Tall, Dark & Heartless: A Pyte/Sentinel Series Novel Read online

  Tall, Dark & Heartless: A Pyte/Sentinel Series Novel

  Title Page

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Epilogue

  Tall, Dark & Heartless:

  A Pyte/Sentinel Novel

  by R.L. Mathewson

  Copyright 2012 by R.L. Mathewson

  Smashwords Edition

  Edited by Lieve Van den Heuvel and Maura O'Beirne-Stanko

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations and events described in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

  e-book ISBN 978-0-9832125-8-4

  ISBN 978-1475108880

  Tall, Dark & Heartless © R.L. Mathewson 2012. All rights reserved.

  http://www.rlmathewson.com

  Other books by R.L. Mathewson:

  Tall, Dark & Lonely: A Pyte/Sentinel Series Novel #1

  Without Regret: A Pyte/Sentinel Series Novel #2

  A Humble Heart: A Hollywood Hearts Series Novel

  A Reclusive Heart: A Hollywood Hearts Series Novel

  Playing for Keeps: A Neighbor From Hell Series Novel

  Perfection: A Neighbor From Hell Series Novel

  Sudden Response: An EMS Series Novel

  As always a special thank you to Rhonda Valverde and all my forum buddies at http://www.vampireromancebooks.com who gave me my start as a writer.

  Thank you, VRB :)

  This book is dedicated to several people, so please bear with me :)

  To my family, my parents, brothers, and everyone else in my very large family who have been there for me.

  To Valarie Schultz, who was there laughing her ass off at me when I crashed my website for the first time ;)

  To everyone who hit "Like" on my Facebook Page and has kept me entertained with their antics, and of course helped develop "Hunk Hunt" Night.

  To my children, Kayley and Shane, who have been to hell and back with me over the years. I couldn't have asked for two sweeter kids. You are both wonderful children and although I cringe at the idea of either one of you reading my books one day, when all is said and done, I really write these books for you:)

  A HUGE thank you to Lieve Van den Heuvel and Maura O'Beirne-Stanko, who worked very hard editing this book.

  Thank you, Maura and Lieve, for all your help and your advice.

  Pytes live in a world where their immortality, strength, speed and ability to withstand the sun should make them gods on earth. Instead they are forced to live in fear. Their ability to create a stronger more powerful army of vampires has Master Vampires all over the world waging wars to find them and Sentinels determined to get them.

  Even as they fight for their freedom they know that one day they’ll have to choose a side….

  Prologue

  A small village in Scotland, just north of the English border

  1058

  "Come on, lad. Jump and take it if ye want it!"

  "Give it back!" Caine snapped, sick of being taunted because of his size. He was sixteen winters and he was being mocked by a boy two winters younger than him, in front of all the men in the village no less.

  "Make me, brat," the boy said, reaching out and shoving him. He stumbled back and tripped over his bare feet and landed in the mud next to four of his cousins.

  "Get up!" Jacob hissed as he reached down and grabbed Caine by the scruff of his neck, forcing him back to his feet. "If ye let 'em knock ye down again I'll wring yer neck," his cousin promised as he shoved him back towards the large boy.

  Caine glowered over his shoulder at his cousin as he uselessly wiped at the mud now coating his dirty tunic and plaid. He knew his cousin thought he was helping, but sadly he wasn't. After he dealt with this horse's ass he'd have to run and hide in his cave for a few days. At least until his cousin forgot that he owed him a beating or his aunt sent the dogs after him, again.

  He forced himself to walk up to the large boy who towered over him and held up his fists, ready to get this over with. The lad and his friends laughed as the boy gave Caine a shove, but this time he managed to hold his ground. The only thing that would save him from a sound beating from his cousin was to try to fight. Jacob would still clobber him, but at least he'd be able to walk afterwards.

  As he stepped back in front of the lad towering over him and hell bent on humiliating him, he ignored the teasing and the taunts from the other children and even the adults. He knew he was small, too small for his age, which made him the talk of the village. It was a daily humiliation that was only made worse when his ten year old cousin Lachlan had a growth spurt a month ago and now towered over him.

  No one knew what was wrong with him. He was born small and didn't seem to be in too much of a hurry to grow. Around five years ago he simply stopped growing. It didn't matter what he ate or what vile concoctions his aunt shoved down his throat, his body refused to grow. It was not only embarrassing, but intolerable at this point.

  At his age he should be earning a man's wage working out in the fields or learning a trade. Instead, no one would hire him. No matter where he went he could not find work. It was a sore spot with his aunt. The only reason she hadn't turned him out yet was because he didn't have much of an appetite. In fact, for the past year and a half he really hadn't eaten anything at all.

  He should be dead, he knew that much at least. While his cousins were fighting over scraps of food he was sitting back, bored while his cousins fought over every last bit of food. Although he felt hunger, it wasn't for any food he could think of. The constant hunger was only a mild irritation, something he didn't usually think about. The few times he tried to eat, his stomach would hurt him and he'd lose what little food he'd managed to swallow.

  After that, he decided not to touch any of the food since it would only be taking it away from his cousins who needed it more. If anyone had noticed that he wasn't eating they hadn't said anything, probably because they didn't care. Not that he could blame them. He remembered only too well how it felt to go hungry.

  Even though his aunt did her best to put food on the table it normally wasn't enough. Being on the smaller side meant that he usually got his food last and of course he would have been fed last anyway since he was just a charity case. His father hadn't wanted him anymore than his aunt did, but his aunt wouldn't turn her back on free
labor, which was the only thing he seemed good enough for.

  "Ah, look at that, lad," the big brute said, gesturing to the whores, who lived in a shack down by the river and only came to the village to eat or earn some coin on their backs, "even they're laughing at ye."

  He felt his cheeks burn as he dared a glance at the women only to discover that they were indeed laughing at him. That wasn't surprising or anything new since everyone laughed at him.

  "Ah, go on, lad. Show 'em yer wee willy," the bastard said as he shoved Caine. When the boy reached to yank away his plaid he did something he knew he'd regret the moment his cousin got his hands on him.

  He ran.

  He ran past the men and women laughing at him, past the pigs and chickens that roamed the streets, down to the woods, over the stream and headed for his cave where he planned to stay until he figured out where to go next. He ignored his cousin's demands to come back and kept going, ducking beneath branches and through prickly patches, knowing that no one bigger than him would be able to follow. He ran up the side of the rock hill and after making sure that no one was looking he slid behind a large boulder and allowed himself to slide down the slant that took him through the entrance tunnel and down into his cave.

  Very little light made its way into the cave, but that was okay, he didn't really need it. He reached out and pressed his small hand against the side of the smooth rock wall and made his way to his real home, the place where he didn't have to worry about anyone pointing and laughing at him, where he didn't have to worry about his aunt finally getting sick of the very sight of him and casting him out. This was his home and here he was a man.

  A loud yawn escaped him as he continued to make his way through the pitch black cave followed by another one. He couldn't remember ever feeling so tired so quickly before. The last few days he'd fallen asleep in the oddest places. Twice he'd woken up in the field to his aunt slapping and kicking him. He really didn't know why he was so tired lately, but for once he wasn't going to fight it. Sleeping would give him something to do until he figured out what he should do with the rest of his life.

  For a man that looked like a young boy there really wasn't much to do except hide out like the freak that he was. It was only a matter of time before the good townspeople chained him up and demanded that he be checked to see if he was a demon or a witch, again. Soon they wouldn't be satisfied with just throwing rotten food at him or spitting on him. When his aunt cast him out they would probably just kill him and be done with it.

  Maybe that would be for the best, he thought, yawning as he found the pallet, which he'd made with leaves and old straw, in the dark and laid down. Maybe it would be for the best if he fell asleep and never woke up again, he thought as he drifted off.

  ********

  "Don't bother gettin' up," he heard Ian, his aunt's closest neighbor and the real owner of the cave, say as the cool tip of a sword registered in Caine's mind.

  He opened his mouth to speak, but the only thing that came out was a hoarse whisper. Caine tried to move his arms and legs, but they were too heavy to move so he settled for opening his eyes and was forced to immediately shut them as bright light from several torches nearly blinded him.

  "I'm not gonna ask ye again, what are ye doing on me property?" Ian demanded as the tip of the sword bit into his skin, making his over sensitized skin scream in agony.

  "W-w-," he had to swallow hard to find his voice, "what are you doing, Ian?" he asked in a daze as the sound of his voice registered in his mind and when it did he nearly jumped to sit up, but thankfully he was still too weak to move.

  "How do ye ken my name?" Ian demanded in a hard tone as a hand suddenly grabbed Caine by a handful of his hair and yanked him up until he was sitting, barely able to stay up on his own. He forced his eyes open and squinted at Ian and his two sons as they glared at him with their swords drawn.

  "Why's he wearing Caine's plaid, Da'?" Seamus demanded as he gestured towards him with his sword.

  He knew Ian and his family didn't like him, never had, but they'd never been this cruel to him before. Normally when they caught him on their property they normally set the dogs on him or shoved him around a bit. They'd never gone as far as to use their swords on him before.

  "Just let me go and I won't come here again," he said, becoming more anxious each time he heard his own voice. It no longer sounded like the voice that he detested, the one that other lads mocked. His voice sounded deep, like a man's voice. In fact, his voice sounded a lot deeper than Jacob's and he suddenly couldn't wait to go hunt down his cousin and rub it in his face. It was finally happening. He was finally growing and not a moment too soon.

  As soon as he finished growing he was going to leave the village since they'd probably just point at him and call him a freak for finally growing into a man, but that was okay. He always wanted to travel, but it had never been an option for him with the way he looked. Hopefully, he'd grow as big and tall as his uncle, he thought as he dropped his eyes down to his bare legs, and widened.

  Why was everything in shades of blue? he wondered even as the size of his legs and arms had him grinning like a fool. It looked like he got his wish, but he'd bet that he was bigger than his uncle now. He moved to raise his arms, surprised that it took so much effort.

  "Hands down!" Ian shouted and Caine automatically went to comply when something occurred to him. Not only was he probably bigger than them, but they were acting like they didn't know him. Could he have changed that much during a quick nap? He didn't think it was possible, but unless this was a dream that's exactly what happened based on what he was seeing.

  Please don't let this be a dream.

  "I'll only ask ye again! Where's the lad?" Ian demanded, making Caine cringe as a hundred other sounds suddenly made themselves known. He could hear each and every breath the men took, the sounds of their clothes moving, the sounds of the cloth and embers burning around the torch, the soft wind rustling through the trees outside the cave, and insects crawling through leaves. It was overwhelming and just when he thought that he couldn't take anymore his nose was suddenly bombarded with scents.

  "I ken that he's probably not alive since he's not here an' no one's seen or heard from the lad in over a month, so tell us what ye did with the body!" Brandon, Ian's youngest son demanded.

  Caine barely heard them as he struggled to work through the scents that were attacking him. He could smell the dirt, body odor, the scent of stale whisky and beneath all of those repugnant smells he scented something delicious, something that had his stomach growling and his body trembling with need. He looked up at the men as his sight suddenly shifted from blues of every shade to red.

  The men gasped as they moved to step away.

  "Monster......," Ian whispered as he slowly raised his sword to strike Caine, but he never got the chance. Caine suddenly found himself leaping on top of the man and knocking them both over in his clumsy, weak attempt to get at the delicious scent. He was barely aware of the sounds of the man's sons running and screaming as his eyes narrowed on the man's dirty neck.

  He knew this was wrong and sick and that he shouldn't be doing this, but he couldn't help it. Before he knew what he was doing he was biting into Ian's neck and moaning as a rich, hot liquid poured into his mouth and God help him, but he'd never tasted anything more delicious in his life.

  Tall, Dark & Heartless

  Chapter 1

  Manhattan, New York

  Present Day

  "That dumb bastard is going to get us all killed," Kelly murmured as they crouched down in the wide tunnel. Danni couldn't agree more. Kelly jerked her head to the far right where one man stood apart from the others, looking bored.

  "Except for him of course."

  Danni looked at the only Pyte in the unit and she couldn't help but note the differences. Where some of the men, especially the lying rat bastard, who was leading the merry group of humans probably to their deaths, went overboard with their weapons and gear, he kept it simple. He
wore a black tee shirt, black combat pants, and boots with only a knife at his side. His short bronze hair was naturally spiky with a mussed look most of the other men paid top dollar to achieve. The black spiral tattoo that started at the fingertips of his right hand and ran up his arm, over his shoulder, around his neck and finished along his jaw made him look dangerous. It also made his pale grey eyes look more menacing. While most of the men tried to look tough with spiky hair and tattoos he was the only one that carried it off, making the rest of the men look like country club kids playing dress up. Considering they were full humans working for the Sentinels the description was probably fitting.

  Most of the members in this unit were children of Sentinels who either thought they were natural bad asses or had something to prove. Although she was the daughter of a Sentinel couple, she was neither here to prove herself, or to seek attention. The simple fact was that it was in her blood. She may not have been born a Sentinel, but she was born for this job. This was her life and she loved it.