by Flynn, Mac
The vampire tipped her head to one side and continued to stare at me. She didn't blink. "Very usual."
I leapt at the unknown vampire with my fingernails bared. She jumped up and dodged my attack. Her hand shot out and tried to grab my wrist. I tripped over some rope and my arm tumbled out of his reach, but not my legs. I swiped at her feet and made connection with both of her ankles. She dropped onto her rear on the floor of the boat.
Trica threw back his head and laughed. "Still think she's usual?"
The vampire's expression was blank, but she at least blinked at me. "No."
"As amusing as this is, I'd be grateful if you two would play nicer together. I don't want the boat to rock into shoals," he scolded us.
"Pull over and I'll consider it," I snapped.
He faced ahead and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that. You see, you're a very important part of my plan."
"To kill Simon?" I accused him.
Trica laughed. "I bet he gets you for that word a lot."
I climbed to my feet and faced him. The other female vampire remained seated. "Get to shore or I'll rock this boat worse," I warned him.
He sighed as he reached into his suit jacket. "I hoped we could have a lively conversation. I haven't had one since-" his eyes flickered to the woman, "-well, for a really long time, but I can see this isn't meant to be."
I lunged at him. He pulled out another packet and threw the contents into my face. I sneezed and rubbed my nose.
"I think I've had enough. . .enough of-" I clutched my head and swayed from side-to-side. The world spun. My head felt light. "What. . .what did you-" I dropped onto the floor of the speeding motorboat.
Trica glanced over his shoulder and grinned down at me. "Just a little hawthorn powder to knock you out."
I blacked out.
CHAPTER 10
I don't know how long I was out, but when I woke up we were in a car speeding down a familiar winding road. I was in the back seat of a blood-red sports car. Trica and the woman sat in the front.
I sat up and regretted it when my head pounded. "You shouldn't move too quickly," Trica warned me.
I gritted my teeth and glanced out the dark window. Forests loomed toward us from either side of the road. The scent of bay water hit my nostrils like a bucket of vinegar.
My eyes flickered to the front seats. "Where am I?"
Trica glanced through the rear view mirror and smiled. "I'm sure this road is familiar to you. If I recall, you helped my brother to steal quite a truckload of valuable items."
My eyes narrowed. "Why do you keep calling him that?"
Trica shrugged. "Because it's true. We aren't blood brothers in the usual sense, but we were created by the same vampire at near the same time, he being a couple of decades older than me."
I frowned. "If you two are bothers then why are you doing this to him?"
"Aren't you having fun with my little game?" he wondered.
"If you mean trying to get us all killed the no," I retorted.
He wagged his finger. "There you go with that word again. Simon must have his hands full just scolding you on that."
I lunged for the handle of the closest car door and gave it a hard yank. It was locked and solid. Trica turned a sharp corner. I fell back to the center of the rear seat.
He frowned at me. "Don't try that again. Simon would be disappointed if he doesn't find you at my home."
I glared at his reflection in the mirror. "It's not him I'm trying to disappoint."
Trica chuckled. "I can see why my brother chose you to be his bride. You have a lot of potential."
I crossed my arms over my chest. "Skip the flatteries and tell me what you plan to do with me."
He grinned. "You'll see."
Trica slowed the car and turned the wheel. We bumped onto a weed-choked dirt road. The bushes scraped against the sides of the sports car and the low-lying tree branches knocked against the windows. The darkness within the thick, ancient forest was nearly impenetrable to my vampire eyes.
The winding road went on for a few miles before the path opened to a large clearing. In the center of the clearing stood a towering, decrepit mansion that greatly resembled the one close to the cemetery. Storm dormers on either side of the tall, narrow windows hung loose at odd angles. Its white paint was yellowed and peeling. The front door was covered in a thick layer of dead leaves. The filthy windows glared down at us as we curved around the circular driveway and parked in a short parking spot just past the front door.
Trica shut off the car. The doors unlocked. I leapt at mine and flew out the driver's side. My feet hit the ground running, but Trica was faster. He grabbed my wrist and swung me back toward the car. I tripped and he released me so I could fall backward onto the ground.
He stalked toward me and towered over me. His red eyes glared down at me. "Do not try that again."
"Make me," I hissed.
Trica pursed his lips. He leaned down and grabbed my wrist to pull me to my feet. I was dragged to the door where we rejoined with the blank-faced vampiress. She opened the door for us and we stepped into a large, dust-filled entrance hall. On either side of us lay two arches that led into a dining hall on our left and a parlor to our right. The furniture was draped in yellowed sheets. A curved staircase to our left led to the second floor.
Trica shut the door behind us and the vampiress positioned herself behind me. He released me and strode to the center of the entrance hall. "This could take some work, but-" He stretched his arms out on either side of himself and turned to face me. "-welcome to my abode. My current one, that is."
I glanced at the female vampire close behind me. "Your maid missed a spot."
Trica pursed his lips and dropped his arms to his side. His eyes fell on the young woman and his face fell. "Yes, well, she isn't too responsive at this moment, but I'll see what I can do myself." He raised his left hand and snapped his fingers.
A whirlwind burst from beneath his feet and flew outward. I covered my face with my arms and ducked my head as the rough wind hit me. It pulled at my clothes and whipped my hair about like an unruly child. Dust brushed against my skin in an upward direction.
The sudden tornado lasted for five seconds and then blew past me. I peeked open my eyes and watched the devil wind sweep into the adjoining rooms. The wind pulled off the covers and flung open the windows. The dust it carried with it flew out the windows and into the forest. The wind slammed the windows shut and moved out of sight into the deeper depths of the home.
When the wind was finished the rooms were spotless of dust, leaves, and even grime. I lowered my arms and blinked at the clean surfaces around me.
Trica grinned. "Neat trick, isn't it? I bet you didn't know Simon and I could do that. Maybe even Certus."
My eyebrows crashed down. I whipped my head to him. "Where's Certus?"
Trica folded his arms and chuckled. "He's safe, at least for the present." He glanced at the gold watch on his wrist. "And Simon should be here within ten minutes. He would be here earlier, but he has several people to pick up."
"More of your playthings?" I snapped.
Trica didn't lift his head, but his eyes flickered up to me. They were cold and hard. "No. This 'guest' I find very un-amusing." He raised his head and smiled. "But why don't we wait in the parlor? It's more comfortable than standing here."
I crossed my arms and planted my feet on the floor. "I'd rather wait here."
"I'd rather wait in the parlor." Trica looked past me at the woman. She grabbed my upper arms and pulled me toward the parlor.
I twisted and squirmed in her grasp. Her hold was tight, but not as tight as those of Simon and Trica. I wrenched one of my arms out of her hand and swung around. The back of my hand connected to the side of her face. She stumbled back and released me.
I made to run for the front door, but Trica let out a roar that echoed over the entrance hall. He appeared in front of me, his eyes ablaze with hellfire. He grabbed my wrist and fl
ung me toward the parlor. The force behind his throw sent me reeling backward into the next room. The back of my knees hit the side of a couch and I fell onto the stiff cushions.
Trica hung over me in an instant. His fangs were bared and his clawed hands flexed on either side of my head. My heart thumped in my chest as he leaned closer to me. "Never touch her again," he hissed.
He paused and cocked his head to one side. His fangs retreated into his mouth. A sly smile slipped onto his lips. "Simon always was punctual." His eyes flickered back to me. His smile disappeared. "If things get rough, remember my warning."
Trica stepped away from me and hurried to the entrance hall. He paused in the arch where the woman stood. She stared in my direction, but her eyes didn't register anything.
Trica lifted his left hand and brushed the back against her bruised cheek. He pursed his lips and hurried onward to the front door.
I sat up and strained my eyes. I should have strained my eyes. Headlights flashed across the front of the house. A long black vehicle stopped at the front door. My pulse quickened. I leapt from the couch and ran to the front windows to press my hands against the cold panes.
It was Simon's limo.
CHAPTER 11
Dolf and Maeve stepped out of the front seats with Specter floating behind Maeve. A smile spread across my face as I watched Simon exit from the rear. My smile changed to an expression more quizzical when he was followed by Basileus. The self-proclaimed vampire lord was blindfolded and held Bentley's small, limp body in his arms.
"Greetings, everyone!" I heard Trica call from the front door. "Enter and be welcomed!"
I raced to the front hall in time to watch my friends enter. Simon held one of Basileus's arms and led him inside.
Maeve's eyes fell on me. "Faith!" She rushed over and we grasped one another's arms. She looked me over. "Are you all right? Did he hurt you?" She swept her eyes over my head and furrowed her brow. "What do you have-"
"If you would all step into my parlor, as the spider said to the fly," Trica spoke up from the shut front doors.
Specter floated to the top of the high ceiling. "I'm pretty comfortable here."
Simon came up behind Maeve. She glanced over her shoulder and slyly smiled at him. Maeve gave me a wink before she stepped aside.
I smiled at him. "What took you?"
He glanced over his shoulder at Basileus. "He was rather uncooperative."
I put my hands on my hips and frowned at him. "So we could escape that island before."
Simon returned his attention to me and gave me his best, evilest crooked smile. "Did you ever doubt me?"
I snorted and crossed my arms. "Lots of times." My shoulders drooped. I dropped my arms and flung myself against my chest to hug him. My heart beat faster when he wrapped his arms around me. I buried my face into his cool chest and tried to keep the tears back. "But not this time."
"A touching scene if I could see it, but I demand to know why I was kidnapped," Basileus spoke up.
Trica strolled around the captive and sneered at him. "Just a little unfinished business, Lord Basileus."
Basileus frowned. "The payment wasn't due until tomorrow night."
Trica grabbed the blindfold and tore the cloth from the lord's eyes. "I changed my mind."
Basileus swept his eyes over my friends and me. "What are you waiting for? Capture him!"
Maeve, Dolf and Specter tensed. Trica stepped backward to the front of our gathering and held up his hand in front of him. "A moment, if you will. We wouldn't want to spill this-" he pulled a vial from inside his suit jacket. A brackish liquid sloshed inside the glass. "Would we?"
"This is monstrous! A woman's life-nay, two women's lives are at stake!" Basileus nodded at me. "Would you risk hers for your insane request?"
Trica's expression darkened. He gripped the vial hard in his hand, but not hard enough to break the glass. His voice was low and dangerous. "You're the only selfish person here, Basileus. You and your self-appointment as lord of the vampires in this city."
Basileus frowned. "I have only done what is right, and that is to protect the vampires from-"
"From what? Your vanity? Your jealousy?" Trica argued. He laughed. The sound was mirthless and bitter. "You couldn't have her, so nobody could. You hid your evil ways behind a cloak of so-called justice."
Basileus hesitated and shrank back. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."
Trica turned his attention to the parlor. "Mirela." The pale woman stepped out of the parlor. Her blank eyes stared straight ahead. Trica walked over to her and gently set his arm over her shoulders. "This is what I'm talking about. My bride, the one who's soul, and personality, you've imprisoned inside her own body."
Basileus ground his teeth together. "She flaunted her abilities."
"She performed as a magician for young children! Nothing more!" Trica argued.
Dolf and Specter glanced at each other. The werewolf turned his attention to Simon who stood beside me. "You know anything about this?"
I looked up at Simon. His face was nearly as blank as that of the woman, but his steely eyes lay on Basileus.
Maeve's eyes flickered to Simon. "What was in that note in the safe?"
"There were no frills or rhymes there. It was just the simple truth," Trica told her.
Basileus whipped his head from left to right to stare at each of us. "Will none of you help me against this fiend?"
Specter flew around Trica and rolled up his sleeves. "I'd be glad to get rid of him for you."
Trica frowned up at him. "I have no quarrels with you."
Specter hovered in front of Trica and crossed his arms over his chest. "But I've got some payback for you. Some of your goons killed me a decade ago in the cemetery behind the house. I'd like to return the favor."
Trica arched an eyebrow. "A decade ago? I was in Europe a decade ago with my bride celebrating our hundredth year together."
Specter frowned. "But I defeated your Phantom goon there."
Trica grinned and rubbed the back of his neck. "That was actually me. Sorry about the bone-threatening thing, but you paid me back with interest." His eyes flickered to Simon. "Especially since Simon new how to get rid of me."
Specter frowned and whipped his head to Simon. "You told us he was in charge of the gangs in the city, and it was one of those gangs that got me killed."
Trica snorted. "Don't believe anything my brother tells you about me. He keeps telling everyone I'm dangerous because I know he used to-"
"Quiet," Simon snapped.
Dolf arched an eyebrow. "Used to what?"
Trica grinned and his eyes flickered to Simon. Simon's eyes narrowed. "Simon the Almighty used to-"
"I lied," Simon spoke up. Everyone turned their heads and blinked at him. He pursed his lips. "Trica is not dangerous to anyone other than me, nor does he lie about what Basileus did to his bride."
"Believe nothing of what he says!" Basileus argued. "He speaks only-"
"Shut up," Maeve snapped. She strode over to Trica and his bride, and glanced at Trica with narrowed eyes. "I'd like some proof for myself that you're telling the truth."
He stepped back and held Mirela's hands in front of her. "You may."
Maeve pulled out her small traveling kit of the macabre and blew some of her power over Mirela. The woman's body gave off a faint blue glow that pulsed with a weak light.
Maeve glanced over to Simon who had watched the test. "She's definitely cursed, and her soul light isn't quite right."
"This is preposterous!" Basileus blustered. He nodded at Trica. "You would believe his word over mine? It was his doing that enacted this killing curse on Madam Bentley and Simon's own fledgling!"
Trica sneered at Basileus. "The curse Bentley inhaled wasn't a killing curse. It merely exacerbates a person's worst trait. In this case, Bentley's naturally distempered mood. It was she alone who cast that deadly spell over Faith."
Basileus's eyes widened. "Not a killing curse?" he whispe
red.
Trica held up the vial and stalked around Basileus. "Don't be so relieved yet, lord. She still can't control the Curse Chamber without her full focus, and I have the only cure for this curse." He paused in front of the vampire and grinned. "It's of my own making."
Basileus glared at him. He marched over to Simon and stood in front of us with narrowed eyes. "You would dare allow him to blackmail me?"
Simon's sly smile slipped onto his lips. "You were gracious enough to do the same to me, so think of it as a normal business transaction."
Basileus's mouth fell open. "But what he demands is impossible!"
Trica sidled up beside Simon. "What I demand is for Bentley to release the curse from my bride and assurances it will never be done again."
Basileus frowned. "We are far from my island and-"
"I know she has control of the Curse Chamber from afar," Trica argued.
Simon smiled. "As do I."
Trica whipped his head to Simon and furrowed his brow. "You know she has control, or you yourself have control?" His attention had everyone in the room staring at Simon.
The ancient vampire chuckled. "Never leave your enemies-"
"-with the upper hand," Trica finished for him as a grin slid onto his own lips. "You sly dog."
Basileus blinked at both of them. "Of what are you speaking? Only Madam Bentley has the ability to connect with the Curse Chamber."
Simon shook his head. "She forfeited that privilege when she cursed my fledgling. The cursing allowed me a connection through both women to the Chamber."
Basileus's eyes widened. He held out Bentley. "Then why did you force me to carry her here?"
Simon chuckled. "You needed the exercise."
Basileus lowered Bentley and glared at Simon. "I call you a liar, Simon Cruor."
Simon stretched out his arm and raised his palm palm upward. A swirling ball of darkness formed over his palm. The shadows cleared to form a transparent crystal ball, and in the center was a window to a strange room.
The space was hewn from the natural stone of the island. The shape of the space was circular and a dome-shaped ceiling rose above us. The smooth stone floor was carved into four-cornered blocks that had a wide end away from the center and a smaller end closer to the center.
