The Craving

But at that moment, a vervain-soaked net fell on us both, searing every inch of my body.

“Run!” I shouted, pushing Lexi out of the way.

She rolled to the floor, then reached for the edge of a pew to help right herself. As she extended her arm, though, it passed through a shaft of sunlight. Her eyes widened in wonder, clearly shocked that no smoke appeared and her skin didn’t burn. And then she disappeared, blurring with vampire speed away from the scene.

I put up my hands, trying to keep the netting off my face, but I twisted and cried out wherever the poisoned rope touched me.

The ancient vampire appeared, giant leather gloves on his hands and a big grin on his pale face.

“Hello.” The corners of his mouth pulled back too far, revealing a set of strong white teeth wedged in decaying gums. “So predictable, coming to rescue a damsel in distress.”

That foul odor of a slaughterhouse enveloped me like a hot wind in August: inescapable, absolute, and horrible. Despite the burning nets, I tried to turn away from it.

That only made him chuckle.

“Where is the one who is always near you and just out of your grasp, like a shadow? Where is your brother?”

I clenched my jaw. Knowing Damon, he was swilling his third whiskey, preparing to feast on a saloon girl or two.

Lucius studied my silent face, seeming to mistake it for bravado. “Well, it is no matter. I will get him eventually. Your brother is more like a real vampyr than you, no interest in anything outside his little world, no desire to do good. He may survive for a trifle longer.”

“What do you plan to do with me?” I demanded. Though in truth, now that Lexi was safe, I didn’t fear for my own safety. I wished only to have the chance to kill the monster, to stop him from exacting further revenge and preying on more humans.

But the vervain was drawing out my Power like a siphon, and I knew even scratching the old one would be a small victory.

The beast grabbed the net and threw me over his shoulder like I was nothing more than a bag of mice or feathers.

“My plans are not particularly spectacular,” he said as he lumbered down the church’s aisle. There were still rose petals on the floor, I noted, drying away into thin scraps of nothing. The flowers in vases were wilted, everything left to wither after the murder of the brides.

“But they will be enduring. Vampires can survive a very, very long time. Without food. Slowly starving over the centuries and still not dying.” The net shifted as he shrugged. “Well, eventually, perhaps. I’ve never seen it happen, but I suppose we’ll find out.”

He took a sudden left into the private chapel, stopping in front of a set of double doors—the crypt, I suddenly realized with mounting dread. Although the doors were solid, carved marble, Lucius had no problem throwing them open, dumping me out of the net, and tossing me into a tiny stone room, barely larger than the dozen coffins interred there.

For one brief moment, I relished the feel of the cool air rushing over my burned skin.

But then he let out a low growl. “When your hunger for blood eats you from the inside and makes you go mad, do not worry—I will be there, listening. Watching. And laughing.”

My last sight was of the ancient standing, outlined in a bright halo of the living world, waving. Then he threw the doors closed with a slam that echoed to the very heavens, and I was in utter darkness.

I raced to the doors and threw my weight against them. They didn’t even rattle. Trying to quell my rising hysteria, I took in the dank, musty room, searching for an opening, a secret exit, an out, even though a voice at the back of my mind screamed, “It’s a crypt, Stefan! Death is the only way out!”

I wove through the maze of coffins and sarcophagi. Even in my panic I noticed the ornate carvings and brass hinges. One of the marble tombs had the portrait of a young girl engraved in high relief. She had wide eyes and bow-shaped lips. I slumped over the carving, as though I could hug the girl resting beneath it.

At least Lexi was safe, I told myself. If nothing else, at least I could spend the centuries knowing that she was out there somewhere, living her life—protected by my ring. And maybe, just maybe, trying to find me.

“So long,” I whispered to Lexi in the silence of the tomb.

As if on cue, the doors to the crypt opened one last time, and a petite blonde came hurtling through, landing with a thud at my feet.

“Lexi!” I cried as the doors slammed shut behind her, plunging us into darkness again.

“Hey there,” she said weakly. “Fancy meeting you here.”

Chapter 26

“What are you doing here?” I demanded.

Lexi raised a brow at me. “Same thing you are. Looking forward to a long, painful eternity together.”

“No, I mean why didn’t you run?” I asked, resisting the urge to take her by the shoulders and shake her.

“Of course I ran, you idiot!” she snapped. “But I guess he expected I would. . . . I never even saw him come after me.” I could feel her shiver in the dark. “He appeared out of nowhere.” Her voice grew grim. “I wonder if that’s how humans feel when they meet us. If we ever get out of this, I swear I am going to be nicer to them in the future. Humans, I mean. That vampire—now him I want to kill.”

I put my hand on her forearm, softening. “I just pray we get that chance.”

“Come, let’s get out of here.” She turned and swung her leg, putting the heel of her boot smack into the middle of the doors.

There was a resounding thud, but nothing budged.

She delivered another roundhouse kick to the doors. And another. And another.