I clutched my fists so tight my skin turned drastically white. I glared up at her and let my anger boil over. I lunged forward and tackled Celeste onto the ground. While I went for her throat, the others turned their attention to David. Edgar grabbed the weapons he had stolen and gave them to the other two.
They stepped toward David as Michael placed his arm out to stop the Frog Brothers, shaking his head. "Let me end this."
The Frog Brothers shared a look and decided to let him, nodding. Michael lowered his arm as his gaze met David's. He held the stake tight in his hand as he moved forward.
"You couldn't kill me last time when you were a half-vampire. What makes you think you can beat me as a human?" David sneered.
"Because this time I won't miss."
He lunged forward as David moved just out of reach. The two did this tango for several minutes. One would lung while the other would dodge, this continued until David grabbed Michael by the throat and pinned him up against the wall.
"Stop fighting me, Michael," David said, his eyes locked on Michael's. "Join us."
"I don't want to join you and I never will, David," Michael said, poison in his gaze. "I'm not like you."
David laughed. "You can say that all you like Michael but we both know the truth. I know what you felt when I bit you. I know what desires you hold in your heart. If you give me the chance, we can experience them together."
"I'd rather die."
David was disappointed but his patience was running thin. "Then so be it."
David smiled a fangy grin as he neared Michael's neck. The Frog Brothers decided enough was enough and joined the action. The two ran forward as Edgar stabbed David in the back, just under his rib cage.
He screeched and let go of Michael, looking back at Edgar. "You missed."
"I know."
Michael took his own stake and pushed it with full force through David's back, just between his shoulder blades and right into his heart. David's body stiffened as he looked down at the stakes protruding through his flesh. He looked back at Michael with surprise.
He dropped to his knees and then onto his stomach, his face hitting the dirt. As he hit the ground, his skin cracked like a porcelain doll. This continued until it was too much and he collapsed into dust, which blended in with the dirt around them.
This victory was short-lived when a scream rang through the room. The three saw me being held in the air by Celeste's claws which were in the wound she had caused earlier in the night.
"You're the reason my family is dead!" Celeste screamed.
"No, you caused this," I gasped, gritting my teeth. "If you had left us alone, they'd still be alive."
Celeste screamed in frustration, pulling her claws out so I'd land on my feet. She slashed forward, leaving a deep gash on my cheek. Before I had any time to react, she kicked me in the stomach and I flew backward, landing beside Sam.
The other three turned to Celeste who met their gaze for a split second before disappearing down the tunnel. They were tempted to go after her but they knew it was a waste. They'd never get to her in time.
The three ran over to Sam and me, crouching beside us. Sam was still breathing but they were more shallow than before. We were losing him and there was nothing I could do about it. I was a piece of swiss cheese and I'd join him soon regardless.
"We have to get them out of here," Michael said frantically.
"Sam wouldn't make it to the entrance," Edgar said, shaking his head. "He's lost too much blood."
"We can't just let him die," Michael insisted.
"There isn't much of a choice, Michael," Allan muttered.
Edgar looked at us and sighed. He began to pull off his jacket when Allan stopped him. "What are you doing?"
"I'm saving them."
Edgar moved closer to me as my weak gaze met his. I saw the strained determination on his face. He leaned forward, putting his mouth beside my ear.
"Sam is dying and I know you know it. The only way to save him is by turning him and you are the only one capable. You need to bite me to save him," Edgar whispered so only I could hear him.
"I c-can't," I muttered. "I don't want to hurt either of you."
"If you want to save him, you have to," Edgar whispered. "I don't like this any more than you do, but it's the only way. So please, let me save you both."
Edgar moved back as I looked at him with surprise but he was determined. He sliced his wrist with a rock he found in the dirt and moved toward my mouth, Allan was understandably worried.
"Are you sure about this?" Allan asked.
"I've never been more sure than anything."
Edgar placed his wrist to my lips and nodded. My eyes filled with tears as I nodded back, sinking my fangs into his flesh. He gasped and bit his lip to hide the pleasure coursing through him. When some of my strength returned, I grabbed his arm with both hands and drank deeply.
When I felt my wounds stitch themselves back up, I pushed his arm away. He held it against him as he sat back dizzy. I rose up as my eyes went to Sam. I moved over him and saw there wasn't much time. I bit into my own wrist and brought the blood into my mouth.
I then leaned over Sam and placed my mouth on his, parting his lips with my tongue so the blood would flow into his mouth. At first, nothing happened but then … he swallowed. His eyes flew open as he swallowed once more, the blood doing its work to restore him. When I pulled back, our lips were both covered in blood but some of the color had returned to Sam's face.
The next few days were hard but with each day it became easier. After that night in the cave, the Frog Brothers went back to their comic store. Michael made it back to Star and had to explain everything to his mother, including Sam. She was rightfully pissed but Michael did his best to calm her nerves.
Meanwhile, I took Sam back to my cabin, tending to him the best I could. He was in and out of consciousness as his body healed and made the change. Tonight it was complete and I found him sitting on the beach, staring at the dark waves. I came to sit beside him and we sat in silence for quite some time, until I decided I couldn't handle the silence any longer.
"How are you doing?" I asked.
"Everything seems so different," Sam said, his gaze locked on the waves. "I feel like I'm not really me, like something is wrong."
I nodded, understanding the feeling well. "You feel like you're in a different body. Everything is heightened and your skin is tingling. Almost like you're in an out-of-body experience."
Sam nodded. "Exactly."
I turned my body toward him, sitting crisscrossed on the sand. His gaze watched my movement and landed on my eyes when I was settled.
"You are still a half-vampire, Sam. If you want to return to being human I completely understand," I said.
Sam realized what I was implying and shook his head frantically. "I'm not going to kill you."
"Even if it meant being human?" I questioned.
"Even then," Sam said, placing his hand on my cheek. "I love you, Dawn. I was an idiot who should've listened to you. I don't blame you for saving me. It was the only card you had left and I'm grateful. I'd rather be undead than dead dead."
"But now you will never be able to have a normal life," I said, looking down at my feet. "I took that from you."
"Maybe not, but I have you," Sam said, smiling. "And that is all I'll ever need."
He leaned forward and placed his lips on mine, the spark between us was electrifying. Things would be tough but we had one another and in the end, that's all we'd ever need. Forever and Always.
