All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire

CHAPTER 26

Toni materialized right into a shootout. Yuri jerked them both down to the floor as bullets sprayed overhead. She looked quickly about. Corky and Tiffany had dropped to the floor and were squirming out of the way.

Jedrek was shooting at Jack and Zoltan. They must have just charged into the studio. Jack jumped behind Stone Cauffyn's desk while Zoltan rushed in the opposite direction, taking shelter behind an unmanned camera. The cameraman was huddled on the floor behind his camera.

Jedrek's pistol made some empty clicking noises. With a curse, he threw it aside and drew his sword. Zoltan rushed forward to engage him, while Jack dashed toward Ian to press a dagger into his hands.

"Stop!" Nadia ran at Jack, her sword raised.

Jack lunged at Nadia, forcing her to retreat.

"No!" Yuri lurched forward to help Nadia.

With a quick slash, Jack nearly sliced off Yuri's arm. Blood splattered. With a screech, Yuri fell to the floor. Jack turned him to dust, then went after Nadia.

Toni swallowed hard. She couldn't let this violence freak her out. Yuri's sword was lying on the floor, and she needed to grab it. She stumbled to her feet, but an icy cold assault knocked her flat on the floor. The familiar icy wave swept through her, freezing her body.

You cannot move. Jedrek's command rang in her head.

He zoomed toward her. "You will drop your swords!" He pointed his sword at Toni's heart.

She stared at the sharp point, poised to kill her. Her body couldn't budge. She couldn't even turn her head. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ian's stricken face.

Swords clattered on the floor. Jack and Zoltan had surrendered.

Oh God, what if Jedrek killed them? What if he killed Ian? And all because she was unable to function on their level. An old, familiar shame swept through her. Always unworthy. Never quite good enough.

"Tie them up," Jedrek ordered.

Nadia looped silver rope around Jack's wrists.

Jedrek strolled over to them. "What shall I do with you two? Shall I kill you now? Giacomo, the famous son of Casanova." He stopped in front of Zoltan. "And the mighty Coven Master of Eastern Europe. I should tie you both to a lamppost and let the sunrise burn you to death."

Toni noticed from the corner of her eye that Ian had cut the silver ropes looped around his chest and wrists. He stuffed some rope into his sporran. Nadia was too busy tying the new prisoners, and Jedrek was too busy taunting them to notice.

She had to help Ian. His poor chest and hands were covered with red welts. God help her, she couldn't lie here helpless while he tried to save everyone. And how could he save anyone if Jedrek kept control of the situation by threatening to kill her? She had to fight this. Somehow, she had to break through Jedrek's mind control.

Toni concentrated hard on Ian. On how much she loved him. On how strongly she wanted to help him. Her fingers twitched. She glanced at Jedrek and Nadia. Their backs were turned to her as they tormented Jack and Zoltan. Her hand jerked awkwardly to the wooden stake in her belt. Slowly she closed her fist around it.

She turned her head and saw Ian watching her. He nodded slightly.

He was counting on her. She focused hard. Her love for Ian had to be stronger than Jedrek's power.

"Jedrek, have ye figured out yet that ye've been tricked?" Ian asked, and Jedrek whirled to face him. "Do ye really think I would give you the Stay-Awake drug? That vial was naught but an energy drink."

Jedrek's face turned red with rage. "I'll kill you now!" He ran at Ian, raising his sword in the air.

Ian lunged to the floor to grab Jack's sword, then jumped to his feet to deflect Jedrek's first swing.

With Jedrek's mind fully engaged, Toni was better able to defy his mind control. She eased to her feet.

Ian's sword flashed so quickly, it was clear Jedrek was out-matched. With a flick of his wrist, Ian sent Jedrek's sword flying through the air.

Jedrek backed up.

With his free hand, Ian pulled a length of silver rope from his sporran. "Nay, this time ye willna teleport away." He dropped his sword and leaped forward, looping the silver cord around Jedrek. He pulled the Malcontent against his chest.

Jedrek struggled and kicked, but Ian held him tight. "Now, Toni!"

As she ran forward, she noted the shocked look on Jedrek's face. A mere mortal was about to kill him.

He attacked her with a wave of psychic power. You are under my control. Drop that stake now!

Her hand shook. Icy power streamed through her, threatening to freeze her in place. She forced her feet to move forward. One step. Two.

Jedrek's eyes widened. "No! You will fear me! You will feel the power of fear!"

"I'll show you fear, you bastard!" She stabbed the stake through his heart.

His cry faded as his body disintegrated.

Her mind was free. She dropped the stake, and it fell onto a pile of dust.

Ian tossed the silver rope aside. "Toni." He pulled her into his arms. "Ye were amazing."

She leaned on him, closing her eyes in relief. Jedrek was dead.

"To please the master, I will kill the blonde," a voice whispered behind her.

"No!" Ian yanked Toni to the side.

She jolted when a dagger plunged into her side. Stunned, she saw Ian grab at Nadia, but the female Malcontent teleported away. She looked down at the dagger in her side. How strange. Then a burning pain ripped through her and dragged her into oblivion.

Panic gripped Ian. He swept Toni up in his arms, and the dagger clattered to the floor. It must not have been in very deep. A good sign. But she was losing so much blood.

He shot a pleading look at the camera. "Roman, Connor, if ye hear me, come to Romatech. Please."

The door burst open, and Phineas, Dougal, Howard, and Carlos rushed in. Ian knew they could take care of the hostages, so he teleported straight to Romatech.

"Laszlo!" He zoomed to the operating room.

"I'm here!" Laszlo opened the door for him. "I saw what happened on the television. Put her on the table." He rushed to the sink to wash his hands.

Ian laid Toni on the operating table. Forms wavered in front of him. Roman materialized, holding Shanna, while Connor appeared with Constantine in his arms.

"Oh, thank God," Ian breathed. "She—she's losing so much blood." Already the sheet beneath her was stained red.

Roman and Shanna ran to the sinks to wash their hands. Connor disappeared, then returned with Radinka.

Laszlo snapped on a pair of surgical gloves. "You realize she may have to go to a hospital?"

"Yes, of course." Ian didn't know how to help. He pulled off Toni's shoes and socks.

Laszlo grabbed a pair of scissors and began cutting away her polo shirt. Ian unbuckled her belt and pulled it out from underneath her.

"Ian, stand back." Roman snapped on gloves.

"I canna lose her." Ian flinched when Connor grabbed his arm to pull him back.

"Get out of their way, lad. Let them do their job."

"Is Toni hurt bad?" Constantine asked, his bottom lip trembling.

"She'll be fine," Connor said.

"How is she?" Radinka asked.

"She'll be fine," Connor repeated as he handed Tino to her.

Radinka forced a smile. "Of course she'll be fine." She hurried from the room with the little boy. "Let's wait outside."

Ian watched helplessly as Toni lay on the table bleeding. "By all the saints, I canna lose her."

"She'll be fine, lad," Connor murmured.

Ian turned to him. "I love her, and I willna let ye fire her. I doona care what the rules say."

"Calm down, lad. No one wants to fire her. We saw what she did on the telly. She overcame vampire mind control and staked a vicious Malcontent assassin. It was truly an amazing feat for a mortal."

"She is amazing." Ian looked at Roman. "Ye have to heal her!"

"We'll do our best," Roman said calmly. "The wound is shallow. No major organs were affected." He gazed at the monitor that Shanna had hooked up to show Toni's vital signs. "Her blood pressure's very low, but that's to be expected." He tossed a bloody pad into a metal pan.

Laszlo passed him another pad. "We could give her a transfusion. She's AB positive."

"Do whatever ye have to do!" Ian demanded. "I'm no' going to lose her!"

"Calm down." Shanna walked toward him, carrying a tray of gauze pads and a bottle of something nasty, no doubt. "You've been burned. Let's get you cleaned up."

Ian waved a dismissive hand. "I doona care. I'll heal during my death-sleep."

"Ian," Shanna spoke sharply. "Those wounds need to heal cleanly."

He groaned. "Fine." He endured the stinging medicine she applied to his burns. It served him right for failing to protect Toni. He'd been so relieved to hold her in his arms, he hadn't seen Nadia sneak up on them.

"It's all my fault." He watched Toni on the operating table. She looked so pale. "I dinna get her out of the way fast enough."

"We saw it on TV," Shanna said. "It was terrifying. Everything was happening so fast."

"Aye," Connor agreed. "Ye did well, lad. The Malcontents lost about ten men, and we dinna lose a single one."

But he'd failed to keep Toni safe. Ian gazed sadly at her. "Can ye fix her?"

"We're trying," Roman said. "But we're not surgeons."

Laszlo nodded. "We've never had to repair internal injuries. Vamps always heal naturally from within."

"Because of our vampire blood." Roman looked at Laszlo. "I've always been curious about how well our blood can heal. What if we give her a transfusion of vampire blood instead of regular synthetic blood?"

Laszlo fiddled with a button on his lab coat. "We could give her a sedative to keep her unconscious. That might simulate death-sleep enough that the vampire blood would start to heal her internally."

"Are you planning on turning her?" Shanna asked. "We should have her permission."

"This won't transform her," Roman said. "She would have to be drained completely and in a vampire coma. And then she would have to drink from a vampire and ingest the blood in order to change. This would keep her mortal, but we could see if the vampire blood heals her."

Laszlo nodded. "It would be very interesting to see if it works."

Shanna gave the two men a dubious look. "You want to experiment on her. Wouldn't it be safer to take her to a hospital?"

"She would have to undergo surgery in a hospital," Roman argued. "If our theory works, she'll heal naturally and quickly."

"Indeed." Laszlo twisted a button. "We'll be able to tell fairly quickly if it's working or not. If it doesn't, then we can take her to a hospital."

"Then let's get on with it." Ian strode toward the operating table. "I'll give her my blood."

"We'll need to make sure your blood is compatible." Laszlo swabbed Ian's arm with antiseptic.

"It should be. I drink AB positive all the time."

"So I see." Roman glanced at the bite marks on Toni's neck and frowned at Ian.

"I–I dinna force myself on her."

"How recent?" Laszlo cleaned Toni's arm and inserted a needle.

"About nine hours ago." When Ian received some confused looks, he explained. "I took the Stay-Awake drug, so we could have some time alone."

Connor muttered a curse under his breath.

Roman exchanged an amused look with his wife. "Well, since your blood came from Toni, it should be a perfect match."

Lazlo rolled a second gurney up to the operating table. "Get on."

Ian lay on top, and soon his blood was being pumped directly into Toni. Roman and Laszlo kept a close watch on Toni's wound, while Shanna watched her vital signs.

"The bleeding stopped," Roman whispered.

Laszlo fiddled with a button. "That's a good sign."

"Blood pressure's still too low," Shanna murmured.

"Sir, I believe that tissue is closing," Laszlo exclaimed.

"Yes, it's working," Roman announced. "Let's sew her up."

Thirty minutes later, Toni's wound was continuing to heal but her vital signs were still problematic. The transfusion had left Ian weak and hungry, so he rested on the gurney while he drank several pints of synthetic blood. AB positive, just in case Toni needed some more.

A loud cheer erupted from the waiting room. Connor's announcement about Toni's recovery had been well received.

Shanna shook her head. "We shouldn't celebrate just yet. She's running a fever."

Ian said a silent prayer for Toni as he slipped off the gurney. Connor had brought him a navy polo shirt from the security office. He put it on and peeked out the door to see who was in the waiting room.

His mouth fell open. Everyone was there. Jean-Luc and Heather from Texas. Angus, Emma, and Robby. Zoltan and Jack were there. Their burned wrists had been bandaged by Laszlo. Dougal was there, unharmed.

Phineas's shoulder was bandaged.

Ian walked up to him. "Ye were injured?"

"It's nothing." Phineas waved a dismissive hand. "Stan managed to poke me a little, that's all."

"Did ye finish him off?"

"I wish." Phineas made a face. "When Carlos shifted into a panther, Stan freaked out and ran. Ran straight into the parking lot, and the women out there nearly tore him to shreds before he managed to teleport away."

"So he's still alive."

"Yeah." Phineas shrugged and winced. "I'll have to watch my back from now on."

"Doona fash," Dougal said. "We'll watch yer back."

Ian spotted Carlos sitting between Sabrina and Teddy. Carlos must have called them about Toni.

Teddy grinned as he approached. "Hey, man, I heard you guys defeated the evil forces."

"Toni killed Jedrek," Ian said. "She was amazing."

Sabrina snorted. "She could have gotten herself killed. I told her to stay away from you…Vamps. It's not safe to be around you."

"The mortal world is dangerous, too," Carlos told her.

"But Toni has no business trying to fight evil vampires," Sabrina insisted. She glared at Ian. "I swear, if something happens to her, I'll sue your ass. I'll—"

She paused when Constantine climbed up on the chair next to her. "My gosh, little boy, how did you get in here? What are you doing with these…people?"

"These are my friends," Constantine said. "I'm worried about Toni."

"Toni's going to be all right," Ian told the little boy. He just hoped it was the truth.

Constantine gave Ian one of his bright, angelic smiles. "Good. I like Toni."

"Who are you?" Sabrina whispered.

"I'm Constantine. My mommy is like you, and my daddy is a vampire."

Sabrina's eyes widened with horror. "Oh my God." She flinched when Tino touched her arm.

Constantine gazed at her with his wide blue eyes. "It's going to be all right."

Sabrina's horrified expression slowly melted away. She glanced down at Constantine's hand. "What did you do?"

"You were hurting," Tino said. "Do you feel better now?"

"Yes." Sabrina's eyes widened with wonder. "I do."

This gave Ian an idea. "Tino, would ye like to see Toni?"

Constantine jumped in his seat. "Yes! I like Toni."

Ian picked the boy up in his arms. "She's still hurting. Do ye think ye can make her feel better?"

"I'll try."

In just the short amount of time it took to carry Constantine into the operating room, Ian noticed that the pain from his burns had lessened.

"Hi, Mommy! Hi, Daddy!" Constantine grinned at his parents.

"Goodness." Shanna took him from Ian. "I thought you'd be asleep by now."

"I want to see Toni," Tino announced.

Shanna hesitated. "She's not feeling well, sweetie."

Constantine stuck out his bottom lip. "I want to help her. I like Toni."

"All right, sweetie." Shanna set him on the gurney next to Toni.

He reached out to touch her, then withdrew his hand. "She's hurt bad." He stretched out beside her and wrapped his little fingers around her hand.

"Look at this." Roman motioned at the vital signs monitor.

"Her fever's going down," Shanna whispered.

Constantine yawned as he gazed at Toni. "She's going to be like me." His eyelids shut, and he drifted off to sleep.

"Thank you, Tino." Ian smoothed a hand over the little boy's blonde curls.

Toni was going to be all right.

Toni woke slowly as if she were climbing out of a deep, dark hole.

"Look. She's coming to."

"Oh, thank God."

She heard Carlos's voice, followed by Sabrina's. Her eyes flickered open. Their faces hovered over her, their features fuzzy and unclear. She spotted another person at the foot of the bed. Ian? She blinked, trying to focus. What was wrong with her eyes?

"Hi, Toni," the third person said.

"Oh." She swallowed her disappointment. "Hi, Teddy."

"How do you feel, menina?" Carlos asked.

"I'm fine, I think." She lifted a hand to rub her eyes. "My eyes are burning."

"I was afraid of that," Sabrina said. "They didn't realize you wear contacts." She fumbled in her handbag and pulled out a compact mirror.

Toni sat up.

"Careful." Carlos grabbed the bed's control device. "Let me adjust the bed for you." With a humming noise, the back of the bed rose up to support her back.

"I'm in a hospital?" Toni asked.

"No, this is the operating room at Romatech," Carlos explained. "Ian brought you here."

Toni tried to focus on the compact mirror. She removed one contact and passed it to Sabrina. "Where's Ian? What time is it?" She removed the other contact.

"It's just after five." Sabrina tossed the contacts in the trash.

"In the morning?" Toni blinked.

"Evening," Teddy said. "You slept all day."

Toni looked at him. Then at Carlos and Sabrina. Then around the room. "Oh my gosh."

"What's wrong?" Sabrina rushed back to her side.

"My eyesight. It—it's perfect. Without contacts." She handed the compact back to Sabrina and looked around the room once more. Her sight was more than perfect. She could read the fine print on a poster across the room above the sink. It described the proper procedure for washing hands.

She caught Carlos and Sabrina exchanging a worried look. Something was wrong. She lifted the sheet and blanket to look at her side. The last time she'd looked, there'd been a dagger stuck in her. She touched the area gingerly, expecting to feel some pain. Nothing.

Underneath the sheet, she pulled up her hospital gown. She peeked at her side. There was a faint scar, barely noticeable. She touched the scar. No pain or tenderness. And all the bite marks that had dotted her torso were gone.

Alarm crept into her. She must have slept for weeks to be this healed. "How long was I out? Was I in a coma?"

"Menina." Carlos touched her arm. "You were wounded last night."

"Last…but that doesn't make sense." She grabbed his hand. "Tell me what happened."

He winced. "Toni, lighten up. You're about to crush my bones."

She released his hand. Her sense of alarm grew into full-fledged panic. "I hurt you?"

Carlos flexed his fingers. "You seem a lot stronger."

"Oh my God." Sabrina stepped back, her eyes widening.

"Will someone please tell me what happened?" Toni grasped the railing beside her so she could lower it and get out of bed. She gave it a little push, and it broke completely off.

Sabrina gasped.

"She's Superwoman!" Teddy announced, grinning.

"What?" Toni dropped the bed railing, and it clattered on the floor. "Oh no." Great eyesight, super strength. Was she still alive? She touched her teeth to see if she'd acquired any pointed fangs.

"Relax, menina." Carlos patted her arm. "You're not a Vamp."

She exhaled with relief. "Oh, thank goodness. Not that I have anything against them. I'm really fond of them, and I love Ian. But I'd really hate to die and miss it. I mean, I'm glad I'm still alive. I really like to eat." Good grief, she was babbling like an idiot. "I'm just so confused. How did I heal so fast?"

Just then, Ian walked into the room, carrying two vases of flowers. He grinned at Toni. "Ye're awake. How do ye feel?"

"I have perfect eyesight." She looked him over. He was looking great in his jeans and blue sweater that matched his eyes.

"That's good." He set the vases on the counter.

"I didn't have perfect eyesight before," Toni said.

"What did you do to her?" Sabrina demanded. "She—she's ripping the furniture apart with her bare hands!"

"She's Superwoman," Teddy added.

Ian looked at the broken railing on the floor.

"It was an accident," Toni said. "I didn't mean to. I just pushed a little and…"

Ian nodded. "We thought something like this might happen. Ye could have heightened senses and abilities."

Toni swallowed hard. "What kind of abilities?"

"Ye'll be verra strong and fast." Ian walked toward her. "Constantine was the one who made us realize it when he said ye would be like him—mortal but with special powers. I hope ye doona mind."

"Mind?" Teddy said. "This is so awesome! Toni will be like the bionic woman, but without the metal parts."

Toni sat there, stunned. She glanced at Sabrina, and her friend was staring at her with a shocked expression. "How—what did you do to me?"

"We gave you a blood transfusion." Ian perched on the end of the bed. "My blood."

"You filled her up with vampire blood?" Carlos asked.

"Awesome," Teddy whispered.

"Are you trying to turn her into a vampire?" Sabrina asked.

"Nay." Ian rested a hand on Toni's foot. "We were only trying to heal her. Ye see, vampires heal naturally during our death-sleep because of our blood. We thought my blood might be able to heal Toni. And it did. Sorta." He shrugged one shoulder. "Constantine helped, too."

Sabrina approached the bed. "That sweet little boy helped heal Toni? He—he helped me, too."

"You met Constantine?" Toni asked.

Sabrina nodded. "You were right. He's a very special child." She turned to Ian at the foot of the bed. "Then Toni is still mortal?"

"Aye. She's entirely normal except for having a few extra abilities. We're no' exactly certain what kind of powers she'll have."

Toni leaned back against the bed. Would she be able to levitate or teleport? "I–I'm really a Superwoman?"

Ian smiled. "I'm just grateful I dinna lose you. I've never been more frightened in my life."

"Oh, Ian." She reached a hand toward him, and he slid down the bed to take her hand and kiss it. "How are you? You had so many nasty burns."

"All healed." He leaned closer to kiss her brow.

"You must be hungry." Carlos motioned for Teddy and Sabrina to come with him. "We'll get you some food."

"We'll be back." Sabrina gave her a worried glance as she left the room.

Ian looked her over carefully. "How do ye feel, sweetheart?"

"I feel great." She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him. "I'm so glad it's all over. And I love those flowers. I can smell them from here."

"Aye, ye have stronger senses. The white lilies are from me, and the red roses are from Vanda."

"Vanda?"

Ian grinned. "They've been showing yer assassination of Jedrek Janow on DVN. Ye're a hero. And Vanda's verra happy that he's dead. I gather she had some bad history with him. Anyway, she wanted me to tell you that she was wrong about you. She says we're perfect for each other, and ye should jump my bones at every opportunity."

"She said that?"

Ian's mouth twitched. "Well, I added that last part."

Toni snorted. "I'm glad Vanda decided I'm good enough. I should be now that I have some super Vamp abilities. It always irked me that you guys were superior."

"Toni, doona say that. I have never considered you less than worthy. Ye've always been brave and fearless. Ye rescued yer friend from her greedy uncle. And look at what ye did last night. Ye defied Jedrek's mind control. He was desperately trying to stop you from staking him, and ye just kept coming. It was amazing. I doona know how ye did it."

"You don't know how?" She touched his face. "It was simple. My love for you was more powerful than his hatred."

Ian took her hand and kissed it. "I love you, Toni. I admire you and respect you. Just the way ye are. Ye doona need vampire blood running in yer veins to be worthy. Ye were always a superwoman."

Tears filled her eyes.I am worthy to be loved.

Ian squeezed her hand gently. "I have to tell you that yer new abilities may no' be permanent. Our bodies replenish themselves over time. Of course, if ye want to retain some Vamp power, I'll be happy to share my blood with you."

"I'll share mine with you, too." She grinned. "As long as our love is permanent, that's all that matters."

He pulled her into his arms. "Ye will always have my love."