Gina's Passion (Vampire Huntress Sage Book 4)

by Christina Escue

  “And what will that accomplish?” Crompton asked. “Karma and the others already know I am here, and they will not leave this area until I am eliminated. But, if they find you two dead, they will believe I have moved on and try tracking me to another location.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Seeley asked. “Karma is looking for a young girl, or that’s what I’ve found out since speaking to her the other day.”

  “Caia,” Crompton told them. “I took her from them a few weeks ago, and they have been hunting me since. She’s the key to this, which is why I have her on lockdown with one loyal to me.”

  “She is who they’re wanting,” Seeley stated. “If they find her, they will likely leave the area.”

  “No,” Crompton told him. “They want me dead, and will not stop even if they find young Caia.”

  “Then do what you must,” Lancaster said and looked at the vampire who had kept him alive longer than he’d thought he would.

  “Silence,” Crompton said when he heard a car approaching. Rising, he looked out the window as a dark sedan pulled into the driveway. When two people stepped out, he hissed and moved from the window. “The two males are vampire, but the females are human. VEB and Huntresses, I suspect. Keep them busy. I must go.”

  “Are you afraid of them?” Seeley asked.

  “No,” he answered. “But if they see me, or smell me, I will be forced to leave this area before my plan is finished.”

  “Then go,” Lancaster said as a knock sounded on the door.

  “This is not over,” Crompton told them then was gone.

  “May I help you?” Lancaster asked as he opened the door with a smile.

  “Thatcher Lancaster?” Nikki asked with a grin.

  “Yes,” he answered and looked out the door to see if anyone else was close. “Who’s asking?”

  “My name is Nikola, and this is my boyfriend, Kam. We just moved here with our friends, Sally and Jeff, and are looking for an apartment or house to rent. We were told you were the person to see.”

  “There must be a mistake, Mr. Price owns all the rental properties in the area,” he responded and looked at Seeley. “And I have company, so if you’ll excuse me.”

  “I don’t think so,” Larson said and stuck his hand out as Lancaster moved to close the door. “Invite us in.”

  “No,” Lancaster said and went to close the door again. “I know what you are, and I know you cannot enter without an invitation.”

  “We can’t,” Harrington said then looked at Sally and Nikki. “But they can, and we know there are only you two humans inside.”

  “Pretty sure Karma can enter, too,” Nikki told him.

  “Fuck,” he said and shook his head before grabbing Seeley’s arm and stepping out.

  “Thatcher Lancaster and Seeley Jamisen, you are both under arrest for aiding a vampire known as Crompton,” Larson said as the Huntresses cuffed them. “You will face charges, and if found guilty of violating any of the human or vampire laws, you will face punishment.”

  As Harrington read them their rights, Nikki and Sally walked them to the car.

  “We should have let Crompton kill us,” Lancaster said and looked at the two vampire. “That would have been less painful.”

  “You think?” Nikki asked. “Guess you’ll never know.”

  “I want to talk to Karma,” Seeley demanded.

  “You’ll get to,” Larson told him then tapped the earpiece he wore. “We’re bringing them in.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  “Brandy?” Crompton called out as he walked into the house he hadn’t visited for four days.

  “Yes, Master?” She answered from the back room.

  “Where is Caia?”

  “In her bedroom, Master,” she answered softly.

  “Why are you lying to me?”

  “I am sorry, Master,” she said and bowed her head. “The girl escaped. I searched for her but was unable to find her.”

  “How long has she been gone?”

  “Since the night you left us,” she answered and took a step back. “I have searched for her non-stop since I noticed she was gone.”

  “Why didn’t you call me?”

  “I was afraid, sir,” she answered. “And I hoped to find her before your return.”

  “Come here, child,” he said and opened his arms. “You have no reason to be afraid. You made a mistake. We will find her again.”

  “Thank you, Master,” she said and stepped into his embrace.

  When his arms tightened around her like a vice, she struggled against them, but he didn’t let her go.

  “You failed me,” he whispered, and her blood froze at his tone. He let her go and stepped back for a second before he reached out and quickly twisted her head. It snapped off her shoulders and he dropped it to the floor then stepped back. “Now, I must find Caia.”

  Turning, he walked out of the house and froze.

  “Hello, Master,” Nanette said when his eyes landed on her. “After our meeting the other day, I happened upon something interesting, and wanted to share it with you.”

  “Nanette, my only truly loyal creation, please, come inside and tell me what you have discovered.”

  “My brother is in the area,” she told him once they were inside. “He arrived the day we had our meeting, and is still somewhere close.”

  “I assumed he was,” he told her. “Karma and the VEB are here, and I know the Senate are never far from her.”

  “Is it true one of them changed her?”

  “It is,” he responded and hissed. “They came out of their hiding places for her, and will do whatever she says. She’s the one the ancients wrote of, and she was supposed to be mine.”

  “Tell me what the ancients wrote, please, Master.”

  “There have been stories for many millennium that speak of a Halfling who will show great strength, and possess abilities no other Halfling ever has. It is said this Halfling will unite the humans and vampire. The exact words are thus; Centuries after creation, the vampire world will face challenges like none before. When this time nears, a Halfling child will be born. This child will present itself as a human, but will possess strength and abilities that far surpass those of all before it. Upon reaching maturity, this child will far surpass any other vampire in existence. This Halfling will work to unite the vampire and human population, and bring peace to both worlds.”

  “And that is why you wanted her on our side,” Nanette said with a nod. “And that brother of mine has filled her head with his ideals of a utopian society where humans and vampire co-exist.”

  “She is strong enough to kill me,” he told her, and she shuddered.

  “We will not let that happen, Master,” Nanette told him. “Do you think she will be able to find you?”

  “With you here, Eduardo could easily find me,” he reminded her. “But, I do not think they will come here. I have many creations surrounding this place. To reach me, they would have to battle them all, and they do not have the manpower for that.”

  “Even with the chosen one fighting beside them?”

  “Karma is vulnerable,” he told her and grinned. “She has created a blood link with her copula. To eliminate her, all we must do is eliminate him.”

  “And he will be easier to kill?”

  “He will be difficult to get to, but not impossible,” he answered. “We just need an opening, and a few very strong fighters.”

  “I have some,” she told him. “They are always with me, and will assist you in anything you need.”

  “Very good,” he said and grinned. “Now, we must find where they are staying, and attack when they aren’t expecting it.”

  “I have a way of doing that, too,” she told him and grinned. “Eduardo has never been able to fully block me, just as I have never been able to fully block him, and there is one I created within the VEB. He is a high-ranking member, and I am certain I can locate him.”

  “You, my beautiful Nanette, have never fai
led me. For that, you are to be the one left in charge of my organization should I be eliminated.”

  “Thank you, Master. I will not fail you.”

  ****

  “Nanette is opening herself to me,” Eduardo said as they entered the house they were staying in. “She is attempting to find me.”

  “Can she?” Dylan asked.

  “If I let her,” he answered.

  “Give me a few minutes, then we will head to a place I know. Once we’re there, open yourself to her and let her find you,” Karma said and grinned. “They are in my hometown now, and I know exactly where we want to lead them.”

  “Karma, what are you planning?” Ramsey asked. “And will Zora and Caia be safe?”

  “Zora and Caia will be here with some Huntresses, and whatever Senate members want to stay behind.”

  “Where are we leading them?” Dylan asked, not liking the look in her eyes.

  “A place I used to go when I wanted to train alone,” she answered. “I have weapons there, and I know it as well as I knew my house, and the Huntress compound.”

  “Karma, you’ve been away from here for nearly a year, are you sure it’s still there?” Harrison asked her.

  “Yep,” she answered and pulled out her cell phone. After dialing a number, she put the phone on speaker and waited.

  “Karma, is that really you?” A male voice asked, and they all heard the shock in his voice.

  “It’s me,” she answered and smiled. “I need a favor.”

  “Anything for my best student,” he responded.

  “I need you to clear out my building,” she told him. “Just make sure no one is inside it.”

  “No one has been inside since you’ve been gone,” he told her. “I check it daily, and the locks are still in place.”

  “Thank you, Sensei,” she responded and looked at the others. “I will be there in about ten minutes. I’m going to have some co-workers with me, and I need everyone to stay out of the area for the next day or so.”

  “Sure thing,” he responded. “I’ve seen you on TV, and know what you do now. I always knew there was something different about you.”

  “I’m still the same person,” she reminded him.

  “Yes, but now you have an entire team backing and supporting you,” he told her. “You know where the keys are.”

  “Thanks again, Sensei.”

  “Just be safe,” he added.

  “I always am,” she responded and ended the call. “Okay, let’s go.”

  “Lead the way,” Eduardo said and stepped back.

  “This isn’t going to be an easy battle,” Harrison reminded them. “And we may lose some of our own.”

  “I know, but it’s a battle we have to face. Crompton has to be stopped, and I would rather face him on our terms than his,” Karma told him.

  “Are you sure he’s going to be with her?” Dylan asked.

  “As sure as I am that my name is Eduardo,” Eduardo answered and looked at the group with him. “Anyone who doesn’t want to come, does not have to.”

  “We’re coming,” Nevaeh responded quickly and looked around at the agents and Huntresses with them. When they all nodded, she smiled. “We’re all coming.”

  “Gina?” Baxter asked when his eyes landed on her.

  “I’m coming, too,” she told him. “Zora will be safe here, and I need to know you’re safe, too.”

  “Let’s move out, then,” Karma said and walked out the door with the others right behind her.

  The rest of the agents would meet them there, and they would prepare for the biggest battle they’d ever faced.

  Chapter Forty-Five

  “Are you okay?” Gina asked Baxter as they sat watching out of one of the second story windows of the building Karma had led them to.

  “I’m just worried about this,” he answered. “It feels like we’re going to lose someone today, and I don’t like that possibility.”

  “Every time we go into an unknown situation, we risk losing someone,” she reminded him. “At least this time, we have the upper hand.”

  “Yeah,” he said and pulled her against his side. “And this time I have far more to lose.”

  “If we stay together, we will be okay,” she reminded him.

  “I love you,” he told her, and she could hear an emotion in his voice that she’d never heard before. “I love you more than I ever imagined I could love another, and the thought of you being here, of you risking your life, is driving me insane with this desire to carry you from this place and shelter you from anything and anyone that could harm you.”

  “Nathan,” she said and laid her hand on his cheek. “I love you, too. And once this is over, we will take some time away to just be.”

  “Me and my girls,” he said and looked out the window again. “Something is out there.”

  “I see it,” she said and tapped the button on the headset she wore. “Heads up, everyone. We have movement outside.”

  “We have movement from this side, too,” Larson told them all. “Looks like a small group of vampire.”

  “Let them enter the building,” Karma told them. “Everyone just hold your positions, but be ready.”

  “Think this will work?” Baxter asked Gina.

  “It did back in Orlando,” she answered. Karma had rigged the doors like she had the ones at the hotel in Florida. The crossbows would fire as soon as the door was open, and any vampire on the other side would get a wooden arrow in their chest.

  “Those vampire were stupid, though,” he reminded her.

  “And you’re going with the assumption these are smart?” She asked with a raised eyebrow. “I’m sure they know who they’re attacking.”

  “Yeah, okay,” he said and grinned. “Let’s see what happens.”

  “Yes,” she agreed and watched as around fifteen vampire immerged from the shadows and approached the building. “If there are that many approaching from each side, we’re in for a little fun.”

  “Got about twenty coming from my way,” Harrison said into the radio.

  “Same from our way,” Larson responded.

  “Here, too,” Jensen told them.

  “Yeah, same,” Gina added.

  “So, probably around twice that many, total,” Karma told them. “Nanette and Crompton are both too smart to send them all in at once.”

  “Let’s hope this works,” Jensen muttered.

  “Karma’s never failed us,” Ramsey reminded them. “Have a little faith.”

  “I have faith,” Jensen responded. “I also know there are only fifty of us.”

  “Fifty will be plenty,” Eduardo told them. “The crossbows will take out a fair few of them, and our archers will eliminate more before they can even enter the building.”

  “I’m ready when you say go,” Nikki told them, and Larson frowned. She was a Huntress, and was in constant danger just as he was, but there was something about the thought of her getting hurt that made him clench his jaw.

  “Everyone, stay alert and keep each other safe. Stay in your teams if at all possible, and keep fighting no matter what,” Karma said, and they heard something in her voice that made them all stiffen a little. “Be safe, everyone.”

  “You, too,” Baxter responded and tugged Gina against him as they watched the vampire approach the building.

  When the first wave of vampire entered the building, the snap of the crossbows and the shouts from the vampire made Gina grin.

  “Now,” Karma said into the headset and Gina’s grin grew.

  “Ready?” Baxter asked and Gina nodded. “Let’s do this, then.”

  Gina nodded again then picked up her crossbow and started firing into the group of vampire below.

  She’d taken out five of them before they spotted her in the window.

  “Up there,” one of them shouted and pointed to where she was standing. When she let another bolt fly, it imbedded in his chest and she grinned.

  “Come get me, asshats,” she shouted do
wn to them and stepped out of their view and into another window.

  Taking out three more before they were able to regroup, she stepped out of view just as the second round of crossbow traps were set off.

  “They haven’t reached us yet,” Karma told them. They were with about thirty agents in the center of the building. “They should be hitting the third trap just about now, though.”

  As soon as the words left her mouth, they heard shouts coming from all directions.

  “Time to head down,” Baxter said and grabbed Gina’s hand. “They’ll be through to the others in a matter of seconds, and they’ll need our help.”

  “We’re heading down,” Gina told everyone, then headed toward the rest of her family. Things were about to get messy, and she wanted nothing more than to be surrounded by the ones she loved when it did.

  ****

  “They expected us to bring an army,” Crompton said from where he watched the bloodbath unfold.

  “But did they expect us to be with them?” Nanette asked from where she stood beside him.

  “We shall see,” he responded and grinned. “Are your men prepared to follow the plan?”

  “Yes,” she answered. “They will eliminate Karma’s mate, therefore eliminating her.”

  “Very good,” he responded. “Now, let’s move closer. I want to see her die.”

  “Do you think they will come out of the building?”

  “Doubtful,” he responded. “Which is why we will go inside.”

  “Yes, Master,” she answered and followed him as he walked calmly toward the building where the battle was unfolding.

  “Wait here,” he told her when they were still in the shadows. “I want to move into the light alone, and see if she will come out to face me.”

  “Yes, Master,” Nanette responded again and stopped just out of the sunlight. “I will be close if you need me.”

  He nodded and stepped into the sun just as several more of their army fell to the VEB’s forces. They weren’t winning this battle, but that would soon change.

  “Karma!” He called out over the noise of the battle. “I am here, and waiting for you to destroy me like you have threatened to, many times in the past.”