When Wolves Howl: A Mayhem of Magic World Story (Bedlam in Bethlehem Book 2)

by Nicole Zoltack

  “Fresh blood?” he asks urgently.

  “Not exactly. Dead blood?” I shrug.

  He breathes a little easier. “You do realize what you’re doing, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  Blake laughs. “No, you don’t. I’d wish you good luck, but it’d be wasted on you. If I see you again, I’ll die of shock.”

  “I’ll just have to have a rum and coke before I bury your dead body then,” I quip.

  He stares me down, his face an indifferent mask. Then he holds out his hand.

  At first, I think it’s because he wants to shake, but he pushes something into my hand.

  I open my palm to see a vial containing a gray substance.

  When I look up again, he’s several rows away. Feeling puzzled, I watch him leave. He’s a mystery, one I can’t quite figure out. Will I see him again?

  Maybe, but only if I take down Amarok.

  Chapter 28

  The wind has kinda gone out of my sails. I don’t want to return to my empty house, though, so I call up Samantha. It goes to voicemail. I hope she’s out having fun with that cover model of hers.

  Hands shoved deep in my pockets, I walk back to my car, head down. I made a big mistake losing the bone dagger. How am I supposed to kill Amarok the terrible zombie vamp wolf without it? The bullet only renders him unconscious!

  An idea comes to me. It’s reckless and dangerous. My ideas lately almost always are. But it’s the best I can come up with.

  I check the backseat of my car. Empty. Good. Behind the wheel, I don’t start up the car. After locking the doors, I check on Google for the largest most indestructible metal cages. Taking the reviews into account, I purchase one and, wincing at the surcharge, opt for overnight shipping. It should be delivered tomorrow if I’m lucky.

  One of these days, my luck is going to run out. Until then, I’ll take down all the goons I can, whether human or vamp or wolf.

  The next day is Saturday. I cannot tell you how happy I am for the weekend to arrive. I’m even more excited when the cage arrives. The box is too big for me to fit inside my house. Fitting it inside my car isn’t an easy task either.

  The park is closed to the public, the crime scene tape still up from the staked vamp head. I’m not sure how Rex and the lieutenant took the news about it. I’m so far out of the loop that I’m not even on the line anymore. Am I freezing myself out? Isolating myself? Going rogue?

  Is this how Blake Damon feels all the time?

  Moving swiftly and efficiently, I erect the cage and drape a black blanket over top. It’s way too big to be completely covered. When darkness blights the city, only a small portion of the bars will glisten in the starlight.

  I go about my day normally enough, killing time until it’s twilight when I return to the park. Do I feel resentment that I’m here alone? I don’t blame Blake for leaving. He’s obviously a nomad. Frankly, I’m surprised he stuck around as long as he did.

  Rolf, though, yes, I’m frustrated and agitated that he’s leaving all of this on my shoulders. And then he has the gall to try and kill me? It’s unforgivable.

  The other wolves are lying low, trying to remain alive. I don’t blame them. Then again, Rolf is trying to ensure that the wolves and humans won’t be targeted ever again. He wants the terrible, vicious cycle to end.

  So do I.

  Alone or not, I’ll do it. I’ll try at least. How many goons have I arrested? I haven’t killed anyone yet, but it’s not for lack of trying. If I had silver bullets earlier, you can be sure I would’ve killed a lot more vamps by now.

  I’m in the park, not anywhere close to where I erected the cage. A lone wolf howls. Somehow, I know it’s not from Amarok. I can’t explain it. Just another radar, I guess.

  All night long, I pace the park, looking for signs of Amarok. There hadn’t been earlier when Diego and I searched. Hopefully, the staked vamp means he’s lurking nearby, even if he’s moved his base.

  The stars are my only companions. Fear fills me every time a twig snaps or leaves rustle, but the owls hoot all night long. Amarok isn’t here. I’ve wasted my time.

  Well, then, I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again.

  I’ll lure out vamps and use one to get to my real target.

  Who knew vamps could actually do some good?

  Chapter 29

  This time around, locating a vamp proves near impossible. I drive around all of the cemeteries in Bethlehem. No fog. Next, I go from park to park, considering one had been found in a park. Granted, Amarok might’ve and probably did the beheading elsewhere.

  Man, if he can take the head off a vamp, what all can he do to me?

  Don’t think about it, Clarissa.

  At a red light, I glance around. I’m well in the heart of the Southside, near where I grew up, actually. Should I just go home?

  And give up? That’s not my style.

  Where else can I check?

  I pull over and risk calling the station. I’m frustrated, but I’m not so pigheaded or too embarrassed to ask for help.

  “Hi, this is Clarissa. Do you think you could run a quick check for me? Let me know if there have been any reported animal attacks in Allentown, Easton, Hellertown, anywhere nearby.”

  Karen Highbred clucks her tongue. “You mean vampire attacks. Or do you really mean animal attacks? What animal do you think it is? Everyone here is convinced it’s not another vampire killing the people.”

  “Oh, you know. Theories. Nothing substantial,” I say indifferently.

  Clicks and clacks sound over the line. She’s furiously typing away.

  “Let’s see… there was one in Hellertown last night near the caves.”

  Lost River Caverns. A natural limestone cavern. I went on a field trip there in grade school. There are five chambers. It’s really pretty but cold and damp.

  “Thanks.”

  I’m about to hang up when she surprises me by asking, “Are you all right?”

  I blink. Karen is a rather private person. She doesn’t give many details about herself. She’s the kind of person who refuses to talk about or post pictures of her kids online. I’m not even sure how many kids she has. Because she’s so isolated, she doesn’t ask people questions about their own lives.

  “I’ll be fine,” I say once I recover from my shock.

  “Just be careful. I don’t know what you’re planning, but you should at least call Angelo. Or Diego. Or Rex. Someone. You’re working this alone, aren’t you?”

  “I never pegged you for the silent but soaking in every detail type,” I joke.

  She hangs up.

  Okay…

  I brush off her abruptness and head to 412 and Hellertown. No way am I going to explore the caverns at night, but Hellertown has plenty of parks. There’s also a cemetery right on Main Street.

  It’s not a long drive to reach it. Traffic is light. The Crossroads is still awake yet, closing soon, though. The smell of cheesesteaks and pizza fill my car as I drive by, stirring my growing hunger. Nope, not gonna stop. I’ll survive waiting for another day for their delicious food.

  If I have another day to enjoy it.

  Think positive.

  The closer I get to the cemetery, the more anxious and even eager I feel. I can do this. I will do this.

  Sure enough, the unnatural fog settles over Union Cemetery. Armed with only my flashlight, I make my way out of my car.

  Before I even step foot off the sidewalk, the air rushes around me, and a vamp stands before me. His red eyes glow like rubies in the darkness of the night.

  “You’re something stupid for showing up here, aren’t you?”

  My heartbeat rises with surprise rather than fear. I hold out my hands and slowly twirl around. “Unarmed,” I announce.

  “Even stupider than I thought.” The words drip with disgust.

  The vamp leans in close, sniffing at my neck. He’s only a few inches taller than my five-seven frame. I’m too nice to shine the flashlight directly at
his face, so I can’t tell what exactly he looks like.

  “Stupid. Reckless. Willing to walk on the wild side. All of the above.” I appraise him as much as I can for him being in the shadows. “What about you?”

  The vamp says nothing, just flashes his fangs. If he’s trying for intimidation, it’s not working on me. Just like all the others, he’s not making a move to bite me, to kill me. Thankfully, unlike the powerful one who broke into my house, this one doesn’t seem to want to hurt me either.

  “We have a common enemy,” I continue calmly.

  All right. I do feel a small twinge of fright. While I’m convinced the vamp won’t kill me, if someone else happens by, he or she might not be so lucky.

  “You really don’t understand. Vampires have no enemies. We eat them all.”

  “Tell that to the vamp whose head was staked in a nearby park,” I say critically.

  The vamp’s eyes narrow with loathing. “Amarok,” he breathes.

  “He’s an enemy, right?”

  Air blows out of the vamp’s nose. Are they alive? Undead? I’m not sure, and I’m not about to ask. Curiosity killed the cat, and I don’t have nine lives.

  “You don’t want to become the next victim, right? If you want to make sure that no other vamps are staked next, why don’t you walk on the wild side with me?”

  “You want me to be bait,” he says slowly.

  “So he’s not as stupid as he looks.”

  He grips me by the throat. His hand is like an icicle. Dead. He’s dead. He has to be. No one can be that cold and live. How is his skin not black with frostbite?

  “I can snap your neck right now.” Anger and frustration bleed into his words.

  “Go for it.” It’s a struggle to get the words out. I can hardly breathe.

  His grip tightens even more.

  “Hellertown’s such a small place. Are you sure you want to live here? Or are you just passing through because you feel like you can’t hang around? Don’t you want to live where you want to?”

  “Outside of Bethlehem, right?” With an awful, terrible scowl, the vamp drops me.

  I can’t help rubbing my throat. “Yes,” I admit. “Outside of Bethlehem. If we do this, I have to be able to trust you and you me. If you help me with Amarok, you have to promise to promise you won’t drink or kill anyone in Bethlehem.”

  “You have to give me something in return. Bethlehem is off limits, but Hellertown is fair game.” His eyes glitter like red portals to Hell.

  Provoked, I want to lash out. I want to dive back into my car, retrieve my gun, and kill him. One silver bullet would do it.

  When Amarok is dealt with, I’m gonna talk to Rex and the lieutenant about the government. It’s not fair to keep Bethlehem safe while the rest of the country remains fertile ground for vamps to terrorize. Make that the rest of the world.

  For right now, though, my hands are tied.

  “Bethlehem is off limits,” I stress.

  The vamp chuckles with a delight I resent.

  “What’s the plan?” the vamp asks.

  “Climb in.”

  Only time will tell if this is a huge mistake, but I have to have hope. Bethlehem remains in bedlam because of a terrible, frightening monster. If I have to enlist the aid of another terrible, frightening creature to get rid of one threat, I’ll do it.

  I’m trying to have confidence, but I can’t help feeling a little skeptical. Maybe I should’ve called Diego and the others.

  No. I won’t risk their lives. It’s all on me.

  And this vamp.

  God help us all.

  Chapter 30

  We drive over to South Mountain Park. The empty roads please me. Maybe everything will go smoothly.

  Yeah, right.

  I can’t be optimistic right now.

  “Can you guarantee my safety?” the vamp asks, shattering the silence.

  Coughing, I hide a smile behind my hand. Is he anxious? I guess I can’t blame him.

  “Can you guarantee mine?” I return.

  “I don’t care about your life,” he says, indifferent.

  “Feeling’s mutual,” I mutter as I climb out.

  “What was that?” he snaps.

  Do vamps not have supersonic hearing?

  Instantly, he stands before me. “If you think to double cross me—“

  “Don’t threaten me.” My hands close into fists.

  Brushing aside my disapproval, I retrieve my gun.

  He bristles.

  “Relax. It’s for Amarok.” I swallow hard. “You lure him out. I’ll do the rest.”

  “A simple bullet—“

  “Who said anything about a simple bullet?” I ask quietly.

  The vamp appraises me skeptically before nodding. “I am Zeke.”

  “Cl—“

  “I know who you are. And I also know that your cop friend likes to come to Hellertown. Your doctor friend goes to Easton at times. Your—“

  “I thought I said not to threaten me!”

  He smiles, malice in his eyes. “Be careful who your friends are.”

  “You aren’t a friend, Zeke.”

  The vamp slowly stalks away, and I realize he doesn’t mean him.

  He means that I shouldn’t have friends.

  Yeah, well, I feel isolated enough at times as it is. I need my friends to keep me going. This job can be all-consuming. It can devour you alive.

  And that’s even when vamps and wolves weren’t on the playing field.

  You’re not worthless. You’re not powerless. You can do this. Have hope. Have some courage.

  I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths before opening them again.

  The vamp is walking so slowly that I can watch. His movements are jerky and strange. Maybe he’s not used to going anywhere at human speed.

  Perturbed, I trail after him but at a distance. I don’t want Amarok to catch my scent. Luckily, there’s no wind tonight, not even a hint of a breeze.

  On the drive over, I detailed the plan. I instruct where I wanted the vamp to go, namely not anywhere close to the cage.

  Suddenly, clouds roll in. Snow begins to fall. Bizarrely, thunder roars and lightning flashes.

  A thundersnow? Is that even real? I blink in dismay. Great. Just what we need.

  Another strike of lightning, and now a dark form stands on a nearby hill. Amarok. He’s even taller than I remember, an animal born of muscle and brute might.

  A growling roar sounds, drowning out the thunder as he streaks toward the waiting vamp. I line up directly behind Zeke, gun raised.

  The ground vibrates with each heavy pawfall. It’s a struggle to maintain my balance, but I manage. Amarok is so close to Zeke. The vamp should have moved out of the line of shot by now! What is he doing?

  I whistle softly, but the crack of roaring thunder drowns me out. A flash of lightning appears, and in that second, Amarok leaps on top of the vamp.

  For a moment, one terrible moment, I considering allow Amarok to kill the vamp. Even if the vamp is a killer, we’ve teamed up for this venture.

  A few more steps forward and I aim. The storm is louder and fiercer now, more powerful. When another flash of lightning comes, I fire my shot.

  The blood bullet lands square between Amarok’s eyes.

  The wolf doesn’t whimper or howl. Its eyes roll back, and he collapses.

  All in all, that went better than I could have hoped.

  Chapter 31

  The storm rages for a long time. I drag, shove, push, and yank. Finally, Amarok no longer rests on top of Zeke.

  I dash over to him. The vamp doesn’t seem to be breathing. The thunder and lightning part of the storm has ended, so it’s hard to see Zeke’s face.

  Kneeling in the snow, I reach for him. His eyes pop open so suddenly that I fall back.

  He gets up and vamps away, although his speed isn’t as fast as normal. I can just make out the blur of his shape.

  The snow is stained with blood. Zeke is injured
. Bitten? What happens if a vamp is bitten by a wolf that can cause humans to become bloodthirsty themselves?

  Swallowing back guilt and fear, I resume my duties. It’s difficult maneuvering Amarok to my cage, and I’m terrified he’ll wake up before I can secure him. Just as the sun begins to rise, painting the early morning sky with pinks and yellows, I lock the cage.

  Ready to collapse with relief and joy, I sit down in front of the cage, leaning against the metal bars. My fingers are bright red from the cold. I really need to try and locate matching gloves. Either that or just wear mismatched ones. There’s no point in buying new ones. I’ve been losing gloves since my mom bought my first pair.

  My fingers hardly bend as I call Rex. Boy, is he going to love this.

  “Tempest.” His voice is filled with contempt and loathing. “What is going on with you? I’m sick of you hiding behind Diego. He’s my partner, not yours. I have half a mind—”

  “I have something to say that might change your mood.” I grin, my breath a fog.

  “You finally located Blake Damon?” he asks eagerly.

  “I’ve located and captured something better,” I announce smugly.

  His sigh is almost tragic. “Where are you?”

  “Diego knows whereabouts.”

  “Of course he does.” He hangs up.

  Adrenaline must be running out because I’m dozing. My phone ringing startles me awake.

  “Hello?” I ask groggily.

  “Just tell me where you are,” Rex says. He sounds fit to be tied.

  “Where’s Diego?” I ask, confused.

  “Where are you? What did you capture? A vampire?”

  “N-Not exactly,” I hedge.

  Sudden worry twists my belly. Anxious, I rush to my feet and shove my hands into my pockets. Even though it’s painful, I try to open and close my fingers to bring some blood to them.

  “Tempest, I need you to start talking, and I need you to start talking now.”