Kade's Dark Embrace

Chapter Eighteen

“What in the hell just happened?” Tristan questioned his friends accusingly. “Goddammit! You were supposed to keep her safe! I should have gone with you instead of guarding the perimeter!” Tristan felt guilty knowing he too had planned this failed operation with Kade and Luca. She was part of his pack. They all knew she wasn’t wolf, but she’d been under his protection since the day he met her. Former lover, good friend, Sydney was his one link to the human world that he trusted with his life. Now, because of their miscalculations, she might be dead. Tristan howled loudly, frustrated with their defeat and potential loss of his friend.

“You are right, Tristan. Luca and I lost her, but we cannot focus on failure right now. We need to plan on how we are going to kill Simone and extract Sydney safely. You know our girl is not going to go down without a fight. She is strong.” Kade used the words 'our girl' trying to get the group focused on the task that needed to be done. They need to find her quickly and kill Simone. Sydney was no one’s but his and everyone knew it, but he was a leader and could not let them dwell on their defeat. No, he needed to get Sydney back safely into his arms. He did not live through centuries only to lose his chance with her, his one true love. “Tristan, take Luca’s cell phone and call your brother, Marcel. Let him know the situation has escalated, and that we need his pack’s assistance with backup at St. Louis cemetery immediately.”

As soon as the group arrived at St. Louis cemetery, Kade immediately stiffened, sensing Sydney’s presence. “I feel her. Her blood runs through my veins now, and I know she is here.”

“Kade, please forgive my question, but I sense no human or paranormal presence in the area. Are you certain she is here?” Etienne asked.

“Yes, I am sure. Do you forget? I have claimed her. I am certain that she is here. Perhaps they are underground? Quickly search the grounds. Stay in pairs,” Kade ordered.

“Underground? Here in New Orleans? Not likely, the water table is too high,” Etienne commented.

Kade was growing irritated with his questioning. “While that is true, Etienne, magic can easily manipulate the elements: air, fire, earth, and water. Asgear may have simply drained a space and replaced it with another element. It is even possible that he changed the state of the water from liquid to solid. Now, enough with the questions. We must find the entrance. I know she is here.”

A high, pitched howl emanated across the darkness, Tristan. Weaving through the tenebrous labyrinth of crypts, Kade and the others converged on a nondescript tomb that no one would give a second glance to compared to its ornamental counterparts. Sydney. Like Tristan, Kade could smell the sweet scent of her blood everywhere in the vicinity, as well the repugnant odors of Asgear and Simone.

“She’s here, but Asgear and Simone are also present. We must move with caution. Simone will be expecting us.” Kade was relying heavily on his friend to distract them so he could get to Sydney. “Tristan, you go in first and disable Asgear. We cannot be certain if he will conjure a thaumaturgical barrier like the one we experienced back in the warehouse, so make sure to cover the whole area. If Simone is in there, then it is likely that all vampires can pass. We won’t know for sure until we get in there.”

Tristan transformed back into his naked, male form extending his claws, planning to pry open the stone door. A chorus of wolves howled in the distance. “Ah, Marcel and the pack are here. They will come in behind us, and kill any of Simone’s vampires who try to escape.” Continuing to study the seams of the tomb, Tristan ran his claws up and down the hard, smooth stone. “Now, let’s see what is in this tomb. Open up for papa.”

Kade shot him an annoyed look. Wolves always think they are so damn smart. “Back off, Tristan,” he commanded. “Watch and learn, wolf,” he smiled unfolding his Smith & Wesson tactical knife. “Sometimes a vampire is well suited going old school, now is one of those times.” Plunging the edge of the knife far into the dusty, stone seam, he jerked the knife upward disengaging the primitive lock mechanism. The heavy, mason door creaked open as it revealed a limestone staircase. The tunnel was illuminated by candles that sat on small, wall shelves. Transforming back into his wolf, Tristan padded down the steps tilting his head back up toward Kade, awaiting his orders at the door at the bottom of the stairs.

A blood-curdling scream resonated throughout Kade’s mind, Sydney’s scream, Sydney’s blood. He kicked the door open, letting Tristan run first into the madness. Tristan narrowly escaped being clawed by several vampires converging toward him. Slipping between their legs, he targeted Asgear who was holding a chalice above Sydney, who appeared to be strapped to a table. Razor-sharp teeth shredded Asgear’s right shoulder and arm as Tristan pinned him to the cold floor. Tristan held him down, allowing Kade and the others to enter the chamber in order to get to Simone.

Scarlet body fluid sprayed the walls as Kade, Luca, and the other vampires tore into Simone’s fanged puppets. Kade locked eyes on Simone, roaring in abhorrence as he caught sight of Sydney, who was bound and bleeding. “You will die!” he spat at Simone as she ran at Tristan with a knife, trying to seek Asgear’s help. Fire ignited deep within Kade’s chest driving him to slash through a sea of vampires to get to his love.

As Kade reached Sydney, he sliced one of her wrists free. It was then he spied the enormous needle inside her belly. She lay bleeding on the table, her life’s essence spilling out onto the floor. “Sydney love, I’m here. Please don’t leave me.” Not responding to his words, Kade knew she was badly injured. He knew what he had to do. “Dammit, Sydney! I love you! You cannot leave me! Just hang on...I am going to pull the needle out. Stay with me.” He gently kissed her cool, pale lips and clutched the needle. Realizing the needle was jammed into the wooden table, Kade wrenched it out in one quick stroke, hoping to minimize the pain.

Sydney arched in agony, screaming uncontrollably as the pain slammed into her once again. Her eyes flew open, and she stared up at the cold, gray vaulted stone ceiling above her.

Kade licked the small hole sealing her wound. It wouldn’t stop the internal bleeding, but it might buy her time. Knowing he would need to give her blood for a full healing, he sought her permission. Kade whispered into her ear, “Sydney love, the needle is out, but you are bleeding internally. I can give you my blood, but you must understand you will be bound to me forever. I will not do it without your agreement. I love you as much as life itself. You have no idea how much I wanted to give of myself to you, but not like this.” He shook his head. This was all wrong, but she needed his blood to heal.

Sydney’s eyes fluttered as tears spilled over her cheeks. “Do it. I love you, Kade. I want to live,” she whimpered. “You know, that woman of yours from the eighteen hundreds? She’s a real bitch.” She cracked a small smile. “Now, I just need to sit up. The rope...cut the rope.”

As Kade pulled out his knife, a vampire smacked him clear across the room. Sydney shook her head from side to side. “No! No! No! This is not going down this way! Get me off this fucking table!” She screamed in frustration. Remembering her knife hidden away in her bra, she felt around with her free hand. Thank you, baby Jesus. Still there. Blood sprayed her face as she cut the rope and released herself from the table. Wolves and vampires bit and slashed each other as she gently let herself fall to the floor.

She looked over to see Dominique tearing the heart out of one of the vampires and silently cheered her on. Both Etienne and Xavier were also fighting, slashing though the crowd of vampires with wooden stakes. Ash started to cloud the room as one by one, they staked their foes.

Sydney was shocked to see Simone fighting Tristan against the far wall. She sliced his wolf with a knife as he bit tightly into her other arm. Sydney struggled to locate Asgear. Where was he? Tilting her head upward, Sydney spied the gleaming face of a sword on the altar. Pain shot throughout her entire body, as she stretched her arm up to reach it. Blindly fingering the altar, Sydney’s hand clasped around the hilt of the sword. She slowly descended her arm, clutching the cool blade flat against her chest.

Kade honed his eyes on Sydney’s, seeing she’d gotten free. He needed to get her out of the melee, but there seemed to be no end to the vampires who were attacking from all sides. Tristan was yelping in agony; several small knives stuck out of his bloody fur. Luca, Dominique, and the others were engaged in battle as well. Blindsiding Kade, Asgear struck him in the head with the heavy, metal chalice. “Your little whore is going to die tonight, vampire. You cannot stop us.”

Kade shifted and delivered a sidekick to Asgear’s thorax, pounding him into the floor. “You are the one who will die tonight. Even your magic wanes in the light of war.”

Asgear crawled toward Kade, trying to push himself upright. “Your little whore tried to fight me, you know? She bled nicely when I beat her face bloody. When you die, I will take her for my own. She will serve me on her knees!”

Kade had enough of Asgear’s venomous words. He stood erect over Asgear and kicked his face hard. Once, twice. Blood spritzed out of Asgear’s mouth as he rolled onto his back. “This is not the end, vampire!’ he hissed.

Kade smirked at him. “Wrong again, mage. This is the end of the road. Rot in hell!” In a flash, Kade pinned him to the floor, cracking Asgear’s neck and wrenching his head off its spine. He bared his fangs, shredding Asgear’s throat until there was not a single drop of blood left in the mage.

Sydney grabbed the edge of the table, pulled upward and steadied herself on her feet. She called out to Tristan as Simone continued to stab the wolf, but he wasn’t responding to her. She had to save him. “Hey bitch! Over here! Leave the wolf alone! It’s me you want,” she baited.

Simone’s head snapped around to Sydney, astonished she’d gotten free. Flashing across the room, she grabbed Sydney’s throat by one hand. “You! You! You distracted me from my purpose! All my hard work. The girls’ deaths ...it was all for him. I was practicing. My power was growing. And you had to stick your nose into my business...ruin my ritual!” She spat at Sydney’s face. “I will make him watch as I drain every last drop of your whorish blood. I will rule this city! Nothing will stop me! Nothing!”

Sydney choked and struggled to breathe under the pressure of Simone’s strong, bony fingers. Her eyes darted to Kade, who stealthily approached Simone. “Let her go, Simone. She is a mere human. This animosity is between you and me.”

Simone glanced quickly over at Kade, but didn’t release Sydney from her deathly grip. Sydney felt herself starting to lose consciousness. Even as both her arms fell to her sides, she fought to hold onto the sword.

Stepping a hair closer to Simone, Kade refused to relent. “I do not love you, Simone. I never did. You will never rule this town. You’re finished,” he goaded. He just needed to distract her, to get her to release Sydney.

Simone spun on her heels throwing Sydney to the floor and rushed over to Kade. “You do love me Kade. I am here now. I am your queen. My power, I will share it with you. We shall rule together,” she purred at him and laid a pale hand upon his chest. “This is our time. You are mine.”

Reaching for the table’s ledge, Sydney quietly pulled herself up so she was standing once again. Her abdomen throbbed, and she felt dizzy with pain. Never give up. The sword hummed underneath the warmth of her grip. She approached Simone. Time for the bitch to go. With a final thrust of strength, Sydney whirled the heavy sword above her head. As the sword hissed, it sliced through the blood tinted air and Simone’s fine, pallid neck. Simone’s dismembered head went flying across the room as blood and ash sprayed Kade’s face. A clank of the sword on the ground was followed by silence in the room, as Simone’s spell was broken. Minion vampires cowered to the ground, grieving in pain from the loss of their Mistress.

Sydney fainted and her head cracked loudly against the ebon floor, blood covering her golden braid. Kade fell on his knees screaming her name; bloody tears stained Sydney’s pale face. Biting into his wrist, he pressed it to her still lips hoping she would swallow the precious fluid. “Sydney! Swallow, love. You cannot bloody well leave me!” He laid her head in his lap, smoothing her hair across her head. “I love you so much. Please, this will heal you. Come on now. Drink,” he commanded.

Imperceptibly, Sydney’s swollen lips began suctioning against his wrist. “That’s it love. Don’t give up.” He kissed her forehead knowing she would survive.

Kade delicately lifted Sydney’s frail body into his arms, carefully cradling her head against his chest. As he ascended the stairs, a healing breeze grazed his face. He sighed in relief, finally exiting Simone’s diabolical, stone creation. He telepathically called to Dominique to beckon Ilsbeth. Whatever demonic forces held the walls from the water table, they needed to be dismantled. This tomb and its rooms needed to be destroyed and blessed so that nothing remained of the malignant force within.

Luca approached him carrying a small, unconscious woman with long, red hair. Kade immediately recognized the woman as Rhea. “Where did you find her?” he asked.

“She was cuffed to a wall. The room was barbaric.” Luca took a deep breath. “She was recently beaten. Bloody whip marks all over her body, black eye...the works. She said her name is Samantha. Kade, something strange is going on here...it was as if she had no recollection of the club or the night she silvered Dominique. When we released her cuffs, she fainted. Exhaustion maybe?”

Kade shifted his weight only wanting to get Sydney home as soon as possible. “Take her to my compound. Clean her up, make sure she’s healing, and lock her in the downstairs security room until I get a chance to read her thoughts. It is possible that she was under Simone’s thrall, or that Asgear bespelled her, but we need to make sure she holds no culpability before we return her to her home. And whatever you do, don’t let Dominique see her yet. She is looking for payback, and will ask questions later. Now go.” Luca sped off across the cemetery, human in tow.

Searching for Etienne, Kade found him kneeling on the ground, holding a naked Tristan who drank at his wrist. Kade glanced at Etienne. “Nice fighting, my friend. How’s Tristan?”

“He’ll survive, but we need to get him back to the compound before his brother comes sniffing about. He will be pissed beyond belief. Marcel means well, but Tristan needs more vampire blood if he is going to make it.” Etienne winced as Tristan continued suckling his wrist.

Dominique and Xavier exited the tomb. Walking toward Kade, they stopped to check on Tristan.

Kade eyed both Xavier and Dominique. “Okay, let’s get moving then. Xavier, help Etienne with Tristan. Get him out of here now. Dominique, I need you to wait for Ilsbeth to get here. She needs to clean up this mess. You know what to do.”

Kade was tired and angry. How could this have gone so very wrong? Sydney had been beaten, stabbed. He should have never let her leave Philadelphia. She was human, a strong human, yes, but still very human at that. She could have died tonight. His heart ached knowing she may need several days to recover from this ordeal. And then, would she still want to be with a vampire? The blood, the violence, the danger.

He trudged back to the van wiping the doubts from his mind. She was his. He was fooling himself to think he would let her go without a fight. He kissed her forehead as she slept peacefully in his arms. He prayed his beautiful, fighting, warrior woman would be okay and that she would forgive him for involving her in this mess.