The Making of Vampires Ch. 09

The man chuckled and said, "I can see why my grandson is enamored with you."

She didn't speak. Stephany still had pain in her head and now her wrists from the pressure of what she assumed were ropes. She had no idea of whom he was referring to unless it would have been Matt, the favorite sex partner of Rachel and Amy.

The man kissed her cheek and Stephany tried to pull away, but he wrapped his arm around her and try as she might, she could not break his hold. He pulled her tight against his body and forced his mouth hard against hers until the pain and pressure on her lips forced her mouth open.

Then he released her from the kiss. "I'm Pleotis. Well, I used to be. Now, they call me Pete. Hhhmmm. This day and age, they can't be bothered to call me Peter. They shorten it to Pete, but still, I prefer Pleotis. It is my name, after all. I hear they call you Stephy. I guess Stephany is too long for the simple minded."

He perused her body with his eyes and said, "We are going to have fun. Then I'm going to push you to the edge of death, over and over until I make you mine. I'll take from my grandson what he dearly wants as he took from me what I dearly wanted. Power. I wanted power."

Stephany asked, "Who is your grandson? I'm not dating anyone."

He smiled. He would enjoy destroying any trust possible between the two of them. "Well, Stephany. My grandsons are Augustus, Gabriel, and Martinelli Morsus."

Stephany knew the Morsus brothers and said, "I'm sorry, but I'm not involved with any of them."

Pleotis placed his hand on her t-shirt, over her breast and massaged. Stephany turned away as he said, "Martinelli wishes to make you his bride, but I am going to prevent that." He moved his hand between her legs and forced his palms over her panties as she tried to hold her knees together. "You don't even know what we are." He bent, placed his mouth on her shirt, and sucked at her nipple.

Stephany whimpered, "Please. Stop. You have the wrong woman. Martin has never indicated any interest in me." The man implied there was something different about them, she wondered what, and if all of their kind had access to magic as Gabriel had.

Pleotis looked into her eyes releasing her nipple from his mouth. "This is going to be so much fun. Stephany, you are someone who really appreciates her independence. Martin wants to make you his possession, his slave. He wants to own you." He heard her pulse quicken. He forced his legs between hers, parting them enough to reach the sensitive zone that would bring him pleasure, which only added to her fears. He loved the taste of fear-laced blood and knowing he was drinking from his treacherous grandson's bride would only heighten his enjoyment.

When she felt his hand slip into her panties, Stephany turned away, pressed her eyes closed and asked, "What are you?"

Pleotis rolled on top of her, his face inches from her, and answered, "Vampires." Then he ripped her panties away.

Her eyes widened, either from pain of more pressure on her wrists or from surprise because she really had not expected to meet another vampire. Henry had told her they were rare and because she met one, the odds of meeting any others were nearly impossible.

At the time, Stephany had been disappointed to learn she wouldn't meet other vampires. Now, she would give anything not to have met this vampire or his grandsons. She should have realized that the Morsus brothers were vampires. She hadn't met any other creatures and that would have explained the magic Gabriel had at his disposal.

Pleotis forced her legs father apart and prepared to enter her. She tried to fight, but she would not have been able to counter his weight even if her hands were free. She whimpered as he entered her. Fear clouded her mind and she couldn't focus on anything except trying not to cry.

Pleotis slammed into her, hearing her pained filled gasps. Repeatedly, he pounded into her with little care of her pleasure, comfort, or life. He used his one hand to force her face to his and pressed his mouth against hers in a kiss that did more to hold her steady than anything romantically or sexually.

He waited until her fear started to recede, released her from the kiss, and bit deep into her neck. The taste of the fear-laced blood overwhelmed him and he sucked away as he came inside her. Then through the haze of his feeding, he felt the subtle, but distinct link of another vampire disintegrating as he drank from her. He enjoyed every drop and sensation, until he felt her struggles weaken and her heartbeats grow faint.

Pleotis rolled off his unconscious conquest. Then he bit the tip of his finger and placed a few drops in her mouth. "Can't have you dying on me. There will be time for that later." He waved his hand and clothes appeared on him as if splashed into place.

He opened the cabin door to leave and wondered what vampire she previously encountered. It was a delight to rob her from his grandson, but to have stolen her from another vampire was astonishing. A vampire creates a link with the last human to whom he fed. The link helped to find the human when the vampire needed to feed. Pleotis knew the mystery vampire felt the severing of the link and he felt an incredible sense of delight.

***

In the desert on the other side of the world, Henry felt a sense of dread. Another vampire had fed from Stephany and he had no idea if she was hurt, dead, or turned. He wished now, he would have turned her even if his beast hadn't claimed her. He, his human half would always have been connected to her. His human half found her...special.

***

On the third day after Stephany's abduction, Gabriel, frustrated, cast another spell on the tube of lipstick placed on a map of the country. He cast each spell on a bigger and bigger map encompassing more area because they were not getting any readings of her whereabouts.

He spoke the words of the spell again to show Stephany's location. Again, nothing happened. No red mark appeared on the map. He feared losing both brothers as he expected Martin to kill August if they did not recover Stephany alive. Then the vampires would have to kill Martin because he would embrace the evil side of his nature.

Sophia touched his shoulder and Gabriel turned to kiss her hand. The magic users stood around him focusing their power on their leader to create a powerful spell for each casting. He leaned on the table and stared at the map. He didn't know what to do. He glanced to the side at Martin who sat as a statue, doing nothing but staring at the map. Martin hadn't moved since the castings started, three days ago. He wouldn't move until they discovered where Stephany was.

Bobby Grant was the only one of the young ones to remain. Martin kept him close as he considered Bobby's youth as a vulnerability. Bobby could learn by remaining close and Martin wouldn't have to worry about ensuring the young vampires protection.

Bobby's youth finally broke through as impatience. "Why keep saying the same words? If the spell won't tell you where she is, ask it where she isn't." He expected punishment for his disrespect, but he also understood what was at risk and he considered it more than the life of one woman. It was the existence of the clan.

Gabriel looked at Bobby and realized the conflict between his brothers affected his decisions more than he realized. He should have thought of the different wording right after his first casting. He had been so worried of Martin killing August that his thoughts had been unable to find a solution to their dilemma.

Gabriel took a deep breath and asked to show where Stephany was not. The map reddened. Relief filled the room as every part of the map colored red except a small dot off the coast, in the ocean.

Martin rose quickly and moved to Gabriel. "Take us. Use your magic. Now."

Gabriel started his incantation and expected to feel the sensation of moving to the spot on the ocean, but nothing happened. Gabriel looked at his hands as if they betrayed him.

Sophia said, "It is protected and hidden by some spell, Gabriel. We can't get there by magic, but you can take them as close as you can. We will follow."

Gabriel nodded and said the spell again thinking of the beach and almost immediately felt the sand under his feet and the salty breeze across his face. They were there, but they could not see any boat or platform on the ocean.

Sophia arrived with the other magic users with the map as if they planned for that instead of Gabriel forgetting to grab it. She passed it to her husband who gave her a look of gratitude. She kissed the tips of her fingers and placed them gently on his lips.

August spoke quietly, "I suggest we get a boat or something. Gabriel and his spell casters should remain here. They will be helpless without their magic."

Gabriel said, "No. I can fight with weapons. I have been trained as you both have." He shrugged. "I'm not as good, but I can fight."

Martin nodded and turned to move quickly to the dock with the boats. He and everyone knew the real reason Gabriel was going. It was to hinder Martin's attempt to eliminate August out on the water if Stephany was dead.

***

Stephany opened her eyes. It surprised her how quickly she had lost the will to live. She didn't know how much time had passed. This was the third time she had gained consciousness. She expected Pleotis to arrive soon. He seemed to know when she was conscious. Then he would come, tell her horrible things about Martin, have his way with her, and drink from her until she lost consciousness, again. She heard voices outside the door. She recognized them as Pleotis, William, and Curtis.

Curtis said, "You promised she would be ours after you got what you needed from her. We want her, now."

Pleotis answered, "I'm not finished. I paid you for her delivery. Now, let me finish and then she is yours."

Footsteps receded before a click sounded and Pleotis opened the door. He smiled at Stephany. "Sweetheart, you look fetching. I'm glad you got some rest." He waved his hand and his clothes disappeared.

Stephany tried to beg for death. She wanted to die. She wanted the horrible sensations and pain to stop. She was ready to go to her mother, but nothing came out of her mouth. She was too weak to speak. She was barely able to make her eyes obey and focus on the vampire and expected to fall into unconsciousness.

Pleotis sensed her body failing and he bit his finger sticking the dripping blood into her mouth helping her to heal, just a bit. Her eyes fluttered and opened. He laid by her placing a kiss on her mouth and tracing a finger lightly down her naked body. He had ripped her shirt from her body days ago, as Pleotis disliked it getting in the way of his pleasure. He moved on top of her and pushed into her hard. She whimpered.

***

Martin and his trusted men swam quietly through the water. Gabriel used magic on the yacht they stole and moved it quickly toward the center of the magically hidden zone. Then he lost access to the magical weave and he could no longer power the boat.

Martin had invited all the warriors, except August, to go with him. The closer they got to the protected zone, the less Martin acknowledged his oldest brother as he prepared his mind for the possibility of killing the eldest Morsus. Moreover, August knew.

Martin was the first to climb aboard the cabin cruiser, a larger version of the yacht the vampires had stolen. He focused and detected six heartbeats, one weak and faint. He had found her. He could not help, but recognize the cadence of her heart.

Martin's steps faltered. A second heartbeat sounded familiar and it distracted him. It was coming toward his part of the ship. Around the corners stepped an elderly woman who looked startled to see him. Then she pulled out a long stick from the folds of her sweater and pointed it at him.

With a cackle, Hesicate said, "Martin, nice to see you after all these years since you rejected me. And now I finish you."

Martin's mind raced to the time soon after his turning. She was the servant in the bed when his brothers announced the death of his wife and unborn child. Now, she held a wand and somehow lived millenniums to continue the punishment for his infidelity.

She smiled proudly and said, "I took away your happiness time and time again as you did mine. She will soon be dead as well." She cackled. "Most painfully, I promise."

A sinking feeling hit his stomach.

Hesicate continued, "I pushed your wife off the cliff so I could be with you all the time, but you sent me away. I stabbed the druid and let her freeze in the snow and you never knew. Now, I'll kill the little scientist when Pleotis if finished fucking her." She shrugged. "You shouldn't have pushed me away. I would have made you very happy."

Martin had little time left as he saw the sparking of her wand. Somehow, she must be able to cast in the protected area. Everything was clear to him now. He knew who the red robed couple were, Hesicate and Pleotis. He had to act, quickly. He could not afford to fail this time. He could not allow his past to be the reason for another woman's death.

Martin held out his hand to her, "Hesicate, I looked for you after I sent you away. I wandered for months in hopes of finding you. I made a mistake and all these years, the women were chosen to help me forget you, the love of my life."

Hesicate kept her wand steady, but her face softened, "What could you possibly see in me now, I'm old. Don't expect me to believe you."

Martin countered, "Think of how you have stayed alive all this time. Gabriel can create something to recoup your youth. Just come with me. We can leave this boat together. We can leave Pleotis to have her. I have you now. Just come with me."

Hesicate slowly lowered her hand. "Martinelli, do you mean that?"

He nodded. "I realized you were the only one for me after I had sent you away. I would have come to you had I know where you were."

She took a step toward him. Hesicate, beaming, reached for Martinelli. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her. Then he snapped his muscles taut hearing the crack of her body break in his arms. A jolt of energy burst from her wand and into his side knocking him back. Her body fell motionless, the vertebrae in her neck broken. She used her last bit of energy to release the magic too late to save her.

Martin felt the pain in his side. He saw the mark of magic on his damaged skin. He didn't feel the healing process. He was dying, but not before saving Stephany. He heard the stuttering heartbeat of Hesicate as her body grew closer to death. He tried to crawl to the body of blood, but his limbs wouldn't respond.

He saw Bobby out of the corner of his eyes. Bobby lifted his sire and carried him the few steps to the dying woman. He laid Martin down and lifted the woman's wrist to his master's mouth. Martin's fang reacted instinctively and he bit into the weakened stream of blood. He felt the healing begin and he kept drinking until there was nothing left in Hesicate's body. Then he pulled off her head to prevent her rising as one of their own.

Martin's body did not heal completely. The wand did more damage than her blood could heal. He would have to feed again, but only after Stephany was safe.

Stephany's heart grew unsteady and weaker. He stood unsteadily and staggered to the door, which muffled the sound of his bride's heart. Bobby reached out and steadied him. Martin closed his eyes and forced his mind and body to obey. Then he patted Bobby on the shoulder and stepped away from the younger man.

With each step, Martin grew stronger and more focused. He opened the door and descended the stairs. He cringed inwardly. He heard the sounds of a vampire enjoying his dinner. Bobby and Gabriel followed behind him, all moving quieter than starlight upon the water.

Martin heard Stephany's whimper and ripped the door off its hinges. Pleotis looked up in surprise, his attention having been diverted by the woman's body and blood, the latter dripping from his lips.

Martin saw the naked man on top of his naked bride. The scene enraged Martin's beast who broke free, separating the two of them for the first time in centuries. The beast's wings sprung from his body taking up the space in the hall and he flew into the room knocking Pleotis from Stephany's body and crashing them into the wall. Pleotis allowed his beast to emerge as well.

Gabriel tried to cast a spell of healing, but he couldn't find the weave and he failed. He pulled out a piece of wax in the shape of a leaf and snapped it in half. He felt the release of magic, but it fizzled out before anything happened.

Bobby moved to the bed and pulled the blankets over Stephany cocooning her within. Her eyes opened, but she had trouble focusing on him and the noise of the beasts drew her attention to the side. She tried to look at the commotion, but her head lolled and she passed out from the exertion. Bobby lifted her from the bed and ran out of the cabin. He would get her to the yacht. He saw Gabriel fail at casting a spell and assumed she had to be outside of whatever prevented the magic before anyone could heal her. He didn't dare give her his blood. She was Martin's.

Bobby halted as two men aimed guns at him. He felt his anger growing at the interruption. He saw the minute muscle movement in the first man's hand and twisted using his body to shelter Stephany as the bullets slammed into his back.

Pleotis bit into Martin's neck drinking and pounded his one hand into his grandson's abdomen. Martin felt the cracking of his ribs, but he ignored the pummeling and the bite. Instead, he focused on reaching his grandfather's evil heart.

Martin pulled the stake from his belt that he had carved especially for Creed and pushed it through the skin of his grandfather's beast. The snap of the layers of skin and muscle indicated he was starting well, if not slowly. Pleotis felt the slow invasion and understood the danger. He caught Martin's wrist as well as he could and used his wings to batter the younger vampire to prevent his own demise.

Gabriel grabbed his grandfather's head trying to pry open his mouth. He wanted to prevent his brother from losing his throat and any more blood. He felt pain as his cheek split open from his grandfather's beating wings, but he didn't release the older man though the injury nearly took out his eye.

Martin heard the gunshots in the hall. His fear heightened as he worried about Stephany and Bobby. He pushed his stake harder and deeper despite his grandfather's efforts to prevent him from doing so.

Then Gabriel felt his grandfather's head move slightly and heard the snap of skin. Blood sprayed from Martin's throat releasing that of what he could not afford to lose. With every ounce of strength he could muster, Martin shoved the wooden stake deeper, felt it press against the rotted mass that was his grandfather's heart, and pushed with all his might.

Pleotis only had moments if he did nothing. In a desperate act, he snapped his wings forward to push his grandsons away in order to free himself. Gabriel lost his grip as he fell back.

Martin felt his throat rip and expected to die. Yet, he planned to take his grandfather with him. In his weakened state, he could not fight against the push of the wings and fell away from Pleotis. In a desperate act, he shoved the stake and felt the burst of embers as his grandfather died. Then he remembered nothing.

Gabriel caught his brother and laid him on the floor behind the bed. The gunshots continued from outside the cabin door. There was little time. He didn't bother using the door. His heightened senses made it possible for him to pinpoint the two gunmen's position behind the wall. He ran at the wall crashing through and into the men.