Bite Me

Short Story by: Aneva Walker

DAVE WRAPPED HIS ARMS around Lyla’s waist and traced his tongue down her neck. She shivered and laughed.

“I thought you fed already, love.”

She felt Dave shrug. “That does not make the taste of you any less alluring.”

Lyla turned in his arms and studied her mate of five years. His face was all planes and sharp edges, eyes the purest gold flecked with grey. His mouth held promises and intoxicating temptations. She found herself leaning into him, her pixie-shaped face tilted up, full lips parted. A cocky smile touched his mouth, and he leaned in to kiss her.

“Help! Help!”

The inhuman scream startled them apart. They exchanged a glance before scanning their surroundings. It was dark, their cottage nestled deep in the forest, yet they both knew they were only on the city’s outskirts. The cry came again, closer now.

“Pleasure kill. Probably one of Ballic’s clan,” Dave said, sniffing the air.

Lyla frowned. “They’re in our territory; something doesn’t smell right about this.”

Dave agreed. Ballic’s clan would only set foot into another’s territory to challenge them to battle.

“I think it’s a trap, Dave. That scream didn’t sound human.”

Dave nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. He felt his teeth elongating, his blood rushing through his veins. No one would take away everything he’d fought for. He glanced at his mate to find her watching him.

“Go inside and don’t come out until I get back.”

Lyla huffed and slapped his chest. “You fool, I’m your mate, not your child. I’m going with you. Don’t forget this is my home too.”

Dave’s handsome face creased into a frown, but he nodded.

“Take the rear,” he said as they advanced into the woods.

“With pleasure,” Lyla said as her teeth elongated and she prepared herself to fight.

*****

AS THEY NEARED THE PATCH of forest where the screams emanated from, the ground beneath them grew soft and squishy. With each step, the terrain worsened. The moss appeared black and sickly in the darkness. The trees were bent and grotesque. His vision wasn’t hampered by the night; if anything, it got better. And what Dave was seeing alarmed him.

“Be on guard,” he whispered.

There was no answer. He turned to find his mate gone. Every curse imaginable spilled from his lips as he searched desperately for Lyla. That was his first mistake. The blow came from above. He crashed to the ground and shook off the fog swarming his head.

The vamp in front of him was young, newly turned, and hungry. He snapped his teeth like a threatening alligator as he advanced. Dave leaped to the treetops and came down hard onto the vamp's back. He sank his teeth into the boy's neck and held on. Bones crunched under the force of the bite. The boy yelped, then went limp. Dave moved off the dead body and headed deeper into the woods. Something was still bothering him, but he couldn't pinpoint what.

The figure leapt from the trees, mouth ajar, aiming for Dave’s jugular. Dave’s hand shot out, swatting the vamp away like a fly. Bones crunched against the tree trunk. More slithered from behind trees, and he fought viciously. Dave felt exhaustion creeping over him. He needed to feed, but he couldn’t. Lyla was still missing.

Dave wiped the blood from his eyes. He stood in a clearing. His mate lay in the center.

Dave ran to her side and checked her pulse. It was weak. She’d lost too much blood. He cradled her head in his arms and rocked her.

“Lyla, Lyla, can you hear me, love?”

Lyla’s eyes opened slowly, and a sad smile tinged her lips.

“You have to leave. It was a trap. Ballic—” she gasped. “Ballic took the pendant of Valspar. All is lost.”

Dave's head shook frantically. “No! With that, he has the power to change good into evil.”

Lyla nodded jerkily.

“You need blood, my love. Feed.”

Dave slit his wrist with his teeth and pressed it against his mate’s mouth. She turned her head away.

“No, it’s a trick,” Lyla gasped.    

“You’re speaking foolishness. Feed!” He ordered.

She did, and Dave felt his strength drain away. His vision darkened at the edges. He tried to pull his hand back, but Lyla wouldn’t let go.

Loud clapping made him look behind him. Ballic stood there, smiling like a predator who’d just cornered his prey.

“How sweet,” he purred. “Such love.”

The pendant of Valspar glowed at his neck, and Dave understood too late what his mate had tried to warn him about. His hand fell to the ground, followed by his weakened body. His mate rose and walked to Ballic’s side. Her eyes had gone completely red. The warmth in her was gone.

“You bastard,” Dave breathed.

“You played your part well, my friend. I didn’t just win your mate and the pendant of Valspar,” he said joyfully, “I got your death.”

Dave’s eyes clouded with sorrow and defeat as the last of his strength left him, and he fell into darkness.

Copyright 2015, Aneva Walker, All rights reserved