Risen (The Vampire Legends 6)

Rachel sensed that this girl was going to kill her. She raised her hands, and braced herself for the attack, sure she was going to die.

There came a shout, and suddenly, Rachel saw another vampire flying through the air. It was a boy, one she recognized from her dreams.

Rob.

Rob swooped down, and grabbed Violet in midair, right before she attacked Rachel. He grabbed Violet, picked her up above his head, and spun her and sent her crashing down to the ground.

Rob landed on top of her, pinning her down.

“You will not touch Rachel!” Rob snarled, threatening Violet.

Violet stared back in shock.

“How dare you interfere!” she said. “You answer to me. Why would you try to save this girl’s life?”

“Why does not matter. You will not harm her. Understood?”

Rachel gained her feet and watched as Violet slowly nodded, defeated.

“I promise,” Violet said. “She will not be harmed. Just let me free.”

Rob slowly nodded, satisfied, and stood.

Violet sat up slowly.

Rob turned around and faced Rachel, a look of love in his face.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I realize now, I was a jerk. My whole life. As a human and as a vampire. I was stupid. I just did not know the right way to act. I want to be with you now. Please, forgive me. I’ve changed. I promise.”

Rachel looked at him, confused. Slowly, it was all coming back to her. Who he was. Flashes of their time together. High school.

“Rob?” she asked.

Rob smiled at her, and recognition flooded her.

He took a step towards her.

Suddenly, Rachel was horrified as she saw Violet leaping up from behind, raising a long silver dagger high overhead.

“NO!” Rachel screamed out. “Rob look out!”

But it all happened too fast. Violet leapt into the air and brought a dagger down with all her might, into Rob’s back.

Rob shrieked out, as Violet plunged the dagger deep into his back.

He sank to his knees.

“Rachel!” he gasped, reaching out for her.

But it was too late. Violet stood over him, scowling, digging the knife keep into his back.

“I told you to never betray me,” Violet said.

Rob collapsed to his face.

Rachel stood there, staring, horrified.

“ROB!”“ she screamed again and again.

Violet pulled out the dagger, and looked up and sneered at Rachel.

“And now it’s your turn!” she said.

Violet lunged for her, bringing the dagger down right for Rachel’s heart.

Rachel screamed, bracing herself for the feel of cold steel piercing her heart.

Suddenly, there came a scream, and out of the corner of her eye, Rachel saw another vampire race through the air. It was a different boy, one whose face she recognized.

Benji.

Benji smashed into Violet in midair, grabbing the dagger from her hand, and sending Violet hurling through the air, smashing into a tree.

Violet lay there, slumped, unconscious, and Benji took the dagger and hurled it into the forest, so far, Rachel did not even hear it land.

Benji turned and looked at Rachel.

“Rachel,” he said, grabbing her shoulders. “It’s me. Benji. Do you remember me?”

Her eyes welled with tears. It was all happening so fast. She hardly knew how to react.

“I remember your name. But not everything else.”

“Try,” he urged.

Rachel blinked several times, trying to remember. Finally she shook her head.

“Sorry,” she said. “I do not.”

There came a sudden swooshing noise up high in the sky, and they both turned and looked up.

Rachel was horrified to see the sky fill with vampires. They were Violet’s coven. All flying right towards them. Rachel knew they would kill them.

Benji grabbed her hand.

“Hurry,” he said. “There isn’t much time.”

He led her and together they raced inside the mausoleum.

As they entered, Benji slammed the iron gates behind them. He grabbed a long silver pole, and used it to bar the gates.

“It is silver,” he said. “Your ancestors kept it here, just for this reason. It will hold them back. But not for long. Hurry. We haven’t much time.”

Benji took her hand, snatched a glowing torch off the wall, and they ran. It lit the way, as they twisted and turned underground, the ground dirt. Rachel was in awe as they passed one huge marble sarcophagus after another. They looked to be thousands of years old.

“What is this place?” she asked.

“The tomb of your ancestors,” he answered.

“But why are we here?”

“The key is here. The key to understanding. The key to your destiny.”

“I don’t understand,” she said.

“Follow me!” he said.

Suddenly there came a crash, and the sounds of the iron gate being torn off its hinges. It was followed by the sound of thousands of vampires breaking in behind them.

They ran and ran, deeper and deeper, twisting and turning, as they heard footsteps behind them, echoing through the halls.

Finally, they reached a spiral staircase.

Benji held up the torch, and they circled down again and again and again, Rachel out of breath, he leading her.

They went deeper and deeper into the earth, until finally, they came to a cavernous room.

Benji held up the torch, and Rachel was shocked. The room was filled with gold and silver, piled high, treasure chests, ancient jewels.

And in its center lay a single, golden sarcophagus, shining, carved with ancient symbols.

“The Golden Sarcophagus,” Benji said softly, in awe. “The treasure of the Ancient Ones.”

He turned to her.

“It is up to you,” he said. “Only you can open it.”

They hurried towards the sarcophagus, and Rachel leaned over and grabbed the lid. It was heavy, solid gold.

She pushed with all her might, and it opened slowly, with a creak.

A burst of ancient air and dust came rushing out at her.

She peered down, and at first, all was blackness.

Then, Benji held up the torch.

Rachel stepped back and gasped. She could not believe what she saw.

“Is it true?” she asked, turning to Benji.

Benji stood beside her, looking down, equally shocked.

Finally, he nodded.

“Yes,” he said. “But I never knew it really existed.”

Suddenly, Rachel saw, to her horror, the ground open up beneath Benji.

Benji stumbled and dropped the torch as he started to fall, down into a huge and growing hole in the earth.

Benji fell into the earth, but then reached up and grabbed hold of a root at the top of the pit. He held on with one hand, gasping.