Alukah

by Leslie Swartz

  His chest heaved as he caught his breath, the bodies strewn in a bloody mess on the hardwood.

  Do you need us to come help? Gabriel asked.

  No, I’m fine. It’s over.

  From the corner of the room, he heard a low gurgling, the grumblings of a dying man.

  “You’re not dead?” he asked, approaching the one who’d insulted Allydia. He was slumped against the wall, bleeding from the head, his stomach burned and smoking.

  He coughed, his arms too weak to cover his mouth. “It will not be that easy to kill me, human.”

  He crouched in front of him. “So, you’re telling me this rebellion Allydia was talking about is because of me?”

  He spat blood on the floor. “You don’t know? She left us for years to pine for you. She is derelict in her duty. She had an obligation to us. But you charmed her away so we must follow another.”

  “Another?”

  He laughed before coughing again. “We do as our King commands and soon, he will tear your whore Queen into pieces. He will slaughter that cun--”

  Wyatt drove the handle of the mallet into the vampire’s heart, unwilling to listen to any more. Blood spurted from the creature’s mouth as the light faded from his eyes. His head fell forward, his life extinguished. Wyatt stood, letting out a sigh of relief as he walked through the bodies to the sofa. He dropped onto it, suddenly aware of how tired he was not just physically, but emotionally. He was exhausted, sick and tired of denying himself what he needed. Annie was right. He needed Allydia, but how could he rationalize being with her? He’d have to give it some serious thought, just as soon as he cleaned up this mess.

  “What kind of trouble?” Lucifer asked for the third time.

  “He’s fine now,” Gabriel told him, walking toward the door to let Allydia in. She opened it, startling the vampire who hadn’t yet knocked. She quickly composed herself, clearing her throat and coming inside.

  “We had an agreement.”

  “I know.”

  “The price for my aid in your Father’s war was the deliverance of my descendants.”

  Gabriel crossed her arms. “And, I delivered them to you.”

  “Navid is in danger, held captive, no doubt afraid for his life. You will do as I ask.”

  “I shouldn’t get involved.”

  “Hey, Allydia,” Wendy said as she exited the bathroom.

  “Hello.”

  “You okay?”

  “No.”

  “This isn’t my business,” Gabriel told her.

  “Be that as it may,” Allydia seethed. “I require your assistance.”

  “Dia,”

  “Messenger.”

  “It isn’t my place.”

  “As if any of you care to stay out of the affairs of others.”

  “Girl, you had that child in a cage. What did you think he would--”

  “Don’t change the subject. We are talking about Navid. He’s been kidnapped by a deluded psychopath and I need your help in freeing him. I do not ask for help easily, but I do it now because it is necessary.”

  “Who’s Navid?” Wendy asked.

  Allydia tapped her fingers on the counter. “My grandson.”

  Gabriel rolled her eyes. “One hundred and eighty-second great-grandson. You’re barely related at all.”

  “You have a living relative?” Lucifer asked. “Does he share your penchant for mild stalking?”

  Allydia glared at him. “Yes, actually.”

  “Don’t chime in,” Gabriel told him.

  “You’re really not gonna help her?” Wendy shamed.

  “It’s vampire business and it’s all the way in Jordan.”

  “It’s her kid, kind of. If you can help, you should.”

  She sighed. “Well, if you’re gonna guilt me into it. Fine, but only because he had his goons attack Barachiel earlier.”

  Panic flashed in Allydia’s eyes.

  “He’s fine.” She shifted her gaze to Lucifer. “Just in case more show up, though,”

  “On my way.” He rushed out the door just as Michelle was coming in.

  “Will!” the girl yelled, terrified of what the Queen would do to her. He stumbled out of the bedroom, half asleep and rubbing his eyes.

  “You’re back,” he said, giving her a peck on the lips. She pointed towards Allydia who cast them an annoyed glance before addressing Gabriel again.

  “Let’s go. It reeks of immaturity in here.”

  Gabriel snickered and kissed Wendy on the cheek. “Can you stay with the kids?”

  “Of course.”

  “We’re not children,” Will said. “We don’t need a babysitter.”

  Gabriel smacked her lips. “She’s a baby vampire and you’re three.”

  Allydia did her best to hide her amusement as she and Gabriel walked past them to leave. Gabriel stopped in front of her nephew and grabbed his face with one hand.

  “How do you feel?”

  “Well, my cheeks hurt a little, but fine, otherwise.”

  She laughed, letting go. “How’s your head?”

  “Great. I think it worked.”

  “You’re welcome,” Wendy called.

  “Thank you,” he chuckled.

  “Okay, be good,” Gabriel instructed. “I’ll be back by this time tomorrow. Get some sleep. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.” As Gabriel left, Will and Michelle retreated to their bedroom.

  “What are you thanking the witch for?” Michelle asked.

  He sat on the bed and took a protein bar from the nightstand. “She did a spell to help me stay calm. I should be in full control of myself now.”

  “You were slipping again?”

  “Oh, yeah. Big time. I almost killed Lucifer. I got it in my head that he was gonna kill Sinclair. I could see him doing it like it was happening right in front of me like it was real. Oh, there’s a pouch of rocks and dirt under the bed. Wendy said to leave it there for the spell. How was your walk?”

  She wanted to shelter him from the events of the evening, to allow him the happiness she could see all over his face as he’d told her about his night. After a few seconds, she simply said, “Dark.”

  Chapter 21

  “Well, this is a fine mess,” Lucifer commented as he entered his brother’s apartment, taking note of the blood-soaked paper towels that littered the floor.

  “Yeah,” Wyatt said, sweeping glass into a dustbin. “I never would have thought shoving corpses in an incinerator would be an average Wednesday night for me, but here we are. Gabriel send you to check on me?”

  “Just a precaution.”

  “Mm-hmm.”

  “So, you’ll be pleased to know that your progeny has been cured of his affliction.”

  He stopped what he was doing. “What?”

  “Our sister’s witch worked a spell calming his mind and giving him control over his powers and temper.”

  “You’re telling me he’s…normal?”

  “Aside from the ability to put on a rather impressive light show and an immeasurable capacity to retain knowledge, yes. Good thing, too. I overheard him practically begging Gabriel to put him out of his misery.”

  He dropped the broom. “Why would he do that?”

  “He gave himself a fright trying to kill me.”

  “He tried to kill you?”

  “Like father like son.”

  “What did you do?”

  “Nothing, I was fast asleep. The boy convinced himself I was plotting to murder his girlfriend. Before you ask, I wasn’t.”

  “Is that why you’re here instead of Gabriel? She didn’t trust you two alone together?”

  “No, she’s off to Jordan with the vampire Queen to rescue her much-removed grandson from something or other, I wasn’t really listening. You’ll be interested to know that when Gabriel mentioned you being attacked, your beloved showed signs of concern.”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “I thought so.”

  “I think I made a mistake.
”

  “Of course you did. I’m surprised she didn’t order the attack herself.”

  “She’s angry?”

  “No,” Lucifer considered. “She seemed to be in mourning. I’d venture to guess that if you wanted her back, you could have her. If she doesn’t get herself killed in the meantime.”

  He picked up the broom and leaned it against the wall. “Did I thank you for bringing Will back?”

  “You didn’t need to.”

  “Thank you. Seriously.”

  “It was nothing.”

  “It wasn’t nothing. It was huge. I almost regret kicking your ass when I thought it was you that killed him.”

  “Almost?”

  He laughed and brought him in for a hug, patting his back a few times before letting him go.

  “All right, that’s enough affection. You’re clearly exhausted. Go to bed. I’ll finish cleaning this up.”

  “Really?” Wyatt asked.

  “Yes, yes. You’ve earned it, what with avoiding being quartered by creatures of the night and all.”

  He laughed again. “Okay, thanks. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight.”

  Wyatt disappeared into his bedroom while Lucifer swept more glass into the bin. He smiled to himself, his brother’s gratitude like a warm hand over his heart. He would never admit it, but Barachiel’s approval meant a lot to him, in human form or otherwise.

  As the sun began to rise, the last of the guests finally went to bed. Governors and diplomats had apartments on the third floor while everyone else slept on cots in the cellar. It wasn’t ideal, but if the traitors infiltrated the club during the day, it would look empty to them at first glance. Since no one usually spent the day there, it would be reasonable for the rebels to assume the building was empty and go, leaving the slumbering vampires alive and oblivious to the fact that they were ever there at all.

  Hartley made one last lap around the building ensuring all locks were locked, her UV gun strapped to her hip just in case. She planned to sleep with it on the nightstand in the Queen’s personal quarters, wanting to be close enough to hear if there were any intruders. When she was sure the building was secure, she headed up to the throne room where she found Oliver waiting for her, shirtless with a bottle of rum.

  “What are you doing?” she giggled.

  “I remembered rum is your favorite as is my chest.”

  She laughed out loud. “This is the Queen’s throne room. We can’t do this here.”

  “What about in there?” He tilted his head toward the bedroom.

  “We shouldn’t. It would be highly inappropriate.”

  “Come on, she doesn’t have to know.”

  “Oliver,”

  “When I saw you downstairs, I thought you looked like a snack. When I realized who you were, I had to have you. Tell me you don’t want me and I’ll go. Do you want me to go?”

  “No, I don’t,” she gleaned. “And, I’m not a snack. I’m a fucking buffet because I’m a lot and you’re never really sure where to start.” She turned her head and ran a painted fingernail down the side of her neck. “I suggest right here.”

  “As you wish,” he said, tossing the bottle into the throne and nibbling at her neck, wrapping his huge arms around her slender frame. She laughed again as he lifted her up and carried her to the bed. He kissed her hard as he removed the rest of his clothing before flipping her over and sliding her pants off. He kissed the back of her neck while he got a bit of lotion from the bedside table and smoothed it over himself. She gasped as he slowly entered her, lifting her hips and reaching around to caress the only part left of her that was still male. She covered her mouth, muffling her cries of pleasure, feeling it necessary to be as quiet as possible as to not wake the others. She gripped the headboard, steadying herself on her knees as all thoughts of the danger they were in left her mind.

  When they were done, they fell asleep there in the Queen’s bed, tangled up in each other’s arms, too spent to bother covering themselves.

  Chapter 22

  “Sorry about that whole trying-to-murder-you-in-your-sleep thing,” Will said, refilling his uncle’s cup with coffee.

  “That’s all right, William. We all have days where we feel particularly homicidal. Besides, the feast you’ve made has more than made up for it. I’ve been living on take-out for months. Your aunt keeps nothing of substance in her kitchen aside from a carton of orange juice that I’m fairly certain expired last year.”

  “You could go shopping, cook for yourself.”

  He squinted and shook his head. “That sounds rather dull.”

  “Morning,” Wyatt said, emerging from his bedroom.

  “Hey, Dad. I made breakfast. Sit down, I’ll get you a plate.” Will took a plate from the cabinet and piled it high with two pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and mixed berries. He set it in front of his father before pouring him a cup of coffee.

  “Your son’s quite the chef, Barachiel,” Lucifer complimented, taking a sip of coffee and placing his cup back on the counter. “I don’t think I’ve eaten so much since The Field of the Cloth of Gold.”

  Will thought for a second. “June, fifteen-twenty.”

  “Yes. You know your history.”

  “I know a lot of things.”

  He stood, taking one more sip from his cup before putting it down for the final time. “Very good. Well, I’m off. I called someone about fixing your window. They should be here momentarily.”

  “You didn’t have to do that,” Wyatt said.

  Lucifer patted his back. “I don’t have to do anything. But, it needs to be attended to. Wouldn’t want a bird to fly in, would we?” He headed toward the door.

  “Bye,” Wyatt called.

  He waved without looking back and left the apartment.

  “He’s not as bad as I thought he’d be,” Will said.

  “He has his moments.”

  “He told me about the vampires. You okay?”

  “I’m fine. Speaking of vampires,”

  “Michelle wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

  “I’m not talking about her, although, I feel like I should tell you to be careful.”

  “Allydia, then?”

  He nodded, taking a bite of his pancakes. “God, I missed these.”

  “You want to get back with her?”

  “I don’t think ‘want’ is a strong enough word.”

  “You know what I’m gonna say, right?”

  “That she’s a monster and a murderer and I should run away screaming?”

  Will laughed. “I think you figured that out on your own. No, I was gonna say you should do whatever you want. You don’t have to ask my permission.”

  “I wasn’t.”

  “No, you were just gauging how I’d feel about it before making a decision that would inevitably be whatever you thought I’d be most comfortable with. You’re still doing it.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Putting everyone else first. Listen, Dad, you don’t have to worry about me. I almost killed Lucifer last night. Gabriel couldn’t even stop me. Wendy had to knock me out with some magic word.”

  “She’s done that to me, too. Best sleep of my life.”

  “For me, too, for thirty seconds. She told me it should’ve kept me under for eight hours. I’m stronger than all of you. And, now that I’m able to control myself, there’s no reason for you to be concerned. Your girlfriend can’t hurt me. More importantly, you deserve to be happy. If the Queen of all vampires is what you need to live your best life, go get her.”

  “My best life?” he chuckled.

  “Dad,”

  “Okay, you’re right. I was putting your feelings first. I probably always will and not just because that’s who I am as a person. You’re my kid. I have to consider--”

  “I’m not a kid. I have a kid.”

  “You’re three.”

  “I wish you’d all stop saying that. You know I’m like, twenty-seven.”

  “Yeah, well, I was c
hanging your diapers three years ago.”

  “That’s really gross.”

  “You have no idea.”

  “So, are you gonna call her?”

  “Lucifer said she’s in Jordan. I’ll find her when she gets back. I probably have some serious groveling to do. This is the second time I’ve bailed. Should talk to her in person.”

  “Mm.”

  “There’s something I should tell you.”

  Will took a bite of bacon from his third plate of the morning and looked up with raised eyebrows.

  “Your mom stopped by.”

  He choked. After a few coughs, he took a gulp of milk and put his glass down. “What?”

  “She said she loves us and she has no regrets. Seeing you in the hospital is her favorite memory. She’s happy she had you.”

  Will’s eyes were huge. “But, she’s…I don’t understand.”

  “She was a ghost.”

  “Oh.”

  “She went back to Heaven.”

  “Okay.”

  They sat in awkward silence as they finished their breakfast. As Wyatt took his last sip of coffee, a pigeon burst in through the broken window, panic-flying around the living room, knocking over a lamp. He put his cup down and sighed. “Damn it.”

  Chapter 23

  “That’s a lot of exploded vampires,” Gabriel said, turning her nose up at the thousands of corpses that littered the desert floor. Even in the dark of night, it was a disgusting scene.

  “We buried our dead before the sun rose,” Phindi explained. “But the traitors did not deserve that kindness.”

  “All right, but someone is bound to see this.”

  “You will burn the bodies when we leave,” Allydia told Gabriel, her impatience clear in her tone causing Phindi’s stomach to flip.