Love and Blood

5.

The engine roared and I watched as the little needle on the speedometer steadily climbed higher and higher. Fear gripped my body. Who could be following us that would warrant such a reaction? I thought Rowan was powerful enough to not be afraid of anyone.

Headlights flashed in the rearview, the light blinding my eyes. I squinted them shut and ducked down just as the sound of glass shattering happened behind me. I heard a bullet whizz past my ear and embed itself into the vampire next to me.

"s**t," the female hissed as she reached around and adjusted his slumped body. Dark blood trickled from his mouth and black veins formed beneath his eyes.

"Silver bullets, Rowan. We need to move faster," she spat at him.

"Goddammit Michael, can't you go any faster?" Rowan roared.

Michael furrowed his brow and gripped the steering wheel. The sleek vehicle accelerated further, but the black SUV behind us was still keeping pace. I watched in horror as the woman dug her fangs into the other vampire's neck, clamping down and sucking harshly. Her face looked green as she did, and the black beneath his eyes slowly began to fade. However, his breathing never picked back up.

"f**k," she cursed as she spit out black blood on the floor. She glared at me as she wiped a little from her lips.

"Don't be useless, get the bullet out." I looked down at the hole in the man's chest. The bleeding had stopped and coagulated into thick, black blood. I felt my face pale at the sight.

"Regina!" Rowan yelled. "She's never encountered pure silver. We don't know how she'll react."

Regina rolled her eyes. "She's just going to slow us down then! Throw her out of the car! We don't need her!"

Rowan turned on her, baring his fangs, getting right in her face, and wrapping his hand around her thin neck. Fear flickered across her delicate features.

"She. Is. MINE."

"She... Is.. an unknown," Regina wheezed out.

I couldn't help but admire her. Here she was with Rowan ready to kill her, and she still had the courage to speak back to him.

"I don't care. She's staying with me."

Rowan leaned forward as he said this, growling deep within his chest. Regina's eyes flickered at me, then back to Rowan and she nodded her head. He released her neck and she gasped, clutching the spot his hand had been.

Rowan opened his mouth to say something just as the black SUV slammed into the back of the car. The impact sent us spinning sideways, closer and closer to the guard rail on the ledge of the cliff.

A scream tore through my throat as Michael struggled to regain control of the car. We were spinning faster and faster, our vehicle now facing our attackers. They rammed their bumper into ours and I jolted forward as we made an impact with the rail. The squealing of our tires trying to push back against the larger SUV was louder than anything else.

There was no way we could outrun them now. Our car was slowly inching backwards and I could see fear and frustration on Rowan's face.

"On my mark, everyone out of the car! Head for the trees below!"

My stomach plummeted. The drop was at least one hundred feet.

"One!"

I couldn't do this.

"Two!"

I wrapped my hand around the door handle.

"Three!"

At his last shout, I yanked the door open, only to find the ground beneath my feet gone. I hesitated for a moment, watching as the other vampires glided smoothly from their seats and darted down into the darkness. Rowan glanced back up, realizing I had yet to follow.

"Winter!" he screamed as he disappeared into the thick branches below.

Without the weight of the other vampires, the rest of the car was quickly sliding backwards. I listened as our attackers exited their own vehicle and ran to the ledge. They didn't hesitate at all before flinging themselves down to follow Rowan and his compatriots.

They moved like bullets. Pale flashes of perfect flesh darting around me.

I counted at least four before I realized we were severely outnumbered. There was no way everyone would make it out.

I heard metal crunch and the car jerked forward, almost flinging me out of the seat. I clutched on to the door as I screamed out. The car was suddenly moving back onto the road, grinding metal on the pavement and sending sparks my way. Once I was back on solid ground, I scrambled out of my seat, falling onto the gravel. My palms stung as little rocks embedded themselves into them.

The world surrounding me was eerily silent for a moment before I heard footsteps coming around to me. In a panic, I shot up and backed away until I felt myself pressed up against what was left of the shredded metal of the guard rail.

A vampire with shocking white blond hair came into view. He wore an all black suit with a golden pin shaped like a rose on his lapel. His shoes shined in the moonlight, along with his hair. His red eyes met mine and his pink lips parted in surprise.

I hissed at him, afraid of what me might do to me.

He held his hands up to show me he meant no harm and took a step closer. I gripped the metal behind me, my undead heart threatening to beat right out of my chest.

"Stay back!" I yelled and I bared my fangs.

"I won't hurt you. Come away from the edge now."

He was still slowly inching his way toward me. I was petrified. I didn't know my place in this world and I'd never been around other vampires until tonight. I didn't know if I could trust this man's words.

I glanced over my shoulder, knowing I would have to make a choice.

The man scoffed at me.

"You can try to run. But you'll only be making this harder on yourself." He inhaled deeply, eyeing me with curiosity before he continued.

"I've never encountered someone like you before. What's your name, little dove?"

He was a mere half a foot from me now. I watched as he began to reach behind him.

Not knowing what he could be planning, I made my decision.

I hissed at him one last time before turning and throwing myself over the metal. I sprinted a couple of feet to the ledge and jumped, diving head-first down into the abyss below.