Page 68 of The Vampire’s Prey

I spin out onto the road and speed towards Adrian's house. The whole time, I'm praying that I get there in time. My pulse thunders in my ears. I'm going as fast as I can without going so far over the speed limit that I alert the cops, but it still doesn't feel fast enough. As usual, when you're either late or in a hurry, all the slow cars manage to be in front of you. Frustration keeps building as I dodge one car and then the next. It's a good thing I'm driving alone, my language would make a sailor blush.

14

Evangeline

I approach and park a small bit away, so I don't alert Simon, just in case he couldn't get in and is circling the property, looking for a weak point. Grabbing my stuff from the back, I gear up and trudge up towards Adrian's house. My heart sinks as I walk closer to the mansion entrance. As I reach the gate, it sits ajar: not all the way open, but more than halfway. That's definitely not right.

If I remember correctly, Simon always excelled at computers and technical stuff, that's why he was always an asset on the mission. Walking up to the door, it is still open a crack. Thank goodness. Simon must either be setting a trap for me, or so far in his head about Adrian, he is rushing. It's not like him to be this careless.

Slipping off my shoes, I lay them next to Adrian's, and a lump lodges in my throat. Just that sight brings back the warm, fuzzy feelings I have for him. Am I too late? Can this be salvaged? I start to walk away when I spot a pair of Mary Janes further over on the floor. They could only belong to Marion. Dear God! What has Simon done to her? My mouth goes dry as I ease my way from the foyer and into the kitchen. Nothing. The only sound is a muffled banging ringing out from a far hallway. Making my way closer, I slide my back against the walls and peer around corners.

Simon's face is beet red as he punches and prods at a door. I recognize that door. It's Adrian's! At least, that's the room we—. I turn off that avenue of thinking. I need all my wits about me right now. Good news is, if he's still working on that door, then Adrian is still safe. We just have to hold out a little longer until sundown.

That still doesn't tell me where Marion is. Slipping back, I retrace my steps until I'm back in the kitchen. Think. Where would I stash someone? I mentally roll my eyes. I would never actually stoop to something so crazy. I start to walk out of the kitchen when a bump makes me freeze. Easing around, I lay my hand on a stake, fully prepared to face off with Simon again. When I turn, no one is there.

Closing my eyes, I listen to the noises. Simon is still fuming and banging away at the door, so it can't be him. Then, I hear it again. The softest thump. I scan the area until I remember the hidden pantry. Reaching out, I push in and wait for the hydraulics to open the panel. There is Marion, her hair is a rumpled mess, and streaks of mascara line her face. Other than that, she seems unharmed. Leaning over, I lay my finger against my lips, and she nods, her eyes wide with fear. She keeps looking all around the room, wild-eyed. Bending down, I ignore my screaming muscles and untie her as quickly as I can. Thankfully, Simon isn't a wizard with rope. His knots are crude and hurried. Smoothing down her hair, I run over a small bump on the side of Marion's head. I wince for her and nod sympathetically. I help her up and give her a tight hug.

Still silent, I motion for her to leave. She pulls out her phone and mimics dialing 911. Frantic, I shake my head and shoo her towards the entrance. Once she's safely gone, I start my plan to draw Simon away from the door. Though Adrian is strong and capable, he might not stand a chance if he's being ambushed. Reaching for my phone, I send him a quick text. I have no idea if he's going to get it or not. So far, all my intel on vampires is wrong.

For all I know, he could be sitting in the dark room, watching rom-coms and drinking a Bloody Mary. The notification shows that his phone received it, but that's it. Waiting a few more moments, I will the notification to turn to where he's actually seeing it. No such luck.

I take a deep breath and bellow out Simon's name. The thunks stop, and I hear a barrage of curse words filtering out from the hallway. I have his attention. Within moments, his frame fills the door, and my heart fills with dread. I don't have to win. I just have to hold him off until Adrian can get out of the room. I'm praying he doesn't decide to be petty and just ignore my message. I know I was wrong, but I'm trying now. I hope that counts for something. Simon stalks towards me, a murderous glare in his eyes.

"I guess I need to use handcuffs instead of rope, don’t I?"

He shifts the hammer around in his hand, so the blunt end faces towards me. I gulp. Hopefully this isn't the hill I die on. But if it is, as long as Adrian is safe, I don't care. As he comes closer, I dodge out of his reach. I can tell I'm not at my full capacity, but adrenaline is my friend. It's the only thing keeping me upright at the moment. He bobs back and forth, trying to fake me out, but I do my best to keep up with his movements.

"Don't tell me you're here to watch him die. That's so sweet!"

"He's not going to die, not by your hands."

"Oh, so you're going to kill him? Somehow I don't believe that.” Sneering, he lunges for me and misses.

It's a close call though. Too close. My legs and arms feel like heavy weights as I move them around. How much longer until sunset? Two minutes? Twenty? I don't dare take my eyes off Simon long enough to check. However, the prickling in my neck tells me it's soon. I can almost feel Adrian stirring. An unspoken rage seethes inside the entire house. Just a little bit longer. I can do this.

His eyes keep darting back towards the hallway, and that's when I know I have him. I wait for his focus to shift, and I lower my center of gravity before barreling into his abdomen. His oof of discomfort balms my ego, and I keep running with him until his back slams into the oven. His eyes bulge out with the pain, and his hammer clatters to the floor. The once pristine tile shows cracks and exploded bits from where the hammer takes its trek across the floor.

Simon bellows his anger as his arms try to intertwine around mine, but I'm not having it. Not anymore. Sweat pours down my back as I tussle and wrestle with Simon. He certainly outweighs me, but I have an advantage with my agility. Like an eel, I twist and turn, not letting him get a hold of me. I made that mistake once before. With Adrian’s life on the line, I can’t let him win. Maybe this will be the way I can atone. Just fight him long enough for Adrian to wake up. I will fight my brother, this monster, with every ounce of my power. Even if I die, I will die doing the right thing.

Everything in me hurts, but adrenaline pours through my body, keeping me upright and moving. Gotta keep moving. I won’t let myself stop. I ignore the burn and protestation of my muscles and focus just on Adrian. Only Adrian. Silently, I send up every prayer I can that Adrian wakes up soon. Simon wraps his hands around my waist and chuckles in my ear. On instinct, I slam my elbow backwards into his abdomen, giving me just enough space to whirl around and bring my knee up into his groin. He crumples to the ground with vile shouts of pain and retribution.

Anger takes over my body, and it's my turn to straddle his hips. How dare he think he can touch me like that, treat me like that, and get away with it. My love for Adrian and sorrow for Barbara flow through me, filling me up. Power flows through me as I look down at the man beneath me. My fisted fingers crunch through bone as I bring it hard into his cheek. Pain blossoms through my knuckles, but the satisfying crunch overrides the pain.

"How dare you lay your hands on me, you filthy scum," punch. "My body is not yours to touch ever!" Punch.

Simon howls in pain and brings his arms up to block any more blows. Grabbing each wrist in a hand, I bring them back down to the floor and pin him there.

"You seriously thought you were going to rape me and get away with it?"

Chuckling, he spits out some blood from his mouth. "Whores like you are always asking for it anyway. I would have had you wet and begging for me, just like you do that monster."

Screaming, I let go of one of his wrists to punch him again, but my hand is stopped by another. Adrian, my brain breathes. I can see by the widening of Simon's eyes that I'm correct. I allow the gentle force to lift me off of Simon. Turning, I look at Adrian, but he isn’t looking at me. His beautiful lips are twisted into an angry sneer as he looks down on Simon. Moving me behind him, he reaches down and grabs Simon by the throat and hauls him to his feet.

"You fucking dared to lay a hand on her?" Without turning around, Adrian speaks to me. "What all did he do to you?"

Looking down, his eyes roam over my body, his lips twisting at sneering at each bruise, each abrasion, each mark on my body until he looks down at my wrists. The blood is dry now, but the rope burns are stark against my pale skin. Adrian’s nostrils flare as he takes in my injuries before he tightens his fingers around Simon's throat. Within moments, Simon’s eyes begin to droop, and his body starts to go slack.

"Adrian, please don't do this.” My palm feels feverish against Adrian's cool skin.