Part 12 (1/2)

Bones crunched and blood spilled from them as their features became human. A muzzle receded into one's face. I thought I was going to be sick or possible wet myself. At that stage of the game neither one would have bothered me in the least.

Two naked men stood before us when the transformation was finally over. They were identical in every way. One had a little bit longer coal black hair than the other. They looked to be only five foot seven or so in human form, a sharp contrast to their beast body. I couldn't help but notice how gifted they both were in certain areas. They could have made a fortune in a twin strip show, but their eyes gave them away. Fiery red eyes still stared out from their well-crafted bodies. The night by the river ran through my head. Those were the same type of eyes that had come rus.h.i.+ng towards me.

”Jacob and Jonathan Wilson, say h.e.l.lo.”

”h.e.l.lo,” they said in unison. This was too much. I almost burst out laughing. I stopped and thought about what she had just said. Wilson? Jacob and Jonathan--those were Rick's boys' names. A horrible thought came to my head. They had murdered their own father because he had figured out what they were and what they had done. That is what Talia had meant by them 'severing' their ties to the human world. Oh my G.o.d! The room felt suddenly hot, making me sick to my stomach.

Talia stepped between them and ran her hand along Jacob's body. She turned and did the same to Jonathan. They were both hard and ready when she took another step toward us.

”As much as we would love to stay and play with you, we really must be going,” Pallo said. I was amazed at how calm he kept his voice, even though I could feel his fear as if it was my own.

”You never used to run off before the festivities began. Are you softening with old age?”

She was really starting to get to me. I wanted to walk up to her and slap her right across the face. Pallo sensed my urge to hit her and shook his head.

”Don't tell me you do not miss the days of old.” She held her knife out threateningly.

He stiffened. ”No, Talia. I have left the days of torturing others behind me now, you know this.”

She looked pleased. ”Yes, I had heard that you gave up your naughty ways. Why is that?”

”I had no reason to hate anymore.”

”You harbored much hate for two hundred years, what would change you so? Did you finally get over your little loss?” She talked with her hands, the knife skimming past Pallo's chest. ”I found your circ.u.mstance very unique. Tell me--how long after you were made did you have your heart broken? Less than half a year, if I'm not mistaken. To be made immortal and to lose your love.... Tell me, was she worth it? Did she f.u.c.k good enough to warrant leading you to the Devil himself?”

”I do not wish to discuss this with you,” he said, restrained violence in his voice.

”Answer me, Pallo. I asked you a question.” She lashed out and cut his chest. Blood pooled onto the floor, nearing my feet. Jason and Jonathan started to look restless. I could tell the smell of blood was exciting them, and it made me sick.

Talia struck Pallo again, catching his face.

”Stop!” I yelled and took a step out from behind him.

”No!” he shouted, trying to pull me back.

Talia looked at me, her yellow eyes flaring. ”The virgin speaks.”

”Leave him alone.”

”Would you beg for your lover's life?” Her voice had gotten soft, and that scared me.

It was hard to find the courage to step in front of Pallo, but I did. That put Talia and I eye to eye. Her breath was hot on my face. I made a point of looking directly into her eyes. I wasn't going to let her see me back down. She was p.i.s.sing off the wrong girl. I growled low in my throat.

Talia's eyes flickered and turned green, and then it hit me. I knew where I'd seen her before. She looked different with clothes on, if you could even call them that. She was the woman I walked in and found Ken with.

”I know you! You're the wh.o.r.e who slept with my fiance.” The words flew out of my mouth with such force I spit on her.

She smiled. ”You will have to be more specific if you want to get a rise out of me.”

”Kenneth Harpel.”

Yellow flooded back into her eyes. ”Harpel? The Law.” The name slid off her tongue like a snake. The supernatural papers had been referring to Ken as 'The Law.' He had gotten the nickname from successfully prosecuting more than a hundred supernatural felons.

”You ... you are the one who interrupted me. He was not easy to seduce, but I did. No mortal man can resist me.”

”You've got to be kidding me.” I rolled my eyes.

Talia touched her nose to mine. She licked the corner of my mouth. ”I was going to kill him after I f.u.c.ked him, but you came in and spoiled all the fun. I couldn't bring him back to me. His love for you was too strong. That took the fun out of it.” She said love like it was a dirty word.

”Ha! You don't know Ken very well. He only loves himself.” I started to laugh in her face. I don't think she appreciated that much. Her knee came up and caught me in the gut. I fell forward and came within inches of running my face into the knife in her hand. Pallo grabbed my body and eased me to the floor.

Talia reached over me and slashed at Pallo again. He must have been expecting that because he dodged it. Her other hand flew up and struck him with such a force he went airborne.

I screamed for him. He was weak enough as it was without this b.i.t.c.h throwing him around. I tried to kick her in her kneecap, but came up short and got her ankle instead. I screamed at her. ”Leave him alone!” She didn't flinch.

”Aren't you the brave little one?” She spit the words at me. ”He is good, but is he good enough to risk your life for?”

Pallo slumped on the ground behind me. He was losing too much blood. He was dying.

”Pallo.” I didn't turn to look at him. I was afraid to take my eyes off of Talia. I got to my feet and tried to focus on calling an element. Some Si, witches, and other creatures of magic have the ability to call upon the elements of earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. At that particular time I didn't care which I got, I just wanted one. A tingle started in my chest.

”Come, Pallo, let us spark the flame of hate in you once again.”

She put her finger on my breast and pushed. It felt like a truck had just plowed into me. My feet left the ground, and I flew across the room. My upper back hit the ground first. I was thankful it wasn't my head, or I would have been knocked out. Being unconscious with she-vamp in the room wasn't high on my to-do list.

Talia crossed the room and bent over Pallo with her knife. She licked the blood from the end of it and leaned into him. Lifting his arm, she turned his wrist and made a long slice down the center of it. He winced in pain. Blood didn't pour from it as it should have, and I knew that meant he was close to death, or whatever it was that happened to an already dead guy.

I pulled my aching body off the ground. ”Get the f.u.c.k away from him, now!”

My power built inside me. I hadn't learned to control it yet, but I didn't really care how it manifested itself, just so long as it did. I thought back to Nana's teachings. She had spent months working with me on this. The most important thing I needed was a target. Talia's little lap dogs appeared as if on command before me.

”My pets will teach you some manners, young one.”

Jacob hurled his body into mine, and we crashed onto the floor. The room faded in and out for minute. I blinked. Jacob's red eyes burned brighter. He smiled. His body weight had me pinned to the floor. s...o...b..r fell from his mouth onto my forehead. I tried to wriggle free from under him, but he was too strong.

I kneed him in the groin. Pleasure blossomed on his face.

”More,” he said, his voice raspy and low.

I struggled to free my arms from under his body and dug my nails into his face. Jonathan seized hold of my wrists from above my head. Jacob's hands moved down my body as he started to raise my nightgown. I kicked out at him. My foot came in contact with his jaw but it didn't faze him. He slid the nightgown over my waist, grabbing at my thighs. I kicked him again. Jonathan pulled on my arms harder. The way they were yanking on me, I'd be torn in two in no time.

I heard someone screaming and realized it was me. I looked around the room for Pallo. I was more concerned for his safety than my own. I caught sight of him. Talia dragged his limp body toward me. She had her fingers twisted in the top of his hair, pulling him. She was a vampire, so she made dragging a two hundred pound man look easy.

”Look,” she said pulling his head up. ”We wouldn't want you to miss the show.”

”Talia, kill me instead. Leave her be,” Pallo said, looking at me. I pleaded with my eyes for him to stop. I didn't want him to sacrifice himself for me.