuer hit the stream running, followed by a splash and a string of curses. I kept going.

I smelled the salt air a minute before the woods thinned and I saw the break in trees ahead. So close. I put on an extra burst of speed and Haism fell farther behind. Suddenly the trees were behind me and I was hobbling across a small grassy meadow. The rumble of waves told me how close I was and I stuck the knife inside my coat to free my hands for the climb of my life.

My feet touched bare rock and I veered to the left making for the lone stunted pine tree above the cave. Over the wind and the roar of the surf I heard Haism shout something unintelligible at me but he was too far away to matter now. I reached the tree and peered down at the rocks below. The ocean’s show of power here never failed to take my breath away but I’d always had Remy to carry me down and keep me safe. I didn’t anticipate the climb but I would rather face a hundred cliffs than the fate waiting for me.

There was no time to steel myself, to work up the courage. Haism was coming, I had to go now. Taking a deep breath, I turned to start the climb.

“Hello, little flower.”

“No!”

Dark blue eyes straight from my nightmares gleamed as they locked with mine. Full lips curved in pleasure, sending my stomach plummeting. The last time I saw that mouth it was fanged and snarling at me as the monster behind it vowed to have me.

No, no, no, no, no
, my mind screamed. I took an involuntary step backwards, lost my footing.

Eli’s hand shot out as I teetered on the edge. He pulled me against him and ran a finger down my face. I shuddered and he smiled like we were reunited lovers. “Don’t worry. I won’t let you fall this time. I’ve waited too long to feel you in my arms again to lose you now.” His finger lingered on my bruised cheek. “I am not happy about this however. I shall have to talk to Haism about the terms of our contract.”

“Eli,” said a male voice and I looked past him. My blood froze when I saw at least a dozen other vampires gathered nearby. The speaker, a black vampire who could have passed for one of my classmates, tilted his head toward the man standing frozen at the edge of the woods.

Even from here I could see the terror creep across Haism’s face as he stared at the scene before him. On the phone with Eli he had been cocky because he knew he would not meet the vampire face-to-face. Now he faced a dozen of them, alone and armed with nothing but a cell phone. I think we both realized at the same time that my life wasn’t the only one forfeit here today. I should have felt pity for him. I might have if he hadn’t threatened Nate and planned to turn us both over to Eli.

“Haism, we meet after all,” Eli called, turning us both to face my ex-captor. Eli’s arms were like steel bands around my waist, holding me back against him. Revulsion, fear, and a dozen other emotions warred inside me and it was all I could do to not scream or pass out.

“Yes… a change of plans, I see,” Haism stammered. “But you have what you came for, just as promised.” I saw him take a step backward. Did he really think he could flee?

Eli reached up to lift my hair away from my face. “Not exactly as promised. She is damaged. I cannot imagine what would have happened to her if we had not followed you.”

Haism’s jaw fell. He took another step toward the woods.

“My deal with your employer was that I deliver the trolls and you deliver the girl, whole and untouched. I believe this renders our contract null and void.” Sadistic amusement laced Eli’s honeyed voice. “Juan, Rose, please conclude our business with Mr. Bakr.”

“Noooooo!” Haism got that one word out before the black vampire and a blond female appeared beside him. I tore my horrified eyes away but I could not block out the screams. They seemed to go on forever before ending in a sickening gurgle that turned my legs to jelly and made my stomach revolt.

Eli lowered his head until his mouth was against my ear. “Calm yourself, my sweet. You belong to me and no one else will touch you.”

The promise in his softly spoken words turned my blood to ice. It would not be long before I would wish I had died along with Haism. There was only one way out of this for me now. Either way I was going to die. I had to make sure it was on my terms because the alternative was unthinkable.

“Why?” I asked hoarsely. “Why me?”

Eli sighed. “You don’t even know how lovely you are, do you? Such a mix of fire and innocence, I saw it that night before we even met and I knew I had to have you. Imagine my delight when I discovered what you are and then to find out that you were what brought me to Portland in the first place.”

I thought of David’s theory about the missing girls and I had to know. Swallowing my fear, I said, “You took those girls in Portland because you were looking for me. Why did you pick them?”

“They were chosen because they were the right age and they all had certain
characteristics
in common. It did not take me long to discern that none of them was the one I sought.”

Something in me shriveled and died. Those girls were dead because of me and their families would never know what happened to them. “All of this to catch Madeline Croix?”

Eli laughed softly, his chest rumbling against my back. “Ah, Madeline. There was a beauty. I almost had her once, but she has evaded me all these years. My Master has not been happy about that.” His arms squeezed me lightly. “But you are the greater prize I think.”

“Are-are you going to take me to your master?” I didn’t know what prospect frightened me more: being at the mercy of Eli or his master.

“Eli, we should go,” said one of the other vampires. “This town is swarming with wolves and hunters. And the sky will start to clear soon.”

“We leave when I am ready,” Eli barked. He spun me to face him and I placed my hands against his chest as a small barrier between us. “You are mine. My Master promised you to me if I found you.”

I stared at his chest to avoid the hunger in his eyes as I pressed him for answers. “Why is Madeline so important to your Master? I don’t even know my mother. If you think I can help you find her, you’re mistaken.”

“The
why
is between my Master and Madeline. And our search for Madeline revealed a few things about her life that were of great interest to my Master.”

“I don’t understand. What is so special about her being a Mohiri except for the fact that you all hate each other?”

He laughed. “You are right. There is nothing special about her but her daughter is an entirely different story. Do you know it wasn’t until a few months ago that we learned Madeline had a daughter? That little tidbit she and your dearly departed father kept hidden from us. By the time we learned of your existence you were nowhere to be found. It was like you had disappeared into thin air.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. “My father?”

He lifted my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “Oh yes, I was well acquainted with Daniel Grey – well, as acquainted as you can be with anyone on the last day of their life.”

The world faded around us. I couldn’t feel the wind or hear the ocean or see the vampires surrounding me. In that moment, there was only me and Eli.

“You… you killed him.”

His cruel beautiful eyes gleamed as he watched my face closely. “I was following Madeline and her trail led me to him. He said he didn’t know where she was. Of course, I had to make sure he was telling the truth.” He sighed as if he was reliving a happy memory. “I believe he was.”

I couldn’t breathe as the image of my dad’s mutilated body swam before my eyes. For ten years I’d carried that gruesome memory while trying to accept that I would never find his killer. Yet, here he stood. All the nightmares, the grief and the loneliness I had suffered were because of the monster smiling at me right now.

“He actually held out longer than most –”

Heat blossomed in my chest. My body trembled as electricity danced through me and rippled across my skin like heat waves off pavement. Static crackled and my scalp tingled as some of my hair lifted into the air.

Eli’s eyes widened and he dropped his hands from my shoulders as if he had been shocked. I sensed the others moving closer, forming a half circle around us.

The strange electricity surging through me fizzled like a used match. I reached for it but it was gone before I could grasp it and figure out how to use it to destroy Eli. Impotent rage flooded me.

Eli laughed once he recovered from his surprise. “A charming little display but hardly enough to hurt me. You have no idea what that is, do you? What you are?”

“Does it matter?” I asked, glad for the fury that swallowed some of my fear.

“Not to me,” he replied, smiling. “I think we have dallied here long enough. We’ll have plenty of time later to get to know each other.”

My heart thudded painfully as his words sank in. This was it. If he took me away from here I was dead – or I’d soon wish I was. I felt the wind at my back. The edge of the cliff was less than two feet away; one jump and this would all be over. It was the only way out for me now. If there really was a God then this wasn’t the end and I’d be with my dad again. If there wasn’t a God – well I’d never know. But nothingness was better than the fate awaiting me with Eli.

Watching my face, Eli suddenly grabbed one of my wrists, his eyes flashing. “You would not be thinking about robbing me of our time together, would you my sweet?”

My heart sank. “No I was just –”

Something brushed against my mind.

A vampire gasped. Another let out a small cry. Eli’s eyes widened – with fear.

My breath caught. I whirled around and there he was, standing like a vengeful angel between us and the woods. His leather jacket was gone and in its place was his warrior harness. His hands gripped the hilts of two long slender swords.

Our eyes met and the look in his took my breath away. I’d seen Nikolas angry plenty of times but that was nothing to the unbridled fury I saw in him now. I knew Nikolas the man, but it was the demon warrior who stood before me now and the demon was raging.

“He is only one,” Eli growled after his initial shock had passed. “Risa, Heath, Lorne – take care of this.”

“No!” I cried but the three vampires reached Nikolas before the word even left my lips. My stomach clenched and a sour taste flooded my mouth as I watched the vampires circle their quarry like lions surrounding a gazelle.
He’s a warrior. This is what he does
. I tried to find comfort in those thoughts but it was three against one. Nikolas was as fast as them but how could he fight all of them at once? He’d always been so strong, so invincible that the idea of him falling now was unthinkable.

He can’t die.
I was too afraid for him to try to think about why the possibility of him losing sucked all the warmth from my body.

The red headed male in front of Nikolas darted towards him. Nikolas brought his swords up but the vampire whirled away out of reach at the last second. The feint distracted Nikolas and I choked back a cry as the blond male on his left struck with the speed of a snake, his clawed hand aiming for Nikolas’s throat.

A terrible shriek split the air. The air turned crimson around them and the blond vampire drew back, staring at the stump where his hand used to be. Metal flashed again. The vampire gaped in horror at Nikolas for an endless second – before his head toppled off his neck and rolled a few feet away from him.

The female behind Nikolas let out an enraged wail and launched herself at him, her long black hair flying out wildly behind her. At the same time, the other male attacked from the front, going for Nikolas’s chest. Moving almost too fast to see, Nikolas leapt into the air and flipped backwards over the female’s back, landing deftly behind her. She shrieked in rage and barely missed colliding with her brethren, but she was not fast enough to avoid his claws. Long bloody gashes marred her pale pretty face by the time she stopped her forward rush and spun back to the fight.

Thrown off guard by his contact with the female, the red haired vampire was unable to stop his own advance in time. The sound of steel against muscle and bone sickened me even as I rejoiced in the sight of the blade slicing through the vampire’s chest. Nikolas withdrew and slashed again. The vampire went down, his stomach spilling out onto the grass.

My stomach roiled from the violence and gore but I couldn’t look away from Nikolas who fought with the swift grace of a dancer, his movements controlled and effortless. The savage beauty in his face stole my breath as he pulled his blade from the vampire on the ground and pivoted to meet the female’s second attack. Half demon or no, at that moment he was the most glorious thing I had ever seen.