Quinn believed she deserved to wear those scars as punishment for having drained the rest of the blood from her dying uncle when she’d first awoken as a vampire. Julian knew she didn’t deserve them, or the guilt she carried for her actions; he could only hope that one day she would know it too.
Earl tried to turn away from him, but Julian seized hold of his chin and cut him from the bottom of his lip to under his chin. Much of the suffering Quinn had endured in her short life had been because of this man. And then this bastard had taken her from him. Earl had twisted her mind to his will and kept her imprisoned. It was bad enough Earl had dared to touch her the first time, that he’d done so again while knowing she belonged to him was something Earl would pay dearly for.
“Julian, you could be playing with fire if you do this,” Devon said.
Julian shrugged as he walked over to one of the workbenches lining the walls and grabbed three more knives. Clint’s room was fully stocked with all kinds of things capable of destroying a vamp, but for now, Julian only wanted the knives. “Then I’ll get burned, but I’ll be able to put the flames out.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I can do anything for her,” Julian replied.
Walking back over to the ugly little vamp, he grinned down at Earl before kneeling and gripping one of Earl’s feet. He turned Earl’s foot to the side before stabbing the knife through his ankle and deep into the earth. Earl howled and awkwardly struggled to break free, but there would be no escaping this.
Leaning over him, Julian grabbed Earl’s other foot and drove another knife through his ankle. He sat back on his heels and tilted his head to the side to admire his handiwork. Earl hadn’t pinned Quinn’s feet down like this, but he’d done the rest to her. Julian couldn’t resist inflicting this extra pain on him, and he was only getting started.
“You like making little displays,” Julian muttered as he ran another knife across Earl’s cheek.
While he’d been stalking Quinn, Earl had left a few repulsive displays of humans throughout the town to frighten her and remind Julian of his past. Earl was also the reason Quinn carried the added guilt of killing the Hunter, Zach. While under Earl’s mind control, Zach had staked Julian through the back. Quinn had drained Zach’s life from him in order to save Julian.
“How do you like this display?” Julian asked.
Unwilling to hear Earl’s reply, he drove the last knife through Earl’s throat, silencing the future screams he would make. Earl’s eyes bulged grotesquely from his head. His feet kicked on the ground as he jerked against the blades embedded within him, but he remained pinned.
Julian glanced at Devon as he walked by him to remove a chain from one of the walls. Devon remained standing at the bottom of the stairs, his gaze focused on Earl. Devon may be concerned Julian was walking a fine line between the murderous vamp he’d once been and the better one he labored daily to become, but Devon wouldn’t stop him from doing this.
Julian may not kill innocents anymore, but he was still a killer and nothing would change that. Devon understood that better than anyone. If it had been Cassie that Earl had tortured and stalked, Devon would be the one standing here with the knives and Julian would be worrying about him.
“I don’t think he likes it much,” Julian said as he wrapped the chain around Earl’s calves, just above the knives, and ran it toward one of the large metal hooks on the wall.
“I don’t think so either,” Devon replied.
Julian encircled the chain around Earl’s wrists next and ran them to another hook. Walking back over to Earl, he smiled down at him as he pressed his foot into his chest.
“I’d almost forgotten how entertaining this can be,” he said. He bent closer to Earl. The man gurgled and wiggled, but there was nowhere for him to go as Julian loomed over him. “You and I, we’re going to have some fun before I kill you. I am going to make you pay for everything you did to her, and then some.”
Earl wriggled against the chains and knives but only succeeded in tearing a bigger hole through his flesh and bone. He’d eventually succeed in ripping free of the knives, but the chains would keep Earl’s body bound and Devon would take control of his mind again.
“Take his mind back now,” he said to Devon. “Give him free will, but make sure he can’t latch onto anyone else’s mind or escape this room.”
Devon stared at Earl for a minute before giving a brisk nod. “Done.”
Julian didn’t look at Earl as he stepped over him and joined Devon at the bottom of the stairs. Devon turned and climbed the steps ahead of him.
CHAPTER 3
“What are we going to do with the vampires we took from the hotel?” Devon inquired as he settled the panel back into the floor, effectively hiding the room below.
Before they’d fled the abandoned hotel, Julian had asked Devon to take control of the minds of two vampires within the room. He was fairly certain the man and woman were a couple, and he had plans for them.
“Chris and I will take a good look at them to see what they’re really like, but I hope to be able to set them free.” Devon’s jaw clenched at Julian’s response. “With no memory of Cassie, of course. I’d wipe Quinn from their minds too if I could, but they need to remember her, and what she can do, for what I intend to do next.”
Devon’s eyes slid toward him. “And what is that?”
“The vampires must be organized. They’re far more dangerous to us, to humans, and to the Hunters while they continue to remain scattered like they are.”
“You have a plan for that?”
“I do.”
“Quinn has caused you to grow a heart and a brain.” Devon laughed. “Never thought either was possible.”
Julian gave him the finger as they left the garage. He paused to close the door before walking beside Devon to the bar. Stepping into the kitchen, they made their way past all of the stainless steel equipment before pushing open the doors and striding into the main barroom.
Chris, Melissa, Dani, Cassie, and Luther sat huddled around a table, their heads bent close together as they talked. Lou also sat at the table, but his chin was on his chest, and his eyes were closed as he breathed slowly in and out. Devon moved to stand behind Cassie. She turned to look up at him when he rested his hands on her shoulders.
Behind the bar, glass clinked as Quinn held the dustpan while Clint swept up the broken bottles and shelves that had fallen. The mess had been created when Earl used Quinn’s friend, Jeb, to attack Quinn and her friends. When Jeb shot Clint’s longtime girlfriend, Hawtie, Quinn had used her ability to heal Hawtie. Using so much of her power to save Hawtie’s life had left Quinn weakened and vulnerable to Earl when he came for her.
Julian used the sight of Quinn to help cage the monster lurking so close to his surface at the fresh reminder of what Earl had put her through.
Quinn paused in the act of emptying the dustbin into the trash. Her head came up and her honey-colored eyes latched onto him. If he still breathed, the air would have rushed out of him at the love radiating in her gaze. Never had he thought a woman would look at him like that. He wasn’t sure he deserved her love after the countless horrific things he’d done over the years, but he would never let her go.
Looking at the scar running across her right eyebrow up to her temple and the one down the center of her chin reawakened his urge to kill. All he could think about was tearing the throat out of Earl before beating him into a bloody pulp. Then, he’d let Earl heal before going at him again.
Quinn’s pointed chin jutted out as if she’d read his mind. Pretty, in a proud, willful way, with her high cheekbones and pert nose, she’d become his everything in such a short amount of time.
She tossed the glass into the trashcan and placed the dustpan on the bar. Her chocolate-colored hair swayed with each of her steps as she came toward him. Despite her five-nine height, she looked unbelievably small in the T-shirt he’d given her to wear. The shirt had belonged to someone else and had been
too big for him. A set of baggy jeans he’d never seen before were cinched at her waist with a rope. The bottoms of the jeans barely touched her ankles, leading him to believe they belonged to Clint. He spotted the skimpy dress Helena had made her wear in the trashcan.
“Are you okay?” she asked when she stopped before him.
“Yes.”
Her eyes scanned over him. “Julian—”
“I’m fine.” He pulled her into his arms. The bloodlust slithering through him eased immediately at the feel of her. “You can always bring me back from the darkness,” he whispered in her ear.
Her shoulders sagged as her hands slid up his back and she hugged him closer. He felt the incredible swell of her power against him when his lips ran over her ear. She didn’t have to tell him what she’d experienced in that hotel as flashes of her imprisonment filtered through his mind.
For the first time in years, he kept his psychometry turned on. When they were changed, every vampire acquired some kind of special ability upon turning. With their vampire lineage, most Hunters were born with an ability. His ability to learn things from touching a person or an object they had handled was something he’d used often over the years to torment someone or to gain an advantage over them, but he often kept it turned off in everyday life. There were many many things he didn’t care to know.
However, in order to keep Quinn safe, he would keep his ability turned on twenty-four seven if he had to.
“Don’t,” Quinn whispered, turning her mouth to his ear. “Don’t see what they did to me in there.”
“How did you know?” he grated through his teeth.
“Your body is as hard as rock against me right now.”
Leaning away from her, he forced himself to relax as he brushed back her hair. He clasped the silken strands against her nape before bending to kiss her. She pressed closer to him and opened her mouth to his. His tongue slid into the warm recess of her mouth as he tasted her in leisurely, sweeping thrusts that left him hungry for more.
They’d abused her. They’d chained and beaten her, but she was here, with him. She was alive. He could taste her and feel her in a way he’d been petrified he’d never be able to do again.
He broke the kiss before he lost himself to her completely, something so easy for him to do when it came to Quinn.
“You should kill him,” she whispered. “Keeping him alive is a bad idea, Julian. What if he takes control of someone else’s mind?”
“I’ll kill him soon,” he promised. “And Devon has control of that part of Earl’s mind. He won’t be taking over anyone ever again.”
“What of the couple? Why did you want them brought here?”
“They’re going to spread a message,” Julian replied.
Quinn’s fingers stilled on his face. Her head tilted to the side. He didn’t know how well everyone was going to react to what he planned, but he believed this was the best course of action to keep them all safe. He’d realized a while ago that the vampires required a leader and direction, especially the younger ones.
Having them frightened and disorganized was far more perilous than having them grouped together with a clear set of rules. Many of them may not like the rules he intended to set forth, but they were going to be enforced, and he was going to be the one to do it. Even if it meant he’d have to immerse himself in the vampire way of life he’d spurned the entire five hundred seventy-six years of his vampire existence.
He would keep Quinn safe no matter what it took.
“What do you mean they’re going to spread a message?” she asked.
Julian glanced toward where Devon had earlier left the couple sitting in the poolroom. Quinn winced at the sight of them sitting with their hands in their laps, their eyes closed, and their heads bowed. Her eyes fell away from them, and she fiddled with the hem of her shirt as a tremor went through her. He took hold of her hands, enveloping them within both of his.
“They’re not going to be abused,” he assured her.
“Not having any control over your mind and body is a hideous feeling,” she murmured.
Julian wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her against his chest. When they were finally able to leave here tonight, he planned to spend the next week with her locked securely in his arms.
“I know,” Julian said as he kissed her forehead, “but this is necessary.” He looked to where Devon remained standing with Cassie by the tables.
“They’re in a state equivalent to sleep,” Devon said to Quinn. “They have no idea what is going on right now.”
Quinn nodded, but she still wouldn’t look at the couple again. Julian took hold of her chin and lifted her head. “We need them.”
“For what?”
“If you agree to it, we’ll gather the vampires and lead them together. As one of the last two remaining Elders, some of them will follow me, but with you by my side, many more will fall into line. There is no denying you’re the vampire of this prophecy, and though I’ve never bought into the prophecies, many vamps do, and they’re latching onto this one.
“Since we killed the rest of the Elders, the vamps have no idea what to do with themselves. If we don’t give them a purpose, they’re going to continue to see you as their lifeline, and because of that, they won’t stop trying to find you. We’ll give them both of us, a purpose, and rules.”
“You hate vampires,” she pointed out.
“I hate people too, but I tolerate them,” he said with a teasing smile that caused a small one to tug at her lips.
“Having Quinn work with them instead of in opposition to them could succeed in bringing them under control,” Devon said. “Her joining with them could be the savior part of the prophecy, or at least many of them may see it that way.”
“I’m hoping so,” Julian replied, but he didn’t tear his eyes away from Quinn. “I won’t do this if you say no. This is something we will have to do together.”
“We will all do it together,” Luther said. “I think it’s time we do more to bring the non-killing vamps, Hunters, and Guardians together. An understanding between all three could save many lives in the future.”
“It could,” Cassie agreed.
“Don’t feel forced into this,” Julian said to Quinn. “Out of all of us, you’re the one many of them will look to. I’ll do whatever you choose to do.”
“But they’ll keep coming for me if I keep trying to remain hidden,” she murmured.
“They won’t stop searching for you,” he confirmed. “I’ll kill every single one of them if that’s what it takes to keep you safe.”
Her eyes searched his face. He remained unmoving as she pondered her answer.
“I’ll try it,” she said.
Relief and dread filled him. He’d hoped she’d make this choice, he believed it would work, but it would also be a big risk to expose her in such a way.
“Then that’s what we’ll do.” He kissed her again before turning to Devon and waving at the immobile couple. “Can you wake them?”
Lou lifted his chin from his chest to gaze tiredly at all of them, but Julian had a feeling he’d been awake throughout the conversation, or at least most of it as he didn’t look confused.
Devon stared at Julian for a minute before replying, “I can.” Walking into the poolroom, Devon stopped near where the couple sat. “Wake,” he commanded.
Both of their eyes opened, their heads shot up, and their gazes darted around the room as they took in their new surroundings.
The woman’s lower lip trembled and tears filled her eyes. “How did we get here?”
Julian felt no sympathy for them. They’d been in that ballroom with Quinn and all the other vampires. They’d stood by as she’d sat helplessly on the stage. If he didn’t need them, he’d kill them himself.
“We brought you here,” Julian answered and stepped in front of Quinn when their gazes went to her.
The man took hold of the woman’s hand when tears spilled down her cheeks. Julian didn’t
know if they were a mated couple or not, and he didn’t care.
“What do you want with us?” the man demanded.
Julian reached back, grasped Quinn’s hand, and gave it a squeeze before stalking across the room to stand before the couple. They both shrank away from him. “Do you know who I am?” he inquired.
The woman’s brown eyes ran over him. The man’s blue eyes went from him to where Devon stood beside him. “Julian Aasen,” the man replied, “and Devon Knight. The only two Elders still in existence.”
At the age of five hundred, Julian and Devon had reached the rarely attained Elder status of a vampire.
“We’re the only two Elders left because we killed the others,” Julian said.
The woman whimpered and shrank further away from him. The man’s shoulders went back, but the tremor in his hands belied his brave front.
“Do you remember what happened at the hotel?” Julian asked. They both nodded. “We did that,” he gestured at the group behind him. They’d all risen from their seats and moved closer while he’d been speaking. Clint stood beside Quinn with his hand on her arm. “This small number destroyed hundreds of vampires.”
The couple both swallowed nervously and leaned away from him when he unleashed some of his power, allowing it to drift off of him in waves.
“Come with me,” he commanded. They exchanged a look but rose to their feet. Walking across the room, he stopped in front of Quinn and rested his hands on her shoulders. “I want you to stay here.”
“No.”
“You shouldn’t see what I’ve done.” He didn’t know how she would react to seeing Earl pinned as she had once been pinned.
Some of the color drained from her face, but she tilted her chin up. “I refuse to turn away from any part of you.”
Julian’s hands tightened on her shoulders before he released her and stepped away. It would be pointless to argue with her, she would not back down from this, and truthfully, one of the things he loved best about her was the fact she knew about his past and loved him anyway.