26

vonne felt a heavy sensation bearing down on her. She wanted to pull herself from the bed, but her arms and legs refused to obey. Panic came to her as she tried to force her body to move. In a silent cry, her body broke free.
Sluggishly, her eyes opened. Where was she? She recalled entering the house to find Keelan, but what happened after that? She had never seen this room before.
Evonne left the bed and walked to the window. Dark sheets, along with the curtains, covered both windows. She moved the curtains aside to look out and flinched as the sun’s light struck her eyes. Blinking at the brightness, Evonne assumed it was nearing sunset.
Then she remembered what happened. They had returned to the house and found Keelan in one of the upstairs bedrooms. He’d been drugged and placed in the perfect position to kill her.
Evonne’s mind snapped onto the truth. But was someone really trying to kill her? She became lightheaded. Her hand went to her neck and touched the bite left be Keelan, feeling the dried blood. Her hand then touched her lips as she recalled her vision. What happened?
Oh God…
The phantom taste of blood bounded forth in her mouth. By giving Keelan her blood she was left weak. Her new strength came from another source—Gabriel’s blood.
But this wasn’t planned. Even without his blood in her body she would have recovered in time. Nevertheless, she could feel the odd strength his blood gave her. How close did she come to crossing that line? If Keelan had taken a minute’s more of her blood, then would Gabriel’s blood have the free rein to alter her body completely?
The thought frightened her. She was thankful that her own blood remained the dominate figure in her veins. The relief was felt by Gabriel, as well.
Evonne turned from the window and entered into the hallway. The room containing Keelan called out to her. But she steadied herself. It was too dangerous to enter the room without Gabriel by her side.
Feeling hungry as well as thirsty, she walked downstairs in search for something to eat. She stopped upon entering the living room. Gabriel lay on the sofa, asleep with his hands over his stomach. Evonne quietly headed into the kitchen. She didn’t want to wake him, but she knew how light he slept. He undoubtedly heard her sneak through the room.
In the kitchen, Evonne squinted her eyes again at the sun’s light pouring in from the uncovered window. She looked away and grabbed a glass from the cabinet. She then turned on the faucet, filling it to the top. The water rinsed away the dryness in her throat and the lingering taste of blood. This was what she needed.
As her head cleared, she emptied the glass and returned it to the cabinet. Her attention then drifted to the back door.
Stepping outside, Evonne found a screened-in porch with a wooden swing suspended from the ceiling. She eased herself onto the swing and lay down. The sun’s light hit her skin, but prickling sensation faded away within minutes. She closed her eyes and continued to rest.

Gabriel sensed Evonne stir awake and leave her room. His mind tracked her as she entered the kitchen and then left the house. She remained on the back porch as she began to sleep once more.
With sunset drawing near, the pressure from the sun eased. Though his body was strong enough to move about during the day without any hindrances, he hadn’t fed in two nights. This caused his body to yield under the pull of the sun.
He forced himself to wake then headed for the master bedroom to check on Keelan.
Gabriel entered the dark room and closed the door. The bed was empty. His mind searched the room and found Keelan in the far corner. As his mind and eyes landed on him, Keelan charged forward, slamming his body into his sire. He continued his attack and went for Gabriel’s neck, delivering shallow bite.
Gabriel shoved him away, ripping the teeth from his skin. With a solid fist, he threw his hand into Keelan’s jaw.
Keelan fell to the floor. The burst of strength left him just as quick as the attack began. He pulled himself onto his hands and knees, but his strength continued to evade him.
“What do you hope to accomplish?” Gabriel sneered.
Keelan remained on the floor and made no attempts to stand. “If you wish to help me then let me feed.”
Gabriel’s fear was realized. The presence of the drug held strong. Whoever engineered the toxin had extensive knowledge on how to toy with a vampire’s physiology.
Grabbing Keelan’s arm, Gabriel lifted him onto the bed. Keelan rolled to his side and curled into ball as the pain returned. Gabriel sat on the edge of the bed, watching him. There was nothing he could do.
“Neither fresh blood nor rest can help you,” Gabriel admitted out loud.
Keelan fought through the pain to speak, “Fresh blood fuels the poison. Ancient blood weakens it.”
“Ancient blood…” he repeated, thinking over his words. “I will take you to Saros.” He left the bed and walked to the window. With a careful hand, he pulled back the heavy blanket protecting the room from the sun. A dulling glow entered, causing Keelan to let out a raspy noise in protest. Gabriel stepped into the weakening light and looked outside.
The sun had already settled below the mountains, but its dying light remained. Gabriel felt its warmth hitting his skin like the noon day sun on the hottest desert. He closed the makeshift curtains. If they were to leave for Saros’ then they needed to get on the road as soon as possible.
Looking at Keelan. Gabriel knew his blood was considered old, but it wasn’t ancient. That blood belonged to the Original Six.
Ancient blood was found within the early generations of vampires. The more generations placed between the Originals and new fledglings, the weaker the blood. But over time, the blood strengthens. Some vampires of weaker blood—those well over three hundred years old—will have the same strength of a vampire recently sired by an Original. Strength within the blood not only helped with survival, but it also ensured a higher rank above others.
Gabriel sat beside Keelan once more. “Calm yourself,” he urged. He then presented the shallow bite on his neck. The wound was in the beginning stages of healing, yet still called out to Keelan.
Struggling through the pain, he sat up and pulled Gabriel to him. His teeth returned to the bite and buried themselves deep. He began to drink away the pain.
Gabriel listened to Keelan as he drank. The combination of losing his blood to Keelan and Evonne, added with the two nights since he last fed, left his body feeling the brunt of these punishments. His own hunger was becoming unbearable. He needed to feed, even if it meant finding animal blood.
Keelan’s drinking grew feverish. The more he took, the more the pain dissolved into an unbreakable euphoria. His arms and hands held onto Gabriel. He then felt a resistance as strong hands pushed in between their bodies, separating them.
Laying back, Keelan closed his eyes and licked the blood from his mouth, savoring its perfect taste.
Gabriel stood and wiped the blood from his neck. “I’m going out for a quick hunt. We’ll leave when I return.”
Keelan’s eyes opened. “What about Evonne?”
“She’s coming with us. I’m not leaving her here alone.”
“Thank you.” He rolled onto his side, adding, “Be quick. I don’t know how long this pain can be silenced.”
Gabriel left the room and headed downstairs, then out the front door.

A cool breeze gently woke Evonne. Her eyes found the night easing in. She must have fallen asleep. With a yawn, she pulled herself from the swing and walked back into the house.
As she passed the sitting room, she saw the empty sofa. Perhaps Gabriel was checking on Keelan.
She began to climb the stairs.
In the room, she found Keelan alone on the bed. She held her breath and crossed the room.
Keelan turned his head toward her.
“You shouldn’t be in here,” he warned.
“I wanted to see how you were doing.” She stepped closer to the bed.
He gave a weak smile. “Not so good.”
“Do you know who did this to you?”
Keelan’s eyes moved to the ceiling as he recalled the events. “I was on my way to the city where we planned to meet. I remember being followed. From my first scan of the area, I could sense only one werewolf. He came up behind me, faster than I expected. We fought for a moment.” He laughed once. “I tried to run away. But he wasn’t normal. Something about him doubled his strength. By the time I noticed the humans it was too late. I guess I was tranquilized and brought back here. The next thing I remember was waking up with you in the room.”
“Who were they and why would they do this?”
A pang of hunger, mixed with pain, flashed over him. He fought through it and answered, “For many years, rumor has spread about humans whose hobbies consisted of ‘playing’ with werewolves and vampires, even rumors of reengineered humans.” His eyes found her. “I believe they did this because of you.”
“Me?” Evonne thought of this as well, but to actually hear the theory from him…
“You are the daughter of Alexander Ingram. Your father has the resources to destroy them. They planned for you to return here where I was left to kill you. It’s their way to get your father’s attention.”
“But they didn’t count on Gabriel, did they?”
“No, they didn’t.”
She thought of another possible danger. “What if they’re watching the house at this very moment?”
“If they were, then Gabriel would’ve sensed them by now.” He watched her for a moment. “Will you lay with me until he returns?”
Evonne gaze dropped to the floor, contemplating his request. “I shouldn’t even be in here. You said it yourself.”
“I know, but your warmth is comforting. My mind isn’t as scattered as before.”
She looked at his dark green eyes and saw the sincerity within them. Hesitantly, she moved to the bed and settled down beside him.
Resting his head on her stomach, Keelan wrapped an arm around her, holding her close. Her breathing was hypnotizing to him and her warmth just as relaxing. Though his body begged him to return to the old wound on her neck, he turned a deaf ear to the pleas. As much as her blood would have soothed him, the pain would enveloped him even stronger than before. Among the comfort she brought, he caught the scent of Gabriel resonating from within her. His mind couldn’t understand why he noticed this, perhaps the drug confused all of his senses.

Evonne lost all track of time. She felt as though she’d just entered the room. But as her mind refocused, she heard a low rasping sound. It was a mix between a hiss and a growl.
Her eyes snapped open and saw someone standing in the doorway.
The low growling continued.
Gabriel stepped into the room. The challenging stare from Keelan turned cold. He kept his distance as not to provoke him.
“Evonne,” Gabriel whispered, “come to me.”
The growling from Keelan stopped. “I knew you’d try to take her from me,” he whispered back.
“You can’t trust yourself,” Gabriel reasoned, “ and I can’t trust you.” His eyes locked onto Evonne’s. “Move away from him.”
Keelan tightened his arm around her. “I need her warmth.”
Gabriel’s words turned hateful. “Do you wish to heal your body?”
He didn’t reply.
“Then we must leave.” Gabriel held out his hand. “Evonne…”
Sensing the concern in his voice, Evonne eased herself from the bed and took his hand. He then led her from the room.
“Wait for us in the garage,” he ordered.
Evonne nodded and headed downstairs. Inside the garage, she found the Jeep waiting for them. Several minutes passed before Keelan walked into the garage with Gabriel. She opened the back door and helped Keelan climb in. He lay next to the two large duffel bags.
“Open the garage door,” Gabriel said.
Evonne lifted the door just as she heard the Jeep start up. She waited as he backed out and stopped. She then pulled the door closed and went for the passenger side.
Gabriel stopped her. “I want you to sit in the back and keep him calm.”
Unsure, Evonne obeyed and moved into the back with Keelan. She sat against the bag carrying the clothes, while Keelan placed his body close to her as he held on, this time with both arms wrapping around her.
The Jeep moved onto the road and the long trip north began. Throughout the drive, Evonne asked Gabriel to stop twice, each time at a rest area. She would then return and continue to sleep with Keelan at her side.
On the final leg of the trip north, the Jeep parked before a tall, iron gate. But unlike the other gate to Demetrius’ haven, this one used guards rather than security cameras.
Gabriel kept the Jeep running as he left them for a moment.
Evonne raised up to look around. She spotted Gabriel talking to the guards on the other side of the gate.
“I think we’re here,” she said.
Keelan responded by holding her tighter.
Gabriel returned to the Jeep just as the gate swung open.
The Jeep moved forward once more. The road seemed to go on for a mile before dropping underground. A minute later, they entered a dark parking lot.
Evonne swallowed at the lump forming in her throat. This place, though it reminded her of Demetrius’ Haven, was much larger in scale. She was curious as to what it looked like above ground.
The back door opened as Gabriel helped Keelan out. The long trip weighed heavy on him and his strength was long gone. Gabriel picked him up in his arms.
“Follow me,” he ordered Evonne.
Scurrying out of the Jeep, she closed the door and stayed close to his side. Her eyes darted around the large area. Fifty or more cars were parked, some looking to be of high class and wealth, while others resembled hand-me-downs with chipped paint and a few dents.
Among the cars stood a few vampires and humans. All eyes moved to the curious trio entering into the haven.
The lump in Evonne’s throat doubled. Where had he taken them?
Two male vampires opened the door as they approached. As they walked inside, one of the vampires took the lead.
There were no stairs, only corridors branching off from the main hallway. This entire place is underground, Evonne assumed. She didn’t know how many acres of forest it sprawled out above them, or how deep underground they were. They were somewhere in New England, that much she knew.
To Evonne, the haven resembled a castle with its stone walls and décor, though the vampires and humans were dressed very modern in comparison. Most of the humans they passed ignored them, while the vampires watched intently, some even whispering. Even as they walked by, she believe the whispers were about her. But her assumption was wrong. Evonne had no idea how prominent of a figure Gabriel was among this place. And for the haven’s residents to see him carrying Keelan through the hall without the slightest discretion, caused many to speculate as to what happened.
The vampire led them into a large room. It was a place used for gatherings. But at the moment, the room was empty. He stopped and waited with them.
At the far end of the room, a double door opened and five vampires entered. They walked up to them, their strides flawless, hinting at the power they carried. One vampire stepped from the group.
Evonne recognized this one. Though her clothing had changed and her long, black hair loosely braided, Evonne never forgot Saros’ face.
The petite woman moved to Gabriel and looked down at Keelan.
“You were smart to bring him here,” she began, her voice as graceful as her movements. “In a week’s time, I fear you would have lost your child.” She rested a hand to Keelan’s forehead. “Peace will find him here.” Her dark eyes left him to fall on Evonne. “I remember you,” she said, stepping away from Gabriel to face the human. “My child, David, thinks of you often.”
Evonne kept her head low and dared not to move or speak.
Saros placed a hand to her blonde hair, brushing it from her face. Though Evonne stood nearly four inches taller than this woman, she felt as though she were no taller than the belly of a snake.
Saros’ fingers continued to move languidly through her hair.
“Go to him while I tend to your master,” she said.
Master? Evonne glanced at Keelan. Was she really viewed as nothing more than property to these vampires? The feeling it caused was sickening. She kept the expression of disgust from her face.
The vampire who led them to the room turned and headed for a side corridor.
“He will take you to see him.” Saros motioned for her to follow the vampire.
Evonne looked at Gabriel, searching for any word from him. His eyes left her, his thoughts unclear.
Willing herself to move, Evonne headed after the vampire. She glanced back to see everyone else leaving the room through the other door. She took in a deep breath and switched on her brave face as she entered the hall.