by Zara Novak
Ellie and Jack stared at each other. Ellie tried to think of some explanation that seemed dignified, but her words only ended up trailing off. “We, err, well…”
Natalie looked between the couple and her gaze stopped on Jack. A knowing look filled her expression and she smiled while nodding. “Ah. I’ve seen that look before. You’ve been sharing some alone time. That’s… very interesting.” Natalie left her reaction there, but both Ellie and Jack could tell there was more she wanted to say. It was down to Natalie’s foresight that she kept her mouth shut, but the curiosity blazed there in her eyes, plain enough for anyone to see.
Ellie looked into her friend’s eyes and understood the look immediately. Natalie knew Wraith’s real identity. She wouldn’t share it here and risk getting them into trouble, but the fact that Wraith Belmont could share a connection like that with a human was interesting. It made Natalie look at Ellie in a different light. It put questions in her mind that didn’t have a voice yet.
“Where is Rourke?” Jack asked, partly to change the subject.
“Rourke is out working,” Natalie said with a dry smile while polishing a glass. “It might be hard to believe, but that privileged pretty boy has never worked a day in his life. He was half terrified when he heard that all vampires here had to work. I think he’s actually enjoying himself though.”
“What’s he doing?” Ellie asked.
“Hunting in the forest. There’s a small team of vampires that gathers food and supplies for everyone in the village. They work throughout the night mostly. I thought he might struggle with it, but he’s taken to it quite well.” She leaned in close and dropped her voice to a whisper. “It’s been quite helpful in venting his frustration over the attack on the gate. He’s still mad they lost control of it to the Circle and the White Order.”
Ellie almost choked at hearing the words. “The Order?”
“Yeah,” Natalie said with an indifferent smile. “We found out from Kara’s men that the Order coordinated the attack on the border with the Circle.”
“How do they know?” Jack asked, suddenly growing interested in the conversation.
Before Natalie could speak Ellie already knew the answer. “The explosives,” she said.
“Bingo,” Natalie said and clicked her fingers. “So you did know?”
“No,” Ellie shook her head. “I just know the Order and how they work. Now I’ve realized it I can’t believe I didn’t see it earlier. Our weaponry is the one thing that lets us hold an edge against vampires. If they’ve formed a real union with the Circle their power could be devastating.”
“Scary, right?” Natalie said and picked up another glass. “Rumor has it they’re looking for these lost daughters together. You know, that bull crap prophecy about these human breeders?” Natalie sighed and looked down at her stomach, holding a hand there momentarily while she looked glum. “I wish I could be one of those girls. Might make Rourke do some bonding sex with me. He’s nice enough, but I know he’s not really interested.”
A large group of vampires walked in and approached the bar. Natalie rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. “Looks like I got to get back to work guys. Maybe we can catch up later? See ya!”
Ellie and Jack exited the Royal Oak and walked around the village some more before deciding to head back to their house in the guest village. They had just walked by the temple and emerged onto the long street that led to their cottage when they saw an old woman waving to them from the garden of a cottage on the nearest corner. As they got closer they realized it was Kara.
“Kara!” Ellie said with a start. The old woman looked more real out in the moonlight. Where her previous self in the temple had seemed like a paper-thin apparition, this version looked more sprightly and certain. “Is this your house?” Ellie looked at the crooked old cottage behind the woman. It was small and made of odd angles. They seemed like a perfect match.
“Oh? No. I’m just getting rid of some bad energy. Tell me. How was your first night in the village?” She looked between Jack and Ellie, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Fine.” Jack answered with a polite smile. “Our accommodation is very nice. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she said with a curt nod. “If you don’t mind boy I’d like to speak with Ellie here. You have a shift starting at the blacksmith I understand. Why not hurry back to the house and get ready for it?”
Jack looked down at his watch and saw that Kara was right. His brows jumped at the news. “Crap. She’s right Ellie. I better hurry back and get ready.”
“Okay,” Ellie said. “See you back at the house.”
“She’ll only be a minute,” Kara shouted as Jack hurried down the street to their cottage. Once he was out of earshot the old woman turned back to Kara and dropped the smile from her face. “Thought you might be gone by now. Seems you trusted your instincts?”
Ellie nodded bashfully. “I’m not sure what happened exactly.”
“This.” Kara jabbed her finger through the air and hit Ellie in the chest. “You listened to your heart for once. And aren’t you all the better for it?”
“I guess,” Ellie said, rubbing the spot on her chest where Kara had poked her. “Does anyone else here know who Jack and I are?”
The old woman shook her head. “No, and I’ll be keeping it to myself for now. Best we don’t announce it too loudly. Lots of punk ass morons running around trying to interfere with things they don’t understand. Vampire hunters. Vampire police.” Kara hocked her throat and spat. “They’re all eager to involve themselves in something that doesn’t concern them. I take it you’re staying then?”
“Huh?” Ellie said, blindsided by the question a little. Kara whipped a hand out as quick as a flash and clipped her ear.
“Ow!” Ellie said.
“Listen then girl!” she bawled. “You’re staying?”
“I don’t know,” Ellie said, rubbing her ear. “Maybe.”
“Well you maybe better start thinking about looking for a job. Lost daughter or not, you’re not staying in my village if you can’t make yourself useful. What are you good for? And don’t say vampire hunting, because I’ll kick your ass to the curb myself.”
“How did you know I was—” Ellie started, but stopped at seeing the old woman tap her head.
“That’s right,” she said. “All seeing, all knowing. I can see you’re good at surviving too. All those years with the hunters was mostly wasted, but it looks like you can forage all right. Food is scarce here at the moment. Maybe you’d find a good place with the hunters. I’ll put a word in with Malachi. He’s their leader. You should go speak to him come nightfall. He needs more humans on the day shifts.”
Ellie opened her mouth to tell Kara that wasn’t really necessary, but the old woman spoke up again before she could answer back. “No need to thank me. Why don’t you go back to the cottage with lover boy and sit on it before you make any decisions? No sense in wasting any more of my time standing here and acting all vague. Get out of here. Go on, get out! Before I smack that other ear!”
Ellie jumped back from the fence quickly and backed down the street, wary of the old woman’s gaze all the while. When she got back to the house she saw Jack had changed into a pair of ink black overalls. “There was a package on the porch courtesy of Garret. Had this inside. Looks like this is my work get up.”
“Looks hot,” Ellie said, kissing him on the cheek as she walked in.
“What did old crazy want?”
She let out a sigh and shook her head. “I’m not sure I know exactly. She’s a weird one.”
“That she is,” Jack laughed. “I’m just gonna head upstairs and finish getting ready. Maybe when I finish my shift later we can pick up back where we left off?” His hands looped around her and pulled her tight. He kissed her, and everything melted away momentarily. When he pulled away Ellie felt dizzy.
“That would be great actually,” she said with a goofy smile.
“Great,” he said back.
“I won’t be a minute.” Jack bolted up the stairs, leaving Ellie stood alone in the hallway. She made her way for the kitchen when she heard a knock at the door. “Tell Garret I’m coming now!” Jack shouted from upstairs.
Laughing, Ellie rolled her eyes and went for the door. “Okay!” Opening it, she saw the guard stood there, the same one that had escorted them to the house the night before. “Err… Hi. What’s up?”
“Not much miss. I’m just here to take you to the meeting we arranged last night.”
“Meeting?” Ellie asked.
“Yes,” the guard said with certainty. “You informed me you were traveling on from here and needed some assistance in planning your outward journey.”
“Oh.” Ellie blinked a few times as she faintly remembered the conversation. “I guess I did, yeah. Sorry. It’s been a… hectic twenty-four hours.”
“No problem, miss. If you’d like to accompany me I will take you straight there. We can have you on your way in almost no time.” The guard turned from the door to descend the porch steps when Ellie reached her hand out.
“Actually… I was wondering. Is it possible if we could delay that for now?”
“Delay miss?” the guard said in question.
“Yeah.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and chewed at her lip. “It’s just… well. Things might have changed a little, and I’m not so sure I’m leaving now.”
“Oh? That is… not a problem. Providing that you are sure?”
“Yeah…” she said after a long moment’s thought. “I think I am. I’m going to stay for a little bit if that’s okay. I don’t think I’m ready to leave.”
“Very well then miss!” the guard said with a smile. “I’ll head to the office now and let them now their assistance is no longer required. Good night!” With that the guard left. Ellie shut the door slowly and turned back to face the hall. Jack’s footfall came down the steps.
“Where is that impatient bastard? He waiting outside?” he asked, looking around for signs of Garret.
“It was just the guard from last night,” she said.
“Oh. Everything okay?” Jack walked across the hall and slipped his hands around Ellie’s waist. She stared up into his red eyes, feeling her heart flutter once more.
“Yeah, actually. Everything is… fine.” She stopped and listened to the words, realizing it was the first time in her life that those words were plain truth. She wrapped her arms tight around Jack and pressed herself against his chest, sighing to herself in content as the scent of earth and oak lifted around her.
Maybe staying didn’t make any sense. Maybe she was in overhead. Maybe she should have gone to that meeting and left Jack here in Skarvast. Whatever maybe meant, she didn’t really care anymore. All she knew is that she was happy here, and her instinct told her it was where she was meant to be.
She’d made her choice, and she was sticking with it.
22
The witch let out a scream as she was flung against the wall, collapsing to the ground as blood ran down her eyes. The ancient vampire floated across the floor toward her and lifted his hand. An invisible hand seized around her throat and pulled her up the wall. She clawed desperately at her throat while trying to find air, kicking her feet wildly to no avail.
“We can do this the hard way, or we can do this the easy way,” the High Vistor said with a cold smile. Watching the life slowly drain from the blue eyes of the ebony-skinned girl was something of a thrill for the Vistor. He’d hated witches for as long as he could remember. They were treacherous creatures and were it not for a witch he wouldn’t be as he was today. Still, they had some uses, but it wasn’t always straightforward getting their cooperation.
The fiery eyed girl gurgled through choking sounds, her face growing redder by the minute. She gave a stilted nod of her head, indicating that she was ready to talk. The Vistor released his grasp and let the girl fall to the floor of her bare concrete cell. The young black girl gasped heavily as she regained her breath, straightened the creases out of her copper-colored gypsy dress and clenched her jaw.
“You’re a cunt. You know that?”
The Vistor had to laugh. He admired the girl’s tenacity. “Shut the fuck up Glamora. Are you going to cooperate or not? Do you want another year in the cells?”
“You can’t do this to people!” the girl protested. “If Azu or Ezra knew you were doing this—”
“Your sister Azu is dead,” the Vistor said plainly, “and Ezra is dead too. Although I believe she has reincarnated as another witch by the name of Rubago.”
Glamora gasped. Tears would have filled her eyes if she wasn’t kept in a constant state of dehydration. “Azu, dead? But how?”
“I thought that might get your interest. It’s partly to do with why I’m here. Azu was on our side temporarily. Without her, we’ve had some setbacks. She was killed by a vampire called Ansel Draco. I’d like you to look into that crystal ball of yours and show him to me. After that I’d like you to track another too. Ellie Thorn.”
The captive witch gave a disbelieving laugh and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right. You’ve had me prisoner here for countless moons, Vistor. I don’t have the strength to seer. You of all people should know that. You can keep a witch prisoner all you like, but she’s no use if you don’t treat her properly.”
“That’s why I’ve arranged a short refueling period. With Azu dead I must now resort to using you Glamora, as unfortunate as that might be. You don’t possess the same strength as either of your sisters, but you might still have a use to me. I’d like you to meet a friend of mine. His name is Kaleb. He’s my latest project… and I think you might like him. He’s very good at making people… cooperate.”
The cell door to the right opened briefly to let the tall and broad vampire enter. Glamora stood to her feet in anxiousness, sensing a trap. “I’m not some fucking puppet on a string,” she sneered. “You can’t just lock me up and pull me out whenever you need me. I won’t recharge my energy to help you. Torture me all you like!”
The Vistor gave her a cold smile and stepped forward. “Blood. Sex. Sacrifice. Rest. These are the ways a witch recharges her magic, are they not? Rest assured, you will be back to fighting form inside the hour, and you will do so voluntarily.”
Glamora spat at the Vistor, her eyes hard as steel. “You can take your pretty boy and fuck off. I will never help you!”
The Vistor turned his head slowly to look at Kaleb and gave a slight nod. The hybrid vampire stepped forward and approached the witch. He spoke with in a deep and rumbling voice that sounded pleasant to the witch. “What’s the matter darling? Aren’t you pleased to see me?”
“Stay away!” Glamora screamed while backing into the corner of her cell. “I’ve little magic left, but there’s still enough to kill myself!”
“But why do that?” The Vistor said with dry amusement while watching the scene unfold before him. “Why do that when your… soulmate is here?”
Kaleb began his transformation at mention of the word soulmate, his whole body shifting and transforming into that of another man. In a few seconds the tall white-skinned man was gone and replaced with a black-skinned man with long dark dreads and sparkling black eyes. Glamora’s eyes flicked from the man to the Vistor behind him in disbelief, not really sure what was happening.
“What is this?” she stammered.
“Kaleb Spartan.” The Vistor smiled. Kaleb stalked over to the stunned witch in the corner and brushed a hand down her cheek. “He can instantly assess the perfect genetic match of any person and shift himself into that form. This is your… soulmate. Or an approximation of him anyway. I take it you’ve not actually met your real soulmate, hence the confusion…”
Glamora’s eyes softened, losing all focus as she stared into those beautiful black eyes. There was a distant suggestion of protest in the back of her mind, but she couldn’t really remember why. This man was beautiful. He was the face to an idea that had dwelled in her heart for a long time. Swe
at pricked on her skin. Her breathing became fast and short. She sunk her teeth into her bottom lip. He moved closer.
“Not only can he take on the appearance of a mate, he becomes attractive on a base biological level. Pheromones, scent, and the such. You’re probably feeling those effects right about now.”
The man’s hand settled on her waist and he pulled her toward him ever so gently. She fell in voluntarily, melting as his lips dissolved against hers. Deep spice. Rich salt. Heaven.
The Vistor smiled to himself darkly as the witch surrendered herself to the man. He moved over to the cell door and opened it. “I trust then there will be no further protests in helping my cause. We will see to it that your strength is resumed quickly. When you’re back to your old self you can help me in finding these troubling elements.”
He exited the cell and stalked back through the hallways to his next destination. Things were going well. The second part of his attack was about to launch. He had a good feeling about everything. New waves of Black Fang would be released onto the human population in the next few weeks, which would weaken the vampires in Belmont valley. Glamora had been little use so far, but now Kaleb was up and running, the Vistor could use her however he wanted.
The Vistor slipped the two photographs from his jacket pocket into his hand and stared down at them as he walked. In one there was the fresh-faced picture of his only surviving descendent: Ansel Draco.
Draco would be problematic if not dealt with soon. He was the only living vampire that held the power to take him down. The Vistor would be paying Draco a visit very soon, as soon as he found out where he was.
In the other hand was the photo given to him from Valdis. A young girl with long blonde hair and sharp blue eyes smiled back at him. Ellie. The second lost daughter.
It wouldn’t be long before Glamora was back to her old self, and when she was the Vistor would make use of her power. Kaleb Spartan was already proving to be an excellent weapon.
