The sunken orbit hinted that the left eye was missing. Emily gagged and tried to whirl away. Marcus's grip was unrelenting, so she buried her face against his chest in an effort to hide the grisly image from view.
“Please don't make me read him.” A sob caught in her throat. “Please, please, please don’t.”
Corey entered the room, followed by an Asian woman who looked like a beautiful porcelain doll. The woman glanced at Emily then back to Pete then asked, “What’s going on?”
Corey stopped in front of Emily and Marcus, a smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. The back of his hair looked like he’d rolled around on the floor. “Hey, is she gonna read Pete?”
Isabella allowed her fangs to show. They were longer than Marcus’s. Her dark eyes sought out Emily. “Yes, I would like to see her in action.”
“I've already seen it.” Pete’s laughter was a dry wheeze. He lifted his head and stared at Emily with his good eye. “She not only sees but feels everything. You might break your little toy if you put her through that kind of torture. I'll think about everything you've done to me. She’ll experience it like it’s happening to her.”
Corey growled and backhanded the hanging vampire. Blood and mucus sprayed the wall next to him.
Pete laughed again. “She watched you die, Marcus. She felt every kick, each fist. You wanna put her through something like that again?”
Isabella noticed that she was standing next to a bit of gore. She lifted the hem of her dress and stepped to the side. “I must know if she can do what she claims.”
Emily’s stomach flip-flopped. She opened her mouth, but couldn’t find her voice.
Evan hung back behind everyone else. He moved along the wall toward the door. Emily wanted to run screaming behind him.
Jai Li studied her a moment. “You won't actually die, will you? You only feel like it, right?”
“Marcus, please don’t make me do this.” Emily tried to break free of his grip. “I’m begging you. I can’t do this.”
Corey looked to Marcus for direction.
“Do it. Maybe she can get more out of him than we did.” There was no sympathy in his blue eyes.
“No!” Emily clutched at the front of his shirt.
Corey wrapped an arm around Pete’s throat. The captive vampire thrashed against his bonds, desperate for air. Corey stepped away only after Pete hung limp and lifeless.
Marcus pushed Emily toward the dead man. “Hurry, you’ve only got a few minutes.”
Emily’s limbs trembled, and tears flowed down her cheeks. Her knees locked with mulish determination.
Jai Li and Isabella moved as one toward her. It was clear that she could read him or they'd force her.
Marcus leaned close, his chin resting on her shoulder. “You’d better put on a convincing show. If you don't, Isabella will have you killed.”
Touching Pete’s left thigh—it was the least damaged—Emily shut her eyes and concentrated on seeing what hid within the maze of his mind. Images inundated her. Just like the dirtbag had promised, visions of him being tortured flashed into her mind's eye. Isabella shoved a knife into his gut. Emily’s stomach burned in the same place. Pete’s eye was gouged out with a teaspoon. She screamed and clutched at her face with her free hand.
Isabella’s impatient voice broke through her concentration. “What is this nonsense?”
Pete woke and thrashed against his restraints. “Did you like the show, baby?”
Emily fell to her hands and knees then vomited between sobs.
From where he hung, Pete made an odd sort of chuckling noise. Angered, Isabella raised a large wooden stake.
Marcus smiled triumphantly. “It didn’t work, Pete. She saw the truth. She knows where the witch is. We don’t need you anymore.”
The stake arced through the air and sank deep into the vampire's chest. He sucked in a lungful of air then howled in pain. Just like the man at the park, his body shuddered and twisted. He thrashed and screamed as the flesh melted off the bones and ran onto the floor.
Several seconds later, he was silent.
Without being prompted, Emily reached up and pressed fingertips against his deteriorating body. Marcus must have figured the best way to influence him to think about something was to convince him they already knew. Maybe if she could learn something of value, the vampires would leave her alone. Much like Pete, she sucked in a lungful of air. It was all she could do to refrain from howling in pain. Her free hand clutched at her chest.
Starr Carter was in Pete’s memories. Disjointed fragments flooded through Emily, and she struggled to give the images words. “Starr moves around every couple of days. He doesn't know where she stays. She always meets him and Trent somewhere other than where she's staying. She doesn't trust them.”
Pete's knowledge went even further than Emily expected. “She’s looking for something important – something called a ley line. She wants to perform a ritual to harness the line’s power and use it to overthrow the vampire rule in the city. Starr will harm anyone who gets in the way. Humans and shifters included.”
Something wet trickled down Emily's arm, but she didn't take her hand away. “Her coven has grown. Shifters and vampires are coming to her aid in hopes of securing safety for themselves. Looks like much of the supernatural community believes there will be a change in regime.”
Isabella watched Emily with wary eyes. “What is this ley line? I do not understand.”
“There are different opinions on what it is exactly. I read about it in a couple of the witchcraft books I looked at.” She scrambled to her feet and wiped her hands on her shorts. “It seems to be a source of Earth energy or magical currents. Some think they connect holy sites. Those who know how to manipulate it can craft it into whatever they like.”
Emily accepted the less than clean towel Evan offered to wipe the muck from her fingers. “Starr thinks there's a line on my property. She just doesn't know where.” Emily considered all the images that flickered in her mind. “It’s hard to tell exactly, everything’s so jumbled and I only see flashes, but I think that's why Starr wants to use my land. She has an old book of spells. There's a ritual inside that can give her immortality and more power. She wants to perform it at an upcoming Sabbat.”
“And Trent?” Isabella’s eyes filled with hope. “What is his part in this?”
Emily backed further away from her. “His loyalty is with Starr.”
Jai Li moved closer to inspect Pete’s remains. “How could he betray us? We’re his blood-clan, his family.”
Emily allowed herself to be ushered from the room and back into the sitting area. Evan sat behind the desk, looking perturbed. Jai Li lingered nearby, keeping a watchful eye on them both.
Inside the torture room, Marcus and Isabella's voices grew louder. He seemed unhappy while Isabella’s voice remained insistent.
Jai Li stalked closer to Emily. Her lips pulled back in an unbecoming sneer, her face only inches from Emily’s. “You’d better look for ways to be valuable to us. Otherwise, you may find yourself dead.” With a final glance, Jai Li slipped down the hall without another word.
“I’m sorry you were forced to read him. I don’t think Marcus knew you would feel the events too.” Evan’s expressive brown eyes were downcast. “But, we needed the information. And I think you’ve ensured some amount of safety for yourself.”
“If I’m useful. What happens after this is over?”
Evan didn’t have a chance to answer because the others stepped through the hidden doorway. The room beyond was quiet once again.
Isabella neared the desk, spewing orders. “Marcus, I want you to accompany Emilia home. Keep her out of trouble like we discussed. While you are there, find the ley line.”
Corey put himself in Isabella’s line of sight. “Send me instead, Mistress. You need Marcus here with you. I would very much enjoy spending time with our new friend.”
“Nonsense, Corey. Marcus wishes to be free of me, so be it. He will g
o. We need someone there in case the witch sends more trouble in her direction.”
Emily remained where she stood, twisting the little heart charm nervously. “That’s not necessary. I’m not going to let that woman anywhere near my place.”
“Did you get a good look at the spell book you spoke of?” Isabella examined her claw-like nails, turning her hand this way and that. “Did you get a sense that it contained very powerful spells?”
“If an immortality spell isn’t powerful, then I don’t know what is.”
Isabella dropped her hand to her side. “Then it is reasonable to believe Starr Carter could influence you by force or magic. Marcus will make sure she does not change your mind. You should know Marcus will do what he must to protect me and those of his kind.”
She opened her mouth to protest, prompting Isabella to stalk closer. “Think before you say or do something silly, child. Do not become more trouble than you are worth.”
Emily shrank back, realizing the smart thing to do was shut her mouth. If she never stepped foot in that torture room again, she’d be a happy girl.
“Take her home, Marcus. Remember what we discussed and keep in contact. You have the entire blood-clan relying on you. Do not let us down. If things become dire, kill her. We do not want her in Starr’s possession.” With that, Isabella walked away.
“This is bullshit.” Corey smoothed a knuckle down the barrel of the Glock Marcus left on the dresser. “I say we take out the bitch. Jai Li and I can track her down. I just need one shot.” He made a gun with his thumb and forefinger and aimed it at Marcus.
“We’re discussing the witch now, right?” Marcus surveyed the room and made decisions on what to take with him. He supposed he should pay closer attention. Corey tended to bounce from subject to subject.
“Well yeah, who did you think I was talking about?” Corey bent to look at the shoes lining the closet floor. “Dude, you need to update your wardrobe. You got like three pairs of biker boots, a pair of dress shoes and some trainers. Are you going to take any of these with you?”
Marcus sighed, running a restless hand through his hair. “Hopefully I won’t be there long enough to need them. Evan can bring whatever else I need.”
Corey sat on the edge of the bed. “What about the witch? I owe that bitch for nearly killing me.”
“You heard what Emily told us. The witch has probably figured out a way to cheat death with one of her spells. I don’t want you to confront her alone, do you understand me?”
“This is bullshit,” the younger vampire maintained. “Why doesn’t she just send me to guard the redheaded morsel?”
Marcus threw random clothes into a duffel bag. He spared a glance at Corey. He’d fully healed, and no one would have ever guessed that he’d had a near fatal experience only days ago. The kid was lucky.
“Isabella made up her mind.” He finished by throwing a few choice weapons on top of his clothes. As an afterthought, he grabbed the Glock and its spare clips. He stuffed them into the bag.
“Did she?” Corey made a soured face. “Or did you make it for her? We’re not stupid. We know you’re making most of the decisions now.”
Marcus tucked his cell phone into his jeans pocket and chose to ignore the question. “I’m not going on vacation. I’m going to watch over Emily, not play house.”
“Playing house does sound pretty appealing though, doesn’t it?” Corey touched his shirt, fingering the nipple ring beneath it. He cocked his head, seeming to think of the endless possibilities. “What do you suppose Isabella will want to do with Emily when this is over? She should give her to me to play with.”
Marcus grinned and patted the kid on top of the head. “Down boy, cool your jets.”
“Yeah, but you can’t say the idea didn’t cross your mind too. She doesn’t have much on top, but the gal has legs up to here.” He held his hand up to indicate how long Emily’s legs were.
Marcus stopped in the doorway then cast a stern look at Corey. “If there’s any trouble, don’t hesitate to call. Isabella comes ahead of everything and everyone else.”
Corey followed him into the hallway. He looked like a lost child.
Marcus clapped him on the back. “If I’m unavailable or if something should happen, Jai Li will know what to do. She’ll be in charge until I come back.”
Jai Li moved out of the shadows cloaked around her. Marcus had known she was there. He’d picked up the scent of the light citrus fragrance she wore.
She smoothed fingers down his arm. “Isabella is making a mistake sending you away. I’m not ready to take charge. You realize that, don’t you?”
“Sure you are.” Marcus smiled confidently. It wasn’t like Jai Li had a choice in the matter. If he wasn’t there to keep Isabella in line, someone had to do it. Corey could barely control himself.
Jai Li sighed. “No, Marcus, I’m not.”
“I’ve been given an order. It’s not like I can just ignore it.” Marcus squeezed Jai Li’s shoulder, offering what little comfort he could. “Look, a friend of Isabella’s is sending some of his people to help until we can replenish our numbers. Keep me up to date, will you? I trust their master.”
“But?” Jai Li lifted a brow.
“But I don’t trust a bunch of strangers to look out for Isabella’s best interests. At this point, anyone is susceptible to Starr’s influence. Just keep a close eye on them. And make sure you look after Evan.”
Jai Li opened her mouth in protest, but Marcus cut her off. “You will take over, should something happen to me. Now is a good time to get ready for it. Consider this on the job training.”
Corey looked alarmed. “Shit man, you sound like you don’t expect to make it back!”
He ruffled the kid’s hair. “You never know, do you?”
***
Marcus cut the Corvette’s engine. Streetlights glinted off the hood and lit Emily’s face with neon. He lowered the blindfold and dropped it onto her lap.
Her gaze immediately dropped to his mouth. “What are we doing here? Aren’t you taking me home?”
He didn’t want to stop at the funeral home, but it was on the way. “You have blood here?”
Emily paled. Perhaps she had just remembered she shared space with a monster. “Beau usually keeps some on hand. Why?”
He allowed his gaze to rove over her, making sure she got the point. Corey was right, she did have long legs. “I’ll get hungry eventually and will need something to sustain me. Unless you’re on the menu?”
Her fingers curled around the door handle. He knew—perhaps even before she did—that she would bolt from the car. She’d barely opened the door by the time he was on the sidewalk next to her.
“Let’s not do anything silly, Freckles.”
“Don't call me that.” She shied away from his outstretched hand and hurried up the steps.
He followed her inside.
Beau looked up from the desk in the foyer. His gaze shot from Marcus to Emily, a look of worry on his face. He and Beau were well acquainted, having known each other for about two decades.
Marcus laid a wad of bills on the desk. “Hello, Beau. I'll take all the blood you can spare.”
The look on Emily’s face was priceless. Perhaps Beau had failed to mention he used to be one of Isabella’s enforcers.
Beau gathered the money. “I hear only a few survived the fire. I trust Isabella was unharmed?”
“Yes, it turned out to be an inside job. They got five of our enforcers.”
“That’s a shame,” Beau stuffed the bills into his pocket. “What about your protégé and the Wu twins?’
“Corey is making great strides and Jai Li is awesome as always. The fire claimed Wu.”
Beau sobered when he met Marcus’s gaze. “What about Evan? He got out?”
“Of course. I rescued him first.” Marcus chuckled at Beau’s expression. He looked like he’d swallowed a bug. Maybe he was unsure whether Marcus was kidding or not. He wasn’t.
Beau l
ooked over the wire-frame glasses perched on his nose. “I guess you’ll need replacements?”
“You’re welcome to come back, Beau. I’m sure Isabella would love to see you again, and we could certainly use the help.”
“Thanks, but no. I’m doing fine without all of Isabella’s drama and the ridiculous conspiracy theories.”
Marcus brushed the hair out of his eyes. “Not all of them turned out to be so ridiculous, now did they?” He offered a hopeful smile. “Consider it, will you?”
“I’ll give it some thought. That’s all I can promise.” Beau cast a guilty look in Emily’s direction. Her face radiated the betrayal she felt toward Beau’s omission of the truth. Beau slunk away to prepare the containers of plasma.
“Come on, Freckles, let’s go home.” Marcus smiled at Corey’s desire to play house with her. Isabella had been wise not to send the testosterone driven kid. Maybe he’d invent a few delectable tales to regale him with after this was all over. The idea of all the decadent things he could create almost made him laugh out loud.
A gasp drew his attention to the back of the building. Wren hustled down the hall toward them. She wore a gray dress that looked like an old pillowcase. Strappy shoes, the kind he liked to think of as Jesus-sandals, decorated her feet. He recognized her from the apartments.
“What’s going on? Are you okay, Emily?” Her gaze flew from Emily to him, then back again. “You better not hurt her.”
Did she really think he’d feel threatened by her bravado?
The witch’s eyes radiated fear, though she did her best to look aggressive. “We don’t want any trouble. Why don’t you just leave?”
“Are you going to call Starr as soon as we're out the door?” He forced a smile.
“Not if you leave. Alone.”
“I'll save you the trouble. Tell me where Starr is, and I'll go to her.”
Wren shook her head. “I don't talk to her unless I have to.”
Marcus made a tsking sound.
“You ran to her at the apartments. Looks like the two of you are buddies to me.”
Of A Darker Nature Page 13
