Lily yawned and rolled onto her back. Marko was still asleep, lying on his
stomach, his arm resting across her waist. She closed her eyes and took
stock of herself. She felt different. More alive wasn't really the right
word but her senses were sharper than before. She could feel the Boys
sleeping further back in the cave system and the one sleeping next to her.
A sudden cold wind blew through the cave and Lily moved closer to Marko. She looked at her hand, the four rings heavy on her fingers. The ruby eyes of David's snake winked at her. Lilac, pink and blue stones sparkled on the platinum band Paul placed on her finger. Dwayne's ring was plain, without decoration, a simple half-inch band of silver. Marko's ring was the lightest, a thin band with a square Peridot.
Movement next to her drew her attention. Marko's arm tightened around her. He kissed her shoulder softly.
"Evening sleepy head." Lily turned her head and kissed him.
"Sun down yet?" He rolled onto his side, his head propped in his hand.
"Soon." She stretched, arching her back. "I promised father I'd work in the store for a little while tonight. Maria's coming in late so I've got to cover."
"Do you have to?" Marko pleaded playfully.
She smiled. "I do. Will you tell the guys where I went?"
"For the right price."
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? How's this?" Lily leaned forward and kissed him, tracing over his fangs with her tongue. His arms went around her, molding her body against his. He pushed her back against the bed and nuzzled her throat. She pushed at him. "Marko, I've got to go. Come on."
He raised his head with a growl. "You have to?"
"Yeah. I do."
Marko rolled off her and reached for his jeans. "Alright. I'll walk you home." Lily simply smiled and nodded.
Marko was back in the cave by the time the other Boys were awake. David was the first out of their room.
"Where's Lily?"
"She had to go work at the store."
David went to the entrance of the cave, checking the sunset. "We were going to surprise her tonight."
Marko joined him, watching the sky grow darker. "Damn, I forgot. Maybe you can get Max to let her out. She said she was covering until Maria could get in."
"I'll check on it." David smirked before turning back into the cave.
David stepped into the video store looking for Lily. He found her sitting behind the counter, looking horribly bored. "Hey princess. Can you get out of here?"
She looked at him like he was her savior. "God yes. Let me just tell father." She hopped off the stool and went into the back office. She appeared a moment later, wearing a leather jacket. "Let's go."
He slung an arm around her shoulders, leading her to where his bike was parked. She climbed on behind him and slipped her arms around his waist. "So what's up?"
"Got a surprise for you." He started the bike and pulled out onto the boardwalk, heedless of the pedestrians. Lily tried to ask him more but he ignored her.
"Close your eyes Lil." David led her through the cave slowly so she wouldn't trip over anything. "We were going to surprise you last night after the ceremony, but everyone reacts to the bonding differently."
Lily blushed. "What is it?" She held one hand over her eyes but she was dying to peek. "Come on David."
"No peeking." He admonished. "We're almost there." His hands kept a firm hold of her as they stepped into another room. "Okay, open your eyes."
Lily did as she was told. They were in a small chamber of the cave. It was lit by several freestanding candelabras. The Boys had laid down an old Oriental rug on the stone floor and draped the walls in heavy tapestries. There was an armoire and dressing table on one side next to a Chinese screen. In the center of the room was a large bed.
"How do you like your room?" David asked softly.
Lily smiled broadly. "I love it."
"We thought you might like a real room for when you stay here. So you don't have to sleep in the big room." Marko told her. Paul and Dwayne were standing around the room, watching her reaction.
Lily walked around the room, looking at the furnishings, hugging each Boy as she went past. "Thank you guys. This is wonderful." She ran her hand over the down comforter on the bed. They'd piled lots of pillows on the bed and extra blankets on the end in case she was cold. "I'll have to get some clothes from home, keep some stuff here."
David nodded. "Of course you will. This is your home now."
Satisfied that she was happy with her room, Dwayne, Paul and Marko went out into the cave. David turned to watch Lily explore the armoire.
"Princess, did your father say anything to you tonight?" His gaze followed her around the room as she touched the hangings and the screen.
Lily looked at him. "He welcomed me to the family. That's all."
He nodded and walked slowly toward her. "So he's not angry."
"Did you think he would be?" She leaned back against the armoire.
David laid his hand on the side of her face. Lily leaned into his hand. "Yeah. You are his baby girl."
Lily laughed. "No one has ever called me Max's baby girl. Not even the man himself."
His thumb caressed her cheek. Slowly, David leaned forward until his lips met hers. His kiss was surprisingly gentle, but still demanding. His other hand came up and buried into her hair.
Lily leaned forward into him. She placed a hand on his chest, to steady herself. She opened her mouth a little and he slipped his tongue inside. She felt his fangs and pulled back a little. He tightened his hold on her, biting gently on her lower lip. Lily felt a sharp pain and cried out, pulling out of his grasp. Her hand went to her mouth. When she looked at her fingers, she saw blood.
David looked stunned. "Lily, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"
"You bit me." She held out her bloody fingers.
He reached out and captured her hand. She tried to pull away but he was stronger, bringing the fingers to his mouth. His eyes never left hers as he sucked on her fingers, licking them clean. He pulled her back to him, slipping an arm around her waist. David lowered his mouth to hers once again, only this time his tongue darted out and licked the small wound on her lip. "I didn't mean to." He said again in a husky voice before releasing her and going back into the main room of the cave.
Lily brought her hand up to her mouth and silently watched him go, not sure of what had just happened.
That day, Lily slept poorly. Her odd dream about David came back and she woke in her new room with a cry. She dressed quickly and went into the main part of the cave. She peeked her head outside and found it was already dark. Inside, the Boys were already gone, probably hunting. Since she needed to get some clothes to keep at the cave, Lily decided to take the tunnel home.
Her entire body was dragging as Lily climbed the stairs to her attic. The house was silent, her father out for the night. The power was out due to a storm that had come through earlier and she carried a candle, its pitiful light helping her see. Much as she hated the dog, she wished her father didn't take Thorn with him everywhere. She could use the company.
Something moved at the top of the stairs and Lily froze. "David? Guys?" No one answered her and she slowly began backing down the stairs. As she moved the darkness in front of her seemed to get thicker, darker. It flowed down the stairs toward her as she retreated. She backed into the first room at the bottom of the stairs just as the blackness surged forward. Lily screamed and slammed the door shut locking it behind her.
Whatever was on the other side of the door was trying to get in, pushing against the door. Lily looked around the room she was in. It was her father's study. There were large windows on the other side of the room and she rushed to them. Throwing them open, she leaned out, relieved to see the study looked out over the back porch. Banging on the door grew louder and she climbed out the window onto the porch roof just as the blackness broke through the door. She screamed again as it came toward the door and scrambled to the edge of the roof.
"Lily?"
She nearly cried in relief when she saw David and the Boys standing on the front lawn. The darkness rushed over her head into the trees and she tumbled off the roof. David stepped forward and caught her easily.
"What the hell was that?" He asked, setting her on her feet. He kept an arm around her for support.
She shook her head. "I don't know. It was waiting for me inside."
"Dwayne, take her back to the cave. Marko, Paul, come with me." David handed her to Dwayne and headed for the house with the other Boys.
"Come on. Get you out of here." Dwayne steered her toward his bike. She followed him like a zombie climbing on behind him, her arms circling his waist automatically. He covered her hands with one of his for a moment before starting up the bike and heading off toward the cave.
David climbed the stairs cautiously, Marko and Paul following behind him. They passed the door to the study, now hanging half off its hinges, and continued up the stairs to the third floor and Lily's bedroom.
They found a young woman dead on the floor, her eyes staring lifelessly at the ceiling. David knelt down and touched the body.
"Who's that?" Paul asked
David shrugged. "Did anyone check the other room?"
Paul nodded. "Nothing."
Marko looked stricken. "It's going after Lily and Dwayne." They looked at each other and bolted for the door.
The bike jolted underneath them. Dwayne struggled to keep control of the bike and Lily clung to him tighter.
"What's wrong?" She called.
She felt him shrug. "Don't know. Hang on to me." Lily nodded and pressed her face into Dwayne's back.
They were flying through the forest on their usual path. Something icy cold touched the back of her neck and she turned.
"Lily." The inky blackness from the house was right behind them, hissing her name, reaching out with thin tentacles. She screamed as the tentacles surged forward and wrapped around her arms, pulling her off the bike. With the sudden loss of her weight, Dwayne finally lost control of the bike and wiped out, sliding to a stop under a tree. Lily struggled against the inhumanly strong blackness, trying to free herself.
Dwayne got to his feet, disoriented. He shook his head and staggered toward Lily and the darkness. "Lily!"
David, Marko and Paul left their bikes at Max's and flew rapidly through the woods looking for Lily and Dwayne. A scream came from off to the left and they veered their course, heading toward it.
Dwayne rushed forward. He reached up and grabbed Lily around the waist. He pulled hard against the tentacles and she came free, dropping to the ground. He hauled her to her feet and they started running. The other three vampires dropped from the sky and joined them in their retreat.
"What is it?" David asked Lily as they dodged trees and branches.
She glanced back over her shoulder. It was still coming behind them. "I think it killed my mom."
"We're not going to be able to outrun it." Paul yelled as the darkness gained on them.
"Don't have to. Just get to the cave. It shouldn't be able to get inside." David yelled back. The trees thinned and they spilled out onto the bluff. "Fly!"
Dwayne grabbed Lily and took to the air, the quickest way into the cave. The blackness swelled up suddenly and surged toward Dwayne and Lily. He swerved to the side, sending the shadow rushing past. It came back at him and he ducked low but lost his hold on Lily. She screamed and plunged to the ground. The shadow seemed to give up and flew back into the trees.
"What the hell was that David?" Marko yelled, rushing to their fallen princess. Lily hit her head on a rock when she landed and was still unconscious. David scooped her up and they went down to the cave.
He carried her through the main room and set her down on the four-poster bed. "Lily?" David brushed her hair back, leaning in to check her breathing. "Lily, wake up. Come on." He gave her a shake and she flinched, turning her head. A moment later, Lily looked up at him.
"David, I'm cold." She whispered. He reached back and grabbed a blanket from the end of the bed, wrapping her in it snuggly.
"Better?" She nodded and he looked back at the others.
The other Boys were hovering just behind David, concern on their faces. "Is she going to be okay?" Paul asked.
David reached forward and brushed her cheek with his fingertips. "Lily? Tell me what's wrong."
"My head hurts."
David looked almost relived. "That's cause you fell out of Dwayne's arms. You hit your head." She nodded, grimacing at the pain the movement caused. David placed a hand on her forehead. "Sleep, Lily." She resisted for a moment and then slipped into a deep sleep.
"We've got to tell Max about the dead girl in his house." Marko reminded him.
David nodded. "I'll find him. Stay here with the princess. If anything happens, take the tunnel to Max's." The Boys nodded. Paul took David's spot on the side of the bed. David launched himself out of the cave and headed toward the boardwalk.
Valdeos slipped easily into the body of the teenage boy. He was asleep and put up no fight. His strength had waned after his attack on Max's family. Valdeos leaned back against the brick wall, eyes closed. After a moment, he got to his feet and went in search of shelter.
Max was leaving the video store when David spotted him. He landed in a shadow and approached Max's car. Max turned when David landed. "What do you want?"
"Something attacked Lily tonight." He said softly.
Max looked alarmed. "What do you mean attacked? Is she alright?"
David leaned against his car. "She fell and hit her head but otherwise, she's just scared. It was like a big shadow chasing her."
"A shadow?"
David nodded. "It was in your house. We came by to get Lily and she was trying to escape from this thing." Max rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Where is she now?" "In the cave with the Boys. There's something else. A dead girl, up in Lily's room."
Max nodded. "I'll take care of it."
David nodded and took off, a rustling sound the only indication he was ever there.
A sudden cold wind blew through the cave and Lily moved closer to Marko. She looked at her hand, the four rings heavy on her fingers. The ruby eyes of David's snake winked at her. Lilac, pink and blue stones sparkled on the platinum band Paul placed on her finger. Dwayne's ring was plain, without decoration, a simple half-inch band of silver. Marko's ring was the lightest, a thin band with a square Peridot.
Movement next to her drew her attention. Marko's arm tightened around her. He kissed her shoulder softly.
"Evening sleepy head." Lily turned her head and kissed him.
"Sun down yet?" He rolled onto his side, his head propped in his hand.
"Soon." She stretched, arching her back. "I promised father I'd work in the store for a little while tonight. Maria's coming in late so I've got to cover."
"Do you have to?" Marko pleaded playfully.
She smiled. "I do. Will you tell the guys where I went?"
"For the right price."
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? How's this?" Lily leaned forward and kissed him, tracing over his fangs with her tongue. His arms went around her, molding her body against his. He pushed her back against the bed and nuzzled her throat. She pushed at him. "Marko, I've got to go. Come on."
He raised his head with a growl. "You have to?"
"Yeah. I do."
Marko rolled off her and reached for his jeans. "Alright. I'll walk you home." Lily simply smiled and nodded.
Marko was back in the cave by the time the other Boys were awake. David was the first out of their room.
"Where's Lily?"
"She had to go work at the store."
David went to the entrance of the cave, checking the sunset. "We were going to surprise her tonight."
Marko joined him, watching the sky grow darker. "Damn, I forgot. Maybe you can get Max to let her out. She said she was covering until Maria could get in."
"I'll check on it." David smirked before turning back into the cave.
David stepped into the video store looking for Lily. He found her sitting behind the counter, looking horribly bored. "Hey princess. Can you get out of here?"
She looked at him like he was her savior. "God yes. Let me just tell father." She hopped off the stool and went into the back office. She appeared a moment later, wearing a leather jacket. "Let's go."
He slung an arm around her shoulders, leading her to where his bike was parked. She climbed on behind him and slipped her arms around his waist. "So what's up?"
"Got a surprise for you." He started the bike and pulled out onto the boardwalk, heedless of the pedestrians. Lily tried to ask him more but he ignored her.
"Close your eyes Lil." David led her through the cave slowly so she wouldn't trip over anything. "We were going to surprise you last night after the ceremony, but everyone reacts to the bonding differently."
Lily blushed. "What is it?" She held one hand over her eyes but she was dying to peek. "Come on David."
"No peeking." He admonished. "We're almost there." His hands kept a firm hold of her as they stepped into another room. "Okay, open your eyes."
Lily did as she was told. They were in a small chamber of the cave. It was lit by several freestanding candelabras. The Boys had laid down an old Oriental rug on the stone floor and draped the walls in heavy tapestries. There was an armoire and dressing table on one side next to a Chinese screen. In the center of the room was a large bed.
"How do you like your room?" David asked softly.
Lily smiled broadly. "I love it."
"We thought you might like a real room for when you stay here. So you don't have to sleep in the big room." Marko told her. Paul and Dwayne were standing around the room, watching her reaction.
Lily walked around the room, looking at the furnishings, hugging each Boy as she went past. "Thank you guys. This is wonderful." She ran her hand over the down comforter on the bed. They'd piled lots of pillows on the bed and extra blankets on the end in case she was cold. "I'll have to get some clothes from home, keep some stuff here."
David nodded. "Of course you will. This is your home now."
Satisfied that she was happy with her room, Dwayne, Paul and Marko went out into the cave. David turned to watch Lily explore the armoire.
"Princess, did your father say anything to you tonight?" His gaze followed her around the room as she touched the hangings and the screen.
Lily looked at him. "He welcomed me to the family. That's all."
He nodded and walked slowly toward her. "So he's not angry."
"Did you think he would be?" She leaned back against the armoire.
David laid his hand on the side of her face. Lily leaned into his hand. "Yeah. You are his baby girl."
Lily laughed. "No one has ever called me Max's baby girl. Not even the man himself."
His thumb caressed her cheek. Slowly, David leaned forward until his lips met hers. His kiss was surprisingly gentle, but still demanding. His other hand came up and buried into her hair.
Lily leaned forward into him. She placed a hand on his chest, to steady herself. She opened her mouth a little and he slipped his tongue inside. She felt his fangs and pulled back a little. He tightened his hold on her, biting gently on her lower lip. Lily felt a sharp pain and cried out, pulling out of his grasp. Her hand went to her mouth. When she looked at her fingers, she saw blood.
David looked stunned. "Lily, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"
"You bit me." She held out her bloody fingers.
He reached out and captured her hand. She tried to pull away but he was stronger, bringing the fingers to his mouth. His eyes never left hers as he sucked on her fingers, licking them clean. He pulled her back to him, slipping an arm around her waist. David lowered his mouth to hers once again, only this time his tongue darted out and licked the small wound on her lip. "I didn't mean to." He said again in a husky voice before releasing her and going back into the main room of the cave.
Lily brought her hand up to her mouth and silently watched him go, not sure of what had just happened.
That day, Lily slept poorly. Her odd dream about David came back and she woke in her new room with a cry. She dressed quickly and went into the main part of the cave. She peeked her head outside and found it was already dark. Inside, the Boys were already gone, probably hunting. Since she needed to get some clothes to keep at the cave, Lily decided to take the tunnel home.
Her entire body was dragging as Lily climbed the stairs to her attic. The house was silent, her father out for the night. The power was out due to a storm that had come through earlier and she carried a candle, its pitiful light helping her see. Much as she hated the dog, she wished her father didn't take Thorn with him everywhere. She could use the company.
Something moved at the top of the stairs and Lily froze. "David? Guys?" No one answered her and she slowly began backing down the stairs. As she moved the darkness in front of her seemed to get thicker, darker. It flowed down the stairs toward her as she retreated. She backed into the first room at the bottom of the stairs just as the blackness surged forward. Lily screamed and slammed the door shut locking it behind her.
Whatever was on the other side of the door was trying to get in, pushing against the door. Lily looked around the room she was in. It was her father's study. There were large windows on the other side of the room and she rushed to them. Throwing them open, she leaned out, relieved to see the study looked out over the back porch. Banging on the door grew louder and she climbed out the window onto the porch roof just as the blackness broke through the door. She screamed again as it came toward the door and scrambled to the edge of the roof.
"Lily?"
She nearly cried in relief when she saw David and the Boys standing on the front lawn. The darkness rushed over her head into the trees and she tumbled off the roof. David stepped forward and caught her easily.
"What the hell was that?" He asked, setting her on her feet. He kept an arm around her for support.
She shook her head. "I don't know. It was waiting for me inside."
"Dwayne, take her back to the cave. Marko, Paul, come with me." David handed her to Dwayne and headed for the house with the other Boys.
"Come on. Get you out of here." Dwayne steered her toward his bike. She followed him like a zombie climbing on behind him, her arms circling his waist automatically. He covered her hands with one of his for a moment before starting up the bike and heading off toward the cave.
David climbed the stairs cautiously, Marko and Paul following behind him. They passed the door to the study, now hanging half off its hinges, and continued up the stairs to the third floor and Lily's bedroom.
They found a young woman dead on the floor, her eyes staring lifelessly at the ceiling. David knelt down and touched the body.
"Who's that?" Paul asked
David shrugged. "Did anyone check the other room?"
Paul nodded. "Nothing."
Marko looked stricken. "It's going after Lily and Dwayne." They looked at each other and bolted for the door.
The bike jolted underneath them. Dwayne struggled to keep control of the bike and Lily clung to him tighter.
"What's wrong?" She called.
She felt him shrug. "Don't know. Hang on to me." Lily nodded and pressed her face into Dwayne's back.
They were flying through the forest on their usual path. Something icy cold touched the back of her neck and she turned.
"Lily." The inky blackness from the house was right behind them, hissing her name, reaching out with thin tentacles. She screamed as the tentacles surged forward and wrapped around her arms, pulling her off the bike. With the sudden loss of her weight, Dwayne finally lost control of the bike and wiped out, sliding to a stop under a tree. Lily struggled against the inhumanly strong blackness, trying to free herself.
Dwayne got to his feet, disoriented. He shook his head and staggered toward Lily and the darkness. "Lily!"
David, Marko and Paul left their bikes at Max's and flew rapidly through the woods looking for Lily and Dwayne. A scream came from off to the left and they veered their course, heading toward it.
Dwayne rushed forward. He reached up and grabbed Lily around the waist. He pulled hard against the tentacles and she came free, dropping to the ground. He hauled her to her feet and they started running. The other three vampires dropped from the sky and joined them in their retreat.
"What is it?" David asked Lily as they dodged trees and branches.
She glanced back over her shoulder. It was still coming behind them. "I think it killed my mom."
"We're not going to be able to outrun it." Paul yelled as the darkness gained on them.
"Don't have to. Just get to the cave. It shouldn't be able to get inside." David yelled back. The trees thinned and they spilled out onto the bluff. "Fly!"
Dwayne grabbed Lily and took to the air, the quickest way into the cave. The blackness swelled up suddenly and surged toward Dwayne and Lily. He swerved to the side, sending the shadow rushing past. It came back at him and he ducked low but lost his hold on Lily. She screamed and plunged to the ground. The shadow seemed to give up and flew back into the trees.
"What the hell was that David?" Marko yelled, rushing to their fallen princess. Lily hit her head on a rock when she landed and was still unconscious. David scooped her up and they went down to the cave.
He carried her through the main room and set her down on the four-poster bed. "Lily?" David brushed her hair back, leaning in to check her breathing. "Lily, wake up. Come on." He gave her a shake and she flinched, turning her head. A moment later, Lily looked up at him.
"David, I'm cold." She whispered. He reached back and grabbed a blanket from the end of the bed, wrapping her in it snuggly.
"Better?" She nodded and he looked back at the others.
The other Boys were hovering just behind David, concern on their faces. "Is she going to be okay?" Paul asked.
David reached forward and brushed her cheek with his fingertips. "Lily? Tell me what's wrong."
"My head hurts."
David looked almost relived. "That's cause you fell out of Dwayne's arms. You hit your head." She nodded, grimacing at the pain the movement caused. David placed a hand on her forehead. "Sleep, Lily." She resisted for a moment and then slipped into a deep sleep.
"We've got to tell Max about the dead girl in his house." Marko reminded him.
David nodded. "I'll find him. Stay here with the princess. If anything happens, take the tunnel to Max's." The Boys nodded. Paul took David's spot on the side of the bed. David launched himself out of the cave and headed toward the boardwalk.
Valdeos slipped easily into the body of the teenage boy. He was asleep and put up no fight. His strength had waned after his attack on Max's family. Valdeos leaned back against the brick wall, eyes closed. After a moment, he got to his feet and went in search of shelter.
Max was leaving the video store when David spotted him. He landed in a shadow and approached Max's car. Max turned when David landed. "What do you want?"
"Something attacked Lily tonight." He said softly.
Max looked alarmed. "What do you mean attacked? Is she alright?"
David leaned against his car. "She fell and hit her head but otherwise, she's just scared. It was like a big shadow chasing her."
"A shadow?"
David nodded. "It was in your house. We came by to get Lily and she was trying to escape from this thing." Max rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Where is she now?" "In the cave with the Boys. There's something else. A dead girl, up in Lily's room."
Max nodded. "I'll take care of it."
David nodded and took off, a rustling sound the only indication he was ever there.