Kade's Dark Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans) (23 page)

Sydney saw stars as the blinding force of his hand smacked her cheek.
Holy hell that hurt.
Blood spewed from her mouth as she fought him. He secured her hands within seconds. Flinging her legs forward, she landed a kick to his nose. Hearing his bones crunch, she pulled hard at her bindings and tried to free her hands. But Asgear rapidly recovered, slapping her face once again attempting to stun her into defeat. “Be still!” he yelled.

Sydney refused to give up as she wildly calcitrated her legs hoping to make contact again, but her eye began to swell, blurring her vision. Within seconds, he wound the rope around her ankles fully securing her to the table until she was laid out spread eagle.

He glared at her in disgust. “Wait until my Mistress sees what you made me do! Your skin is marred. She won’t be pleased at all,” he huffed.

Sydney continued to writhe on the table, struggling to liberate her hands from the cutting rope. Twisting to the side, her adrenaline spiked as she spied several of Simone’s vampires entering and assembling in a circle on the perimeter of the room.
Shit, shit, shit. Freaking bloodsuckers.

Asgear knelt in front of the altar and started rhythmically chanting. Swinging her head to the antechamber, Sydney gaped as the vampires parted to make room for a pale, thin, tall woman who entered and approached the altar,
Simone
. Her flowing, alabaster, silk skirt grazed the floor as a train of fabric streamed three feet behind her. A matching silk bustier bolstered her small, ashen breasts. Simone’s long, raven tresses were pulled and parted down the middle flat on her head with a full, massive ponytail of tight ringlet curls, a late eighteenth century hairstyle. Sydney cringed at the overwhelming scent of gardenia perfume as Simone floated past her.

Unable to keep silent any longer, Sydney screamed toward her, “Hey you! That’s right, I’m talking to you...you lily white, vampire bitch.” Blood trickled from Sydney’s eye and mouth. She may be tied up, bruised and battered, but damn, she was not going to go down without a fight.

Simone glided over to the altar, scanning her worthy sacrifice. “Silence human! So, it is you who attempted to steal my husband. You are nothing more than a mere dollymop...a whore for his liking. You are nothing. I shall take my vengeance tonight and the torture will be sweet. The spirits will infuse me with gifts, supremacy. This city will return to its greatness under my rule.”

“Fuck you! Wake the hell up, Simone! This isn’t the eighteenth century, and Kade is not your husband. He doesn’t love you. You are an evil, sick bitch who will regret the day you ever met me.”

“I said SILENCE! It is time for the offering. I sentence this human to death in the name of Satan and all the spirits who wish to grant me their gifts. She is guilty of crimes against me, the high priestess vampire.” Waving her hand, the candlelight flickered as a cold breeze blew throughout the room. The circling vampires hissed at Sydney, their fangs dripping in saliva.

Sydney wanted to tell Simone to go fuck herself. She tried to speak, tried to move, but she was completely paralyzed except for her breathing. Her eyes peered wide open, feeling the chill across her flesh.
This is not good.  
Through her peripheral vision, she could see Simone preparing some kind of concoction at the altar. Asgear spread oil on Sydney’s forehead, chest, and abdomen while he continued his chanting.

He pivoted, cupping the golden chalice with both hands and hovered it above Sydney’s head. Panic began to set in as Simone laid the cold, flat surface of a silver sword against Sydney’s belly. Dragging the sword crosswise, blood pooled on Sydney's skin as Simone drew an X on the soft flesh.

“Your blood is my blood. Your life force is my life force. You give it to me freely as a punishment for your crimes. We shall drink your essence in preparation for the sacrifice,” Simone spoke in a monotone voice, as the room fell into total silence. “Now, whore. I want to hear you scream!” She sliced deeply into the underside of Sydney’s forearm cutting so far through the tendons that the blood flowed freely. Crimson liquid rapidly filled the chalice to the brim. Asgear watched in exhilaration as Simone licked Sydney’s arm sealing the wound.

Released momentarily from paralysis, Sydney cried out in pain, yet refused to give into tears as her arm was slit open. She almost vomited watching Simone’s acid tongue lick over her bloodied skin. Asgear began offering the chalice to the vampires to drink as some kind of a preparatory, bloody communion. One by one, they drank of her blood, passing the chalice to the next vampire until Asgear held it again.

Fear rushed over Sydney as she saw the tool that must have been used on the second murder victim. The gleaming twelve-inch-long needle, which was as thick as a pencil eraser, glinted off the candlelight as Simone inspected it. Raising one needle up in the air, both Simone and Asgear began to chant in tongues. Vampires began to sway in a trance to the nonsensical vocalizations. A strong hum started to vibrate the room and the wooden table shook. In the middle of the chaos, Sydney felt him.
Kade.
She wasn’t sure how she knew, but she did. He was here for her.
I love him.
It was her last coherent thought before Simone shrieked and slammed the full hilt of the needle down into Sydney’s torso, penetrating her belly clear down into the table.

“What in the hell just happened?” Tristan questioned his friends accusingly. “Goddammit! You were supposed to keep her safe! I should have gone with you instead of guarding the perimeter!” Tristan felt guilty knowing he too had planned this failed operation with Kade and Luca. She was part of his pack. They all knew she wasn’t wolf, but she’d been under his protection since the day he met her. Former lover, good friend, Sydney was his one link to the human world that he trusted with his life. Now, because of their miscalculations, she might be dead. Tristan howled loudly, frustrated with their defeat and potential loss of his friend.

“You are right, Tristan. Luca and I lost her, but we cannot focus on failure right now. We need to plan on how we are going to kill Simone and extract Sydney safely. You know our girl is not going to go down without a fight. She is strong.” Kade used the words 'our girl' trying to get the group focused on the task that needed to be done. They need to find her quickly and kill Simone. Sydney was no one’s but his and everyone knew it, but he was a leader and could not let them dwell on their defeat. No, he needed to get Sydney back safely into his arms. He did not live through centuries only to lose his chance with her, his one true love. “Tristan, take Luca’s cell phone and call your brother, Marcel. Let him know the situation has escalated, and that we need his pack’s assistance with backup at St. Louis cemetery immediately.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as the group arrived at St. Louis cemetery, Kade immediately stiffened, sensing Sydney’s presence. “I feel her. Her blood runs through my veins now, and I know she is here.”

“Kade, please forgive my question, but I sense no human or paranormal presence in the area. Are you certain she is here?” Etienne asked.

“Yes, I am sure. Do you forget? I have claimed her. I am certain that she is here. Perhaps they are underground? Quickly search the grounds. Stay in pairs,” Kade ordered.

“Underground? Here in New Orleans? Not likely, the water table is too high,” Etienne commented.

Kade was growing irritated with his questioning. “While that is true, Etienne, magic can easily manipulate the elements: air, fire, earth, and water. Asgear may have simply drained a space and replaced it with another element. It is even possible that he changed the state of the water from liquid to solid. Now, enough with the questions. We must find the entrance. I know she is here.”

A high, pitched howl emanated across the darkness, Tristan. Weaving through the tenebrous labyrinth of crypts, Kade and the others converged on a nondescript tomb that no one would give a second glance to compared to its ornamental counterparts.
Sydney.
Like Tristan, Kade could smell the sweet scent of her blood everywhere in the vicinity, as well the repugnant odors of Asgear and Simone.

“She’s here, but Asgear and Simone are also present. We must move with caution. Simone will be expecting us.” Kade was relying heavily on his friend to distract them so he could get to Sydney. “Tristan, you go in first and disable Asgear. We cannot be certain if he will conjure a thaumaturgical barrier like the one we experienced back in the warehouse, so make sure to cover the whole area. If Simone is in there, then it is likely that all vampires can pass. We won’t know for sure until we get in there.”

Tristan transformed back into his naked, male form extending his claws, planning to pry open the stone door. A chorus of wolves howled in the distance. “Ah, Marcel and the pack are here. They will come in behind us, and kill any of Simone’s vampires who try to escape.” Continuing to study the seams of the tomb, Tristan ran his claws up and down the hard, smooth stone. “Now, let’s see what is in this tomb. Open up for papa.”

Kade shot him an annoyed look.
Wolves always think they are so damn smart.
“Back off, Tristan,” he commanded. “Watch and learn, wolf,” he smiled unfolding his Smith & Wesson tactical knife. “Sometimes a vampire is well suited going old school, now is one of those times.” Plunging the edge of the knife far into the dusty, stone seam, he jerked the knife upward disengaging the primitive lock mechanism. The heavy, mason door creaked open as it revealed a limestone staircase. The tunnel was illuminated by candles that sat on small, wall shelves. Transforming back into his wolf, Tristan padded down the steps tilting his head back up toward Kade, awaiting his orders at the door at the bottom of the stairs.

A blood-curdling scream resonated throughout Kade’s mind, Sydney’s scream, Sydney’s blood. He kicked the door open, letting Tristan run first into the madness. Tristan narrowly escaped being clawed by several vampires converging toward him. Slipping between their legs, he targeted Asgear who was holding a chalice above Sydney, who appeared to be strapped to a table. Razor-sharp teeth shredded Asgear’s right shoulder and arm as Tristan pinned him to the cold floor. Tristan held him down, allowing Kade and the others to enter the chamber in order to get to Simone.

Scarlet body fluid sprayed the walls as Kade, Luca, and the other vampires tore into Simone’s fanged puppets. Kade locked eyes on Simone, roaring in abhorrence as he caught sight of Sydney, who was bound and bleeding. “You will die!” he spat at Simone as she ran at Tristan with a knife, trying to seek Asgear’s help. Fire ignited deep within Kade’s chest driving him to slash through a sea of vampires to get to his love.

As Kade reached Sydney, he sliced one of her wrists free. It was then he spied the enormous needle inside her belly. She lay bleeding on the table, her life’s essence spilling out onto the floor. “Sydney love, I’m here. Please don’t leave me.” Not responding to his words, Kade knew she was badly injured. He knew what he had to do. “Dammit, Sydney! I love you! You cannot leave me! Just hang on...I am going to pull the needle out. Stay with me.” He gently kissed her cool, pale lips and clutched the needle. Realizing the needle was jammed into the wooden table, Kade wrenched it out in one quick stroke, hoping to minimize the pain.

Sydney arched in agony, screaming uncontrollably as the pain slammed into her once again. Her eyes flew open, and she stared up at the cold, gray vaulted stone ceiling above her.

Kade licked the small hole sealing her wound. It wouldn’t stop the internal bleeding, but it might buy her time. Knowing he would need to give her blood for a full healing, he sought her permission. Kade whispered into her ear, “Sydney love, the needle is out, but you are bleeding internally. I can give you my blood, but you must understand you will be bound to me forever. I will not do it without your agreement. I love you as much as life itself. You have no idea how much I wanted to give of myself to you, but not like this.” He shook his head. This was all wrong, but she needed his blood to heal.

Sydney’s eyes fluttered as tears spilled over her cheeks. “Do it. I love you, Kade. I want to live,” she whimpered. “You know, that woman of yours from the eighteen hundreds? She’s a real bitch.” She cracked a small smile. “Now, I just need to sit up. The rope...cut the rope.”

As Kade pulled out his knife, a vampire smacked him clear across the room. Sydney shook her head from side to side. “No! No! No! This is not going down this way! Get me off this fucking table!” She screamed in frustration. Remembering her knife hidden away in her bra, she felt around with her free hand.
Thank you, baby Jesus. Still there.
Blood sprayed her face as she cut the rope and released herself from the table. Wolves and vampires bit and slashed each other as she gently let herself fall to the floor.

She looked over to see Dominique tearing the heart out of one of the vampires and silently cheered her on. Both Etienne and Xavier were also fighting, slashing though the crowd of vampires with wooden stakes. Ash started to cloud the room as one by one, they staked their foes.

Sydney was shocked to see Simone fighting Tristan against the far wall. She sliced his wolf with a knife as he bit tightly into her other arm. Sydney struggled to locate Asgear.
Where was he?
  Tilting her head upward, Sydney spied the gleaming face of a sword on the altar. Pain shot throughout her entire body, as she stretched her arm up to reach it. Blindly fingering the altar, Sydney’s hand clasped around the hilt of the sword. She slowly descended her arm, clutching the cool blade flat against her chest.

Kade honed his eyes on Sydney’s, seeing she’d gotten free. He needed to get her out of the melee, but there seemed to be no end to the vampires who were attacking from all sides. Tristan was yelping in agony; several small knives stuck out of his bloody fur. Luca, Dominique, and the others were engaged in battle as well. Blindsiding Kade, Asgear struck him in the head with the heavy, metal chalice. “Your little whore is going to die tonight, vampire. You cannot stop us.”