Dead Village

by Holly Copella

  Tyson suddenly looked at Vander. Anger swept over him as he straightened and attempted to control his panting. “What the hell were you shooting at?” he demanded.

  “Didn’t you see it?” Vander exclaimed.

  “See what?” Tyson cried out. “I was too busy ducking for cover and running!”

  Vander replaced his gun to his shoulder holster and looked disgusted.

  “Son-of-a-bitch!” Tyson exploded while rubbing his chest as he breathed heavily. “Give a guy a little warning before you go shooting off your gun like that!”

  “Maybe if you’d shut your mouth for more than thirty seconds--” Vander scoffed.

  Novak stood alongside Devon and looked at both men with surprise. “What’s going on?” he suddenly demanded of his partner. “What were you shooting at?”

  “I saw something in the trees by the hanging bodies,” Vander informed him. “Whatever it was, it looked like it was eating the flesh from the corpses.”

  Tyson suddenly straightened and glared at Vander. “You idiot!” he snapped. “It was probably some wild animal. The woods are full of them!”

  He suddenly glared at Tyson with limited patience. “You’re calling me an idiot?” Vander demanded.

  “That’s enough, Tyson,” Sonya announced sternly. “Don’t make me call Uncle Dino.”

  “Fine,” Tyson snapped then glared at Vander.

  Sonya pulled him past the others toward the hotel.

  Tyson saw Devon as they passed, gave her a quick once over, and grinned lustfully. “Have any plans for this evening, sexy?” he asked.

  Without warning, Novak punched Tyson in the mouth, sending him stumbling backwards and away from Sonya’s grip. Despite his surprise, Tyson quickly recovered and lunged for Novak. They punched each other without provocation. Ravin placed his hands in his pockets and calmly watched the two men fight only a few feet in front of him. Dino appeared from the hotel, saw the men fighting, and ran toward them. Dino and Vander pulled the two men apart. Dino had his arm firmly around Tyson’s neck and pulled him toward the hotel while softly scolding him.

  Vander held Novak back and stared at him with surprise. “What the hell was that?”

  “He came on to my girlfriend,” Novak snapped. “You saw him!”

  Devon stared at Novak with surprise and possible alarm. Had she heard him correctly? She wasn’t sure what was happening, but it would seem Novak had been adversely affected. How was it even possible?

  “Your what?” Vander suddenly demanded, sharing Devon’s confusion.

  “That prick came on to my girlfriend!”

  Vander shook his head with disbelief while staring at Novak. “What the hell are you talking about? She’s not your girlfriend,” he informed him sternly.

  “You’re jealous, admit it,” Novak snorted with annoyance and turned aggressive for no apparent reason. “You want her for yourself, don’t you?”

  Without warning, Novak punched Vander in the face. Vander was momentarily stunned then glared at his friend. Novak immediately took another swing. Vander blocked his punch and struck him. Both men punched each other without cause. Devon looked at Ravin, who casually watched with little reaction as he stood alongside her. It didn’t appear if anyone else intended to step in and break it up. Devon stepped into the fight, grabbed Vander’s arm, and stopped him from swinging. She knew she was taking a huge risk by getting between the two highly trained fighters. Novak held back his punch when he saw Devon in his path.

  Vander immediately relaxed, pulled Devon to his side, and glared at Novak. “Stay the hell away from her,” Vander scoffed and pointed a warning finger at his partner. “She’s my girlfriend and don’t you forget it.”

  Devon looked at Vander with a shocked expression. Novak became enraged and lunged for Vander. Novak was suddenly tackled to the ground by a dark blur, startling everyone. Monica gracefully rolled off Novak and onto her feet.

  “What the hell is wrong with you two?” Monica suddenly demanded while looking at both men. She’d obviously been across the grounds when the fight broke out and saw the entire thing going down.

  Novak sprang to his feet, glared at Monica with hostility, and pointed a warning finger at her then shouted, “This doesn’t concern you, bitch!”

  “Bitch?” Monica growled with a look on her face that immediately frightened Devon.

  Without warning, Monica punched Novak in the face. Novak stumbled back a step while holding his face. He glared at Monica with surprise.

  “Call me bitch again, and you’ll be spitting out teeth,” Monica snarled at him.

  Novak sneered and punched Monica in the face. Devon cried out with horror while placing her hand to her mouth. She couldn’t believe Novak, a federal agent, punched a woman! Monica slowly turned her head and looked at Novak with a slightly psychotic look that alarmed everyone.

  “Okay, now you pissed me off,” Monica snarled lowly.

  Monica spun into a roundhouse kick and knocked Novak back several steps. He regained his balance and karate kicked back at her. The two punched and kicked each other with great skill and precision. Devon and Vander watched with some surprise. Ravin maintained his same, emotionless expression and was unaffected either way. As they watched the two kick and punch each other, Vander took Devon’s hand in his. She was oblivious to him holding her hand and concentrated on the ensuing fight. She couldn’t believe no one was willing to break it up, and she knew she wasn’t getting between the two. More importantly, she couldn’t believe Monica was holding her own! Vander casually placed Devon’s hand to his crotch. Devon suddenly looked at him with surprise and pulled her hand away. Novak finally collapsed to the ground in near exhaustion and slowly moved to his knees. He looked up at Monica while breathing heavily. Monica glared down at him and raised a cocky brow as if waiting for either an apology or an announcement of submission. Despite Novak’s exhaustion, Monica wasn’t nearly as winded.

  Novak stared up at her and grinned. “You are so hot.”

  Monica sneered and punched him across the face. Novak hit the ground and was down for the count.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Ravin calmly stood over Novak, who sat in an oversized lobby chair while holding an ice pack to his mouth. Monica had nailed him good, and the large bruise on his face supported her fighting skills were superior to his. Vander paced near them and watched Devon while she talked to Monica at the other end of the lobby. He resembled a predator stalking its prey, never once taking his eyes off Devon. Novak lowered his ice pack and watched the women as well, seemingly sharing Vander’s expression. They were both suddenly mutts in heat, and it wasn’t going to end well for either if they acted upon that instinct.

  “I don’t know what they’re saying, but it’s really turning me on,” Novak muttered softly.

  Ravin followed Novak’s stare to Monica across the room. He seemed mildly disinterested and looked back at him. “You may want to keep those thoughts to yourself,” he remarked casually then indicated Monica with a slight nod. “That one will undoubtedly kill you.”

  “Hmm, feisty and sexy,” Novak said while groaning lustfully without taking his eyes off her.

  Just across the lobby, Monica stared at Devon with a look of surprise on her face as her mouth hung open. “Are they all hallucinating?”

  “Hallucinating and wild mood swings too,” Devon informed her. “Novak freaked out early this morning, but Vander didn’t start acting strange until they returned from their little expedition.” Devon remained tense and glanced at the three men across the lobby. The way they stared back chilled her. She looked back at Monica while insecurely rubbing her arms. “Since you and Trent weren’t affected, it has to be something in the hotel,” she insisted. “Something they’ve ingested recently.”

  “I don’t understand,” Monica announced. “If it’s something they’ve ingested within the hotel, why haven’t you been affected? Haven’t you been drinking the same stuff?”

  Devon frowned and carefully c
onsidered how to respond to the question. She came up with an acceptable version of the truth that didn’t make her sound completely insane. “Drugs and alcohol don’t really affect me. I’ve always been that way,” she replied. “It’s difficult to explain.”

  “That must blow,” Monica muttered. She glanced across the lobby to the three men who watched them intensely. “Jesus, why do I feel like they’re sizing us up for dinner?”

  “Lust seems to be a major symptom among all of them,” Devon remarked lowly. “And I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not just the men. Gemma, Sonya, and Felicia are all showing signs of sexual aggression.” She then considered the comment. “Darlene didn’t seem to be affected.”

  “Great, it’s boot camp all over again,” Monica retorted then assessed the situation while studying the three men. She finally looked back at Devon. “If one of them will let me examine and question them, I might be able to tell what drug we’re dealing with and isolate it.”

  “I’m going to recommend you keep a safe distance from Agent Delano right now,” Devon informed her in a serious tone. “He obviously has eyes for you, and I wouldn’t doubt his hands will soon follow.”

  “Yeah? Well, I have fists for him,” Monica muttered and cracked her knuckles.

  “Exactly why you should avoid him,” she replied then gently cleared her throat. “I’d prefer it if you didn’t kill a federal agent while we’re stuck here.” Devon studied Ravin from across the lobby. “Ravin’s been completely rational and hasn’t shown any signs of aggression. He’s definitely been affected, but he’s kept it under control. Well, except when he gets together with Gemma. Then it’s wild kingdom. I don’t even want to imagine what those two do behind closed doors.”

  Monica seemed surprised and raised her brows in question. “That meek guy?”

  “Oh, yeah,” Devon replied. “I heard he’s a stud muffin. Of course, that is coming from a woman seemingly flying high on ecstasy.”

  “It’s always the quiet ones,” Monica remarked and shook her head. “He’s probably into whips and chains.”

  “Hmm, somehow I don’t think so,” Devon casually replied. “I think he’s your safest bet.”

  “I’ll trust your judgment. We should see if the hotel has an infirmary or nurse’s office,” Monica informed her. “It’ll have everything I need to examine him. Maybe I can figure out what we’re dealing with.”

  †

  Ravin sat in the chair before the desk in the infirmary. He had a digital thermometer in his mouth. Monica scanned his eyes for pupillary responses with a penlight she’d found. She removed the thermometer and asked him a series of questions relating to how he felt. She then proceeded to take his blood pressure. Vander stood casually in the doorway and keep close watch over Devon, who assisted Monica. Devon knew he was watching her, making her uncomfortable, but she refused to look at him to avoid any further issues. Monica’s line of questioning must have peaked Vander’s curiosity, focusing his attention on her instead.

  “If it’s something in the hotel, why haven’t the rest of us been affected?” Vander asked simply.

  Devon and Monica exchanged looks. He really had no clue to his own behavior. Devon couldn’t believe how quickly Vander had transformed. Although he seemed fine at the moment, she was convinced it wouldn’t take much to wind him up. Monica finished her exam of her exceptionally cooperative patient.

  “Will I live?” Ravin teased.

  “If you don’t piss off your girlfriend again, I think you’ll survive,” Monica replied and indicated the healing scratches he’d received.

  Ravin insecurely touched the scratches on his neck and cringed slightly. “She thought I’d turned into a zombie. I’m sure it was my fault,” he insisted. “I should probably work on my tan this summer.”

  Monica stared at him with surprise and raised her brows. “You’re a keeper,” she replied then looked at Devon. “I can’t be positive, but my guess is LSD.” Monica then grinned at Ravin. “Enjoy your trip.”

  He appeared surprised while staring at her. “That causes hallucinations,” Ravin announced then sank into thought. “That certainly would explain most of what’s happening around here, but how was it introduced? After the others were poisoned, we were very careful about what we ate and drank. We even stopped drinking the tap water.”

  “You could be tripping up to ten hours on a single dose,” Monica informed him, “but with your symptoms; I’m guessing you’ve been exposed to the drug recently and often.”

  “Recently and often?” Ravin gasped with surprise. “The only thing I’ve had in the last twenty-four hours is bottled water, canned fruit, and wine. There are hundreds of bottles in the wine cellar. It sounds improbable.”

  “So it’s probably not the wine,” Monica replied. “Someone could have soaked the tops of unopened water bottles in the drug. Enough of it would seep through to the mouthpiece to cause mild exposure.” She casually stood then sank into thought. “Continued use would easily cause what we’re seeing here.”

  “We’ve all been drinking the bottled water,” Ravin informed her with skepticism. “I don’t see how that would benefit the perpetrator.”

  “I’m sure whoever is responsible has their own, untainted supply,” Vander informed him and straightened. “I drank the water, and I’m fine.”

  Devon and Monica eyed Vander with surprise and again exchanged looks. Monica shook her head and attempted to hide her mocking grin.

  “We should boil the water bottles,” Monica suggested. “It’ll sterilize them and dissolve the drugs.”

  “There are some in the refrigerator and several cases in the pantry,” Ravin informed her.

  “We can drink wine in the meantime,” Monica announced. “Obviously, if the bottles are dusty, we know they haven’t been tampered with.”

  “So in ten hours, everyone should be back to normal?” Devon asked.

  “More or less,” Monica replied. “Why don’t you go with Ravin and get some wine. Agent Hawk and I will start boiling the water bottles.”

  Vander glanced lustfully over Devon then looked at Monica. “Or you could go with Ravin to the wine cellar, and I’ll go with Devon.”

  Monica glared her disapproval at Vander and folded her arms across her chest. “Or I could kick you in the nuts, and we can call it a day.”

  Vander frowned.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Ravin stood before one of the racks within the wine cellar and handed Devon dusty bottles of wine. She placed them into a crate on the floor by her feet. The crate was nearly filled with a dozen bottles of wine. He suddenly stopped and stared blankly at the bottle in his hand. Devon glanced at him and wondered what world he was slipping into now. She could tell he was conflicted, but she wasn’t getting a clear vibe from him.

  “I’m going to lose her, aren’t I?” Ravin said softly.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Gemma,” he faintly replied. “I’m going to lose her once the drugs wear off.” He frowned and shook his head. “Somewhere deep down, I knew she was never really mine.”

  “You don’t know what will happen, Ravin,” Devon said gently. “Monica thinks the drugs enhance whatever emotions you’re already feeling. There’s no guarantee you’ll lose her.”

  “It’s not just the mind-blowing sex I’ll miss, you know,” he announced with conviction. “I feel as if we’ve been together forever.” Ravin glanced at her and seemed curious. “Will I remember feeling that? Or will it all go away too?”

  “I wish I could answer that,” Devon replied. She felt bad for Ravin. He already seemed burdened with losing the young woman he hadn’t even lost yet. “The drugs seem to overstimulate sexual responses. The men seem to be hit particularly hard by the drug’s effects.”

  “Well, that would explain your three new boyfriends,” he announced and managed a soft laugh. He seemed particularly amused. “It’s pretty sad that men can be reduced to steaming piles of testosterone.” Ravin handed Devon the bottle and
pulled out another. There was a strange silence. “Are you sure it’s drugs?” Ravin looked at her and appeared curious. “I mean, you’re obviously an attractive woman, but I don’t feel the need to hump you like a mutt in heat. If it was drugs, shouldn’t I be all over you as well? That has to mean something, don’t you think?”

  “Maybe,” she replied and gave him a curious look. “Were you attracted to Gemma before?”

  “Of course,” Ravin replied without hesitation then smiled dreamily. “Did I ever tell you about my first date with Gemma? It was late last summer. We had a romantic, sunset picnic on the beach--”

  Devon muttered, “And another lucid moment passes.”

  †

  Devon and Ravin walked along the grand hallway after their side trip to the kitchen to deposit the case of wine. Ravin had been particularly quiet after a longwinded story of graphic sex with Gemma on their non-existent picnic last summer. Even without any psychic abilities, those images were going to be stuck in her mind a long time. On the bright side, it sounded like Gemma was in capable hands. Ravin portrayed himself to be quite the proficient lover. As they walked along the hall, they saw the dining room door standing open, catching their attention. They exchanged bewildered looks.

  “Wasn’t that locked?” Devon asked.

  “Yes,” he replied with added concern. “I locked it myself after your friends did their investigation.”

  They cautiously approached the open doors and looked inside. Ravin and Devon slowly entered the dining room. The dead, decaying bodies were repositioned neatly in the chairs before the tables. They looked almost natural, sending concern through both. Devon was especially chilled by the freaky scene. When one of the corpses moved, Devon jumped with a horrified gasp. Ravin was immediately alerted to her observation. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was Felicia and not one of the corpses. Felicia sat at one of the tables while conversing with a dead, decaying woman slumped over the table.