Dark Ascension

by J. D. Brown

  Jesu’s gaze slid to the Asian vampyre as though considering it.

  The Ch’ing Shih sat on the couch next to Logan, helping him dip a set of tiny darts into a dish of serum.

  Wait... What hell is that stuff?

  “You can try,” said Shénshèng without batting an eyelash. “But it won’t work.”

  “I was joking,” said Ema. “We stick to the plan, all right?”

  The three men in the room looked like they wanted to argue, but couldn’t seem to find the marbles to do it. I couldn’t believe it. Not one of them was going to tell her how stupid this was? Whatever plan they concocted was sure to fail. Lilith wouldn’t do anything to compromise Ema’s child—he was too important to her—but that didn’t mean she couldn’t break Ema’s spirit in a thousand other brutal ways. I should know.

  Ema sent a text. “There. It’s done. If that doesn’t draw her out, I don’t know what will.”

  “We could always try sticking him with the serum,” Tancred suggested. “He probably knows where she is.”

  “No,” said Ema. “Even if he did, Lilith’s probably moved by now. We can’t afford to waste any of it.”

  My gaze went to the serum on the table, and my stomach twisted. Logan and Shénshèng were carefully brushing the substance over a set of shuriken blades. I scoffed in disbelief.

  Truth serum?

  I knew Ema wanted answers, but it wouldn’t work. Whatever plan they came up with...

  It never worked.

  CHAPTER 21

  The phone chimed in my pocket. It had been several minutes since I offered Lilith the jade in exchange for a face-to-face conversation. I was beginning to think she wouldn’t respond at all. Everyone in the suite looked at me and my nerves fluttered. Was this it? I pulled out the cellphone and checked the screen. Yes, one new text from a contact nicknamed Mummy Dearest. Honestly, it wasn’t even that clever. With my heart in my throat, I clicked on the text to read her reply.

  Pics or it didn’t happen.

  “What does that mean?” Jesu read the text from over my shoulder.

  “It means she wants proof.” I took out the stone, went to Valafar’s side, and snapped a photograph of the two of us while holding the jade out in front of me.

  Valafar rolled his eyes. “Brilliant.”

  I sent the picture to Lilith. “Dr. Shénshèng, if you want to go, then you should probably leave now. Things might get ugly soon.”

  Shénshèng had been kind coming to our rescue, knowing exactly what we’d need for Lilith, but it felt wrong to ask her to stay any longer, especially when Lilith had already warned her not to help me.

  Shénshèng nodded. “Yes, I should go.”

  “You don’t have to,” I said. “That is, if you don’t feel safe alone, you’re welcome to stay with us.”

  She rose with a kind smile. “I am very safe at home where the succubae stay outside the walls. Good luck, Ema.”

  I walked her to the door. Mr. Wu waited in the hall. Shénshèng pulled the hood of her coat over her face and followed Mr. Wu closely. At the elevator, she glanced over her shoulder. “Call if you need me.”

  I nodded. “Keep her safe, Mr. Wu.”

  He didn’t respond. It was daytime, and we were breaking the rules by keeping Shénshèng out past curfew. I closed the door and went back to the guys.

  “You think she’ll be okay?”

  “She knows what she’s getting into better than we do,” said Tancred. “Which I still don’t think is fair. If you ask me, she’s the one we ought to inject.”

  I rolled my eyes. Tancred wasn’t even part of the plan. All he had to do was stay out of the way. I know Jesu had talked to him, but Tancred probably had a lot more he wanted to say to me about the stone, my pregnancy, and all the other things I hid from Brinnon—but it would just have to wait. The phone chimed. I read the text message, frowned, and then read it again.

  “What did she say?” asked Jesu.

  I read the text to them out loud, word for word. “Bring the stone and my son to People’s Park in one hour. Come alone.”

  Valafar snorted.

  “It’s a drop,” said Tancred.

  “I’m texting her back,” I said. “No. You come here.”

  “She’ll never agree to that,” Valafar grumbled.

  I glared at him.

  “He’s right,” said Dad. “Lilith knows better than to walk into a trap.”

  “So I’m supposed to walk into hers?”

  Jesu pulled out his cellphone and his thumbs flew over the keys.

  Dad frowned. “Of course not. The plan will still work. We’ll just have to modify it a little. Besides, it might be safer to do this outside. Lilith could flatten the entire hotel to dust if she wanted to. Innocent lives would be crushed.”

  “People’s Park is in the center of the city.” Jesu’s gaze was glued to his phone, probably studying a map of Shanghai. He looked at me suddenly. “Think about it; a park gives me the advantage.”

  “Except she wants me to come alone,” I reminded them.

  “So we hide.” Dad gestured between Jesu and him to indicate who would do the hiding.

  Valafar’s phone chimed.

  Park or bust, dearie. U have 59 minutes.

  “Well she’s not giving me any other option,” I sighed.

  “Then we go to the park, guns loaded.” Dad nodded to the row of darts, knives, and throwing stars lying neatly on the coffee table. The blades were coated in a thick clear substance Shénshèng had invented. She said it was stronger than Adder’s Tongue. The darts, though, had been dipped in sodium thiopental; a drug better known as Truth Serum. Jesu’s shuriken skills put him in charge of stabbing Lilith with as many anti-power blades as possible before pricking her with a dart. We needed the stuff to work fast. Going straight for the blood stream was the best option. Dad was Jesu’s backup, so to speak. He’d go into a trance and try to control Lilith’s subconscious from a distance—though, if that didn’t work, Dad promised he was just as aptly skilled with a sword. If anything went wrong, he’d snap out of it and handle Lilith on the physical plane.

  That was our brilliant plan—use force.

  I looked at Jesu. He chewed the inside of his lip and tilted his chin to the side. I knew what he must be thinking—no matter how prepared we thought we were, Lilith was going to give us the fight of our lives.

  “It is your choice,” he said softly. “I am behind you no matter what.”

  I drew a deep breath and then nodded. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

  Valafar laughed, full and loud. “Idiot.” He pinned me with his unnaturally violet eyes, and his mouth curved in a wicked grin. “They’re all going to die, love. It’ll be your fault, you know.”

  I wasn’t sure if I was more afraid or angry. “Then tell me what I should do. Stop being a coward and help.”

  Valafar shook his head. “That’s just it. There’s nothing you or anyone else can do. No one’s ever been able to best her. But by all means, entertain me.”

  I looked at Jesu. He was scowling. His left hand clenched into a fist. He met my gaze, and lifted his brow in askance. I sighed. “Don’t punch him too hard, he has to walk with me to meet his mother.”

  Jesu’s cheek dimpled in a sideways smile, and then he knocked Valafar out cold.

  VALAFAR

  My shoes slapped the brick road as I brought each foot stomping down in a childish display. My cheekbone throbbed, and I muttered to myself as we walked. At least the swelling had gone down enough for me to open my eyelid. Although, with the sun out, I couldn’t really say if that was an improvement.

  “Bloody vampire.” I kicked at a loose stone and watched as the flint skittered into the grass.

  “Come on.” Ema tugged on the plaid sleeve of a button-down shirt they’d dressed me in while I was unconscious. Couldn’t have me walking about in broad daylight with a blood-soaked sweater. The stupid fabric smelled like the Hunter, too, adding insult to injury.

  They’d
cut the bindings from my ankles so I could walk, but my hands were still tied behind my back. I would’ve phased if I could, but my powers still weren’t working. Sick and tired of their abuse, I dragged my feet along the brick path, drawing out each step.

  Ema didn’t notice.

  She wore a baseball cap and sunglasses to shade her delicate vision, but the constant jerking of her jaw relayed her nerves as she turned to look in every direction, preoccupied by the many sights and sounds of People’s Park.

  The park was no quaint little playground or quiet forest preserve. It was an urban tourist trap. Emphasis on the word trap. There were street vendors and amphitheaters and art museums, fair rides and picnic tables, and even a petting zoo. In other words, there were people. Lots and lots of people. Everywhere.

  Oh sure, there was some nature too, but it was mostly decorative; little medians separating the many wide walking paths. I think I saw an inkling of a lily pond at one point.

  She tugged the visor of the cap low over her brow, tightened her grip on my sleeve, and marched on with false bravado. I smirked.

  “Not what you were expecting?”

  “Shut up.” She tugged my sleeve again, the way one might tug on the leash of an unruly dog. I chuckled and let her drag me along.

  Lilith had been smart to choose a public location with a lot of foot traffic. More minds meant more noise for Logan to sift through. He was just one man. His energy had a limit, and he would reach that limit faster with so much ground to cover. He had to find Lilith before he could control her. Jesu was the only one who might pose any real threat, but I was sure Mother had a plan for him as well. I glanced around, wondering if I might catch a glimpse of the Draugrian. Instead, I noticed someone far worse.

  She wore a toffee colored trench coat, her hair hidden beneath a bright coral scarf, wide brimmed sunglasses covered half her face. I might not have recognized her at all, except she walked straight toward us. Inhaling, I found her scent, and my worst fears were confirmed.

  Pandora.

  What was she doing here?

  Ema squeezed my arm as she became aware of the intrusion. “Who’s that?”

  I didn’t answer. Until I knew what game Mother was playing, the safest option for everyone was to shut my mouth.

  Dora removed her sunglasses as she reached us, revealing her lavender orbs to Ema. A small gasp escaped the Romani. She took half a step back, hesitated, then locked her arm through mine and stood her ground.

  “Who are you?”

  An emotion softened Dora’s expression. Not exactly pity or sadness, but discontent nonetheless. “Give me the stone and I’ll take you to Lilith.”

  Ema scoffed. “Nice try. Lilith’s not getting the stone until I get answers.”

  Dora narrowed her gaze. “I don’t want to have to use force.”

  Ema lifted her chin. “I’ve hidden the stone. Hurt me, and she’ll never find it.”

  Dora looked at me and lifted her brow.

  I gnashed my fangs together and shook my head. I have no bloody idea where the stone is. Ema could’ve been bluffing. She reeked of nerves. But in this situation, that could’ve been for lots of reasons.

  “Don’t look at him,” said Ema. “He was unconscious most of the time. Doesn’t know a damn thing.”

  Dora bit her lip. An obscure look gleamed in her eyes, and I nearly cracked. What the hell is she doing here? Then I remembered... Dora was pregnant. Did Mum know? Was she blackmailing Dora? No doubt this was a warning for me as well—I have your beloved sister, so you’d best behave. Lilith was making sure I didn’t switch teams by dangling Dora and her unborn child’s life in front of my nose. As if the thought of double-crossing Lilith was a luxury I possessed.

  “You won’t mind if I search you, then?” Dora asked.

  Ema widened her stance and held her free hand out to her side. “Be my guest.”

  The Romani was a little too confident for my liking. What did she have planned? I couldn’t use my powers, but Dora could. That would have to be enough to get us both out of here if things went wrong. Not that Ema had any chance of winning this, but in case Mummy Dearest went nuclear, it’d be nice to get out of the way.

  Far away...

  Dora gave Ema a pat-down. She checked her pockets, even cupped Ema’s breasts for good measure, which earned some strange looks from the people around us. Leave it to my prostitute sister to get to first base before me. Though I had seen Ema naked, so the score was tied.

  Ema wrinkled her nose. “You done?”

  Dora straightened with a sigh. “Follow me.”

  “Hold on. Lilith said she’d meet me in the park.”

  “Don’t worry. We’re not leaving the park.” My sister’s lips twitched into a smile. Worry twanged at my chest.

  As if the situation wasn’t already dire enough, the bloody sire curse decided to reign up and assert itself in a monster-sized headache. Mum’s desire to learn what information Shénshèng had shared with Ema gave me some wiggle room before, when Logan might have been a way to acquire that information. Now, though, my mind buzzed with her three latest commands all equally vying for attention. Kill Logan. Find the ring. What did Shénshèng tell Ema? Around and around they spun, swelling to a dull ache in the back of my mind.

  I wasn’t even sure when we began walking again. My legs just moved of their own accord as Ema tugged me along. She followed Dora through the crowed. I wanted to speak to my sister. I wanted to know what Lilith was planning. But I knew there was a good chance Dora would be just as clueless; doing what she was told without question to save her own skin—and that of her child’s. Women like Dora and Ema were the reason I knew my own mother wasn’t normal; the reason I knew there was something very wrong about my childhood. Growing up, it had always felt wrong somehow. Dirty. Bad. But Lilith kept me ignorant. It was her fault I didn’t have a paternal bone in my body. She stole that from me. Dora was the only one I had ever helped. My only redemption. She was the reason I knew what love was supposed to feel like. Real love. Not all that physical crap.

  Another sharp tug on my sleeve pulled my thoughts back to the present. I glanced up to find a large greenhouse-like structure looming before us. A gate of brown stone rose from the footpath, separating us from the glass building. Dora had gone ahead, nearly entering the open gate before she paused and glanced back at us.

  “What is this place?” Ema whispered.

  Your tomb.

  I quickly took notice of the stone lion sentinels on either side of the gate, along with the colorful banners overhead, and made a guess.

  “A museum?”

  “You tell Lilith to come outside if she wants the stone so badly.”

  I scoffed. “You’re dreaming if you think you’re in any position to make demands, love. Mum will simply wait until you decide to play her game, but the longer you wait the direr the consequences will be.”

  Ema swallowed and then tossed her gaze over her shoulder, scanning the park. I imagined they had planned for an outdoor attack. Lilith turned the tables by changing the terrain and forcing them indoors—knocking Jesu down a peg or two. I followed Ema’s line of sight, but if she was waiting for Logan or Jesu to come forward with advice on how to proceed, then she was sorely disappointed. Neither of them showed themselves. Though I wasn’t dumb enough to believe they hadn’t followed us. Her soldiers were out there somewhere—the lover and the father—keeping watch, waiting to strike.

  With a deep breath, Ema faced forward and marched toward the gate, giving my shirt sleeve a good yank. What did I look like, a circus monkey? I stood my ground and pulled back, just enough to make Ema circle around and face me.

  “Listen.” I kept my voice low, my senses alert. “Whatever happens next, don’t hurt Dora.”

  Ema’s gaze went to my sister. “Who is she?”

  “Innocent. And pregnant. You can relate.”

  Ema scowled at me. “I said who, not what.”

  I looked past Ema. Dora’s brow furrowed a
s she watched us. “She’s my... my daughter.”

  I couldn’t bring myself to meet Ema’s gaze. Whatever pity or ridicule she felt toward me now... I didn’t care. I just needed her to promise.

  “Are you coming?” Dora called out.

  I bit my lip and chanced a glimpse at Ema, lowering my gaze to her petite frame. Her lips pinched, but the dark glasses made her expression impossible to read. Desperation weighed in my chest. “Ema, please.”

  She released my arm and peeled off her sunglasses. The conviction in her gaze...

  “This is the last thing I’ll do for you.”

  My mouth slacked as I struggled to find words. Another thing I wasn’t used to; gratitude. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me just yet,” Ema warned.

  I meant to say something to ease the tension before we faced Lilith, but a white-hot bolt of pain lashed behind my eyes. The curse... the sire bond... it flogged me for my moment of disloyalty before I even recognized the brief thought. For a half-hearted moment, I actually considered helping Ema. But the notion was thwarted before it even began. I gnashed my fangs together and blinked back the mounting headache.

  “Come on,” I growled. “Let’s go.”

  We caught up with Dora and passed the gate. She had tickets, of course, and presented them to the doorman. He upped his brow at my bound wrists.

  “Performance art.” Dora patted my chest and added a flirtatious giggle. The usher rolled his eyes and then let us through. The three of us entered the glass museum holding our breaths.

  CHAPTER 22

  An art museum stretched out before me, with floor to ceiling glass walls that gave a panoramic view of the surrounding park. Bold splashes of color and modern designs lined the display panels, speaking to the style of the artist on exhibit. The space was small; more of a gallery than a museum, but it was not without the usual sectioned-off units and private rooms. I scanned the crowd of enthusiasts, students on field trip, and curious tourists. I couldn’t see Lilith, but I wouldn’t let that get my guard down. She could be anywhere.