Deliverance (19 page)

Mason rasped out, once again capturing their attention. “Tell Samantha . . . tell her that I’ve always loved her. I know she thinks my intentions were bad, but I was only trying to protect her.”

Leisha leveled him with a glare. “What would you call what you did to me?”

The dying man didn’t flinch as he returned her gaze. “My duty. Serving my country. However you want to term it, I don’t regret anything I’ve done to you or your kind, only that Samantha got mixed up in it.”

Before Leisha could spit out a severe retort, Liam touched Mason’s shoulder. “We’ll tell her. I promise she will know how much you loved her.”

“Thank you, boy.” Mason’s body suddenly tensed and he gasped for breath. After several choking rasps, he went slack and his eyes drifted closed.

“Now what?” Rinwa asked.

Sighing, Leisha glanced at her husband. “Let’s check out the next two floors and then get out of here.”

Tafari’s lips thinned. “You want us to leave these men here like this?”

“I’m with Leisha on this one,” Rinwa interjected. “They want to die, and it’s not like we can really do anything for them anyway.”

Face drooping, Tafari nodded and moved toward the stairwell. Leisha thought he suddenly looked as weary as she felt.

The floor threatened to collapse on the next level.

Tafari motioned for them to stop before they’d gotten more than a few feet into the hallway. “Can either of you sense anyone alive here or up higher?”

Leisha and Liam both shook their heads grimly.

“Then I do not think it wise for us to continue. We must get back into the city for supplies and get out into the forest as soon as possible.”

“I agree that we should comb the area,” Rinwa said as they made their way down the stairs. “But how do we know they didn’t just head into Anchorage and are lying low there?”

“Because Samantha hasn’t made contact with me,” Leisha answered. “We have several online chats to get in touch with each other and I’ve watched them daily. Mason said that the vampires broke out days ago. If she had gone to Anchorage, she would have notified me of what’s going on.”

Rinwa mulled the words over before shrugging. “So what’s the plan?”

“We need to get some really good phones—preferably GPS enabled,” Leisha said. “Then I’ll go after them and send you the coordinates as soon as I find them.”

“But vampires have heightened senses.” Tafari’s tone was laced with concern.

Reaching over, Leisha touched his face affectionately. “Yes, I’m more sensitive to the cold, but it won’t hurt me.”

“It won’t harm us, either,” Rinwa stated. “We’re immortals, remember? We heal even faster than you do.”

“But you can’t move as fast as us,” Liam countered. “Leisha’s plan is a good one.”

Rinwa pursed her lips before nodding. “Like Leisha said, the key to this operation is getting some good phones that will work wherever we go. You two go in different directions, and Tafari and I will take the car in the other. That way we’ll cover more ground in a better time frame. Whoever finds them first can call the others and we can all rendezvous at their location.”

“Let’s hope the stores around here open early,” Leisha said as they exited the building. “I want to get started as soon as possible. Who knows what shape poor Samantha might be in?”

Chapter 24

S
amantha was sick of eating meat. She knew it was her only hope of survival, but she was seriously considering becoming a vegetarian if they ever got out of this wretched wilderness.

She rested her head against Nik’s back as he carried her, piggyback style. Her stomach felt heavy as the vampire moved at an accelerated speed. It wasn’t his usual “blur” speed because the snow and ice slowed him down, but it was still fast enough for Samantha to want to throw up.

Nik paused and sniffed the air, growling. It didn’t faze Samantha anymore. She’d gotten used to him doing strange things like that. She assumed it was probably just from being in the wilderness. And she had to assume that the cold wasn’t helping. Once they got to a city, or even a small village, she was sure the little nuances of his strange behavior would disappear.

“We should stop soon,” she said to his back. “It will be sunrise in less than an hour.”

“We’re so close.” Nik’s voice had deepened over the last few days, making everything he said sound like a rumble.

Her head shot up and she stared at him with hopeful eyes. “Close? You mean to a city or something?”

When he nodded, Samantha almost told him to keep going. But then she looked up at the sky. While it was still dark, the shadows weren’t as black, lightening enough to let her know the sun would be up very soon. The thought of sleeping in a warm, comfy bed and eating real food called to her, but Samantha knew what the sun could do to Nik.

“We can wait another day.” Her voice didn’t sound sure. She cleared her throat and spoke louder. “We’ve survived this long. One more day out here won’t kill us.”

Nik glanced back at her, his hazel eyes considering. He opened his mouth to speak, but something else caught his attention. He sniffed in the direction in front of them and started growling again. Only this time he didn’t stop. His body tensed and he slid Samantha down his back to the ground. While her feet didn’t hurt anymore, she also had a hard time staying upright on her own. But Nik stayed close enough for her to cling onto. His hands were out to his sides, and his body slightly crouched.

“What’s out there?” she whispered. Her heart hammered in her chest until it was almost painful.

He didn’t answer, but snarled at something approaching from the distance.

Squinting her eyes, Samantha thought it looked like a car, but they didn’t have their lights on, so she couldn’t be sure. Then the echo of an engine sounded in the distance and confirmed what she thought.

“Is it the people from the government?” She shuddered at the thought of going back and being forced to see those drug-induced visions again. Slowly freezing to death was a much better option.

Still, the vampire didn’t answer, still behaving like a threatened dog.

The large vehicle’s headlights suddenly blared on, blinding her and Nik in the process.

Nik’s arm was around her waist as he howled, almost as if warning the car to not come any closer. Samantha wasn’t sure if she could keep breathing as her throat began closing up.

When the SUV stopped, Samantha burrowed into Nik, ready for him to grab her and flee. She could only see silhouettes behind the glaring lights, but noted that there were only two people. One of them was murmuring into a phone or a walkie-talkie, probably calling for backup.

The other one took a few steps closer and called out. “Samantha?” The voice was resonant and deep, and very familiar. “Are you all right?”

It couldn’t be . . . could it?
“Tafari? Is that really you?”

“Yes. We have been looking for you.”

Half sighing, half sobbing in relief, Samantha laughed. “I’ve never been happier to hear your voice!” She let go of Nik and attempted to walk forward, but the vampire grabbed her and pulled her behind him again.

She realized that he was still growling, the vibrations low in his throat and barely making any noise. “Nik, what’s the matter? It’s Tafari and . . . I’m guessing either Leisha or Rinwa. We’re saved! Let’s go before the sun comes up.”

But he didn’t budge, his eyes trained on the two people several yards ahead. It was as if he didn’t even hear her. The expression on his face was a strange mixture of fierce protection and deadly intent.

Tafari was walking over to them. Nik’s growling suddenly rose, bouncing off of the trees surrounding them. The immortal halted in the beam of the headlights. “Samantha, is that your friend, Nikita?”

“Yes,” she answered. “I’m not sure what’s wrong.” She reached her hand out and lightly stroked the vampire’s arm, but he shied away and pulled her behind him again. “He’s been acting weird lately. I wonder if they did some experiments on him at the compound.”

The other figure approached and stood next to Tafari. It was Rinwa, and she was holding a sawed-off shotgun in one hand, and a machete in the other. “How long have you guys been out here?”

Samantha shrugged. “It feels like forever, but I’m not really sure. A week, at least.”

“Was he injured?”

Eyes narrowing, Samantha nodded. “Yeah, we had a long fall and Nik took the brunt of the landing, plus he was hurt during our escape at that building. But it’s no big deal. He’s been drinking blood every day to keep his strength up. If it wasn’t for him, I’d be dead.”

Rinwa and Tafari exchanged a knowing glance. “He has been drinking blood from wolves, then? Or perhaps bears?”

“Just a bear once, and the rest were wolves. Why should that . . . ” But Samantha didn’t finish.
How could I forget?
Leisha had told her a long time ago that the vampire had no choice but to drink human blood. If a vampire drank the blood of an animal, they would begin to show those animal characteristics. “They absorb the life essence as well as the blood,” she murmured to herself. “I’m such an idiot for not remembering!”

“Well, I wasn’t going to say it, but now that you mention it—”

Tafari lightly slapped Rinwa’s shoulder to quiet her. “You have been through a lot, Samantha. It is not your fault. However, your friend here should have known better.”

“He probably didn’t have much of a choice.” A new voice called out.

Gasping, Samantha turned to see Leisha jogging through the snow to her right. “Leisha!” She stepped to go to her friend, but again, Nik’s arm snaked around her and pulled her protectively into his body.

“He is acting like you’re his mate,” Leisha’s voice was calm and even. “You need to stay by his side if you want him to stay in control.”

Closing her eyes, Samantha snuggled into his warmth. She could hear Leisha’s slow approach, each step crunching loudly through the icy snow. She opened her eyes to see Nik watching the other vampire warily.

Leisha smiled softly and held her hands up in front of her body as she came closer. “I’m very glad to see you, Nikita,” she said in that same even tone. “We’ve been looking for you. I can tell you have done a great job of keeping Samantha safe.”

“Of course I have,” he snarled. Samantha could barely make out his words.

“Of course,” Leisha repeated. “And now is the time to get inside, so you’ll be out of the sun and Samantha will be safe and warm. With you.”

Nik nodded his head in a jerky movement. Samantha could tell that he was struggling within himself, trying to not let the animal side of him take over.

Leisha nodded with him and continued forward until she was at arm’s length.

Samantha watched Nik and could see that he held a good amount of trust and respect for Leisha. It shined through his eyes. She breathed out a sigh of relief.

Tafari and Rinwa began to walk forward as well, and the moment was over. Nik growled again and sprang forward to attack.

Rinwa aimed and shot the vampire while still midair. It jolted him and he fell to the side.

“Nik!” Samantha screamed. She tried to run to him, but her feet weren’t functioning and she fell, icy pelts brushing over her face.

Nik howled and bared his teeth as he crouched up to attack again. Before Rinwa could get off another shot, Leisha was on top of him, holding down his arms with hers, her shin over his neck to keep him from biting her. He snarled and snapped his teeth like an angry dog.
Or more like an angry wolf.
Tears sprang to Samantha’s eyes and she wiped them away with her thick gloves before they could freeze on her face.

“Get your kit, Rinwa,” Leisha ordered.

“What kit?” the blonde asked innocently.

The vampire glared up at her daughter. “Your vampire hunting kit. Don’t deny that you brought it on this trip. And I’m assuming you have some reinforced handcuffs and some reinforced chains?”

Rinwa nodded. “I’ll get them.” She rushed to the car that was still idling.

“You can’t tie him up!” Samantha protested. She crawled through the snow, using her wrists instead of her hands, but they were too far away for her to reach them.

Glancing over with concern, Leisha tossed Samantha a reassuring look. “I know what to do, Samantha. It will be fine. We just need to give him some human blood and let him rest for the day. When he wakes tonight, he’ll be fine. But right now, he sees Tafari and Rinwa as a threat and can’t be reasoned with.”

Samantha sat and watched in defeat as they trussed Nik and placed him in the SUV. He struggled against his bindings and tried to bite anyone near him. Samantha was numb as she watched. Or maybe it was the cold. Whatever it was, she didn’t like the hollow feeling.

Liam was suddenly by her side, his hand on her shoulder.

“Liam!” Samantha knelt up to give him a hug. “I was so worried about you! I’m glad you’re okay.” She pulled back and smiled.

“You’re not okay,” he responded and pulled off one of her gloves. His face was pinched with concern. “We need to get you inside and take care of those poor fingers. And from what you’re thinking, your feet may be even worse.”

Looking down, Samantha wanted to hide her blackened fingers from sight, but it would be no use. Instead, she leaned on Liam and stood up. He helped her limp to the vehicle where Leisha and the immortals were securing Nik.

The vampire calmed a little when he could see Samantha. “Can I sit with him?”

“No,” said Tafari. “He is too dangerous.”

Leisha shook her head. “He thinks she’s his mate. She’ll help him to stay in control.” The blonde vampire looked Samantha up and down. “You look terrible.” It came out in a jest, but Samantha could see the anxiety brimming in her demeanor.

“I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“I never thought I would say this,” Tafari said, looking at her exposed hand. “But I am grateful that Leisha made you a human servant.”

Samantha swallowed at that. If she had been fully human, there was no way she would have survived this long in the dreary wilderness.

Leisha lifted her up next to Nik and then slid in beside her. Tafari took the driver’s seat while Rinwa and Liam squeezed into the passenger seat.

The ride was far from smooth, but it was warm. At first, the heat stung. Not just Samantha’s hands, but everywhere, especially her face. After a while, her body accustomed itself to the heat and she was able to relax. She kept a hand resting on Nik, and he didn’t struggle much. It was the first time in a while that Samantha could allow her guard down and truly rest. She wasn’t surprised that she fell asleep, even in the bouncing and jostling car.