Jungle Stakes (SHORTLIST Open Novella Contest II)

Chapter 14

Terror pushed her feet faster then she'd ever run before. When she hit the top of the hill, she launched off the edge, flying right over the head of Javier's mother, who looked up in surprise from where she still sat before the tomb's doorway.

Helena rolled and jumped up, then ran over to the old woman and pulled her to her feet. Helena dragged in breaths to warn her. "Camp...now...he's coming...kill you."

The old woman laughed and brushed off Helena's hand. "He assured me I am safe. I have been faithful, and he is grateful."

Helena vehemently shook her head, "No, he just said he will kill you last. It's a game to him. You mean nothing."

Uncertainty flicked across the old woman's face. Her eyes searched the jungle above the tomb.

She firmly pushed off Helena's hand. "No, I will stay and wait for the apu as he commanded me."

"He's not an mountain spirit! He's a vampire. And he's going to kill everyone, including you and Javier."

The old woman turned away and crossed her arms over her chest. "The apu would not lie."

"Stay and die then." Helena pulled out her walkie and pressed the button as she turned to run towards camp. "Fitzy? Javier? Come back, over."

Fitzy said, "I'm here."

"Vampire! He's a vampire, Fitz. The guy in the tomb. I just saw him. He's coming, and he's going

to kill everyone."

"Hells Bells, are you feeling okay?" Fitzy's laughter came through with his reply.

She sobbed. "You have to believe me. Please. Javier? Please Javier. He's coming."

She burst into the camp and skidded to a halt. There was no way of knowing where everyone was. Once the vamp reached camp, how fast could he move to kill people? More importantly, how were they going to defend themselves?

She forced herself to stand still and take a deep breath. She had to think clearly about what weapons they had on hand. Gasoline. They could burn him. Machetes to cut off his head. Stakes? Well she didn't have time to get a branch and carve a sharp pointy stick.

Fitzy pushed out of the command tent and waved at her with a big smile on his face that turned into one of horror when his eyes moved to the path behind her. She didn't need to turn around to know that the vampire was there.

She tore into the middle of camp at the same time Fitzy ran towards her. They collided in the middle, and Fitzy hugged her to him, his wide terrified eyes locked on the path behind her. "Helena, I never... I'm sorry... how is it... he's flipping real!"

She turned to look. The vampire stood at the head of the path, dragging Javier's mother by her arm. The old woman hung limply from his hand. He released her and she dropped directly to the ground and lay unmoving. There was no way to tell if the old woman was alive or dead.

The vampire stalked forward, fury directed at Fitzy who had a hand on Helena's shoulder. "No one touches what is mine," he snarled.

Fitzy gulped and moved to step in front of her, but she pulled him back and stepped in front of him instead. "He is my friend. If I'm supposed to be your mate or whatever, then honour my wishes that you don't hurt anyone else in this camp."

The vampire halted, amusement replaced the fury. He smiled at her, and her traitor body blossomed with warmth in the radiance of it. "Oh, my pet. You have much to learn. But I like your spirit. Let me show you how it is." Helena blinked and suddenly the vampire stood before them but now with Jake in his arms. "This one has been very trying for me. I wanted to kill him immediately for touching you, but it has been most satisfying to drain him slowly. Let him be your first lesson in how to mind me, my pet." With a vicious smile, the vampire bit Jake's neck and sucked.