Hunger Within (A Sable Hart Vampire Slayer Novel Book 1) Read online

  I wasn't able to distract myself from the task at hand once we reached Plano. I had to kill Dane. Yuri’s slow Russian drawl commanding me to kill Dane echoed in my head, his hypnotic eyes punctuating the order. The thought of murdering the man I love made my blood pressure spike and my heart race. But I couldn't refuse Yuri. I couldn't help Dane. In a very scary way, I wanted to kill Dane to make Yuri happy. Why couldn’t I think of a way out?

  "How much farther?" Darcy asked. The twins were fidgeting. Were they that eager for the kill? Or just bored? More likely they were that hungry.

  "Couple of minutes."

  I realized my hands were gripping the steering wheel painfully tight, so I loosened my grip. It wasn't easy relaxing. This was worse than the anxiety I usually felt before going in to stake a vampire. Would I feel this way if I tried to stake Yuri?

  I cut a look at him, trying to figure out how I felt about him.

  "Do not even try it," Yuri said.

  "W-What?" Could he read my mind?

  "You will kill Dane."

  A chill slithered through me and we weaved half into the next lane. Brakes squealed and horns sounded. He shouldn't use his power on me while I'm driving. Yuri smiled, and glancing into the rearview mirror I could see the others were amused, too.

  "You will not get out of it, Sable," Dominique said. She sounded way too smug. I wondered if it was her idea. "Once you murder your lover, you will become a full-fledged vampire. You will truly be one of us."

  "I don't want to kill anyone."

  "Too late. You have already killed many, most of them members of my family," Yuri said. "You are a vampire. Killing is what we do best."

  "You are an immortal being of unbridled sex and violence, Sable," Dominique said. I didn't like the way she leered as she looked me over. "Accept it. Revel in it."

  I ignored her, which seemed to annoy her. Good for me. I glanced up into the mirror at the sound of footsteps on the metal floor in time to see Dominique coming towards me with blood in her eyes.

  I hit the brakes, then the gas. That left the angry vampire sprawled on the floor.

  I grinned. "Oopsy. Don't mess with the driver, Maîtresse."

  Dominique liked it when addressed so. She didn’t like the English “Mistress” at all. She didn’t mind being addressed as Domina, or Domina Dominique, either, but she preferred Maîtresse.

  Yuri glanced back and frowned. The man had no sense of humor. He was all sex and business. Oh, and bloodletting. Can't leave out his love of murder and mayhem.

  Speaking of which. "We're here."

  I parked the van next to Dane's Ford Explorer. My faint hope that he wouldn't be home was gone. Did he have a death wish? He had to know I was a vampire. Why didn't he move? Worse, I still didn’t know how to twist Yuri’s command around to avoid killing Dane.

  We piled out of the van and assembled on the sidewalk in front of it. I stared at the cluster of buildings that held Dane's apartment. I prayed he wasn't there, and that he'd abandoned his SUV and all of his personal effects and gone into hiding. At least be visiting friends.

  Dominique cast a sinister smile at me as she stepped around me.

  "Where is his apartment?" Dominique looked the eagerest of them all. "Do you think he has taken another lover and apprentice yet?"

  Low blow, but made me think. Was I Anastasia's replacement? How soon after her loss did he start pursuing me? Dane wasn't with her when we met. Could he replace me with another? Just like that?

  "Lead the way." Always business, that was Yuri.

  "He's well-armed," I said. None of the vampires had weapons that I could see.

  "It is just him. We do not need any weapons," he said contemptuously.

  "We are the ultimate weapons," Darcy said.

  "Besides," Dominique said, moving up close behind me. She leaned over my shoulder, to speak into my ear again. The woman had no concept of personal space. "It is so much more personal to rip out your lover's throat with your fangs, than to just shoot him dead. Where is the fun in that?"

  Yuri gave us an annoyed look. "We are wasting time."

  There was power in his words that time. Both Dominique and I gasped. We nodded in unison and I headed for Dane's apartment.

  There was a pool party in full swing as we approached. My vampiric vision was astonishing. I quickly picked out every face in that crowd of twenty-three. I knew about three quarters of them by face, five by name. Dane was not among them, and a quick glance showed the lights in his apartment were on.

  I pointed at his window. "He's on the second floor, above the pool."

  "Sable!" a woman cried. "Come join us."

  Heidi Mainz hurried up to me, beaming with pleasure. She was an inch shorter than me, with big blue eyes and shoulder length blonde hair. She was the complex's resident Cowboy cheerleader, and every man's favorite. Heidi was from a wealthy banking family, so she didn't have a real job. When not working out in the gym, or in training with the cheerleaders, she could be found by the pool.

  Did I mention she was drop dead gorgeous? I tried so hard not to hate her. Heidi seemed to have everything. Sometimes it just wasn't fair.

  "Oh, my." Heidi was a bit breathless as she looked me over. She tilted her head and gave me a strange look. Was she sizing me up for sexual conquest? Her desire spiked, filling my senses. I sensed the blood flowing into her genitals, face, lips. She began to twirl the end of her hair as she looked me over again, then took in Yuri. "Hmm."

  "Is there a problem?" I said.

  That shook her out of her reverie. I didn't care to be part of any of her sexual fantasies anyway. It made me wonder if she'd thought of me like that before.

  "A little early for Halloween, don't you think?" She giggled, looked me over again, and then looked the other vampires over. "Seriously, isn't that hot?"

  "Very," I said. "We're going to a theme party. It'll be inside and air conditioned. We're here to pick up Dane."

  "Oh." She looked disappointed. I think she had a crush on Dane. What woman wouldn't? "I was going to see if you could get Dane to join us. You and your friends are welcome, too."

  "Oh, sorry. Church event." That made her take another look at our clothes, especially mine and Dominique's, then shake her head. I grinned and continued, "Yeah, I know. It'll be fun, though. Maybe next time."

  "Oh, okay." She spun on a heel and headed back to the party. Glancing over her shoulder, she did that little girl sexy wave with one finger, with a "Bye-bye!"

  "I could sink my fangs into that yummy doll," Darcy said.

  "Concentrate," I said. I had to get them away before they jumped on that party. "This way."

  I led them past the pool party, into the breezeway, and up the concrete and steel stairs. Dane's apartment was at the top of the stairs. I stopped in front of his door and stared at it.

  Kick it in? Try knocking?

  "Sable," Yuri said. He grabbed my chin and pulled my face to the side, gazing into my eyes. I froze like a deer in headlights. He was like God. "Kick the door in. Charge in and kill him. Make sure he knows it is you come to kill him, before you rip out his throat with your fangs."

  All I could muster was a whisper. "Yes."

  He released my chin. A violent shudder rattled my body, then I turned back to the door. Heart hammering. My mind was in a whirl, but I knew what I had to do. Kill Dane. Rip his throat out with my fangs. Simple enough.

  I lashed out, kicking straight into the door with a powerful thrust kick. My foot struck below the doorknob. The apartment was not built to withstand that kind of force, and the jamb was ripped apart as the door flew open, banged against the wall and slammed shut again. But it was busted and I pushed it aside as I strode in purposely as women down at the pool party started screaming.

  Dane was on the couch, gawking at me. The TV was on. History Channel. What did men all see in that channel?

  For a second I hesitated. Dane surprised me. His aura was huge. Vampire big. Not as big as Yuri's, but bigger than Boney's aura,
though his was still a circle, a true halo. I’d never seen a mortal with such a powerful aura. Strangely, it wasn't that pristine white of a normal aura, but had a taint of gray. Did hunting vampires corrupt the aura, the souls, of vampire slayers? Or was it because he was a dhampir? Then I saw the Glock 31 in his right hand, finger on the trigger. I remembered why I was there.

  "You’re a fool for staying here, Dane." I was mad at him. His ignorance was forcing me to kill him, and that really pissed me off. "You had to know I was Changed. Now you’re going to die."

  "Fight them, Sable!"

  “I did,” I said, caught in his eyes. “I tried, but I lost.”

  I ducked an instant before he pulled the trigger. Darcy grunted. All the vampires started yelling. I leapt at him. Dane ducked under me and scrambled to the sliding glass doors. He popped off a couple rounds into Dominique and Yuri as he slipped out the door, then slammed it closed. I charged him, running straight through the glass door.

  "Jesus!" he cried, and vaulted over the rail. "Vampires! Run!"

  I followed him down. All of the women at the party were screaming now, men and women running in every direction. It was chaos. Dane was nowhere to be found. Lost in the confusion. Yuri's words, to kill Dane tonight burned in my mind.

  Darcy and Darby flew over me to land beside the pool. Darby seized a young man, caught him in her gaze, then ripped out his throat all in a few seconds. I didn't know the man, but I knew the young woman Darcy caught. Linda wasn't given the courtesy of being hypnotized first. The vamp threw her victim to the ground and sank her fangs into the woman’s throat.

  The stench of spilled human blood washed over me. I sucked in a deep breath involuntarily, savoring the smell. My stomach rumbled and my mouth watered. Swallowing, I tried to shuck the primal need to join the feeding frenzy.

  "Ooff!" a feminine voice said as she crashed into me.

  I grabbed her, and caught her eyes. Heidi froze within my grasp. She was mine now. Her blood was up, surging like crazy, and it called to me. I pulled Heidi's head back by her hair, exposing her neck.

  "You wanted Dane, didn't you?"

  "Yes."

  I nuzzled her neck, enjoying the scent of expensive perfume and blood. Then I licked her throat above the jugular, feeling her pulse with my tongue.

  "You wanted to steal him from me."

  "Yes."

  Her desire grew with every question. Blood flowed into her genitals, and her breath became shallow. My pheromones filled the air, stoking her desire even more.

  "He isn't interested in you. Never has been."

  "Not true. We were dating when he met you. He dumped me to go after you."

  That surprised me. What man would dump Heidi? She was gorgeous, and had to be a lot more fun than pre-death me.

  "Did you sleep with him?" It was an unfair question, but I had to know.

  "No." She frowned. "He was a perfect gentleman."

  Undoubtedly a first for Heidi. So he was able to resist her rather obvious charms, and he was the one that got away. I understood her obsession. She'd probably moon over Dane the rest of her life. That was probably my fate, as well.

  "You’ve thought about bedding me, too, haven't you?"

  "Yes."

  "Before tonight?"

  "No."

  "Good."

  So it was the naughty outfit. I nuzzled her neck, feeling that hot delicious blood beneath the skin. Heidi groaned wantonly, pressing her bikini-clad body into me. Her left hand started stroking my booty, and her right rose up to my boobs. I didn't care. I kissed her neck, right over the spot I wanted to bite. My lips pealed back, exposing teeth and fangs.

  A woman screamed from just feet away. It was Heidi's best friend, Summer Hughes. The redhead broke the spell that had consumed me. I realized what I was about to do. So I seized Heidi's face in both hands, and looked deep into her eyes.

  "You will run to your apartment, lock yourself inside, and call 911," I commanded. "Do not look back or hesitate. Go!"

  With that, I flung her away and caught Summer in my gaze. "Go with her. Now!"

  I'm not sure how much impetus my "suggestion" gave the two women, but they ran faster than I've ever seen any woman run. I had no doubt they would be safe, but by that time even Dominique and Yuri were caught up in the bloodlust. I counted nine men and women down. Most were probably dead, if not all.

  Unfortunately, the thing that came to mind was Yuri's command to kill Dane, and he was nowhere to be seen.

  He'll try to escape. I smiled. In his truck.

  So I made for that midnight blue SUV. Dane said he chose the color to match my eyes. My eyes were more of a sapphire blue, but I loved the effort. The SUV's engine turned over as I strode into view. For a bare second our eyes met. I tried to capture him with my glaze, but dhampirs aren’t so easily caught.

  Dane threw it into reverse, and peeled out backwards. I ran after him, trying to catch him. I was strong enough to smash out the driver’s side window and yank him out of that vehicle, if I caught him. Seconds later, he threw it into forward and tore out of the parking lot.

  Spotting a young man unlocking the door to a red Dodge Durango, I ran over. He looked up at the sound of my heels on the pavement with no concern in his eyes. He was a big man.

  I ripped the keys out of his hand. "Give me that."

  I lifted a foot to his belly and kicked him away. He flew through the air a good fifteen feet, and rolled another ten. I was in the SUV and turning the key before he stopped rolling. The engine roared to life.

  I floored the gas pedal, burning rubber as I made for the street. Dane had a good hundred yard head start, but I could still see him. Alas, I was so intent on Dane I didn't see the semi coming in the other direction.

  It was a helluva a crash.

  The impact ripped the Durango in half. Broke both of my legs and a bunch of ribs. It took all my strength and several minutes to push that damn steering column to the side. By that time, the bones in my legs had pulled themselves back together. Let me tell you, knitting bones tickle something awful.

  "Lady, are you all right?" the truck driver said, staggering towards me as I crawled out the window.

  "Yep." I looked down the street. No sign of Dane. You'd think he'd be worried about me. "I'm fine."

  I turned to leave. I could hear sirens.

  "Where you going?" The truck driver grabbed my upper left arm. Strong grip. He looked to be about fifty, mostly bald with a big bushy mustache. I slanted an annoyed look over my left shoulder, sizing him up. "I need your insurance card. The police are coming." He didn't look concerned any more. Anger ruled his emotions now. "You caused this accident, sweetheart. Not me. So you're not going anywhere, understand?" He rolled his head around a bit, and then gave me a scathing look. "I may even have whiplash."

  I caught his eyes. He was mine.

  "You're going to be too confused to answer any questions the police might have," I said. "For at least an hour. Then tell them what you want."

  He stood frozen in place, a befuddled look on his face.

  With that I strode off. Yuri was hurrying the others into the van as I approached. They were all covered in blood. He cast a questioning look at me. I pointed at the demolished Durango and shook my head. Yuri's expression clouded and he clenched his fists. He turned away from me and climbed into the back. I took shotgun. Darby was driving.

  "What happened?" Yuri said.

  Imagine that, Yuri was angry at me. Turning in the seat, I caught his eye and shrugged apologetically. He knelt beside Dominique as Darby pulled out of the parking lot, driving past the wreckage. Dominique lay on the floor, looking like she was in extreme pain. She was covered in more blood than any of the others.

  "I was chasing Dane and got broadsided by that semi truck. Otherwise I'd still be chasing him."

  "You failed." Dominique bit her lower lip and nodded at Yuri. He sliced her belly open and thrust his hand right into her. Made me jump. Her dark aura flickered, maybe even diminishe
d a tiny bit. "Ugh. Lower."

  I watched in fascination as Yuri hunted down and retrieved all of the silver bullets in her body. They obviously burned his fingers, because he threw them once they were pulled out. Her body healed so fast he had to make a new cut for each try for a bullet.

  Dominique caught my eye. "You don't have any excuses." I was impressed she could stay focused on me while he was performing what amounted to open surgery on her without anesthesia. That had to hurt to High Heaven and beyond. "You do realize you failed to complete Yuri's command?"

  "We failed." They weren't going to lay that fiasco solely on my shoulders. "We came after Dane, and I was the only one to stay on task. The rest of you jumped on those innocent people back there and sated your thirsts for blood like a bunch of mindless animals. If not for that lapse in self-control, we would've caught him."

  Dominique scowled at me. "We are vampires."

  "Yeah. We failed."

  He had all of her bullets out. Darcy had one silver bullet in her, and he got that out in less than a minute. Then Dominique took his knife and cut him open, looking for the silver bullets Dane pumped into him. I was very grateful Dane either missed me, or couldn't bring himself to shoot me. I hoped it was the latter.

  But Dominique was right. I failed Yuri. That stung, oddly enough. But I was real proud of Dane for escaping. He was the best.

  Chapter 10

  Yuri's hand caressed my right hip in the Stygian darkness of his coffin. My eyes popped open, but not even a vampire can see in a place with absolutely no light at all. He was pressed against me, his breath hot on my face. When I shifted my perspective, I could see his aura. Yuri was a pitch black silhouette in the heart of that unholy backlight.

  "Again?" I said. The first day within his power Yuri had thoroughly dominated me. I was ready for that. It stoked the fires of my hatred. But he changed tactics, and became an amazing lover on the second. "Do you ever sleep?"