"Call Master Stephen," I spoke out, commanding my car to make the call as I drove.
The sound of the phone ringing filled my car speakers, when an out of breath voice answered, "Yes."
"Master Stephen, forgive the interruption. I was wondering if you had a few moments to speak," I said.
"Benny, my boy. Semais and I were just having a bit of fun. I would have thought you would be having fun at the club tonight," he replied.
Semais was a wolf shifter and Master Stephen's beloved. I could only imagine what sort of fun they were having.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. You see—" I paused, not sure how to proceed.
"Yes?" Master Stephen prompted after my long pause.
"It doesn't hold appeal for me. I mean, I’m hungry and I want to feed, but feeding from a body and having sex isn't as attractive as it once was. I’ve been feeding from a bag, master. I don't know what is wrong with me." I let it all tumble out of my mouth in a rush.
There was no response, and for a moment; I thought we were disconnected, but then the master's voice came through. "I have heard of this happening before but thought it a myth."
"A myth? What myth?" I asked, desperate to know what it could be.
"A vampire can sometimes sense when they will meet their beloved, and the vampire will stop feeding like normal," heresponded. "I thought it a myth, as it did not happen to me that way."
I scoffed, "You really think my body is telling me I’m about to meet my beloved? I don't know about that."
"I wouldn't scoff. Everyone is different. Fate is different. She works differently for everyone. I told you only what I have heard based on what you said. Are you getting enough blood? How is your strength?" he asked with worry in his voice.
"I’m strong enough. Just getting frustrated at myself," I sighed. Maybe I shouldn't have told Master Stephen. I knew it would concern him. "I have to go. I’ll talk to you more when I get back to the coven house."
"Benny, make sure you come see me. We’ll figure things out," he said.
"I will. Have a good evening," I said, disconnecting the line. Somehow, the conversation made me feel worse. I pressed the button on my steering wheel and soon the sounds of Beethoven filled the car. I slowly felt my muscles unwind, the music soothing my soul. Inhaling and exhaling slowly, I found my center. That was what I needed. I had a job to do and should focus on that.
I pulled up at the address and got out of my car. The night had grown colder, and there was a scent of rain in the air.I hope this doesn't take long, I thought as I shivered.
This was the edge of Walden, and there were several abandoned buildings and trash littered on the ground. I walked toward the address. As I neared the building, the wind shifted, and I caught the scent of something or someone that did not belong. I walked toward the alleyway, following my nose.
Without warning, I was pushed forward toward the wall of the building. I braced my arms out to stop from fully slamming into the wall. I turned to look and saw an enormous creature with big wings—a gargoyle. He was at least seven feet tall with reddish-orange skin, white hair, and black horns. Gargoyles normally stayed close to their clutches, as they were stone during the day and beasts at night. Humans would freak if they saw one, so they stayed close together for protection. As far as I knew, they could take human form only after they met and bonded with their mate.
In his hand he held a dagger. The blade was curved and reddish in color, as if blood coated it. He let loose a growl and charged me.
"I knew they would send someone. I just had to wait," he said as he swung the blade toward my neck.
I blocked his attack and grappled with him. In the distance, I heard footsteps, and I hoped it was the sentries; this fucker was strong. My head collided with the wall as the gargoyle continued to attack. I could feel the weight of his body pinning me between him and the building.
I struggled to breathe as his elbow slammed into my ribs, knocking the air from my lungs and breaking my grip. That was the opening he needed. He broke free from my grasp and plunged the blade into my stomach. I felt a burning fire and a pain I had never experienced before. I cried out. It was as if my insides had turned to flame and liquid lava. The weight that was holding me disappeared. I looked up at the gargoyle as I slid down the wall.
"Your friends are too late, bloodsucker. You'll be dead before long and no one will know it was me," he said, smiling a sinister smile.
He jumped into the air and vanished into the night. The skies opened, and rain poured down. But even the icy rain on my body did not ease the burning of my blood within me. I tried to call out to anyone who could hear me. I didn't have the strength; all I could do was writhe in agony.
"Ben! Hold on!" a voice exclaimed as darkness overtook me.
Dragons Return
Krispin
Myeyesadjustedslowlyto the dim light in the hotel lobby. Cameron and Jackson stood on either side of me, and I was grateful for their presence. Only a fool walked into a vampire coven without at least a sliver of trepidation, even if we were there to help them.
A gargoyle had injured one of their number and was not healing, no matter how much blood he had been given. That's where Cameron and I came into play. As the paranormal community's leading toxicologists, we had been asked to evaluate what could be causing the vampire not to heal.
