Suck It by Linsey Hall
12
Drakon
Rain lashed my face, dragging me from the depths of unconsciousness. I blinked, gradually, coming back to the surface of my mind.
Above me, the sky was dark. Lightning lashed the heavy clouds, making the rain glitter like diamonds as it splashed upon my face. Beneath me, the ground was cold and hard. Stone.
Wind whipped as I sat up. Iron chains tugged at my limbs, keeping me bound close to the floor.
Where the hell was I?
All around me, stone walls rose several feet in the air. I was on the flat roof of a tower, captive while the storm lashed at me. From far below, I could hear crashing waves. The salty scent of the sea air filled my nose, and I breathed in deeply, calming my heart.
There was no one on the roof with me. As far as I could tell, there was no one for miles. It made no sense.
Experimentally, I tugged at my bonds, trying to break myself free.
There was no give.
I put more strength into it, my muscles burning.
Still nothing.
Vaguely, I remembered being underneath the stage at the rodeo. I’d spotted the cannister a dozen feet in front of me and was nearly to it when it had gone off. The force of the blast had thrown me backward, and my memories stopped there.
Someone must have abducted me while I was unconscious.
Lightning cracked, followed by a boom of thunder that shook my insides. As the light faded, a figure appeared in front of me.
Ludovic.
The fierce wind and rain lashed at his hair and jacket as he stared at me with soulless eyes.
I rose to my knees, the farthest I could go with the bindings. Rage surged within me. I was never on my knees before anyone. And yet the magic in these chains kept me here, and the anger boiled within my blood.
“Why did you bring me here?” I demanded.
“Information, of course.” Ludovic’s voice was cold as a snake’s belly in winter. “Although I suppose you could be very valuable to me.”
I laughed at the absurdity of it. The stinking coward thought I could be forced to serve him.
Ludovic tilted his head to the side. “You laugh?”
I just smiled. “I am not your puppet.”
“We’ll see about that.” He raised a hand toward the sky, and a bolt of lightning shot from the heavens and pierced my chest.
Pain like I’d never known tore through me, and I arched my back, biting back the shout that threatened to escape. It felt like my muscles were being torn from my bones, like my veins had filled with acid.
“I know how to cure you of the curse that haunts you,” Ludovic said. “That information is yours if you tell me how to reach MacKenna Carraday. She’s protected from me by a powerful spell. I need to get past it.”
Fates, I wanted that information. But not at this price. “Her name is Macbeth O’Connell.”
Ludovic scoffed. “Her new name. But to us she is MacKenna. Tell me how to reach her.”
“No.”
“Come now, you must know how to get past the spell that hides her from my sight.”
“Still no.”
He frowned, a flash of irritation crossing his features. “Very well, then.”
With a flick of his hand, another bolt of lightning shot down from the sky. The brilliant white light illuminated the world around me as my mind blanked out from the pain. Again, my muscles felt like they might incinerate, and I could barely bite back a noise of pain.
As the agony faded and my vision returned, I realized that Ludovic had come closer. I lunged at him, rattling the chains.
He flinched backward, and I smiled. “I will come for you when I escape here.”
He would become a priority. Before I became fully entombed in granite, I would destroy him.
“You won’t escape.” His face twisted. “Now tell me how to see past the spell that hides her.”
“No.”
Thunder boomed as a brilliant bolt of lightning cracked from the sky, again tearing me apart inside. The pain was like nothing I’d ever felt before, compounding upon the previous strikes. It was all I could do to keep the screams down.
“Tell me.” Ludovic’s hiss cut through the pain. “Once upon a time, you would have told me. You were loyal to no one. You were The First. Heartless, selfish, dedicated only to yourself. Now I offer you information about how to save yourself, and you don’t want it?”
Oh, I wanted it. But the price was too steep.
Through bleary vision, I watched him seethe with frustration. “You protect her.”
Of course I protected her. I could barely protect her from myself, but I could certainly protect her from him. And I would.
“Fine. I’ll make you speak.”
Another bolt of lightning cracked from the sky. Agony. Then another, and another. No matter how many hit me, I never spoke. But eventually, I screamed.
Finally, I fell unconscious.
At first, the dreams didn’t feel like dreams at all. They weren’t, in fact. As I drifted through the fog of my thoughts, I realized that they were memories. Somehow, my mind had gone back to the past.
Everything was as clear as it had been those many years ago when I’d walked these quiet city streets. It was late at night, dark as the bottom of the ocean with just a few beams of light coming from the moon. All around, the ancient buildings towered above me.
Paris, 1720s.
The streets were as empty as my soul, not a person to be seen as the rain drizzled down. I was hollow, as I had been for centuries. The only thing that would fill that was blood. Pain. I was a creature of the darkness, created from blood and magic by a source unknown.
Ravenous hunger filled me. It ate at my stomach, but also my psyche. The only thought I could process was feed.
Had I always been like this?
Sometimes, it was impossible to remember.
The faint sound of a baby crying filled the air, and I followed it down the street toward a narrow, cobblestone alley. Cold rain sprinkled on my face as I strode silently forward.
When I spotted the woman and the baby, the hunger within me howled. There was no fighting something like this. I wasn’t hungry. I was hunger. My body was but a shell meant to feed the howling need given to me by my creator.
The woman, who appeared to have stepped outside to get some fresh air for the crying baby, met my gaze with wide eyes. Her pale blond hair fell in wisps around her face, and fear flickered in her expression.
I had no interest in the baby—I hadn’t been created to be quite that evil—but the woman would do just fine. What happened to the baby after that was none of my concern.
As I strolled toward her, something deep inside me tugged. Discomfort made me roll my shoulders, trying to force it away. The feeling had been growing lately, and if I sat down to think about it, I might be inclined to call it a conscience. I’d read about such things in books, though I’d never felt it myself.
The woman turned to go back into her house, and I picked up the pace, trapping her against the door before she could twist the handle.
That small voice inside me tugged again, wordless but clear.
It wanted me to stop.
Ridiculous. Of course I couldn’t stop. I’d been created for this. There was no stopping the sun from rising and no stopping me from feeding.
This annoyance was more than I could tolerate.
“Please, don’t.” Her small voice made that feeling tug once more, and I felt a scowl twist my face.
Fortunately, it was fairly easy to shove that small bit of conscience aside. My gaze riveted to her neck, but a faint light distracted me.
I turned my head, catching sight of a glow coming toward me down the alley. It was the size of a person, brilliant as the moon. The pale white and gold light felt like the warmth of a summer day as it approached, completely ensnaring me.
The woman stayed dead still, as if she thought I couldn’t see her if she didn’t move. And yet, I no longer had any interest in her.
It was the light that drew me.
As it stopped about a dozen feet away, I realized that it was a woman. Beautiful and golden, with wise eyes and a kind smile.
And yet there wasn’t just wisdom in those eyes. There was censure. And expectation.
“Do not do this.” Her voice, rich with power, rolled over me like the sweetest of songs.
I’d seen her before, of course. Not often—only when I was about to do something truly atrocious. She came to me for only the briefest moments, determined to stop me.
And stop me, she did.
Her light pulled at me, and I stepped away from the woman. If I focused on the woman with the golden glow, I was able to stop. The beast inside me quieted, and the small voice that called for mercy could be heeded.
My prey and her child slipped back into her house, almost unnoticed by me. In a daze, I walked toward the woman who glowed with a golden light. If she was a goddess or a figment of my imagination, I had no idea.
I didn’t care. As long as she stayed with me, I was warm. I was real. My mind was my own and not a captive of my hunger.
“Who are you?” I asked. “This isn’t the first time you’ve visited me.”
She just smiled, and it was then that I recognized her.
Mac.
She’d been appearing to me for centuries, the light in my darkness, calling me toward good.
When she’d come to my door five years ago and trapped me in that tomb, I’d thought I’d recognized her. It had lowered my guard to the point that she’d been able to lock me away. Anyone else wouldn’t have been able to manage it.
I’d decided I was crazy, though. After years of being caged in that dark tomb, I’d convinced myself that my light in the darkness would never do that to me.
And yet she had.
Who the hell was she?
What was she?
Mac
As Valerie had suggested, I went alone to the coast of central Norway. Mostly. Genevieve accompanied me, but she was impossible to get rid of.
I wasn’t fully sure where I was—Valerie hadn’t been precise—but her special transport charm had taken me straight to a cliff at the edge of the sea.
The dark sky howled with wind and rain as black waves crashed against the rocks below. The noise was nearly deafening as I stared up at the massive, terrifying tower in front of me. Brilliant white lightning struck, illuminating the black stone and small glass windows.
Fear raced through me, and I prayed that I wasn’t too late. I couldn’t bear it if I were.
I don’t like it. Genevieve pressed herself against my leg and stared up at the tower.
“Me neither.” We were protected from the sight of the anyone in the tower by some boulders sitting on the cliff, but the entire place felt abandoned. It wasn’t, but I had no idea how many people were in there.
Ludovic hadn’t expected his second to betray him.
He hadn’t expected me to have the power to force her to.
Joke was on him.
There were hardly any windows in the tower, and the small wooden door was bolted against the rain. Was this just his torture tower or something?
A shiver raced through me, and I forced the thought away. I needed to keep my head in the game to help Drakon.
The rough stone walls of the tower beckoned. It had been built of large blocks of roughly hewn stone—perfect for scaling to the top. I wasn’t a huge fan of heights, but it would be the safest way. I didn’t know how many guards were inside, and I’d rather not find out. Since Drakon was on the roof, ascending would be safest.
You’re thinking something stupid, aren’t you?
“Going to climb it.”
Indeed. Stupid. I could feel her little body heave as she sighed. I’ll go with you.
“There’s no need.”
Of course there is, silly goose.
“Thanks.” I didn’t know how she could help me on the climb, but Genevieve proved ever resourceful. And it would be nice to have the company.
Together, we snuck along the cliffside to approach the castle, careful to keep ourselves hidden behind the boulders scattered there. My heart pounded like a drum any time I was out in the open for a few seconds, but no one seemed to see us.
The climb to the top was hair raising—literally. The wind buffeted me, massive gusts whipping my hair around my face as I clung to the stones. Within seconds, I was soaked to the bone.
“Can’t believe I’m doing this,” I muttered when I was about halfway up.
I can. You look at him with cow eyes.
“If we weren’t fifty feet above a deadly drop, I would get you for that.” Hand over hand, I climbed, finding tiny handholds between the stones. My muscles burned and my fingertips ached, but I finally made it.
Near the top of the tower, I hesitated, listening for the sound of Ludovic.
There was nothing—just the crack of thunder and the crash of the waves below. Quickly, I scrambled over the low stone wall and landed on the roof.
Genevieve followed, and I looked at her. “Guard the perimeter. Keep an eye out.”
She nodded and scampered off.
A crumpled figure caught my eye, and my heart leapt into my throat. I raced to him, falling to my knees by his prone form.
He lay on the hard stone roof, unconscious and pale. Parts of his skin were blackened, and I had a horrible feeling I knew how he’d received those wounds.
Lightning.
It cracked all around us, illuminating the sky with bright, cold light.
“Drakon!” Rain lashed at me as I shook his shoulder. “Drakon!”
Seeing Drakon like this made rage rise inside me. Protectiveness, too.
Protectiveness? He could take care of himself. Even now, as he lay unconscious, I had the strongest feeling that he could get himself out of this situation.
Still, I couldn’t help but care.
He needed me.
I’d taken for granted that he was immortal but seeing him like this reminded me that his life was at stake. Ludovic might not be able to kill him, but the granite curse could. The thought made fear shoot through me.
I could lose him.
The revelation made ice fill my veins. I shouldn’t care, but I did.
I shook his shoulder, trying to wake him. He lay still and cold, his breathing weak.
He wasn’t going to wake. Not soon, at least.
Frantic, I dug into the bag that Eve had given me. It contained all manner of potions, and I was sure I could find one that would eat through the chains at his wrists and ankles.
As cold rain splattered my head, my hand closed around a small glass vial marked Ferianic Acid.
Thank fates Eve had packed more of it in this bag. Bright lightning lit the night as I fumbled the top off and dripped it onto the chain that connected his manacles to the roof. It sizzled through the metal, eating through in record time.
Fortunately, I had just enough for the four chains. Within a minute, he was free.
“We’re getting the hell out of here,” I muttered, pulling a transport charm from my pocket.
I’ll see you later. Genevieve disappeared on her own.
I hurled the charm at the ground next to me. The silver smoke burst upward, and I dragged Drakon through the ether. His home was my destination. Part of me wanted to return to the Shadow Guild, but he’d be more comfortable at home. More than that, there might be someone there who knew how to heal a vampire.
We appeared at the huge front door of his castle. It was just as dark there as it had been at the horrible tower, but the sky was devoid of rainclouds. A brilliant moon gleamed on the mountain peaks around us, illuminating Drakon’s face. He looked like a fallen angel.
“Help!” I called, debating if I could try to pick Drakon up and drag him inside. No way in hell. He was way too big. “Dorian!”
A moment later, the door opened, and his friend appeared. Gratitude welled within me.
“I found him like this,” I said. “Help me get him inside.”
Together, we hauled Drakon into the magnificent castle and up the wide, grand staircase. My heart thundered with fear as Dorian helped me heave him onto his massive bed. The room was dark and luxurious—perfect for Drakon. The deep navy bed covering was velvet, and the heavy wooden bed appeared to have been carved by a master craftsman.
“He’s been struck by lightning, I think.” The idea made my stomach turn. “Many times.”
Worry creased Dorian’s brow. “Blood usually heals him.”
A crazy instinct to give him my own flashed through me, but I squashed it. “Do you have some here?”
“We do. Let me get it.” Dorian disappeared, and I stared down at Drakon.
He was as pale and still as ever, but his face creased as if with nightmares. Was he dreaming? What could make a man as terrifying as him appear worried?
Something from his past?
No doubt. It had to be littered with terrible things. He’d done terrible things.
And yet, he wasn’t a terrible person. I could feel that, deep in my soul. I’d witnessed it.
Footsteps thundered down the hall, and Dorian raced into the room, a large glass bottle of blood in his hands. He shoved it at me, an apologetic expression on his face. “I’ve been called away. An emergency with my family. But if you need me, you can call me.”
“Fine. Thank you.” I gave him my phone. “Put your number in here.”
As he typed it out, I clutched the glass bottle of blood and stared at Drakon. I barely noticed when Dorian left, but I felt it.
The castle was empty.
Just me and Drakon.
And he was unconscious.
“Come on, now.” I set the blood on the bedside table and tried to pull Drakon up against the pillows so that he was in a seated position.
It didn’t work, of course. He was way too heavy, and his faint heartbeat made it clear he was as unconscious as a rock.
The lightning had really done a number on him. Heart thundering, I shoved some pillows under his head, then lifted the bottle of blood to his lips.
He didn’t drink. A thin crimson rivulet dripped from the side of his lips, but he didn’t swallow, no matter how hard I tried.
Damn it.
I scowled at him. “Drink, you stubborn bastard.”
Nothing.
Frustrated, I set the bottle on the table and wiped the blood from his lips, then stared at him. With a trembling hand, I brushed the dark hair from his brow. Touching him sent a frisson of awareness up my arm, and I couldn’t help but press my hand to his cheek.
My seer power roared to life, stronger than it ever had been. The new magic that pulsed inside my soul grew within me, expanding until it seemed to encompass Drakon as well.
A golden glow emitted from my skin, and I gasped.
That’s weird.
I’d never done that before.
Visions of Drakon’s past few hours rushed into my mind. Normally, I had to seek out my seer visions. It took a hell of a lot of energy, and yet—now, it did not.
In fact, the vision was so real that I felt like I was Drakon, chained to the roof in the rain as lightning lashed the sky.
Ludovic stood in front of me, cunning in his horrible reptilian eyes. The wind buffeted his slender form, but he stood as immobile as a rock.
“Tell me how to reach her,” he hissed. “Tell me how to get past her protections.”
Drakon wouldn’t speak. I could feel it inside him—there was no way in hell he’d reveal how to get to me. His determination to protect me was as immovable as a mountain.
When the lightning hit Drakon, I could feel it. The pain forced me from the vision, driving me off the bed. I slammed to the floor, pain spiking through my knees and hip. It was nothing compared to the pain of the lightning, however.
Dazed, I stared up at Drakon on the bed. He still lay so still.
No wonder he was in such rough shape. Getting hit by multiple bolts of that lightning would have killed anyone else. If he could actually die, he’d definitely be dead by now.
Weak, I climbed back onto the bed and sat at his side.
I couldn’t believe what he’d done for me. How he’d taken so many blows to protect me.
And now, I had no idea how to help him.