by K.N. Lee
Ian watched Koa and gave a half-smile as if asking for her approval. He looked from the brunette and back to Koa. Koa gave him a slight nod and left the parlor. The second the guards closed the doors behind her and Lindley, it was silent in the corridor once more.
Jax. Jax. Jax.
Koa couldn’t get his name out of her head. Lindley followed her without a word and all Koa could do was imagine this grotesque creature damning her mother into that feline body that she had been forced to live in. She hated all Netherworld vamps.
She would get her revenge.
They went up the elevator and to her usual room, and Koa closed the door behind them.
16
Halston sat on a wooden bench at a park. He watched the people walking by. There was soft music playing in the background as a young man played the guitar for a group of teenage girls.
It was a rare sunny day. He held something in his hand. A small gold bracelet.
Charms dangled from it. A train, a star, and a horse. Halston sighed as he looked down at the bracelet. There was a name etched into the inside.
Galena.
Sorrow filled his body every time he read the name. The bracelet had been given to Galena by her parents before they were killed by vampires. Halston took it from her dead body that very morning.
He’d never felt this way before. His heart beat rapidly. He could barely control his breaths. Halston was always in control. Now, everything was falling apart. A woman he was supposed to protect was dead, and another whom he had grown to love hadn’t returned to her house in weeks.
How could I let this happen?
The guilt was too strong. He hadn’t shaved or showered. He still had on what he’d worn on his mission the night before. He was glad that he hadn’t had to shed any blood. He had found a newly emerged pack of vampires and convinced them to register with the Netherworld Division. They would now be monitored and set up with a clan of ‘reformed’ vampires.
Halston missed having Koa with him on such missions. She took more pleasure in reforming vampires than she did in killing them. That was what he loved about her more than anything. She had a good heart.
Another pang of guilt filled his heart and he groaned. Everyday, he thought about the look on Koa's face when he fired her. Four weeks had passed, and he hadn’t seen or heard from her.
Raven informed him that she had gone to Wryn Castle and he had followed straight there. He didn’t venture in, but he had seen her step out onto her balcony one evening. He left then, assured that she was safe, but not before watching her stare out into the horizon as if yearning for something.
Halston imagined that she was calling for him. All he wanted was an apology—an indication that she knew that what she had done was wrong. He wanted her to mean it and finally learn from her mistakes. He wanted her to grow up and take responsibility for her actions.
Halston’s hand shook as he put Galena’s bracelet back in his pocket. Bund was loose, and he was on a vengeful killing spree. Halston investigated at least fifty murders of little girls within the last month.
The poor bodies had been nailed to the doors of their homes so that the parents would see them the moment they returned. The humans were in a hysterical frenzy.
“Serial Killer! On The Loose!” Those words were on every newspaper in London. The humans that knew of nephilim existence were looking to the Netherworld Division for answers. Halston and the others didn’t know what to say. They couldn’t stop Bund.
Halston winced. He knew who could.
Raven sat beside him, waiting for him to speak. Halston was grateful for her patience.
Halston held up a newspaper and folded one leg over the other so that his shoe rested on his other knee. He didn’t look at the black cat. He looked at the paper and spoke. “It’s time. Are you ready?”
Raven nodded. “I am. I’ve told you before that I’ve been ready. Do you finally think Koa is?”
Halston felt a pain in his stomach. He didn’t like these new sensations. He missed Koa. He missed Galena. The thirst for revenge was too strong. He could not afford to allow himself to lose control.
“I can no longer wait for her to be ready. We’ve wasted enough time.”
“And who is to blame for that?” Raven asked. “I know you want to protect Koa, but she is the key to everything. We have to let her know the truth at some point.” She looked over at a little girl who came to pet her. “Before it’s too late.”
The little girl grinned at Raven, and looked up at Halston. “Is this your cat?”
Halston forced a smile. She was an adorable little brunette with a big blue bow in her hair. Maybe eight years old. Halston’s face paled as he imagined her body being nailed to the door of her house. He tried to keep the smile. He didn’t want to frighten the girl.
“It is,” Halston said. He leaned forward and picked a fallen twig out of the girl’s hair.
She smiled at him and adjusted her little black glasses. “What’s her name?”
“Raven.”
Meowing, Raven rubbed her head into the girl’s palm. The little girl giggled.
“Nice to meet you, Raven,” she said in a sweet little voice. “I’m Rebecca.”
Halston looked around the park. There were so many people around. “Where are your parents, Rebecca?”
“Right there.” She pointed over to a picnic blanket set out on the large green yard. There were dozens of other picnic blankets set all around. It was the first lovely day in a long time.
Halston nodded. “Good.” He motioned her closer with his index finger. His eyes met hers. “Promise me something.”
The girl’s eyes widened as she looked into Halston’s. She nodded as her smile faded.
Halston’s voice lowered into a whisper. “Stay with your parents, Rebecca. Keep away from strangers. Even if they seem nice… never leave with a stranger. Can you do that for me?”
Rebecca didn’t blink. She nodded slowly with her mouth agape.
“Good girl.” Halston sat back and Rebecca stared at him. “Run along to your parents now.”
Her lips trembled and she ran away toward her parents’ picnic blanket.
Watching her run away, he hoped his chance encounter with Rebecca would keep her safe from Bund’s treachery.
“I think you frightened the poor girl.” Raven lowered her head to the wooden bench seat.
Halston remained silent. He hoped he’d frightened her. That was the point.
He frowned at the words he read in the paper. There were copycat killers out there already. Sloppy humans who wanted a piece of the fame Bund was receiving in secret. “It’s my fault that we’ve wasted so much time. I’ve let enough people die.”
Raven sighed. “I didn’t mean to make you feel guilty. Bund is the killer here. Let’s move past that and focus on the issue at hand. We need to stop him. He should be our main priority right now. We can go after Greggan later. Bund isn’t only working for pay. This is personal to him.”
Halston closed the paper and looked at the sky. There was something he hoped to hear, or see. A sign maybe.
Halston closed his eyes and sighed. There would be no more signs. Galena’s body nailed to his door this morning was enough. He would never be able to erase the image of Galena nailed to his door by her wrists and feet. Her eyes had been pulled out of her head and replaced with silver buttons. Her mouth had been sewn shut. Worst of all, from the neck down, her skin had been ripped from her body.
Halston swallowed. His stomach still felt unsettled. He didn’t think he’d be able to eat for a while. Halston had almost cried when he pulled Galena’s body down. He would have, if the rage hadn’t taken over. Halston had almost gone over the edge. He had almost lost himself.
“Will you go get her then?” Raven spoke quietly.
Halston looked at her. He pictured Koa’s little face with her big, green eyes looking up at him. He missed cupping her face in his hands.
He missed her scent, humor, and bravery
. He missed her smile. The way her eyes crinkled at the corners when she was genuinely happy made him almost smile. He believed that was her gift to him. Koa rarely smiled like that for anyone else.
Halston sat up straight. He watched Rebecca sitting in between her parents. She was staring at him. “No. She will come to me.”
Raven made a face. “How are you so sure?”
Halston sat back and watched a couple standing near the fence surrounding a pond. They held hands and pointed to the geese.
“I just know.”
17
Koa was drunk on Lindley’s blood. She stayed in the Wryn castle for a month and learned everything there was to know about her new pet. Lindley was asleep and holding onto Koa like a child holding onto a Teddy bear. Koa didn’t mind. She enjoyed being held.
Lindley smelled like vanilla and sex.
She was one of the most alluring people Koa had shared a bed with, but she hadn’t actually had sex with the girl. Lindley just had this seductive scent about her that Koa was sure drove the men mad. She only drank from her, though. Somehow, the thought of Halston’s disapproval still bothered her.
She looked up at the ceiling and frowned. Koa shouldn’t care anymore. She refused to. She played with Lindley’s short hair. It was soft and silky, and fell between Koa’s fingers with ease.
I don’t want Lindley in that way anyway, Koa reasoned. There was only one man she wanted and she would save herself for him.
Koa sighed and glanced down at her. Lindley wore her panties and bra, and looked like a sleeping angel with her pale skin and blond hair on the cream comforter.
I made a good choice. She kissed her forehead and smiled. All of her pent up aggression had been somewhat relieved by her feeding.
Now she would just have to get back on a schedule. She’d had so much human blood lately that her energy was at an optimal level. She hadn’t felt this strong in a long time. The thought of what damage she could do both frightened and intrigued her.
Koa’s eyes widened. She gently moved Lindley’s sleeping body aside and came to her feet. She stretched her arms and rolled her neck. She felt powerful.
“What better time than now to visit the Netherworld?” Koa spoke the word and her heart started to race. The adrenaline pulsed through her at an alarming rate.
I’m ready.
She wanted to go, and no one could stop her. She hurried and grabbed her things. She put on her gloves and grabbed her sword.
Something made Koa pause. She looked at the phone that sat on the sleek, black nightstand.
Koa knew what she had to do. Raven had known it, too. Koa picked up the phone and called Halston.
She held her breath as the phone started to ring. It rang twice. “Koa?” He yawned. “Is that you, Koa?”
Koa mustered her strength. “Yes. It’s me.”
“It’s three in the morning.” His voice perked up. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, Halston.” Koa bit the corner of her lip. She felt her heart beating and her palms sweating. “I miss you.”
Silence.
“Hello?” Koa panicked. I knew this was a bad idea!
“I miss you too, Koa. Where have you been?”
“Wryn.”
“With Ian.”
Koa walked over to the balcony and stepped out into the night. “Yes. I sired him.”
“I knew that would happen.”
Koa smiled. Same old Halston. “Of course you knew, Halston. You know everything.”
“How does he like being a vampire?”
“He loves it. He gets along with my new pet,” Koa hesitated. “Her name is Lindley.”
“I see.” He didn’t sound thrilled.
“Halston,” Koa said as she looked across the rolling hills toward the lake. “I need you.”
“What is it, Koa? What happened?”
Koa held onto the stone balcony and closed her eyes. She had to be brave. “I am going to the Netherworld, and I need you to come with me.” She stuttered. “I want you to come with me.”
Halston surprised her. “Are you sure that you’re ready?”
Koa felt her eyes water. “I am. I promise, I am ready.” She closed the French doors to the balcony and sat on the cold stone floor. “I forgive you.”
“Forgive me?” Halston asked. He sounded amused.
Koa sighed. “Yes. I was angry with you for firing me—so angry that I almost killed Ian.” She squeezed her eyes closed. She’d never forget how horrible she’d felt when she thought that he was dead. She’d spent the month teaching him just as much as she spent feeding and learning about Lindley.
“Go on.”
She growled in exasperation. “I get it, Halston! You taught me a lesson! There! Happy?”
Halston chuckled.
Koa pouted. Her brows drew in and she frowned. “It’s not funny!”
He continued to chuckle. “I know. I can’t help it. You just said exactly what I wanted to hear.”
Koa’s frowned deepened. “Well, this is not the appropriate time to be laughing.”
Halston cleared his throat. “Right. Go on. You were talking about… learning lessons and so forth?”
Koa leaned against the French doors. She looked up at the moon. “Yes. I can be a little… headstrong sometimes.”
“Headstrong, you say?”
Koa rolled her eyes. “Yes. You heard me.”
“I see.”
“I used to follow my own rules and look at where it got me. Nearly torn to bits by a demon, and I nearly killed a good friend.” Koa played with the ends of her blue hair. She twirled a lock around her finger. “I just want a piece of my memory back. I want to break my mother’s curse, and kill Bund. These are the things that make me lose myself. Whenever I want something, you know, I’ll do anything to get it… and that’s not always right. I realize that I cannot do this on my own.” Koa closed her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“For?”
Koa shook her head. She had to bite her lip. Halston was dragging this apology out. She slowly let out a breath. “For not listening to you,” she muttered.
Silence. Koa expected him to laugh.
“Koa, I believe you.”
Koa’s burned with tears.
“Together, we can do this.”
Koa smiled and wiped a tear. “Thank you, Halston.”
“But I must warn you, it’s not going to be easy. There are so many who want you dead and I am not as strong as I used to be. But you have my vow that I will protect you with all the power that I have.”
Koa nodded. “I know. Thank you, Halston.” Koa opened the door and glanced at her sleeping pet. Lindley had given her more than she knew. She could feel herself radiating with newfound strength.
“Let’s do this.”
“Now?”
Koa grinned. She had her Halston back. She was more ready than ever. “Right now.”
18
The Gate TO THE Netherworld started at the center of a craggy pit and reached up toward the heavens. It sat in the deepest part of the hidden forest, where humans would never venture. The Gate was invisible to humans. To them, there was nothing but a mountain with thick evergreen vines wrapped around its base.
Koa touched the cool vine. It trembled and coiled away from her. An outline of a door stretched along the stone and revealed itself to her. Koa took a long breath of the cool air.
This is it, Koa thought as she breathed in the scent of coal. I am actually going to the Netherworld. She almost felt giddy with excitement. She had butterflies in her stomach. She’d dreamed of this day.
Koa stepped through the wall and there stood Halston. She couldn’t suppress her smile. She beamed at him and glanced back just in time to see the wall vanish behind her. She reached out and it reappeared. Koa pulled her hand back and it vanished again. She shivered and rubbed her arms as she turned back toward Halston.
He was dressed in black and wore a grim look on his pale face. No well-tailored suit or chic f
edora and expensive shoes like she was used to: plain pants, shirt, and jacket. She knew that his long jacket only served to cover up his infinity shotgun.
Koa felt her excitement grow. She hadn’t seen him fire that glorious weapon in ages. There was nothing sexier than when he was like this.
This morning, Halston was all business. His hair was so blond that it was nearly golden. Illuminated by the moonlight, Halston looked like a god.
“Ready?”
She gave a single nod. Her face was set. She would not turn away if she could help it.
“I understand you’ve always wanted to find out what happened to you when you were a child, but Koa, I am not sure you want to know. I’ve been protecting you all of these years. I just didn’t want to see you hurt.”
Koa’s lips parted. She stepped before Halston and looked up at him. Why would he avoid my eyes? Koa could feel it— Halston cared about her.
The urge to squeal with joy overcame her, but she contained her excitement and the desire to reach up and kiss him. He might even love her. She looked at her feet.
“No matter how painful the truth is,” she said, “I think it’s time I know. I want my memories back. There is a black hole that I don’t understand. From age twelve to seventeen— there is nothing, and I need it back.”
Koa knew something horrible had happened, and whenever she tried to grasp those memories, an overwhelming nausea deterred her from further search. That same nausea overcame her now as she swallowed and tried to force it to go away.
“I want my mother back, and this Jax—” She paused when Halston winced at the name.
That’s very strange.
“This Jax person is who can give me these things. I just want to help my mother and protect the mortal world.”
There was a long pause and finally Halston’s gaze met hers. She saw a hint of that smile she loved.
“Finally. I think you are actually ready.” He started ahead.
