Duella Book 3: The Witch and the Vampire Series (13 page)

Chapter Eighteen

Duella
trudged along clutching Miriam in his arms until his strength began to wane. He slowed his pace, glancing about the ebony darkness surrounding them. He loathed admitting that he couldn’t find his way back to the green valley. He sighed and set Miriam’s feet on the ground. Holding onto her hand for fear she would become lost to him again, he drew her against his side while he considered their situation.

Anger threatened to overtake his senses as he felt the presence of the witch very near. She had consented to letting him have Miriam only because she knew she could prevent his escaping. He hung his head, overcome with a sense of foreboding. “Show yourself!” He bellowed loudly into the darkness, his tone threatening.

Soft laughter, filled with menace and hate, sounded very near his ear.

He whirled around, dragging Miriam along and almost knocking her off her feet.
Drucella
appeared right before his eyes, smiling and sending ire raging through his veins. He gnashed his teeth and snarled.

“You know the price for your release,
Duella
.”

He tightened his hold on Miriam’s hand and clutched the amulet in one fist. He had no choice but to try and remove the amulet from his neck. He tightened his hold on the gem and raised the chain, making to lift it over his head.

Drucella
drew closer-- drool slid from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes were vivid topaz, wide and expectant. She reached out both hands in lieu of receiving the talisman.

The witch is very eager to have the gem.
He paused and stared at
Drucella
, trying to fully understand the lustful gleam in her eyes. He took note of her eager fingers reaching toward his chest, almost touching the gem in her haste to possess it. His brow furrowed. Puzzlement formed in his mind. He became aware of others gathered around
he
and Miriam. The army of
Gideons
had returned and appeared just as eager as their mistress. Their large eyes were pinned on the jewel in his hand and drool dripped from their chins.

“Give it to me! Give it to me!”

He closed his fist over the gem. It seemed too important to merely hand over. If only he could have an inkling as to its worth.

“Give it to me!”

Drucella’s
pleading command drew his attention. He saw the witch’s outstretched hands and the sudden clash of emotions materialize on her face. She glanced about the gathering of
Gideons
as though fearful of the little creatures. The
Gideons
crowded closer to
Drucella
, pushing their bodies against hers and vying for the space closest to
Duella
. They reached their long arms out as though hoping to snatch the gem before the witch could get her hands on it.

Duella
sought
Drucella
in the midst of the foray. She appeared worried by the eager
Gideons
although she professed they were her servants. She pushed at the little creatures, shoving them behind her as she fought her way to the front of the crowd. Bickering mutterings sounded from the group.

“It appears the gem is much revered.”
Duella
smirked, holding the gem away from his body and suspending it on its gold link chain.

“It belongs to me! Hand it over!”

“Give it to us! Give it to us!”

He lowered his gaze to the mob of
Gideons
.

“The amulet belongs to our people. Give it to us!”

“Do tell?”
Duella
looked at
Drucella
.

The witch gnashed her teeth and flung her arms, sending the
Gideons
scurrying from around her. “Don’t listen to them. They lie. The amulet is mine.”

Duella
released the gem inside his shirt. He rubbed his chin with one fingertip. “Prove that the amulet belongs to you,
Drucella
.”

She lunged at him, teeth bared, eyes flashing. She grasped him by the front of his shirt and lifted him off the ground. In the next instant, he was hurtling through the air and crashing against the wooden gate he sought to escape the barren garden. He slid to the ground, his body in terrible pain.

Drucella
was nose to nose with him as he tried to right himself. She lifted him from the ground, her hand around his throat and flung him into the air.

Duella
sought to transform, calling upon his vampire ability to change into a bird before he landed on the ground again. He managed to change, flapping his wings hard to avoid the crash landing. He turned his course, flew directly toward
Drucella
,
then
veered sharply as he spied Miriam lifting into the air.

He led the way over the wooden fence and into the green garden. Following the winding path back to the waterfall, he spied the lighted tunnel he had walked down to reach the opening. He soared through it with Miriam close behind. The dark shaft that led up to the cemetery appeared ahead and he directed his flight path up it.

He burst through the covering of grass and earth to spy the newly awakening day.
Seeing the sun break the horizon send a shard of fear racing through his insides.
He headed for the mansion, needing to get to safety before the sun burned his body and destroyed him forever.

* * * *

A sound, ever so slight, penetrated
Duella’s
brain. An odor, uncommon in his vampire chamber, came to his nose. Alarmed, he jerked his eyes open, his body alert in a way that unnerved him. He saw her just moments before she raised the mallet in her hand and drove the wooden stake against his chest. He bounded upward, grasping the stake with one hand while grabbing at the hand holding the hammer.

Drucella
was hurled backward as
Duella
left his bed and sought to overpower her. The stake broke the skin on his chest and brought blood oozing down his skin. He roared in outrage as he thrust the stake from his body and kicked the hammer from the witch’s hand. He grasped her by the hair and slammed her against the wall of the room, only to fend her off again when she regained her footing.

She came at him teeth gnashing, fingernails turning into clawing daggers. He raised a foot and kicked her in the stomach, bending her over, then levered a sharp uppercut to her chin, sending her sprawling against the floor. She slid across the carpet and hit the wall with a loud thud, coming to rest in a heap.

Duella
halted his assault, aware that his worst nightmare had come true.
Drucella
had invaded his sanctuary and tried to kill him while he slept. He glanced down at his bleeding chest, then thought of Miriam. He whirled around, only to see Miriam in a pool of blood, her eyes wide and staring as she clutched the stake stabbing her chest. He roared his outrage and leapt to her savagely mutilated body. He grabbed the stake and pulled it free, tossing it across the room while his rage engulfed his senses.

Miriam sucked in a shallow breath, clutched her chest and stared at
Duella
with wild eyes.

He pressed his hand against her breast, stemming the flow of blood and lending his vampire skills of healing. Fury engulfed his big
body,
his fangs appeared as he snarled his rage, turning his red glowing gaze on
Drucella
as she lay limp and unconscious across the room.

Miriam clutched his hand, splayed her fingers across his and gasped in deep breaths, trying to survive as the flow of blood waned and the jagged hole in her chest began to mend. Slowly the frightened look in her eyes grew less until she managed to smile weakly at
Duella
.

He tried to control his rage while he held his hand against her chest. Fear of losing her congealed inside him, sending the rage he harbored toward
Drucella
magnifying. He stared across the room at the witch. He had underestimated her. She was not to be trusted under any circumstance. There was nothing she was not capable of. He gnashed his teeth, his rage coming to the fore again.

Unable to contain his urge to destroy the witch any longer, he pulled his hand from Miriam’s chest and crossed the bedroom in long angry strides. He grasped
Drucella
by the hair and raised her body into the air. Wrapping his hands around her throat, he sought to strangle her, applying as much pressure as his strength would allow.

The witch hung limply from his fist. The bones of her neck cracked and splintered, her head fell to one side.
Duella
threw her on the floor and stood glowering down at her. In his gut, he knew he hadn’t killed her—but he didn’t fully understand why he had failed. He thought again of his brother casting her into the fireplace and her ultimate coming back. He turned to check on Miriam.

Seated on the side of the bed, her gaze riveted to him, she smiled at his approach. She held out her arms.

 
He walked into her embrace.

 
She snuggled her cheek against his chest. “Thanks for coming to my rescue.”

He smoothed one hand across her hair. His anger was such that he didn’t trust himself to kiss her. He tightened his arms around her and held her close.

Drucella
roused behind him, shuffling her body around on the floor and getting to her feet. She vanished the moment he glanced at her, leaving the room with a foul smelling odor in her wake.

Duella
shook his head. “There has to be a way to destroy that bitch!”

Miriam soothed him, turning her head and kissing his naked chest. “The amulet you wear holds the secret of her existence. Unlock the mystery and she will bother us no longer, my love.” She pulled back and looked up at him. “I am only glad that you awakened before she drove the stake through your heart.” Tears filled her eyes instantly. “I couldn’t go on without you. I love you.”

He caressed her cheek. Her display of tenderness completely dispelled his body of rage. He drew in a long breath. “And I love you, too, Miriam.” He felt better for having uttered the words. Joy shown in Miriam’s eyes and he leaned down and kissed her softly.

“Come. We must feed. You lost a lot of blood.” Pain cut across his chest at his words. The sight of Miriam laying there, her blood pooling around her body, the gaping wound in her chest, the wooden stake protruding from her flesh—
It
was a horrible sight and one he wanted desperately to forget. He helped Miriam to the door of the bedroom.

 
She paused and placed one hand against his chest. “Promise me that you will be careful,
Duella
.”

He covered her hand with his.

She bit her lower lip, her eyes pleading.

He smiled down at her, grateful for her love.

Chapter Nineteen

Duella
sat on the park bench and held his head in his hands. Everywhere he turned he saw
Drucella
or one of her Gideon servants. He rubbed his eyes with one hand, aware that his imagination was playing tricks on him, but at a loss as to what to do about it.

He had kept the incidents from Miriam, reluctant to tell her for fear she would insist they return to the mansion and bar the doors. He chuckled slightly. If the situation weren’t so pathetic it would be laughable.
Vampire tormented by witch.
Who would believe that?

He raised his head and watched Miriam feed in the alley. She had taken two men into the darkness and, so far, she had drunk from one and lowered his body to the ground at her feet. He watched her grab the second and drag him into position so she could sink her fangs into his neck. He fought her only briefly before giving in.

 
Duella
combed one hand through his hair.
Drucella’s
attempt on their lives had unnerved him to the point that he worried she might return once he laid his head down again. He glanced at Miriam. If it weren’t for her, he would leave the area, business dealings or not. He recalled earlier thoughts of leaving her and changed his mind. Perhaps had he acted on his own advice, her life would not be in danger now.

Miriam is a pawn in
Drucella’s
deadly game.
He grimaced. He failed to understand the noncompliance of the amulet he wore. He couldn’t remove it yet he couldn’t communicate with it either.
What good is the damn thing?

Thoughts flashed in his mind—reminders of his new existence as a businessman in
New Orleans
and the mansion he currently resided in. He groaned. He knew the amulet had brought about his good fortune and perhaps Miriam as well. She was a good companion.
A willing sex partner.
Who would believe a vampire could have sex?

He rose to his feet. Miriam’s two victims emerged from the alley, wobbly on their feet, but moving on their own powers nonetheless. He watched her appear at the mouth of the alley, staring across the park in his direction. He smiled and started toward her. As he drew near, he felt her relief and joy at seeing him. He took her hand and they walked back into the dark alley. Once safely hidden in the darkness, they transformed and took to the air.

The darkness and the wind beneath his wings seemed to soothe him, relieving his mind of all the danger and mystery surrounding
Drucella
and her band of
Gideons
. He
rose
higher, sensing Miriam following his lead unquestioningly, riding the moist air currents over the city. The sky was inky with the threat of rain. Thick black clouds obscured the moon and the stars. He folded his wings and swooped toward the water at the edge of the city. He could see angry waves slamming against the shore, washing beyond the normal channel. A storm brewed.

“I sense your rage and discontent,
Duella
.” Miriam slid her hand into his as they chose a spot to sit near the encroaching water.

He felt immensely pleased at her words. He looked down at her. She was growing very dear to him. He caressed her cheek, skimming a fingertip lightly across the arc. He would never have believed he was capable of falling in love in his vampire state.

“It pleases me that you are so attuned to me, my dear.” He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers, igniting his senses with the thought of taking her there on the beach with the threat of a storm on the horizon. He raised one hand and cradled her left breast. Her nipple thrust against his palm.

Miriam laughed softly and covered his hand with hers. “Your thoughts of sex arouse me.” She reached a hand to his crotch and covered his cock.

“I would rather fuck you than feed when my blood lust is greatest.” He pushed her top off her shoulders, baring her breasts. With eager hands, he stroked her flesh, rolling her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers. A shuddering sigh left his throat as he lowered his hands to her hips.

Miriam sighed and released the snap on his jeans, then pushed them low on his hips. His cock sprang through the opening. She cradled it in her palm, drawing a shiver of arousal from him.

He lifted her skirt up around her waist,
then
slid his hand between her legs. She giggled and spread her legs, giving him consent to play with her pussy. He stroked her hair-roughened lips, delved a finger between them and found her clitoris.

She wiggled her hips at his first touch, pushed her crotch against his inquiring fingers.

He rubbed her sensitive nub with his fingers, making her moist and aroused. She closed her hand around his cock and began to move her fist up and
down,
setting a rhythm that soon enticed him to move his hips back and forth, pushing his cock against her clasped hand.

“Your cock feels good in my hand.”

“Your pussy is hot and inviting. I love to play with it.” He pulled her close, kissed her passionately,
then
lay her down on the wet sand where they stood. He rammed his cock inside her moist passage and began to thrust.

Miriam giggled and dug her nails into his buttocks. “You are very eager tonight.”

“I want you, Miriam. I want to give you pleasure with my body.” She hugged him close, kissing his cheek as he plunged his cock into her cave. The orgasm shook his insides, shot along his limbs like a hot bolt of lightning, filling his senses with exquisite sensations. He held Miriam tightly and savored every minute tingle the act brought about.

“You give…me much pleasure…
Duella
. I…am reaching my time.
Ooooh
! It…is wonderful!”

Duella
nuzzled her neck and kissed her mouth while she enjoyed her climax. When at last, she stilled, he rolled to his side and stared up at the black sky. The sound of the water came to his ears. Thoughts of
Drucella
filled his mind. He groaned and raised one hand to brush across his face.
Why must I be tormented with the witch and her strange army of beings?

The amulet rolled off his chest and plopped against the wet sand, drawing his attention.

 
He glanced down, amazed to see the amber gem clearly through the murky darkness. He picked it up and wiped the grainy sand from its faceted surface. He sat, realization coming to his mind. He stared at the gem,
then
rolled it around in his hand.

“What is it?” Miriam sat up at his side. “Did the amulet do something?”

He glanced at her, his brow furrowed. “Why would you ask such a thing?”

“It’s plain to me that the amulet is the cause of your problem with the witch. She claims it belongs to her, yet you refuse to give it to her.”

“I cannot remove it from my neck, Miriam. Even if I wanted to give it to her—I am unable to.”

“Then it’s obvious to me that the amulet wishes to remain with you.”

He considered her words for a moment. He held the jewel before her eyes. “It’s only a stone. It has no ability to choose who possesses it.”

She took hold of his shoulders. “It’s a mystery to you,
Duella
, so how can you be certain it’s only a stone?”

He released a long sigh. “Its power comes from the dark one.”

“It’s a bewitching stone. I have heard of such things. The dark one bestows the object to someone of his choosing,
then
manifests its powers. You have but to make a request and the stone will fulfill your wish.”

He shook his head. “That doesn’t seem to be the case with this amulet.” He proceeded to tell her how he had taken the amulet off the witch’s neck and placed it on his own immediately after he took her life. Even in the inky blackness, he could see the shock and dismay on her face. “That was many centuries ago. The coven was destroyed, the witches cast into the fire.”

“Yet
Drucella
lives today.”

“Yes. She is more than a mere witch. She is a Gideon—an evil spirit that can only be destroyed in a single manner. And I don’t know what that manner is.”

Miriam caressed his cheek. “The amulet is a weapon of destruction,
Duella
.” She got to her feet and gathered her clothes from the sand. She shook out each item and dressed. “The sex brought back my appetite. I’m going to grab a bite.”

Duella
sat in the sand and watched her back as she walked toward one of the few remaining beach houses along the shoreline. The amulet lay in his palm. He brought his gaze back to it, his mind trying to understand Miriam’s comments. He rose and pulled on his clothes. He had gotten so caught up in thoughts about the stone that he had let Miriam leave his sight. He had forgotten his promise to keep her close by his side.

He hurried from the edge of the water, catching sight of Miriam as she entered a house through a glass door facing the water. He approached the house and stood near the door, seeing Miriam inside. She approached a figure sleeping in a wide bed and leaned over the form, feeding. He watched and waited, aware that she was still feeling the effects of the stake
Drucella
had driven through her heart. Her blood loss had been great. He had almost lost her. He gritted his teeth.

Why can’t I figure out the secret of the amulet and destroy that fucking witch?
He grasped the amulet in his fist and yanked it from his neck.

Startled that the talisman was dangling loosely in his grasp, he stared at it gleaming brightly on the end of its chain. It swung erratically before his eyes. He stared at it and considered his feelings at having successfully removed it from his neck. He couldn’t say that he felt any different, any less immortal than he was, or any less worried that
Drucella
was out to end his existence. He ran one hand through his hair.

“Let’s go back to the mansion and—” Miriam paused her words when she saw the amulet swinging from his hand. She swiped a forearm across her lips, wiping away the smears of fresh blood. “You took the amulet from around your neck?”

He nodded, his thought consumed with her earlier words.

The amulet is a weapon.

He closed his fist on the gem. “I have a date with the witch.” He kissed Miriam on the lips. “Return to the mansion. I’ll be along shortly.”

She caught at his sleeve as he started to take to the air. “I’m coming with you.”