Love Bites

First Blood

Cal was pacing again, watching the clock crawl excruciatingly slowly towards 11pm. He knew that he needed to be prepared for anything, after all, Marcus was a master manipulator – he learnt it from the best, a voice echoed in his head – but try as he might, he could think of nothing more than having Tasha back in his arms, and not how he was going to achieve it.

"We need a plan." Cassie said.

"I know."

"Listen, Cal." Cassie tried again, but he continued to pace. "Cal!"

"What?"

"We need a plan."

He stopped in his tracks, "I just agreed with you," he snapped. He felt impotent, and he really hated feeling so God damn useless. Cassie watched him with cautionary eyes. "I'm thinking, Cass. First thing we need to do is get past Masterson's lot." He gestured towards the front door.

"Masterson's lot?" Cassie's brow knitted together.

"There's at least four of his vamps watching the house." Cal huffed making his way to the window. "If we leave, they will follow, and we'll lead them straight to Tasha."

"That's if Marcus isn't paying you too." Cassie muttered, not intending for Cal to hear.

"Cassandra, you could whisper that in the next town over and I'd hear you." Cal said, not even turning to look at her. She grimaced. "Don't you think I've already considered that? Of course I have. I know Marcus. But we haven't got any other choice."

"Well, if it's a stealth get away, you're after, I have just the thing," Cassie told him.

By the time they entered the forest it was getting close to 11pm. Cassie had got them out of the house unnoticed, and she and Cal had made several detours before heading here to ensure they weren't being followed.

Mast Manor stood watching them arrive, the vibe so very different than it had been on all previous visits. Cassie's heart was beating so fast, and Cal was doing his best to ignore it as it didn't nothing to soothe his own frayed nerves. As they walked up the stone steps Cal let himself hope for a moment and reached out mentally for Tasha. Hoping that at least her consciousness would appear to him. What he was met with confused him and did nothing to allay his fears.

"You never could wait." Marcus's voice sounded in his mind. "Tut tut, Cal. Come now. Don't ruin the surprise."

Marcus stood in the doorway of the room where they'd played all their games and Cal fought the urge to roll his eyes.

"A little cliched don't you think?" Cal snarled.

"Perhaps but fitting nonetheless." Marcus turned and walked into the room. "This way, please."

Like dutiful servants Cassandra and Cal followed Marcus inside and took the proffered seats at the far side. Cassie had watched these men sit in these very seats and do some heinous, vile things. She hadn't for one moment considered the possibility that one day she would be sat by their side, and calling, at least one of them, friend.

Marcus stood before them smiling. A look that Cal wanted to rip off his face.

"Thank you for coming, I knew that you wouldn't disappoint me." He smiled pointedly at Cal.

"Just get on with it, Marcus. We don't want to be here just as much as you don't want us here. Where's Tasha?"

"Oh contraire," Marcus said, "I love being surrounded by friends, don't you?" He clapped his hands and footsteps sounded from behind them.

Cal spun round and swallowed hard as a parade of people all bound by the wrists with thick, knotted rope which circled their waists, and linked them to the person behind them, shuffled in. "What the fuck, Marcus?" Cal growled as the human daisy chain stopped in the middle of the room.