Page 15 of Prince with a Chance of Darkness (Grimm Cove #7)

Chapter Fifteen

Vlad

Vlad stood on the steps of a college chapel, drawn by the scent of a woman who haunted his memory. He had four years’ worth of false leads, dashed hopes and endless frustration. Vlad of old would have filled his nights with countless nameless women and who knows what else, all to keep his focus from returning to her—to Ponytail Girl.

But Vlad of old was no more.

If he’d ever really existed at all. He was starting to wonder.

His demon was hyped, bouncing around within him like a caged beast.

This time is different , it said and Vlad wondered if the words were meant to reassure him or itself.

At some point over the years, his demon had become the voice of optimism and hope. The irony was not lost on him. While he wanted to believe the demon—that this time was different. That this wasn’t yet another false lead, but it wasn’t looking good.

He’d followed the smell around campus, deep into the woods, before it had begun to fade. He’d doubled back and had begun to feel as if he were on a wild goose chase when the scent had intensified, leading him to a chapel of all places.

There was no sign of Ponytail Girl.

She was here , said the demon sounding incredibly sure of itself.

“Was she?” questioned Vlad, no longer sure of anything anymore.

The odds of Ponytail Girl being in Grimm Cove were slim to none. He knew as much. Following the phantom scent was simply one more sign that his grasp on reality was slipping. Something else for The Weird Sisters to share looks and speak to one another on the mental pathway reserved for themselves.

He knew of their whispers, of their worries. They wore them on their faces, despite their best efforts of the contrary.

He could not fault them. Vlad knew he was not a man who could be permitted to lose his way—to lose himself to darkness fully. In him lived a great evil, and he was starting to wonder if that evil was the demon or the man.

He remained on the steps of the chapel, unable to pull himself away just yet. His demon was perched on the edge of trying to break free, as if waiting for any sign that Ponytail Girl might truly be in the area. It longed to see her again too, if for no other reason than to assure it that she was alive and well.

The air prickled with warning, his senses alerting him to danger at once.

There are others of our kind near , his demon warned with a growl. Someone powerful tries to cloak their presence from us.

Vlad knew of only a few kinds of supernaturals who could manage such a feat, especially when dealing with someone like himself. Only the most powerful of necromancers and witches could achieve it. Both were dangerous and would present an interesting foe to go up against. He feared neither.

He closed his eyes, stretching his senses and his powers. He felt them then. Six—no seven vampires in the immediate area, none of which were of his line or those who served him. They weren’t of Bram’s doing, either. These were new to him.

There are more than that even , whispered his demon as if it might be overheard. Many more here, on this campus, on this night. I am only just sensing them now.

There was something else there, evading his detection, as if dancing on the edge of the shadows of his mind. Whoever or whatever it was wouldn’t be able to hide for long. He tipped his head slightly and laughter carried over the distance to him.

It was male and familiar, bringing with it memories of his youth. Of dark days long since over. The laughter faded as quickly as it had started, leaving him wondering if he ever really heard it or if his mind was playing tricks on him—like it was with Ponytail Girl’s scent.

Regardless, others like us are close , the demon said, reminding him he had a task to do.

Vlad moved silently as he walked alongside the chapel, following the scent of vampires—faint, but present.

“Do not fear, little mouse. Just a little taste. Maybe we keep you around after. Would you like that? Want to be one of us? We don’t have a female—yet.” The male, accented voice found Vlad and his demon snarled.

This is Bram’s territory. Only we are allowed to enter it without permission and defy him , the demon quipped. Who does he think he is?

Vlad drew upon his ability to create darkness and blanketed himself in it as he continued onward. He wanted to see what the vampires were doing and who it was they were calling Little Mouse. Then, he planned to hunt them and see how they liked it.

He removed his top hat and set it on the ground before unfastening his frock coat. He slid it from his shoulders and folded it in half, laying it beside the hat. The night air was warm for spring, touched by a mild breeze. It moved across the fabric of his shirt, but he barely registered it. Since sexual release by way of anything other than his hand was a thing of the past for him and had been for four years, Vlad had a lot of pent-up energy he needed to expel. The vampires encroaching on Bram’s territory would do nicely to help him work off some of the excess energy.

He reached for his cuff links, unfastening each one with efficient ease. He dropped them into his coat pocket. He rolled his sleeves to his forearms. No sense getting blood on his coat or losing cuff links unnecessarily.

The voices ahead carried in the stillness.

“Let’s turn her,” said another male. “She’s smokin’ hot. I want to taste her first.”

The smell of night jasmine and honeysuckle found its way to Vlad as he was rounding the corner of the chapel. He froze, his entire body going rigid. Could it really be her?

We should not get our hopes up , said the demon, restless. We have been disappointed too many times over the past four years. This will be as the other times have been—a dead end.

He moved forward, stepping around the back corner of the chapel, giving him a view of most of the old cemetery. As expected, there was a group of vampires. They were forming a circle around someone.

The tallest of them had his back to Vlad and looked to have hold of long, dark hair. He jerked on it, and the tiniest of feminine gasps sounded.

“Little mouse, do me a favor,” the vampire said. “Scream for me.”

“Or,” said a woman who Vlad had yet to be able to see. “You could scream for me.”

That voice. He knew that husky voice. It was like music to his ears—a summoning of the soul he long since thought lost.

It was her! It had to be.

Vlad kept the darkness pulled up around him, knowing it not only shielded him from the view of the others, but it blocked their ability to sense him. He moved quickly toward the circle of vampires just as the tall one was thrust back. The man clutched his stomach and fell to the ground, right past Vlad.

There, standing tall, her long hair blowing in the night breeze, was the face of an angel—of a woman Vlad never thought he’d see again.

Ponytail Girl.

Before he could so much as blink, she was going at another vampire as she yanked something from her boot. Silver flashed in the moonlight as she spun and delivered a wicked punch to the throat of the vampire. She then stabbed him in the chest. One second, he was there, and the next he was gone.

Poof.

As if he never existed.

“That was for calling me sweetheart!” she shouted, her attention moving to the next vampire.

“Slayer,” hissed one of the men.

“Kill her!” yelled the tall vampire as he pushed to his feet.

Vlad and his demon came to a perfect understanding. No one was to touch Ponytail Girl. Any who tried would meet their death at his hands.

He moved with preternatural speed, heading off the tall vampire. He seized the man by the throat, lifted him off his feet with one hand, and proceeded to throw him across the cemetery. He landed on an old gravestone, breaking it in half.

Vlad twisted around and went at another vampire, darkness still cloaking him. This vampire was engaged in battle with Ponytail Girl. Vlad grabbed him from behind by his head, twisted fast and hard, ripping the vampire’s head off in one clean motion. The vampire burst into fine dust that blew away in the breeze.

Ponytail Girl stabbed another in the chest, dispatching him with ease. She spun around, and it took Vlad a second to realize she was coming at him with the dagger in hand, aiming for his chest. Her blue eyes were locked on him, focused, her intent clear. She planned to kill every vampire present, him included. He wasn’t sure how it was she saw through his cloak of darkness, but she had.

His demon laughed. She is magnificent!

Vlad caught her wrist and turned her around, closing his arms, locking her back to his front. Her backside was lined up perfectly with his groin.

He hardened instantly, surprise coursing through his veins. The last time he’d been aroused was four years ago. He’d assumed something was wrong with him. That his age had finally caught up with him, leaving him little to no desire for sex.

Evidently, he’d been wrong.

Very, very wrong.

“Ohmygod, perv! You’re getting off on this,” Ponytail Girl said, her husky voice causing Vlad’s body to throb with need. She wiggled to get free, leaving her butt rubbing against his erection.

She is going to kill us without needing to deliver a single blow if she keeps teasing us in such a manner , said his demon.

He let his darkness spell drop. His gaze darkened on the last of the vampires who had been surrounding her.

The remaining three vampires shared a look that said they had no interest in dying on this night before they turned and ran.

Vlad loosened his hold on Ponytail Girl, turning her to face him, knowing she was still armed but not caring. He did not want her to see what he was going to do to the others.

His gaze moved past her, to the fleeing vampires. He allowed his powers to rise, tapping into one facet that set him apart from other vampires. What gave him a dark edge. It wasn’t something he used often but when it did, it left an impression on any who witnessed. He didn’t want Ponytail Girl knowing the true extent of his rage and willingness to harm others.

He moved two fingers off Ponytail Girl’s hip, pointing them at the fleeing vampires a second before he sent the call out.

Almost instantly rats came rushing out of the woods, acting as one unit, going right for the vampires, racing up them, covering each in a mound of tails, claws, and teeth.

Vlad wrapped the darkness around Ponytail Girl and himself, making sure it blocked the screams of the others as the rats consumed them. A slight smile touching his lips at the knowledge they were suffering horrible ends.

I enjoy it greatly when you are the twisted one , said the demon. Now, disarm her and let her drink from us again. Then, encourage her to put her mouth lower. Much lower.

“ Lumini?a mea ,” he whispered, his focus returning to her. He trailed his hand up her back, savoring the feel of her.

She grabbed his arm and flipped him over her back like it was nothing.

He landed on his back with a thud, and she was on him instantly, straddling his waist, blade pressed to his chest. The position was achingly familiar—like that night in his cell four years ago.

Yes! His demon exclaimed as if it had won a prize. Now we are talking. Quick, undress.