Dancing with the Devil (Nikki & Michael 1)

"Nikki!"

Michael's cry was cut off as she was swept under the water. Dirt and stone fell around her, encasing her, trapping her under the foul waters. Panic swelled. She kicked her legs, desperate to get free, to get back to the surface. Fire burned in her chest, and she fought the desire to breathe. More rocks fell, churning the water, confusing her senses. Pain exploded through her body, and the need to open her mouth, to suck in air, grew desperate.

She thrashed sideways as rock smashed against her shoulder, and her head hit something solid. Red fire spread through her brain. She gasped in agony, swallowing water, crying a denial as darkness engulfed her.

* * * *

Nikki, Nikki! Hear me!>"Ready to move?"

She touched the fob watch. Its beat was shallow. “Let's go,” she said. Besides, moving was definitely better than standing. Moving made them harder targets. Shivering, she shined the light across the water. Tiny waves continued to roll away from them, fanning out across the darkness. In the distance water dipped steadily, but the lake seemed to swallow all other noise. But someone was out there, watching them. She licked her lips. It was getting harder and harder to ignore the urge to run. “Michael—"

"I know.” His voice was terse. “Just keep moving. There's nothing we can do here, anyway." The water level began to drop, inching down from their chests to their hips. But it still held the consistency of glue, making every step difficult.

Something pushed at her wet jeans. Biting her lip, she battled the desire to run. The soupy water made any sort of quickness impossible, anyway. She'd only fall ... and that was probably what Jasper had in mind.

But she wished she knew what was touching her ankle.

Again it trailed past, more solidly this time.

"He's playing games."

Though Michael's voice was calm, anger burned along the link. “Then you don't think we'll be attacked?"

"Not here. Not yet."

She wished she could share his certainty. The dark water receded further, and walking became easier. She swept the flashlight's beam across the darkness ahead, noting the tunnel was beginning to close in around them. The roof was only inches above their heads.

"Hope we don't have to crawl,” she muttered. The thought of getting down on her hands and knees to wade made her stomach churn.

"I can't imagine Jasper doing it, so I doubt we will."

"You really do know him well, don't you?"

"It pays to. As I've said, he's eluded our circle for years."

"And was your circle after him before or after he killed your brother?"

"Before."

But it became personal when Jasper killed Patrick. “Does the circle attempt to kill every vampire who has a thirst for human blood?"

He shrugged, a movement she caught in the edge of the light. “Not all. There are some who can restrain the urge to kill and live long lives."

Some, but not many, she deduced from his tone. She wondered how he'd managed it, how long it had taken him to curb the lust all too evident in Jasper.

"Jasper is a killer,” Michael continued grimly. “Always was. Even before the change, he feasted on the suffering of his victims."

And now he feasted on Jake. Her stomach turned. She swallowed and forced a little lightness into her voice. “And his sort gives the vampire world a bad rep, huh?" He squeezed her hand. “Something like that."

They continued on in silence. She swept the light across the layers of darkness. Nothing moved, yet something was out there, stirring the darkness ahead.

Michael stopped abruptly. “Movement ahead."

"Where?"

"The tunnel rounds a corner just ahead. Something moved in the shadows." She shivered. It had to be the zombies. It wouldn't be Jasper, not this soon. He'd play with them a little longer.

"We could go back.” But that would mean leaving Jake to die.