“How could I forget? They were my first vampiric kills,” Sabrina said with a note of sadness. Before those men broke into the penthouse apartment, she had never fed from a live donor, much less killed anyone. Her clean slate went from zero to six in a matter of minutes. Part of her knew she did it to defend her home. The other part felt guilty.
“They used public funds to pay for the hit. Internal affairs tracked some of the money they paid us to the same fund. It seems the police chief and a politician’s disappearance didn’t go unnoticed,” Brandon explained.
“I’d say that made them pretty high-profile,” Winston added. “It’d be hard to make that big a problem go away completely.”
“We used magic to cover our tracks. Someone went to a lot of trouble to make sure things came out in the open. This isn’t just a random investigation. Someone wants us found,” Brandon said and shoved his phone back in his pocket.
“What are we going to do? Do we have to go back to Atlanta?” Sabrina hoped the answer was no. She wanted more time away from Brandon’s work as the underworld’s vampire kingpin.
“No, we’re staying here and carrying on with business as usual. Hadrian thinks running home sets off more alarm bells. He said those two were most likely sent to locate and wiretap the store. The magic kept them out previously. Now, we’ll have to have the place warded the way we do our apartment building back home and your meadow house here,” he replied.
Winston snapped his fingers. “Now that I can do,” he said, seemingly happy to have an excuse to do magic, and disappeared.
“I don’t understand. If magic covered up all traces of the missing men, someone who knew about it had to have used more magic to break the spells and wards. Who would do such a thing?” Sabrina felt like a huge target must reside somewhere on her back. The uneasy feeling threatened to wake her inner lioness. The pendant flashed with heat and light in response.
Winston reappeared with a pop. “We’ve got another problem,” he said with a serious look on his face. “Those two guys are still in the SUV where I put them, only now they’re dead.”
Chapter 2
“What do you mean, they’re dead?” Sabrina asked. A throb started inside her head. The lioness stirred. “Did you kill them?” The necklace grew warm against her skin. The light radiating from it grew brighter.
“No, of course not. Why would I leave them there like that, knowing someone walking down the street might see them?” Winston seemed insulted, not because she asked but because she thought him careless.
“Sorry,” she apologized. “I don’t understand any of this. Until last year, this was the safest place on the planet to live. The coven here has thrived for several centuries. Now, I’ve got dead guys down the block shortly after having made my presence known to the townsfolk. Eleanor’s gone, and I haven’t figured out how to explain that one yet. I’ve got a vampire husband and fangs, but I still do magic and my heart tries to beat on occasion. What am I supposed to tell them? Oh, and by the way, all that and I have half demons working the store. I can see the local coven being thrilled with that tidbit of news.”
Sabrina picked up a large, glass paperweight with a rose inside off the closest counter and hurled it into a display case. Rage seethed through her. The lioness paced in her mind, growling and huffing. She wanted to scream and tear her way through something, anything, as long as she could destroy it. Her reaction seemed over the top, even to her. She drew in a heavy, ragged breath and let it out slowly, hoping to get better control of herself.
Brandon stepped in front of her. He grabbed her and pulled her in for a tight hug, coiling his muscular arms around her like a python.
She broke down and started crying. “Why, damn it, why?” She buried her face in his chest.
“Let’s get this taken care of and get you home,” Brandon said. “Winston, if you don’t mind, make sure nothing about the SUV leads to here. I think you know where Sabrina’s house is. Go there when you’re done. Alert your sisters, but tell them we are working tomorrow as planned.”
“Sure. Anything else?” His voice sounded light, almost cheerful. He sounded no more put out than if he had been asked to pick up ice cream on the way home from the store.
“Not just this minute, but thanks,” Brandon replied.
Winston waved good-bye with a cheerful, toothy smile and faded from sight.
Brandon pried Sabrina loose from his body. Without bothering to wipe away the mess her tears made on his light-blue, silk shirt, he leaned down eye level with her. “This has nothing to do with you. I don’t want you to blame yourself. Understand? Those two men were doing their job without all the information. Nobody who knew about us would have dared to send humans to deal with supernaturals. Whoever undid the spells didn’t do anything more than break the magical seal,” he said firmly. Pulling her in for a side hug, he maneuvered them toward the door. He stopped. “When we leave, go straight to the car. Don’t look for the SUV or for Winston. Don’t look back at the shop, either.”
He opened the door.
Sabrina half expected to find someone on the other side waiting for them. Nothing happened. The lioness paced, demanding her freedom. She laid her hand over the pendant as it flashed with power in time with her would-be heartbeat. It took a great deal of restraint not to run to the car.
Brandon paused on the sidewalk only long enough to lock the shop doors and to find the car’s wireless fob. He handed her the fob, freeing his hands, and started walking. His eyes darted slightly to the left and the right.
Once they reached the car, he took the fob and said in a light tone, slightly louder than normal, “Sweetheart, you’ve had enough for one day. Let me drive.” He pointed the fob at the black BMW and hit the button.
The doors unlocked with a chirp, and she hopped in, buckling her seat belt as quickly as possible. If someone was following them, she needed to prepare for a chase. Previous experiences taught her to expect anything. Being married to the kingpin of the Atlanta criminal underworld came with a certain amount of risk, but then again, so did being married to Midnight’s Jewel. She chuckled to herself at the thought.
Brandon did not know what he was getting himself into by taking in Aunt Eleanor’s ward. He thought she possessed a valuable object of considerable power and worth. When Hadrian, the emperor of all vampires and former ruler of the Roman empire, ordered him to get the jewel from Sabrina at any cost, no one knew she was the jewel or his daughter.
Now, not only was she Midnight’s Jewel but the designated keeper of the Jewel of Darkness. The large, dark stone hanging around her neck possessed a blending of celestial magic and demonic power. Being half-vampire and half–celestial goddess gave Sabrina the unique ability to blend and wield both types of magic. When Delilah, a demoness, placed a protective spell on the necklace to act as a charm, the dark, earthbound magic blended with the magic bestowed by Aunt Eleanor in the gem. Sabrina’s call on the universe to help protect herself blended everything in a way that created a new magical object—the Jewel of Darkness.
The dark stone responded to her emotions and wishes. Dark rainbows and hazy shadows surrounded her, waiting for her to use them. Most of the time, the stone sat quietly on her skin. Fear kept Sabrina from testing the stone’s full range of capabilities. The last time she tried by calling a simple rock from the creek bed. Instead, a large boulder ripped itself from the opposing bank and nearly landed on her. Since then, she had been wary of allowing the power to take control in times of emotional distress.
Brandon opened his door, sat down, and cranked the car in a single, smooth movement. He hit the gas and sped through town. Running through several intersections without slowing, he took the hard left to hit the old country back roads.
Sabrina’s knuckles turned white as she clenched her fists. “Taking the long way home, are we?” Her voice shook slightly. She focused on not creating a protective bubble around them that might block Brandon’s ability to see the road.
“I don’t th
ink we’re being followed, and I don’t think anyone else was watching,” he said, slowing the car down to a more reasonable rate for the narrow dirt roads.
“Then why are you trying to set the land speed record?” Sabrina asked, a little confused. “I thought the idea was to not attract attention to ourselves. You know, that little thing about not tipping anyone off that we’re on to them.”
“Read this,” he said, tossing his cell phone at her.
She opened the most recent text in the list.
It read, Get home as fast as you can. I’ll be waiting. Hadrian.
“That’s a little mysterious and vague,” Sabrina commented and turned off the phone.
“That’s code for ‘something’s up.’ It’s a call to rally,” Brandon said, checking his mirrors. “I think someone has picked up our trail. I see wisps of dust boiling up behind us where it should settle down.”
Sabrina turned completely around. In the distance, she saw fresh dust kick up as if someone driving too fast for a dirt road were behind them. “I don’t see any headlights. It’s after 1:00 a.m. They’re not using headlights. Are they crazy?”
“Not if they have night vision,” Brandon answered.
Just as he finished speaking, another black SUV rounded the curve. Sabrina heard the large engine rev up in the straightaway. They looked as though they might try to ram the car.
Sabrina panicked. Her inner lioness took a metaphorical swipe at their pursuers. The stone flashed brightly and sent dark rainbows and a swirl of hazy shadows toward the SUV. She watched in horror as the chasing vehicle slammed into the wall of magic.
The front crushed inward the same way it would have if the magic had been concrete. Dark, tinted glass exploded in every direction. The sound of twisting metal ground in her ears.
“Night above! What have I done?” Sabrina said in shock, still staring at the wreckage behind them. She lost sight of the pile of metal as they rounded the next curve.
“Saved our asses, that’s what,” Brandon replied.
Sabrina turned around and sat down. Her fangs dug painfully into her lower lip. The lioness settled down in her mind and licked a paw with satisfaction. The big cat sent a wave of soothing calm through her body. She closed her eyes and tried not to think.
The other SUV caught up to them. The headlights flashed on suddenly, filling the dark car with blinding light. Immediately, it whipped around to pull up alongside Brandon.
Brandon hit the button to roll down the window, reached inside his jacket, and pulled out a small handgun. He grabbed Sabrina’s wrist and placed her hand on the steering wheel. He shouted, “Hold us steady!”
Sabrina gave a shrill cry and gripped the wheel tight, making sure not to take her eyes off of the road. Dust boiled around them, choking her somewhat as it poured in through the open window.
Just as the SUV made a move to sideswipe them, Brandon shot the front tire and slammed on the brakes. He managed to get off another round in the rear tire as the SUV overshot them.
The large, black vehicle swerved a few times from one side of the road to the other before rolling down a steep, unguarded embankment. The horn blared nonstop.
Brandon looked over at Sabrina. “You can let go of the wheel now. I’ve got this,” he said calmly.
Fat tears rolled down Sabrina’s face. She let go of the wheel and sat in her seat crying. “I want to go home,” she whispered.
Brandon wiped her cheek and smiled gently. “Okay,” he replied and floored the gas.
In no time, the BMW turned into the long driveway leading to Sabrina’s childhood home. After a few minutes of winding woods, the trees gave way to a wide meadow. Sitting on the back side near the far tree line was a simple, white farmhouse. The full moon bathed the entire meadow in a silvery light, making the house practically glow like a beacon against the black forest.
Sabrina’s throat tightened when she noticed her father’s car sitting in the round circular drive. The dark-blue Mercedes sat in the shadow of a tall, long-leaf pine. She smiled, but knew how annoyed he would be to find all the difficult-to-clean sap on his shiny paint.
Brandon pulled around the side of the house and parked in the old barn.
He leaned over and kissed Sabrina on the cheek. “If your father wasn’t waiting on us, I’d put this barn to good use,” he whispered in her ear.
She felt her cheeks grow hot. That alarmed her. Her cheeks only burned when she overfed from a living donor. Her evening meal consisted of a warmed donation bag several hours ago. Placing her hands on her cheeks, she felt the cold flesh beneath her palms. No heat meant not enough blood to cause a blush.
Oh hell, what now?Is it a phantom blush, like a phantom pain?
She took a deep breath and got out of the car. Without waiting for Brandon, she hurried up the steps to the back porch. She held open the screen door with one hand and gave the ancient knob a firm twist.
The dark kitchen blazed to life with a flick of the switch.
“Mea Dulcis, you really should lock your doors,” Hadrian said with a hint of disapproval.
Her father stood leaning against the heavily painted doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest. A pair of dark blue-jeans, a white V-neck tee, and a pair of running shoes replaced his customary suit. This made his once-olive skin seem paler than usual. Large, muscular arms and very square shoulders stretched the sleeves. A ponytail of blue-black hair curled around his neck and hung down his chest. The curly, black beard looked neat but seemed to accentuate his slightly crooked nose. He gave her a wide smile, showing his long fangs.
Sabrina took two bounding steps, clearing the entire kitchen, and threw herself at him for a hug. “Dad! I’ve missed you!” She gave him enough time to wrap his arms around her and return her hug before letting go. “When did you get here?”
“About an hour ago. Where’s Brandon? I need to talk to him,” Hadrian said.
“I’m here. We had a little run-in with some very official-looking SUVs, but someone took out the stake out crew. Sabrina and I took care of the chase team,” Brandon said with pride. He threw the car keys on the table with a heavy clank.
“Mea Dulcis, how did you take care of them?” Hadrian sounded more like a parent asking a child what they did in school that day.
“I don’t really know. Someone driving without their headlights on chased us, and I felt afraid they might ram us. My necklace put a barrier of some sort between us. They crashed into it at top speed. I don’t see how anyone survived. Brandon took out the other one. I just held the car steady,” she said, feeling guilty. She lowered her head and fought back the tears.
A crooked finger lifted her face. “None of that. You did what you had to do. Your safety is our priority, Mea Dulcis.”
Brandon cleared his throat. “Can I get you something to drink? We’re fully stocked,” Brandon offered.
Hadrian sighed. “No, we need to get down to business,” he said, letting go of Sabrina and walking toward the living room.
He sat in Eleanor’s favorite chair by the fire. The large, wing-backed chair gave Hadrian the appearance of sitting on a throne. The low-lighting of the lamps, combined with the flickering fire, made the room seem cozy, even though it was summer.
“It’s like a million degrees outside. Why on Earth did you build a fire?” Sabrina asked. Although somehow comforting, no one needed extra heat on a humid summer night in the North Carolina Mountains. She worried the smoke rising above the trees would seem out of place to the people on the surrounding farms.
“Because, Mea Dulcis, not all intruders use the door. Now, Brandon, I need all the details of tonight’s adventures,” Hadrian said. He motioned to the loveseat across from his chair.
Brandon told him about the two men at the shop and of Winston’s discovery only minutes later. The chase sounded less dramatic, the way he told it. His just-the-facts method made Sabrina seem like a cunning sorceress rather than the frightened passenger she really was.
When Brandon finished
recounting the events, he asked, “What does this all mean? Who would want to break the spells?” Worry colored his tone, but he managed to keep his face neutral.
“I’m still working on that, but I can tell you that this wasn’t an inside job. I checked with Delilah. She assured me this wasn’t a demon’s handiwork. The magic felt too old and lacked earthbound magic’s qualities,” he said. “As for who is after you, it isn’t the government. The people you’ve encountered wanted you to think they came from the Feds. Winston found foreign weapons in the truck of the wreckage. He phoned me before you arrived to say he was following you home.”
“You know Winston?” Sabrina felt left out of the loop.
“Yes, I’ve known his family for centuries. You do, too. Delilah is his great-great-great aunt,” Hadrian said as if she should have simply known.
A deep, ringing bell tone coming from upstairs cut off any more of her questions. She shook her head. Charon had given her the crystal orb as a means of communication. It worked like a dimensional cell phone.
“I’ll call him back later,” Sabrina said, dismissing the bell sound. Before she could ask Hadrian more about Winston, the bell rang deeper and louder. This time it sounded more urgent.
“Just answer it,” Brandon said and gave a disgruntled huff. While he never denied her time to make friends with the Ferryman, he clearly did not like the friendship.
“I still don’t see why you want a man who tried to kidnap you as his unwilling wife for a friend,” Brandon muttered.
“I thought we settled this. He didn’t know what else to do. How would you like to spend eternity without a friend?” Sabrina replied. She knew all too well what it felt like to have only one friend. For a large portion of her life, her only real friend in the world was the late Clay Birch. Sabrina felt pity for Charon. Being the Ferryman provided him no chance to have a friend the way she had Clay.
She hurried upstairs and into her bedroom. The orb glowed as the third bell rang. She scooped it up and held it to her heart. “Charon,” she whispered.
The Jewel's Treasure [Celestial Jewels 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 2
