Cave of Terror (12 page)

The soft lilt of her voice calmed my rising panic.

She patted my knee and turned toward the others. “If you don't mind, I'd like to speak with Cheyenne alone.” Her authoritative tone left them little choice but to leave.

Once the door clicked shut, she turned her attention back to me. Her long blonde hair fell forward, draping her shoulders with golden locks—a stark contrast against her black fuzzy sweater. She was beautiful and oozed class. I felt unbelievably frumpy next to her in my pajama bottoms, sweatshirt, and flip-flops. I wondered about her age in human years. She looked like she couldn't be any older than forty, but the depths of her purplish-blue eyes told of a life full of experiences. The rasp of her jeans as they slid against each other while crossing her legs jarred me from my thoughts. I blinked, hoping she hadn't said anything that required an answer.

She smiled. “I know you're frightened. It's to be expected. You are very young to acquire such abilities.” She paused as if studying my reactions. “May I see your mark?"

"Mark? Oh ... that mark.” Why did everyone put so much importance on my mark? It's there. And I'm apparently tattooed for life. What else was there to be curious about?

"I don't mean to embarrass you, but I need to see the clarity of the design. It will indicate to me the level of your powers—how close you are to reaching full status as a
Vanator
."

A rush of air left my lungs. “You can tell by my mark?"

"Yes, it will continue to form, becoming more detailed and clear."

Freaky. Thank God the tattoo appeared more toward the right side of the back of my hip, not above my butt crack. A tramp stamp I didn't need. I'd never be able to wear a bikini again. How embarrassing. Come to think of it, I probably wouldn't wear one again anyway. Not if I ended up sensitive to the sun like my parents.

Nicoleta gave me an expectant look and drummed her fingers on her thigh. Oops. I had forgotten she had asked to see the mark.

I slowly turned, lifted up my shirt, and tugged my pajama bottoms and leo down on the right side.

She gasped and touched my skin. I flinched from the iciness of her touch and from the slight tenderness in the area where she pressed. I turned my head around, twisting to see what had her so shocked. Her mouth hung open as she continued to probe the area. I flinched again when she touched another sore spot.

"Cheyenne, how did you get these punctures?"

I met her stern glare and paused. Not knowing what else to do, I told her about everything that had happened in the gym and parking lot, except the part about Ryan showing up right before all the craziness. Why I left that out I didn't know.

"What did he say exactly?"

"He said that he could have me whenever he wanted ... and then he jerked down my pants and something sharp went into my skin.” I shuddered.

"You've been branded. It's his way of saying you are his."

"What? Like he owns me or something?” Okay, way too gay for me to deal with. You can't own another person.

"In his mind, yes.” She scraped her teeth across her lower lip and leaned forward. A silver necklace with a black and clear tear-shaped pendant that had been hidden within her cleavage fell forward, allowing me a brief glimpse. She quickly tucked it back within the hidden confines of her sweater. “You are his property to do as he wishes."

"Who or what is
he
anyway? And why does he think it's okay to go around biting people he doesn't even know?"

"I'm ... we're not exactly sure. But, based on the information you've given us, we have a good idea."

By the strange look on her face, I gathered the news wasn't good. I straightened and prepared myself for the worst.

"We believe some of the
clice Liliac
are in the area."

"The
clice
what?"

"
Liliac
. They broke from our
clice
many centuries ago. They've maintained the old ways, turning to the darkness. They haven't evolved or adapted as we have.” She lowered her voice and her eyes glazed over as if in a trance. Disgust flickered across her face, contorting her features. “Evil rots their souls.” She blinked like she had just woken up from a daydream, transforming back into her calm and controlled self. “They shift into bats or other flying creatures. Usually isolated and hidden from view, they live in caves or similar places and feed on cattle and local humans unless something draws them out of their natural habitat."

"Something like what?"

"Something like
you
."

"Wait, Mom and Dad didn't say anything about vampires being able to shift into bats. And why would I be any kind of a draw to them?"

She smiled and slowly shook her head. “No, our
clice, Pantere
, doesn't shift into bats. It's so cliché, but the
Liliacs
find it amusing to perpetuate the vampire myths. We used to be able to shift into panthers. There are only a few of us that still can. The
clice Liliac
has kept itself secluded from others to preserve their ancient ways, much like the Amish have done. They haven't evolved to the extent we have. Their ways are primitive. The problem is that their
clice
is slowly dying out."

"Okay, but what does that have to do with me?"

"You are both their savior and their exterminator."

"I don't undertand—"

Nicoleta reached out and touched my knee, stopping me mid-sentence. “No, of course you don't. That's why I'm here. If this entity that's been stalking you
is
from the
clice Liliac
, you are in grave danger.” She squeezed my knee, for comfort or emphasis’ sake I wasn't sure. “I don't tell you this to scare you, but to help you understand, so you'll be better prepared to protect yourself."

Yeah, so far I had done a bang up job of protecting myself, not to mention Mandy. I'm sure being aware, like I didn't already know about the danger, would make a huge difference.

I wanted to cry out in anger, frustration, and gut wrenching fear. I wanted my old life back. I wanted to be oblivious to what happened around me. Where the only concern I had dealt with making good grades and making it to Nationals, so I could get into a good college and continue my gymnastics. That's what I should be concentrating on. Not on some sicko bat-morphing dork who thinks he owns me. I clenched my fists into a tight ball until my thin, sharp nails bit into my palm—the pain a welcomed distraction.

"You have the ability to sustain their
clice
or force its extinction. You see, you carry a gene they desperately need in order to continue to survive. Once every five hundred years or so, a
Vanator
is born, possessing this specific gene. That, my dear, is you.” She smiled as if the newly revealed information should thrill me.

My pulse soared and my belly contracted into a knot. “So what are you saying? That they want to breed me like a dog?"

She chuckled. “No, Cheyenne. It's your blood they're after. Once you've reached your full power, you'll be perfect for the plucking. Your blood is a rare jewel. But..."

"But what?” I asked.

"Once you do reach full power, you'll also be a great danger to them. You're like the puffer fish—a rare delicacy, yet very deadly if handled wrong."

She compared me to a fish? Could it get any worse? Never mind.

"What can I do to them that would be so deadly? Did you not hear me say I've been attacked multiple times and couldn't do a thing about it? I couldn't even protect my best friend."

"You haven't reached your full potential. Big difference. Why do you think they haven't taken you yet? And make no mistake, they will try to take you before you have a chance to strike at them.” She pressed her lips together, giving the impression of a stern warning. “In the meantime, they'll try to lure you to them, try to make you one of them—by your own free will. That's the key. If they can accomplish that, they'll be able to control you and use you to their benefit."

I sat up straighter. “But how? What do you mean?"

"In order for them to harness your full power, you must go to them willingly. They'll try to entice you to join them. If that doesn't work, then they
will
take you by force."

Well, they had nothing I wanted, so they didn't stand a chance of me going to them on my own. No way. Nothing they could say or do would convince me. “Why would they want me in the first place—my so called power?"

"They're evil, Cheyenne. But I guess I don't have to tell you that. I believe you're more than capable of sensing that yourself. That's what makes you so dangerous to them. They've survived by staying in seclusion, staying under our radar. We've spent centuries trying to destroy their
clice
. Our last
Vanator
almost succeeded until she...” Her voice trailed off as she dipped her chin to her chest.

I refused to ask what had happened to her. I'd find out sooner or later—preferably later, but not likely. No doubt it was something straight out of a horror movie. And I'd soon be its star whether I signed a contract or not.

Nicoleta raised her head and stared at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “She was like a daughter to me. I still feel her loss.” She grasped her sweater above her heart.

"I'm sorry.” What else was I supposed to say? I never know what to say in uncomfortable situations. Death has never been an easy subject for me. But something told me I'd be dealing with it a lot more.

The sadness etched in her face disappeared and was replaced by her previously friendly yet professional demeanor. “That story is for another time.” She stood and paced around the room. “The point is that you are very valuable to the
Liliacs
. They will stop at nothing to possess you. You cannot allow that to happen. For now, you are safe."

"Safe? I don't call having the bars almost fall on me and having my face pushed into asphalt while my butt was bitten safe.” If she considered that safe, I sure didn't want to know what danger felt like.

"Those were just warnings, a way to test you. To see if you were the real deal. Now that you bear their brand, we know they're aware of exactly who you are. Capture is not an option. Your blood would be used to generate more of their kind, and we cannot allow that to happen. My job is to mentor you. And help you understand what being a
Vanator
entails."

"What if I don't want to be a
Vanator
?” I snapped, my patience at an end.

She sat back down next to me, her face a mask of seriousness. “That's just it. You don't have a choice. You were chosen upon birth to bear the gene that makes you who you are. You cannot change that fact any more than a person can change his or her ancestry. What's done is done. And because of your precarious situation, you cannot hide from your duty. It would put you, your family, your friends, and your
clice
in danger."

I gritted my teeth until my jaws ached. The unfairness of the situation boiled through me. The last part of my former life had just been ripped from me in one fatal swipe. I squeezed my eyes shut, wanting nothing more than to escape into another place, another time. To wake up and have everything return to normal.

A vision of Ryan infiltrated my darkened world. I opened my eyes and he disappeared. I closed them again, wanting to gaze into his beautiful blue eyes and lose myself for just a moment longer. Nothing. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself staring at a frowning Nicoleta.

"What just happened?” she inquired.

I figured she would think I was a nut case if I told her what I saw, so I shook my head. “Nothing."

"Cheyenne, it's very important you don't keep any secrets from me. I need to know everything that happens, so I can guide you the best way I know how. There's one thing I do need to know. Have you experienced the pulling of the
bloodcrave
yet?” I frowned in confusion. “Have your parents not explained the
bloodcrave
?” She shook her head and pursed her lips as if chastising my parent's lack of guidance.

I raised and lowered my shoulders. “I guess not. They mentioned
bloodlust
, but not anything about a
bloodcrave
. What's the difference?"

"
Bloodlust
is your body's reaction to going too long without a blood supplement. Some vampires go insane and harm or kill a human in reaction to a deep, primal need that must be immediately fulfilled. A
bloodcrave
is your body's way of telling you it's time to supplement. Much like hunger pangs alert you that your body needs food for nourishment. Our bodies require more than just food as you know. When you get this craving and you take your supplement, everything will be just fine. It's when you ignore your need that you run into problems."

"What's this supplement, exactly? Mom and Dad said they would show me where they kept it, and Mom did this morning, but they haven't really talked about it. Too many crazy things have happened since then. And they haven't told me what a craving is, only that I'd know when my body needed it."

The thought of drinking blood made me sick. How would I deal with that part? I curled my lips up in disgust.

"Sounds like your parents still have a lot to discuss with you. I see by the look on your face you're not excited about this requirement."

"No, drinking someone else's blood doesn't make my mouth water or make me lick my lips in anticipation. Matter of fact, it makes me want to puke."

She laughed. “Who said you have to
drink
blood?"

I thought about that for a moment before answering. My parents hadn't exactly told me the specifics about getting the necessary blood into my body. They only mentioned that vampires no longer had to bite humans and drink directly from them. That they supplemented.

I chewed my bottom lip. “No one. I just assumed that was the way, so I didn't bother to ask.” I sucked in a breath and my pulse surged as a horrifying thought crossed my mind. “I don't have to give myself shots do I?” I hated needles about as bad as I hated closed in areas. Shoving a needle in my body would not be working for me. Last time I had to get the required shots for school, I about passed out.