Cross Bitten

Escapes and downfalls

Markus’s POV

Davin and I head out the door and down the hall toward the plane. I inhale a long deep breath and smile. Awe the world has a strong pleasurable smell of uncertainty and panic these days! It’s been weeks since we were allowed to hunt, and destroy to our hearts content.

I’m also looking forward to getting a good feed or two in directly from the source! In our circle we have willing donors, but we are only allowed small doses, the rest must come from donations in plastic IV bags, which leaves a terrible aftertaste! I prefer the passion, the seduction, the feel of my victims skin on mine their senses heightened, allowing me to smell that alluring smell of blood, see the veins pulse, and the heart rate quicken before tasting that tantalizing warm liquid!

Aww the thought alone makes my body tingle. We step in the plane and take off. Once we get into the air I turn to Davin, “So what’s your fascination with Cynthia?”

Davin smiles before letting out a low growl, “Have you seen her? So petite, faint hearted, so coercable! Plus have you seen how she squirms beneath me? Mm so delectable” That was Davin for you, while some vampires loved passion, and others loved the chase, there were those that loved border line to full blown torture.

Unfortunately for him, Cynthia was protected by Pete, and as long as he had use for her she was untouchable to everyone else who desired a taste. Pete was in charge for a reason after all. We sit in a nice comfortable silence for a while before Davin hands me a drink.

“So, I know you have news about lady Ophelia, perhaps you feel like sharing.” I stare at him straight lipped, slightly irritated, he knows Ophelia is a sour subject for me. Ophelia was my love, we were destined mates from the start ripped apart several times over the centuries due to many forces beyond our control, almost like an eternal punishment.

The last time I found her we fought a full century before she was convinced to be mine again, then I properly punished that little minx of mine. This last time she was ripped from me by two all powerful magical beings, it’s been 240 years since I’ve smelt her alluring smell, or touched her porcelain skin, punished her unrelenting flesh.

Still I sought her out, obsessing over finding her, and every day that went by without finding her chipped away at me, making me grow closer to the beast inside of me.

“Last I heard everything about her has changed, her scent may not even be the same.”Which is terrible news, it means not only is her memory likely wiped, but when I find her I will likely spend another century getting her back.

I don’t know that I have another century to spare, my soul is dissolving, I’m losing the other side of me, it’s getting harder to subdue the blood beast that resides in me. Davin smirks and raises an eye brow,

“who says you need another century, take what you need to help you keep control, and spend the next century with her being angry.” That wasn’t....his worst idea. I guess I had never considered just finding her, ravishing her, subduing my beast, and dealing with the fall out. Hmm, perhaps it’s something to think about.

When we land we step out under a dark sky filled with blood red streaks peaking through the dark ominous clouds.We get into the company SUV waiting for us and begin our drive to club O.

On our way something flys past us in a flash, we tell the driver to slam on the breaks. As we step out, the pungent smell of rotting flesh, bone, and human feces hits our noses. This is the smell of the true dead, the smell of decomposition, but it was mixed with something, something Vampiric.

We jump and fly in the direction of the creature, catching up swiftly and effortlessly, landing on either side trapping it between us.

“Be my guest, I know you’ve been craving a good kill.” Davin says Cooley.

I look at this dirty, soulless, anomilistic creature in front of me breathing fast and heavy, eyes quickly darting back and forth, teeth bared like a rabid animal.

“I must put you out of your misery, it’s the generous thing to do after all.” I grab its head between my hands applying pressure and in one swift twist the head comes loose and the body collapses, first shifting to its original human form before dissolving quickly to nothing.

“Fascinating!” Says Davin, “I love when the clean up work is saved for me!”

These creatures are not the same as the original ones. Something or someone is changing them. They are more detached than before, and if they disintegrate, it’s going to be hard to trace who’s turning them.

I dust my hands off and head back for the vehicle. I snap my fingers and Davin fallows. We have a job to finish.

******************************************

Annie’s POV

We are about 3 miles into the tunnel system, and I’m very much regretting my decision to wear these damn heels today, why today of all days. I pause before laughing at myself, as if I somehow could have known that today would involve being attacked by a bunch of cannibals.

I look around at all of us, tired, exhausted, warn out. Who knew so much could happen in a few short days. I decide I need to break the tense silence that has engulfed us. “So Olivia are you ready to answer some questions?”

Olivia turns her head over her shoulder to look at me, “Oh Annie, always the reporter, but to answer you I guess it depends on the question” she replies with a wink.

“Well let’s start with you two, when did this,” I point to them holding hands “become a thing?” they both look at each other with a smile before she lets out a sigh

“You know, sometimes things happen in life that make us realize life is precious and short, and sometimes in life you just have to take chances..” she pulls Juan closer so she can snake her arm around his waist.

Tony sees this and clasps his hands together, “You know what? That answer was incredibly vague, but I think I get it?!” Everyone let’s out a small laugh, trying to relax in the moment.

“So, where will these tunnels take us exactly, and what’s the plan if we get out and those cannibals are waiting!?” I ask genuinely curious.

Juan stops and turns to me, “ well it can pop us out ALMOST anywhere in the city, just tell me where you want to go? As for the cannibals, I have zero plan, just kind of hoping they won’t be where ever we pop up!”

I just stare silently at him, can’t fault Juan for his honesty, and he definitely had the start of a plan which is more then we had back at the club.

I tell him I need to catch a flight, and to get me as close to the airport as we can get. He nods and leads the way, all of us walk for quite for some time before making it to a spot where the tunnels stop.

He is almost certain we are about 7 miles from the airport, good enough for me, I think to myself. “How are we to get out of here?” I can’t see any clear exit just a wall.

Juan smirks and points to a rickety old ladder attached to the wall a few feet up. It is missing some steps and boards, and looks extremely unstable. However, we have to get out somewhere!

“If you give me a boost I’m game!” I say with a smirk before looking over my shoulder at them and beginning my way up the latter. Once I reach the top I do my best to push and remove the hatch before I realize it won’t open.

“This seems like it hasn’t been opened for a long time. How long would you guess it’s been since these tunnels were used?” I ask with a quirked eye brow.

“I would have to guess well over 100 years ago. You know I have heard stories back when the tunnels were actively used that witches used them to escape death, and vampiric creatures used them as a place to feed.”

I can’t help but roll my eyes at the crazy folklore, the things people come up with. Suddenly, the ceiling starts to shake as the hatch opens, causing dust to fly everywhere burning my eyes. I throw my arm over my eyes instinctively, and at the same moment lose my footing as my heel, gets caught between the slats and I begin to fall backwards.

Before I fall all the way a cold hand grabs my wrist and yanks me up out of the tunnel and throws me to the cold hard ground above. I hear the faint screams of panic from my friends below, as they begin trying to make their way up out onto the street. I prepare myself to fight for my life before hearing a deep husky voice say, “Ophelia!”