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She shook her head. “No. We must go back. I have to take the
spell off so Augustin can come to us.”
“But what about Bruce? It means he can come as well.” Alexis
followed Sousa and her brother out of the cemetery.
She didn’t answer.
A few hours later, they were on a plane to Salem. Alexis called
Vanessa again upon landing. “Allen? Is he all right?”
“He’s restless. He opened his eyes and spoke to me but he can’t
get up. It freaked me out. Is Sousa beside you?”
I opened my car door and got in, handing the phone to Sousa,
who was getting into the passenger seat. Her brother crawled in the
back.
I heard Sousa say, “He can’t move but the stuff you gave him
to make him sleep has worn off. Good. Augustin will come to us
tonight. I must remove the protection spell and we need to be
vigilant. Don’t leave him, Vanessa.” Sousa handed me back the
phone.
I said goodbye to Vanessa, telling her we’d be there soon and
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hung up. I gunned it all the way to Salem, then ran up the stairs to
get to Allen. Vanessa was sitting in a chair near by.
“Allen,” I said with relief when I saw him.
He smiled at me. “Baby. What’s happening?”
Sousa poked her head in. “Let’s give them a few minutes,” she
said, “but Alexis, don’t touch him.”
Alexis nodded and the door closed behind them.
*
*
*
Allen watched Alexis as he moved the chair a little closer.
“How does it feel?” Alexis asked.
That was such a large question. It felt painful and lonely, this
eternal craving in his gut and this sadness. “I’m all right,” he lied.
“Why are you covered with…looks like…ashes?”
“I’ve been frolicking in a cemetery.”
“Cemetery?” Allen grunted. Why did he smell like that, like a
succulent roast beef? “Why were you in a…”
“We’re trying to save you, baby, reverse what Bruce did to
you. Only Augustin can help you. Sousa is bringing him back.”
Something recoiled inside him. Allen, don’t let them bring him
back. Tell him he’ll hurt you. It’s me you need. Only me.
“How could you do this to me, Alexis, you said you loved
me?”
“I do love you, Allen.”
“No, you don’t. You want to finish me. Augustin will finish
me…just like he did his lover before. You don’t know what you
do…you don’t…” He screamed. The craving was too much now.
“Blood. Blood….Alexis, come, my love, I need to feed. He’s
coming and he’ll kill you…he’ll kill you all!”
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Alexis stood. “You don’t know what you’re saying, Allen.
Don’t listen to him. Look at me. Look at me.”
Allen blinked, met those beautiful eyes. “Alexis,” he said
softly, “I want to be with you. I love you.”
“Don’t listen to him.”
“Come here, kiss me. Just one kiss.” Tears filled his eyes. “I
need you.”
Alexis leaned over him. “It will be all right…all right…”
Allen reached out for his hand and sunk his teeth into it. Rich,
delicious blood filled his mouth. He didn’t hear Alexis shouting at
him. He felt only some kind of a sharp pain run through his jaw
and he began to shake, then go still.
*
*
*
Vanessa wrapped Alexis’ hand in a bandage Sousa had given
her. “Damn it, Alexis, what possessed you?”
“Love,” Sousa said, looking at Alexis. “Don’t worry, it should
be okay. Bruce is stronger in Allen than I imagined. Okay, it’s dark
now. I have lowered the barrier. Be alert. I have guards outside. I
need to meditate, call Augustin to come. Let’s hope he comes
before Bruce.”
“And what about Allen?” Alexis demanded.
“The guards are watching his window. You and Vanessa stay
outside his bedroom door, and no matter what you hear, don’t go
in.”
Two pots of hot coffee and pacing brought nothing but Allen’s
pleading and crying to be let go. Alexis had to block his ears at
times. Vanessa held his hand. From the other room, Sousa chanted.
“I thought she said he was coming,” Alexis muttered. “All of
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this is insane.”
It was minutes after that a great wind blew open the windows
and the doors. Alexis clutched his cross and Vanessa held hers
high in the air.
Sousa suddenly walked out of her room, and behind her stood
what could only be Augustin Brisbois.
The winds died down immediately. Alexis and Vanessa stood
stunned, mouth agape. The vampire stepped forward, took
Vanessa’s hand, kissed it. “How nice to see you again, Vanessa.”
He then looked at Alexis. “Mr. Kane.” He inclined his head. “I
heard you were handsome. A pleasure.”
Alexis managed to nod.
“I hear we have a situation,” Augustin said.
Alexis found his voice. “Allen is not yet turned, although he bit
my hand…and…”
“Not to worry,” he said. “Allow me.” He motioned for Alexis
to give him his hand.
Alexis slowly held his hand toward him.
Augustin gently unwrapped the bandage. He lowered his
mouth. Alexis tried to bakc away, and Augustin glanced up at him.
“He won’t hurt you,” Sousa said.
Alexis relaxed and Augustin licked his wound with his tongue,
a very intimate act. Immediately his wound began to heal before
his eyes.
“Oh my …” Alexis sighed.
Augustin released his hand. “Allen would have had to drain
you for the transformation to take. It is after the first kill that it
takes hold. It can still be reversed at this point.”
“By destroying Bruce,” Alexis said.
“Yes,” Augustin sighed. “I’m afraid I made a fatal error when I
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agreed to share my gift with him. He took my gift and my soul, but
in his greed, he has signed his own order for destruction. I am
inside him. I know where he is and what he will do, and now that I
am here, his power has been significantly weakened.”
“Does he know you’re back?” Vanessa asked.
Brisbois smiled. “Oh yes, he knows. You must make sure that [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]