Splintered Nights

by Veronica Del Rosa

  I turned, eyeing the doors. How many vampires waited for me? Twenty-five vampires battled outside and at least one more waited for me inside. Why would Maxwell throw so many vampires at me? Was this a pride thing?

  Inching closer to the door on my left, the skittering grew worse, though nowhere near as bad as when I’d faced the horde earlier. My scent would’ve alerted the vampire of my movements, so I didn’t have the element of surprise. However, if she believed I was still suckered, she wouldn’t expect a fight as soon as I entered the room. I needed to find her first, though.

  “I think I found you. I’m coming in. Don’t be afraid. I want to help.” The saviour game didn’t soothe my nerves. One misstep and I was screwed. One wrong word and she’d know.

  “Please hurry, before they come back. I’m so scared.”

  My eyes almost rolled into the back of my head. Laying it on a little too thick, lady. No Oscar for you.

  I turned the doorknob, on alert for someone sneaking up behind me. The hinges creaked, jarring my tense nerves. No light spilled into the room, its blackness sucking the sight from me. The windows must be boarded up from the inside. Yep, a trap. And I shouldn’t disappoint.

  “Where are you? I can’t see anything.” I needed a noise to pinpoint her. What I heard was the fucking door close behind me. The creaking drilled into my shaky courage. Staying outside sounded like a brilliant idea, one I wished I’d followed.

  Sweat dripped between my breasts and my palms felt slick, but I couldn’t spend the time drying them. A moment of distraction meant death. I couldn’t take a time-out to prepare. Either I was ready or I was dead.

  A hand snaked around my throat, fingers against my pressure points. My muscles tensed as I waited for her fangs to sink into my neck. “I’m right behind you. Play nice and I won’t hurt you.”

  “Is that so? Vampires are messy eaters, so you’ll have to excuse me if I don’t believe you.” Regret chewed at me. My knife and stake both pointed the wrong way and I couldn’t easily flip them. She’d notice a toss and flip. Plus, luck was a fickle bitch tonight; I’d probably end up dropping either weapon on the ground. Best to just wait and see what she wanted from me.

  “Maxwell wants you unharmed. No one is allowed to feed from you. Cause me trouble and I’ll knock you unconscious.” Her fingers tightened against my throat, underscoring her threat.

  “We’re cool. No fight from me. What about the humans in the house?” I wouldn’t leave anyone behind. No one deserved such a horrific end. If giving myself up without a fight meant the humans would be released, then I’d do it.

  The creature laughed, a wispy, grating sound, like she needed to swallow a gallon of water before her throat would work properly again. “There’re no humans here. We’ve studied you, and you’re weak. You’d give yourself up to save another.”

  News to me. Up until the moment I entered the house, I never would’ve said I was self-sacrificing. Either they saw something I didn’t or vampires suffered from delusions. And they’d studied me? Like, stalked me? Another disturbing item to add to the “why I hate vampires” list. And how had I missed them? How far did my radar extend? And how had they fooled werewolf noses into believing humans were inside?

  Questions, questions, and more questions. Maybe I should meet Maxwell. I might get more information from him than the tight-lipped Cole.

  The lights flicked on, blinding me, and the vampire screeched, deafening me. Helpless, I struggled in her arms and swung my hand back, attempting to stab her side. She released me and I stumbled. What was happening? I blinked rapidly to clear the black spots from my sight.

  “We’ve got her,” Halvar’s deep voice rumbled through the buzzing caused by her shriek, and I spun to face him.

  “What?” I think I shouted, unable to hear myself properly. “Where are you?”

  My muscles remained tense, waiting for someone to attack. I’d already experienced how human-like vampires could sound. Maybe one of them was impersonating Halvar? My eyesight cleared and his massive form appeared before me. Nope, it was Halvar. As far as I knew, vampires couldn’t shapeshift.

  The creature lay prone on the ground and I scrunched my brows together. She wasn’t dead or else she’d be ash right now. How’d he incapacitated her?

  “Ash from a dead vampire. Mix it with holy water, inject it in a living vampire, and you have a docile monster. She won’t be moving for several hours.” Halvar moved his bulk, giving one of his hunters access to the room. The other man hoisted the creature over his shoulder, her weight nothing to him. He didn’t stagger or groan.

  “I need me some of that. You ever use darts for long-distance targets?” I could’ve used this knowledge ages ago. Archery and I went way back, though I hadn’t spent any time attacking vampires with a crossbow or a longbow. Sounds like I had some changes to make. Could I just coat the tips? My mind buzzed with the possibilities.

  Halvar dipped his chin. “Yes, all hunters are trained with blow darts and guns. We can teach you, if you’d like to join. We can always use more people willing to fight.”

  “We talked about this. Don’t steal my mate for your cult.” Cole bullied his way into the room, glaring at the giant. He dropped an arm around me. I felt like a car the meter maid had just booted. I almost elbowed him in the gut, but he wouldn’t feel it anyway. “She doesn’t need your fanatics putting her life in danger.”

  “She is right here. Don’t talk about me like I’m your property. I’ll make my own decisions, thank you very much.” I focused on Halvar, ignoring Cole’s displeased growl. “Do I need to join to learn? Can I dip my toes in, see how I feel about it all? I’m not good with group activities and making friends.”

  Might as well put my cards on the table. If I had to sing around a campfire and pledge lifelong friendship to others, then I was out. I wanted a way to stay alive and keep vampires away from me.

  Halvar lowered his gaze but not before I caught the gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. He thought he had me on his hook. Little did he realize, I trusted no one and wouldn’t be fooled into a membership. “You can visit one of our training facilities. I’ll come by tomorrow.”

  Cole slipped his hand onto my elbow and guided me from the room. I let him. Giving him a little victory now would soothe his bruised ego. He wouldn’t win the next round. I had to learn more anyway I could. Maxwell wanted me for a reason and I wanted to be prepared when the time came. Without more info, sooner or later, I’d fuck up and he’d have me in chains.

  The drive home was subdued. Cole filled me in on what had happened after I’d entered the house. Vampires had blocked the entrance, shutting me off from any potential rescue, which had clued in him and Halvar. The undead creatures wanted me and were willing to sacrifice themselves for the cause.

  The two men had worked together to clear a hole while the others battled the enemy. Four of Cole’s werewolves were injured, but they’d recover with rest and copious amounts of meat. Halvar and his men survived without too many scratches. They’d let the werewolves take the brunt of the damage.

  My mind drifted as I listened and I closed my eyes. The adrenaline had worn off, and weariness dragged me down. For once, I hadn’t killed any vampires, but the mental toll of staying calm while walking into a trap had wiped me out just the same. I needed a long, uninterrupted rest.

  “We’re home,” Cole said as he put the car in park.

  I hauled myself out, the effort to move weighing on me. My bed called for me. How quickly I’d fallen into the trap of a regular bed. My softness would’ve annoyed me, except it required energy I didn’t have.

  Cole tensed, his nose in the air.

  Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Adrenaline flooded my body again, snapping my brain to alert. Something was wrong. I just couldn’t put my finger on it. A faint sensation of a skewed world. No skittering across my skin, though, so vampires weren’t the cause.

  “Where’s Jacy?” I asked, striding to the front door.

  Five ve
hicles were parked in the driveway. The injured werewolves would spend the night at Cole’s. The final car belonged to Lex. I ignored them, too intent on the dread clawing at my gut and the front door ajar. My knife once again in my grip, I entered the house, listening for any sound from the one werewolf I cared for. While I generally sucked at being a friend—too many years on my own—Jacy had dug herself into my heart.

  Cole remained close behind me, sniffing the air. “Something’s not right. The scents are old, nothing fresh. No one’s been in the house for hours. Lena should be here with Jacy.”

  “Jacy! Lena!” I yelled into the vacant house. Emptiness echoed back.

  I flipped on the lights, uncomfortable with the darkness. Cole, however, didn’t need them and had already stalked into the house, his footsteps a whisper on the tile floors.

  “Hey, what’s going on?” Lex asked. I turned, giving him a glare. With one shoulder against the wall and arms crossed, he just grinned at me. His perfect pretty-boy looks irritated the hell out of me.

  “Jacy and Lena aren’t answering. And Cole said something smells off.” I brushed past him, aiming for the door. Forced entry? Had she left of her own free will?

  Eban stopped next to me, Latoya leaning heavily on him. “They wouldn’t just leave.”

  I squatted by the edge of the door, studying the lock. It remained in one piece and had no scratches. She’d either left on her own or she had known her abductor. I slammed my palm against the wood, frustrated and furious.

  A mournful howl sent shivers across my flesh and made my heart thud faster. No, no, not Jacy. Please let her be okay. I rushed deeper into the house, to the entertainment room, and the smell of copper smashed into me. I staggered from the odour and the sight before me.

  Lena lay on the floor, her stomach ripped open and claw marks across her face. But her throat was pristine, not a single bite. No vampire could’ve ignored the free meal. I’d seen too many vampire attacks to mistake this for one. No, something far worse had happened.

  She’d been savaged by another werewolf.

  Cole knelt beside her, trying desperately to put her insides back.

  “Jacy,” she gasped, clawing at Cole’s hand. “Maxwell. Jacy.”

  “It’s okay, Lena, we’ll get her back.” Cole bent down and placed a gentle kiss on Lena’s forehead, ignoring the blood seeping into his pants. “We’ll get her back.”

  A breath rattled from her chest and she lay still, her eyes glassy and sightless. She’d been kind to me, kind to Jacy, and now she was gone. I’d seen death countless times over the years, and after my dad died, I’d refused to let it affect me. But seeing Lena torn apart crumpled the armour around my heart. I sagged against the wall, tears dripping from my chin. This, this was why I didn’t stay in one place. How could I have forgotten how much this hurt?

  Cole growled, his eyes amber. “Eban, Derrick, search the grounds for any foreign scents.”

  His pack members disappeared to do his bidding as he rapped out more orders, anger contorting their features as well. Were they furious over Lena’s death and Jacy’s abduction or because someone had dared attack the heart of their territory? Cole’s words came back to me. Killing a member on another’s territory, even an omega, strengthens that pack.

  “What I can I do to help?” Lex asked, his question less about Jacy and Lena, and more about currying favour with Cole. No sense of urgency accompanied his words.

  “Get the other alphas here.” Cole ran his fingers through his hair. “The nest was a trap not only for Pearle, but for Jacy. Someone betrayed us to the vampires.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Where’s Halvar?” I yelled as I barrelled my way into the halfway house. Let Cole deal with the alphas and the werewolves. I wanted a talk with the chatty vampire from earlier. She’d either answer me or meet the evil lurking beneath my skin.

  Until Jacy, I’d never understood why people cared about others. So many had drifted into my life and out of it again, never to be given a second thought. Friends were a liability. They made me feel, made me vulnerable, made me dangerous. I was ready to lay waste to anyone who opposed me.

  The timid, yet friendly woman from the first night strode out of the side room, no hint of meekness. Another one playing games? “He isn’t here.”

  “Tell me where Halvar is. Now. I don’t have time for bullshit games.” And no time for niceties. I inwardly winced at my own rudeness. Even for me, it was a bit much. “Jacy was abducted. While we fought the nest, she was taken. I want to speak to the vampire Halvar captured.”

  The woman looked me up and down, unimpressed. “Sorry, don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “If you don’t tell me, I’ll make sure the werewolves never align with the hunters. Jacy was Cole’s favourite, and when he finds out the hunters have information about her abduction and aren’t sharing . . .” I trailed off and crossed my arms, refusing to budge an inch. If she didn’t cave, then I’d carve her into little pieces. Torture wasn’t my forte but I bet I could learn it pretty fucking fast.

  She blew out an irritated breath. “Fine, I’ll take you to him. And if he thinks you exaggerated—”

  “Don’t bother with threats.” I gestured for her to lead the way.

  She spun on her heel, taking me deeper into the house, although this time we didn’t go up, but down. A light skittering across my skin told me she wasn’t lying. The vampire was here. Bright lights lit our way into the basement, calming my nerves. Descending into a dark cellar wasn’t my idea of a fun time.

  Exposed bricks, dust, and cobwebs added to the creepy factor and I shuddered. The thoughts of spiders landing in my hair or on my skin wigged me out, especially since I wouldn’t feel them, thanks to the vampire.

  I wiped all expression from my face and straightened my shoulders. My personal issues didn’t matter. And Halvar wouldn’t take me seriously if I cowered from arachnids.

  The woman led me to a steel door with a handprint scanner. Whoa, that was some serious tech for a crumbling, abandoned house. I spun in a slow circle, noting five other rooms with the same treatment. How could they afford these security measures? Why not outfit the rest of the house similarly?

  And here I thought it was just the werewolves and vampires hiding information from me.

  “Tsk, tsk,” I said, facing the woman again. “You guys have been holding out on me.”

  “Yeah, well, you ain’t one of us.” She placed her hand on the scanner. “And it’s only under threat that I’m letting you see this place. Halvar can decide what to do with you afterwards.”

  I cast my gaze downwards, looking suitably contrite, and bit my tongue to keep any mocking words from flying out of my mouth. My usual caustic personality wouldn’t gain me information.

  Brushing my hand against the knife handle to reassure myself it remained in its sheath, ready for use, I marched into the cell. The hunters had steel doors and—holy shit—steel walls. They weren’t screwing around.

  A recessed light in the ceiling flooded the entire room, and judging by the cringing vampire, it shot UV rays. Not enough to kill her, since that would defeat the purpose of having a prisoner. The shiny walls bounced the lights around, making me squint.

  Halvar stood next to the creature bound in the middle of the small room. Shackles encircled her wrists, straining her arms above her head, and her legs were spread apart, each one chained to the ground. The inch-thick links wouldn’t keep her contained, but the black ash painted on the inside of the chains would. Some of the soot had rubbed off on her skin.

  Nothing else was in the room. No chairs, no torture instruments, no window. Psychological torture then? The monster driven insane by the constant UV light and the ash?

  “Why are you here?” Halvar asked, his scowl enough to make any normal person scurry away in fear. Bully for him. I wasn’t normal.

  “One of Cole’s werewolves was killed in his home, and Jacy was abducted tonight.” I stepped closer to the vampire and her
head jerked upright, hunger shining in her eyes. “Would you know something about that? Which werewolf betrayed us?”

  “What?” Halvar’s eyes widened, his look of shock too perfect to be an act. I could eliminate him as a possible suspect. Not that I’d pegged him as the villain. Stealing Jacy and killing Lena wouldn’t help his cause; plus he lacked the required claws and teeth.

  The vampire chuckled. “My sire has no use for a werewolf except to bleed the abomination dry. Disgusting, foul creatures.”

  “Oh yeah, you’re one to talk. Have you looked in a mirror lately? Can vampires see their reflections? I’ve always wondered.” I kept my tone conversational. “There’s so much I don’t know about you guys, like why you’re so damn obsessed with me. Come on, help a girl out.”

  “Give yourself over to Maxwell and he’ll answer all your questions.” A sly smile curved her lips and she leaned forward, like she wanted to impart a secret. I didn’t take the bait. Her gaze flicked to my neck, then back to my eyes. “He’s made you powerful. And delicious. A fitting queen.”

  “How long she has been under the light? She’s delusional.” I took a step back and bumped into the closed door behind me. Her words stirred hazy images, like a long-forgotten dream. Or a nightmare. A werewolf attacking me, a vampire gorging on my blood, foul liquid forced down my throat.

  “You remember him.” Her cackle filled the room, echoing off the steel. “He remembers you and he wants you back.”

  “You’re a fucking liar!” I had my knife out and against her throat before my mind caught up with my actions. Chest heaving, heart pounding, I pressed against her leathery skin until deep red blood welled up against my blade. “Tell me the truth or I’ll carve your face from your skull.”

  Halvar shifted and I snarled at him. I was through with half-truths and evasions. If he got in my way, I’d grind him into the ground as well. He lifted his hands in a gesture of peace and remained against the wall.

  “Oh no, I’m not stopping you, just getting more comfy. I’m interested in where this’ll lead. We don’t have much information about Maxwell.” His lips quirked upwards in a hard smile. A test. He wanted to see if I could interrogate the vampire, if I had the stomach for it.