A scream echoed around us, followed by another and another. Soon the whole room was filled with shouting and yelling.
Cass pulled away from me, looking just as bewildered as I was, no doubt. I didn’t know what was happening, but I was grateful for it. I had been given a reprieve from my fate at the moment. And that’s all that mattered to me.
“What the hell is going on?” Cass shouted to his father above the ruckus in the room.
Richard stood there, shock written on his chiseled features. “I don’t know,” he admitted bitterly. Obviously, he was a man who liked being in control.
I couldn’t believe what we were seeing. All of Everheart’s men had gone crazy. They were screaming as they attacked the air, landing punches and kicks on nothing at all. It was like they had started fighting an invisible army. Some of them were even falling to the floor, wounded by their unseen attackers. Richard and Cass weren’t affected by it at all; neither was Ryan, who just stood there watching the men fight around him.
He caught my eye and shook his head, telling me he had no clue what had befallen the other vampires. He took a few steps in my direction, and even though I hated the guy right now, I wanted him close to me. What can I say? A girl will take any kind of help in crisis.
Cass saw the movement out of the corner of his eye and reached out, stopping him dead in his tracks. “Where the hell do you think you’re going, lover boy?” he growled in his face. “She is no longer your toy.” Oh, goody. Just what a girl wants to be regarded as.
Ryan opened his mouth and then thought better of it. He pulled his fist back, punching Cass square in the nose. His head snapped back as he fell to the floor. “She will never be your anything,” he hissed down at him.
In a heartbeat, Cass was off the floor and tackling Ryan, both of them flying like a blur out the door. Richard quickly followed, not wanting to be left out of the chaos their gathering had become.
I was left there, surrounded by dozens of crazy vampires, still battling nothing and losing all the same. So this is what my life had become. I felt pressure on my shoulder suddenly. Images of a vampire sneaking up on my neck flashing through my head; I squealed loud enough to shake the building around me.
“Shh, it’s just me,” a tiny voice said next to my ear.
I turned my head and a small shape left my shoulder, hovering in front of my face.
“Van?” I said in disbelief. She hung there in the air, no more than five inches tall, tiny gossamer wings jutting from her back, fluttering as they kept her suspended. The soft hum they made instantly calmed me. “You’re so little.”
She giggled, the sound like bells on a Christmas tree. “I told you I was a pixie. You think I couldn’t look like Tink if I wanted to?”
I didn’t care. All I knew was my best friend was there with me and I couldn’t have been happier. “How did you find me?”
“I stopped at the coffee shop on the way home. I saw your car outside, but couldn’t find you. I instantly knew something was wrong and I called the guys. Jensen was able to find you.”
“How?”
Van shrugged her tiny shoulders. “He did a spell to find the missing part of his soul.”
I looked at the small smile that crept across her lips and wondered if her words didn’t mean something else. “What is happing to them?” I asked, tilting my head towards the few fighting vampires left around us.
“Danny’s messing with them,” she said proudly. “He’s creating a distraction for us.”
Hope soared through me. My friends were here. They were going to save me. I hoped.
A chunk of the wall exploded, taking out a few vampires as it did. As the debris cleared, I saw Jensen standing there, his eyes hot with unspent magic. He stepped through the hole, Danny following close behind him. Their clothes were torn and they were bleeding in places, but they were still the best thing I had ever laid eyes on. Here was my cavalry, my knights-in-shining- armor, my big darn heroes, and I was going to be okay.
Jensen’s eyes darted around the room, his hands lowering as he realized there was no threats left. His gaze moved to me, relief flashing across his face as he took me in. A smile that mirrored my own lit up his face as he crossed the room to me.
I opened my mouth. There was so much I wanted to tell him. So much I needed to apologize for, but before I could say anything, Richard Everheart stormed back into the room.
“What the hell?” he demanded, seeing the state of the room and my friends standing there. He glanced over at the few vampires still there. “Get them,” he demanded.
Danny laughed, the sound rich and full, like a child on Christmas morning. He was having a great time. “They’re a little busy right now, Pops,” he told him, smiling a perfectly innocent smile.
New screams issued from the men and they scrambled for the opening in the wall, pushing each other out of the way.
“Chickens,” Danny mocked as they ran past him. I didn’t know what he showed them this time, but it had to be good.
A look of despair crossed Richard’s face as he realized he was on his own. No one was going to do his dirty work for him this time. He bared his fangs, threatening us.
Jensen stepped in front of me, standing his ground. “I wouldn’t if I was you. There’s a reason vampires don’t take on witches. The same reason you had to restrain Maxie, isn’t it?” He glanced over at me, at the silver chains binding me to the chair. “Enchanted silver from Tuscany, I believe? It absorbs any magic that touches it until there’s none left.”
Richard stood taller, trying a more menacing look, but I could tell fear was seeping in. “You’re outnumbered, witch,” he growled through his teeth.
“Look around you. There’s no one left to help you. You’re on your own now. And that’s never happened to you before, has it?” Jensen took a step forward. “End this. Let my friend go and I’ll forget you were even here. You can go back to leading your vampire dictatorship any way you want to. Just stay away from us.”
Anger blazed in the vampire’s eyes as he stepped away from us. He was nothing but a bully. Cowardness ran through his veins and he knew it. “Fine. You might have saved her today, but can you keep her safe for the rest of her life?”
Jensen stood there, not even blinking at those words. “I’ll sure as hell try.”
Richard scowled and then turned his gaze on me. “There’ll come a day when you want to know what this world really has in store for you. You’ll come to me willingly then.”
I just looked at him, disgust on my face. “Like I’ll ever want anything from you.”
“You will, my dear. That is one thing you can be sure of.” He looked back over at Jensen. “The Apex will rise, and when it does, I will be there,” he said, turning around and disappearing through the opening in the wall.
The room was silent as I looked around it. We were alone now. Only my friends and I were left in the wreckage that had once held merriment and mirth.
Jensen looked down at me. “Are you okay?”
I shrugged sheepishly. “I’m fine. I’m the world’s biggest idiot, but I’m okay,” I told him, avoiding his gaze. He had saved me from a fate I had thrown myself into. I wasn’t too clear on how he did it though. “What happened here? Nobody had to fight anyone? How did we win?”
“That’s what happens when you’re as good as us,” Danny said, joining us.
Van flew over and landed on his shoulder. “Is that what they’re calling it these days?” she squeaked up at him.
“Hey, watch it, bug breath,” he teased, his eyes showing the love he really felt.
Van stuck her tiny nose in the air, but smiled, returning the love.
Jensen smiled and returned his gaze to me. “No. Vampires don’t like to confront witches when they are alone. There’s not much we’d let them do to us.”
I suddenly understood, feeling very stupid indeed. “We have more power than they’ll ever have,” I said softly.
He nodded. “Vampires are like a
pack of wolves. A wolf takes on a guy with a gun, the guy shoots it. A whole pack attacks that one guy and he’s going to be in trouble regardless of what weapons he has.”
I had let my feelings for Ryan almost get me killed. “Magic is our gun.”
“Yes. That’s why Everheart took it away from you,” he said, tugging at the chains around my arms. “Unfortunately, I can’t free you from these chains. Any magic I send out towards them, will just be absorbed and neutralized.”
Perfect. “Does that mean I’m stuck here?”
They all stared at me a moment, contemplating the situation. Despair was starting to build up in me, when Danny cleared his throat.
“That’s just regular wood right?” he asked Jensen.
“I would imagine so.”
“Then I’ll just find something to break the chair with,” he said and wandered back to the hole in the wall. Van flitted along behind him.
“That’ll work,” Jensen said, heading over to the other side of the room, searching the rubble for something he could use.
I wasn’t too keen on them chopping away at the wood around me, but really, what choice did I have? “Thank you for rescuing me…again.”
He looked up at me, a smile on his lips. “What can I say? I seem to be making it a habit lately.”
“Thank you,” I said again and meant it.
“Why you little bitch,” someone snarled from the doorway.
We both turned to look, surprise washing over both of us.
Cass stood there, rage engulfing him at the sight of me all alone. He moved like a blur, coming straight for me, determined to blood bind me, even if it was the last thing he ever did.
Jensen threw out his hands, sending a ball of green sparks right at the vampire, but Cass was too close to me. Jensen’s energy was absorbed into the chains, pulling it out of existence.
Cass collided with my chair, knocking me over. I could feel the chair splinter behind me and then the vampire was on top of me, pressing me down into the floor.
“No,” I screamed as I tried to push at him, but my arms were pinned between us. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t free myself from the horror looming over me. Just when I had thought I was safe, he was grinning down at me once more.
“Oh, I’m really going to enjoy having you at my side,” Cass whispered, his fangs nipping at my throat.
Everything was happening too fast. It was like Cass and I were in some speeded up version of time. Jensen was moving across the room, but he was way too slow. He’d never reach us in time, and even if he did, Cass would snap his neck in an instant. I was going to become Cass’ pet. There wasn’t anything either one of us could do now.
A blur caught my attention as Cass’ teeth pressed against my flesh. It collided with him, knocking him away from me. Suddenly Ryan was there between Cass and me, keeping him back. Saving my life. “Leave her alone,” he growled.
“Make me,” Cass snarled back like any brother would do. And then they were moving, nothing but a blur of fangs and fists, ricocheting off the walls.
I moved, pulling myself away from the broken pieces of the chair. My body felt like one giant bruise, but at least I was free. I sat up, pulling at the chains draped over me. Hands joined mine, as arms went around me. I flinched, expecting another attack.
“It’s just me,” Jensen whispered in my ear as he helped pull the chains from me. Once they were off, he tossed them into the far corner and pulled me to my feet. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m good,” I said, my eyes drifting back to the supersonic fight around us. A body suddenly flew passed us, slamming into the wall. Cass slid down and sat on the floor, his body broken and bleeding.
Ryan stalked towards him, looking better off than his brother. “It’s over, Cass,” he said, his voice husky with anger. “They’ve won. Leave now and forget you ever met her.”
Cass placed his hands against the floor, pushing himself up. He stood in front of his brother, glaring up at him. “You’re a fool, Ryan, if you think this is over. Father will never stop wanting her. We need her.” He glanced over at me as he wiped blood from his eyes. “And for that reason…I will never stop hunting her.” He bared his fangs with a menacing hiss.
Jensen stepped in front of me, hands spread wide at the same moment I reached inside of myself and found my spark once again. I was whole and Cass would pay if he even got close to me.
But it was Ryan who lunged forward as Cass started to move. As they collided, Ryan latched on to his brother’s head and twisted with all his might. With a sickening crunch, it came off, his body dropping instantly to the ground. Ryan stared down at the lifeless head in his hands, eyes wide at the shock of what he had done. He dropped the head, backing slowly away from the mess he had made.
“I can’t believe I just did that,” he said, staring down at his brother’s lifeless form.
“Whoa,” came a voice from the hole in the wall. “Looks like we missed all the fun.” Danny stepped closer with a normal sized Van at his side.
Ryan’s eyes stayed locked on the corpse, a sickened look across his face. “I’ve never killed anyone before.”
My heart ached as I realized what he had done for me. He had thrown out all his morals in an instant. I had turned him into the killer he didn’t want to be. “Ryan,” I said softly as I headed over to him.
He looked up at me, tears in his eyes as reality set in. He slowly shook his head, stopping me in my tracks. Suddenly, once again a blur, he darted out the door and was gone.
Danny looked over at me, a deep sigh emerging from his chest. “Well, it looks like we’re on cleanup duty.”
Thirty Four
I sat on my bed, thinking about everything that had happened since I arrived in California. I ended my acting career before it even started, got fired from several jobs, made some friends, dated a movie star, found out I was a witch, and then forced that movie star to kill his brother. Wow, I had been a busy beaver, hadn’t I?
I didn’t know if time reversed and I had the option to start over if I would move to L.A. again, but now that I was here, I saw that this was the only possible life I could lead. How messed up is that? I liked who I was now, even if it was a witch. I could make a difference in the world. I don’t know if I could have said that before. I was nothing more than a prospective rich man’s wife before I got here, but now I was Maxie Duncan, Witch Extraordinaire. Maybe some of my wide-eyed innocence had worn away, but that was okay. Everyone needed to grow up eventually. I just wish it hadn’t taken me so long.
I knew this world for what it was now. It wasn’t just shiny sports cars and corporate mixers; it was a world where fairytales and nightmares met. Where a witch could be roommates with a pixie. It was a world where a girl needed to be prepared, because a would-be vampire king was out there somewhere, ready to raise an army. That thought terrified me, but I realized I could handle it. There must be a reason he wanted me so badly. And a guy like that is only interested in one thing.
Power.
Obviously, I had it and I was going to do my best to find all of it. I wouldn’t be a victim anymore.
A knock on my bedroom door pulled me from my thoughts. Van stuck her head in and smiled. I still couldn’t get over how tiny she had become, but what can I say, my best friend was full of surprises. “You okay?” she asked.
“Yeah,” I said, getting up from the bed. After all it had been a week since the kidnapping. I should be okay, right?
I could tell she knew I wasn’t quite sure if I was or not. She came into the room, shutting the door behind her. “You’ve been through a lot. It’s hard enough to find out you’re something other than what you always thought you were, but to have your heart broken and then be kidnapped by the guy’s father…All I know is you’re handling it better than I would be. You’re one tough cookie.”
I shrugged as I looked at her. “I don’t know if that is something I can ever get used to, but...I want to be this Maxie. The magical Maxie. So, I guess I
’ll have to find a way to deal with these kinds of things happening.”
Van laughed, pleased by my answer. “Like I said, tough cookie.” The smile faded from her face, a serious expression taking its place. “I ran into a friend of yours at the hotel. He was checking out. He needs to get away from everything right now,” she told me with a shrug. “I guess hanging out in Hollywood wasn’t really helping anything. He needs to figure out who he really is.” She pulled a small box from her pocket and tossed it to me. “He wanted me to give this to you. He said it would protect you where he failed.”
I glanced down at the white box in my hands. Did I really want anything from Ryan? I know he never meant for any of this to happen, but…he still betrayed me by proxy.
But being one who never turned down gifts, I lifted the lid and looked inside. A huge ruby pendant hung from a silver chain laid there. It was a piece of fire frozen in time, still burning in the light now and then. I pulled it from the box, holding it up. Van gasped softly and I had to agree, it was breathtaking.
A folded up piece of paper was at the bottom of the empty box. Laying the necklace on the bed, I unfolded the note. Ryan’s elegant script filled the page. I didn’t care, but somehow I couldn’t convince myself enough to tear up the note.
My darling Maxie,
I am so sorry for everything my family has put you through. I never meant for any of this to happen. I know as long as I am in your life, you’ll be a target in the vampire world. I set you free. I am leaving. I need to find out who I really am and where I belong in this world.
I know now why vampires and witches should never be together. There is only pain that can come from a union like that. But please know, Maxie, what I told you was never a lie. I love you. And I will always love you.
Ryan
P.S. Harry said I should give you this necklace. It was my mother’s. He says it will protect you. He also said in the right hands, it could save the world. I don’t know if that is true, but if anyone can save this world, it’s you, Maxie.
Maxie Duncan Box Set Page 17
