Blood Revenge

Chapter 9

Stefan's presence wascomforting in the next five days. He was like a blazing fire on awinter night. As we approached Summersville, I walked beside Steph.We'd left the horses at our campsite. I shuddered with a suddenchill as Stefan disconnected from me. I'mright beside you, hewhispered in my head. I closed my eyes, breathing past the feeling ofloss.

"Mama?" Steph asked, noticingmy shudder.

I took her hand. "I'm fine,"I assured her.

She exchanged a look with Reifand he nodded, coming closer. Steph put my hand in his and hesqueezed. She traded places with him, sidestepping and running a palmacross his back as she passed. "Stefan is gone?" Reif asked, hiseyebrows rising.

"He's right here, but he leftme so I could clear my mind for the battle," I explained.

He opened his mouth to saysomething, but I felt him stumble slightly and he sniffed deeply."They're here," he growled.

His hand tightened around mine asI fought the urge to bolt ahead. We continued through the desertedcity, following Reif's nose. The square opened into a large emptyspace. Reif stopped us and I glanced around. "What is it?" Iasked just before I spotted what had distracted him. His body tensedand I felt the vibration of his growl through his hand. "Anders!"I gasped, wanting to run to him.

Reif's other arm shot outquicker than I could comprehend, grabbing Steph as she made to runpast us to him. "He's not alone," Reif warned.

An eerie laugh suddenly filledthe square and a man appeared beside Anders' unconscious form."Very good, vampire," he taunted, polishing an apple on hissleeve and looking way too casual.

He didn't read as vampire, sothis wasn't Vard. It must have been the mage they'd hired."Tertius, I presume," I said, my voice shaky. I couldn't stopstaring at Anders, looking desperately for any sign of life from hisbadly beaten body. They'd taken more liberties on him since I'dseen him last. Blood, dirt and bruises covered him all over. I sawburns on his chest in different patterns, standing out in starkcontrast to his pale skin.

He's alive,Reif assured me, squeezing my hand again. Tertius grinned and toucheda finger to his nose. "My reputation precedes me, I see." Hestood and clapped his hands excitedly like a child on his birthday."You're all here! What's say we get this party started?"

"Down, Tertius," a sultryvoice taunted from behind us.

We all spun and there was so muchto take in that my mind went blank, while I absorbed it all. Thewoman who had spoken was who I noticed first. I definitely knew her,but recognizing her was difficult. Lúthiel stood proudly, clad inall black from head to toe, her outfit daring even for me. It was allleather, like mine, but there were holes cut in several convenientplaces. A sword hung at her hip and her stance said she knew how touse it. Her eyes, that used to hold only fear and nervousness, werenarrowed with confidence and a deep seeded loathing directed straightat me.

When I got over the sight ofLúthiel's transformation, I glanced at the vampire whose arm sheclung to and my knees went weak. Reif kept me standing as I stareddirectly into the face I'd been living with for 18 years. Thevampire grinned, flashing fangs and his green eyes sparkled beforeslipping to black. I had to turn and be sure that the Anders we'dseen first had not been an illusion created by Tertius. When I wasconvinced, I turned back. "Vard?" I whispered questioningly.

"I see after all these years,my brother failed to mention he had a twin," the vampire said. "Howdelightful!"

Lúthiel chuckled deep in herchest. It was a provocative sound that made my skin crawl. Vardreached over and rubbed his hand inside the hole on her stomach andpressed himself against her, his teeth grazing her neck. I knew thenand there that they had us at a disadvantage. Reif and I never sharedblood. I cursed myself for not realizing that a dose of my bloodevery now and then would have made us stronger.