by Jenn Windrow
“You don’t know why she does what she does.”
“Terrance told me she does it so she can become human again. Is that true?” Her voice rose and I assumed she was addressing me.
“Yes.” I didn’t offer an explanation, she didn’t deserve one.
“But why? Why give up all your power. Why turn yourself into something so weak?”
Such a shame that one twisted vampire turned this girl into a human hating bigot with low morals and poor judgment. “You’re young, a baby compared to me. Someday you will learn that happiness can’t be bought with the power and control you have over other people.”
“Control keeps you from being weak, from being used.”
“If you’re hanging around the right people, then you won’t have to worry about being used.” I turned my head and glanced at her brother from the corner of my eye. “You need to find a better class of people to surround yourself with.”
“Who? Someone like you?” She sat back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest. “No thanks.”
Because a homicidal maniac was better than the vampire sitting next to her. “Julian, I hate to say it, but your sister might be a lost cause.”
Nathan harrumphed from the back. “Bloody sodding waste of flesh if you ask me.”
The GPS told me to turn left in one mile. I turned off the road before I hit the mile mark and cut the engine.
Before I stepped out of the car Julia grabbed my arm. “Please don’t kill Terrance.”
I removed her hand from my flesh. “If I have my way, he will be the first one I stake.” I slid out of the car and slammed the door.
“Nathan, head over and tell me what I’m about to walk into.” Nathan gave me an aye-aye captain salute and left.
For once I was thankful for Reaper’s trunk full of firepower. I rifled through the arsenal and slipped stakes and guns in all the appropriate places. There was nothing wrong with going in covered with enough weapons to take down a whole city.
Nathan’s voice preceded his ghostly form. “It’s bloody awful in there.”
“What’s going on?”
“The wankers have him hung up like a slab of beef. He’s still alive, but not for long if you don’t get in there and do something.”
I slid Reva into her sheath. “How many vamps?”
“Twelve vampires, four wolves guarding the front entrance and two at the rear.”
“I’ve seen worse,” the false bravado strong in my words. I started to the warehouse.
There was a commotion behind me. A scuffle, a scream, and a growl. I turned just in time to see a large wolf with soft pearl grey fur, flecked with black and brown, bust through the car door. Fur still damp from the change, ears pinned, fangs bared, anger radiating from its deep brown eyes. It charged at my throat.
Only two werewolves in the car and Julian stood there in shock. That left Julia. I held up my arm to block the attack, and she clamped down on my forearm, closing her teeth around it, with enough force to break the bone. I kicked her in the chest, and she yelped, tumbling backwards. Four large puncture wounds wrapped around my wrist, all oozing blood.
I pulled my dagger out of its sheath and waited for her to come at me again. She did, this time going for my ankles and legs. I dodged her teeth and claws and punched her in the head. She fell to the ground, and I placed my boot on her flanks, the tip of my sword at her throat.
Julian ran over, but he didn’t say anything. He just waited to see what my next move would be.
Blood dripped from my arm and fell to the ground. I wiped it on my jeans. “You’re lucky I have a complicated relationship with your brother.”
The wolf beneath my feet whined but didn’t try to move.
I looked at Julian. “Get her out of here.” I lifted my boot, and the wolf crawled on her belly, her head down low, over to her brother.
He reached down and grabbed her by the scruff, then looked at me. “I’m sorry,” he said. “For everything.” Then he dragged his sister along with him back to the car.
I called out to him. “You owe me an explanation when this is all over.”
He nodded. “I know, and I promise you’ll get it.”
“Were-bitch thought she would give you a toss?” Nathan asked with a smile in his voice.
I raised my arm and examined the already healing bite marks. “Stupid love-sick fool.” I let my arm drop back to my side. “If they know who Reaper is, they’ll be expecting me.” I nodded to the building. “What do you suggest?”
“Hike up your brass balls and walk right through the front door. Like you’re the Prime Minister and this is 10 Downing Street.”
Sometimes Nathan’s obscure English references were lost on me, but I got the idea.
He had a point, but I needed to tread carefully. I had Reaper to worry about. Barging through the front would give Terrance plenty of time to rip out his throat, and then I would fail my rescue mission. But then again, tearing four werewolves from tip to tail would show him exactly the kind of badass he was dealing with.
Decision made.
Give me control.
All I need is your normal boost of power. I can take on a pack of werewolves.
We’ll see.
The walk through the old warehouses with their broken windows and gratified bricks gave me the time I needed to come up with a plan. A good plan? Maybe not, but a plan.
The closer I got to the Blood Bank, the more intense the fire that traced my brand became. The redder the world looked. The longer my fangs grew. Eddie stirred just under the surface. Waiting. Anticipating the upcoming confrontation. For once I didn’t fight his presence.
I soaked in all the power Eddie had to offer.
There was a stack of empty crates under the window. I climbed up and hooked my hand over the edge of the window frame and peered inside.
Reaper hung upside down, fingers barely touching the filthy ground. A large cut on his forehead oozed blood, and two large fang marks marred his neck. Shit, they had fed from him.
Five humans, ranging in age and gender, hung next to him, all in the same predicament.
I sucked back the growl that wanted to escape. The anger that seeped in at seeing Reaper dangling. The urge to run through those doors and kick ass. But being rash and unprepared wouldn’t help me.
Instead, I assessed the situation.
Vampire guards stood with large rifles in their arms. Probably filled with silver bullets. Four fuzzy werewolves guarded the rear and paced back and forth in front of steel door. Ears perked, nails clicking on the pavement, and nostrils flared.
I spared one last glance into the window. A vampire stepped out from an office to the left, dragging another vampire covered in gaping cuts and dripping blood along with him. He threw the vamp across the room, and walked back to the row of humans hanging from the meat hooks.
“Five humans are all you could bring me?” His voice boomed through the nearly empty room. “Pathetic haul, and will in no way feed the fledglings.”
The vampire cringed in the corner, his voice as shaky as his legs. “I’m sorry, Terrance.”
My enemy.
From where I stood, he didn’t look like much. Six feet tall, thin, slicked back dark hair, and dark eyes to match. I’d met a thousand other vampires like him in my undead years. Although he did possess something the others hadn’t. Confidence. You could see it in the way he held his head with regal superiority. His pushed back shoulders. Chin tilted up. The curl to his lips, not a smile, not a smirk. Standing before me was a man who did not expect to lose this battle.
Terrance walked by the row of humans. He stopped in front of Reaper, bent down, and grabbed his chin between his fingers. “And you. What should I do with you?”
Reaper struggled under his touch, but Terrance didn’t let go.
“A slow death of blood loss is too good for you.” Terrance’s hand squeezed and Reaper cried out. “No. I need to find your weakness. Exploit it. Like you tried to exploit mine
.”
Shit.
Ten feet separated me from the front door and my rescue mission. I jumped from the crate, ready to barge in and help my partner. Took one silent step after another that would take me onto the battlefield, and stood next to the corner of the building, ready to take on the werewolf guards.
Out of nowhere, Julia rushed through the doors, screaming, “She’s here. Evil’s Assassin is here.”
Double shit.
Well, there went my entrance, my element of surprise, and my plan.
I crept back to my crates to see how Terrance reacted to Julia’s news.
Terrance released his hold on Reaper and walked over to the distraught Julia.
He wrapped her up in his arms. “You played your part perfectly, my tiny wolf.”
She melted into his arms, and soaked up his affections before she said, “My brother was with her. I had to fight him to get away. I came as soon as I could. She plans on killing you.”
His grip fell away from Julia and he walked back over to Reaper. He kneed him on the side of the head. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from a traitor of her kind. That’s why I have her partner. He’s my insurance policy.” He walked back to Julia and wrapped his arms back around her. “He’s human. She’ll do anything in her power to save him.” He stroked Julia’s face with the back of his hand. “And I’ll do everything in mine to make sure I see her dead before the night is out.”
Challenge accepted.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The hand that once caressed Julia’s cheek reeled back and slapped her. A slap so unexpected, she flew across the room and landed in a pile of old bloody rags. Her body lay limp for several seconds before she reached up and covered the already developing red marks with her hand. Tears rolled down her cheeks, highlighting the betrayal and hurt swimming in her eyes.
“Why?” I couldn’t tell what was shaking more, her hands or her voice.
Terrance turned on her, but didn’t go near her, instead he bellowed, “You’re not needed anymore. I’ve got the serum, the only thing you were good for.”
“But…but…you said you loved me.” She crawled on her knees like some sort of pathetic submissive creature. “You love me.” Her voice slow and low.
He marched across the room and snatched her by the arms, giving her a fang-rattling shake. “Stupid mongrel.” He released her and she crumpled to the ground at his feet. “I have about as much love for you as your own kind does.”
I’ll admit that Julia was not high on my list of people I wanted to sit across the table from at Thanksgiving dinner, but no one deserved to be treated like dirt. Used and discarded when they’re not wanted anymore.
Terrance gestured to one of his lackeys. “Bind and hang her.” Two vampires stepped forward and yanked her off her knees. They dragged her next to Reaper and tied her ankles and wrists. Once she was secure, Terrance turned his back on her.
Julia fought against the ties. “No, please don’t.”
The vampires flipped her over and hung her on the empty hook next to Reaper. She struggled, moving the chain, bumping into him.
“Terrance, Terrance.” Her screams and pleas fell on uninterested ears.
Terrance turned, walked over and knelt down next to her. His hand cupped her chin. “Maybe just one last taste. I love the kick your werewolf blood delivers. The power that flows from your body to mine.” He licked his lips and plunged his fangs into her neck. There was nothing sweet or kind about the way he tore into her throat. The bite was savage and brutal.
Julia wailed and then passed out. Terrance lifted his head from her neck, her blood dripping down his chin. Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket, he wiped away the dribbles, then stepped close to Reaper. “You and I are going to have a little chat.”
Reaper spit at Terrance, a glob of mucus mixed with blood hung off the vampire’s shirtfront. Terrance’s hand reached out and smacked Reaper across the face, sending him swinging from side to side.
“Human filth,” Terrance spat.
“Vampire vermin,” Reaper retorted.
“I’ll not be the vermin for much longer. Soon, your kind will bow to me. Right after I slaughter the Sovereign Body.”
“It’ll never happen,” Reaper said.
“Oh?” Terrance raised one eyebrow in question.
“Alexis will stop you.”
Terrance stopped Reaper’s still swaying body, and forced him to meet his eyes. “No. Evil’s Assassin won’t be alive long enough to stop me.”
“You’re not strong enough to kill her.”
“It doesn’t matter if I am strong enough. I have you. I have it under great authority she is willing to sacrifice herself for those she cares for. Does she care enough about you to lay her life on the line?”
Reaper’s laughter started out silent and slow, but soon turned into a great big gafaw. “Alexis won’t sacrifice herself for me. We don’t have that kind of relationship.”
The words rolled so effortlessly from Reaper’s lips, I wondered if he actually believed them to be true. We’ve had our differences, but no matter how badly he treated me I would never leave him to this fate.
“Someone get me a knife.” Terrance looked around the room until one of the waiting vampires brought him over a serrated blade. “Time to gather some information about your co-worker.”
“Alexis, do something,” Nathan prompted from beside me.
From inside I heard Reaper growl, “I won’t tell you anything, even if you cut off my balls.”
“Well, that’s an interesting suggestion.” Terrance moved to unbuckle Reaper’s belt.
Lucifer’s hairy balls. Things just got serious.
I jumped off the crates and crept along the wall, careful to stay in the shadows. through the four angry werewolves covering the front door. I just hoped the noise distracted Terrance enough that he left Reaper alone until I made it inside.
“Nathan, keep an eye on Reaper. Tell me if Terrance does anything to him.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Train a few dogs, then come in and save the day.”
Nathan walked through the wall and disappeared.
Let’s go protect your partner’s manhood. Eddie pushed more power between our bond. I felt energized. Unstoppable. Invincible.
I stepped out of the shadows and stood in front of the first set of doors. The wolves were standing in the foyer, just beyond them. I stuck my fingers in my mouth and let out a loud whistle, guaranteed to get the dogs attention. I pulled Reva out of her sheath and placed her firmly in my right hand. Then I braced myself for an onslaught of fur and fangs.
Four large wolves burst through the doors and growled. They split up and circled around me, inching closer, chests low to the ground, stalking me. Trying to intimidate me. I had to admit it was working.
The pale beige werewolf off to my left moved fast, clasping his jaws over my forearm with such force I half expected it to be hanging by nothing but muscle. I jabbed my finger into his crystal blue eye. He yelped and let go. I took a second to glance and make sure my arm was still intact. It was, but now it looked like a Rottweiler’s chew toy. The wolf charged, but this time I was prepared and drew my blade across its neck sending an arc of blood into the sky. His body fell to the ground. One dead dog.
The second and third wolves, one a reddish brown, the other a salt and pepper grey, decided to attack at the same time. The red wolf went for my legs, trying to knock me off my feet. Too many years of sparring with Reaper prepared me for that move, so I sidestepped and watched him slide past me, his nails digging into the ground, kicking up tiny cyclones of dirt.
The grey wolf leapt four feet off the ground, front paws landing on my chest, knocking me to my back. Reva slipped out of my hand and skidded out of reach.
Mr. Fuzzy-and-Furious pinned me. His rotted yellow teeth just centimeters away from my jugular, and the putrid drool dropping onto my neck. His breath was rank, like death. The other two wolves moved close, the
one holding me down bared his teeth and growled. They both backed off, but circled close by.
My hands were pinned between my thighs and the wolf’s feet. I bent my leg and brought the top of my boot close to my hands. My fingers brushed the top of the stake and slid it out of the sheath.
Slowly, ever so slowly, my arm inched toward my target and finally I jammed the stake up into the soft off-white fur that covered his belly. Pushing hard, driving it through the flesh, and sent him howling, with my stake stuck in his skin. I pulled a silver blade out of my pants and threw it. Watched it arch in the air and landed in the wolf’s chest up to the hilt. He fell over. Dead.
Walking over, I nudged the furry carcass with the tip of my boot before removing my stake. The two remaining wolves sat back on their hunches and howled. A deep, long song to honor the dead.
Their song finished and the largest grey wolf looked at me, something almost human glittered in his eyes. Quickly replaced with anger so severe I knew he was contemplating all the ways he would make me suffer.
The last two wolves pounced. I grabbed the grey one around the head and twisted. His spine cracked, and his held flopped to the side without the bone to help hold it up.
The final, tawny colored wolf circled me, smarter than his friends, looking for an opening, or waiting for me to make a mistake. I was too smart for that. I stood up. Faced him. Gave him a come and get it gesture.
He ran past my left side, and I reached out and grabbed him by the back leg, and pulled him close. He howled and kicked. His nails digging into my flesh, forcing me to let go or lose my hand. He ran across the empty yard, turned and stared me down. I couldn’t read the emotion in his eyes or the look on his face. I wasn’t Doctor Doolittle, but I knew pissed off when I saw it. That wolf was pissed. In one fluid motion he ran the distance between us, ears pinned, teeth showing.
He got closer and closer, then pushed off the ground into the air. I moved before his feet could connect with my chest, and he landed behind me. I turned as he started to rush forward. Held my blade out, point straight at his heart, and sank it deep into his chest. For an added bonus I twisted the blade before I yanked it out.
