Page 65 of From the Shadows
“Look at me, Jerm. Don’t look anywhere but at me.”
His lip trembled and tears streaked his cheeks. “D, I’m scared.”
“It’s going to be fine, I promise.”
“No, it’s really not,” Cristobal whispered, his voice still rolling over the room like thunder. “He keeps you from us. From me. If I kill him, you’ll have no choice but to return to us.”
“Yes, fine. I’ll do whatever you want. Just let Jeremy go.”
From behind Cristobal, Diego detected movement. His gaze flicked up, and he spotted Shay standing, and even though he was wobbling, rage was clear in his expression. He moved silently, clutching his side, his intent obvious. When he got close enough, he rushed Cristobal and slammed into his back, driving him forward and forcing him to loosen his grip on Jeremy.
“Now, Jerm!” Diego cried.
With a speed born of desperation, Jeremy shifted to an inland taipan, the most venomous snake in the known world, coiled around Cristobal’s wrist, and sank his fangs into Cristobal’s hand. Jeremy couldn’t know the poison wouldn’t hurt Cristobal, but the bite jarredhim enough that he flinched and dropped Jeremy, who slithered away quickly. Diego misted, intent on getting between them before Cristobal could grab Jeremy again, but then the choked gasps made him realize Jeremy was no longer his target. Diego turned in time to see Cristobal with his fingers around Shay’s neck as he hauled him up.
“I’ve waited several lifetimes for this, Alvaro.”
“My name is Diego.”
“Your name is Alvaro Louis Cabrera! Before I took you, I learned from your compatriots who was to help lead my family. This… Diego is a lie,” he spat. “A creation to avoid memories of what you’ve done. What you long to do again. To remember that these humans are prey, nothing more. To remember the power you no doubt experienced that night in the hospital as you ended their lives.”
“No, I am no longer that man!” Diego snarled. “You murdered him! Left him bleeding out, and then fled into the night like a fucking coward.”
Cristobal’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “You were to be my first! To help me make a family! I…. When I took too much and you collapsed, I… panicked. I didn’t know you survived until I heard about what happened at the hospital. By the time I was able to get back, you were gone.”
“Funny how that works. Seems that if you get caught committing murder, they behead you.”
“That wasn’t supposed to happen!” he shrieked. “None of it. But while I waited for you, I made a new family, and when we were strong, we came to find you, to bring you home with us.”
“I have a family,” Diego roared. “They care for me, they are my friends, and more.”
He held Shay up, and laughed at his weak struggles. “Like this? A human? That’s disgusting.”
His fingers tensed, and Diego could see the flesh puckering as long talons pressed into Shay’s throat, blood trickling down the skin Diego had marked that morning as they had sex.
“Don’t…. Don’t hurt him. Please.”
“Pathetic,” Cristobal spat. “You’re in love with this… this… appetizer!”
Cristobal tightened his grip, the claws slicing deep into the flesh. The droplets of blood became a torrent and Shay’s eyes went wide as he screamed. It tore through Diego, and in a rage, his fangs dropped.
“You should never put your hands on what belongs to me,” he growled.
“No, you’re right. That leaves a job half-done.” Cristobal brought his other hand up and wrapped it around Shay’s neck, then twisted. The sickening crack was too fucking loud in Diego’s ears, and when Shay went limp, Diego’s heart shattered into shards. Cristobal tossed Shay’s body aside, where it bounced across the floor, then landed with a thump. He turned back to Diego with a sick smile. “Oops. I broke your toy.”
Diego stood in mute horror as Shay’s body came to rest against the wall. He could still hear the faint heartbeat, but Diego knew it was only a matter of time. He misted, appearing near Shay, not realizing Cristobal had done the same until talons drove into Diego’s back, and damned if it didn’t hurt. The thing was, Diego wasn’t the young man who’d been so foolish that he’d allowed this vampire close enough to kill him. He’d seen and done too much in the last three centuries to allow pain to stop him. He stood and turned to face a gaping Cristobal, claws still embedded in Diego’s back.
“You should have done what you do best and run,” Diego growled. He drove a fist into Cristobal’s arm, shattering bones and ripping the nails out of his back.
Cristobal howled, probably a combination of rage and pain.
“How many people have you killed?” Diego demanded, as he stalked toward a scrabbling Cristobal. “How many?” he roared.
“Not nearly enough!” came the venomous retort. Cristobal slashed his good hand through the air. “They’re cattle. Good for eating, and little else. They’re stupid, lazy, and do nothing to better themselves.”
No damned way would Diego allow someone to disrespect Shay. “He’s a good man! Kind, gentle, and loving.”
Cristobal sneered. “Then it’s best he fulfills his duty and serves the strong.”
