Vampires and Vanishings

by Lily Webb

  “Good. You’re not gonna believe me, and I can’t say I blame you, but here’s the truth: Christian isn’t who or what you think he is.”

  Mitch chuckled. “Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?”

  “No, I swear, I’m not pulling your paw. I think Christian is responsible for the recent disappearances of the council members, and I’m positive he abducted my grandma today. I have a witness.”

  A clattering sound blew out my eardrum, and I assumed that meant Mitch had dropped the phone. Rustling carried over the line. “Are you serious?”

  “As serious as a vampire bite,” I said and shivered at the comparison.

  “What makes you think so? I’ve got a right to know that, don’t I? I hired the guy.”

  “I don’t have a lot of time to get into the details, but the short version of the story is that Christian isn’t just a warlock — he’s also a vampire. We don’t have solid proof, but we’re almost certain he’s working with Julien Delroy to make major changes on the Council and in Moon Grove.”

  “Whoa. I guess I have to take your word for it; you guys would know better than I would, but I still can’t believe this.”

  “I know, it’s crazy. Anyway, is Christian there now?”

  “Yeah, I think so. I don’t know what he’s doing, but he’s here somewhere.”

  “Good. I need you to do me a favor. Tell him to meet me at the vampire’s mansion tonight at seven o’clock. If he asks why, say it’s because I’m about to strike a deal with President Delroy to expand the Council and I want to give him the exclusive scoop on it.”

  Mitch groaned. “I don’t know about this, Zoe. That’s in less than an hour and the kid is super smart. Do you really think he’ll go for it?”

  “Try. Everything about him is a lie, but if there’s one thing I believe about him, it’s that he’ll show up for this.”

  “Is that an order?”

  “No, but I guess if I have to order you, I will.”

  Mitch chuckled. “I’m just teasing you. I’ll pass the message along. Should I play stupid about all the other stuff you just told me?”

  “Yes, absolutely. Don’t let anything slip; it’s critical that you don’t.”

  “All right. He’ll be there, I’ll make sure of it. But that said, am I about to lose an employee?”

  “If you do, thank your lucky stars. Based on what I know he’s done, he’s not a person you want working for you, anyway.”

  “Yikes, okay. I’ll go tell him now.”

  “Thanks, Mitch. I don’t know how, but I’ll make it up to you,” I said and hung up before he had the chance to say something snarky. Luna was fast asleep on my desk, snoring quietly, and it amazed me she could sleep at all after what she’d been through.

  I dropped the stake Heath gave me into one of my pockets and gave Luna one gentle stroke as I stood. I’d seen and done a lot of crazy things in my time in Moon Grove, but what I was about to do was easily the craziest. Heath wasn’t wrong when he said that vampire security guards would be everywhere in the mansion, and there was also a chance Julien or Christian could put the pieces together too soon and turn the tables on me.

  But I couldn’t think about that now. I had to focus on getting Grandma, Dawn, and Blaine back safe and sound. I walked to the closet by the front door, pulled my broom from the darkness, and flung the office door open. Gorloz ruffled his wings in surprise.

  “Ready to go?” I asked. The gargoyle nodded and stomped down the hallway toward the main chamber. It was a struggle for me to keep up, but when I got there, I found Heath waiting for me. He gripped me by the shoulders.

  “I know I say this to you frequently, but this time I mean it more than ever: please, for all of Moon Grove’s sake, be careful.”

  I wanted to say something snarky about how it was next to impossible for me to be careful in a mansion full of vampires, but I bit my tongue. “I will, and trust me, whatever happens, we’ll get them all back.”

  “You’re the only one I trust. We’ll be right behind you, ready for anything.”

  “If I don’t come out within thirty minutes, signal the police and the gargoyles to come after me,” I said, shuddering as the words left my mouth. I didn’t want to think about failure, but I had to. Many things could go wrong, and even thirty minutes might be too long to wait, but it was the best we could do.

  “It won’t be necessary. I know it won’t,” he said. I nodded and turned to follow Gorloz outside. The setting sun grappled with the inky onset of night for dominance in the sky, casting everything in an eerie, twilit glow, and I gulped down a large helping of the fresh night air to prepare myself for what I had to do.

  “You lead, I’ll follow,” Gorloz said. I kicked one leg over my broomstick and adjusted my grip. I still wasn’t the most graceful at flying, but it was more natural to me now than it used to be. With one great shove, I kicked off the ground and soared into the air, Gorloz right behind me, his great wings beating against the wind in thunderous flaps.

  As we hurtled toward the vampire’s mansion, which was a short flight, the only thing I could think about was Grandma. It was my idea to bring her to Moon Grove, and as I considered that responsibility I felt more guilty than ever — and motivated to get her back.

  Once more, the intimidating spires of the vampire’s mansion slashed through the clouds like the masts of a fleet of ships in pre-dawn fog, and Gorloz and I began our descent. To my delight, Christian stood waiting for us with Emile, the head of security, in the courtyard.

  “We meet again,” Christian said as my feet touched the ground. I tossed my broom over one shoulder and did my best to look nonchalant as my heart threatened to explode. I didn’t know what to say or how to say it. There was no doubt in my mind that Christian was behind all the disappearances, but I couldn’t let my mouth get ahead of me now.

  “I’m glad you came.”

  Christian laughed. “Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t have missed this. You offered me an exclusive scoop on a big story. You know, Zoe, if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear you liked me.”

  Until today, I had. Thankfully, it didn’t seem like he had any clue what I’d planned. Then again, maybe he had and was leading me on. Given what I knew about him now, it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. He was a good actor; he’d proven that.

  “This way, the president is waiting,” Emile said and gestured toward the entrance. Silently, Gorloz and I followed him and Christian up the drive. As we approached the front steps and the door, my heart rate doubled. Once I walked in, the only person I could rely on to get me back out was me.

  Gorloz and I exchanged quick glances as Emile opened the door and waved us forward.

  “Ladies first,” Christian said and stepped aside. I took a deep breath and walked over the threshold with Gorloz right behind me. He seemed terrified of letting me get too far away from him, which I understood but wished he’d cool it a bit before he blew our cover. Thankfully, the grandeur of the mansion distracted him and he turned in circles as he took it all in. Even though I’d seen it before, it hadn’t lost its luster.

  “Zoe, this is unexpected,” a voice echoed off the marble flooring and I glanced up to find Julien standing at the top of the grand staircase, his arms held wide in welcome. He descended slowly, beaming, and paused at the foot of the stairs. “But I’m glad you’ve finally come to your senses. Expanding the Council is the right thing to do, and you’re the only one who can make it happen now.”

  “Well, to be clear, I haven’t decided just yet. We’ve got some negotiating to do before we agree on anything.”

  Julien’s eyes flashed. “Of course.” He nodded and Emile stepped out, closing us inside. “Please join me in my office, all of you.” He turned on his heel and we had no choice but to follow him back up the stairs. I went first with Gorloz behind me to keep a watchful eye on Christian. Though everything had gone according to plan so far, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.

  And it was a g
ood thing I hadn’t, because as I reached the top of the stairs, a snarl tore through the air and I whirled to find Gorloz gripping Christian by both wrists. A deadly sharp and curved dagger the size of a small knife flashed in Christian’s right hand, and his wand dangled from his left. The air in my lungs seeped out as I realized they’d duped us.

  “Hands off!” I shouted and thrust my hands out in front of me, sending a blast of kinetic energy hurtling toward Christian. He soared through the air and tumbled down the stairs, coming to a stop in a crumpled mess at their foot. The dagger skittered across the marble flooring and slammed against the door.

  Strong hands pushed me by my back to the floor, and another hair-raising snarl ruptured my eardrums as Julien soared over me and collided with Gorloz. They rolled through the air over the stairs, tumbling over each other repeatedly until they slammed into the landing’s marble floor with Julien straddling Gorloz. He pinned the gargoyle’s massive arms to the ground, rendering his claws useless, and though Gorloz hissed and snapped at the vampire with his flesh-tearing fangs, he couldn’t reach and wasn’t strong enough to force Julien off him.

  Without thinking, I shoved myself to my feet and yanked the stake out of my pocket. While Julien dodged Gorloz’s chomps, I hurried down the stairs and gripped the stake in both hands with its point out, ready to drive it down into Julien’s back. With my eyes squeezed shut, I thrust the stake downward and didn’t look until my arms jolted against an impossibly hard surface, jerking my eyes open. A piercing shriek filled the room, and a wave of energy washed over me like a fire’s sudden belch of heat as Julien incinerated.

  I blinked and found Gorloz staring up at me bewildered, his body covered in ash. I stared down at the stake and at Gorloz, unable to connect what I’d done to the result. Just like that, I’d killed the president of the vampires.

  “No!” Christian howled as he pushed to his feet. In a flash, he’d zipped to the door and scooped up the dagger.

  “I’ll take care of him. Run for the door!” Gorloz shouted as Christian turned into a supersonic blur. The gargoyle shoved me out of Christian’s path in the knick of time and they smashed together as hard and fast as two galaxies on a collision course. The claws on Gorloz’s feet shrieked against the marble flooring as they carved deep gashes into the surface to keep him standing, and the sheer force of their crash knocked the wind out of my lungs and sent me stumbling backward.

  While they grappled, I pocketed the stake and dashed around them to run to the door, but when I turned the knob, I let out a strained groan. Someone had locked it, and probably from the outside. The vampires figured out our plan and they’d plotted a counter. The sound of smashing marble and shattering glass as the chandeliers crashed to the ground from the force of the fighting filled my ears and a sinking feeling swallowed me as I realized Christian and Julien had lured me into the mansion to trap me.

  But there had to be a way out. There just had to be, so I whirled around to run deeper into the mansion and clapped a hand over my mouth at what I saw. Christian had Gorloz pinned against the wall with one hand on the gargoyle’s throat, cutting off his air supply. Gorloz choked and raked at Christian’s arm, but as soon as the gashes appeared on his skin, they healed over. The dagger flashed in Christian’s other hand as he raised it over his head.

  I reached for my wand in my robes to stop him, but it was too late. A soul-tearing howl ripped through the air as Christian plunged the dagger into Gorloz’s heart. The gargoyle locked his haunting eyes on mine one last time as if to say sorry for failing and exploded in a shower of stone.

  With tears in my eyes, I stabbed my wand through the air in Christian’s direction. “Dearmo!” I shouted and sent him sailing into the opposite wall. The dagger floated in an arc into my free hand. If I hadn’t seen what it could do, I wouldn’t have believed it was anything other than a normal knife. Christian was back on his feet in a blur, but he didn’t have his wand. Had it gotten broken in the struggle? If so, it would be my one saving grace.

  “I always knew it would come down to the two of us,” he said, his icy eyes piercing right through me as he took stock of my wand in one hand and the dagger in the other. He opened his mouth and his fangs extended, so I kept my wand pointed at him, though I didn’t know what on earth I could cast to save myself from him. If he lunged, I wouldn’t be fast enough to stop him, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to summon the psychic shield I’d used to protect myself from attacks before since I didn’t know how to control it.

  Christian stepped sideways to circle me, but I moved with him, never lowering my wand and never exposing my back to him.

  “I know you have the council members and my grandma here somewhere. Where are they?!” I demanded, my voice bouncing off the walls.

  “In the basement, away from any prying eyes. I’d hate to have our experiment ruined prematurely,” Christian said with a smirk. He tongued a fang playfully.

  “What experiment?”

  “Reforming the Council from the inside out and gain vampire representation,” he said and a chill raced down my spine as I realized what he meant: he and Julien had kidnapped Dawn and Blaine to turn them into vampire-witch hybrids, just like Christian, and Grandma was probably next if they hadn’t gotten to her already. “It’s a shame Julien didn’t live to see the project come to fruition.”

  “Neither will you,” I said and jabbed my wand at him. He burst out laughing.

  “Oh, please. Do you think I don’t know how inept you are with magic? I did more research on you than I’ve ever cared to do on a subject before I came here. I know you better than you know yourself. There’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

  He was right. The only way I’d survive was to keep him talking long enough for Heath to send in the cavalry, and even that wasn’t a guarantee. “Why are you doing this?”

  “Necessity. We tried to play it your way and do things through the proper political channels, but Valentine Delacroix screwed all that up when he murdered Opal Cromwell,” he said and I couldn’t believe my ears.

  “How do you know all this?”

  “Me being a reporter isn’t a complete lie. It’s what I did for work before a vampire turned me. Since then, I’ve played the role many times throughout my years. The nice thing about it is that it’s stunningly easy to get people to talk if you offer them a bit of time in the spotlight — even vampires.”

  Realization clicked in my brain and I froze. “Lucien Bellerose,” I said and Christian chuckled and nodded.

  “Very good. If it hadn’t been for Valentine, Opal would still be alive and Lucien would sit on the Council, with or without you.”

  Everything had come full circle. Lucien fed Julien information on Moon Grove politics and helped him overthrow the vampire monarchy while simultaneously giving Christian everything he needed to wipe his history and enter the town as a fresh-faced, greenhorn reporter — all to put the vampires in power, by charm and by force. It was a subtle, slow-moving coup to undermine and overthrow the Council, and it had been in the works for months right under our noses. As heinous as it was, the vampires had orchestrated and executed it brilliantly. I should’ve expected nothing less of Lucien.

  “I suppose I should thank you, though. You’ve played your part in this very well,” Christian said.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Turning our captives into vampires wasn’t originally part of the plan. Councilwoman Bloodworth was a simple target, one we chose because we thought it would force the Council to vote the way we wanted them to, but you canceled the vote. That forced our hand, so we went after Councilman Rathmore next hoping you and the Head Warlock would get the message and take action.”

  “So you admit it then. You wanted Heath and I to pass the expansion without consent from the rest of the Council.”

  “Exactly, but we underestimated your ability to be a nuisance so when you still didn’t take action, we selected a more personal connection as our next target to draw you out. If y
ou wouldn’t expand the Council for the sake of saving your colleagues, we knew you would be weak enough to do it to save your grandmother.”

  “But I outsmarted you there too,” I said, pleased with myself.

  Christian laughed. “Did you really? Then why are you in this situation now? The game is over, Zoe. We’ve already turned your colleagues. Like it or not, the Council is ours. You’ve lost, and once you’re out of the way, the vampires will rule this town the way they should have all along.”

  A beam of light flashed in the reflection of Christian’s eyes and the mansion shuddered, knocking dust from the ceiling. Confused, I whirled to find spells, fairies, and gargoyles whipping through the air above the grounds outside. Heath must have sent out the S.O.S. — which meant I hadn’t lost yet.

  I turned to tell Christian so and screamed when I realized he was less than a foot away from me. He growled and with one swipe of his hand he cleaved my wand in half, leaving me with a broken, worthless piece of wood. I stumbled backward away from him over the debris that littered the floor.

  He reached for my throat and I swung the dagger toward his side, but he moved so quickly to stop me I couldn’t see his hand. He seized my wrist and twisted it so hard that I screamed and nearly passed out from the pain.

  The dagger clattered to the floor. Christian kicked it away and spun me to wrap his arm around my neck in a chokehold. My back slammed against his frigid, stony chest, and he lowered his mouth enough to let the points of his fangs drag along my neck without drawing blood. As the metallic scent of his breath filled my nostrils, I realized I was dead. He would kill me before the gargoyles and the FBI could get into the mansion and all I could do was watch them struggle to stop him.

  “It doesn’t have to be this way, Zoe. You could join us. I could turn you like the others and together we would be unstoppable. We’d usher in a new era of union between witches, warlocks, and vampires.”

  “I’d sooner die.”

  Christian chuckled. “So be it.”

  In one last desperate attempt, I tried to pull the stake from my robes, but Christian’s hand zoomed into my pocket before I could.