Blood Battles (Fallen Angels Book 2)

by Judith Post

  "A vampire ripped him apart," Danny said.

  "A vampire." Doc's tone said it all.

  "Think about it," Enoch said. "It all adds up—the bodies drained of blood, the fang marks."

  "Yeah, right. If you guys are trying to make my day, you're not. What's the deal? What really happened?"

  Danny and Enoch looked at each other. They didn't know what to say.

  Doc looked down at the scraps of flesh on his table. "Vampires bite people. They don't do this."

  "They're not allowed to drink blood here anymore. They can only defend themselves."

  "Defend themselves? What are you going to tell me next, that people are picking on poor vampires?"

  Danny tried to think of some way to make Doc believe them. "That's why the guy in the office building got shot with a stake from a crossbow. Thugs have come here to hunt good vampires."

  Doc pulled the sheet back over Donato's remains and shook his head. "Good, that’ll cinch it. I'll know you guys are telling the truth when I get a vampire's corpse in here."

  "You won't," Enoch said. "They turn to dust."

  "Of course! How convenient. I forgot. We just need a street cleaner or a strong wind to take care of them. Oh, or we could turn on the lights and chase the boogey man back under the bed."

  Enoch sighed and Danny wondered if he was going to stab a scalpel through his hand to let Doc watch it heal. That's the only way he'd been able to convince him that there were more things walking this earth than mortals. It had to get old, proving to people that he was for real and his stories weren't fantasies, but just as Danny had suspected, Enoch picked up a scalpel and plunged it through the center of his palm.

  "What the hell?" Doc gaped. The wound healed as quickly as Enoch pulled out the sharp metal. Then Doc went completely silent and just stared.

  "Sorry," Enoch said. "But it works. No one ever believes me when I just tell them about vampires."

  Doc stretched out a hand to brace himself. "How did you do that? Are you one of them?"

  "No, I hunt them. At least, I hunt the bad ones."

  It's the same way he'd started explaining things to Danny. Now, on the other side of the learning curve, Danny understood. A mortal's mind can only process one step at a time. The whole thing is too much.

  Doc thought over what Enoch told him. "Is that why you came to Three Rivers? Because we had an infestation and you're the Orkin man for vamps?"

  "Something like that, but I like it here, so I decided to stay a while."

  "Can you do that?"

  "For now."

  Doc’s thoughts went to what he knew, just like Danny's had. "Does this mean I'll be getting more bodies with stakes through them?"

  "No, that was a fluke."

  "Because the killer was after a vampire." Doc was doing his best to get everything straight. Danny felt for him, he really did. More questions would come later. And more after that. "Does that mean there are more vampire hunters out there, like you?"

  "Not like me. This killer's stalking the good vamps, probably working with the bad ones."

  Doc threw his gloved hands in the air. "This conversation just doesn't feel real. My head knows it is. No one can do what you just did, but my instincts don't buy it."

  Danny nodded agreement. "I've met a few vampires, and it's still hard for me."

  "You've met them?" Doc stared.

  "Both good and bad."

  "And there really are good ones?" Doc glanced at the dead man under the sheet. "Which one killed this guy?"

  "A good one, but only in self-defense," Enoch said. Danny wasn't sure that he could agree. Gunther struck him as trouble. "Good vampires don't drink people,"

  Enoch added.

  "They only snack on us instead of killing us?"

  "They drink rats and stray animals," Enoch and Danny said together.

  Doc grimaced. "Okay, I'll bite." He grimaced again. "Poor choice of words. Why would someone be hunting good vampires and not the bad ones?"

  "Because we're not talking good people," Danny said. "It looks like the mafia teamed up with rogue vampires to take out anyone who stands in their way."

  Doc looked from Danny to Enoch and back again. "You know, I can't talk about any of this, because no one would ever believe me. I'd lose my job, and they'd lock me away."

  Danny nodded in sympathy. "Yeah, I know the feeling."

  "Well, if you're right, I won't see any more victims," Doc said. "The killers are hunting vampires. You two can sweep them up."

  Enoch winced at his flip words, and Doc noticed. "Sorry. Dark humor goes with the job. But some of these vamps are close friends, aren't they?"

  "One died to save Maggie's life," Danny said. "Two more risked their lives to save me."

  "They didn't choose to become vampires," Enoch added. "Someone bit them, and they struggle against their hunger every day of their undead lives."

  Doc stared. "So they're victims, too."

  "The good ones are, and it's not easy for them."

  "Then help them," Doc said. "The odds are already stacked against them. Besides, they're on our side, right? Without them, we're in trouble."

  "Lots of trouble. I've promised to do all I can to help them. So you might see bodies stacked everywhere, but hopefully, they'll be the hunters the crime lords sent to take out my friends."

  Doc let out a deep breath. "You're trying to warn me that I'm going to see lots of weird corpses and I'm supposed to come up with some slick answer for them."

  "Exactly."

  "I suppose you've made a lifetime of doing that."

  "One lifetime after another."

  Doc's eyebrows rose, but he raised a hand to stop Enoch from explaining. "You know, I think I've reached my limit for the day. Let's save any more for some other time."

  "Boy, do I know that feeling." Danny grinned. It was the same way he'd felt when Enoch told him that he was a fallen angel, sent here to clean up the mess his best friend made when Caleb started using blood to replenish his energy because he didn't have the Light anymore. Wait until Doc heard that story—if he heard that story.

  Enoch gave Danny a look. "You're coping, aren't you?"

  "Hey, I love you just the way you are, especially when you let me drive your Jag."

  Enoch waved his brashness away, but Danny could feel Doc's eyes on them as they left the morgue. It wasn't easy to accept things out of the ordinary, but Doc would get there. He had. Doc would, too.

  Chapter 28

  Enoch was working on his computer when Voronika laid a hand on his shoulder. He jumped, startled. He'd spent the afternoon, delving into the world of the mafia and crime lords.

  "Lost in your own thoughts. You usually hear me when I come downstairs." Her yellow eyes danced with amusement.

  He arched a brow, studying her. "You look rested. Did you practice battle moves today?"

  She raised her chin. "We did that while you were working last night."

  "Glad Amado's such a great teacher." He turned off the computer to go to the kitchen.

  "How was your day?" she asked while he poured them each a glass of wine.

  "Interesting." He began telling her about Danny bringing Gino in for questioning when someone knocked on the kitchen door. Enoch motioned for Voronika to step aside and went to open it.

  "I heard I'd find you here." A leaner version of Gunther—tall, blond, and Viking—stood outside, only this vampire's blue eyes twinkled with humor. "Are you going to invite me in?"

  Enoch held the door wide. "I was starting to worry about you."

  "Me? The gods protect their favorites. I just finished some mopping up for Caleb." Ulrich was about to step inside when a stake whizzed toward him. Enoch reached out a hand and caught it in midair. "See?" Ulrich said. "Not a scratch." Enoch closed the door and a second stake hit the glass. When nothing happened, Ulrich raised questioning eyebrows.

  "Bullet proof," Enoch explained. "Make yourself at home. I'll be back in a minute." He started out the door after
the hunter.

  "Let him go," Bart said, walking into the kitchen. "He'll tell the others where we are. We want to be found, remember?" He frowned at Ulrich. "What took you so long?"

  "Have you been to Turkey? There was practically a whole town of crazy, young vamps there."

  "Did they give you any trouble?"

  "Only the brunette. She broke my heart."

  Enoch smiled, shaking his head. "According to you, every female loves you and leaves you."

  "Can I help it that women are heartless and cruel?"

  Enoch's gaze went to Voronika.

  An engine revved to life and a car roared down the road.

  "A hunter must have followed me home," Enoch said.

  Ulrich went to the window to watch the tail lights speed away. "No one followed you, old friend. A vampire trailed me here. I went slow enough for him to keep up."

  "A vampire?"

  "He was calling someone with directions on his way here. A good thing, too. It looks like the party hasn't really started. You must have been waiting for me."

  Voronika tossed Enoch a scorching look and went back to Ulrich's earlier remark. "Was the vampire a rogue?"

  "A traitor who's working with humans. How else do you think mortals could find so many of us while we sleep?"

  Enoch should have thought of that, but he’d been concentrating on vampires sending humans to do their dirty work. "Lucky for you that you weren't staked before you stepped inside."

  "The stake would have hit my shoulder, but thanks for catching it, E. I didn't bring a change of clothes." He glanced at his long, tunic style shirt. "I'm fond of this."

  "E?" Amado asked, joining the others. "You let him diminish your name?"

  "He sounds like Danny," Enoch said.

  Ulrich turned mocking eyes on Amado. "Who's your stuffy companion?"

  Bart made a hasty introduction. When several of the others wandered into the kitchen, Bart told them, "The hunters have found us. We'll run our drills once everyone's up."

  "Drills?" Ulrich looked amused.

  "The angel promised to buy us new toys," Amado said.

  Enoch kept glancing out the kitchen window. Now that Gino knew where they were, he'd come for them.

  "If my memory serves, your night vision stinks," Ulrich told him. 'What do you hope to see?"

  "Gino might have more hunters hiding out there. It might not be safe to go out tonight."

  "Gino sounds like a clever boy. I say if he wants us, we should go out and meet him." Ulrich grinned as he watched Enoch pull down the kitchen's metal grid and lock it. "Do you change diapers, too?"

  "I want Voronika safe." He grimaced. "You, too, but you'll do your best to get yourself killed, even if I do my best to save your sorry ass."

  "Thank the gods for that! But you're not bad in a pinch." Ulrich looked at the large kitchen. "You used to be a fair cook. I'm hungry."

  Claudia, followed by Elijah, came into the kitchen and went to stand behind Bart. She smiled a greeting to Ulrich. "As charming as always, glad you could make it."

  "And miss a good time? How could I resist?"

  The rest of the stragglers drifted into the kitchen with Gunther coming up from the basement last. When he saw his old friend, he rushed toward him, throwing his arms around him.

  "You're crushing me!" Ulrich complained.

  Gunther laughed. "You've gone soft. We can bunk in the basement. No one else is down there."

  "That's supposed to surprise me?" Ulrich grimaced. "I've been lusting for a blonde, but I didn't have you in mind."

  Voronika laughed and glanced at Enoch.

  Enoch smiled, too. "The same, old Ulrich. He never changes."

  "Aren't you glad?" She went to the refrigerator and took out the cold slices of beef from the night before. Ulrich grabbed an entire loaf of French bread, sliced it open, and filled it with meat. After several huge bites and a few long swigs of ale, he looked around the house and shook his head. "So this is our playpen?"

  "And battlefield." Bart explained what they had in mind. "We want the hunters to come to us."

  Ulrich's face grew serious. He glanced at their host. "Our old friend has helped us more than he knows. We're not faring well on our own."

  "Tell us." Nula leaned forward, eager for information. Her staff was propped on the back of her chair. "How bad is it?"

  "They're finding our hiding places. They stalk us during the day while we sleep. They've already killed Lucius in Belgium, Tremain in Canada, and Pascal in Italy."

  "How?” Elijah asked. “The cities we live in are big. It would be a matter of luck if anyone saw us go back to our lairs. No one can be that lucky."

  "They're not." Keb glanced at Eva. "Eva and I saw a vampire last night and thought one of you had come to help us, but it followed Gunther, Eva, and me here at a distance, trying to stay out of sight. And then it rushed back toward town."

  "It was almost daybreak when you left the alley," Enoch said.

  Keb nodded. "It had to find temporary shelter during the day, and I’m guessing it’s not alone."

  "A rogue?" Claudia asked. "Or one sent by the big three?"

  "Okon, Ragnar, and Yerik?" Ulrich fidgeted with his food.

  Bart nodded and explained.

  "That's how they're doing it," Elijah said. He spread hummus on pita bread, and Ulrich shook his head. "They send vampires to follow us back to our dens, and then the humans come to kill us."

  Keb nodded. "We're working against humans and our own."

  "The three would sacrifice all of us to spite Caleb?" Ulrich finished his sandwich.

  "They can't get to Caleb unless they go through us," Bart said. "And they know we’ll never join them."

  Ulrich grimaced in distaste. "There's not enough honor in the three of them to fill a thimble."

  Elijah sighed. "I still don't see how we can beat the big three."

  Gunther grinned. "We defeat anyone they send against us."

  Gunther enjoyed battles a little too much, but he was right. Enoch nodded. "The big three don't want to come themselves. If they did, Caleb would be forced to take action. He'd come, too."

  "I wonder how many hunters and lists there are." Nula turned to Ulrich. "Did you bring us anyone's dust?"

  Ulrich narrowed his eyes, studying Enoch, and pulled a baggie out of the pocket of his brown, leather pants. "All that’s left of Lucius. Bart asked for some so that you could touch it. I didn't know you were into dust, old friend."

  "There are lots of things you don't know about me." Enoch put the bag on the table, opened it, and pushed his fingers into the contents. He closed his eyes and concentrated. "I see Bridget."

  "Bridget?" Ulrich frowned. “I just told you. This was Lucius.”

  “He sees the next victims, in order.” Eva rose and leaned forward as if she, too, could see.

  "Wait. Another face is forming…" Enoch blinked his eyes open and jerked back his fingers when sticky, red liquid spilled over them into the dust.

  Eva gave a small squeal of embarrassment. "I'm sorry!" When she'd leaned forward, she spilled her wine. It filled the baggie and turned the dust red.

  Amado glared at her. "You clumsy cow! How stupid can you be?"

  Tears stung Eva's eyes.

  Ulrich reached for Amado, but Bart stepped between them.

  Enoch's voice turned cold. "It was an accident. Don’t talk to her like that."

  Amado stared at the pulse beating in Enoch's temple. He raised a dark eyebrow in challenge. "You sure like to slum, don’t you? It’s bad enough that you defend mortals, but now you’ve taken a liking to a klutzy, ignorant gypsy?”

  Ulrich lunged again, but Bart blocked him. With a sigh, Ulrich turned his back to them. "We can't waste our fury on him, angel. Eva's limbs might be clumsy, but his tongue trips over itself. He's too new, a child. He'll learn."

  "Thank you." Eva's voice was small.

  Ulrich locked gazes with her. "Are you all right?"

  She came to stand be
side him, and Ulrich pulled her close.

  Amado glared, but no one paid him any mind.

  Voronika came to stand behind Enoch. She stretched on tiptoe to rub his shoulders. "Forget him. Bart needs all of his generals. You saw Bridget. You should warn her."

  Bart motioned for Enoch to join him. "We can go to the balcony off the bedroom. We'll contact Bridget now. The sooner she knows, the better."

  Bart was trying to get him away from Amado, Enoch knew, so he let himself be led upstairs and followed Bart onto the balcony. They both cleared their minds to send messages across the miles to Bridget. When they'd finished and turned to leave, a stake bounced off the plexiglass that shielded the balcony. Bart raised an eyebrow. "Do you think the same hunter was foolish enough to come back and try again?"

  "I sure hope so." Enoch craved a release, and an idiot mortal just might provide it. He stalked downstairs and went outside. He was crossing the yard when he heard a car engine start. Not this time. A hunter wasn't getting away that easily. He ran to the road and grabbed the bumper of Donato's Buick before it could race away. Its tires spun, and Enoch lifted the entire back end of the car off the pavement. The hunter pushed harder on the gas. The front wheels grabbed. The car lurched forward, leaving its bumper in Enoch's hands. The hunter swerved for a moment as he lost control of the car, then he righted it and drove faster.

  "Let him go," Ulrich said, landing on the road beside Enoch. "We can deal with him later. If we kill him, someone else will take his place."

  Enoch took a few deep breaths to calm himself. Then he and Ulrich walked back to the house.

  "Is it personal between you and Eva?" Enoch asked.

  Ulrich smiled. "She's one of my happiest memories."

  "Did it last long?"

  Ulrich sighed. "You know me. Failure to commit…and then she was gone, back to serve duty elsewhere."

  When they entered the kitchen, Nula was telling the others how excited she was that Bridget would soon join them. "We've worked together many times. We're friends from many battles."

  Bart glanced at Enoch. "Did our hunter leave in a hurry?"

  "I don't think he'll come back any more tonight."