Sacrifice (Book 2)

Chapter 26 - Unintended Consequences

Ethan was lying in bed next to Mariposa trying to figure out how to tell her how he felt. He wanted her to know he cared, that he hadn't kept her close just because Madison asked. Having her around had changed his whole outlook on life. He looked forward to the sun setting each day and her smiling face. After being around Mariposa, he didn't want to imagine what it would be like without her.

He never imagined he could fall so hard so fast. In the 125 years he'd lived, there'd never been another woman he'd cared as much about. He wanted to show Mariposa that all men weren't beasts, that some could put a woman's needs before their own. He wanted to take her into his arms and make love to her the way she deserved.

He heard the garage door open and kissed Mariposa's forehead, then slipped out from inside her tent. He'd been waiting for Cole. The two of them needed to discuss what he'd learned from Ren and come up with a plan. He headed to the kitchen for a quick snack while Cole parked the car.

Taking his time, he pulled a mug out of the cupboard and blood from the freezer and prepared his meal. He had just finished drinking it when he heard a sound from the garage. An uneasy feeling came over Ethan. Cole should have buzzed in minutes ago. Shįt, this wasn't right. Taking the stairs two at a time, he raced to the garage. Punching the security code into the keypad, he pulled the reinforced door open.

Cole was on the ground bathed in blood. Ren sat astride him tearing at his neck. Ethan pulled the ax off the wall. When Ren raised his head and turned to see who was behind him, Ethan didn't hesitate. He swung the ax and in one clean sweep severed Ren's head from his body.

Ethan had never actually seen a vampire die before. Without an ounce of remorse, he watched as Ren's body quickly deteriorated into ash.

Looking back at Cole, dread hit him hard in the chest. The attack left a large gouge on the right side of Cole's neck and copious amounts of blood poured from it. He lay unconscious on the floor. There was no way of knowing how much Ren had taken before Ethan beheaded him.

Ethan needed to get Cole inside the house to safety. They were vulnerable standing in the garage with the door wide open. If ever there was a need for his vampire speed, it was now.  In a flash, he had the keys out of the ignition and the driver's door shut. The aluminum sections were sliding down into place, securing the garage, and he had Cole under the arms from behind carrying him to the downstairs bedroom.

Laying Cole out on the bed, Ethan examined his injuries. Fear churned in his gut when he saw the extent of the damage. It was worse than he imagined. Panic set in as he watched his friend's health deteriorate before his eyes. Around the bite wound, Cole's flesh began to undulate. The rolling swells under his skin expanded up his neck onto his face. Unbuttoning his shirt, Ethan saw they extended down his rib cage now too. It looked like Cole's blood was boiling.

Large abscesses the size of challenge coins appeared over the rippling flesh. They swelled, erupted, and spewed yellow pus, leaving open red sores in their wake. It progressed to the point that little flesh remained on his head and torso.

There was only one thing Ethan could think of that might save Cole. His fangs descended and he bit into his wrist. He opened Cole's lips and saw the boils had spread to his internal organs. When blood began to flow down his arm, Ethan held it over Cole's mouth and let it drip into what remained of his throat.

The next sixty seconds seemed like an eternity. Ethan held his breath and prayed for improvement.

Cole's body began to jerk in quick little movements. He hoped this meant Cole was healing from the inside out. The quick little twitches became stronger. Cole's body began to disappear at a faster rate. His breath was shallow and his pulse weak.

It didn't work.

Cole went into convulsions.

Madison, help! He reached out to his mother. He tried to keep the panic from his thoughts but it was impossible

Ethan, what's wrong? He didn't know if she would be in a position to answer and relief washed over him when her voice filled his mind. She would know what to do.

A vampire bit Cole. I think he's going into cardiac arrest. I gave him some of my blood but it didn't help.

Madison was silent for a minute. Ethan could feel her pain. Did any of the vampire's blood get into his system?

I didn't see what happened, but I think so.

A tidal wave of sadness blasted him. I'm sorry, Ethan. There's nothing you can do.

What do you mean? There must be something I can do.

No, there isn't, she whispered to him. Our blood isn't compatible with other vampire blood.

What are you saying?

He won't survive. Each word Madison said grew fainter.

You mean as a human, right?! He shouted at her when he felt her slipping away. She meant he'd lose his mortal life but come back as a vampire like they did.

No, son. Under a crushing wall of sorrow, she faded away.

Ethan stood beside the bed looking down at his friend. His skin had melted away. A body of bare muscle and bone was all that remained. Cole's chest rattled and Ethan held out hope that he would pull through. His mother was wrong. This couldn't be happening.

Madison's words came back to him, "Our blood isn't compatible with other vampire blood."

Ethan and Ren's blood was inside Cole. He'd sealed Cole's fate when he'd given him his blood.

The room suddenly went silent.

*

Madison knew the moment Cole died.

The Queen had just closed the ancient tome when Ethan's desperate voice entered her mind. She buried her head in her arms and sobbed. Caught between Cole and Benjamin meant choosing one of them. That wasn't possible. As much as she loved Benjamin, she loved Cole too. With all her power, she still hadn't been able to protect them. And now Cole was gone.

She couldn't bring herself to tell Ethan why she knew Cole wouldn't survive. She flashed back to a time about a year after she'd arrived at the castle. By then the contaminated blood she was drinking had weakened her. One evening a battalion of guards showed up in her quarters. They locked her in chains, carried her to Erdo's laboratory, and laid her on a cold stone slab. Erdo's plan was to build a force of daywalkers using her blood. He assembled his strongest, most cunning vampires and promised them the beauty of sunlight. They feasted on her while he watched. Too feeble to stop the leeches they nearly drained her dry. What happened next was a surprise. Within an hour after consumed her blood, they withered away painfully until they met their eternal death. Presumably, her blood was lethal to other vampires.

Madison didn't want Ethan to feel bad he had contributed to Cole's death. He was only trying to help.

Her vision blurred red with tears. Her heart ached. Cole had been her trusted friend. He was the only one in the mortal world with whom she'd share her secret. He'd risked his life and died for her in the warehouse. And when she'd asked him to meet her in New York, he'd shown up and taken care of her when she'd fallen apart. Cole would have done anything for her.

But he was gone. First Ben and now Cole. It was too much.

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