Blood Wars: Book 4 (The Talisman Series)

by Brenda Pandos

  “Wait,” I said pointing. “Look.”

  Steam rose from the ashes before the blood began to boil and catch on fire. The growing whirlwind made standing difficult as we watched. In the middle of the vortex, the particles formed into that of a body before the wind died down. The ash cracked off her revealing pink skin.

  “Wow,” Luke said behind me.

  I startled, then shooed him away. “You’re supposed to stay outside!”

  “I am.” He stood on his tiptoes, one foot in the room and the other out.

  “Come on, kid.” Harry’s hands pulled him all the way out.

  I kicked the door shut. Katie coughed and rolled over, clutching her stomach. I threw the blanket over her body, then followed with the net.

  “What’s this?” She lifted her hand feebly, then pulled it back. “Owww!”

  “I don’t trust you,” I said.

  She stared at me with utter fear, then broke into sobs. Bloody tears poured from her eyes. “Oh, Julia. You did it. You brought me back. Thank you! I’m so sorry for everything I did. You have no idea what it’s like there.” Rolling onto her knees, she winced at the barbs piercing her flesh, but bowed low anyway. “I’m forever in your debt. Thank you for showing mercy. I’m here to serve you.”

  I blinked at her in shock, not expecting this reaction. “Uh…”

  Mimi leaned over, syringe in hand. “May I?” She had a suspicious gleam in her eye.

  Katie’s eyes widened. “No-o-o-o! I promise to be good!” She wailed like a toddler, inching her knees backward. “Please!”

  Mimi hesitated, eyeing Katie with compassion.

  “Give me that.” Nicholas leaned forward to snag the syringe from Mimi.

  Mimi pulled her hand back, then tossed the syringe aside. She lunged toward Katie’s prostrate body. “Bite me! Now!”

  Katie stopped and made motion to catch her, but Nicholas hooked Mimi around her waist and stopped them from making contact.

  Mimi kicked and screamed. “Stop it! Let me go!”

  I ran to fetch the syringe. We were running out of time.

  Katie’s blood stained cheeks and the taste of repentance on my tongue made me hesitate. “Please stop! You’ll regret this! They’ll make you pay, when you die!”

  She shrieked and morphed into a white cat, disappearing under the blanket. The flopping fabric began to drift away from me.

  “Hold still!”

  I grabbed onto the blanket, trapping her in place. The venom in the net singed my hand, but I plunged the needle into her scrawny ass anyway. She shrieked and scratched me through the blanket, then lay still. Terrified she was faking, I waited.

  “Did it work?” Phil asked.

  Nicholas stood off to the side, holding his hand over Mimi’s mouth. She looked on with sad eyes.

  I shrugged and waited for flames, for the acrid smell of smoke. After nothing happened, I lifted the net and blanket off of her. Katie in cat-form lay sprawled out on the ground. Drool ran from her quivering mouth.

  “Anyone know where the knife went?” I asked.

  Phil dropped the prod and picked up Katie’s small furry body. He pulled a knife from his belt. “I’ve got it.”

  Mimi wiggled free from Nicholas’ grasp and marched out of the room with a huff, throwing open the door. It hit the wall with a loud clang.

  I stared at Phil for a minute. A trail of clean skin marred his lovely face. He had that look that said I could never tell Sam about our kiss. And in no way did I want to. Regardless of our mistake, the love he had for her was deeper than our friendship. He loved her like Nicholas loved me, and that’s what I wanted for us.

  I bowed my head in respect of that, and took Nicholas’ hand.

  “Let’s go.”

  We walked out of the room and closed the door.

  AFTERMATH

  Once Phil fully resurrected Sam, Nicholas and I disappeared into a vacant office, unable to keep our hands off each other. The thrill of freedom of his mother’s tyranny made me feel things for him I couldn’t quench.

  “Hey!” Harry called. “We have work to do! Get your scrawny ass out here, Nicky!”

  I snickered as he put his finger up to my lips. “Shhh.”

  “We should go,” I said.

  “Really?” he whined. “Why can’t they deal with it?”

  “I’m the Queen.”

  “Of what? Sam?”

  I rolled my eyes. “There’s a whole room full of vamps we need to deal with.”

  He sighed and held me tighter. “Let’s just put them to sleep.”

  I guffawed. “You know we can’t do that, besides, I don’t think I have enough sleeping serum.”

  He laughed. “Well, that’s no fun.”

  “Work now, fun later.” I tugged his hand. “Come on let’s go.”

  After cataloging everyone’s ashes, we put them in mason jars and stored them in a locked cabinet. Though I’d wanted to give Alora’s a proper send off at sea, Nicholas asked that I keep her with the others. Rachel, Cain, and Katie were encased behind cement fused with venom. We couldn’t chance any of them waking up and getting free.

  The room of vampires I’d passed earlier was vacant, and no one knew where they’d escaped to. The only thing we had going was that they were sterile.

  “Looks like I’m back in business.” Harry cocked his crossbow and vowed to hunt them down.

  My parents, none the wiser, returned home with Luke, who was sworn to secrecy. I, on the other hand, decided to move into the mansion in order to keep my powers a mystery to my parents.

  After everyone left, Mimi, Phil, Sam, Nicholas, and I sat in the study and stared at one another. The humans were exhausted, while the rest of us were ready to take on the world.

  “So when’s it my turn?” Mimi finally asked.

  Everyone turned to look at me. I sighed and held onto Nicholas’ hand tight. Around my neck was the coveted talisman, warming on my skin.

  “For now,” I said, “I’m going to take things one day at a time.”

  “What?” Mimi gave Phil a heated look. “Watch. I’ll leave and you’ll change him.”

  She gestured to Phil.

  ”Who said anything about being a vamp. Frankly, I like being human,” he said with a shrug.

  “There you have it,” I clarified. “Besides more vamps means more babysitting.”

  “Ooh.” Mimi huffed and stormed from the room, slamming the front door behind her

  “Meems has had quite a few disappointments in the past few days,” Phil said with a crooked smile.

  “I wish I could trade with her,” Sam said wistfully. “Though…” She gave Nicholas a look.

  He quirked his head. “Do you want to tell them?”

  She bit her lip to hide her smile. “Do you think they’re ready?”

  My stomach dropped. “Tell us what?”

  Nicholas shrugged, still staring at Sam with starry eyes. “Do you think they can handle it?”

  Phil sat up. “Handle what?”

  Sam’s lips turned up. “I… well, we… we weren’t in hell.”

  “What?” Phil’s glance whipped between the two of them. “I’ve been busting my balls this entire time to save you from—where were you?”

  “I don’t know,” Sam said wistfully. “But… it was nice.”

  “Nice?” My eyebrows scrunched together. That’s what Nicholas had said. “Nice? Like how nice?”

  “Nice enough that I’d like to go back, just not without you.” Nicholas squeezed my hand. “I mean, when it’s time, as long as you don’t go to the dark side you’re going to love it.”

  “Love it?” Phil said, incredulous. “I die and go to hell, and you get some kind of vamp luxury vacation?”

  Sam trailed her fingers down his leg. “Well, maybe if you’re good this time, you’ll get the golden ticket.”

  He turned to her, speechless. She took her hand and pressed against his chest, pushing him into the couch. Within seconds her teeth were on hi
s neck.

  He sighed in relief and pulled her close.

  Nicholas stood and took my hand. “Maybe they want some privacy.”

  He tilted his head toward the door. I smiled and followed, hoping we needed some privacy, too.

  Just as we left the study, someone pounded on the door.

  “Nice timing,” I complained “Who could that be?”

  “Let’s ignore it,” Nicholas said with a coy smile, leading me up the stairs.

  They pounded again, demanding we open up.

  Nicholas stopped and shook his head. “It’s probably Harry. Let me get rid of him.”

  I smiled as he leapt over the banister and landed on the bottom floor.

  He pulled the door open. “What?”

  Preston stood on the porch, eyes wide. In his hand he held up a newspaper.

  “Did you see this?”

  I flew over the to read the headline.

  BLOOD SUCKING SATAN WORSHIPERS TAKE CITY HOSTAGE.

  “Oh, shit,” Nicholas mumbled.

  I shook my head and sighed. “Sam! Phil! We have to go. Minion emergency!”

  Nicholas laced his hand in mine and squeezed. “No rest for the wicked, right?”

  I relaxed in his peaceful aura and shrugged. “I guess not.”

  “You driving?” Phil landed me a smug smile as he walked into the entryway. His new vampire transformation looked good on him—dark sultry eyes, blonde hair, surfer build.

  “I guess so.” I tried not to gawk, instead rolling my eyes. Like magic, his feet lifted off the floor. “Well, look at you.”

  He winked and took Sam into his arms. She squealed as he flew them outside.

  Preston ducked out of the way. “Well, honestly!”

  Outside Phil kept talking, “Welcome to D’Elia air. Please stay attached to the vehicle at all times. In case of a water landing, use your neighbor as a flotation device.”

  Sam chuckled and the sound cleansed me.

  “You need to mind the fort, okay Dad?” Nicholas said, handing him the keys. “Just so you know, Mom’s ashes are buried in the basement.”

  Preston’s eyes grew wide. “How did that happen?”

  “Long story. I’ll tell you when we get back.”

  Preston’s eyes zipped between the two of us, filled with confusion. Then they landed on the person who appeared behind us.

  Slide cleared his throat. “Everything okay here?”

  I turned and smiled, glad we unilaterally decided to give him a third chance. “Just need to do some clean-up. This is Preston, Nicholas’ dad. Keep an eye on things while we’re gone, will ya?”

  Nicholas clapped his terrified dad on the back. “It’ll be fine. Slide will keep watch. Just don’t let anyone, especially Mimi have access to the lab.”

  “The lab?”

  Nicholas sighed. “It’s down in the basement. Here.” He pressed a few buttons on the keypad next to the door. A woman started counting down. “The perimeter is now armed.”

  I tugged on Nicholas’ hand and pulled him outside. We were running out of time, sun-wise.

  “Thanks,” I said quickly before jumping into the air.

  Nicholas kissed my lips and grinned sheepishly.

  “What?” I asked.

  “So… I was wondering… What’s the inflight entertainment?”

  A giggle busted from my smiling lips. “Well, I don’t know.”

  He kissed me again. “You’re such a tease.”

  “How about this,” I said with a wink before whispering in his ear.

  He grinned. “Sounds perfect.”

  And we flew off together under the full moon.

  THE END

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Brenda Pandos is the author of eight paranormal/sci-fi books, The Talisman Series and Mer Tales, and Brighton Zombies. She lives in California with her husband, eight chickens and a grumpy cat, and loves to be contacted by readers.

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  OTHER BOOKS BY BRENDA

  YA Paranormal Romance

  The Emerald Talisman

  The Sapphire Talisman

  The Onyx Talisman

  Out for Blood – Phil’s Story

  Talisman Serials

  Blood Wars

  YA Urban Fantasy

  Everblue free!

  Evergreen

  Everlost

  YA/NA Post-Apocalypse Dystopian

  Glitch

  Switch (coming soon)

  EXCERPT OF GLITCH

  CHAPTER ONE

  The soft cheers of fans in the bleachers floated around me, as I stood planted in right field, waiting for the next batter. My brain was elsewhere. Actually, my eyes were fixed on my watch latched onto my wrist, resting just above my softball glove. Green glowing letters read: sixty-five years, three months, five days, eight hours, ten minutes and 13, 12, 11 seconds; the time I had until I died. With a slow breath, I tried not to think too deeply about how long or short that truly was, otherwise the stress might subtract a few days.

  Instead, I gained comfort in its steady ticking, second by second. There was the promise I’d live a long life and hopefully see wonderful new advances in Brighton, marry for love, and have a few kids. The thought made me smile. Then suddenly, the time flashed red numerals zipping down to ten minutes.

  “Abby, heads up!”

  With a squeal, I glanced up and raised my glove to catch a pop fly mid-air, stopping the ball from pummeling into my skull.

  Holy baseballs!

  Above my head, like magic, my wrist glowed sixty-five years again, minus a few months. With a deep exhale and a pounding pulse, I chucked the ball toward Yara, who jumped up and down like she had to pee.

  She tagged the runner out at second and the team cheered, praising our double play. But all I could do was blink. I’d almost died. Right there. In right field. Died.

  Out of the corner of my eye, Elle, my best friend, gave me the look—the one that said, “What the heck?”

  I shrugged and smiled, then returned to my dented footprints in the grass and tried to shake off the dread pulsing in my veins.

  It had been a while since I’d had a near death experience—a year to the day actually—and if I didn’t pull my head out of the clouds and back into the game, I might not experience what was really bothering me.

  Being the youngest, I was the last on the team to attend the acclaimed Brighton ritual for all eighteen-year-olds. Through the brilliant invention of a wrinkle in time, everyone had one opportunity to glean wisdom from the future and sit before their 38-year-old self and partake in ten minutes of their knowledge.

  My older teammates had said the meeting was no big deal, really. But whatever their future self, or Co
mpliment, had said to them, which they couldn’t share, had subtly changed them. Like Trinity, for example, who’d become so thin I worried she’d blow over on a windy day and Addison had become totally OCD about sunscreen. I don’t even want to mention Reagan, who cried for a month. And Elle, who I thought would tell me everything, turned broody and sarcastic—well, more so than she already was. All she’d leaked was that her future self was just like she was now—just old and boring. I knew different. Something horrible had transpired, and no matter how much I’d prodded, she wouldn’t budge. So, the thought of the meeting terrified me.

  Of course, all conversation between Compliment and youth was typed and monitored via computer before the knowledge was shared for fear the time continuum would warp like it had when Jimmy Valentine told himself the winner of the Brighton World Series. The Elected Agency (or the EA as we all called them) now had safe guards. Computer programs compared statements and guessed how history would alter from the knowledge, and approved or declined the information. If they found something improper slipped through anyway, the recipient was given mind-erasing drugs so they wouldn’t know anything different.

  But what could my Compliment possibly say so I’d be a better civilian? Ever since I could read, I’d memorized Brighton’s Civilian Handbook and followed every rule faithfully. I’d also watched my DOD (date of death) watch like a hawk, careful to learn from what altered my time and vowed not to repeat stuff that gave bad consequences. Eat healthy. Go to bed at a decent hour. Avoid stress. Obey my parents. If the EA needed someone to depict as Brighton’s finest, I could be their poster child. So why was I even going?

  Yara hadn’t. Her parents were part of the Emancipated Society, rebels of sorts who lived life absent of knowing their date of death and championed people to no-show their Advice Meeting. They’d also blacked out the faces of their EA required watches with special paint. The notion sent my nerves on edge. How could they trust fate like that? What if a bad decision killed them? Like just now… in right field.