Page 34 of From Russia With Blood

“Ladies,” Luka interjects, his voice laced with irritation. “The ship isn’t sinking. Not yet anyway. This is just a precaution. Now, if we can get into the lifeboats, please?”

I look up at him, his face bathed in the full moon. Gone are the fangs from last night. Now, he just looks like some random banker, or lawyer, albeit with odd hair. He holds out his hand, and I’m slammed with an odd sense of deja vu. Haven’t we done this before? My gut is screaming at me not to take it, but my hand seems to be moving of its own accord.

Jackson! “Wait. Where’s Jackson! He’s on a much lower part of a ship. He probably doesn’t even know.”

Luka’s brows scrunch forward as if in deep thought. “Is that the guy you were playing with last night? He’s down further at another lifeboat. I saw him on my way to you.”

You’re lying. “I want to go on that boat, please.”

“No can do. It’s already full and being lowered as we speak. Now. On the boat.” Again, my hand stretches out, and Luka grasps it in his icy grip. “That’s a good girl.” My insides swoop at his words despite my brain screaming at me to get the hell away.

It’s like what they describe as an out-of-body experience. Every emotion is at war with each other. I want to defy him, but something deep in me refuses to do anything even close to disobedience. We step into the small boat, and my heart slows down just a touch as Lizzy sits next to me. No matter what, she’ll be safe.

The men move to lower the boat, and the panic finally erupts. “No. We can’t go yet! There are only four of us in here. What about the other passengers?”

“Such hysterics, woman,” Luka hisses, dragging me to his side. “This is just precautionary. They cleared out the first two decks first. Once the ship is all clear, we will head back in. Now, enough.”

Something in his tone weaves around my body, freezing any remaining words in my throat. Every time I try to follow the thread that will illuminate what’s wrong with his statement, it disappears like my breath in the ice-cold night. Soon, the trail is gone, as if us being on this boat is the most natural thing in the world.

We jerk a bit as the boat is lowered to the water, and I refuse to look down. Instead, I stare at Luka, noting how he keeps glancing at his watch. What could be so important? The hard contact from the small boat to the water is jarring, and I cling to Lizzy. Whatever happens, we’re in it together.

More boats lower, and Luka closes his eyes for a moment, a grin crossing his lips. Perhaps now is when he’ll say the joke is up? A loud boom fills the air as fire and smoke erupt from the front part of the ship. A scream lodges in my throat as several more bangs follow suit. Soon, the massive ship begins to point downward as the front slips under.

This is fucking happening. The boat is fucking sinking.

Grinning, Luka turns to us and pulls me next to his side before nodding at the Dungeon Master. He turns to the back and starts the motor, driving us out of harm’s way. Tears pour down my cheeks as I watch, dumbstruck, as the mighty vessel tips further down and proceeds to sink beneath the waters.

Lights flicker as the stern begins to tip up, and I can almost make out my room. My gut churns as the sound of bursting glass and horrific screams reach my ears. I can’t tear my gaze away from the scene as it unfolds before me. Minutes pass by like hours. Hell, it might as well have been an eternity.

My body is numb from the cold and shock, and I barely register Luka’s hands as they wrap around my arms - it’s just one more layer to the chill infusing into me. The only thing going through my brain is prayers that Jackson did indeed make it out, and Luka isn’t lying to me. Emptiness fills my heart the further away we get, and I know I’ll never see him again.

“There, there, lyubimyy. Soon, you’ll be at my home where you will never want for anything. This was a small price to pay to ensure you never leave my side.”

It takes several moments for his words to sink in, but when they do, I’m frozen in terror. “You did this?”

“Da. You should feel special, no?”

I turn to Lizzy. I need to know I’m not the only one hearing this. The Dungeon Master cradles her in his arms, blood dripping from his lips. Two puncture marks mar her throat, and the scream I’ve been holding back erupts out of me. None of this is real. It can’t be.

“Ahh, lyubimyy, but it is. The sooner you accept your fate, the easier it will be on you.” His fangs flash in the moonlight, and every bit of me clenches in fear. Leaning over the side, I hurl, emptying myself out into the ocean.

Terror and agony war within me. There’s no way Jackson’s alive. Luka wouldn’t let him live. Sobs wrack my body as I mourn what I could have had but will never be.

“Hush now. You’re making such a fuss. Your friend couldn’t have found a better vampire.” He smoothes the hair from in front of my face. “And I promise you’ll like what I have in store for you. Now. Sleep. I’ll wake you up when we get home.”

THE END

Epilogue

Jackson.

The sound of dripping water reaches my ears, cutting into the ringing that’s been plaguing me. My body burns from the inside out, and I’m desperate for any sort of relief. Reaching forward, my fingertips brush along a rough wall. It’s pitch black when I open my eyes, and yet, somehow, I can still see.

I’m in some underground room with no windows or lights that I can make out. All I have to keep me company is the constant dripping and the agony threatening to rip me apart. Where am I? Where’s Katrina? I claw at my scalp as I try to remember exactly what happened. Problem is, every memory of her is intertwined with Gloria and Luka.

Phantom touches float over my body, settling over my throbbing cock. Groaning, I force all thoughts of Luka out of my brain. Like a dream that’s playing on repeat, snippets of memories float in my mind. His hands, his lips, touching me, possessing me. Enough. It’s just the maddening way my brain is dealing with all this trauma and loss. It has to be.

If not for Gloria, I’d be more concerned, but right now, there’s no memory of one without the other. Just thinking her name has me stiffening again with need. I thought I was past all that. I can’t get hard for a dead woman. Not dead, just transformed. The words blow across my mind like a gentle caress, stopping the pain for a moment. The instant they’re gone, the pain is back.