Page 96

Chapter 24

Jeff barely grabbed hold of Samantha before she could plunge into the terrible scene before them. His hand clamped over her mouth to keep her from crying out while they watched Innocente's body vanish into the woods beyond the graveyard. The young woman with the glowing white eyes stood with a triumphant smile upon her face as the vampires gawked at her in shock.

Pete hadn't seen what occurred and continued to struggle with Sergio's unconscious form.

“Bianca?” Rachon’s voice was rough with emotion.

The towering man who had come to her defense against the zombies positioned himself between the pale young woman and his mistress. The risen dead shambled away from the vampires, moving toward Pete and the other struggling man.

Samantha twisted in Jeff's arms, her eyes wide with anger and fear. He felt her bite down on his fingers and he gasped. She frantically motioned toward the area where Innocente had fallen.

Sighing, he nodded. He had misjudged Samantha, assuming she wanted to challenge the vampires. He motioned for her to go without him and was a little surprised when she quickly agreed. Feeling a little abandoned, he watched her scramble away into the darkness.

“Bianca?” Rachon’s voice repeated, pulling Jeff's attention to the scene in the graveyard.

“Are you afraid, Rachon?” Bianca answered, tilting her head. Her glowing eyes were eerie.

“Why is she talking? She wasn't talking before!” Prosper exclaimed. He kept Rachon firmly behind him, a silver knife glittering in his hand.

Jeff could see that Rachon was startled and a little afraid.

Pete and Ethan finally became aware of the dead encircling them.

“Innocente?” Pete called out, his head whipping back and forth trying to find her.

“She's dead,” Bianca answered. “Fucking bitch deserved it after what she did to me. ”

“She never did nothing to you! Who are you?” Pete said, his voice quavering.

Scooting forward, Jeff ignored the protest in his thighs and his calf. His back was spasming from crouching for so long, but he gritted his teeth. Drawing his pistol, he studied the standoff before him, trying to ascertain how he could intercede and protect Pete.

Ethan finally broke free from the dead and stumbled to Pete's side. Crouching, he drew a smaller firearm from his boot. “Rachon, what’s going on?”

“I don't know,” she answered. “Bianca, you're not making sense. ”

Walking at a leisurely pace toward Rachon and Prosper, Bianca touched the desiccated forms of the zombies around her. They shuddered at her touch, as though in pain, but then visibly took on a more human form, becoming stronger.

“I have to admit it's been fascinating watching all your little plots unfurling. I thought more highly of you when I didn't realize how mired in the human world you remain. I knew your family was your minions, but you actually retain human attachments to them,” Bianca said, her tone mocking. “Where is my bloodthirsty love? Oh, yes. Living a cozy life with her mother. ”

Jeff froze as he listened to the words of the young woman. Closing his eyes, he felt his breath leave him. The world was tilting around him and fear clamped tightly around his chest.

“You. . . ” Rachon managed to say, aghast. “You. . . ”

Opening his eyes, Jeff saw that Bianca was almost to the two vampires, her zombies crowding in behind her.

“Rachon, what's happening?” Prosper demanded.

“Are you afraid of a pasty little white thing like me?” Bianca taunted.

“Fuck me,” Prosper gasped. “Fuck me! It's him!”

“Did you really think I would die so easily?” Bianca asked, then her form was a blur of white.

Rachon screamed, blood splattering her face. Pros

per grunted once, then tumbled to the ground. Bianca stood over his fallen form clutching his heart. His dark vampire blood spotted her white dress and pale skin.

“No!” Rachon cried out, falling to her knees.