Angels and Hunters (Stoker Sisters 2) Page 3

  “I won’t let you get to them,” Keegan said as he pinned Ashwin to the floor. “I won’t let you win.”

  “There’s nothing you can do to stop Skars’ plan,” Ashwin said with a grim, almost regrettable chuckle.

  Keegan grabbed his collar, pulled him inches away from the floor and violently pounded his head back against the hard wood floor. With an agile sweep of his leg, he kicked one of the Louis XVI chair closer. Taking a firm hold of one of the legs, he lifted the chair into the air and brought it to the floor with splintering force.

  Now with a leg to serve as stake, he lifted his weapon high into the air, prepared to finally take Ashwin out of the Stoker’s lives for good.

  “Lord Ashwin.”

  Keegan turned to the sound of the young female voice. The servant, just as surprised to see him as he was to see her, gaped as her tray laden with the Lord’s lunch crashed to the floor.

  His chance at escape was at hand and killing Ashwin would have to come later. Without hesitation Keegan bolted for the door.

  Chapter 3

  “I have to hand it to you,” Delilah said as she made herself comfortable in the cushy loveseat Sadie had recently purchased. “You really have a knack for all of that human décor thing. No one would ever think you were a vampire.”

  “Well.” Alexis looked at her as if hundreds of years had not passed. Just like when they’d been girls, Sadie was now still Delilah’s favorite. “I hardly think that’s why people don’t think her a vampire. I mean, what did you expect? That everything would be black, macabre and demonic? Even I know not to decorate a house like that.”

  The years had hardened her, made her strong, and little ever got to her. But she could feel that little girl of long ago creep up on her…the anger she’d always felt when Delilah praised Sadie, the pain of knowing Sadie could do no wrong while it seemed Alexis was always being punished for some trivial offence or another.

  Now it was the same thing all over again. Delilah ran her hand over the smooth fabric of the loveseat, sighing at its softness.

  “Do you want some tea as well, Alexis?” Sadie set the tea tray on the coffee table and poured a cup for Delilah.

  “You know I hate tea.”

  Delilah took a cautious sip and cocked her brow. “Hmmm, Earl Grey… you remembered.”

  “I never drink anything else,” Sadie said with a giggle.

  “I never drink anything else,” Alexis mimicked with disgust.

  “What was that?” Sadie turned to her, the innocence in her gaze driving Alexis mad.

  “I think I’ll have a cup,” Alexis said, wondering what all the fuss could be about.

  “I remember how you would sit with your lovely little tea set. I always wanted to sit with you and have a sip, but you would always tell me I was too young.”

  “That’s not true. You never asked me. I would have been more than happy to sit and have tea with you.”

  Sadie laughed, her dainty little hand coming up to cover her lips. Alexis wanted to spit.

  “Come to think of it, I think I never asked you.” She giggled again, her eyes shining with the memory of those days so long ago. “You always seemed so serene, so calm in those quiet moments that I never dared intrude.”

  “Isn’t that just like you to be so considerate? I would have been more than happy to welcome you.”

  “Yes,” Alexis said with a yawn. “Isn’t it just like her to be so considerate?”

  “Oh, Delilah,” Sadie went on, ignoring Alexis. “I loved those days at Stoker Manor. You have no idea how many times I’ve thought of you over the years, always wondering what had become of you, always saddened by the loss.”

  Alexis glared at Sadie, certain her darling little sister was deliberately kissing up to their old tutor. Did she not remember the hours of studying, the difficult hours pouring over books, the endless homework that never seemed to be complete?

  The freedom they’d had this past century was far more fulfilling and educational than the time they’d spent with Delilah.

  “Perhaps we wouldn’t have found ourselves in the midst of such a horrendous fight had we had you mentoring us all these years.”

  Alexis grimaced and glared at her sister. Had she forgotten all they’d been through? Had they not come to California on their own? Had they not survived more than one attack by experienced hunters? Had they not blended in well with American society? All without the invaluable aid of dear Miss Delilah?

  “Well,” Alexis finally said as she set her full cup of tea on the table. “It tastes just like hot water to me, so, if you guys don’t mind, I’m going to head out for some real action.”

  Sadie and Delilah looked up at her, their gazes almost surprised to see she was still there.

  “No offense, Delilah, but reminiscing really isn’t my thing.”

  “None taken, but where are you headed to so fast?”

  “Hunting for a meal,” Sadie quickly answered.

  Alexis glared at her, a deadly stare that would have had anyone else cringing, but her dear sister simply smiled.

  “You need blood?” Delilah asked.

  Her eyes were veiled with concern, something that surprised Alexis. Nonetheless, Alexis felted compelled to look away. Admitting she wanted to go on the hunt just didn’t seem to fit in with the cozy little tea party they were having.

  “I know where you can go,” Delilah said. “And you don’t have to kill anyone to get your fill.” She turned to Sadie. “You’re probably going to need some, too, if you're going to fight Skars.”

  *******

  Though Sadie hadn’t had time to really think of her hunger, the sudden mention of a meal had her suddenly realizing just how famished she was. And the thought of getting her meal in a pain-free way intrigued her.

  They piled into Delilah’s car, Alexis with her doubts and Sadie with her hopes. Delilah drove them into town. Delilah expertly maneuvered the sports car through the evening traffic into smaller side streets. They pulled up in front of a building that seemed like all the office buildings around the business district downtown.

  Sadie glanced at Alexis. While her sister followed Delilah without hesitation, Sadie could see her apprehension.

  Where was Delilah taking them?

  “What is this, an office building?” Sadie entered the tiny elevator, instantly suffocated by the small enclosure.

  “There are no workers around. Who are we supposed to get blood from if no one’s here?” Alexis asked.

  “Still just as impatient as ever,” Delilah said as she punched the number five into the elevator panel.

  When the doors slid open, they walked the length of a narrow corridor and finally entered a brightly lit laboratory.

  The handsome young man with dark clean cut wavy hair, busily mixing the contents of a vile into a beaker, glanced up. The moment his eyes met Delilah’s, he set vile and beaker aside, and rushed to welcome her.

  “Delilah, what an unexpected yet pleasant surprise.”

  Delilah chuckled, a decidedly seductive sound, as she spread her fingers through his hair and reached up to kiss him passionately.

  Sadie wanted to blush for the intensity of their heated embrace. While she’d never imagined Delilah to be a prude, she’d never thought of her as a sexual being. She was her tutor, her governess, although a very attractive one.

  By contrast, Alexis gazed at their tutor with open admiration.

  “Dante,” Delilah said when she finally pulled away from him. “I’m so happy to see you're still here.”

  “I see you brought along a few friends.”

  Delilah came to stand between Sadie and Alexis and slipped an arm around the shoulder of each girl. “These are more than mere friends. They’re virtually my daughters, nieces from Dorset. If they’re so gracious and strong today, I’m proud to say I had a hand in that, albeit a rather small hand.”

  Sadie smiled while Alexis positively glowed.

  “I’ve not yet had the pleasure of meeting
anyone from Delilah’s distant past.” Dante shook Sadie’s hand.

  “And what an honor it is to meet someone from Delilah’s present,” Alexis said, her gaze unabashedly giving the young man the once over.

  Sadie wanted to crawl under the counter as her sister blatantly flirted with their tutor’s man. She even caught Alexis’ discreet sniff at the young man. Even from a distance, Sadie could detect his distinctively human scent.

  “I must say, Delilah,” Alexis purred. “You certainly have an eye for the finest of the male specimen. Tall, dark and devilishly handsome. Perhaps you still have some things to show me after all.” She grasped his hand tightly, holding it for an uncomfortably long length of time.

  Delilah’s smile spoke of her complete lack of concern for Alexis’ juvenile attempt at her man. She pulled Alexis’ hand out of Dante’s and turned her to a set of double doors at the far end of the lab. “We came here to get you a meal, not a man, remember?” She pulled open the door and they entered a small refrigerated room.

  Shelves lined the walls and each shelf was stack with cartons.

  “Are these…?” Sadie asked as she reached out to finger a carton.

  “Cartons of blood, specifically formulated for vampires.”

  “That we could keep in the fridge like a carton of milk?” Alexis said with a hint of suspicion.

  Delilah laughed and glanced up at Dante.

  “But where does it all come from?” Sadie asked. “I mean, how did you get all this?”

  “It’s not human. It’s a formula I’ve been working on for so long. A blend of cow’s blood enriched with all the nutrients needed to keep a vampire healthy. It’s been complicated and a long time coming, but we’re finally pretty close to having the perfect blood to keep any vampire happy.”

  Sadie shook her head in disbelief. The thought of ever being able to feed without even harming a human in the slightest was something she’d never even dreamed of. It seemed so impossible.

  “I was able to meet up with the biologists here in Summerlin. The facilities were perfect and I had everything I needed. We’re in the heart of medical research at the University of California, Irvine.”

  “I knew it,” Sadie suddenly shot out. “I knew there was a reason I felt so incredibly drawn to California. It’s almost as if I could hear you calling to me, telling me to come out here. Since we’ve been out here Alexis hasn’t stopped nagging me about my choice, but now it’s clear.”

  Alexis picked up a carton and weighed it in her palm. She turned it over and over in her hand while her eyes still showed her doubt of Delilah’s words. “Why?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Sadie said.

  “To keep vampires from hunting humans.” Delilah tilted her head to gaze curiously at Alexis. “This project is the very reason I came to California. I’ve had too many centuries of watching humans suffer at the hands of vampires.” She turned to glance at Sadie. “Good and bad.”

  “You know, hunting isn’t just a matter of getting a good meal,” Alexis argued. “It’s a ritual. It’s the invigorating hunt. It’s part of what a vampire does. You can’t honestly tell me you think we’re all going to just stock up on cow’s blood and sit home nice and comfy and sip blood from a tumbler.”

  “Forever the skeptic,” Delilah said. She took the carton from Alexis’ hand, popped the tab open, poured some into two beakers and handed them to Alexis and Sadie. “Try it.”

  “Oh, for crying out loud.” Alexis held up the beaker and swirled it around. “This is so lame. What’ll you have us do next?”

  “Just try it.” Sadie held her beaker up to her sister and took a big gulp. “Hmmm, not bad.”

  Alexis took a reluctant sip, let it sit on her tongue a moment, then downed the rest of the beaker. “Okay, so it tastes good. That doesn’t mean I’m ready to give up my nightly prowls.”

  “I’m glad you enjoy it. I’ve been testing and trying for years. I once had the blood of Countess Valencia back in the 1500s and I’ve had a craving for that particular taste ever since…the most delicious blood, which I wanted recreated here.”

  “Really?” Alexis asked.

  “Yes, didn’t you ever have a particularly tasty meal that you truly relished?”

  “Actually I was referring to your age. I mean 1500s? Just how old are you?”

  “Alexis!” Sadie shouted.

  Delilah waved her arm away. “I’m as ancient as they come, girls. From the days of Dracule.”

  Alexis set her beaker down, now completely impressed with the tutor she’d barely ever paid attention to before. “That makes you one of the strong ones.”

  “I guess it does.”

  “Like Skars.”

  The tutor in Delilah emerged as she gave her student a reprimanding glare. “I can’t say I enjoy being compared to the likes of such a creature, but yes, I am strong, just like Skars. I have the ability to bring immortality to humans, much as Skars did Keegan.”

  “Without turning them into vampires,” Sadie finished for her.

  “Yes.” Delilah handed several cartons to the girls. “Take these. Try them out and see how you feel. I guarantee you’ll be back for more. Once you see what this high quality, highly nutritious blood does to your skin, your nails, and… oh girls, the luster you’ll see in your hair… you’ll forever thank me for introducing you…”

  “In that case, I’ll take one more.” Alexis helped herself to another carton.

  Chapter 4

  The drive home was filled with laughter and giggles as the girls joked about the contained blood. But once the car pulled up in front of the house, Delilah turned solemn and quiet.

  “You girls go inside,” Delilah ordered. “There’s something I have to go check on.”

  A sense of dread and discomfort took over Sadie’s good mood. “What do you…?” As she turned to question Delilah, she barely caught a glimpse of her trim figure as she fled into the darkness.

  “She’s probably gone back to hook up with that cute Dr. Dante,” Alexis said with a hint of envy. Getting out of the car she glanced in the direction Delilah had disappeared into. “I know if I had a guy like that waiting for me, I wouldn’t be hanging out with us.”

  Sadie got out, her cartons of blood in hand, and glared at her sister, kicking the car door for annoyed emphasis. “Not every woman think of men as often as you do, Alexis. I’m sure if she left us so quickly it’s for a good reason.”

  “Not every woman is a cold prune like you, either, little sister. Some of us do have hot blood running through our veins, so to speak.” She followed Sadie’s quick steps to the front door, her own cartons of blood tucked under each arm. “If anything, having a man in your life would probably take some of that rough edge off you, Sadie. You need to loosen up, stop being such a cold prude.”

  As Sadie turned the key and opened the door, she turned to glance back at her befuddled sibling. “Me, rough edge, cold prude? I’m the nice sister, remember. You're the one with the rough edge, if rough can even begin to describe your abrasive personality.”

  “Well, maybe you're right. Rough isn’t quite right for you. Dull is more what I was looking for.”

  Though the house was dark as they entered, Sadie felt blinded by the anger that was slowly rising. Alexis was in no position to criticize her, not after all she’d done. This very house, the one Alexis returned to everyday, would not be theirs if Sadie hadn’t been so… dull.

  They’d had this conversation so many times before, and she wasn’t about to get into it again. She reached out to flick on the light, but suddenly found herself pressed against the wall by a heavy force, her precious cartons of blood falling to the floor. Disoriented and momentarily confused, she wondered if Alexis wasn’t playing some stupid trick on her.

  “Alexis?” she squeaked out. Her head was being held against the wall, her cheeks scrunched and tight, making it difficult to speak.

  But the pressure at her back was hard, too painful for even Alexis to exert for play. Th
is was more than a stupid trick. The seconds of hesitation had already cost her far too much. Her assailant had the upper hand, easily keeping her in a hold that left little wiggle room.

  Struggling only brought more pressure to her back and face. Then she heard Alexis’ distinctive war cry. It was at times like these Sadie was grateful for her sister’s rough edges. Her complete lack of compassion and deep rooted hatred for humans and hunters made her a worthy opponent.

  Despite all Alexis’ strength and anger, Sadie could make out the muffled sounds of defeat. Whoever was up against Alexis was winning. A thud, followed by a hollow crash had Sadie seriously concerned for her sister’s safety.

  “Get your filthy hands off me, you slimy piece of worthless dung,” Alexis’ voice sputtered.

  Sadie cracked a dismal smile. Her sister may be down, but she definitely wasn’t defeated. But it was the assailant at her back who took offence at Alexis’ unflattering words, pushing Sadie into the wall with increased force, force that could only be that of another vampire.

  A third party entered the melee and while Sadie could barely make out the form, a sense of doom weighed in on her.

  The light was flicked on, momentarily blinding her. She could make out Alexis’ elegant boots kicking into the air where she was pinned to the floor by a young male. As her eyes adjusted to the new glare, she saw the young man’s knee was pushed forcefully into Alexis’ back, leaving her flailing arms and legs useless.

  Then Sadie saw a small and young fragile girl come to her side, a stake casually held in her tiny hand. She knew it had to be a vision.

  The small girl couldn’t be more than fourteen years old. Thin, gawky and with a nose and teeth that seemed disproportionately large compared to the rest of her pubescent face, the girl was dismally unattractive. Her stringy black hair shielded much of her pale face as it cascaded down to her waist, adding to the sad image she portrayed.

  “So these are the Stoker sisters,” the young girl said with disdain.