by Amanda Rose
Swift and final justice.
“Hannah go inside right now.” My whole body is shaking. She scrunches her eyebrows in confusion and looks behind her. “Just fucking do it!” Something about my panic spurs her into action. She gets up and quickly and goes inside locking the door behind her. I climb out of bed.
“Sera, what is going on? You're scaring me.” I ignore her and give my guardians a what now look. Krim takes the phone from my hand.
“Get the salt out of your kitchen cabinets then go to the big ground floor bathroom. Run a bath and get in the water but don't take your clothes off. Pour line of salt on the rim of the bathtub. Unless the house is on fire don't leave that circle for anyone except Sera.” Krim hands the phone back to me.
“I don't–” She begins but I cut her off.
“Please … I'll explain everything I promise.” She looks like she wants to argue but she nods her head. Thank goodness she's going to listen. I remind her to keep her phone with her then hang up.
“Salt will stop Marionette herself, but I'm scared she'll smoke her out.” Krim says his voice is hollow and cruel.
“This is a trap. A way to get to Sera before she's protected.” Sebastian says ever practical. Before he can finish I'm shaking my head no.
“I don't care. She's my friend and I refuse to do nothing. If any of you stop me and she dies I will never forgive you.” He nods his head like he expected this answer but was disappointed by it.
“I guess the only question now is do we drive or fly?” Zan
“Fly?”
“I'm Zandor Red the master of transformation. I can shift everyone into birds and we can fly. We could be there on like fifteen minutes.” he pauses for a moment like he is thinking. “But it will take a lot of energy and we'll be tired when we arrive. If we drive, we use the median to speed past traffic we'll get there about ten minutes later, but we won't be nearly as tired. And if there are cops I will just hide us with a glamour.”
As much as I want to become bird and fly –who doesn't– I'll do no one any good if I'm too exhausted to fight. So, I choose the more practical choice. After all it was less than twenty-four hours since I had a dream that predicted my own death.
“Let’s drive.”
#
If I hadn't been sick with worry about Hannah the ride to her house would have been a ton of fun. It was like something out of an action movie and Samuel Baron really was one hell of a driver weaving between cars at a hundred miles an hour.
I send out a silent prayer to newly found friend. Please be okay. Sam pulls the impala to a screeching halt in front of her house. We all hop out of the car tense and ready to fight. I have my back pack slung over my shoulders inside it are bags with salt and brick dust and the mojo bags I made with Bastian. Sam is wearing his trench coat and top hat and the silver skull cane is clutched in his tattooed hand. Krim has his messenger bag slung across his chest that quiet scary rage that is almost palpable. Bas truly looks like an earth spirit in nothing but a pair of loose linen pants. Zandor doesn't stay in human form for long giving me a big wink then shifts back into a cat. The five of us head towards her front door.
I smell the smoke before I see flames wicking out the windows.
“Fuck.” Sam curses and my heart drops.
“Are we too late?” I ask suddenly feeling sick. They don't get a chance to answer though. An ear-piercing scream breaks the peace of the lazy afternoon. I glance across the street at George Washington High nothing seems out of the ordinary but, at that moment a series of howls ring around the entire school. Werewolves. Lots of them.
As soon as the thought hits me more than twenty half-man half-wolf monstrosities run from around the building, out the door and leap effortlessly from the roof. Drool drips from between their razor-sharp teeth it is a nasty sight to see. The dark might scare a lot of people, but these nasty fuckers are a hell of a lot grosser in the bright light of the sun. They don't rush us instead they stay close to the front doors red eyes locked on watching our every move. They're guarding the doors. An exceptionally large rougarou steps from the pack and throws a head back and letting out a short sharp bark. I don't have to speak werewolf to know what that means. Over here. He's calling more freaking werewolves as if there weren't enough already.
Hannah could be in there. I think trying to ignore the nagging little voice that says in all likelihood Hannah is already dead because of me, of my friendship. I won't give up until I know for sure.
Before I think too hard about it I bite my tongue and reaching up putting my hand on the back of Sam's tattooed neck pulling his face down to mine and shoving my tongue down his throat, bracing myself for the weariness that comes with feeding them my magic. He growls with approval at the kiss pulling me tight against his chest.
“Kill them all before more get here.” I tell Sam, talking about the werewolves.
“My pleasure, gorgeous.” Sam takes off in the direction of the school a big smile on his face. As soon as Sam starts moving I grab Krim putting a hand on either side of his face meeting his cold grey gaze.
“Find Marionette and make her pay.” I press my lips to his, but he quickly takes control of the kiss sliding his tongue between my lips.
“Done. But this one isn't just for you your Majesty. This one is for me.” Krim starts walking slowly towards the school. “Marionette DeCheque, you have wronged the innocent, and your punishment has finally arrived” His voice booms inhumanly loud around the massive property. He's hunting, trying to scare her out of hiding. The look on his face is so much darker than I'm used to. Vacant, cruel, lethal. I would never want to be on the receiving end of that look.
I look at Zandor and Sebastian.
“Stay close to me. I really, really don't want to die today.” I say as I run across the street towards the administrative offices past Samuel who was battling the pack of rougarou. I need to find Hannah but first I have to get rid of all the innocent students and teachers that are still here. My first day I noticed a fire alarm on the wall not too far from the main entrance. If I set it off hopefully most of the remaining people will make their way down to the football field. There aren't many kids in the deserted halls at this time but if there are a bunch of werewolves and a powerful voodoo sorceress I need to do what I can to reduce casualties.
The shrill ring of the alarm echoes around the empty hallway. I take a deep breath. I have no idea what to do next, how to go about finding Hannah in a building this large. Picking at random I take the left hallway. The three of us only make it half a dozen steps when a voice like nothing I've ever heard says my name.
“Serefine Laveau.” the voice hisses chilling me to the core. There is nothing human in the sound. It sort of sounds like a cross between the basilisk from harry potter and what one would think the grim reaper would likely sound like, not an ounce of warmth or life. Crazy as it might sound I run toward the voice.
Rounding the corner, I see an almost worst-case scenario. There are five wolves between me and my friends. And behind them is the harpy queen.
Both Hannah and Scott are kneeling bound and gagged at the feet of Marionette DeCheque. I might have never actually seen the harpy queen before, but I seriously doubt there is anyone else it could be. She was enormous the size of a horse, with the body of a vulture that fades into the head and shoulders of a woman … if you could call it that. Her wings are tipped with grotesque knobby hands. Grey skin is stretched taught over thin shoulders and gaunt features. Silken ruby locks the same color as her feathers hang halfway down her back only emphasize the horror of her alien features. Her face is boney almost skeletal, with sunken cheeks, a thin pointy nose and thin lips pulled back in an evil grin flash pointed teeth. The look in her pale blue eyes is something I won't forget till the day I die. I've played lots of video games with harpies, but none were nearly as scary as this chick. The only positive is at this point is they're are both still conscious and alive. Marionette tapped the clawed tip of a spindly finger to her lips lik
e she is coming up with some cruel game.
“How much does the new Laveau actually care for her friends.” she says with a dark chuckle. The sound of her voice is as unpleasant as nails on a chalkboard. “Call off your dogs and trade your life for theirs.”
The urge to sacrifice myself for them is overwhelming but I'm no fool Marionette is a bad guy and bad guys never keep their end of the bargain. If I did what she asked she would just kill all three of us. I glance down at Zandor's tiny black form silently telling him to get ready to fight.
“Don't make up your mind so fast little girl.” she says a split second before she grabs Scott's hair yanking his head back and slicing his throat with one of her razor-sharp claws. Blood gushes down the front of his body. Hannah starts screaming from behind her gag and tears are streaming down her face.
No! My eyes go wide.
I don't hesitate to take off down the hall toward the monsters trusting my guardians to protect me. Zan runs ahead taking a leap midair he effortlessly shifts from a tiny house black cat to massive lion with a golden mane closing the distance in the blink of an eye. Zan clashes with the first of the rougarou with a roar. Faster. I silently urge myself forward. I know it only takes a couple of seconds to run the relatively short distance, but it feels like ages. Marionette gives me a sickening grin as she reaches for Hannah.
Out of nowhere a dark shape slams into from the side. It's Krim. She slams into a bank of lockers so hard they crumple in the impact. It's like a car crash it's so violent.
The werewolves scatter for a moment startled by the sudden explosion. Now’s my chance.
They recover fast though and the one nearest sees me making my way down the hall bunching its muscles to strike. A sword slices through its neck. The creatures head drops to the ground with a splat. It's Samuel Baron covered head to buckled boot in blood. Did he really kill all those wolves already? If Sam hadn't been there I might be dead right now. I might be the new Laveau but unlike my voodoo knights I am only human.
Even though it only takes seconds by the time I reach my friends Scott is slumped barely conscious in a pool of his own blood. I ignore the fight happening around me.
“Get Scott.” I yell at Bas and gesture to the nearest open class room that lines the hall. It's only a couple of yards from where we are. Ever calm he doesn't hesitate to scoop up my friend like he weighs nothing. I'm not strong enough to carry Hannah so I grab her by the fabric of her shirt and drag her towards the door. Guilt washes over me when I drag her directly through the massive pool of his blood. As soon as I get us inside I let her go kicking the door shut just in time to stop one of the remaining werewolves. I don't waste time untying her because I need to get to Scott. He is dying, and every second is precious.
Bastian kicks several desks out of the way laying Scott on the floor and kneels besides him putting his big hands over the wound. It's clear Scott is no longer conscious and has only seconds to live. We need to do something now. I drop down on his other side. I rip off my backpack then my shirt using the fabric to staunch the bleeding. The white fabric turns red almost instantaneously.
“Save him” I plead with Bastian. “Whatever it takes.” Tears are running down my face.
“I don't know if I can.” He replies.
“Bastian please. He can't die because of me.” I sob putting my hands on his. He clenches his jaw and nods. I lean forward over Scott and press my lips to his. The effect is instantaneous. Bas has to pull so mush magic so fast a splitting migraine starts, and I can't see straight. But I can feel the skin on Scotts neck knitting together under our hands. This gives me the strength to stay conscious and upright. After about a minute Sebastian breaks the kiss and give me nod. Oh thank god he's gonna make it. My moment of joy only lasts an instant because I know any second now another big bad could break down that door and murder us all and I'm too tapped out to do much about it.
“I'm gonna get Hannah over here and make a circle.” I tell Sebastian.
I grab my backpack and I crawl over to her because I'm not sure my legs have the strength to stand. Crawling the short distance has me panting with exhaustion, but I need to get both her and Scott to safety.
Opening my bag, I dig around for a second before pulling out my pocket knife. I saw at her bindings on her hands first and then her legs. She tears the gag off with a cough.
“Scott?” she asks hesitantly like she is afraid of what I'm going to say. Her hair is clinging to the damp skin of her face and her eyes are puffy from crying.
“I think he's gonna be okay.”
“Thank y–” Her eyes get wide and she stops talking at the same moment I feel something ice cold brush my arm. The brief touch leaches out most of my remaining energy with a painful jolt.
I lunge for my backpack and grab it by the handle swinging it wide and hitting whoever or whatever is behind me throwing it off balance just long enough for me to throw myself several feet to the left. I land so hard on my back that I see stars and the wind gets knocked out of me.
I can't stand up heck I can barely move. The whole room is spinning so fast I can only make out the vague outline of a man coming towards me. My vision tunnels and white spots dance in my obscure my view. This is it. I'm going to die. I send one last prayer to the universe. Let Scott and Hannah be okay.
My eyesight clears at the figure reaches for me and I hold up my canvas backpack in a pathetic attempt to shield myself. I lay there about to die, and I am struck by how similar my attacker and Sam look.
“Crosser Lacroix.” The words come out so quiet they are barely more than a breath.
The classroom door bursts open, and Samuel Baron is standing in the doorway surrounded by the corpses of werewolves dripping from head to toe in blood. And behind him Kriminal Lacoste slides his hand into the harpy queen’s chest. I expect him to rip out her heart –too many video games I guess – but he pulls out her spirit or soul or whatever you want to call it and her body drops to the ground. With the other hand he opens up the red messenger bag. The ghost of Marionette begins wailing a banshee esque screech and Krim forces it inside before snapping the bag closed. Sam lunges for his brother at the same moment Crosser lunges for me.
I have no idea what happens next because the room explodes sending Crosser, Sam and me all flying. There is so much force I get picked up thrown through several desks and crack my head against the wall with an audible thud. After that I don't know what happens because I pass out for the zillionth time since moving to Louisiana.
I remember very little of the next few days, but every time I come to one or more of my voodoo knights is by my side caring for me, nursing me back to health.
When I come too for first time since almost dying it's dark out and Samuel Baron is in the bed next to me. When I try to sit up he wraps the hard bands of his arms around me and pulls my back against his chest tucking my head under his chin. His massive body is wrapped around me protectively and my hips are cradled in his. The rich scent of tobacco and cloves is everywhere. Without meaning to I snuggle my hips closer closing my eyes and breath in his masculine scent.
“Mmm. Do I smell good, beautiful?” He coos in my ear. This shocks me awake. I have never done this kind of thing with anyone before, been spooned by someone, especially not smoking hot voodoo sex gods.
“Is everyone okay?” I ask ignoring both his comment and my racing heart.
“If you mean your friends they are fine. They are downstairs with the others right now.” He flicks his tongue against the lobe of my ear. I gasp and arch my back. Sam takes this as an invitation sliding his palm to my hip and pulling my hips tight against his pelvis. I can feel the hardness of his erection through his pants. My whole body flushes hot and my pussy clenches in appreciation. A thought hits me all of a sudden. I almost died … a virgin. How lame is that.
“Oh, good.” I reply lamely. There is something about my voodoo guardians beyond being drop dead gorgeous that gets me all flustered. Sam grinds his erection against me and wetness b
looms between my thighs. There are a thousand reasons why I shouldn't have sex with Samuel Baron, but I don't care about any of them. The unbearable craving to feel him inside of me is so strong it obliterates any rational thought.
Sam adjusts himself, gently turning me onto my back and rolling between my thighs. Sam hovers above me slowly, purposefully letting his purple eyes rake their way down my body. He holds himself up with one tattooed arm while the other pushes up the thin fabric of the cami I am wearing exposing the plump swell of my aching breasts. My nipples pebble. He slides his palm of his hand along my exposed stomach from my hip along my bare waist. Sam palms my breast, gently squeezing and kneading the soft mound. I moan in approval and he gives me a dirty smile before sealing his lips over mine.
The kiss is a brief brush of lips that leaves me aching for more. Gracefully Samual kisses his way down my quivering body. He stops the slow decent briefly to lick and tease the hard peaks of my nipples, gently grazing them with his teeth. Skillfully he slides his inked fingers underneath the waistband of my both my pants and my panties expertly pulling the off and tossing them aside. His hands drop to my knees and my legs spread wide. I can barely breath laying there open and ready. I suddenly feel nervous laying there far more exposed than I have ever been.
My aching cunt is soaked before he ever lays a finger on it. As he works the hardened nub of my clitoris with masterful fingers he groans appreciatively. These wild, hungry … male sounds deep in his throat. And I love it. When my desire has almost reached a crescendo he pauses taking his hand away. Pushing the fabric of his sweats down he settles between my thighs and looks down at me.
“Are you sure you're ready, Serefine Laveau.” He asks making no move to enter me. And the sound of my name in that sexy debonair voice of his while he is above me is one of the sexiest things I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing.
