Angels and Hunters (Stoker Sisters 2) Read online

  “He wanted to rule humanity,” Delilah spat. “That’s what he wanted. What he still wants. He thinks he’s invincible as a vampire and he has great disdain for the weak… humans or protector of humans.”

  “Like you,” Sadie said.

  Delilah nodded. “Of course Dracule disagreed with Skars’ view. Skars didn’t understand what it meant to be Dracule’s Ancient. He had complete disregard for the rules that had been established. When Dracule made it clear that I was to reign over the vampire kingdom the day he should perish, Skars would hear nothing of it. He was jealous beyond reason. He’d already grown to hate me and the thought that Dracule could chose me over him left him livid. I’d been entrusted with Dracule’s descendants…Dracule’s most precious possession, the power of Dracule within their veins… something Skars simply could not abide by.”

  “To spite Dracule, Skars broke away and began his own vampire tribe,” Ashwin said. “With complete disregard for everything Dracule had ever stood for, Skars encouraged cruelty, mercilessness and a complete lack of sympathy or empathy for humans. When Dracule died, Skars believed it was his love of humans that was responsible, and he was not about to let the same thing happen to him.”

  Delilah suddenly looked tired as she looked from Sadie to Alexis and back again. “Over the years he has always tried to defeat me, to stop me. His feasts of human blood made him stronger and more powerful, too powerful. I have to admit that my desire to spare humans left me weaker in comparison. The blood of animals or of old donors, as I was apt to nourish myself on, was not as potent as the blood of humans.

  “Nothing will ever stop him. He’s ruthless. He even managed to get to Ashwin. With Dracule gone, no one could stop him and all Strigois from causing the ravages they have. And now, only Dracule’s descendants have the power to stop him.” Delilah looked at the girls, her smile soft and filled with regret. “That’s why Skars’ so adamant. That’s why he wants to have you both at his side, to better control you.”

  “He also believes his power will be greatly amplified should he drink of your blood.” Ashwin reached out to Sadie and Alexis’ hands. “It is believed that when Dracule perished, he prayed to God – yes, as strange as it may seem he did believe in God – and he asked for mercy. Due to all he’d done to help humanity, despite being one of the undead, God did have mercy on him and granted Dracule the promise that his descendants would one day save his people from the curse. Yet they are to remain pure, for the ones who are, will be the Angel amongst vampires.”

  Chapter 16

  The discussion stopped as Delilah sat up and listened intently. “They’re here,” she whispered.

  Everyone stiffened with anticipation.

  “Be prepared to fight,” she went on. “Skars has his trusted Strigois at his side. This battle is going to be rough.”

  Sadie glanced at Keegan a moment before daring to turn to look behind her. She saw the fear in his eyes and knew, with all her heart, he feared for her.

  “You’ll be okay,” he whispered.

  Not too far off, they were there, an army of Strigois, ready to fight, ready to kill.

  “I’m right beside you,” Keegan said as they stood and prepared for the fight of their lives.

  “My God,” Sadie said in a hushed tone. “How many of them are there?”

  Turning back to glance at Delilah and Ashwin, she hoped to find strength in their will. But when she looked at Ashwin, she was surprised by the conflicting emotions that played in his eyes.

  “Ashwin.” In need of reassurance, she stepped closer to him. “You said you were on my side… on Dracule’s side. Are you having doubts? Are you still with me?”

  His eyes darted from the band of vampires quickly approaching Sadie. He gripped her arm and pulled her to him, his kiss hard, possessive and passionate as he kissed her in front of everyone.

  Startled, Sadie stiffened and tried to understand the sudden show of emotion. Was it his true love for her or was it the regret at what he was about to do?

  “I meant it, Sadie. I meant all of it, but you have to trust me. You have to let me play the game my way… Skars’ way. If I don’t play the submissive role to Skars’ reign, he’ll know he’s been duped. Trust me. I beg of you, trust me.”

  “I’m scared.”

  “I know you are.” His eyes claimed hers and held on as he swallowed. “I’ll die protecting you.”

  His grip suddenly tightened as he dragged her towards Skars.

  “No,” Keegan shouted as he stepped forward to stop them. “Damn, I knew we couldn’t trust him.”

  Ashwin shoved him out of the way, effortlessly sending him falling into the soft beach sand.

  “We have to go after him,” Alexis said. “We can’t let him do this to her.”

  “Hush,” Delilah said with patience and wisdom. “We have to let the game play out as Ashwin has planned it. He may be a Strigoi, but I know him. Seeing him again just now, I now know I was wrong about his intentions. He’s completely devoted to Dracule. He has something on his mind. I sense the Strigoi in him dying. He won’t let Sadie down.”

  “But, Delilah,” Alexis shouted with anger and fear. “He’s taking her to Skars. Right there in front of our eyes, Skars is going to turn her and…”

  “Ashwin won’t let that happen. He’s clever, more than one would think. When I knew him, he was completely devoted to Dracule. He would have easily laid down his life for him. He won’t let him down now. I know he’ll do what is right.”

  Skars’ army was close, close enough to judge their size, their anger and their desire to fight to the end. Close enough to see the definition of their muscles and the red hatred in their eyes.

  Sadie squirmed. Hearing Delilah’s confidence in Ashwin’s ploy didn’t help matters. She was the one being brought to this demon. She was the one who risked losing everything, her very life, should Delilah be wrong. She’d known Ashwin hundreds of years earlier. Since her arrival, Delilah hadn’t trusted him and perhaps she’d been right not to.

  The sand gave way under every step as she felt helpless under Ashwin’s hold. But Skars’ imposing figure was getting closer and her heart was thumping louder. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t go through with this attempt to dupe Skars.

  She was the one being duped, she suddenly realized. Ashwin had played her all too well right from the beginning. Casanova…the skilled lover, Ashwin knew what to say and what to do too easily to have Sadie believe he loved her and wanted what was best for her.

  Oh, my God, she thought as she looked into Skars eyes and saw what evil looked like from close up.

  Suddenly rushed with the will to live, the need to survive, Sadie fought with all the strength she had. For a moment she broke free of Ashwin’s hold, but he quickly regained control, wrapping his arm around her waist and yanking her into the air where her arms and legs flailed uselessly.

  With forceful and determined strides, Ashwin carried Sadie to Skars. “As requested and as promised, I’ve brought you Dracule’s daughter. I’ve brought you the Angel.”

  Skars cocked a sardonic brow and chuckled from deep in his throat. He gazed down at Sadie with a blend of disdain, disgust and victory. “Well done, Ashwin. I didn’t really think you had it in you to succeed. Despite all your strength and power on the battlefield, I’ve always suspected you were a little two weak of the heart to truly do what you must. I’m impressed. You're a stronger vampire than I gave you credit for.”

  Sadie squirmed in Ashwin’s arms. Why wasn’t anyone coming to her aid? “Ashwin, please don’t do this.”

  His face was a cold slate. Void of emotions, he set her on her feet, never once gazing down at her. His response, cold and calculated, left no question as to his intention. His hand quickly wrapped around the nape of her neck, tightening to the point Sadie thought she’d faint right there.

  “Ashwin,” she whimpered as Skars reached out to touch her. She backed into Ashwin, desperate to avoid the evil touch, but Ashwin remained cold, rem
inding her of her fate with a quick squeeze to her nape.

  “Though Dracule may have sired you, I must admit you are a fetching wench,” Skars said, looking at Sadie from head to toe.

  Unable to control her anger and frustration, Sadie spat at him.

  It only brought about an angry chuckle that promised of deadly anger.

  “I’m happy to see she pleases you on so many levels, Skars. After having waited for her for so long, I’m sure you’ll now find her to be fulfilling in more ways than one.”

  “Ashwin,” Sadie said under a wave of panic. “How can you do this to me?”

  The love, passion and heat of just moments ago, of the kisses they shared was now a distant memory. All that remained was Gideon the Destroyer, determined to do as was asked.

  “Get over here, darling Angel,” Skars growled as he wrapped his dry, hard claws around her delicate wrist. He yanked her out of Ashwin’s hold with such force, the impact of crushing against his chest left her winded.

  She screamed and fought back so violently, Skars temporarily lost his hold of her. With a quick start, she turned to bolt away, only to be captured by Ashwin. At first her on-going screams obliterated everything, including the whispers he brushed against her ear.

  “Kiss him.”

  No, she thought as she kicked wildly to break free. Surely she’d not heard him correctly. He expected her to kiss Skars? What madness!

  “You're Dracule’s angel,” Ashwin continued through her protests. “You're kiss to a Strigoi is redemption. Kiss him.” He wrapped his arms securely around her and returned her to Skars’ hold.

  “She’s all yours.” His voice betrayed nothing. “She’s got quite a temper. I suggest you try to calm it before she gives you a headache.”

  Skars gripped her wrist with one hand and a fistful of hair with the other. “Don’t worry. She’ll not free herself of my hold again.”

  Sadie looked up at her captor, wanting to believe Ashwin, wanting to win over Skars, but fearing the outcome. What if her kiss only exacerbated the situation?

  Skars gaze shifted and Sadie immediately knew he’d grown suspicious. His fist tightened about her hair and Sadie winced as tears of pain filled her eyes.

  “What freakin’ game do you think you're playing?” Skars shouted. He yanked her away from him, holding her at arms’ length, her feet barely touching the sand.

  “Ah!” she cried, no longer able to contain the tears. In the distance she saw Keegan, shift and jitter as Delilah kept control of him with hushed words to his ear. But the Strigois were quickly approaching and the battle was about to begin. If they were to do something to save her it would have to be now.

  But it was Ashwin who finally ceased playing the game. He rammed into Skars, his physique suddenly bulking up larger and darker than Sadie had ever seen. Gideon the Destroyer had returned in full vampire warrior form. Skars finally released his painful hold of her and she fell helplessly into the sand, her head aching.

  Skars also shifted in form, turning into an ox of a vampire.

  Ashwin took a hold of Skars’ head and jammed it into his knee. The blow threw Skars off, sending him reeling back a few steps, but he quickly shook it off and set on the attack.

  His leg rose, high and strong, striking Ashwin in the jaw.

  Of similar size and strength, their fight was vicious and unrelenting. One fierce blow brought on another and neither man would back down.

  In the distance, Keegan, Alexis and Delilah were equally busy fighting off one Strigoi after another.

  “You're a traitor,” Skars called out to Ashwin as blood trickled from his nose. Standing a few paces from Ashwin, he seemed as winded as he was angered. “You dare turn on me, Gideon? You dare turn your back on who you are… what you are? You're a Strigoi.”

  “I’m of Dracule.”

  “You made a pact!”

  “You're nothing but a demon. Your power means nothing to me.”

  Skars threw a punch into the air, missing Ashwin by a foot.

  “You allowed the demonic side of vampirism to take over. You invited the demonic dark side into your life as a vampire. From the very beginning, you’ve deliberately defied Dracule’s rules. Thanks to you, the world now views vampires as evil. Thanks to you, Dracule lost his life.”

  “Dracule painted a beautiful but unrealistic picture of what vampires were, of what they could be. His rules were ridiculous and his dream of saving the world that of a seven year old boy.”

  The insults darkened Ashwin until Gideon the Destroyer grew larger, huge, dangerous and determined. In response, Skars grew larger still, releasing the wrath and power of the Agar. When they clashed together again, their blows led to more blood.

  Feeling helpless and powerless, Sadie crawled back away from the violence of their blows as their fighting came closer and closer to her. Blood splattered and dotted her clothing. She could feel the splatterings on her face.

  She had to do something, yet she felt paralyzed. In the distance, Alexis threw a Strigoi over her head with ease. Keegan staked another, his war cry filling the air. And Delilah, no longer frail looking and delicate as she took on her larger, fiercer form as Mina, fought for her life, for the lives of all vampires.

  If Sadie had admired her before for being the wise and beautiful mentor, nanny and friend she’d always been, she was in complete awe now as she watched her fight with ease and confidence. Not a trace of fear showed in her eyes; not a moment of hesitation or confusion. Each move was measured, sure and meant to kill.

  With a stake in each hand, she easily killed more Strigois than Keegan and Alexis combined.

  Chapter 17

  Sadie was temporarily paralyzed as everything buzzed so quickly around her. Everyone she loved was in the distance fighting off a veritable army of Strigois, while Ashwin fought Skars with everything he had.

  She had to do something to help, but her mind was a blur of vague thoughts as she contemplated everything that had happened in the last hour; her passionate embrace with Ashwin, Keegan returning to her side with such concern in his eyes, and Delilah and her sister ready to fight so valiantly.

  Her heart ached for all the love she had to give and all the betrayal she’d felt as Ashwin had released her into Skars’ hands. Shaking off all the emotions and pain, she turned to Delilah and Alexis. Above all that was where her heart truly needed to be. But the moment she’d determined her next step, to go to their aid, Skars snaked his hand around her neck and quickly brought her back into his hold.

  She struggled, kicking and clawing, tearing at his skin, biting into his jacket, but incapable of breaking skin. As though dealing with an errant child, Skars lifted her off her feet and carried her away.

  “Ashwin,” she shouted as she instinctively called for help from the man she nonetheless trusted.

  Sadie felt the jolt as Skars’ jerked back. Ashwin had jumped his back, but his attempt to save her was quickly halted by warrior Strigois. Despite the imposing figure he was as the Destroyer, he was brought to his knees as three large Strigois rushed at him, knocking him to the ground.

  In a heartbeat, Skars shifted into high gear, quickly leaving everyone behind as he floated across the beach sand. Sounds of fighting and battling soon faded into a distant hush as Skars easily carried her away, unhindered.

  His speed increased, making the nearby ocean waves a blur of salty froth. Helpless to fight him, Sadie prayed as she was brought higher and higher into the blackened sky.

  An answer to her prayer came in the way of a tight grip on her ankle. Glancing down, Sadie saw Mina holding on tight. The grip was almost painful, but Mina succeeded in pulling Sadie free of Skars’ grasp. She fell, from higher than she had imagined they’d flown, but it was no longer Mina there to soften her fall, but Delilah.

  Skars stopped, suddenly, his face painted with crimson rage. His roar of anger filled the air and his eyes blazed with the animosity of a thousand years as he gazed upon his lifelong nemesis.

  “It’
s time you fought me directly, Agar, and not my students.” Delilah quickly reached him, flying up to wage a battle in the night sky. “Are you afraid of what a battle with an Ancient can do to you?”

  “Fear not for me,” Skars said through a sneer.

  He threw himself at her, and they tumbled together high above as Sadie could only watch from the sand below. Her admiration of her tutor and mentor grew with every strike from the delicate and fragile Delilah. Each blow had Skars reeling and struggling to keep the upper hand. Not only did Delilah show her immeasurable strength, but she continually outsmarted Skars, twisting around in the air and attacking him from behind, flying around to surprise him as he anticipated a blow from the left, only to receive an unexpected kick from the right.

  She was winning. She’d saved Sadie from certain ill fate. Just as she’d done so many times throughout her childhood, Delilah proved once again to be worthy of her charges.

  Under the pale glow of the moonlight, Delilah prepared for a fatal blow. She pulled back, hung in the air for a tense moment then charged Skars. But the old demon would not succumb so easily. Anticipating Delilah’s move, he held one huge hand out at the last moment, seized her by the neck and brought her in close for a deadly bite.

  Horrified, Sadie stood back as her beloved mentor plummeted through the air to land at her feet. Though softened by the sandy beach, her fall nonetheless resulted in a painful thud, her head left to lay at an odd angle.

  Chapter 18

  A loud cry pierced the sky. At first Ashwin was certain it was Sadie’s cry of pain and anguish at her fallen mentor. In an instant she was up and rushing to Delilah’s aid. But he quickly realized the cry of sorrow emanated from his own mouth. Before Sadie could even approach her, he was at Delilah’s side.