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  But he was still out there. Dillan felt him.

  Dillan held his breath as a voice called out to him. "Vampire, you are going to hide behind your magic? Such a disgrace to our heritage. Does this make you a witch or a vampire? Or both? I suppose it doesn’t matter, half-breed. You are still afraid to face me."

  Dillan gasped. He knew that voice, and it wasn't Cedric. This isn’t possible. Robert? But his brother was gone, trapped in that forest with Isabella. It wasn’t possible for him to be here yet. And even if he was here, they were on the same side. They’d both fought against Cedric in the first Vampire Wars. Dillan couldn’t grasp the idea that in this recycled war he and his bother could be on different sides.

  “Robert? Is that you? How is it possible?"

  Robert stepped out of the shadows and stared at Dillan, separated only by a pane of glass and the magical ward that prevented him from coming in.

  "You are a vampire with magic, and you ask me how it’s possible for me to be alive? I saved you. You are only alive because of this. It’s been so long, and things are changed. I do not know how this world works. But I do know one thing. You will die today. After I kill that sweet thing you protect behind your magic ward."

  Dillan shook his head in disbelief. The man standing just beyond the window looked and sounded like his brother but could not be him. It couldn't be. His brother had been kind and gentle in life. Dillan wondered what Cedric was up to. This was not his brother. It couldn’t be.

  “I don’t think so,” Dillan said. “Whoever you are, you will not touch her! Do you understand?"

  The creature’s yellow eyes gleamed with evil, revealing his true identity as a demon. "Ah, here she is now."

  Dillan had known she entered the room, but he didn't take the yellow-eyed demon’s bait. Instead, he focused his gaze and intent on the demon pretending to be his brother.

  "Ella, get out of here. Go to my room and wait for me there."

  He felt her presence behind him and sighed audibly. He knew she wasn't going to leave.

  The creature spoke, venom dripping from his lips. "Aren't you a lovely little thing? My brother has lovely taste."

  He heard Ella gasp. "Your brother? Robert? I thought he was in the Stone Forest? Where is Cedric?"

  Dillan gritted his teeth and spoke to her. He continued to stare at the intruder.

  "My brother is dead. This is a trick. It's not him. Cedric must have sent a demon in his place. Why should he come and face me, after all? He always was a coward."

  Dillan changed the tone in his voice and said to the demon, "You think I won't kill you because you wear the shell of my brother's body? If you think that, you are a fool. You know nothing of me. My brother is dead. He’s buried in the Stone Forest with the rest of them. And I will kill you. Whoever you are."

  The Robert-demon shrugged and laughed manically. His voice sounded gravelly and strained. “Suit yourself. You can try, of course. Save yourself the trouble. Just give me the girl. She is rather insignificant. Why would you risk your life for hers?”

  Dillan stayed silent. This angered the demon. He howled in rage and spat, “You are a fool. I will kill you to get to her."

  “I have no doubt you will try. I’m a lot tougher than you think. I doubt you can take me on. There’s no way I’ll let you get to her. She is safe behind this ward. Why don’t you give up and go back to whatever hell you came from."

  "You make a good point,” the demon growled. “I cannot enter, but maybe I can find a way to draw her out."

  "Nice try. But she isn't going anywhere."

  “Oh, you say? Well, we'll see about that. I know more about this world than you think I do. I know about the town nearby, for example. Perhaps I will go and pay a visit to a nice young boy who lives in that town. Jeremy, I think he’s called."

  Ella screamed behind Dillan, "No! Please. Don’t hurt Jeremy. He isn’t involved in this. Leave him alone, you monster.”

  The demon smiled and continued. "Cedric already has had a lovely little chat with your boyfriend and some other girl, Chloe, I think? She is your friend, yes?"

  Dillan noticed that the creature turned its attention to Ella. “Ella,” Dillan pleaded, “don’t listen to him. He’s only trying to intimidate you. He knows your weaknesses. Please go back to my room and stay here.”

  Ella wasn’t listening to him. ”Stay away from my friends,” she called out to the demon.

  Dillan watched Ella’s reflection in the mirror, unwilling to turn his back to the demon—she stood taller and the fire of fight was in her eyes. She squared her shoulders as she spoke directly to the demon. She, a newborn vampire, could absolutely not fight off a demon.

  “You have no right. They aren't part of this…this…madness,” she said, gesturing around the room.

  Dillan heard steel in her voice and thought, if a little smugly, that she was doing a decent job facing the demonic creature. Still, he wasn't comfortable having her anywhere near this thing. She did not know how they worked, how they got under your skin and abused your weaknesses.

  Dillan backed up toward where Ella stood. He could hear her frantic breathing and knew she was coming apart despite the calm in her voice. Jeremy was her weak spot. She would risk her own life to save the boy.

  Dillan understood this feeling all too well. He realized at that moment that she would never love him as she loved Jeremy. It crushed his heart. A haunting realization came to his mind, and he knew what his next move had to be. It wasn't what he wanted, but it was the right thing. Dillan knew that doing the right thing, no matter the personal cost, was all he wanted to do. The time had arrived for him to end this war, once and for all. He smiled to himself as peace flooded into his heart. For the first time in a long time, he knew that the war was finally coming to a close.

  "Ella, stay calm. He's not going to hurt Jeremy.” Dillan reached out and held her hand, keeping his body between her and the demon on the other side of the ward. "That human boy is a child,” he called to the demon. “He means nothing. He is insignificant. If you want to kill someone so badly, here I am. Why don't I come outside to play?"

  “Bold words,” said the demon, a hint of realization in its tone. “Oh, isn’t this interesting. Her heart belongs to another. If I hurt him, I hurt her. And if I hurt her, then I hurt you. Oh, this IS delightful. Cedric told me this would be easy. I didn’t realize how simple this would be. Rather pathetic, don’t you think?” The demon hopped around as his voice filled with pleasure. “Yes, this is going to be much easier than I thought. Who knew that one human boy was all that stood between you and happiness. You've made it so easy for us to find revenge, Dillan. I thank you.”

  The demon disappeared, but his crazy laughter lingered.

  Ella screamed again, “Dillan, do something! He is going to kill Jeremy. Please! You have to stop him. Jeremy does not deserve to die because of this. Please!”

  Satisfied that the demon was gone and Ella was no longer in immediate danger, he focused on Ella. He put his hands on her shoulders in an attempt to calm her down.

  "Listen to me, Ella. Jeremy is going to be fine. I will take care of…whatever that is."

  "Dillan! He’s gone! He’s probably on his way to kill Jeremy right now. How are you going to kill him? And you can’t go kill Cedric, you will die!”

  Dillan laughed, but the emotion was gone from his voice again. This was war, and he hadn’t felt the vigorous feelings that came with such conflict in a long time. He was in attack mode.

  “Don’t lose hope, Ella. Even in the most dire moments there is always hope. Remember that. I might still be able to kill Cedric and survive. However, if Cedric does kill me, the ward protecting the house will disappear. If I’m dead, then the demon will kill you, too. I’ll have to eliminate all threats to you, before I kill Cedric just to be sure you’re safe in case I die.”

  Ella nodded. “Uh, okay. How come you sound a little cavalier about all this?”

  He shrugged. "Well, there's always a chance t
hat once I'm dead, Cedric will lose all interest in you and he won’t come after you. Or Jeremy. Or Chloe. Cedric likes to torment, so if I’m gone then he’ll grow bored. This is the only way. It’s worth a chance for you to be free.”

  Dillan watched as Ella stared him down. "So you are just going to sacrifice yourself in the hope that he will lose interest?"

  He smirked. "Not the worst idea I ever had."

  She slapped him, hard.

  "You would abandon me? You turned me into a monster, and now you’re just going to go off and leave me and get yourself killed. What will I do?" The anger turned into desperation, and her body started shaking as her eyes turned into shiny pools of sorrow and fear.

  He enjoyed seeing her angry. This was the spark of life he wanted to see in her. Since her vampiric life started, he knew how unhappy, devastated and confused she had been. With this spark of life—a survival instinct—he knew she’d survive. But he saw how frightened she was at being left alone, a sole vampire to scrounge out an existence, and the shell around his heart softened. Is this really the right thing?

  The plan of letting Cedric kill him had sounded like a good idea for a minute. What he wouldn’t give to stop the emotions he’d been burdened with since the war. No longer would he have to miss his brother, Robert, or regret the choice to let Stephanie die. He’d no longer have to feel bad about his moment of weakness and what it did to Ella. He would never have to watch Ella love someone else. Yes, death seemed preferable to that. He would be free. Finally, forever, free.

  But looking at this woman, this fierce woman who held his heart, he knew he couldn't do it. He owed it to Ella to protect her, to teach her about this new life and help her adjust. He decided that the safe play was to kill the demon that threatened her and then take out Cedric once and for all, hopefully after Isabella returned and could lift the curse that tied Cedric to him.

  Looking at Ella, he decided to make her think that he’d choose to live. Hopefully that would keep her from doing something desperate.

  Dillan moved to the desk in the room. ”Ella, come here. Just in case something goes wrong, take this."

  He opened a drawer and pulled an envelope out.

  "You shouldn't need this. I will make every effort to return to you. However, one never knows how these things might go. If I don't return, this has everything you will need."

  He watched her swallow tentatively as she reached out for the packet. The heaviness of his words sunk into her eyes.

  Good. She’s taking this seriously.

  He didn’t want her to suffer. Even after all he did to her and for her, he knew that this was the best course of action.

  “What is this, Dillan?” Her voice was decisive, yet haunted. "Help Jeremy. Please. Keep him alive. I—" she gulped. "I will stay with you. Here. Do you understand? Do this one thing I ask of you, and I will stay here with you. I won't leave, ever. Just save Jeremy. And then come back here and don't leave me alone. Save Jeremy and live. Please?"

  His heart broke as he watched her promise away her freedom and happiness in trade for the safety of this boy. He sighed.

  "Ella." He forced a smile as a stream of frustrated breath escaped. "I am not going to die. And neither is Jeremy. Relax. I'll kill the demon."

  And then you can live happily ever after. With anyone but me.

  She blinked, wiped her eyes and spoke again, her voice cold and distant.

  "Good. Kill him. And then come back. To me. Promise. Please. Do you promise?" Her voice was shaky, and he couldn't tell if she was nervous for Jeremy and the demon or being trapped with him for an eternity. Either way, though, he'd finish Cedric and his minions—however many he'd decided to conjure—and then set her free.

  He nodded.

  "I promise, Ella. I promise. One more thing, if Cedric can summon one demon, he can call others. Please be smart and stay here while I'm gone." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "If the ward should fail, then take my car." He pushed the envelope into her hands. "Get on a plane, Ella. Go to Paris and leave this town forever. Live your life.”

  Her face turned pale as his instructions and request washed over her.

  He winked at her, trying to lighten her mood. "I doubt you'll have to worry, but, you know, just in case."

  Dillan moved in and kissed Ella’s cheek. Her scent filled his heart, a final parting gift, as he left the house to chase after Cedric's minion. As he left the house, he heard her sob. Dillan frowned because he knew it confirmed his worst fear.

  The thought of a life with him was apparently unbearable for her.

  4 Jeremy

  Jeremy sat baffled on his parents’ front porch. Chloe sat next to them. The events of that evening left them confused and scared. Who was that lunatic who had kidnapped them? Why did he want information? He had so many questions about Ella and Dillan. Jeremy had no idea what this guy wanted with Ella.

  On the other hand, he knew something was up with this Dillan guy. He looked like he was a twenty-year-old college dude but didn't seem to have any family. It seemed as if he was the owner of that mansion. Things just were not adding up. Definitely weird. And then there was Ella, his Ella. Why would someone from Dillan's past have any interest in her?

  "I don't get it, Chloe. She just barely met him. I don't trust him. At all."

  "Don't trust Dillan or that freak in the forest?"

  "Well, either, for that matter. But I was talking about Dillan. Something is off with that guy. I don't know what Ella sees in him. Clearly something, though, right? Or else why all the kissing?"

  Jeremy slammed his fist down on the wooden planks of the porch. He was angry despite the light tone in his voice.

  Chloe spoke softly, resting her hand gently on his forearm. ”Uh, yeah. You are right. There must be something. It’s like we’re missing some piece of the puzzle.” Chloe scratched her head. “But who knows if we'll ever find out what it is." She shrugged as if it didn't matter much.

  Jeremy sighed and covered Chloe's hand with his own, and the two sat in silent darkness for a bit longer.

  The peace didn’t last long. A sudden and loud thunk sounded in the distance. It startled Chloe, and she pulled her hand back.

  "What was that?"

  Jeremy shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe a raccoon, or a dog, or something?"

  He tried to keep his voice calm, but he felt tense. He knew that the sound wasn’t from some animal. Something in the air seemed wrong. In fact, an unearthly layer of quiet seemed to penetrate the darkness. Another thunk, louder and closer, came. This time he heard something dragging and a raspy breathing sound.

  Jeremy turned his head to Chloe's ear. Keeping an eye on the surroundings, he said, “Stay here. I’m gonna check it out."

  He watched Chloe nod. He knew she was nervous because of the way her throat moved as she gulped. Jeremy slowly rose up from the porch, trying to be alert to whatever was out there that he knew about it. He moved silently across the yard toward where he last heard the sound. It seemed to have come from the opposite side of the street, just beyond his truck. Jeremy looked up in the sky. The moon wasn’t out, the always-present clouds of the Pacific Northwest obscured it and with it any light for him to see farther into the area.

  Breathing shallowly to control the sounds he made, Jeremy’s heart beat loudly in his chest. When he did breathe, it roared in his ears. Forcing himself to calm down but unable to clear the image of their recent kidnapper from his mind, he eased his way behind the truck and peered around the corner.

  He jumped into the air at what he saw. It looked like something out of a horror movie. Red, glowing eyes like nothing on Earth stared back at him. It stood on two feet like a person, but fish-like scales covered its body from head to toe. It smelled terrible, making it distinctly difficult to think. Jeremy had no idea what to do.

  The creature's chest rose with a slow, lopsided heave. Jeremy realized that the creature wasn’t breathing in the same way he was. It was slower, and he noticed two slits on either side of t
he creature’s chest, near where his ribs might be. Are those gills? Jeremy watched in awe as they opened and air filled the creature’s lungs. The process made a hideous wet and scratchy sound. In those few seconds Jeremy used to take in the gruesome sight, the creature slowly stepped—if one could call it that, being as it looked more like a cross between a limp and a roll—toward Jeremy. It never took its eyes off of him.

  "What the hell?" Jeremy asked. He started to back up, but the creature, sensing retreat, made a leap for him. A high-pitched squeal filled the air, making Jeremy cringe.

  Jeremy raced back toward the porch. “Chloe! Run!"

  Time slowed down. Chloe stood but didn't run. Her face froze as unmoving as her body. Horror and terror read in her eyes as she caught the sight of the red-eyed fish thing hot on Jeremy’s heels.

  As he ran for the safety of his house, Jeremy knew the creature was closing in on him from the heat it expelled out of the mouth. How can something move that fast? And despite the stark raw terror he felt, the smell of rotting fish overwhelmed him. He knew that he wasn’t going to make it, no matter how fast he sprinted.

  Instead, Jeremy used a new tactic. “Chloe, run to the truck. Take it and get out of here.” He fumbled the keys out of his pocket and tossed them to Chloe, hoping that she wouldn’t drop them. He then turned mid-stride, running away from her position on the porch and heading down the street.

  He glanced back over a shoulder and watched Chloe snap into action. She ran towards his truck. Thank God. He continued to bolt in a zig-zag motion down the street and away from his truck and house. He heard the rumble of his truck in the back of his mind as the truck’s wheels sped away from the nightmare he was facing. He had no time to celebrate her escape as he felt the damp, scratchy claws of the creature close around his neck and drag him to the ground.

  Jeremy braced himself as the creature gained traction and tossed its weight towards him. It dragged him down to the rough pavement. But as he rolled over and prepared himself to fight whatever the hell it was, a shadow flew out of the dark and collided with the creature. He watched the two figures roll across the pavement. Jeremy gasped in shock as he watched the creature fight with—Dillan?