Jen Meyers - Indomitable (an Intangible novella)

Indomitable

by Jen Meyers

Copyright 2012 Jen Meyers

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission of the author, except for use in any review.

This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, locales, and events are either pure invention or used fictitiously. No character is based on or inspired by any known or unknown persons, and all incidents come from the authors imagination alone.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If youre reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover image Sergey Pristyazhnyuk :: www.dreamstime.com

ONE

present time

J onas could hear her screams still.

Her screams. Over and over again.

They echoed in his mind every time he woke, and for a moment he was sure he was back in the midst of it and everything that had come afterwards was just a dream. Or a nightmare. Every time, the panic left him sweat soaked. Every time, the memories flooded him and the relief he felt that it was past nearly drowned him in shame.

Jonas didnt sleep often.

He sat up, the blankets falling to his waist, and dug his fingernails into his scalp. Bleeding lines formed in their wake, then immediately healed over. The painbrief, sharp, and focusedbrought him back and he glanced at the darkness outside his window. Moonlight filtered through the glass panes, casting light and shadows across his bed. He stretched out his hands as if catching the light, his dark skin gleaming.

An ache of emptiness bloomed in his throat. A deep thirst to match the emptiness in his chest. If only he could fill that void as easily as he could quench the thirst.

He reached up toward the ceiling, clenching the muscles in his back as he arched. A shift in the air to his left shot him out of the bed and into a crouch in the center of the room. He peered back, ready to pounce, and gritted his teeth at what he saw.

There was a human girl in his bed.

Again.

He stood up, shaking his head as he stared at her sleeping there in innocence. She had been laid on top of the covers, fully clothed, twin puncture wounds on her neck.

He quietly pulled on a black t-shirt, grabbed his coat, took one last look at the girl and disappeared.

I left you a snack, she said without turning around, even before hed fully materialized behind her. I figured youd be hungry when you woke. You always are. She turned and looked up at him for a moment in silence. Youre welcome.

Sanaa, Jonas said, how many times must I tell you to stop doing that before you actually stop doing that? He was not going to let her know it startled him so muchthat it always did. Shed get too much enjoyment out of that.

As many as it takes for you to realize that Im right. And thank me. She eyed him in silence, then said, So, it looks like at least once more. Then she turned back to her newspaper.

He stared at her straight back in silence. Long, dark dreads snaked down past her shoulder blades. She wore a dark tank top and he could see the constellation of scars marring her otherwise perfect brown skinthe remnants of her life before.

Its not that I dont appreciate it Jonas said, then paused. No, it is that I dont appreciate it.

Sanaa turned toward him again. She was sweet, Jonas. And good. A taste like no other Ive come across lately. And I thought maybe you might

I wouldnt, Jonas snapped. And you know that. If shes not dying, Im not turning her. He threw his coat down on a chair. And that girl is not dying.

She might be.

Sanaa.

Well, I could arrange for it. She smiled, wicked.

Jonas did not smile in return. Get rid of her, he said, picking up his coat again. At her elated expression he added, And by that I mean take her home safely and leave her be.

The delight in her eyes shriveled to hard, dead onyx. Fine, she said.

Already he was tired and his thirst had grown to a razor-sharp need. He must feed soon. But first he had to check on something. On someone.

Jonas focused his mind on Williston Road, and like a fleeting thought he was gone.

V ermont in the fall was a veritable smorgasbord for his kind. Burlington, and its surrounding areas especially, overflowed with new college students and tourists for the taking. It always made his coven a bit reckless in their feeding. All this fresh blood after a slim summer of regularsit was heady stuff. Which was Jonas' concern as he reappeared in the trees between two hotelsa spot Xavier favored at this time of year.

Jonas had turned Xavier decades ago, something hed come to regret since, for Xavier was definitely more beast than man. Xavier delighted in terrifying his targets, causing unnecessary pain for his own enjoyment. Something Jonas did not condone. There was a call for that sometimes, yes. But never with innocents.

Xavier stood stooped amongst the trees, waiting, watching the back of one hotel and parking lot. Lights cut across his face as a car pulled in. In the blink of an eye, Xavier was next to it, opening the door.

Let me help you with that, he said to the driver, his voice uncharacteristically soft and warm. A white-haired woman gazed up at him, immediately entranced. He took the bag out of her hands and helped her out of the car.

Oh my, she said, taking his proffered hand. My, but this hotel has the best service.

Xavier smiled at her, his fangs catching the light from the street lamps. This way, he said, and started leading her into the woods.

Xavier, Jonas called, his voice booming through the trees.

The brute jumped, turned to snarl at Jonas, his teeth bared.

Not here, Xavier. You know better.

Xavier stood to his full heighta long, gaunt, stick of a dead manlooked down at the bewildered woman and roughly pushed her back toward the hotel, shoving her bag into her hands.

Not even a breath later, he was centimeters from Jonas. I can hunt where I please, Xavier said, his words rasped out thin and sharp. I do not need your permission nor your approval.

Jonas raised one eyebrow at him and paused. In the next instant Xaviers throat was in his hand.

Are you so sure about that? Jonas said as Xavier choked. You are one of mine. You follow my rules or you die. Permanently this time. Understand?

Xavier nodded as best he could, unable to speak, and Jonas let go. Xavier staggered back. His upper lip curled as he glowered at Jonas.

Lilith would not approve of your rules.

I dont need her approval. This is my territory, not hers.

You care too much for the humans, Xavier said. Surprising, given they didnt care much for you when you were one of them.

Jonasss fist smashed Xaviers nose. He could hear the crunch of bones and gush of blood. Xavier swore in several languages as his hands tried to stop the flow.

Remember who youre talking to, Jonas said, his voice low.