N. Walters - Damek's Redemption

Damek threw back his head and roared. The sound of glass shattering filled the apartment as every glass surface exploded. A dangerous thought flitted through his brain, but he could not ignore it.

“I can try to convert you, make you a vampire like me.” He stroked her hair and ignored the tears rolling down his cheeks. “It is extremely dangerous but there is a slight chance. Sonia?” He had to do something. He couldn’t just let her die.

She stared at him, her eyes unfocused, her body still, and for a brief second he thought he was too late and she was gone. But no, he could hear her faint heartbeat, laboring with each beat. Time was running out.

“Sonia,” he yelled her name, shaking her slightly.

She gave the briefest nod and her eyes slowly closed. Damek didn’t hesitate. He lowered his head and sank his fangs into her neck.

“Let her go, you fucking bastard.” Luther shouted while he continued to struggle against the invisible force holding him. “She’s human. She deserves to die and stay that way.”

Damek blocked out everything but Sonia. Nothing else mattered. The sun was high in the sky, weakening him, but he put every ounce of power he had into saving the woman he loved. He knew he wouldn’t be able to hold the hunters for much longer. His strength was ebbing fast and he was conserving as much as possible for Sonia’s conversion. He prayed it would be enough.

As her blood flowed into his mouth and down his throat, he caught glimpses of her memories, working from the present and going back in time. He saw her leaping out of the closet to face three armed men with nothing more than a cast-iron skillet, her only thought to protect him.

Her thoughts and memories flew by so fast he could only grasp bits and pieces. Her love for her family came through loud and clear and he knew now that she hadn’t betrayed him, not intentionally. She’d only wanted to reassure her parents that she was safe.

Her breathing became labored until she was gasping for air. Her heart gave one final stutter and stopped. Damek withdrew his fangs and used them to tear open his wrist. He placed it against her lips. “Drink. Drink, Sonia. For me. For us.”

He threw every ounce of strength he had behind the compulsion to the exclusion of all else. Blood dripped onto her lips, but she didn’t drink. “Please. You must live.” He forced her mouth open and let his blood flow down her throat.

Damek caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. He’d put so much of his waning strength into saving Sonia that the vampire hunters had been able to free themselves from his mental hold and were now hurrying toward them.

He gathered what remained of his power, knowing he was dangerously weak. It might kill him to use it, but nothing mattered more than saving Sonia’s life.

The hunters stalked closer, stakes and knives in hand. Luther smiled, more confident now. “Don’t worry, vampire. We’ll make sure she gets a decent burial.” He reached behind his back and drew a compact crossbow with a silver tipped bolt. Luther aimed the weapon and fired.

Damek reached out and snatched the arrow from midair, turning it and flinging it back at Luther. It hit home and the hunter fell back, clutching his chest, an expression of absolute surprise etched on his face.

The other two swore and hurried toward them, weapons held high and ready to strike. Damek was torn with indecision, something he’d never experienced before. If he didn’t kill them, they would kill Sonia. If he didn’t give her everything he had, she would die.

An eerie howl echoed through the room just as Sonia gasped, her eyes flying open. Damek ducked, throwing his larger body over hers as a large, black wolf launched itself over them and attacked the hunters, fangs and claws flashing. The wolf ripped at Luther’s throat, sending blood spraying everywhere.

The room was suddenly filled with people he didn’t know. A tall male with a bushy beard let out a primal yell and took down the other hunter, his huge arms wrapping around his opponent’s neck. Damek heard the snap and watched the hunter slump to the ground. Two younger men stood to one side, both armed with guns they looked like they knew how to use. One of them was wearing blue jeans, the other a suit. Both of them resembled the rather large male who’d snapped the hunter’s neck.

Within seconds, silence reigned and the hunters were dead. Blood was sprayed all over the room and permeated the air. Damek licked his lips as he eyed the newcomers, keeping what little remained of his power reserves ready to protect Sonia. These creatures seemed to be on their side but he wasn’t taking any chances.

A woman cried out and he heard the brush of feet against the floor. He turned to watch a woman with long black hair rush toward them. She fell to her knees beside him, her face pale, her eyes wide with horror.

Damek pulled Sonia closer, cradling her in his arms, while willing her to keep drinking. His eyes blazed as he growled. “Mine.”

“She was mine first, vampire,” the woman said, and it was then he took a good look at her. Her black hair was longer, but it was just like Sonia’s. And while the woman’s features were more delicate, there was no denying the similarities. She confirmed his suspicions. “I’m her mother.”

“They hurt her. She was trying to protect me and they hurt her.”

“You are strong, vampire.” An older woman with streaks of gray through her hair walked toward him. Now that he’d had some time to study the people around him, he recognized her from Sonia’s memories. This was her grandmother. “To be awake during the day, to have such power as I feel filling this room. You are very, very old.” Her black gaze drilled into him. “Save her.”

Damek nodded and turned all his attention back to Sonia. She was drinking, but he wasn’t certain it was enough. He’d never attempted to convert anyone before as it was dangerous and he’d never wanted to put someone he cared about through such a thing. Then there was the chance that the creature he created would be unstable, be filled with bloodlust and have to be destroyed. He couldn’t have borne having to kill someone he cared for. Because of that, he wasn’t quite sure what he was doing. It was all instinct.

He pulled his wrist away and licked the gash with his tongue to close the wound. “Sonia.” He clasped her face between her hands and willed her to open her eyes. Damek could sense the rest of her family gathering around them—her father and grandfather, her brothers. His strength was waning and he felt as weak and puny as a human. He wasn’t sure he had enough in him to bring her back.

“Here.” A thick wrist was shoved in front of his face and Damek glanced up to find a large naked man kneeling beside him. This was the half-breed werewolf. Damek could smell him this close and sense his power. “You need to replenish yourself. I still don’t know how you are even awake, but you are and my Sonia’s life depends on your strength. Drink.”

Damek inclined his head and opened his mouth. His fangs pierced the man’s skin and blood filled his mouth, powerful blood, paranormal blood. Every cell in his body expanded as fresh energy flowed into them. It had been centuries since he’d had paranormal blood anywhere near this pure. He withdrew his fangs and closed the wound as the blood flooded his cells, replenishing them.

It felt as though his entire body was glowing brighter than the sun. He reached into her mind, into her very soul, searching for the spark that was Sonia. Come back to me , he commanded. I need you. I love you.

Long moments passed until he felt the lightest brush against his mind. Damek? I hurt all over.

I know, my sweet. But you must open your eyes and come back to me. You’re safe now and your family is here.