House of Spells: (A Paranormal Urban Fantasy) (The Vampire Project Book 3)

by Jonathan Yanez

  Sloan was already on her feet. She wiped her hands on the towel Kade had provided, all thoughts of finishing her meal gone.

  “Where can I find this Kimberly?”

  Chapter Two

  Jack

  “If we have to be taken prisoner, I guess there are worse places to be held captive, right?” Jack looked over to Abigail who sat on one of the two large beds.

  “I’m going to kill her for using my sister like this.” Abigail ground her teeth while she stared at the floor. “She’s my little sister. I’m supposed to be protecting and looking out for her, not the other way around.”

  Jack stood quiet, thinking of the right thing to say while all the wrong things kept coming to mind. Since their capture by Leah Noble, Jack and Abigail had been shoved into a large room waiting for … well, they didn’t really know what they were waiting for.

  The only things Jack could tell for certain was that they were still underground, or it seemed like it, since there were no windows in their room. The second thing was that his magic had left him. It was something he had never felt before, but it was obviously gone. He felt like an empty vessel trying so hard to be full.

  Leah Noble had somehow figured out a way to sap his magical ability. It was all Jack could do not to entertain the thought that his abilities were permanently gone.

  Now, the sorcerer and the warrior-in-training were stuck. The room they had been provided with was gigantic, with two large beds, dressers, chairs, desks, and a massive washroom with a standing shower and a tub.

  “You can’t tell me this doesn’t bother you.” Abigail stood up with a start. “They tricked us and we walked right into the ambush. We were taken like a couple of children. Why aren’t you angrier at this?”

  “The truth is, I’m furious.” Jack ran a hand through his wild, brown hair. “But anger isn’t going to help us. We need to come up with a plan.”

  “Yeah, of course we need a plan.” Abigail crossed her arms over her chest. “But it’s okay to be angry. I mean, our fathers both died only a few days ago. I still cry at night. It isn’t fair. And I know that life isn't fair, but it still sucks, and I’m still pissed and sad.”

  The words came from her mouth like someone had turned on a faucet. Jack couldn’t blame her for any of it. Truth be told, he was feeling the exact same way.

  “I don’t want to think about it.” Jack furrowed his brow as thoughts of his father raced through his mind. “I’m tired of being sad. I’ve done my crying. I don’t want to be sad anymore.”

  “Have you?” Abigail walked toward Jack, tears already in her eyes. “How much crying is enough? I’ve mourned the father I killed, but should we just put our best foot forward and forget about them?”

  “Not forget.” Jack felt a large lump build in his throat. “We can never forget. I loved … I do love my father and that will never change. His death is a sadness I will carry with me for the rest of my life, but he would want me to move forward. I’m putting my best foot in front of the other because that’s what he would want me to do.”

  Jack couldn’t stop the tears. They fell down his face with abandon. Abigail’s cheeks were also wet with tears that refused to be held back.

  “At least your father loved you.” Abigail shook her head, lowering her gaze to the floor. “I mean, I know my father loved me in his own way, and he wasn’t always the monster you saw. I do have good memories of him. Once my mother left, it just started to deteriorate. And now he’s gone, because I killed him, and my sister is lost, because I couldn’t protect her.”

  Jack went to Abigail without even thinking. She folded into his arms like she had belonged there her entire life.

  “We’ll get through this,” Jack promised. “I’m not going to leave you. We’ll get through this together.”

  Abigail looked up, her lips wet with tears. Their mouths gravitated toward one another until they pressed together.

  A banging on the only door in the room broke their embrace.

  “Away from the door,” a familiar voice echoed in. “I promise, if you try to ambush me, it’ll be a mistake.”

  The door swung open to reveal The Scar. Jack recognized him from their battle on the train while the group traveled to Burrow Den. But he had changed somehow. Not only was he pale with long canines and red eyes, but he also looked larger, somehow visibly stronger.

  Entering the room behind him was Leah Noble. Both of them were dressed in the black-and-grey of New Hope. The Scar wore a uniform emblazoned with the New Hope sigil of two swords crossed behind a black bat.

  Leah Noble wore a long, black dress. Her hair was swept back, revealing a plunging neckline.

  “Well, well, well.” Leah walked in, smiling at both Jack and Abigail. “Am I mistaken, or did I interrupt something especially naughty happening here?”

  “Give me back my sister, you monster!” Abigail lunged at Leah.

  Jack caught her, holding her back with both arms.

  The Scar also took a step forward, ready to intercept either of them if they made a move toward Leah.

  “Manners, you little brat.” Leah’s eyes widened as she brightened at a thought. “Or maybe not. I’m always looking for new test subjects. You see, tenacity and fire are looked on as a plus when you're undergoing experimentation. It’s rough on the body, or so I'm told.”

  Abigail ignored Leah’s previous words. “She’s just a kid! You can have me. Do whatever you want to me, just let Elizabeth go.”

  “Tempting, but you’re in no position to be making such deals.” Leah shrugged, looking at the underside of her long, manicured fingernails. “I could have all of you in the lab if I wanted to. Lucky for you, I just want your sister. Our ranks are already filled with the addition of the vampire soldiers.”

  “What is it you want?” Jack let go of Abigail, giving her a moment to gather herself. “Why keep us here? What have you done to my mage power?”

  “Ahhh, yes.” Leah crossed her arms, looking Jack up and down. “I was wondering when we would get to that. Your power is being hampered by a ward I have in place. To be honest with you, Jack, I was expecting more from you. You really need to spend time practicing and growing your mage power, instead of batting your eyes at pretty young girls. Your powers are disappointing, really.”

  “My father and I only used it to track paranormals while we worked in the Outland. We never used it to fight. I—”

  “I’m going to stop you there now.” Leah held up a hand to Jack. “I really don’t care what excuse you have, and I’m on somewhat of a deadline. What you need to know is that escape is futile. You’re being kept alive at Elizabeth’s expense. As long as she continues to work obediently under our control, you will be kept safe and healthy.”

  “You’re using us as blackmail?” Abigail’s hands opened and closed into fists. “You’re a monster, and I’m going to kill you before this is all over.”

  “Promises, promises.” Leah blew a kiss to Abigail. “Use this time to get to know each other better. Or don’t. I don’t care. But you should know escaping is pointless. We’re two stories underground the palace and I have vampire guards stationed at your door around the clock.

  “Our friends will come.” Jack felt his temper flare. “They’ll come looking for us.”

  At this, The Scar laughed out loud. The sound was a high-pitched cackle.

  “You really have no idea what’s going on, do you?” Leah motioned for The Scar to open the door. “Your friends are wanted by the crown for treason. Every soldier in the army is looking for them now, and if they don’t find them, the reward we’re going to put on their heads will bring every bounty hunter in the Outland down on them. They’re lucky if they’re not dead already.”

  Chapter Three

  Sloan

  “I need you not to be dead already,” Sloan said, walking up to Aareth’s still form. “Hey, are you sleeping?”

  The massive wolf-like creature jumped with a start. The half-man, half-wolf Aareth had reared
back on his hind legs, baring teeth as long as knives.

  “Okay, okay.” Sloan put both hands out wide. “It’s me, and if you try to bite me again, I swear to God I’m going to chop off your tail.”

  Aareth’s bright blue eyes took her in, and a moment later he went down to all fours, whimpering a hello.

  Sloan and Aareth had found a cave just outside the city of Term. It had been abandoned when they got there, and if it wasn’t completely abandoned then, it was now. The cave was against a small mountain range in the middle of the forest.

  Aareth slumped down again, wagging his tail.

  “Listen.” Sloan tried her best at calming her voice. “I have good news. I know what happened to our friends, at least some of them, but I’m going to need your help. I know you can understand me. I need you to turn back to your human form.”

  Aareth cocked his furry head, panting in quick, deep breaths.

  “If you have any control at all over your changing back and forth, I need you to do it now, “ Sloan tried again. “Come on, Aareth, we have a lead on your wife. We might be able to free her tonight and reunite you two.”

  Aareth jumped and yelped at the mention of his wife, but no physical change took place.

  “I’m going to have to do this myself, aren’t I?” Sloan slumped down, taking in a deep breath. “All right.”

  Aareth came up next to her, laying his massive head in her lap.

  “I know you would if you could.” Sloan patted his head. “Don’t worry, once we get Edison back, we’ll figure out a way to turn you back into your normal human self. Actually, now that I think of it, having you in this form is an improvement.”

  Aareth huffed and removed his head from her lap.

  Sloan looked out of the mouth of the cave, heaving a heavy sigh of her own. The sun was still high overhead; plenty of time to go back into town and do some scouting as to where Edison and the others were being held.

  Sloan scrunched her nose for the dozenth time as the odor from her traveling cloak assailed her nostrils. She’d come a long way in a few short days. From lush banquets at the palace, soft beds, and clean, pressed uniforms, to taking handouts, sleeping in caves, and fishing clothing out of the trash.

  An idea struck Sloan while she batted away a fly.

  “I think I may have a way for you to help after all.” Sloan looked over at Aareth, zeroing in on the two pointy ears that stuck up from his head. “How good is your hearing?”

  Chapter Four

  Sloan

  Sloan walked through the town’s wide dirt path. Shops and bars opened up on either side of the main road. Streets branching off in every direction led deeper into the small city of Term.

  The building Sloan had her eyes on was a two-story wooden structure with two white pillars holding up the porch. The wood looked new, like it had been erected just for the occasion of Sloan’s arrival to Term.

  A large sign on the front door hung from a pair of shiny, new nails. It read: Sheriff’s Office.

  Sloan resisted the urge to head in through the front door. Kicking in doors and ordering actions in the name of the crown was a life lost to her now. Not only did these people have no love for the queen, but they also straight up despised her.

  Sloan took a long breath as her senses worked on overdrive. The best way to tackle this scenario was to gather as much information as she could before making her move. She chose a storefront across the street from the sheriff's office.

  Sloan removed her hood to avoid suspicion. She did her best to untangle the knotted mess of her hair, but what little she could do didn’t make her look any better.

  Inside, her body tingled with new power and the promise of raw speed. Since her transformation into whatever she was now, Sloan had felt a burning power inside of her and she yearned to test its limits.

  How fast was she, exactly? How strong? Her body had mended her wounds from the fight exiting New Hope, along with Aareth’s bite. Did that mean she was immortal?

  So many more questions ran through her mind, including what she was going to do about Aareth, that Sloan had almost missed the pair of men walking down the street. One was tall and thin with a clean-shaven face and a limp. The other was a gargoyle, short and stocky, and covered with stone-like skin.

  Sloan had to remind herself not to stare. Her interaction with gargoyles was limited, at best. Her knowledge of them reminded her they could be turned to solid, unmoving statues in the rays of the sun. This one moved in the shade the overhanging roofs brought. Sloan turned her back on the two. She pretended to be looking into the nearest storefront that sold foodstuffs and home goods.

  “Should be fun,” the tall man said to the gargoyle. “We’ll have a hearing for them, all official-like, then no matter the outcome, still hang them.”

  “Just hang the two men, you mean,” the gargoyle corrected. “The boss likes the gnome, and the woman is easy on the eyes. I think she’ll keep her around a bit.”

  “She’s a spitfire, though, that one. Did you see how many it took to get her and that sword of hers under control?” With a look of disgust, the thin man spat onto the dirt road. “We’re lucky none of her other companions could fight as well as her. We might not have been able to bring them in.”

  The rest of their conversation was lost to Sloan. She watched their reflections walk into the building opposite hers, and disappear. It sounded like her friends were still alive, and that was enough to give her hope.

  The sun was just beginning to sink over the building tops when Sloan realized patience wasn’t her strongest suit. She decided to take a closer look.

  Thus far, the only people who had even looked her way twice were random citizens of Term more interested in her because she was a stranger, not because they expected anything malicious from her.

  Sloan crossed the dirt road, her once-shiny black boots now covered with a thick layer of dirt that made them look brown. Her pants were much the same. The brown cloak she wore was the worst part of her new outfit. It smelled of one part someone else's sweat and another part vomit.

  The mage sword was the only thing that remained exactly the same since her transformation and her flight from New Hope. It was tucked into her belt, the sheath lost somewhere during the events of the escape.

  Sloan walked to the side of the building she had seen the man and gargoyle go. In the alley, there was a window she could just see into if she stood on her tiptoes.

  “Listen, if you don’t want to hear reason, then at least entertain the idea you could be wrong.” Edison’s familiar voice rang out from inside the building. “The queen is planning to invade the Outland, and she’s coming sooner rather than later.”

  Sloan craned her neck to gain a better look inside. The first floor was actually one large room and three steel cages. Sloan was looking through the window of the first cage. Edison’s back was to her. Next to him was another cell with Doctor Livingston sprawled out on a dirty mattress. The only other things in each of the cells besides the occupants was a worn mattress and a bucket to relieve themselves in. The third cell was empty.

  The rest of the room was filled with a massive staircase leading up to the next floor, three desks with chairs, and a few gun safes and filing cabinets.

  “We’re not your enemy.” Edison shook his head in frustration. “We should be preparing to repel an invading army of super soldiers, not fighting amongst each other. Come on, we can work something out. What are you boys into? Booze? Drugs? Money? We can make a deal.”

  Sloan’s eyes now drifted to the three men Edison was speaking with. Two were the men she had seen walking down the street, and the third was a bear of a man. Wild, brown hair and a beard so thick that she couldn’t see his lips covered his face. He wore a pair of dirty pants and suspenders, with no shirt.

  “They’re not going to listen to you,” Oliver Livingston said from the mattress in the cell next to Edison’s. “They want to see us hang.”

  “That’s right,” boomed the shirtless m
an. “You killed half our gang. Kimberly isn’t going to let that stand.”

  “Well, I don’t want to argue with you here.” Edison opened his hands wide. “But technically, neither I nor my associate, Elwood, have killed anyone. It was all you-know-who’s friend—”

  Edison hid his face with one hand, and with his other he pointed to Oliver.

  “Are you pointing at me again?” Oliver asked without bothering to look over at Edison.

  “No, nope.” Edison lowered his hand. “Why would you say that?”

  “Listen, you idiots.” The gargoyle stomped over to Edison’s cell. Its bald head and pointed ears barely reached Edison’s chest. “You’re both going to swing, no matter how much you beg and plead. Get used to the idea.”

  “Come on, Rocko.” The thin man motioned to the gargoyle. “Let's go upstairs and see what the rest of the boys are up to. We’ll have our fun with these two tomorrow at the hearing and then at the hanging.”

  “Well, that doesn’t seem fair.” Edison scratched at his head. “How do you know there’s going to be a hanging, if the hearing hasn’t even happened yet?”

  Sloan had seen enough. She gave her toes a break and came down off their tips. A kink was already forming in her neck. It was obvious to her that she could free the two prisoners; no matter how many men they had upstairs, Sloan was more than a match for them, between her mage sword and the new powers she possessed.

  The only thing that worried her was being able to get to Ashley and Elwood in time. If word traveled back to wherever they were being held that Edison and Oliver had escaped, they could be killed on the spot.

  Movement tore Sloan away from her thoughts. A shadow fell across the alley, blocking out the last dying rays of light.

  Chapter Five