24

horde of caterpillars crawled over Evonne’s skin. Her entire body wanted to thrash at the annoying creatures. She then felt herself sliding across a glass surface, moving closer to a brilliant light. With each new sensation, the mental images became coherent thoughts. She remembered the town, the campus, and the student. But what happened after that?
The invisible caterpillars left her skin as her sense of touch returned. The glass she also slid upon vanished, as well, becoming coarse concrete. Evonne opened her eyes to see a blurry figure holding her wrist, dragging her down the empty street. The figure’s other arm hung at his side, damaged and unable to move. As he limped down the street, Evonne remembered the roof… and Jovan.
Imagining the monster dragging her away from Gabriel, she pulled her wrist from him and blindly searched for safety. The hand found her once more, grabbing her upper arm and forcing her to stand.
Evonne swung around and threw her hands into him. “Let me go!” she called out.
Losing her balance, she fell to the road, the asphalt scraping her skin. She dared to lift her eyes and to take in the scene as the truth.
The form of a man lay broken on the two lane street below the high-rise. His pale blue eyes stared blankly at the sky. The majority of the man’s injuries were unseen, but his ancient body was use to this abuse. Complete healing to him came in a matter of seconds.
The hand returned to Evonne’s wrist as he urged her to keep moving. She looked up to see Gabriel’s eyes pleading with her. Taking his good arm, she pulled it over her shoulder as she helped him to walk.
Evonne understood why she wasn’t injured as much as them. When she was pushed from the roof, Jovan still had a hold of her. His body softened her fall. But Gabriel… the lifeless arm and broken ankle spoke of his attempt to land away from them.
Over the side streets, Evonne followed Gabriel’s body language as he guided her to the main road leading out of town. A bright set of headlights settled on them. The lights dimmed as the car screeched to a stop.
Evonne had never been this happy to see Zachary. He stepped from the car and cautiously approached, keeping several yards between them. He noticed Gabriel’s battered body and the deep bite on his sister’s neck.
“What happened?”
Gabriel finally spoke. “We have to get out of here.”
Zachary stepped closer to them. “What’s going on?”
“Where’s David?” asked Evonne.
A loud crash came from the car as an object was thrown into its side, the force rocking it violently. Evonne stared wide-eyed at the object and found herself unable to believe what she saw. David lay beside the smashed car, his body lifeless and beaten. Across the road stood his attacker, his eyes now locked on the three within the car’s headlights.
Gabriel whispered to Zachary, the fear showing in his voice. “Take David and Evonne and run.”
Rushing to David’s side, Zachary made it to car but was thrown backwards, landing near Gabriel and Evonne. The monster named Jovan stood over David and reached through the car’s broken window, tearing out the steering column with a quick tug. The headlights went black. Jovan dropped the steering wheel to the ground beside David.
Zachary gathered his bearings as he pulled himself to stand. Jovan watched him with curious eyes.
“I remember you,” he said, tilting his head. “… the small child of Alexander’s. How fate must have a twisted sense of humor—a goddess after my own heart.” His eyes settled on Gabriel. “But it is you that interests me the most in this moment. I’ve been following your ever-growing popularity from afar. A werewolf hunter?” He laughed. “My boy always yearned for a purpose, a means to cope with his new life. I should have killed you myself, rather than rely on Demetrius to do the work for me.
“Call it a symptom of old age, but I’ve been feeling a bit nostalgic these days. So I will offer you a deal. Leave with me now or”—he glanced at the others—“all of Alexander’s riffraff will not see another night… beginning with her.”
Gabriel read further into his words. With jaw clenched, he pushed Evonne away. “Help Zachary with David. You’ll find a gas station a mile down the road.” He reached into his pocket and handed her a set of keys.
Evonne hesitated as she took the keys. “I’m not leaving you again.”
“Do as I say!” he yelled, his eyes fighting to stay on Jovan.
The weight of the situation was evident. His fear became her fear as she tapped into it without any effort.
Zachary kept his eyes on Jovan as he moved to David’s side. Throughout the many years living in the existence he called Hell, Zachary believed that this one vampire would never resurface. But Fate was a strange goddess.
Evonne, on the other hand, didn’t believe in fate. Things happened because life was a rolling ball of push and pull. No future was set in stone. And as she stared at the ancient vampire responsible for her father’s grief, she feared for Gabriel. Though Jovan’s plans were uncertain to her, his goal was clear—he wanted her father.
Evonne slowly approached David as she kept her distance from Jovan. His icy, blue eyes followed her, judging her. He had the strength to kill her where she stood, a single slice of his hand to her neck, a quick beheading, a clean death. But his restraint was a testament to his power. No one in this small town could win in a fight against him.
Zachary gathered David into his arms. He gave no final look to Gabriel as he hurried down the street. At his side, Evonne kept glancing back until they headed around the bend, the woods alongside the road blocking her view.
Gabriel kept his eyes on Jovan as he waited for him to make the first move. It didn’t matter who won this fight. His plan was to stall Jovan for as long as possible.
“Honestly,” the old vampire began, “I don’t think you’re willing to return to me. But that’s the familiar ground between us.”
Gabriel rolled his injured arm, testing it. “Why are you really here?”
“You are going to help me. You will bring Alexander to me and you will watch as that brave man wilts before your eyes. If you do not comply with this order, then you will forfeit their lives. What is the life of one human compared to three vampires?” Jovan watched him for a reaction. “You have no other choice. I know you would never place them in danger. That would sadden poor Alexander. There’s no need for us to fight over this. I will win.”
The realization of his true goal frightened Gabriel even further. This was his fault. He lead Jovan here, he lead him to Alexander, and he lead him to his next game. His words from earlier weren’t taunting chatter but the truth. He was planning to become Alex’s sire.
Jovan read Gabriel’s expression clearly. He smiled. “I must give you some credit. You were the one who gave me the idea. What was her name? Abigail? A simple, thoughtless meal gave birth to the tickling cancer that is Eden. And you became his trusted friend.” He began laughing. His words then grew sharp. “But she was to be mine. Imagine my anger when I learned of your betrayal. You soured my fun, Gabriel.”
“I wasn’t aware of your ‘game,’ ” he boldly said. “And if I had, she would still be mine.”
The words caused Jovan to stumble for a reply. He never thought he would hear such a statement from him. It seemed out of character. “Test your freedom all you want, ghoul. Demetrius isn’t here to save you this time.” He took a step toward him, daring him to make his move.
Gabriel refused to act. He still had to buy them more time. “How did you find me?” he asked.
“I always know where you are, the same way you followed your new child here.”
“I didn’t follow her. I guided her.”
“How caring,” Jovan scoffed. He walked toward him, ending their meaningless conversation.
It was a test of power between them now. More than seven-hundred years had passed since Gabriel last saw him, plenty of time to gather more tricks.
Reaching for his knife, Gabriel lunged for Jovan. The attack was as fast as he could move and he still missed his target. Strong hands grabbed hold of his back, pushing him to the asphalt. Gabriel caught himself and swung around, his attack meeting with Jovan’s abdomen, cutting deep.
The ancient vampire didn’t yield. His hands wrapped around Gabriel’s throat and squeezed, his nails popping through his flesh as he tried to crush his spine.
Gabriel brought the knife up, pressing it to Jovan’s unguarded throat and pushing hard. In a quick slice, he ripped the blade to the side, almost severing his head in one movement. The unexpected attack sent Jovan staggering backwards. Blood gushed from the gaping wound and covered the front of his clothes.
Seizing the fleeting moment for another attack, Gabriel threw his weight into him. Their bodies fell to the street. He raised the knife, aiming for Jovan’s heart. As the blade descend, powerful hands grabbed his wrists, stopping the knife an inch from Jovan’s chest.
Gabriel stared down at him. Jovan’s eyes were lifeless and locked on the cloudless sky. The gaping wound that nearly severed his neck began to heal. His eyes then rolled around, finally landing on Gabriel. With a disgusted sneer, he twisted the knife in Gabriel’s grip and sent it into his gut. He pushed the knife as far as it could go. And with another violent pushed, the handle threatened to enter him, as well.
With all of his strength, Gabriel pulled the knife free and brought it down into Jovan’s chest. He saw the vampire’s stunned look—the realization that he underestimated this pathetic ghoul. There was no time for Gabriel savor his meager triumph. A simple knife to the heart wouldn’t stop Jovan. He quickly removed the blade and brought it down once more. Over and over he stabbed the monster’s chest, crushing bones and shredding the heart and every muscle in his chest cavity. In a perfect scenario he would’ve removed his heart completely. But the confusion and chaos of the night left Gabriel unable to think rationally. This was his anger taking over. He didn’t want to kill Jovan. He wanted to make the monster suffer. Every memory came rushing forth, fueling him—driving him. These were things he taught himself to suppress. He believed he had conquered his past, but as he felt Jovan’s presence earlier, closing in on Evonne, his dormant emotions shattered through the old walls he sat in place. This monster, though hidden for more than seven-hundred years, still had power over him. And no weapon was strong enough to remove it.
Jovan’s arms collapsed to the asphalt. The only movement to his body came from the violent thrusts from the knife. Gabriel stopped. He forced his eyes to look upon him. The damage wasn’t as nearly as much as he wanted to inflict. He steadied his hands.
There was one fear that kept him from killing Jovan in this moment. He was Saros’ first child. If he were to kill him, then the punishment would be his own death. But there were other ways to fight this battle.
Leaving Jovan’s mutilated body, Gabriel ran down the road.