Lavos (VLG Book 5) Read online

  “You don’t believe in Vampires. You’re being ridiculous. I was with friends. Open the door.”

  The lock beeped and the interior bolt slid. The door she leaned against moved slightly but held. It was enough to get her to open her eyes and stare up at the pad. It went from green to red, the bolt sliding home again.

  Anger suddenly surged and she turned her face into her shoulder, wiping it against her shirt to be rid of the tears. She’d always feared his lifestyle would get him killed. Just not like this.

  Whatever he was, whoever he’d become, he was still her dad. She had to at least give him a chance.

  “I’m not dressed,” she lied. “Give me a few minutes, Dad.”

  “I’ve seen it all before. Open the door.”

  “Two minutes.” She forced her body to move, standing and turning off the intercom. The cold metal of the rifle helped her stay calm. She went to the front cab where the security panel was, removing the key that controlled the shutters. She hoped he didn’t have a spare as she pocketed it. The gun safe in the closet remained open and she went to it next.

  Her movements were jerky as she collected the weapons from their nesting places in pockets attached to the wall of the safe. She rested the rifle along the closet wall and strapped on a waist holster. The twin Smith & Wesson 380s were shoved into it after she flipped off the safeties and pushed in a cartridge for each one. Her hands didn’t tremble when she lifted the rifle and closed the closet, not bothering to secure the concealed panel. There was nothing left inside to take.

  She approached the side door, taking calm, steady breaths.

  Her father grew impatient and slapped the door. The pad beeped as he punched in the code again to unlock the bolt. It scraped open but the interior locks continued to hold. She paused by the door, fighting fear and the uncertainty of her actions.

  This is so fucking stupid, she tried to reason with herself. She reached out before she could change her mind and turned the intercom back on. “Dad? Stand back, and once I unlock the door, count to ten before you come in. Do you understand me? You don’t want to scare me, do you?”

  “Of course not, honey.”

  She wanted to believe him. One way or another, she needed to do this. She had to know if he was still her father or a fiend.

  Her grip on the assault rifle tightened as she hefted the first bar out of place. The second one she had to bend a little to reach. The interior bolts were easier to yank to the side, and she backed away quickly when the last one was pulled.

  “Come on in.” She didn’t dare glance away from the door as she inched down the hallway, closer to the bedroom. She could always escape into it if need be.

  The beep was a menacing sound…the bolt slide terrifying.

  This time the door opened, fresh air pouring into the interior as it was thrown back wide.

  Jadee lifted the assault rifle, gripping it with both hands, pointing it at the darkness beyond the door. She located the trigger with her finger, resting it there.

  The white-haired man who slowly entered looked so familiar, but she noted the differences immediately as he stopped in the aisle, turning her way. His skin still looked weathered from the sun but his complexion had become unusually pale, with dark veins showing. His normally sparkling blue eyes appeared duller. What used to be the whites of his eyes were bloodshot and appeared wrong. Evil.

  A soft moan sounded and Jadee realized it had come from her.

  His gaze lowered, studying the rifle she held. “It’s okay. You can put that down.”

  “Close and lock the door, Dad.”

  He didn’t move to do it. “You’re safe. You don’t have to point that gun at me.”

  “Close and lock the door,” she repeated.

  He slowly lifted his hands out to his sides. She glanced at them, saw a lot of dirt and what appeared to be some dark red stains. It was possibly blood.

  “Easy, honey.” He took a step forward.

  “Don’t,” she ground out. “I’ll shoot you. Stay right there and lock that fucking door.”

  He didn’t blink at all. The eerie way he stared at her was freaking her out. She glanced at his chest and saw that it moved, as if he breathed. It could have been force of habit, or perhaps Vampires did need oxygen. She focused on his face again.

  “I want you to meet my friends. They aren’t what we expected.”

  “What happened to the people who lived in the nearby town? I heard they’d all disappeared by the time your team arrived. Where are they?” She backed up more, reaching the doorway to the bedroom.

  “You don’t need to go in there and activate the safety door, Jadee.”

  She wasn’t so sure.

  “Don’t be afraid. We were wrong about them.” He took another step forward.

  Jadee aimed the gun at his heart. “Don’t come any closer.”

  His smile chilled her to the bone. “Bullets won’t kill me.”

  Fear nearly overrode her anger. “I bet they’d hurt.” She adjusted her aim, targeting his head. “And I’m pretty sure some of them tearing through your brain would slow you down.”

  “Why did you let me in if you planned to shoot me, honey? I raised you to never point a gun unless you were willing to pull the trigger.”

  “I needed to know if you were still you. You’re not.” It broke her heart. “My dad would have locked that door so no one else could get at me. He would have gone to the cab area and stayed as far back from me as possible to make sure I felt safe. I’m so sorry, Dad. I came as soon as I could get a flight…but I got here too late.”

  “You’re not too late. You’re right on time. We’re not going to kill you, honey.”

  His repeated use of that endearment was becoming disturbing but the use of “we” was worse.

  “I told Mitch all about you, and he needs someone at his side. I even showed him your picture from my wallet. He thinks you’re beautiful.”

  Jadee tensed. “Who’s Mitch?”

  “He turned me and gave me eternal life. He’s going to bestow that gift upon you too. We’ll be a family again.”

  She had a name for the bastard who had taken her father. “Where were you when the other ones attacked the roof and the door?”

  “I thought you hadn’t arrived yet so I was waiting along the road with Mitch to welcome you. Then I heard the alarm. Mitch wants to meet you.”

  “Where is he? I’d like to meet him too.”

  “He’s outside, allowing me to calm you down. This doesn’t have to hurt, honey. Put the guns down and we’ll walk outside. He’ll be gentle, and he promised to take good care of you. You need that. I always worry about you being alone.”

  “How sweet.” She swallowed down the bile that rose. “Why don’t you have him step in here and introduce himself? It’s bright in here so I can see better.”

  Her father turned his head, seeming to stare at something right outside the open doorway. Movement drew her attention but she was careful not to allow it to distract her from her dad. He was a threat, and she couldn’t forget that.

  The tall, thin man who climbed inside looked horrific. He had black, scruffy hair, a narrow, long white face, and his black clothes were Gothic. It might have been the way they were made, but the arms and legs of his pants and shirt had rips in them, revealing slices of his white, skinny limbs. Dirt also covered his hands. Dead leaves were stuck to his clothing in a few places, as if he’d been digging or rolling in the dirt. She didn’t even want to imagine why he’d do that.

  The top of his head nearly brushed the ceiling of the RV, putting him at about six foot four. In life, he’d probably been odd looking with his lanky body, but he was horrific as a Vampire. Bloodshot eyes met hers and his thin lips curved upward. The dark veins on his face became more pronounced.

  “Hello. I’m Mitch. It’s nice to meet you, Jadee. I’ve heard so much about you.”

  She saw the sharp tips of his fangs when he spoke. They scared the shit out of her. The smell coming fro