Page 64 of From the Shadows
Diego had just killedthe last of the vampires that were attacking the preschool. He’d moved faster than he ever had before, getting kids out of the way, then taking down the vamps that stalked them. And, just like had happened recently, they all laughed as he ended their existence.
Diego! Cristobal is at the house. Shay and Jeremy are in trouble. The others are in it deep, trying to keep the vampires at bay.
It had been a trap. Cristobal had sent his thralls out every day, forcing the hunters to split up. And now he understood why. They were after Shay and Jeremy, and no way in hell would Diego allow him to hurt either of them. He misted, traveling the thirty miles to the great room of the house in seconds.
The overwhelming scent of Jeremy’s fear gagged Diego. Shay was frightened too, but not nearly to the level Jerm was. He peeked into his room and found him hiding in the closet.
“D, help Shay!” he cried. “He kept that man from touching me.”
For which Cristobal would die. “You stay right here, do you understand me? Do not leave this room unless Shay or I come to get you.”
“Okay,” Jeremy replied, his voice quaking.
Diego misted to the kitchen, where he found Shay pushed into the corner while Cristobal told him how pathetic he was, how he was going to enjoy killing him. Then he turned and smiled at Diego, before ordering him to kill Shay.
There wasn’t even a twinge of desire to obey. All he could think of was Jeremy, scared out of his mind, and Shay doing his best to keep them both safe. Rage bubbled up inside of him. This bastard had come into their home, terrorized the people who lived here, and worse, scared Jeremy. This would end today. He went to Shay, doing his best to stay between him and Cristobal. Then he told Shay to run and get Jeremy out of the house, before he turned and attacked the monster who’d dared step foot in this place.
“I will kill you,” he snarled.
“No, you will take your place by my side, as you were always meant to be. When I first saw you, first scented your blood, I knew you would prove strong enough to be mine. Every other human had been weak, pathetic. Within you there was the strength and conviction I needed to help me create more thralls to spread our influence everywhere.”
“I’ll never help you,” Diego replied.
Cristobal sighed. “Then I’ll have no choice but to kill you.”
A laugh bubbled out of Diego. “You’re welcome to try.”
The fist to his face that snapped his head back shocked Diego. He had to remember that even though he looked young and slight, Cristobal was a vampire. One older—and likely stronger—than Diego. And he had enough thralls to…. No.
“I see the dawning in your eyes. Yes, I have thralls waiting outside, so when the human tries to flee?—”
The high-pitched scream tore through Diego. Jeremy was terrified, and that meant both he and Shay were in danger. Diego misted outside and found the thralls holding Shay and Jeremy. He wasn’t surprised to see Cristobal had come out as well.
“As you see, this is where you will give me what I want. At least if you expect them to survive.” He turned to his thralls. “Take them inside, like we discussed.”
The thralls marched away, taking Shay and Jeremy with them. As the last of them entered the house, Diego’s heart broke. Hewouldsave them both. There were no other options for him.
“They’re in your entertainment room,” Cristobal told him. “Formyentertainment.”
Diego misted, appearing in the movie room with the enormous television that Jeremy loved to sit in front of with Shay and watch animated shows and movies. Where he and Diego would take in some sports and nosh popcorn. Where the whole family gathered to laugh and have fun. Cristobal had defiled it. Made it unclean.
Cristobal made his way to where the thralls held Jeremy and Shay. He grabbed Shay by the collar. “Disgusting that you have a human living here,” he said, then hurled Shay across the room, where he hit with a loud crack, shattering the slate wall. He fell tothe floor, unconscious. Then Cristobal turned his attention to Jeremy, whose eyes were wide, the fear rolling off him in waves. He reached down and grabbed him by the neck, then lifted him up.
“Don’t touch him!” Diego screamed.
“And what will you do about it?” Cristobal snarled.
“I’ll end you,” Diego vowed.
Cristobal laughed. “Not before I take away everything you consider precious.”
And right now, he had the upper hand. He’d already hurt Shay, and now Jeremy was crying, pleading with his eyes for Diego to help, but he had no idea how.
Would he see his family slaughtered?
Chapter 20
Jeremy’s eyes widened. “D?”
