Connor put his coffee down, “I thought we weren’t telling people?” he asked.
“You can’t really hide things from her,” Savanna said.
Now it was his turn to have red cheeks. It was a pleasant look on him and it put Alexi’s mind at ease. She liked the guy, even if he had tried to kill her. He was a stand-up fellow and he had defended both of them on more than one occasion. Him taking advantage of Savanna wasn’t high on her list of worries and now that she’d seen him blush about innuendo, she knew he wasn’t.
“We haven’t done anything…” Connor said. She smiled at his attempt to defend himself, or was it Savanna’s honor? She was hardly in a position to judge. She had rushed headlong into a relationship with Victor.
“I wish I had my sword,” she said, changing the subject.
“I don’t know how much it will help you against a witch but I have something I know will work,” Connor said as he moved to the living room accepting the switch. Alexi followed him with Savanna trailing behind.
Connor pushed a bookshelf aside revealing a large metal safe, easily as tall as Savanna and three feet wide. He spun the lock, put his thumb on the biometric reader and waited for it to beep. Then, he punched in a code. She didn’t catch the code but she wasn’t looking either. The door swung open and a grin split her face.
A rack of battle rifles and sub-machine guns hovered above a bench with a half dozen pistols in it, all barrel down.
“I know you know how to use these otherwise I wouldn’t be offering. We don’t need you getting killed by a zombie. Go ahead and pick the one you like.”
She brushed her fingers over the pistols. Her eyes were closed and she relied on her muscle memory. She stopped when she felt the right one. The pistol had a weight that she like. On the side in small red lettering were the words— H&K MK 23.
“Good choice,” he reached down and pulled three magazines out.
“It never hurts to have insurance,” she said as she pulled the slide back to check the chamber.
“They’re twelve rounds each,” Connor said as he handed her the magazines. Alexi stuffed two in her jacket pocket and the third she slammed into the pistol. She racked the slide with a metallic clunk. Her thumb flicked the weapon over to safe.
The pistol was large and heavy enough that she felt comfortable sliding it under her belt on the small of her back. Connor whistled his appreciation, “You sure know what you're doing.” He picked up another large pistol and a small sub-machine gun “Give me five minutes and I’m ready to meet your mom,” he said to Savanna.
***
Connor’s SUV had a silent cab that made the outside world seem distant. Cars passed by unaware of the world around them. Seattle was never truly dark because of the lights of the city. As the freeway stretched out behind them the lights faded and only the occasional blinking lights of airplanes and cell towers broke the distant darkness.
Alexi gazed out the window letting her mind wander. A lot had happened since Victor had died and the thing she disliked the most was her necessity to feed on people. She’d hoped she wouldn’t have to hunt anymore. However, she couldn’t figure out if it was because she hated it—or loved it. Either way, it didn’t change the fact that sooner or later she would kill someone… or worse. For now, she liked to think that the unique way she fed helped them more than hurt. Is that how you justify yourself? Fish got to swim, she mused.
“Alexi,” Connor said suddenly.
She jumped slightly.
“Sorry,” he said. “Remember when you asked me to look into your past?”
She had, months ago. After they had stopped the demon Illyana summoned.
“Well, I found out a few things and I’ve been meaning to tell you but the time never seemed right.” His headlights illuminated a sign that said they were a few miles away.
Alexi didn’t know whether to be excited or terrified. Probably both.
“Lay it on my big guy,” she said with her eyes closed as she leaned back in the chair.
“You’re twenty-eight. You were born on Bainbridge Island and you joined the Army when you were eighteen. Right out of high school.”
She surmised as much, her reflexes and abilities came from somewhere. She sensed he was holding something back.
“What else?” she asked into the quiet of the cab.
“Your discharge papers state that you declined to re-enlist due to pregnancy,” he said softly.
A wave of confusion washed over her. She shook her head, “What?”
“You have a daughter she’s four,” Connor said quietly, “There’s more. If you want to hear it.”
Alexi’s stomach clenched. She placed a hand on the grab handle and squeezed it until the plastic popped and ripped away from the door.
“What else?”she asked.
“I know you were married, but before I could find out more the office moved and we became under a lot more scrutiny.”
Alexi fought the urge to scream. Savanna placed a hand on her shoulder. Her warm skin a reminder that she had friends. Connor had risked much to help her and the least she could do was thank him.
“I’m grateful, Connor, I really am. Thank you.”
He nodded, “I’m sorry I couldn’t find out more.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the exit. Federal way was tucked in between Tacoma to the south, and Kent to the north. All of Tacoma’s drug problem and none of its police.
Alexi shook her head, she put everything she was feeling aside. There was a lot going on, and her having a daughter it was just… to much. Besides, you’re good at burying your feelings. You only think about what a monster you are a hundred times a day.
If there was a less desirable area to live in than Federal Way, Alexi hadn’t been there. The downtown area looked like a war between renovation and street gangs. Graffiti covered everything. Even in the dark of night, the buildings appeared dirty and yellow. The only redeeming quality of the area was the large stands of pine tree’s that surrounded the city.
“Why would she open a yoga center here,” Connor mused as they turned the corner.
“No one’s going to miss these people, no one’s going to come looking for them,” Savanna whispered.
She was right of course The vampires in Seattle preyed on the homeless first for the same reason. If Illyana was sacrificing people then this was the place to do it.
“This is it,” Connor announced. The building wasn’t run down and it didn’t look like the kind of place drug addicts hung out. A brightly colored sign with a silhouette of an attractive woman proclaimed ‘Otherworldly Yoga’.
“Subtle,’ Alexi said.
The building itself was a squat, two-story affair with a staircase that went up one corner to connect with a deck that only covered half the length of the building. The bottom floor had three entrances as if it used to be three different stores. Now the whole thing was converted to a dance studio. A stage on one end was clearly visible through the large windows. Alexi glanced at her phone. They had only an hour before the sun came up.
“There’s a class starting in five minutes, but I don’t…,” Savanna stopped talking. Illyana walked out of the backroom with a half dozen women in tow, all dressed in yoga apparel. Illyanan's lithe form moved like a cat. Her generous curves filled every inch of her skin tight outfit. She certainly wasn’t concerned about drawing attention to herself. They dropped their mats haphazardly in a circle around her. Once they were placed she led them through a series of stretches.
“That’s your mom? How is she so…uh young?” asked Connor.
Savanna’s eyes narrowed at him. Connor held his hands up, “I mean mechanically? Is it a spell?”
“She usually has a demon bound to her that gives her eternal life,” Alexi answered.
“Usually? She doesn’t anymore?”
“No,” Savanna said quietly. Alexi could see the emotions play on her friend's face, she knew what she must be reliving.
“What happened?�
�� asked Connor.
“I killed it.”
Music echoed from within the class. Illyana led them through various exercises, all the while talking to them in an even tone. She exuded a calm, posed, exterior.
“Well, we might as well go in and see her,” Alexi said.
“Connor, would you wait out here? I don’t want her to know…,” Savanna smiled demurely.
“Oh, right, sure. I’ll keep an eye out.” He leaned against the side of his car and pulled his hood over his head. He whipped out his phone and proceeded to check his text.
Alexi stared hard at the women who almost killed them. It wasn’t that long ago that Alexi would’ve killed her on sight. The memory of being bound in the center of her summoning circle was still fresh. Not to mention her teaching Dupree blood magic almost ended the world.
A small hand slipped into hers. Savanna looked up to her, “We can do this, right?”
Alexi smiled, leave it to her friend to give her courage.
“What is she going to do? You’re twice the witch she is.”
Inside the studio smelled of lilac and junipers. A strange combination to Alexi’s nose and not at all unpleasant. There was a small waiting room with a couch and magazines. The two girls took a seat and waited. Patience came easily to Alexi. She had a well inside her and she fell into it. Her senses remained alert but the rest of her shifted into a relaxed state. She watched the shadow move across the wall as cars drove by.
Savanna, however, wasn’t at ease. She paced the small area. Flipped through several magazines, then went back to pacing.
“She’s making us wait on purpose,” she muttered.
“Don’t let her get to you. She thinks she has the power here because we came to her. Don’t play her game.”
“That’s easy for you to say, she’s not your mom,” Savanna winced as the words came out of her mouth.
“Sorry, Alexi, that was thoughtless.”
Alexi’s red lips split in a smile, “Nothing to be sorry about. I’ve been thinking about it lately. With everything that happened after I ‘woke up’. I didn’t have time to look into it and then we fell into survival mode,” she shrugged, “But now…”
Savanna sat on the arm of Alexi’s chair and rested her hand on Alexi’s shoulder, “It isn’t like it wouldn’t be easy to find out. We have your dog tags. We could put a call into the police and find out all the info about you. I’m sure someone reported you missing.”
“How sweet, I didn’t know you two were an item?” Illyana asked as she breezed into the room.
Alexi’s eyes narrowed. Despite her talk of not playing Illyana’s game, anger flared in her when the women insulted her friend.
“God, mother, it’s like you can’t imagine two people being friends without sex involved. I hate to rain on your parade but not every relationship is a measure of someone's sexual attraction.”
“Whatever you say, dear,” she smirked. Illyana waved for them to follow her to the back office. Alexi let Savanna go first, confident that her friend could intercept any magic. Her hand brushed against the H&K in the small of her back. It wouldn’t take much to put two in the back of Illyana’s head. It was tempting, especially after the pain she’d caused Savanna. However much she hated to admit it, they needed her… for now.
The office in the back was decorated with a variety of risque art pieces. Most involving women in various states of undress and delight. Nothing outright vulgar but enough that she could feel Savanna’s embarrassment.
“Cliche much,” Alexi muttered as they sat down.
“What can I help you two with?” She smiled like she was about to sell a gym membership.
“You know why were here, mother,” Savanna growled.
“I want to hear it,” she said. Illyana leaned back in her chair. A broad smile spread across her youthful face.
Alexi gripped her chair in anger. She glanced at Savanna, who seemed as calm as could be. Funny, weren’t you the one who was just telling her to stay calm and not let Illyana have the power?
“Mother, either you have the knowledge we seek or you don’t. Either you’re willing to share it or you’re not,” she held up her hand to forestall Illyana’s interruption, “Let me tell you what I know. I know of a secret organization that hunts our kind down. I know how to contact them and I now know where you live. All I have to tell them is that you taught a master vampire blood magic. Magic he tried to use to end the world. Either you share your information or I share mine—which is it going to be?”
Illyana paused for a moment to look at Alexi.
“Don’t ask me I would sooner snap your neck then help you, this is all her.”
“For what it’s worth, I never imagined that French buffoon would try to end the world. He certainly was the maniacal type,” she laughed, “Oh Savanna, I came looking for you, remember? You’ve impressed me, maybe I’ve been wrong all these years. The things you can do… I always knew you would be powerful.” She smiled at her daughter.
Alexi glanced to Savanna, the girl’s eyes were glassy. Illyana’s words were certainly having an effect on her.
“Maybe you should have thought of that before you made me kill dad.”
Savanna pulled her dagger from her boot in a swift motion.
“I don’t see anyone here for you to sacrifice, mother and we both know you have no demon. I on the other hand,” she moved the dagger’s point to just above her wrist, “Have no problem spilling my own blood. Tell me what I want to know.”
Illyana’s eyes widened at the threat. Alexi had no idea what kind of horrors Savanna could unleash if she were truly angry, and she certainly didn’t want to find out.
“You didn’t have to threaten me I wanted to talk, is all.” Illyana wiped one eye as she spoke.
“Very well, the things you are looking for are both new and something very old. The…” she hesitated and leaned in close to whisper, “Fae know the most about them but I doubt you could get any of them to tell you.”
“Why not?” asked Alexi.
“Because you have nothing of worth to trade and they are all about bargains. Lucky for you,” she opened her desk drawer and pulled out an old book with dark leather bindings, “I happen to know a thing or two myself.”
She slid the book across the desk to Savanna. Alexi didn’t sense magic. Savanna slid her dagger back into its sheath and picked up the book.
“I’ve sensed the magic at hand for some time. I sent out some ravens to follow the both of you and saw the zombie you killed. It didn’t take much to put two and two together after that. I’ve had this book a long time and I think it will help.”
“Will this work?” she asked.
“Most assuredly.”
Savanna stood abruptly, putting the book into her satchel that hung across her shoulder. Alexi followed. As they reached the door, Illyana spoke.
“Thing’s don’t always turn out the way we want them to, little one, and you will find that the blood that flows in our veins comes with a heavy burden. You judge me for the decisions I’ve made, but what I’ve done, I’ve done to survive.”
“I’m not like you, mother, I won’t kill people to live.”
“When you have, you know where to find me.”
SIX
“This is it,” Connor said as he parked the SUV. Night fell on their way back to the city, and now the moon looked down upon them. Street lights provided a yellow illumination that bathed everything in an iridescent glow.
“The book says we need one… alive, as it were. I can cast a divination on it and it will lead us back to its master.”
“Then what?” Alexi asked.
Savanna flipped a few pages running her fingers down the paper. The book was very old. At least three hundred years and written in magic so only those who could perceive the arcane would ever be able to translate it. Savanna, of course, could see magic writing and read it. She knew her mother had been around for a while but how she got her hands on this book was beyond
her.
The night air was cool to her skin. She pulled her sweater a little tighter as she got out of the vehicle. Connor and Alexi flanked her like over watchful bodyguards. She climbed up onto the hood of the SUV by putting one foot on the tire and heaving herself up. With her legs crossed, she flipped through the book to the page she needed. The book she found in Seattle wasn’t as useful as she had hoped. More a theoretical study than actual information. This one was like whoever wrote it knew exactly what made these monsters tick.
“According to this it’s spread by bite or claw,” she said without looking up.
“Crazy, so like the TV show then,” Sing said from behind.
Her heart leaped at his voice. Alexi turned with her hand under her shirt.
“Whoa, jumpy much?” He moved around the SUV and dropped a massive blue duffel bag next to Savanna. He unzipped it revealing three shotguns and enough ammo for world war three.
“Nice,” Alexi muttered as she pulled one out, “Are we going to be okay with the Law?”
“As long as we don’t get caught,” Connor said. He freed his own shotgun and loaded several rounds into the internal magazine.
“I take it that the Arcanum is still in the zombies don’t exist mode,” Alexi said as she mimicked Connors actions in loading her shotgun.
Sing raised his hand, “I have a question, if this is new how do we know what will stop them?”
“That’s the question of the hour,” Savanna said.
“First, we got to find one. How are we doing that?” Sing slung his shotgun over his shoulder.
Savanna closed the book and tucked it into her coat. With it zipped up it was tight enough to hold the volume in place. She drew her dagger, it looked pitiful next to the shotguns.
“This is the place that’s central to the most of the disappearances. Even if some of them are unrelated, we should still be able to find a link,” Connor said.
“Okay, let's split up, Sing and Connor you go south, Savanna and I will go north. Head three blocks turn East for three more blocks and then we meet up.” Alexi checked to make sure she had everything.
Blood Sacrifice (Faith of the Fallen Book 2) Page 5
