Angels and Hunters (Stoker Sisters 2) (5 page)

“That we could keep in the fridge like a carton of milk?” Alexis said with a hint of suspicion.

Delilah laughed and glanced up at Dante.

“But where does it all come from?” Sadie asked. “I mean, how did you get all this?”

“It’s not human. It’s a formula I’ve been working on for so long. A blend of cow’s blood enriched with all the nutrients needed to keep a vampire healthy. It’s been complicated and a long time coming, but we’re finally pretty close to having the perfect blood to keep any vampire happy.”

Sadie shook her head in disbelief. The thought of ever being able to feed without even harming a human in the slightest was something she’d never even dreamed of. It seemed so impossible.

“I was able to meet up with the biologists here in Summerlin. The facilities were perfect and I had everything I needed. We’re in the heart of medical research at the University of California, Irvine.”

“I knew it,” Sadie suddenly shot out. “I knew there was a reason I felt so incredibly drawn to California. It’s almost as if I could hear you calling to me, telling me to come out here. Since we’ve been out here Alexis hasn’t stopped nagging me about my choice, but now it’s clear.”

Alexis picked up a carton and weighed it in her palm. She turned it over and over in her hand while her eyes still showed her doubt of Delilah’s words. “Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Sadie said.

“To keep vampires from hunting humans.” Delilah tilted her head to gaze curiously at Alexis. “This project is the very reason I came to California. I’ve had too many centuries of watching humans suffer at the hands of vampires.” She turned to glance at Sadie. “Good and bad.”

“You know, hunting isn’t just a matter of getting a good meal,” Alexis argued. “It’s a ritual. It’s the invigorating hunt. It’s part of what a vampire does. You can’t honestly tell me you think we’re all going to just stock up on cow’s blood and sit home nice and comfy and sip blood from a tumbler.”

“Forever the skeptic,” Delilah said. She took the carton from Alexis’ hand, popped the tab open, poured some into two beakers and handed them to Alexis and Sadie. “Try it.”

“Oh, for crying out loud.” Alexis held up the beaker and swirled it around. “This is so lame. What’ll you have us do next?”

“Just try it.” Sadie held her beaker up to her sister and took a big gulp. “Hmmm, not bad.”

Alexis took a reluctant sip, let it sit on her tongue a moment, then downed the rest of the beaker. “Okay, so it tastes good. That doesn’t mean I’m ready to give up my nightly prowls.”

“I’m glad you enjoy it. I’ve been testing and trying for years. I once had the blood of Countess Valencia back in the 1500s and I’ve had a craving for that particular taste ever since…the most delicious blood, which I wanted recreated here.”

“Really?” Alexis asked.

“Yes, didn’t you ever have a particularly tasty meal that you truly relished?”

“Actually I was referring to your age. I mean 1500s? Just how old are you?”

“Alexis!” Sadie shouted.

Delilah waved her arm away. “I’m as ancient as they come, girls. From the days of Dracule.”

Alexis set her beaker down, now completely impressed with the tutor she’d barely ever paid attention to before. “That makes you one of the strong ones.”

“I guess it does.”

“Like Skars.”

The tutor in Delilah emerged as she gave her student a reprimanding glare. “I can’t say I enjoy being compared to the likes of such a creature, but yes, I am strong, just like Skars. I have the ability to bring immortality to humans, much as Skars did Keegan.”

“Without turning them into vampires,” Sadie finished for her.

“Yes.” Delilah handed several cartons to the girls. “Take these. Try them out and see how you feel. I guarantee you’ll be back for more. Once you see what this high quality, highly nutritious blood does to your skin, your nails, and… oh girls, the luster you’ll see in your hair… you’ll forever thank me for introducing you…”

“In that case, I’ll take one more.” Alexis helped herself to another carton.

Chapter 4

T
he drive home was filled with laughter and giggles as the girls joked about the contained blood. But once the car pulled up in front of the house, Delilah turned solemn and quiet.

“You girls go inside,” Delilah ordered. “There’s something I have to go check on.”

A sense of dread and discomfort took over Sadie’s good mood. “What do you…?” As she turned to question Delilah, she barely caught a glimpse of her trim figure as she fled into the darkness.

“She’s probably gone back to hook up with that cute Dr. Dante,” Alexis said with a hint of envy. Getting out of the car she glanced in the direction Delilah had disappeared into. “I know if I had a guy like that waiting for me, I wouldn’t be hanging out with us.”

Sadie got out, her cartons of blood in hand, and glared at her sister, kicking the car door for annoyed emphasis. “Not every woman think of men as often as you do, Alexis. I’m sure if she left us so quickly it’s for a good reason.”

“Not every woman is a cold prune like you, either, little sister. Some of us do have hot blood running through our veins, so to speak.” She followed Sadie’s quick steps to the front door, her own cartons of blood tucked under each arm. “If anything, having a man in your life would probably take some of that rough edge off you, Sadie. You need to loosen up, stop being such a cold prude.”

As Sadie turned the key and opened the door, she turned to glance back at her befuddled sibling. “Me, rough edge, cold prude? I’m the nice sister, remember. You're the one with the rough edge, if rough can even begin to describe your abrasive personality.”

“Well, maybe you're right. Rough isn’t quite right for you. Dull is more what I was looking for.”

Though the house was dark as they entered, Sadie felt blinded by the anger that was slowly rising. Alexis was in no position to criticize her, not after all she’d done. This very house, the one Alexis returned to everyday, would not be theirs if Sadie hadn’t been so… dull.

They’d had this conversation so many times before, and she wasn’t about to get into it again. She reached out to flick on the light, but suddenly found herself pressed against the wall by a heavy force, her precious cartons of blood falling to the floor. Disoriented and momentarily confused, she wondered if Alexis wasn’t playing some stupid trick on her.

“Alexis?” she squeaked out. Her head was being held against the wall, her cheeks scrunched and tight, making it difficult to speak.

But the pressure at her back was hard, too painful for even Alexis to exert for play. This was more than a stupid trick. The seconds of hesitation had already cost her far too much. Her assailant had the upper hand, easily keeping her in a hold that left little wiggle room. 

Struggling only brought more pressure to her back and face. Then she heard Alexis’ distinctive war cry. It was at times like these Sadie was grateful for her sister’s rough edges. Her complete lack of compassion and deep rooted hatred for humans and hunters made her a worthy opponent.

Despite all Alexis’ strength and anger, Sadie could make out the muffled sounds of defeat. Whoever was up against Alexis was winning. A thud, followed by a hollow crash had Sadie seriously concerned for her sister’s safety.

“Get your filthy hands off me, you slimy piece of worthless dung,” Alexis’ voice sputtered.

Sadie cracked a dismal smile. Her sister may be down, but she definitely wasn’t defeated. But it was the assailant at her back who took offence at Alexis’ unflattering words, pushing Sadie into the wall with increased force, force that could only be that of another vampire.

A third party entered the melee and while Sadie could barely make out the form, a sense of doom weighed in on her.

The light was flicked on, momentarily blinding her. She could make out Alexis’ elegant boots kicking into the air where she was pinned to the floor by a young male. As her eyes adjusted to the new glare, she saw the young man’s knee was pushed forcefully into Alexis’ back, leaving her flailing arms and legs useless.

Then Sadie saw a small and young fragile girl come to her side, a stake casually held in her tiny hand. She knew it had to be a vision.

The small girl couldn’t be more than fourteen years old. Thin, gawky and with a nose and teeth that seemed disproportionately large compared to the rest of her pubescent face, the girl was dismally unattractive. Her stringy black hair shielded much of her pale face as it cascaded down to her waist, adding to the sad image she portrayed.

“So these are the Stoker sisters,” the young girl said with disdain.

“What do you want?” Sadie asked, her voice as controlled and calm as possible.

“Let us go,” Alexis shouted.

The young girl, calm and sure of the power that surrounded her, took a step towards Alexis and put her heavy Doc Marten on her face, squeezing her cheeks together until her lips were forced into an unattractive pout. She tapped the stake to Alexis’ shoulder, her face contemplative and amused. “You don’t really seem to be in much of a position to tell me what to do. So how about you keep that lovely trap of yours closed and I’ll decide what to do.”

“Byotch,” Alexis managed to slur.

This only served to acquire her an additional squeeze from the girl’s boot before she turned her attention to Sadie. With a subtle gesture of her head, the young man at Sadie’s back turned her around and effectively pinned her to the wall with a broad hand to her chest bone. The pressure was so great, she could barely breathe.

“Where is he?” the young girl asked.

“Who?”

The girl smiled, obviously enjoying her moment of grandeur and power. “The Vampire Hunter. Keegan. The man you spent those last few hours battling with.” She turned to glare at Alexis then returned her gaze to Sadie. “We know you fought the hunters, leaving them for dead… and enjoying it.”

Keegan, Sadie thought. If this girl was concerned with Keegan’s safety, surely she could be reasoned with. She attempted a warm smile. “I understand your concern. Are you one of his hunters?”

“I don’t see how that’s your business, vampire.”

“But, I know where he is. I want to help him. I want to get him out.”

“Ah,” the young girl sighed, as a grim smile exposed a row of her large crooked teeth and white gums.  “So you do know where he is.”

“I’m concerned for his safety as well,” Sadie said, wanting to reassure her. “We will get him out.”

“Out?”

“Out of Skars’ hands.”

“Skars?”

“Yes,” Sadie said, feeling growing optimism. “The worst Strigoi of all. You know of him, don’t you?”

The girl chuckled, not with relief of joy as Sadie would have expected, but with something dark and ugly. The sound reflected the girl’s soul… lost.

“I’ve every intention of getting him out safely.” As the words fell off her tongue, Sadie knew Keegan’s safety was not this girl’s concern.

Raising her hand and leaning the pointed edge of the stake at Sadie’s breast, the girl’s eyes took on a demonic glimmer that Skars himself could not even compete with. “If Keegan is with Skars, I really have no need for either of you.” She gestured back to Alexis with an inhuman tilt of her head, but her eyes, black and lusting for blood, remained on Sadie.

“I don’t understand,” Sadie muttered.

The young girl grinned and raised the stake high into the air. “You don’t need to.”