Dancing with the Devil

Chapter 10

100 years ago

Kinn is clutching the letter tightly in his fist. His father had given it to him earlier along with the doubts that Korn has about Tawan and Vegas. He pointed out that Vegas had been with Kinn the night he had found Tawan, and how his cousin had probably manipulated Kinn into choosing that house.

Kinn immediately confronts Tawan as soon as the other vampire walks into their room. He shows him the letter and asks if he has been using him from the beginning.

Tawan shrugs upon hearing the accusations, “So what if I have been. You were more than willing to be deceived by me. I almost think you like it.” His tone is cruel, intentionally cutting Kinn with his words.

“Who put you up to this? Was it Vegas?” Kinn asks.

Tawan laughs, “Of course, who else could it have been? Vegas has always hated you and your family.”

Kinn hadn’t wanted to believe it when his father had told him that Tawan had betrayed them, and that it was Vegas’s doing. He’s not sure which betrayal hurts worse.

Kinn reaches out a finger and strokes the silver necklace he had given Tawan. The T with its precious blue diamond. “Did you ever love me?”

Tawan's face grows cold, and he says, “It was all an act.”

Kinn growls and launches himself at Tawan. He doesn’t intend to hurt him, even now he can’t bring himself to do that. He only wants to wipe the cold expression off his face.

Kinn stops when a sudden pain shoots through his heart. He grabs his chest and falls to his knees. It’s like no pain he has ever experienced in his life, he thinks his heart might explode in his chest. He gives Tawan a pleading look. The other vampire just looks at him with grim satisfaction. He turns and flees, he is long gone by the time the guards discover Kinn laying there, unconscious.

It takes Kinn’s body weeks to recover. When he does, everyone around him notices he has changed. Where before he was compassionate and kind hearted, now he is cold and reserved. He is ruthlessly calculating whether it’s taking out their enemies, hunting, or taking a lover.

Vegas claims to not have any knowledge of Tawan’s plans, but Kinn doesn’t believe him. The minor family, as it has come to be called, is banished from the main house and treated with suspicion from then on.

Modern Day

Porsche can feel Kinn’s hand in his, but he doesn't dare stop running long enough to even look at his mate. He knows they are lost, the forest around them is completely unfamiliar. They can’t stop running, the beast is right behind them, if it catches up with them it will rip them to shreds. This time Porsche knows the name of the beast chasing them. Its name is Korn.

As before, the dream morphs into something clearer and easier to understand its meaning. They are in the family meeting room surrounded by bodies. Only he and Kinn are left standing and Kinn is wounded, losing blood fast. Many of Kinns guards are slumped to the floor dead. Vegas is sitting against the wall, already mortally wounded. He has Pete's body in his lap stroking the smaller vampire’s head tenderly with what appears to be the last of his strength. There is a man next to Porsche who puts his hand on his shoulder and instructs him to stand quietly. Porsche wants to scream out that he won’t, that he will rip them all apart then join his mate. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t move or speak. Korn is watching the whole scene with a look of triumph.

Porsche wakes with a start. Kinn is still sleeping, so he must not have called out in his dream this time. He reaches over and shakes his mate awake.

“Kinn, will you take me out to hunt?” He asks.