A Hunger for Darkness (9 page)

Cha
pter Seventeen

Kenzi remained huddled in the corner of her prison, her arms wrapped around her knees. Joshua lay unconscious by the door, breathing evenly. Closing her eyes didn’t help; in her mind she could see the pulse throbbing in his neck, and in the silence she could hear the blood rushing through his arteries.

Would it be more merciful to take him as he slept? She could make it pleasurable; she knew that technique. Sooner or later she would feed from him, and she’d never been able to stop herself from killing before. The longer she resisted, the worse it would be for him. Once the hunger drove her mad she would take him violently, and he would die in terror and pain. Kenzi stared at Joshua and considered how she would kill him.

But what if she waited? Maybe Connor would find her, and save her from the decision. Kenzi visualized Connor smashing through the door and ripping the cage apart. She could picture the lean muscles rippling as he forced his way to her. They would fight their way free of this place, and make it back to their hideaway bloodied but triumphant. Afterwards he would hold her in the darkness of their bed and begin to stroke her body as the excitement of battle turned into the celebration of victory and life….

“Kenzi?” Joshua croaked, barely conscious.

Her thoughts were ripped away from her pleasant imagining, and plunged back into her raging hunger.

“I’m here, Joshua.” She spoke softly, as though trying to comfort him without moving nearer.

Joshua groaned and rolled to his back. “They found me. Why am I still alive?”

Kenzi sat silently for a moment before she answered, debating what to say. Honesty won out.

“They want to force me to feed from you. They think if I kill you, I’ll become one of them,” she said simply.

Joshua sat up and studied his former lover. “You told me that you didn’t have to kill when you fed.”

“That’s right, but it takes training and I haven’t exactly mastered it yet.” Kenzi explained.

“So you have killed as a vampire?” Joshua asked.

“No, I’ve had a mentor helping me with that,” Kenzi answered.

“You think you won’t be able to help yourself?” Joshua leaned his head back against the bars as he asked. His throat was revealed, and Kenzi had to look away as a surge of the bloodlust raced through her.

“That’s what I’m afraid of, and what they’re counting on.” Kenzi closed her eyes for a moment to calm herself.

“Where are we anyway?” Kenzi asked to change the subject.

“We’re in an old funeral home. I followed you here when I saw Kat and Gabriel take you out of the club.” Joshua answered.

“So you see what he did to Kat?”

“Yeah, I saw it. I didn’t want to believe it, but I saw it. I guess she’s not trying to do the vegetarian thing or whatever you’re doing, is she?” Joshua joked.

“It’s all about who turns you, I think; that and your own desire to hold onto to your humanity. Kat seems to have embraced what she’s become.” Kenzi suppressed a shudder as she remembered Katerina’s eyes as she fed on the young man in the club. The memory of their blood-soaked mouths meeting in an obscene kiss rose unbidden to her mind, and stubbornly stayed.

“You followed us here? Did you report in to Center?” Kenzi asked hopefully.

“I reported in as we entered Brooklyn, but I didn’t get a chance to report the address before I was found. I no sooner climbed off my motorcycle than someone hit me over the head.” Joshua reported.

The surge of hope ebbed from Kenzi’s heart, and was replaced with sick dread.

“If it helps at all, I believe you are trying to fight them. I told the Director what you said. She thought it was some kind of trick, but I guess this proves everything.” Joshua met Kenzi’s eyes and the sincerity almost moved her to tears.

“You know I would never willingly hurt you?” Kenzi asked quietly.

Joshua smiled. “I know that, you mean a lot to me too.”

Kenzi’s eyes filled. “I hate this, but I don’t think I can stop it. I can try to make it as pleasurable as I can.”

“Let’s not rush into anything here!” Joshua said with a sad laugh. “I can think of a lot of ways I’d rather spend my last minutes with you.”

“Really? Even now you’re going to flirt?” Kenzi said, trying to match Joshua’s tone. “We did have a lot of fun together didn’t we?”

“Do you remember the night we first did it? I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.” Joshua grinned as he spoke.

“You were the first boy I ever saw naked, and I couldn’t figure out why I never noticed that big dick of yours through your pants before!” Kenzi laughed.

Joshua covered his face. “God, I couldn’t even figure out what I was supposed to do with it. They didn’t spend any time on sex education at school, did they?”

Kenzi grinned back at him. “I’d say you were a quick student, even if it was practically over before it started.”

“What can I say? Seeing your body for the first time nearly made me come on the spot,” Joshua said.

“I thought you did come on the spot,” Kenzi retorted.

“Hey, I got it in first!” Joshua protested.

“And you did a great job every time after that,” Kenzi assured him.

They sat in silence for a time, lost in their memories. Kenzi thought to all of the times she had lusted for him with teenaged angst. Their encounters had been stolen, against the rules and all the sweeter because of it. Every time his body had covered hers she felt the savage thrill of something primal. Each time he entered her, his touch had been electric. Sex had never been so exciting since, but maybe with Connor….

Kenzi shook herself and found Joshua staring at her.

“Maybe this is your big test, to see if you can feed from me without killing,” he said.

“I don’t want to try,” she protested.

“Answer me this; will you be more or less likely to be in control if you wait?”

The hunger roared in her again as Kenzi considered the question. Even thinking of his blood on her lips made her resolve weaken to the point of collapse.

“The longer I wait the harder it will be,” she answered.

“Then I think we need to do it,” Joshua said and began to crawl to her.

“Wait!” Kenzi cried, nearly panicked.

“It won’t get any easier,” Joshua said. “I trust you; I know you can do this.” He gently reached out and raised her face to his.

Kenzi could feel the heat of his body as he neared. The smell of him became overwhelming, the sweet, musky scent almost broke her restraint. She had noticed that her captors had left her with the obsidian necklace, which was not likely to be an effective weapon against them. She caressed it as Joshua reached her, his face inches from her own.

“How do we do this?” Joshua’s eyes held doubt, and a little fear.

Kenzi eased him back, until his back was against the bars.

“I’ll be gentle,” she promised with a smile.

“Okay, but if this goes too far I will push you away using whatever force I have to.” Joshua warned.

Kenzi shook her head. “No, you won’t, you won’t be able to. Are you sure you want to try?” Even as she asked, she felt her self-control slipping. The heat of his body, his scent and now the low hum of the blood coursing through his veins tormented her.

Joshua touched her cheek and then turned away, offering his neck. Kenzi took the black arrowhead in her teeth and leaned forward. This was her friend, and once her lover, but she still wanted to savor him before she fed. She breathed deeply against him as the strange erotic thrill raced through her. With hands slightly trembling as she fought for restraint, Kenzi stroked Joshua’s chest before pulling his neck to her lips. Joshua tensed, and then relaxed as the hypnotic effect of her scent calmed him.

Kenzi molded her body to his, sliding a leg over his. Joshua slid his hand over her thigh, until it came to rest on her hip. With the last of her fading control, she brought her lips to the soft skin of his neck and slid the obsidian edge against it, cutting deeply. Joshua grip of her hip tightened for a moment and relaxed as the sharp pain ebbed away. Blood began to flow into Kenzi’s hungry mouth, the rich, sweet taste sent bolts of pleasure racing to every part of her body. Without thought, she pressed her body hard into his, and rolled to cover him. Joshua’s free hand slipped over her ass and gripped the firm flesh roughly.

As Kenzi continued to suck at the wound, Joshua groaned with a sound somewhere between pleasure and pain. His body offered no resistance, and her left hand roamed the hard planes of his chest and stomach, sliding underneath his shirt to find the warm skin. As the hot blood flowed into her, visions of their previous life raced through the theater of her mind. She remembered the first sweet pain of coupling, and wrapping her legs around him as he thrust into her.

Without resistance from Joshua, Kenzi found herself completely on top of him. As she straddled him, Kenzi could feel his hard length straining through the coarse fabric of his pants. Her short dress had ridden up, only a thin layer of silk covered her sex as she ground slowly into him. Joshua’s hands found their way to her ass and pulled her against him.

As his blood continued to flow, Kenzi felt tiny electric shocks pulsing through her, penetrating to every inch of her body. The intoxicating sensation of unlimited power began to seduce her into pulling every ounce of life from the body beneath her. She longed to rip his clothes from him, and feel him inside her, riding him as the last drop of blood left him.

The shock of that thought echoed through her, and it took everything she had to throw herself off of Joshua. She gasped for air as she studied him, still fighting the animal part of her that wanted to both devour him and fuck him. He slowly opened his eyes, clouded with lust and confusion.

“You did it,” he murmured. “And you were right, I would have let you kill me just to keep the feeling going as long as possible.”

Kenzi could only nod in reply, her mind exulting in her ability to control herself, even as her body raged at her for making the pleasure stop. She leaned against the cold metal bars and closed her eyes, trying to calm the conflict within.

C
hapter Eighteen

“Kenzi, dear, you continue to disappoint” Katerina said as she considered her two prisoners. “Why can’t you just stop resisting? I’m sure our little boy-toy here is happy you controlled yourself; you’re going to make me finish him myself.” Katerina’s eyes showed a predatory gleam. “You remember how well I could finish you off, don’t you, Josh?”
 

Kenzi glanced to Joshua who stared at
Katerina with open contempt.

“Didn’t Josh ever tell you? I played with him a time or two as well,” Katerina said.

“I don’t mind, we were all pretty close,” Kenzi replied, not sure how she felt. So much had happened, she wasn’t sure any of that mattered anymore.

“Oh, but he minded! Our little Josh here decided he wanted you, and couldn’t play with me anymore. Swore me to secrecy too.” Katerina’s tone had grown mocking.

“Whatever, Kat. How long are we going to keep doing this?” Kenzi tried to look bored.

“The master will know what to do with you,” Katerina spun and marched out of the room, but not without a quick look back, a smirk across her face.

“How do you feel?” Kenzi leaned across and brushed a lock of hair from Joshua’s face.

“Still a little weak. Listen, I’m sorry about all of that….” Joshua face managed a slight blush.

“No, I’m sorry,” Kenzi interrupted. “I knew you had feelings for me, and I had feelings for you too. I just couldn’t allow any distractions from my mission. I was afraid if we gave into anything deeper, we’d lose focus, and get ourselves or each other killed.”

Joshua leaned back into the bars and closed his eyes. “I get it, but it still sucks. I only turned to Katerina when you began to find your ‘recreation’ off-site.”

“I’m sorry if that hurt you, I just had to get some distance from Center once in a while,” Kenzi explained.

“Forget about it, this isn’t the time or place for relationship talks. Are you good for a while?” Joshua rubbed the rapidly-healing wound on his neck.

“Yeah, I won’t need anything again for a day or so.” Even as she spoke, Kenzi felt the stirrings of her hunger returning, and pushed them away.

“That was pretty intense. I can understand now how people get seduced by you….” Joshua trailed off.

“By us vampires? I have a hard time getting used to the idea of myself as a vampire too. I’ve learned I can make the feeding pleasurable, but I know some vampires actually enjoy making their victims feel terror. They enjoy the hunt and the fight, but that’s not me.” Kenzi ran her fingers though her dark hair, wondering if she’d ever feel clean again.

“I don’t know how much more I can give you, but if you make it like that again I’ll be happy to give it,” Joshua said with a laugh.

Kenzi smiled back. “Let’s work on getting out of here, so I won’t be tempted.”

With a look at the bars and room, Joshua shook his head. “This doesn’t look promising. Are there any other guards besides Kat and Gabriel?”

“Not that I’ve seen,” Kenzi replied. She froze and sniffed the air. “Do you smell that?”

“What, I don’t smell anything,” Joshua answered.

“It smells like something burning…” Kenzi continued to test the air.

Within moments, a curl of gray smoke crept into the room from under the door. From somewhere deep in the house a muffled explosion made the room tremble.

“I heard that,” Joshua said, then lapsed into silence as they listened.

The doors flew open and Gabriel and Katerina entered the room. They moved quickly although their faces showed nothing. Stopping short of the bars, Gabriel gazed at Kenzi without speaking. Kenzi stared back, determined to show no fear.

“I’ve grown tired of dealing with you. We are leaving here tonight. I offer you one last time, you can live like the superior being you are, or stay here and burn.” Gabriel stood and waited for her answer with a face set in stone.

“I’d love it if you came with us, Kenzi. Think of the life we could live! Feed when we want, on who we want, indulging in whatever pleasure we choose.” Katerina smiled, but stood with her arms crossed as though waiting for a blow.

Kenzi watched them for a moment, her eyes travelling back and forth between them. Slowly, a grin grew across her face. Behind Katerina and Gabriel smoke began to billow into the room.

“You didn’t start this fire, did you? What’s the matter, the villagers with the torches and pitchforks show up?” Kenzi asked with mocking laughter.

Gabriel’s face tightened. Without a word he turned and walked back into the smoke. Katerina turned to follow.

“It could have been fun, but you never did know how to have a good time,” Katerina said as she left. “Josh, I would have loved to finish you, but maybe Kenzi will give you a proper send-off!” With that she was gone.

“So are we being rescued or what?” Joshua asked. “Maybe Center found us.”

“If it was Center, they would have charged the place, not set it on fire. I suspect I know who’s behind this.” Kenzi replied.

The room continued to fill with dark smoke, and flames appeared in the doorway. The fire began to reach the ceiling and fan across the room toward them. Kenzi felt the heat against her exposed skin, and began searching the metal cage again for any structural weakness.

Joshua jumped to help, tugging the bars as he tried to find anything loose. “If this is a rescue, they’re not doing it very well.”

The room darkened as it filled with smoke, and the flames became a dull red glow casting flickering shadows in the gloom. Within moments Kenzi had difficulty seeing beyond the bars of their prison. Joshua began to cough as he sank to the floor, tugging Kenzi down next to him.

“Stay close to the floor, the air is better here,” he explained.

“I’m not as worried about that as you are.” Kenzi rattled the lock on the door, testing its strength.

“Kenzi? Is that you?” A low voice asked. Next to the cage a tall figure stepped out of the darkness.

“Connor, I’m here!” The relief in Kenzi’s voice was audible.

They clasped arms through the bars as Connor’s soot-streaked face became visible. Kenzi noted Connor’s grin and filed it away for future thought.

“I hope you brought some kind of tools to get us out,” Kenzi said.

“Us?” Connor looked past Kenzi and saw Joshua rising from the floor behind her. He frowned, but began studying the cage. “I suspect that between the two of us, we have enough strength to break this open.” Connor tested the horizontal bar that ran waist-level along the bars. “Grab this and lift, we’ll tear it out of the floor.”

Kenzi joined him as they began to lift. The wall of metal shifted slightly, then refused to budge. They tried again with the same result. Connor dropped to one knee and traced the bottom edge with his fingers.

“This is a wood floor, we should be able to tear the bolts free,” he said, almost as though to himself.

The heat in the room had steadily increased. Joshua had begun to drip with sweat.

“Great, a wood floor. If we sit here long enough the fire will burn through and we can get out that way,” Joshua said as he slumped again to the floor.

“Connor, can you find something we can use as a lever? There was a couch against that wall, maybe you can break it up and we can get a long board or something.” Kenzi was beginning to feel the first stirrings of panic.

Connor headed into the thickening smoke in the direction Kenzi had pointed. Against the growing roar of the fire she could hear a crash, as though Connor were violently smashing the furniture. Kenzi fought the urge to scream into the dark heat for Connor to hurry. When he appeared again at the cage, he carried a long metal bar that must have been a support for the couch. Where Connor held it, a wet gleam reflected the flames. Even against the smoke, Kenzi could smell blood. Connor must have injured himself in removing it.

“You,” Connor said to Joshua. “Take this, when we lift, see if you can get it between the side and the floor.

Again Connor and Kenzi lifted. Connor’s muscles bulged and twisted as he strained. Kenzi began to feel dizzy from the effort when she felt the weight lessen. Glancing to her side, she saw Joshua fit one end of the length of metal slide beneath the bottom rim of the cage. Joshua threw his weight against the lever, and the wall began to shift. With a sudden splintering, the bolts tore from the wood, and the side of the cage felt loose. Connor and Kenzi wasted no time working it free until the bars fell with a crash as Connor stepped aside. Joshua was close on their heels as they ran to the only route of escape.

Connor grabbed Kenzi’s arm and pulled her to the stained glass window against the back wall. Before she could speak, he grabbed her close and leapt against it, turning in the air so his back took the impact. They fell into the darkness in a shower of bright glass.