Tiny Bites Page 8

  I ran around the corner and threw myself at the leader, knocking him out of the chair.

  "Tanner?" Confusion covered his face.

  "How dare you?" I screamed. Staring at the largest vein in his neck, I opened my mouth to drain him.

  He shoved his hands against my cheek. "My blood will kill you!"

  "As long as it kills you, I don't care." I wrapped my hands around his wrist to loosen his grip.

  The other wolves surrounded us.

  "Alexis is dead!" I yelled.

  "What?" Foley asked. He stopped resisting me.

  "You heard me." I spit my venom onto his face.

  He wiped it with his sleeve and backed away from me. "When?" he demanded.

  "Ask your pack." I glared at the other wolves.

  "This is the first we've heard of it," one said, and the other nodded in agreement.

  "We swear it."

  Foley turned back to me. "What did you hear?"

  I narrowed my eyes. "Everyone has confirmed she was eaten by wolves." I shot a look at the others.

  "My pack knows better," Foley said. "Let's talk calmly about this."

  "Calm?" I screamed. "You want calm?"

  A tall, buff man appeared out of nowhere. I sniffed. Vampire. He stared into my eyes and I froze into place. "You're going to forget everything I tell this wolf."

  I nodded, unable to speak.

  The vampire turned to Foley. "Alexis is alive and well. Tanner has had his mind controlled to hear 'eaten by wolves.'" He turned, snapped in my face, and everything turned white.

  ***

  Eaten by Wolves was originally in the compilation Crimson Dirt, which you can read for free at most online retailers.

  Returned

  Chapter One

  My head hit the bottom step as I rolled to a stop over the grass. I groaned, rubbing my head.

  "Please let this be a horrible nightmare," I mumbled.

  "Stay there, Natalie!" shouted Clara from across the yard.

  I sat up and looked around. My friend Clara—who as it turned out was actually a vampire—was biting into the neck of a dude in a cloak. Probably another vampire. I'd had more than enough vampires to last me a lifetime.

  Several other hooded vampires headed for Clara. There was nothing I could do. She was one of them. Not me. I needed to get away—if that was even possible.

  None of them appeared to be paying me any attention, so I scrambled to my feet. I could barely stand up without stumbling. I checked my pockets. I didn't have any keys. I had to get in my house somehow.

  The spare key in the back yard.

  I double-checked to make sure they weren't focused on me and I ran, tripping over my own two feet, and made it around the side of the house. I unlatched the hook, but my hands were so unsteady, it took a few tries. I glanced behind me. No one was there.

  The gate slid open easily enough. I slipped through the crack and closed it again. My heart pounded nearly out of my chest. Hopefully, that wouldn't alert them to my whereabouts—they were vampires, after all.

  With no lights on, I had to feel my way to the tree where we kept the extra key. I stumbled into the patio table on the way over, but no one scaled the fence to drink my blood. I hid behind a bush and waited. After a minute of silence, I ran to the tree and lifted the troll statue. I grabbed the ground, still blind. I got the key, along with dirt in my nails.

  I wished we had a regular entrance in the back instead of a sliding glass door. I would have to risk going back to the front where all the vampires were. I shook my head at the absurdity of it all. Vampires.

  Tears blurred my vision, but I wiped them away. I wouldn't let those murderers get to me. Since vampires were obviously real, and they had to hide from humanity, they had to have some kind of weakness. And that had to have something to do with being afraid of people.

  "Get a hold of yourself," I whispered. All I had to do was get inside, then I'd be fine. They couldn't come inside without being invited.

  Right?

  One way or another, I would find out. I said a quick prayer that I wouldn't bring danger into the house. My poor parents had been through enough.

  The porch light shone on me. I froze. Had they gotten inside already? Clara wouldn't have let them in—but she'd been invited already. She'd lived here as a foreign exchange student.

  "Natalie?" asked my dad. He lowered a baseball bat.

  "Dad." I clutched my chest and shook.

  "What are you doing here? I thought you were spending the night at Sydney's."

  Right. That's where I'd been headed when a hooded creep had grabbed me. Before I'd even left my driveway. "That didn't really work out."

  "What are you doing back there?" he asked. "And get inside."

  I took a deep breath and walked in, careful to keep my steps steady. I held out the spare key. "I couldn't find mine."

  "You can always knock, you know. And we have a code for the garage." He closed the sliding door.

  And let all the vampires in? No thank you. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you guys."

  Dad put his hand on my shoulder. "Well, next time remember. Is everything okay?"

  "Oh, sure. Something just came up. That's all." Just my life on the line. No big deal.

  "Are you hungry?" he asked.

  "Honestly, I just want to get to bed."

  "Okay, hon. No more surprises, okay?"

  "No problem."

  "Goodnight." He kissed the top of my head and headed up the stairs.

  I collapsed on the couch. How could vampires be real? Clara and my sister? We'd had two vampires living under our roof. Unbelievable.

  Maybe it would all make sense in the morning. I slid off the couch, barely managing to land on my feet. On my way to the stairs, I detoured to the kitchen and peeked out the window. Our front yard was pleasantly empty. Although, I couldn't help but wonder if that really was good news.

  What if they'd followed me into the back yard? Could they get through the glass door?

  I hurried back to the living room and closed the blinds as if that could keep them from going through the door. Who knew? I wasn't going to take any chances. Not after nearly dying at the hands of a lunatic vampire. And that chick was craze-balls.

  My hand clung to the railing as I made my way up to my room. I glanced into my sister's empty room. How long would she really be gone? Foreign exchange student, my butt. She was living as a vampire, and with any luck, she would stay away. I didn't want her bringing anymore trouble to our family.

  People worry about behavioral problems or illness when they adopt. Who stops to ask if they're getting a vampire? I shook my head and then went into my own room, closing and locking the door.

  Clara sat on my bed.

  I nearly jumped out of my skin. "What the—? How'd you get in here?"

  "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. Look, we need to talk." She pulled her long, blonde hair behind her shoulders.

  "You're not kidding." I narrowed my eyes. "You have a lot to explain. I don't even know where to begin asking questions."

  She patted my bed. "Have a seat."

  "I think I'll stand." I folded my arms and leaned against the wall.

  "Can't say I blame you. I'd be plenty pissed if I were in your shoes."

  "You don't have a clue what it's like to be in my shoes."

  "Why don't I start at the beginning? I'll explain as best I can, but I do need to get back to the castle and help Alexis with the battle."

  I shrugged. "Whatever. She sent you to keep me safe, so I'm sure she'll understand."

  "Okay. Well, for starters, you've already figured out vampires are real."

  "How long have you been one?" I snapped. "Before or after you came to live with my family?"

  "Since I was born."

  My mouth gaped. "Vampires aren't born."

  "Next, you're probably going to tell me we can't have garlic? Or maybe that we sparkle? Perhaps have no reflections?"

  I cracked a smile—I c
ouldn't help it. "Fine. So, I probably know nothing about what vampires are really like. Was Alexis born a vampire, too?"

  Clara nodded. "She was."

  "Why didn't she run around biting people?"

  "Because that doesn't start until the transformation. In her case, she was seventeen."

  "I'll bet my parents didn't know all that when they adopted her."

  She glanced at her watch. "I really should get back to the battle, Natalie. We can answer more questions after all this is settled."

  "What exactly needs settling?"

  "The short version is that an evil woman is trying to overtake the throne."

  "The vampire throne?"

  "Precisely. She's the one who ordered your kidnapping. It was all to get leverage against Alexis."

  "My sister's on the throne?" The room spun around me. Maybe someone had slipped me something. Vampires. Thrones. My sister. It wasn't possible.

  "It's complicated." Clara took a deep breath. "You didn't do anything to deserve any of this, and it's not going to happen again. Francine is going down, and you're safe here."

  "Okay…" My mind fluttered with questions. None reached my mouth.

  "Basically, we have two options. First, I can erase your memories of tonight. You can go to bed and wake up having forgotten all of this. It won't even be a bad dream."

  "What's the other choice?" I asked, doubting I'd like that, either.

  She frowned. "Or you can remember everything. Usually, I'd just make someone forget, but since you're a friend, I want to give you the choice."

  I flashed back to nearly dying barely an hour prior.

  Sure, it would be nice to go on with life as though that hadn't happened, but I didn't want to forget. Hatred toward vampires burned within my core.

  I clenched my fists. "I want to remember."

  "Are you sure?" Clara tilted her head. "It's going to have lasting effects on you. You won't be able to talk to your friends about this, not even in general terms. If you say you saw vampires, people will say—"

  "I know," I snapped. "I get it. But I deserve to remember. I need to know what happened to me—and what my sister is. And I don't ever want to think of vampires in a positive light. I can't leave that chance open."

  Her eyes widened. I could see the hurt in them. "I understand. I hope you're making the right decision because it'll be a lot harder to erase the memories later."

  "Why?" I countered.

  "You'll run the risk of either not forgetting them completely, or losing the memories between now and then. Memory is tricky like that."

  Fury ran through me. "It won't be a problem because I don't ever want to forget—or forgive."

  "Just know that most vampires are good."

  "I find that hard to believe." I narrowed my eyes.

  "It's true," she whispered.

  I shook my head. "One more thing, Clara."

  "Yes?"

  "I don't want to see you or Alexis again. You both need to stay away from here. I don't want anything to do with vampires—or liars. Both of you kept this from me until it nearly cost me my life. I can't trust you, or even look at you."

  Her mouth dropped open.

  "I'm serious. I don't ever want to see another vampire ever again."

  "She's your sister, Natalie."

  I shook my head. "Not anymore."

  "Alexis saved your life."

  My nostrils flared. "She put it in danger! Get out of here, Clara."

  She didn't move.

  "I'll call the cops. Or will you kill them, too?"

  "We don't kill innocents." She got up, walked past me, and went through the door.

  "What the…?"

  I rubbed my temples, slid my shoes off, and climbed into bed fully clothed. What did it matter, anyway? My whole world had been flipped upside down. I was alive, at least.

  Returned

  Chapter Two

  I sat up in bed, gasping for air. The sheets were twisted all around me. Flashing back to being tied up and blindfolded—if you could call it that. They'd stuffed a burlap bag over my head and led me around with a rope.

  Tears stung my eyes. Maybe I should have taken Clara up on her offer to make me forget.

  No.

  I couldn't do that to myself. I needed to remember. Every last detail. Even if I couldn't talk about it with anyone.

  Everything looked normal. I scoffed. There was no such thing as normal. I'd lived a happy, carefree life up until the night before. My parents had bought me everything I ever needed, down to the shiny, new BMW they'd gotten me for my sixteenth birthday.

  Money couldn't fix this.

  Nothing could. I would just have to carry on with my life and pretend that everything was still like it had been. Maybe I just needed the weekend to recover, and then I could go back to school and nobody would be any wiser.

  My phone played a line from my current favorite song. I had a new text.

  I looked around, seeing my handbag sitting on my desk. How had that gotten there? I'd had it when I was headed to my car before the vampires kidnapped me.

  Clara. She had to have brought it in for me. I almost felt grateful, but then again, it was the least she could do. After what her people had done to me.

  The same song played again. Another text. I stepped out of bed, but my feet were caught in the sheets. I landed on the floor before I had a chance to stop myself. I landed with a hard thud. My chin hurt, reminding me of my narrow escape the night before.

  Knock, knock.

  "Are you okay, Natalie?" called my mom.

  "Fine. I just tripped."

  "Okay. I'm going to make breakfast soon. Any requests?"

  How about roasted vampires?

  "Anything's fine."

  "Okay. Be careful in there."

  Right. I had a feeling I'd be clumsy most of the weekend. My nerves were shot. I managed to get my iPhone out of my Louis Vuitton purse without any further injuries.

  My best friend, Sydney, had left me a text message. Scratch that. A ton of them, starting from the night before. The first ones were concerned, but as I read down the conversation, they got more pissy. Finally, she had declared me the worst best friend in the history of best friends. Then the two from this morning were worried.

  WTH Natalie? RU OK?

  UR really scaring me. Call me.

  I set the phone down and fell into my chair. What was I supposed to tell her? "Hey, sorry I missed our sleepover. I was abducted by vampires who almost killed me."

  Right. Then I could start packing for the loony bin.

  What was I supposed to tell her? That I'd decided to stay home? Lame. She'd never buy it, anyway.

  I leaned my head back against the chair and ran my hands through my tangled blonde hair. I picked up a handheld mirror and looked at my reflection. Dark roots. I'd have to go the salon soon.

  My phone sang again.

  If UR not dead, I'm gonna kill you myself.

  Normally, that would be funny. Not today.

  I started texting. Got really sick. Can't get 2gether this weekend. Sry.

  U couldn't have texted?

  No. Sry. Gotta go.

  U suck. Love you.

  U2. CU Monday.

  Bye.

  At least I had her off my back for a couple days. It was almost too bad Alexis wasn't here to see that. She'd always thought Sydney was uber annoying.

  I put my phone away and headed downstairs. Maybe helping with breakfast would get my mind off things.

  "Down already?" asked Mom.

  "Yeah. Thought I could help."

  She smiled. "Thanks, honey. Can you check the bacon?"

  My mouth watered. "You said the magic words." I grabbed the spatula and started flipping.

  She checked something in the oven. "I haven't heard from Lexi in a while. Maybe we should call her today."

  I flinched. Images of being in the dark woods, surrounded by vampires yielding weapons flashed in my mind.

  "Natalie?" />
  "What?" I blinked and focused on my mom.

  "You look pale. Are you okay?"

  "I think I'm coming down with that thing that's going around school," I lied.

  "That stomach virus?" she asked.

  "Maybe."

  "Then you probably shouldn't eat the bacon."

  My mouth dropped. I may have been dealing with some kind of anxiety attack, but I sure wasn't going to let that get between me and my favorite breakfast food. "No, not that. My stomach's fine. The other thing going around."

  She arched a brow. It wouldn't be long before she doubted me. Then she'd start questioning me. If I started talking about vampires…

  "It's just a twenty-four hour thing," I said. "I just need some rest and plenty of liquids."

  "If you say so. Why don't you sit down and have some juice while I finish up?"

  I had wanted to help, but it might be too soon. I grabbed some OJ from the fridge and took my typical seat. The seat that Alexis had always sat in seemed especially empty. Actually, it seemed to mock me. Make fun of me for ever trusting her. I stuck my tongue out at it.

  Mom turned around before I had a chance to pull it back into my mouth.

  "Are you sure you're okay?" She stared at me.

  "Yeah. Just pretending Lexi is still here."

  "Maybe we should cut her exchange program short."

  "No! I mean… no. It's fine. I think my fever is just getting to me."

  She came over to me and put her hand against my forehead. "You don't feel warm."

  I sighed. "You know what I mean. I just need some rest. I'll be fine. I swear."

  "Would you feel better if I made an appointment with your doctor?"

  "I'll be fine by Monday. Really." I pleaded with my eyes for her to believe me.

  "Here's the deal. If you're still sick tomorrow, we go. I'll let you rest today. Can you agree to that?"

  One day to get over nearly being killed by vampires. "Sure. Sounds great."

  She got up and checked the bacon. I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the images of the forest and the swords. The sharp teeth and the red eyes. The bag over my head. Fear—the all-encompassing terror.