Angels and Hunters (Stoker Sisters 2) (18 page)

“I never knew you considered me so handsome, Delilah,” Ashwin smiled.

“Oh, please.” Delilah shot an annoyed gaze at the stars then glanced at the girls a moment as she yawned and gestured towards Ashwin with her head. “I was young, naïve, innocent and probably a little short-sighted. I thought every young man was handsome.”

“Don’t try to deny it now,” Ashwin said.

“Can we stray away from your ego a moment and return to the story at hand?”

Ashwin grinned.

“Despite his looks, he found himself fatally wounded and was turned by Dracule. Having single-handedly destroyed hundreds of Dracule’s strongest fighters, he was named the young prince, Gideon the Destroyer. Of course, you girls got to know the more charming side of him, the Lord Ashwin side of him.”

“And Skars?” Keegan asked with impatience.

“Skars was the last one Dracule added to his army before he died. Just a bit younger than Ashwin, he was the youngest among us. But Dracule may have been mistaken in turning him. It was a mercy turning, if you will. Skars was young and striking with his flash of blond hair and eyes that whispered of innocence despite his mercilessness on the battlefield. Right from the start, we realized he was a dissenter and power-hungry. Skars had done everything to bring Dracule down. He’d gathered a number of tribes to come together to battle against the Romanian prince. The fact that Dracule turned him, saved his life, did little to diminish the animosity Skars felt for him.”

“Skars has always had an endless hunger for power,” Ashwin added. “He wanted Dracule to build a larger army, not to protect the people, but to rule over all vampires. Already at that time, rogue vampires were indiscriminately turning others. Vampire tribes were growing and Skars wanted to harness all the power they could bring him.”

“He wanted to rule humanity,” Delilah spat. “That’s what he wanted. What he still wants. He thinks he’s invincible as a vampire and he has great disdain for the weak… humans or protector of humans.”

“Like you,” Sadie said.

Delilah nodded. “Of course Dracule disagreed with Skars’ view. Skars didn’t understand what it meant to be Dracule’s Ancient. He had complete disregard for the rules that had been established. When Dracule made it clear that I was to reign over the vampire kingdom the day he should perish, Skars would hear nothing of it. He was jealous beyond reason. He’d already grown to hate me and the thought that Dracule could chose me over him left him livid. I’d been entrusted with Dracule’s descendants…Dracule’s most precious possession, the power of Dracule within their veins… something Skars simply could not abide by.”

“To spite Dracule, Skars broke away and began his own vampire tribe,” Ashwin said. “With complete disregard for everything Dracule had ever stood for, Skars encouraged cruelty, mercilessness and a complete lack of sympathy or empathy for humans. When Dracule died, Skars believed it was his love of humans that was responsible, and he was not about to let the same thing happen to him.”

Delilah suddenly looked tired as she looked from Sadie to Alexis and back again. “Over the years he has always tried to defeat me, to stop me. His feasts of human blood made him stronger and more powerful, too powerful.  I have to admit that my desire to spare humans left me weaker in comparison. The blood of animals or of old donors, as I was apt to nourish myself on, was not as potent as the blood of humans.

“Nothing will ever stop him. He’s ruthless. He even managed to get to Ashwin. With Dracule gone, no one could stop him and all Strigois from causing the ravages they have. And now, only Dracule’s descendants have the power to stop him.” Delilah looked at the girls, her smile soft and filled with regret. “That’s why Skars’ so adamant.  That’s why he wants to have you both at his side, to better control you.”

“He also believes his power will be greatly amplified should he drink of your blood.” Ashwin reached out to Sadie and Alexis’ hands. “It is believed that when Dracule perished, he prayed to God – yes, as strange as it may seem he did believe in God – and he asked for mercy. Due to all he’d done to help humanity, despite being one of the undead, God did have mercy on him and granted Dracule the promise that his descendants would one day save his people from the curse. Yet they are to remain pure, for the ones who are, will be the Angel amongst vampires.”

Chapter 16

T
he discussion stopped as Delilah sat up and listened intently. “They’re here,” she whispered.

Everyone stiffened with anticipation.

“Be prepared to fight,” she went on. “Skars has his trusted Strigois at his side. This battle is going to be rough.”

Sadie glanced at Keegan a moment before daring to turn to look behind her. She saw the fear in his eyes and knew, with all her heart, he feared for her.

“You’ll be okay,” he whispered.

Not too far off, they were there, an army of Strigois, ready to fight, ready to kill.

“I’m right beside you,” Keegan said as they stood and prepared for the fight of their lives.

“My God,” Sadie said in a hushed tone. “How many of them are there?”

Turning back to glance at Delilah and Ashwin, she hoped to find strength in their will. But when she looked at Ashwin, she was surprised by the conflicting emotions that played in his eyes.

“Ashwin.” In need of reassurance, she stepped closer to him. “You said you were on my side… on Dracule’s side. Are you having doubts? Are you still with me?”

His eyes darted from the band of vampires quickly approaching Sadie. He gripped her arm and pulled her to him, his kiss hard, possessive and passionate as he kissed her in front of everyone.

Startled, Sadie stiffened and tried to understand the sudden show of emotion. Was it his true love for her or was it the regret at what he was about to do?

“I meant it, Sadie. I meant all of it, but you have to trust me. You have to let me play the game my way… Skars’ way. If I don’t play the submissive role to Skars’ reign, he’ll know he’s been duped. Trust me. I beg of you, trust me.”

“I’m scared.”

“I know you are.” His eyes claimed hers and held on as he swallowed. “I’ll die protecting you.”

His grip suddenly tightened as he dragged her towards Skars.

“No,” Keegan shouted as he stepped forward to stop them. “Damn, I knew we couldn’t trust him.”

Ashwin shoved him out of the way, effortlessly sending him falling into the soft beach sand.

“We have to go after him,” Alexis said. “We can’t let him do this to her.”

“Hush,” Delilah said with patience and wisdom. “We have to let the game play out as Ashwin has planned it. He may be a Strigoi, but I know him. Seeing him again just now, I now know I was wrong about his intentions. He’s completely devoted to Dracule. He has something on his mind. I sense the Strigoi in him dying. He won’t let Sadie down.”

“But, Delilah,” Alexis shouted with anger and fear. “He’s taking her to Skars. Right there in front of our eyes, Skars is going to turn her and…”

“Ashwin won’t let that happen. He’s clever, more than one would think. When I knew him, he was completely devoted to Dracule. He would have easily laid down his life for him. He won’t let him down now. I know he’ll do what is right.”

Skars’ army was close, close enough to judge their size, their anger and their desire to fight to the end. Close enough to see the definition of their muscles and the red hatred in their eyes.

Sadie squirmed. Hearing Delilah’s confidence in Ashwin’s ploy didn’t help matters. She was the one being brought to this demon. She was the one who risked losing everything, her very life, should Delilah be wrong. She’d known Ashwin hundreds of years earlier. Since her arrival, Delilah hadn’t trusted him and perhaps she’d been right not to.

The sand gave way under every step as she felt helpless under Ashwin’s hold. But Skars’ imposing figure was getting closer and her heart was thumping louder. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t go through with this attempt to dupe Skars.

She was the one being duped, she suddenly realized. Ashwin had played her all too well right from the beginning. Casanova…the skilled lover, Ashwin knew what to say and what to do too easily to have Sadie believe he loved her and wanted what was best for her.

Oh, my God, she thought as she looked into Skars eyes and saw what evil looked like from close up.

Suddenly rushed with the will to live, the need to survive, Sadie fought with all the strength she had. For a moment she broke free of Ashwin’s hold, but he quickly regained control, wrapping his arm around her waist and yanking her into the air where her arms and legs flailed uselessly.

With forceful and determined strides, Ashwin carried Sadie to Skars. “As requested and as promised, I’ve brought you Dracule’s daughter. I’ve brought you the Angel.”

Skars cocked a sardonic brow and chuckled from deep in his throat. He gazed down at Sadie with a blend of disdain, disgust and victory. “Well done, Ashwin. I didn’t really think you had it in you to succeed. Despite all your strength and power on the battlefield, I’ve always suspected you were a little two weak of the heart to truly do what you must. I’m impressed. You're a stronger vampire than I gave you credit for.”

Sadie squirmed in Ashwin’s arms. Why wasn’t anyone coming to her aid? “Ashwin, please don’t do this.”

His face was a cold slate. Void of emotions, he set her on her feet, never once gazing down at her. His response, cold and calculated, left no question as to his intention. His hand quickly wrapped around the nape of her neck, tightening to the point Sadie thought she’d faint right there.

“Ashwin,” she whimpered as Skars reached out to touch her. She backed into Ashwin, desperate to avoid the evil touch, but Ashwin remained cold, reminding her of her fate with a quick squeeze to her nape.

“Though Dracule may have sired you, I must admit you are a fetching wench,” Skars said, looking at Sadie from head to toe.

Unable to control her anger and frustration, Sadie spat at him.

It only brought about an angry chuckle that promised of deadly anger.

“I’m happy to see she pleases you on so many levels, Skars. After having waited for her for so long, I’m sure you’ll now find her to be fulfilling in more ways than one.”

“Ashwin,” Sadie said under a wave of panic.  “How can you do this to me?”

The love, passion and heat of just moments ago, of the kisses they shared was now a distant memory. All that remained was Gideon the Destroyer, determined to do as was asked.

“Get over here, darling Angel,” Skars growled as he wrapped his dry, hard claws around her delicate wrist. He yanked her out of Ashwin’s hold with such force, the impact of crushing against his chest left her winded.

She screamed and fought back so violently, Skars temporarily lost his hold of her. With a quick start, she turned to bolt away, only to be captured by Ashwin. At first her on-going screams obliterated everything, including the whispers he brushed against her ear.

“Kiss him.”

No, she thought as she kicked wildly to break free. Surely she’d not heard him correctly. He expected her to kiss Skars? What madness!

“You're Dracule’s angel,” Ashwin continued through her protests. “You're kiss to a Strigoi is redemption. Kiss him.” He wrapped his arms securely around her and returned her to Skars’ hold.

“She’s all yours.” His voice betrayed nothing. “She’s got quite a temper. I suggest you try to calm it before she gives you a headache.”

Skars gripped her wrist with one hand and a fistful of hair with the other. “Don’t worry.  She’ll not free herself of my hold again.”

Sadie looked up at her captor, wanting to believe Ashwin, wanting to win over Skars, but fearing the outcome. What if her kiss only exacerbated the situation?