Hurricane of Magic

by J. L. Hendricks

  My plan was to just check this place out and see if I could locate acolytes. If they were there, then vampires would be too.

  All I had to do was scope out the place, I wasn’t about to storm the castle, even if the girls were there. I learned my lesson, I think.

  After I took another inventory of my supplies, I took off and headed to Castle Storage. The morning was quiet and really beautiful. Sunshine and a nice breeze off the lake made it an enjoyable walk. The buses had resumed, but their schedule was off. Walking gave me a chance to think about what I would do when I arrived.

  The storage facility was one of those you needed a code to get inside of. It was possible to climb the back fence, but there were also security cameras all over the place. This wasn’t the time to get caught breaking in.

  When I walked up to the facility, I could see the brick walls surrounding the entire place had seen some water damage. The storm must have caused a flood in this neighborhood, but the water line was only up a few inches on the wall.

  The little office next to the metal gate had an open sign in its window. A great idea popped into my head.

  I opened the door and plastered a smile on my face. “Hi, there! Beautiful day today, isn’t it?”

  “Sure is. How can I help you?” The young man behind the counter smiled at me. He had black hair and was wearing jeans and t-shirt. I would have expected a polo shirt, at least. But I supposed he was probably still cleaning up too.

  “I wanted to see if you had any second floor units available and what kind of damage your facility took from the hurricane.” This was the plan to get me inside the storage facility. Pretty ingenious, if you ask me.

  “We didn’t take a direct hit here, so the damage was minimal. We only had about two inches of water build up. The facility is built up a foot above ground, so none of the units sustained any damage.”

  “Impressive. I own a shop in town, and we spent hours getting everything off the ground floor before the worst of the storm hit. I was thinking maybe we should store some of the overstock up on your second floor so it won’t be so much work for us when the next storm comes through.” Actually, this is a really good idea. I’d have to discuss this with my sisters later today.

  “We can’t guarantee no damage will occur in a storm, but if you’re on the second floor, your chances are much better. Since it is safer, we charge extra for second floor units. What size were you looking for?” The attendant came around from behind the counter and carried a large, round key ring with what had to be over thirty keys.

  “I’m not sure. Can we look at the different sizes and prices so I can figure it out?” I only thought of this idea on the way here, I didn’t have time to think about sizing.

  “Sure, come with me. What’s your name? You look familiar.” The guy was checking me out. He was only a few years older than me, but I doubt I knew him.

  “I’m Jenna. What’s your name?”

  “Scott. Nice to meet you…Wait? Are you a Voodoo Doll?” Scott stopped before opening the door and turned around with excitement evident on his face.

  “Yes, I am. Are you a fan of our music?” This was going to be fun if he was a fan.

  “Of course! Who isn’t? I went to your concert at the Bikini Beach Bar a few months back. That was epic! Can I get an autograph? Oh! And a picture with you? My friends will never believe I actually met you!” He pulled out his cell phone and was ready for a selfie.

  “Sure. What do you want me to autograph?” It wasn’t too often I came across fans outside of a club or our store.

  “Here, let’s take a picture first. I want to post it all over my social media! Then, I guess you could sign my notepad?” He stood next to me with his phone in camera mode and began taking pictures of us.

  “Thanks! My friends are going to flip out when they see these!” The guy instantly tweeted and posted in Facebook. He probably posted in a few other sites as well.

  He walked back to the counter and reached over for his notebook.

  “Here, on the inside cover. Can you sign this; ‘For my favorite fan, Scott Walton. Love, Jenna.’”

  I giggled thinking about who my actual favorite fan was. It certainly wasn’t this guy, even though he was really nice.

  Would Rico care about this kind of stuff?

  After I signed his notebook, we went out the side door.

  “We have a few spots open in this section. Both are on the smaller side, but we do get people moving out all of the time. If you need something larger, I can put you on a wait list and call when we get a move-out notice.” Scott opened up the door to stairwell and I followed him up.

  Something was off. The charm on my wrist warmed a bit as did the one around my neck. Joseph said they would do that if a paranormal creature, besides the pack, was close by. Since it didn’t do this when I was in the office with Scott, he had to be fully human.

  No one knew where I was. I had to at least text Rico my location, just in case.

  I pulled out my phone and was texting Rico when Scott turned around and grabbed my phone. “Hey, what the heck? I was just texting my boyfriend.”

  “There is a no getting away policy. Thanks for making this so easy. I hope you enjoy your new home!” Scott waved his hand to the side like Vanna White and showcased several closed, but not locked, storage units. They were larger than he said earlier.

  “What is this? I don’t understand.” I looked around and noticed one door as it began to roll up.

  “Help! Please help us!” Some girl screamed from behind a locked door.

  “Who are you?” I backed up to toward the door hoping to get away.

  Scott reached out and grabbed my arm. My protective charms only defended against magic, not against a human grabbing me.

  Lucky for me, I had other gifts to defend myself with.

  I kicked him in the family jewels, and he gasped in pain and bent over. I pulled his head down on my knee and felt his nose break against my kneecap. Blood flowed on my pant leg.

  “Great, another pair of jeans destroyed. Dude, you better not be who I think you are. I hope for your sake you’re just a crazed fan who has gone too far.” Even though there was at least one girl screaming, I had to get outside and call for back-up. Rico would kill me if I tried to rescue her on my own, even if vampires weren’t involved.

  My phone had been thrown across the ground. I ran to grab it. When I stood up to leave, someone grabbed me from behind.

  “Ahh, new blood. Feisty too. I love a challenge!” The guy behind me was seriously strong. I tried to get his hand off me, but it wouldn’t budge.

  He leaned in and put his mouth on my neck. Something on me glowed and shot the guy back against one of the roll-up doors before he could sink his fangs into me. He slid to the ground, and his eyes rolled to the back of his head. I hoped he would be out for a while.

  “Huh, I didn’t know the magic would be so strong. Awesome!” With the phone in my hand, I turned to run to the exit.

  Another vampire blocked the door.

  Where did he come from?

  Chapter 19

  Jenna

  “Sorry, you won’t be leaving here today.” The smirk on his face chilled my blood.

  I had several defensive spells on my body and some in my bag. I wanted to try the stones first.

  I reached into the pocket holding the stones. I pulled out a handful while I kept my eyes on the vamp by the door.

  “Sorry, I have plans.” I threw without even looking to see what color I grabbed.

  Stink! I hope it wasn’t the red one.

  A violet rock hit the vamp’s chest and bounced down to the ground in front of him. A cloud of purple haze surrounded him. If he had been human, it would have choked him. Since vampires didn’t breathe air, it just blocked my vision of him.

  He was still standing in the doorway, I turned hoping to find another exit on this floor. There had to be an elevator.

  Scott was attempting to stand up, and I punched him as hard as
I could in the gut. He doubled over and fell to the ground holding his stomach. I could see the pain in his face. Tears streamed down his cheeks and his lips trembled. Good.

  The girl was still screaming for help. Another door rolled up, and three more vamps walked out and blocked my path.

  I still held my phone in my hand. Getting the text out to Rico was important. I took another rock and threw it at the three vamps. This time, a pink force field came up.

  The force field only worked for a minute. This was my chance to text Rico. I put my thumb on the home button and unlocked my phone. The text I started was still on my screen. I typed in the location and told him there were at least 5 vampires here with some humans.

  I hit the send button, but with all of the metal the message was having a hard time sending.

  “No, no, no! Come one! You have to send.”

  The vampire I left by the door in the purple haze was laughing. The pink field in front of me was going to drop at any moment. I had no choice. I pocketed my phone and hoped the message would get out.

  “The little doll has magic after all. I thought you and your sisters were mundanes? Where did you get magic?” The purple haze vamp narrowed his eyes at me and stalked closer and closer.

  I couldn’t use the red stone here, it would kill me too. There were still two more colored stones in my hand. One wouldn’t work on a vampire. It was designed to put the target in a bubble and suck the air out. I doubted it would hold the vamp. The other… might work. It also might hurt me.

  Pulling the yellow stone out of my palm, I threw it right at the vamp’s chest. He reached out his right hand and grabbed the stone. “What’s this?”

  I heard a loud kaboom before the concussion of the power not only threw him against the wall, it also threw me back against the wall. I was too close when I threw it.

  My head hit the wall hard and bounced down. “Ow! That’s gonna leave a bump.” I put my hand to the back of my head and rubbed. A bump had already started to form.

  Strong hands grabbed me and yanked me up. I secretly pocketed the red stone and fisted the brown in my hand.

  “What’s in your hand?” The vampire opened my fist and pulled the brown stone out.

  I kept my mouth shut and narrowed my eyes.

  If he bit me, would the necklace repulse him like it did the other one?

  “Girl, you better tell me what this stone does. Or you will be my lunch.” The vampire tightened his grip on my shoulders. One of his clawed fingers dug into my left shoulder.

  I tried to stifle the scream on my lips from the pain. It came out as a whimper. Not the greatest but better than a scream. They probably got off on making girls scream.

  “Last chance. What is this?” He held the stone up to my face between his fingers.

  “It’s a magical charm.” My snark was going to get me in real trouble one day.

  He roared. “I know it’s a magical charm! What does it do?” His fangs protruded, and he licked his lips when he stared at my pulsing vein.

  “It doesn’t work on vampires. It’s designed to encapsulate a human and suck the air out of the bubble.” At least, I think that’s what the brown one did.

  Scott stood up and slowly made his way to me. “You stupid cow! If you would have just gone along with everything, you could have performed your music for my masters, and they would have taken great care of you!”

  “Master, she is the lead singer of The Voodoo Dolls. She came here looking for a storage unit. I brought her as a gift for you.” Scott bowed down and grunted from the pain.

  “I know who she is, you fool! I told you to stop picking out women for us! We can’t afford to bring any more attention to our little coven.” The vampire holding me pushed Scott to the ground.

  “I’m sorry. I know how much you love her signing. I thought she would be perfect.” Scott stayed on the ground.

  “She is dating the alpha of the local wolf pack, you fool! Someone will notice her absence. The entire pack has her scent! They will find us. Another perfect hideout ruined! You can’t even follow simple instructions!” The vampire threw the brown stone at Scott.

  I watched in horror as a bubble circled his head and cut off his oxygen supply.

  “Nathan, that’s a waste of perfectly good blood. You know we hate to eat from the body once it’s already dead. You really should have let us have him instead of suffocating him,” one of the vampires, who had been behind the pink field, exclaimed.

  “Alexy, go right ahead and have him. The bubble is only covering his head and neck. His arms are free. Hurry before he dies from asphyxiation.” Nathan’s laugh was more like a maniacal serial killer. The hairs on my arms stood on end.

  Something vibrated in my jacket pocket.

  My phone! The text must have just been sent. Thank goodness! I needed to stall them.

  It would take Rico an hour to get here. If any of his pack were in town, I could be rescued sooner.

  “You might as well let me go. If you leave town now, you might have a chance to survive.” Rico would never let them survive, but they didn’t know it.

  “We have some time. Your boyfriend won’t find you. I doubt anyone will even think you’re missing until after nightfall.” Nathan was very wrong.

  “Actually, I’m supposed to meet Rico in less than an hour. If I don’t show up, he will come searching for me. I don’t care how many you have on your side, you won’t be able to survive against him and his pack. They’re the best. Even the local vampire queen doesn’t mess with him.”

  “Right, and I bet you have a bridge to sell me? Girl, no one messes with a vampire queen. Especially one as old as Celeste.” If these guys know Celeste, they must be acting with her approval.

  “Really? You know Celeste? I guess this means she approves of your kidnapping the storm girls? Those screams, they’re from the missing girls, aren’t they?” I knew it had to be the ones I was looking for. I just never thought I would stumble upon them this close to my home.

  “No, Celeste ostracized me years ago. I have my own coven now. I’m really not too sorry you stumbled upon us.” He had to raise his voice as the girls began screaming again. This time I could make out at least two distinct voices.

  I heard Scott’s body slump to the ground. He had four vamps drinking from his arms. I didn’t know if he died from the blood loss or the lack of oxygen. The bubble around his head popped after he fell to the ground.

  “Did you just drink the life out of your own acolyte?” They didn’t even give him their blood. They must have really been upset with him.

  “He disobeyed too many times. Those last two missing girls were his idea. We should have left them alone. It brought too much attention to us.” One of the vampires who had fed on Scott licked his tongue and drew closer to me.

  “Stop! Don’t even think about drinking my blood. I’m covered in a protective spell. Ask your friend who already tried to sink his fangs into my neck.” I nodded to the guy standing off to the side who stayed quiet. Although, his fangs were extended and his red eyes stayed focused on me.

  “She’s right. She has some sort of magic on her. You can grab her, but you can’t bite her. I was thrown against the wall and received enough of an electrical shock, it was almost enough to restart my heart.” I didn’t realize he had such a violent reaction to the magic protecting me.

  “It will wear off. All spells do. When it does, I am going to be the first to sink my fangs into your pristine neck and drink until I’ve had my fill.” The vampire against the wall licked his lips and stepped closer to me.

  “I doubt it. Rico will be here before the magic wears off.” If I could just get them to leave. Their smell is on me so Rico and the entire pack can track them down easily.

  My phone began to buzz in my pocket.

  “What’s that noise?” Vampires had excellent hearing.

  “Her phone. Check her for a phone.” Alexy grabbed my arm and yanked me away from Nathan’s grasp.

  Several s
ets of hands felt all over my body. Nathan checked my jacket pocket last. He pulled out the phone.

  “She got a text message.” He read the message and threw my phone to the corner of the room where it burst into too many pieces to repair.

  “Hey! That’s a very expensive phone! It’s going to cost me about seven hundred dollars to replace it! You owe me for the broken phone.” I was pulling against the hand holding me.

  “Doll face, you won’t be alive much longer, I would worry more about how much time you have left than a stupid phone.” Nathan ran his finger along my neck.

  “I think you and I will both enjoy her neck. She smells sweet.” Nathan leaned in and sniffed along my neck and shoulder.

  “Gross! Get away from me, you creep!” I kicked out and got him in his kneecap. I heard a crack which must have seriously hurt.

  Nathan fell to the ground and screamed, “You’ll pay for that!”

  “Not likely. It’s more likely I will watch as Rico and his pack tear you and your coven apart, limb from limb. It won’t be the first time, either.” I smirked.

  Nathan stood up and backhanded me so hard I flew a few feet away. While it hurt enough to bring tears to my eyes, it also pushed me out of the path of the vamps. I jumped up and made for the exit.

  One vampire stood in my way. The rest were behind me laughing.

  “You are not worth waiting for. Bob, just kill her. She’s too much of a handful. When her phone beeped, it was a message from the local pack alpha, he’s on his way here. We need to grab our stuff and go before they get here.”

  “I want to leave them a little present.” Nathan was really stupid if he thought killing me would stop Rico. It would only enrage him and cause the entire pack to hunt these guys down until they were all dead.

  I turned one of my defensive bracelets on right before I plowed into Bob the vampire.

  Bob grabbed me and immediately let go. I could see the arc from the electricity my charm generated. He fell to the ground and flopped like a fish out of water. Without slowing, I ran through the door.