Outcast, page 2
They shouted in buzzed shock at his sudden appearance.
The one still holding the chainsaw pointed it his way. “Hey, what’s your problem, man? This ain’t any of your business.” His slurred speech disgusted Leif.
Control yourself, Leif, Gemma cautioned.
“You just made it my business,” Leif said through bared teeth. He could smell the inebriated man’s blood pulsing, calling to him. The alcohol content it contained would do nothing to Leif. His body would filter it out. He’d tried to drown his sorrows before with it, but whatever effect it should have had went right through him.
“In case you haven’t noticed, there are four of us,” the man said confidently, turning his baseball hat backwards. “And I’m the one with the saw. Looks like you’ve got nothing, so why don’t you run back to whatever hole you crawled from, albino.”
That did it. Leif still had a respect for people, despite his need for human blood. This guy had just defaced the forest for enjoyment, and now he was throwing discriminatory lingo about. On top of it all, Leif felt his thirst overpowering him.
His muscles were taut, and as they released, he lunged at the man with the chainsaw, knocking it harmlessly out of his hands. Its plastic gas tank cracked against the rock, bleeding out fuel. The fumes bothered Leif, but didn’t slow him down. He flung the man’s arm behind him, forcing him to turn out and cry out in pain.
“Whoa, hey stop it man!” one of the other vandals said, holding up a lazy hand. “He was just messing with you.”
“Yeah?” Leif replied through gritted teeth, whipping his soaked hair away from his eyes. “And I’m just messing with him.”
Through sloppy, slow movements, Leif saw one of the boozers pull a pistol from his back pocket and fumble it with drunken hands.
A bullet wouldn’t kill him — unless it was made out of copper — but it would sure hurt, and he’d have to spend time digging the blasted thing from whatever wound it gave him.
Throwing the chainsaw man to the ground, he was in the pistol-wielder’s face a moment later. Leif tore the gun away, not even batting an eye as the man screamed in pain as his fingers held within the trigger loop snapped. The pistol dropped into a puddle below.
The stench of alcohol on his breath filled Leif’s nose. His grip was hard on the shaking man. Whether or not the gunman was shaking from fear, Leif didn’t know, for he found himself shaking with thirst. Forcing away the urge to sink his teeth into the exposed neck of this young man, he said, “You and your buddies get out of here,” Leif said. “Before I decide to empty your bodies of blood.”
The other two surrounding the truck ran to the cabin, hopping inside the seats and slamming the doors shut. The engine roared as the ignition turned, and Leif picked up the gunman with one hand, then threw him into the bed of the truck.
“Stay away from my forest,” Leif said, then slammed the cases of beer off the endgate, causing their glass to break, spewing their liquid contents onto the muddy dirt road.
Several curses came from the gunman, but he was soon muted by peeling-out tires of the small truck that kicked up mud and threw it every which-way. Leif looked on as it sped away.
Turning about, he found the young man who was left behind tinkering with the chainsaw, hopelessly trying to start it. The crack had emptied the tool-weapon of its gasoline, so his efforts were useless.
“They left me!” he cried out. “Those good for nothing…”
Leif, please! Control yourself. You know it hurts me to see you lose control!
“I do not want to control myself, Gemma!” he yelled at the voice inside his head, unable to keep the anger away. Didn’t she know he’d already lost control?
“What are you talking about, man?” the young man asked, confused fear twinkling in his eyes.
“Shut your mouth!” Leif roared, leaping onto the remaining young man. Something beyond adrenaline was fueling him, causing his craze to peak. “I’ll see to it that your worthless hands never hurt another living thing again.”
The terror in the young man’s eyes meant nothing to Leif. Not now. His prey was only now realizing that the predator had won.
Leif tore away the man’s plaid shirt collar, exposing the soft flesh of his neck. He could smell the rapid pumping of blood as the man’s heart rate accelerated. It was invigorating, the response to danger.
“What are you doing, man?” he cried out, wriggling as he tried to free himself.
But it was over.
Without hesitation, Leif lunged with his fangs, flavor instantly erupting as his teeth pierced skin.
The young man screamed, his futile throws lessening in strength as he resigned himself to defeat.
Leif kept his eyes closed as he quenched his fiery thirst, keeping the man from moving too much. He’d done this enough to know where the best place to bite was.
A shot rang out — not a shot, but a boom, causing Leif to release his glorious hold and look about. Something slammed into him, sending him to the ground as he writhed in agony. It was as if hundreds of flaming blades were digging into his body, lacerating and burning all around him. In a panic, he realized he was no longer the predator.
Surrounding him was a net of laced copper, scorching his skin.
He spasmed on the forest floor, staring at the dead tree and wishing his end would come just as swiftly so he didn’t have to feel the torturous metal burn through him anymore.
Footsteps approached nearby, but painful tears kept him from seeing his attacker clearly.
“You was right, Susannah,” a deep, raspy voice said. “There was a vamp hiding in these here woods. This one was hungry enough to come out in the middle of the day, too.”
“Let’s take him back to the lodge, George,” a smooth-voiced female said through the pitter-pattering rain. She sounded young. He felt her crouch next to his struggling body. “The other hunters will be shocked with this one. I’ve been hunting him for years.”
All this time Leif had been able to stay off the grid. No shifter, vampire, or hunter had ever come across him since he ran away from the Frost’s home. And his laziness and stupidity had finally gotten the better of him.
I warned you, Leif.
Tears formed in his eyes. Perhaps they’d already been there, caused by the physical pain he was enduring. But the twinge of Gemma’s words brought them to his attention.
“I’m sorry,” he sobbed.
The stinging copper netting quickly chipped away at his strength. Leif felt his head swimming, until stars filled at the edges of his vision. And then those stars blinked out, along with his consciousness.
CHAPTER TWO
TORRENTS OF RAIN poured along the cobblestone path. Nearby, the metal rings holding a wooden sign creaked as it slowly swayed. In glossy, wet letters, it read Frost Boarding House.
“Home used to seem a lot more welcoming,” Leif mumbled as he stepped up the stairs and onto the porch.
He wiped at his mouth with his sleeve, just to make sure there wasn’t any blood clinging to his lips from drinking from his last victim, then pushed open the heavy door. Leif did so with ease, and thankfully, no creaking.
Lubricating the hinges had come from Gemma’s wonderful foresight. Leif’s first urges had struck him soon after he’d revealed the truth of his transformation to her. She knew he would need to leave the house in the evening to satisfy these urges. That had been two days ago. He found he needed to go out multiple times each night to feed. The urges came on swiftly and unexpectedly.
And Leif abhorred them.
“Bless you, Gemma,” he whispered as he wiped off his boots and stepped into the boarding house.
Small candlelight created bouncing shadows along the walls of the entryway, causing Leif to cover his eyes with his hands. He stifled a pained grunt: sudden light hurt so terribly bad.
“Leif?”
“Gemma?” He was relieved it was her, and not one of the other residents of the boarding house. “You should be in bed.”
She covered the flickering flame so it no longer directly pierced his eyes. Gemma must have seen his discomfort.
“I could not sleep, Leif. Not with you out there on your own.”
He was grateful to her for her concern, but felt embarrassed.
“We should move upstairs,” Leif whispered. “I would hate to wake the Frost family at this hour.”
The Frosts kept their living quarters downstairs away from the rest of the boarding house residents. They were literally right around the corner.
Nodding, Gemma bent over and picked up a dark piece of fabric off the ground.
“I brought you a blanket, in case you were cold upon your return.”
“I feel no coldness,” he said, “but I am as wet as a selkie in the Columbia River. Do you mind if I use it as a towel?”
She giggled softly, then handed him the blanket.
He wrapped it over his shoulders, then planted a kiss on her soft, warm cheek.
“Thank you, my love,” he said. “Come, let us head upstairs. We must be as quiet as ghosts, for if Mr. Quinn or Miss Dracul catch me up this late, my condition might be revealed to them. And I would hate to be chased away like Mr. Quinn did to Beatrice.”
He’d heard that the same night Beatrice had returned, Evandrus had discovered a vampire on the property and chased it away. Leif knew exactly who that vampire was. He’d have to avoid Evandrus and Aline as best he could, for if his new nature was discovered…
Gemma held out her arm expectantly, and Leif took it, although his shirt was still wet. It didn’t seem to bother her.
Together they moved through the library, tiptoeing in an effort not to step one of the louder, creaking planks. The smell of bonded leather and paper filled his nose — his senses had increased so much since becoming a vampire. But that smell soon changed as they moved into the dining room.
Leif gagged.
“Are you alright?” Gemma asked, instinctively bringing the candle up to his face to see him better. The brightness made him cringe once again.
“Yes, yes,” he replied as he squinted. “I am… still getting used to these enhanced senses. I remember well when the smell of potatoes and pork roast would have drawn me right out of my room in a hurry. But that cooked, lingering scent… it is difficult to endure now.”
They pressed on, past the grand staircase on the right side. There was no sense in using it when the back staircase would dump them right in front of his quarters. His room was fortunately away from the other residents, and although it was the smallest living space, he was grateful for it.
Leif was certain every stair they tiptoed up creaked so loudly, but Gemma reassured him that they were fine.
In no time, they cleared the stairs and crossed the hallway into his quarters. This was also a dangerous move: Frost Boarding House rules prohibited coeds to be in the same living quarters by themselves this late at night. If they got caught, they could both face eviction.
“I appreciate you escorting me, Gemma,” Leif said quietly. But it would be wise for you to return to your quarters.”
She nodded quickly, and Leif didn’t need the candlelight to see that she had no intentions of leaving.
“You cannot keep going like this, Leif,” she said. “The Frosts will discover your secret. You have already neglected your duties in the orchard for the past two days. Camilla has taken it upon herself to do her best amidst the trees, but they will be raising difficult questions soon.”
“What has my sister done with my orchard?” Leif gasped.
“That is the least of your worries,” Gemma said. “There are humans living here in the house, which makes you a serious threat. If Evandrus or Aline find out about your… nature, it could put you in danger.”
Leif nodded. “I know this. But I do not know what to do. I do not wish to leave, though that would be the wisest choice. Gemma — I cannot bear to leave you.”
Gemma hesitated a moment or two before saying, “I do not believe you have to.”
“What are you implying?” Leif asked, wondering at her cryptic statement.
“I believe I can figure out a solution that would at the very least allow you to work in the orchard again. But it would only result in you needing to continue hiding the fact that you are a vampire.”
He studied her beautiful face. “In broad daylight?”
She nodded. “You seemed more ill this morning, but when I came to check on you, I saw that you’d escaped from your window. I only assumed what you were up to.”
He looked away, feeling ashamed, knowing that she was dancing around the topic of his new eating — no, drinking habits.
“This was the reason I waited up for you at the entryway. I will explain it to you, but first I must return to my quarters to obtain something. I will be back momentarily.”
Leif was confused, but nodded. “I will take the opportunity to change into some dry clothing.”
An excitement was about Gemma as she quietly opened the door and sneaked from his quarters. She closed the door behind her. Leif was impressed that he couldn’t hear her light footfalls, even with his enhanced hearing.
The now-soaked blanket around his shoulders slipped to the hardwood floor, and he proceeded to remove his clothing. Reaching for the dresser drawers, he pulled out a dry, clean set of clothing and quickly got them on just before the door opened again.
Gemma reentered the room with shrinking candle in one hand, the other cradling a heavy tome against her chest.
“A book?” Leif said dubiously.
She placed the candle on his end table near his bed and he went to shut the door.
“It is my family’s grimoire,” she said.
“A grimoire?” he asked in confusion.
“A book of selkie spells and enchantments that have been passed down for many generations. It is a family treasure.”
Leif knew that like all selkies, Gemma had magical abilities, but to him, she was enchanting enough without her magic.
“How can this book of magic help my situation?” he asked. “Surely it would not contain a spell to help a vampire in any way.”
“For the past two days I have poured over page after page,” said Gemma. “I have been desperate to find anything that could help you. I first looked for something that could reverse your transformation, but I doubt such magic exists. And if it does, it would take a power I do not think I have.”
“I appreciate your desire to help me, Gemma,” Leif said. “What good will this grimoire do us?”
“Between my teaching here at the house and helping with meals, I have not had time to look through it for possible spells that could help. But maybe if we studied it together, we could find something that would enable you to withstand being out in the sun.”
“A shielding enchantment of sorts?” Leif asked.
Gemma nodded eagerly. She opened the thick book to one of the heavy pages that held diagrams and notes in a language Leif did not understand.
“I have only seen you use your magic a few times,” Leif said. “How confident are you in using your abilities to help me?”
Determination danced across her face in the candlelight. “I would perform such a spell even if it meant it would kill me.”
His love for her multiplied infinitely. “Oh, Gemma, I would never ask that of you.” He placed his hand on her soft, warm cheek. “I love you dearly, Gemma MacLugh.”
She smiled, even at the touch of his cold hand upon her face. “I love you, too.”
The memory fizzled away like rising steam in the air and Leif’s eyes snapped open.
“Some level of pain might be felt.”
He recognized the voice immediately. It was the hunter from the woods. Susannah was her name.
Leif found himself lying on hard cement — but how could that be? For one hundred years he’d never slept. The copper netting must have weakened him until he lost consciousness.
Leif took in his surroundings. He was in a warehouse of some sort, the lights graciously low. Surrounding him in a perfect cube was a metal cage.
He swiftly got to his feet.
“Ah, it seems our guest has awoken,” Susannah said, stepping closer to the cage. Her partner, George, was nearby, cleaning a hand cannon. It was large — probably the instrument used to ensnare him with the copper netting.
And then his thirst roared within him, causing him to leap at his prison bars. He’d tear them open as if they were made of cardboard.
Except he couldn’t. As soon as his fingers interlocked around the thin bars, shooting pain shocked through his body, threatening to throw him back into unconsciousness. Leif grunted as he stumbled back to the concrete floor, somehow managing to release his hold.
Susannah kicked the bars closest to her. “Reinforced copper. Designed specifically for vamps like you.” She took her sunglasses off, revealing dark, hardened eyes. She’d obviously seen her share of sun: the tan lines on her face made it seem like she’d replaced her dark glasses with light ones.
“Let me out of here,” Leif growled.
George laughed heartily, as if Leif had told a bad redneck joke.
“And why would I do that, my friend?” she asked, crouching down and matching the level of his eyes. Susannah was wearing dingy, camouflage pants and a tan button up with the sleeves cut off, revealing her wiry arms. His eyes were drawn to a tattoo on the back of her right hand. Five dark dots circled what looked to be a small sword or knife. A quick glance at George’s hand and he saw the same symbol. For a moment, he wondered at its significance, but shrugged it off. The pumping of blood from both of them sounded like drums, and he licked his lips.
Leif breathed heavily, glaring at her with hatred. “I’m so thirsty.”
She chuckled softly. “Of course you are. You did quite a number on that young man back in the woods. Not enough to kill him, of course, but enough to keep him from thinking about chopping down more trees any time soon.”
Whatever he had been able to drink from that man, it hadn’t been enough. Just like the blood bag he’d drained back in his cabin.
