Vampire Charming (22 page)

“Not
to beat a dead Werewolf, but
this
is where listening to you had gotten
me so far.”  She pushed passed him, stalking back outside and waving a hand
around the smoldering forest.

“This
is
destiny
.  You don’t understand.”  Slade sounded like he was finally piecing
together some complicated puzzle.  “I followed my instincts to my true fate. 
That
is why we are here.  It was meant to be.”

There
was just no talking to him sometimes.  “Well, congratulations.  Some of us
don’t have the universe planning our glorious futures and handing us pretty crowns,
though, so we have to look out for ourselves.”  She headed towards the
waterfall.

The
lightning strikes were getting closer.  That was probably a bad sign.  The rest
of the camp had emptied out, everyone scattering into the forest.  Hopefully
none of them would burn to death in their blind panic to escape.  The rebels
weren’t the brightest crayons in the box, but Jane didn’t want to see them
charred to cinders.

Slade
seemed almost in a daze as he followed Jane to the river.  “Gods!  You were
right all along, Jane.  Why did I doubt it?  You are always right.”

“Wow,
you just said something that made sense.  If this place has newspapers, we
could alert them.”

Slade
didn’t seem to hear that.  “Melessa was not my Eternal-One.  Of
course
she
wasn’t.”  He shook his head.  “Did I
always
suspect that?  I must have
known.  Or maybe I
couldn’t
know it, because I wasn’t meant to yet.”  He
didn’t even notice as lightning struck nearby and another tree went up in
flames.

Jane
did.

She
winced at the destruction, glancing towards the raging stream.  “Seriously, do
you think it’s safer to risk the fire and stay on dry ground, or risk the
lightning and wade into the water?”

She
might as well have been talking to herself.  Slade was lost in his own
thoughts.  “It all makes sense, now.  The unappetizing way Melessa smelled… 
The empty feeling when I touched her…  The lack of connection I felt…  She
could
never
be the one I was waiting for, could she?”

He
didn’t seem to need an answer, but Jane gave him one anyway.  It was
way
more satisfying to focus on Slade’s crappy love life than on their current
crappy situation.  “Yeah, your Vamp-y instincts totally misfired when they set
their sights on your ex.”  She muttered.  If she ever met Melessa, she planned
to deck her right in her perfect face.  “I’d probably start ignoring them, if I
were you.  They keep landing you in trouble.”

Jane
reached the top of the waterfall and began moving faster through the brush,
scouting for something that looked like the Corpse Road.  She figured there
would be corpses or a road to mark the path, but so far she wasn’t spotting
either.  Damn it, how were they going to get out of this mess?

“No,
my Dark Instincts told me that Melessa would lead me to my destiny and they
were correct.  I see that so clearly, now.”  Slade looked stunned.  “All
happened as it was
supposed
to happen, because I am here with you, Jane.”

She
scoffed at that revisionist history.  “I told you, I don’t need anyone to save
me.”

“Maybe
I’m
the one who needs saving.”  He somehow moved fast enough to get in
front of her.

Jane
gave a surprised yelp, as she slammed into his massive form.  “What the hell
are you doing?  Is it
really
so hard for you to pay attention to our
impending death scene?”

One
huge hand snaked out to grab her arm and anchor against his chest.  It was a
nice place to be, but they didn’t have time for this.  She gave an experimental
tug on his grip, but he wasn’t letting go.  He stared down at her, his face
intent.  Jane’s heartbeat picked up in a way that had nothing to do with the
mortal danger they were in and everything to do with the incredible feel of his
incredible body.

“I
mean in, Slade.”  She got out breathlessly.  “Focus on our escape and not…”

He
cut her off, again.  “You are my destiny, Jane Squire.”  He whispered and his
lips found hers.  This time, he didn’t give her time to evade him.  His mouth
sealed over hers…

And
just like that, Jane forgot everything.

Forgot
the fire burning towards them, and the vengeful Werewolf plotting their deaths,
and Slade’s destined bride waiting in the wings, and the scorned Mage headed
their way.  Forgot everything except the Vampire who’d upended her life.

For
one incredible moment, it was all swelling music, and spinning camera angles,
and happily-ever-afters.  It was standing at center stage and knowing the
handsome prince was all yours.  It was everything Hollywood always promised
about kissing and more.

So
much
more
.

Jane’s
toes curled in her shoes, her fingers fisting around the fabric of his shirt.  Holy
God
.  She’d known that Slade would taste incredible, but
this
… 
This was even better than she’d imagined.  And she’d imagined it a
lot
.

She
dragged him closer, taking things to an even higher level.  The guy didn’t need
much urging.  Slade dropped the golf bag so he could wrap both arms around
Jane.  His lips slanted across hers, taking everything she had.  One big palm
tangled in her hair, his hand caressing the thick curls like he wanted to feel
every single strand.  Jane undulated against him.  When he’d taken her blood,
it had been mind-blowing.  Having him so clearly want her for more than just
dinner made things even better, though.  Her mouth opened under his, drowning
in sensations.  A bomb could’ve gone off and she would’ve ignored it.  All she
cared about was staying right in this moment with Slade.

For
the first time in her life, Jane was home.

When
he finally pulled back, she let out a distressed moan.  “No, wait.”  She didn’t
want it to stop.  It had all been
right
.  Like she was finally where she
belonged.

“Jane.” 
He touched her cheek, his eyes traveling over her face.  “It’s always been
you
.” 
His perfect teeth gleamed in a dazzling smile.  “I should have felt it from the
first.  I
did
feel, I just didn’t understand what it meant.”  He shook
his head.  “Forgive me, my One.  I’ve been such an idiot.”

“You’re
always an idiot.”  She got out, barely processing his words.  Reality was
beginning to intrude.  What had just happened?  Was it some kind of Vampire
aphrodisiac thing, again?  It had to be, right?  Nothing normal could feel that
spectacular.  “Wait,
what
am I forgiving you for?  Are you sorry about
kissing me?  Because, I’m…
Shit!
”  Her words ended in a shout as Slade
was blasted out of her arms.

The
lightning bolt slammed into the ground beside them, blowing them apart.  Jane
hit the ground, seeing stars.  She must have blacked out for the second time
that evening, because the world went dark and silent.  She only managed to come
to when she felt the heat of the fire.

Too
close.

Instinctively,
she knew the flames were coming towards her.  Jane had to move.  She wasn’t
sure that she could do it, though.  Her eyes wouldn’t open and her ears were
ringing from the explosion.  All she could hear was the roar of the waterfall.

…
And Slade’s uncharacteristic cursing.  The guy was using four-letter words so
vile that she didn’t even recognize them.  That wasn’t like him.  Slade might
utter an occasionally oath, but he was usually too much of gentleman for this
level of enraged swearing.

“
Jane!
” 
He bellowed.

She
jolted at the sound of her name in the middle of his obscenity-filled rant,
becoming more alert.  Was he calling her?  Why was he calling her?

“Jane,
don’t do this!
 
You
can’t
do this.
  You cannot leave me!
”

“Your
human is as good as dead, Vampire.”  A woman taunted in a kind of Russian accent. 
“Soon you will join her.”

There
was the sound of swords clashing and a flash of orange sparks.  Jane focused
for a second and saw Slade dueling with a woman in a leather leotard next to
the riverbank.  It had to be Dallyn.  There was another burst of electricity. 
Jane realized every time their blades met, Dallyn was using her powers to shock
Slade.  The Mage’s powers easily traveled through metal.

Slade
didn’t seem to care.  “Whatever happens to my Eternal-One, you will suffer a
thousand-fucking-fold!
”
 
He roared back.  “
Now get out of my way!
”

His
Eternal-One?  Oh great, was Melessa here?  That was
just
what this movie
needed.  If Jane could’ve opened her eyes for more than a second, she would’ve
rolled them.  Forget it.  She was just going to say unconscious and…

“
Jane,
you must wake-up!  I will die without you!
”

Jane’s
lashes popped open at Slade’s words, the haze evaporating from her mind so
quickly that it left her dizzy.

Slade
was about to die, unless she did something.  Did
what?
  What the hell
was happening?  Was he hurt?  Could she get to him in time?

Shit!

Jane
quickly took stock, trying to assess her injuries.  Nothing felt broken or
severed, but that could be the adrenaline talking.  Hell, what did it matter? 
Slade needed her.  There was no choice but to get up.

Jane
raised her head, giving it a clearing shake.  She was seeing three of
everything, but at least she was upright.  Slade and Dallyn continued their
duel.  He seemed okay for the moment.  Well, considering at this particular
moment he was fencing over a hundred foot drop, anyway. .  Behind them, water
rushed over the falls with unstoppable force.

Why
did fantasy movies always stage fights next to waterfalls?

“
Jane!
” 
Slade shouted, again.  He was in the middle of battle, unable to see that she
was awake, but still yelling out orders.  “You must run!”

Well,
that suggestion actually made a lot of sense, but it wasn’t going to happen.  Not
when Slade needed her.

“She
cannot hear you, Vampire.”  Dallyn snapped, not even glancing Jane’s way to
make sure of that pronouncement.  Supernatural beings were always
underestimating humans.  Especially sturdy, independent girls, who everybody
thought could only play the sidekick.  “Say goodbye to your little friend!”

Oh
Jesus, they were misquoting
Scarface
, now? 
From Here to Infinia
was seriously running out of ideas.  Jane dragged herself to her knees.

“Your
woman will die in the flames and you deserve lose her, Slade.”  Dallyn pressed
on with vengeful relish.  “Who would choose such a pedestrian creature over
someone as magnificent as
me?
”

Jesus,
it was like Dallyn was just
daring
Jane to kill her.

Firming
her jaw, Jane’s gaze fell on Slade’s precious golf bag.  The golf bag that
Amalie, the Witch, said they’d need on this quest.  Now, seemed like a good
time to test that theory.  A prop like that didn’t get introduced to a film
unless it was going to matter, right?

“
Jane
will not die!
”

Damn
right she wouldn’t.  Jane somehow found the strength to stand up.

Dallyn
wasn’t as convinced by Slade’s bellow.  “Forget it, Slade.  This is
Infinia-town.”

Dear
God, the stupidity just never ended.

“I
am a
Mage
.”  Dallyn continued.  “A goddess in any dimension I grace.  Yet,
you prefer the company of that drab human!  A Vampire King --The hero of his
people-- and a disgusting mortal.  Just the idea makes me ill.”  Her tone was
full of bitterness.  “I do not understand what spell Jane Squire could have
woven over everyone to make her seem
remotely
worthy of attention.  Even
Fang seems obsessed with her!”

“What?” 
Slade demanded, his face getting even grimmer.  “How does he know of my Jane?”

Dallyn
smirked, sensing that she’d finally struck a blow.  “Werewolves salivate at the
thought of possessing Vampires’ Eternal-Ones.  You know that.  Fang’s men say
that ever since he caught her scent, he’s talked of nothing but your precious
human.”

Now
would be a
really
good time for Slade to point out that Jane
wasn’t
his Eternal-One, so there was no need for a werewolf to kidnap and rape her.

Instead,
King Helpful slowly shook his head.  “No one will take Jane from me.”  The
words were deadly serious.  “I have sought her too long to lose her now.”

Dallyn
gave a harsh laugh.  “You already
have
lost her, you fool.  Be glad that
I’ve killed her quickly.  Fang wanted her alive and surely death is preferable
to what he had planned.”

Super. 
Because, this whole thing wasn’t freaky enough.  Jane reached out to grab one
of the golf clubs.  As she turned, she spotted a sign pinned to the tree in
front of her.

Corpse
Road Entrance
.