I kept my steps slow as I rounded the corner. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but a cellar with a note on it was not it.
I blinked at the handwriting. Liz’s scrawling words were written on the sheet.
‘Vampires, open with caution.’
It took everything I had to not pull my phone out and yell at her. I cracked the door open.
“My name is Abigail Collins.” I felt a little silly yelling down into the dark. “Can you hear me?”
There were mummers from below and then louder. “Princess Abigail! Alert the territory leader, please! We have vampires close to blood lust.”
I didn’t correct the title because, at this point, there was no reason to.
“How many of you are there?”
“Ten.”
Fuck. What the hell? Maybe they could give us some answers to what was going on up here. “I’ll be calling Levi in just a moment.”
I glanced up at the top window, thinking about the room up there. Oh, maybe they were the problem. “It’s about two hours until sundown. Hang tight.”
I shut the cellar door and went back to the cruiser. An ambulance had pulled up next to it, and the little girl was sitting on the edge of it with an EMT next to her.
I walked up to Mason. “There are ten vampires in the cellar. We need to have one of Levi’s people come out tonight and talk to them and help them.”
“We don’t bite friends.” She pointed her finger at me. “Not food.” She pointed to herself.
I frowned. “Have you been down there?”
She shook her head, then pointed up. “Not allowed to leave.”
I sighed and told myself I needed to remember she was just a small child, and it was amazing that she spoke this much to me.
“Take a ride back with her. See what else she might tell you.” Mason motioned to the ambulance. “I’ll call Levi in and keep you updated.”
I nodded, and the EMT moved so I could hop into the back. I held my hand out to the little girl, and she took it and snuggled into me as the EMT joined us.
“I’m sleepy. Is it okay I sleep?”
I ran my hand over her matted hair and looked at the EMT, who nodded. “Yeah, kiddo. Go ahead and take a nap. You’re safe now.”
I let the EMT get the little girl checked into the hospital. A lady from the state was already at the counter, waiting for us to get there.
She stepped up and held her hand out to me. “I’m Mary Jane. I’m with the Department of Human Services, and I wanted to ask you a few questions about the little girl you found today.”
I shook her hand. “I’m Abigail Collins. I was on the scene as one of the King of Vampires’ people today.”
She motioned to a hallway. “Why don’t we go sit in the office.”
In my experience, any time someone wanted to talk in an office, it meant that the conversation wasn’t going to be a nice one.”
I nodded and followed her to an office down the hall. She shut the door behind me when I walked in. “Ms. Collins.”
“Agent Collins, actually,” I corrected and sat down. “I’m just currently on vacation.”
She smiled a little bit, but it wasn’t really a nice one. “And on your vacation, you work for the King of Vampires?”
“Yes. Sometimes he needs people who can walk in the daylight and work a scene.”
She sat down. “The little girl you found, what do you know about her?”
“Nothing. I know she’s dirty and she has something to do with the big white house in that ghost town, but that’s it. She said she didn’t have a name.” I wasn’t going to give away anything that could have been important to the case, like the fact that she knew the vampires were in the basement.
She raised a brow. “That’s it? Most children that age would have been crying for their mother or father.”
“That’s it. She was wandering around the ghost town by herself. I can’t disclose what we found at the scene of the crime, so you’ll just have to move forward with what information I can share.”
She looked at me and then folded her hands on the table. “Agent Collins, if she was your daughter —”
“She wouldn’t have been wandering around a ghost town,” I cut her off. “I don’t have children for a reason. My job is dangerous. My life is dangerous. And whatever that little girl has gone through must have been horrible for her to be willing to trust two strangers who drove into town.”
She nodded. “Very well then, the state will take care of her from here.”
There was part of me that wanted to demand getting updated on what happened to her, but unless something came up in the case, I probably wouldn’t be seeing her again.
She stood and left me alone in the room. I waited for a moment before I stood and walked out of the hospital.
I pulled my phone out and called Simon.
“Abby, everything okay? Travis told me your car disappeared.”
“Mm, I’m okay, but I’m at the hospital because of a case. Can you come pick me up?”
There was a pause. “You’re not hurt?”
“Nope. Promise, not a scratch on me. We had to bring in a victim, and I rode back to town with her.”
“Okay, I’ll see you in a little bit.”
He disconnected the call, and I found a sunny little spot to sit and wait for him to show up.
My peace didn’t last long as my phone rang again.
“Abigail,” Levi’s voice sounded tired. “Ten vampires?”
I took a deep breath. “That’s what they told me. I didn’t go down into the cellar to find out.”
“And a child?”
“She’s not a vampire. I’m not sure if she’s anything supernatural at all.” I sighed. “I don’t think they’ll let me know what happens to her unless it pertains to the case.”
“Mason will keep me updated if he can, so I’ll let you know. Tonight, I want you with the pack, and do not leave their grounds.”
I frowned. “I was already planning on being with the pack. Simon is picking me up from here. What’s going on.”
“I can’t tell you right now. If you need to know, I will inform you. Just stay with the wolves tonight.” He disconnected the phone, and I glared at it.
I thought when I became Princess, he’d let me in on more of his secrets. I was wrong.
I shoved the phone back in my pocket and sighed. I had a feeling that his secret today had something to do with Samuel because currently, that was the only thing he skirted around telling me.
I’d get my answer eventually, but chances were, it would be when he was forced to give it to me.
Closing my eyes, I let the sun warm me while I waited for Simon to arrive.
Simon pulled up in his truck and honked at me, bringing me out of my peaceful meditation in the sun.
He grinned at me through the window. “Need a ride, sweetheart?”
I rolled my eyes at his attempt at a cheesy pickup line. “Yeah, but I’m waiting for my boyfriend.”
He snorted. “Get in. It’s time to head up to pack lands anyways.”
I pushed off the wall I was leaning against and climbed into the truck. “It’s beautiful out. The weather should be nice for a run tonight.”
“Yeah, it will be.” He twisted his hands on the steering wheel. “I have strict instructions to not let you off pack lands tonight…”
My phone rang, cutting him off. I cringed. “Sorry, let me grab that, it’s Mason.”
He nodded, and I answered it.
“I’m sending men out to check that other location you received from Liz.”
Part of me wanted to go with him. I glanced at Simon, and he glared at me.
“Strict instructions,” he whispered.
In Levi terms, ‘strict instructions’ usually included a death threat.
“Okay, let me know what you find. There wasn’t anything magical around the first house, so hopefully it’s the same at this next location.” I pressed my lips together. “If you c
an do it after nightfall, take one of Levi’s people with you if he has any free. Just in case there are more vampires.”
“Let me know if you hear any more from Liz.” Mason disconnected the call, and I leaned back in my seat. “Strict instructions, huh?”
“Until noon tomorrow, you’re not allowed off pack lands. He didn’t say why, but I have a feeling something or someone dangerous is in town.”
Interesting. Typically, Levi told Simon what was going on. It was part of being allies. “King business?”
“That’s my guess, because he wouldn’t tell me what was going on.” Simon shrugged. “He’s playing something close to his chest.”
I nodded. “Yeah, and I want to know what it is.”
Simon made a noise of agreement and pulled the truck on to the highway. “What did Mason want this morning?”
With the situation in the ghost town, I’d almost forgotten about Nick. “Nick has returned from the dead.”
“Like a zombie?” Simon glanced at me. “Or actually a living person.”
“As a living person.”
He laughed, and I realized that he had been trying to crack a joke. “What made him come out of hiding?”
“I don’t know. He’s in PIB’s hands now. So I’ll be surprised if I don’t get a call from O’Donald wondering what the fuck is going on.” I sighed. “But tonight, I’m going to push it away from my mind and enjoy the full moon.”
“And then maybe tomorrow night I can take you to dinner for your birthday?” he offered.
I’d forgotten my birthday was tomorrow, and with the celebration being next week, I’d shoved it completely out of my mind. I smiled. “I’d like that.”
He put his hand on my knee and continued to drive into the mountains to the pack land.
CHAPTER SEVEN
We pulled up to the paved scenic overview that was near the pack grounds and got out. I could already feel the energy of the full moon around us even though the sun still had an hour or so before it slid behind the mountains.
Simon took my hand with a grin and darted into the trees, dragging me with him. I tried to keep up, but he seemed to just glide effortlessly through the forest, where I had to make sure I kept my footing each step.
He stopped in the clearing, and I almost tumbled as he did. Catching me, he gave me a quick kiss before he made sure I was steady on my feet.
I never got tired of seeing him in tune with the forest and his wolf. The full moon always brought out a more playful side of him, especially since the pack was at peace.
Travis came out of the cabin that sat in the clearing. The outside had a nice rustic feeling with the log-looking walls and the charming roof, but inside was full of modern steel and technology. Pups had to stay at the cabin for at least six months before they started integrating back into society.
Travis crossed his arms and stared at us. “If you two are going to get it on tonight, you’re going to have to go back to town.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t worry, we have manners.” I headed to the cabin, and Simon followed me.
“Sorry about your car,” Travis said as I passed him.
“Honestly, at this point, it’s not even a surprise that something happened to it.” I snorted. “You can make it up to me by letting me fix my plate first at dinner. You guys always take the good stuff.”
“We can’t help it that we’re hungry.” Simon kissed my cheek again and then raced into the cabin.
I mocked him while his back was turned to me and followed him in. “The witch needs food too.”
Travis jerked his head toward the island that divided the kitchen from the living room. “I put a plate out for you already. And I made sure it had all the good stuff on it.”
I sat down on the stool and pulled the plate toward me. As I dug my fork into the food, my phone rang. I hung my head in defeat and pulled it out of my pocket.
“Agent Abigail Collins speaking.”
“You’re on vacation,” O’Donald’s voice came over the line.
“It’s a force of habit, and like you said, I’m on vacation, so why are you calling me?”
There was a bit of a ruckus behind him. “I need you to come down to the station. I’d like to speak to you about your old partner.”
I steeled myself. I wasn’t exactly prepared for this conversation. “Nick is dead, what more is there to talk about?”
Both Simon and Travis’ head popped up to stare at me. Travis looked at Simon and held his hands out as if to say ‘what?’ Simon shook his head.
“Collins, I’d rather you come down to PIB to discuss this.”
“I’m out of town for the night. I won’t be back until tomorrow afternoon or evening.”
He let out a frustrated growl. “Then our discussion will have to wait until then. Report to PIB as soon as you get back in town.”
The phone went dead in my hand a moment after. Simon slowly took it out of my hand. “I’m going to go put this in my room until tomorrow. Tonight is supposed to be a fun, carefree night. That means no work.”
“Yeah,” I said, my mind far away. The situation with Nick could ruin my career at PIB if he convinced them I knew he was alive. With how much O’Donald hated me, it might not be too hard for Nick to do.
Travis tapped my head. “Get your head out of your ass. The pack will be here soon.”
I swatted his hand away. “Didn’t your mother teach you manners?”
“Among other things, such as killing a person.”
I stared at him, trying to decide if he was serious or not. Travis had come from a rough pack, but that was all I knew about his past. What I did know was that he was extremely loyal to Simon, and that was all that really mattered.
The front door of the cabin swung open, and the pack started filing in. Some of them grabbed plates and went about eating. Some of them just stood around and talked. Many of them greeted me as they walked by, grabbing a plate to pile up with food. I started to eat mine as they all chatted, and everything was right with the world for now. Surrounded by food and family, as unorthodox as it was, just made everything seem perfect.
The sun had inched behind the mountains, and we all moved outside to see the moon rising. Simon kissed my cheek. “I’ll see you after my run.”
“Enjoy. I’ll be here soaking in the magic.” I smiled as the wolves started to strip, and then one by one, they all shifted. Simon, the last of them. A howl tore out of his throat as his body bowed, his bones and muscles moving under the flesh, forcing him to all fours, finishing with fur bursting out of his skin. He shook out his fur and turned his yellow eyes back to me. I swore he smiled before he darted into the woods after his pack.
The sound of howls echoed through the night as the sun finished setting, leaving the full moon bright in the sky. I walked into the center of the clearing and sat down.
The air around me was crisp, promising a colder night even though the day had been warm. It didn’t matter though, I wouldn’t spend all night out here, just long enough to reground myself and enjoy my magic.
I closed my eyes and reached out to my circle with the magic. I buried my fingertips into the dirt, bringing a sense of touch to the ritual. A felt a click through my body as my magic found its home around the pack lands. A sigh escaped my lips as my body relaxed. The land welcomed me home. Here I was safe and protected against outside threats.
I opened my eyes to see one of the wolves staring at me from the edge of the clearing before it bounded off into the darkness. It wasn’t like any of them to come back before the night was over, but I didn’t give it a second thought.
‘Abigail. Oh, Abigail’
A voice floated in the wind. One I knew well. Hannah.
Hannah was Mario’s maker, and she had something against me. She thought I’d killed her daughter, I hadn’t. I had thought her daughter was still alive until she accused me of killing her. I could only assume that the vampire council had decided to put Kiera to death.
I shook my
head. She wasn’t welcome on pack grounds. It was nothing but paranoia and fear that spoke to me now.
‘He’s coming for you, Abigail. He knows what you’ve done.’
I closed my eyes and tried to push the voice out of my head. “You’re not real. You’re not here,” I whispered. “Go away.”
‘He’s going to drain you of your blood and turn you into one of us. He will be your maker, not Levi. He will control you.’
I would die a true death before anyone could turn me.
I smiled as the wind wrapped around me, and the voice disappeared. This was my place. Hannah could try her magic all she wanted, but it wasn’t going to get through here. I’d stopped her from attacking me in my dreams before. She wouldn’t touch me now.
The thought warmed me as the wind died down. I was grounded in the Earth and with the Goddess, the full moon shone brightly above me, and the magic was alive. I held up my hand and called a ball of fire to it. The warmth traveled through my arm and manifested in my palm. The magical flames danced in the wind as I watched.
Not long ago, I didn’t have the same control. I couldn’t manifest fire, I had to have an existing fire to use. When I first found out that I was an elemental, I was terrified, but now I was learning to embrace it more and more. Several times, it had saved my life.
A chill started to eat at my skin, and I let the flame die. It was time to go into the warmth of the cabin and wait for my wolves to return. They’d all stumble back in around dawn and fall asleep in a giant pile of limbs and bodies on the floor. Except for Simon. He’d return to bed with me, and I would spend the morning cradled in his arms. That made me grin.
Simon’s arms wrapped around me as I tried to roll over. He pressed his lips to my neck. “Good morning.”
“Mm, yes, did you have a good run?”
He nodded against me. “Yes, we hunted some deer, played in the river. It was wonderful. Did you have a good night?”
“Yeah, let my magic lose and went to bed early.” I chuckled. “I didn’t even hear you guys come in.”
A Little Blood Magic (Here Witchy Witchy Book 10) Page 8
