Bloodlust

A lock clicked, and then we heard the scratch of metal against metal as Jasper undid the bolt. Finally, he opened the door, wedging his body next to the edge so we couldnt see inside.

"Well, well, well. Callie and the man who staked the vampire, then ran for his life. To what do we owe the pleasure?" Jasper leered. I shifted uncomfortably, trying to get a glimpse inside the room.

"Hello, Jasper," Callie said, brushing past him and motioning for me to follow. In the darkness, I could just make out a sizable cage in the corner. A large, unmoving lump lay inside. "Father needs you in the study. Stefan will take over until the next shift arrives."

"Meet Jasper in the study?" a loud voice boomed. "But Im right here."

I froze.Gallagher.

Callies father was perched at a rickety table behind the door, a hand of cards laid out in front of him. In the center of the table, a single candle flickered.

"Oh, Father." Callie giggled. The sound felt forced, out of place. "I must have been confused. I know youd wanted to play cards tonight, and I suppose I thought youd be more comfortable in the study or " she began, her voice wavering. She licked her lips and sat down at the table across from Gallagher.

"Youre kind to think of me, girl," Gallagher said gruffly.

"Mr. Gallagher," I said, bowing slightly. "I was told to report for duty, but perhaps Im mistaken?" The confusion wasnt hard to feign. Callie had sworn her father would be out of the house.

"Is that right, Jasper?" Gallagher asked.

"Guess it is. He aint bad, that one. A little nervous, but when he sticks em, he sticks em good."

Gallagher nodded, taking in the information.

"And this is that boy you trust, Miss Callie?" Gallagher asked his daughter.

Callie nodded, her cheeks reddening under her freckles. Then finally, thankfully, Gallagher stood up, his chair scraping against the floor.

"Well, then, Ill leave you boys to it," he said, taking his whiskey and following his daughter downstairs.

"So youre Gallaghers guy now, aint you?" Jasper asked, shoving a vervain-soaked stake in my hands. My skin burned, and pain shot through my arms. I fought the urge to growl and clamped down on my tongue. Tensing, I felt the stake with only two fingers, trying to minimize the contact the poisoned wood had with my body.

"Well, I aint going to stick around," Jasper continued. "The vampires hungry tonight. Hope he eats you. And while he does that, Im going to spend some time with Miss Callie and her daddy. Show em youre not the only man who can be all friendly and genteel-like," Jasper said. His movements were loose, and I could smell whiskey on his breath.

"Brother?"I whispered.

Damon reared up, fangs bared, causing me to jump back in surprise.

He laughed, a hoarse chuckle, then collapsed against the side of the cage, exhausted from the exertion.

"What, brother? Scared of a vampire?"

I ignored him as I began wresting the door off the structure. Damon watched in curiosity and then slowly crawled over toward me. He was just reaching out when I felt a searing pain radiate from my spine through my entire body.

"Gotcha!" a voice yelled.

Chapter 27

My heavy-lidded eyes fought to drift open. I didnt know how much time had passed. Was it one night? Two? A week? It was dark, wherever I was. I was vaguely conscious, hearing footfalls and yelling, and once a voice that sounded like Callies, calling out my name. But one day I woke up without suddenly falling back into unconsciousness. I lifted my arms, realizing I was shackled to the wall. I had vervain burns on my arms and legs. Dried blood crusted my entire body, making it impossible for me to tell where I was wounded. Next to me, Damon was sitting with his knees to his chest. Blood covered his body, and his cheeks were gaunt. Dark shadows rimmed his sunken eyes, but a slow smile was spreading across his face.

"Not so powerful now, are you, brother?"

I struggled to sit up. My bones ached. The attic was soaked in a dim gray light that came from a filthy window. The padding and sniffing of a mouse sounded somewhere far across the room. It stirred a hunger inside me, and I realized that I hadnt fed since being here. In the corner, two unfamiliar guards were sitting, oblivious to our near-silent conversation.

I shook my head in disgust. How could I have been so stupid? Lexi had been right. Of course she had. Callie had betrayed me. It must have been her plan all along, from the second shed noticed the ring on my finger that matched Damons. I should have realized it the moment Id seen her father in the room. How had I stepped into such a stupid, obvious trap? I deserved to be chained up like an animal.

"Did you love her?" Damon asked, as if he could read my thoughts.

I stared straight ahead.

"She hasnt come to visit, in case you were curious," Damon continued conversationally. "She is pretty, though in my humble opinion, you could do better."

Anger pushed my fangs into place. "Where are you going with this?" I growled.

Damon gestured to the bars. "Nowhere, apparently. Excellent job on the rescue attempt."

"At least I tried," I said, my fury ebbing and resignation flowing in its place.

"Why even bother?" Damons eyes flashed. "Have I not made my feelings about you perfectly clear?"

"I " I began, before I realized I had no idea where to even start. How could I tell him that rescuing him wasnt a choice? That our blood ran in each others veins, that we were bound to each other. "It doesnt matter," I said.

"No, it doesnt," Damon said, adopting a philosophical tone. "After all, well both be dead soon enough. The question is, will you be killed by a crocodile or by a tiger? I heard Gallagher saying crocodiles are the best fight opponents, because they dont go for the kill. They drag it out."