The Vampire's Spell - Surrendering to The Night: Book 2

by Lucy Lyons

  I slid up to the counter next to Simi and stared at the woman until she looked at me. As soon as our eyes met; I locked into her and she couldn’t look away. A stab of guilt slammed into me as I watched her face go slack. I tricked her mind into creating a fantasy for her. It was like she was sleeping and dreaming, but she couldn’t wake up easily. I didn’t have much practice with it so I knew we didn’t have more than a few minutes.

  “Let’s go. We’ve got maybe ten minutes of…” I glanced at her name tag, “Barbara fantasizing that she’s on a date with Simi and then she’s going to come to if we’re still here; it will be a problem.”

  Simi pushed past the woman and held open the first set of double doors. To my surprise no one was in the lab and we passed through to the morgue with ease. Clayton started opening drawers looking for the bodies we needed. Simi started sorting through paperwork to find the numbers that corresponded with the drawers. I kept look out. From the start, getting in here had been too easy for us. I kept waiting for a siren to start blaring or armed police to come running around the corner. Aside from our large and in charge friend at the desk, the floor seemed completely deserted.

  “Okay, found two,” Clayton called out. “Stop stressing and get over here Caroline, I’ll trade you.”

  I wasn’t sure what he thought I could learn that he couldn’t, but watching the hall was making my spine itch right between my shoulder blades. I jogged over to the drawer Clayton had just pulled out and examined the corpse. My stomach churned; but I clenched my jaw and tried not to think too hard about the person that the cadaver used to be.

  “Use your other sight, Caroline,” Simi directed. Even though I was thankful that Simi wasn’t afraid of my “witchy” abilities; I didn’t really want to use them. I was afraid of what I’d see. I hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath; grateful the body was kept cold enough to keep the smell down.

  I folded back the zippered bag so I could see the whole abdomen and tried to forget that the victim was female. She wasn’t much taller than me, small breasted and missing everything that should have been inside her abdomen. Presumably; it had all been ripped out through the hole that I was staring into, which was easily the size of a dinner plate.

  “I see a spine,” I said. My voice came out breathy and weak. I cleared my throat and tried again. “The wounds were made before she was dead. The edges have bled profusely; it would’ve sprayed everywhere. Even a rampaging vampire wouldn’t waste his food just to paint the ground in gore.” I touched the edge and had the shadow of a vision; the body had been dead too long for me to get a clear picture.

  “What about their special rituals?” Clayton asked. “You said they bled girls dry.”

  “They drained them carefully, using catheters. They didn’t actually harm the girls in any way, aside from turning them into vampires without their permission.” I countered. Not a drop of blood was spilled except for Vittorio beating up David and me stabbing Vittorio.”

  I wanted to explain to him that to the vampire’s blood was more than food. It was sacred. The hunters had been killing without questioning their own motives for so long, they’d forgotten what they knew of vampire-kind. I glanced at Clay but there in front of that body was no time for a history lesson.

  “You stabbed Vittorio?” He asked. I nodded and tried to focus on the task instead of the lost life I was staring at. Belatedly, I realized Clay was trying to help me by taking some of my focus from the bodies.

  “And then Nicholas chained him into a coffin to be starved for a hundred years.

  “David’s version of what happened to you both makes it sound like they sacrificed him on an altar while you watched and drank his blood from a goblet.” I shrugged my shoulders and steeled myself to look back at the body on the slab.

  “I don’t know what to tell you Clayton. He thought he was the big bad; he learned he was just a pathetic little boy who was no match for his enemy. My biggest personal disappointment was learning he had no integrity.” I inhaled through my nose and regretted it instantly. I tried again with my face pressed to my elbow and exhaled through my mouth counting to eight like I did when my anxiety got too high. I pushed my gloved hand into the wound and felt up past the edges of the wound into the ribcage. It was empty and I’d expected it to be. But having my hand inside a human body was more than I could stand.

  I rushed to the row of sinks against the wall and vomited bile, then dry-heaved until I shook uncontrollably. Clayton ran water in the sink next to mine and patted the back of my neck with a damp paper towel.

  “You okay, Caroline?” Clay asked and I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

  “I examined the other body as thoroughly as I could without proper tools. I agree that this was an animal attack.” Simi said, washing her hands. I watched Clay and Simi exchange a look. “No animal I’ve ever seen, but those people were torn open with claws. Their charts say that animal hair was pulled from the wounds. No results on what kind of animal yet. Most labs are overloaded and constantly backed up. They might not know for days.

  “By then the hunters will have executed their warrant and left. People will keep dying. They won’t come back because then they’ll know it’s not vampires and therefore, not a Venatores problem.” My throat was raw from the stomach acid I’d thrown up. Clay nodded and Simi folded her arms.

  “What do we do?”

  “I think Simi, the first thing to do is get the hell out of here and buy me a soda to settle my stomach. Then we report to Somayo, so he can get that warrant stayed,” I offered. Tentatively, I reached out to Dom. “You still mad boss?” I felt her irritation with me, but she did respond.

  “I’m not happy with you. What do you need?” She sighed.

  “Only a stay on that stupid warrant.” I fumed. “Whatever attacked these people had claws or talons. Their bodies were torn open. Their skin and muscles were shredded and their organs ripped out.” A wave of nausea passed over me and instantly felt Dominique’s alarm. “Sorry. The bodies were bad. The worst thing I’ve ever seen. I can’t imagine what they were like when they were fresh. Stop the warrant Dominique. We need our resources focused on taking out the killers.”

  Clayton had gone out into the halls while I “talked” to Dom telepathically. He came back with an “all clear” and we left the way we came in. Barbara was still at her desk, staring blankly at a black computer screen. I glanced back at her as we hurried down the hall away from the lab and a puddle of drool spilled over her lip and dripped into her lap. Panicked, I rushed back to the reception desk and shook her.

  “Barbara! Barbara!” I hissed at her, too afraid to yell. She tilted her head to the side and blinked slowly.

  “What the hell do you want? I said, no paperwork, no pass to the freak show.” I exhaled and nodded my head.

  “Right, I’m sorry. Thank you.” I jogged down the hall and met Simi and Clayton at the door to the parking lot. Clay bopped me on the back of the head and I scowled at him.

  “What were you thinking?”

  “She looked gone Clayton; like lights on; nobody home, gone. I had to make sure she was okay.” He rolled his eyes and looked for Simi to return.

  “Bad news guys. It looks like we’ve hit a shift change. There are cops rolling in like crazy out there.” She reported. I chewed my lip and tried to ignore Nicholas’ presence pressing against my psyche.

  “Cover them with your shield.” I shook my head even though I knew Nicholas couldn’t see it. I looked down the cold, sterile hallway and tried to think of a plan “B”.

  “You just thought of something. What was it?” Simi said. She was pointing at me and I shook my head again. “Spill, Caroline.”

  “Nicholas. It was just something he suggested. He can see us right now. I’m too freaked out to shield myself and his idea was to make us all invisible.”

  “You can do that?” Clay gasped.

  “No Clay, I can’t. That’s the problem.” I paced while I thought. “Is there another way t
o be invisible to these guys?” I asked Simi.

  “Oh, my God. We’re so stupid.” Clay smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand. “Let’s go.” He turned and walked back toward the elevator.

  “Clayton, what are you doing?” I hissed at him.

  “Going out the front door like all the normal people. Ladies, put your weapons away. They won’t even see us leaving. No one cares when you’re walking out.” Simi chuckled and rubbed her temples.

  “We can’t tell anyone about this. We’d be laughed out of the order for being morons.” I tugged on the hem of my jacket and glanced in a window as I passed, looking for a bulge from the gun. Satisfied that I didn’t look too suspicious; I strolled out into the foyer and headed toward the exit.

  Clayton was right. We walked out the glass doors and Simi took out her cell phone the second we were outside. She contacted Somayo and filled him in on her examination. I did my best not to hear what she was saying. My stomach still wasn’t quite right and I already knew I’d be having the most detailed nightmares of my life without her input.

  The evening was just starting to cool and the run back to the hotel made me feel like a new person. Clayton felt better too. I could tell the moment he started poking me in the arm like we were still seven years old.

  “Can I help you, Clay?” I asked.

  “You puked in there. Like a little girl.”

  “No. I puked in there like someone who was forced to feel around inside a mutilated body because the resident hunter was a pu…” The elevator doors slid open and the words got caught in my throat.

  “David.” Clay automatically stepped forward, putting himself between us. I tugged on his shirt and pulled him back so we were side by side, but I wouldn’t have to get closer to David.

  “You’re pathetic. She isn’t saving you until last because you matter to her. She’s screwing that thing and you’ll never be in her bed.” I flinched like he’d kicked me in the gut. It was my turn to stand between David and Clayton. I felt Clay’s warmth pressed against my back as I stared David down.

  “The only one around here who’s nothing is you David. Go cry wolf somewhere else. I’m not going anywhere and I will always tell the truth when you lie.”

  “Oh yeah? Go ahead then. Tell Clay you love him and you aren’t screwing a freaking vampire.”

  Chapter 12

  I turned to Clay and smiled. “I love you Clay. You’re one of my best friend’s and I’ll always be there for you. Also, I’m a virgin. Not that it’s anybody’s business, but I’m not screwing anyone, vampire or otherwise. I’m not a slut like David is.” I offered Clay my hand and he grabbed it and kissed the back of it before striding past David and the hunters hiding around the corner behind him. I tried to release Clay’s hand so we could fight, but he held me tight and kept walking.

  “Don’t stop, don’t stop, don’t stop,” I heard him whisper. He was as scared as I was and that meant that very bad things were happening. We made it to the room without being attacked, but Vladikk Agnarrson and more of his men were inside waiting with Dominique. Simi pulled up to a hard stop behind us. She was close enough that I felt her heart pounding behind me for a split second before she and Clay fell into a fighting stance at my sides. Thankfully, that left both of my hands free; if needed; I could pull my gun.

  “Where’s Somayo?” I mouthed at Dom. She shrugged nonchalantly, but I felt fear rising off her like heat waves off concrete in the summertime.

  “What’s wrong, here?” I asked Vladikk. I stepped into the room so we could shut the door between us and the additional hunters outside.

  “We’re wondering by what miracle you came back to us in one piece,” a lanky blonde hunter said from his perch on the sofa near the window. He had long, fine hair tied back in a thin ponytail. His jacket was suede with fringe at the arms that swung as he tossed his knife from hand to hand.

  “Well, I got on my phone, looked up a cab company, and here I am.” I scratched my jaw. “Not sure what else to tell you. “I glanced at Dominique and saw her warning look. “Oh! You must mean how I survived the poison. Luckily for me, y’all sent me home with an ancient being who recognized it and knew how to counter it.” I smiled broadly at him. “Thank God for the quick thinking of the Venatores lamiae.” The skinny hunter stopped tossing his knife and held it in his right hand like he was testing its balance to throw it.

  Clay stiffened next to me and I saw Simi slide her hand over the gun at the small of her back. I couldn’t believe the Venatores were going to start a civil war in my hotel room. The sun was going down and I felt the strength of the mark growing as night fell. I couldn’t afford to fight these hunters. I couldn’t let them see how much stronger I was than I had been before Nicholas had taken me.

  Neither the handsome master of Los Angeles or I had any idea what new and exciting, catastrophic, problems we’d unlocked. Knowing my luck, it would be worst case scenario if this extremist group found out I was even less “normal” or “human” than before.

  “Why are we about to start tearing up a hotel room, guys?” I asked with my hands out in front of me, palms up. I left my weapons all put away, even though I could draw any one of them in a moment if I had to. “We are Venatores lamiae. We’ve been charged with the task of finding and stopping murders. Please; stop being so fixated on who you want to kill that you ignore the real danger that’s out there.” I pled with Vladikk and didn’t look toward the skinny cowboy or the other hunters with him.

  “I think the real danger’s in here witch.” I closed my eyes and took a breath; releasing it before I opened them again.

  “What’s your name?” I asked the speaker. He smirked at me and my palms itched to take out my knife and throw it right between his eyes. Too bad I’d be dead before I got it out of my boot if I went for it.

  “Jaime. Jaime Call.” I bowed at the neck.

  “Well Mr. Call; I don’t know you and obviously, you don’t know me. For the sake of argument, let’s say you’re right.” I shook my hands out at my sides to loosen my fingers from their clenched fists. “If I really am the most dangerous thing you have to worry about, then it would be prudent for you to be civil, or get the hell out of my room.” I felt the growling base in my voice as I spoke to him and I watched his face turn to ash as he worked to swallow past his own fear.

  “Vladikk; I think you’ve overstayed your welcome.” Dominique’s voice was as gentle as always, far more gentle than mine had been a moment before. Every person in the room, psychic or not, felt the power in it. Vladikk gave her a long, hard look and with a jerk of his head; the hunters with him shoved past me to the door. Jaime was the last to go. He stopped in front of me, standing so close I had to wrench my neck to look up at him.

  “One day you won’t have your guard dogs with you,” he leered down at me.

  “When that day comes, you better make sure you have yours with you.” I refused to back down and he shoved past me so hard, Simi caught me as I rocked back on my heels. The door slammed shut behind him and Clayton kicked it so it shook the heavy steel frame.

  “I think you and Simi need to go hunt. Clayton and I need to talk some sense into this splinter group and Somayo better be on his way to the Vatican, because we can’t allow this to continue.” Dominique packed her weapons as she talked.

  Simi hugged Dominique and I did the same with Clayton. “Keep her safe, yeah?” I whispered to him. “No one needs a witch hunt right now. Not when there’s a real danger to pursue.” He promised to stay close to Dominique and Simi; then I left. I didn’t know what we were hunting, but I knew who could tell us where to start.

  “Where are we going?” Simi asked as I signaled a cab.

  “We’re going to invite the master of the city to dinner.” A cab slowed to a stop in front of us. “C’mon, let’s go.” She slid into the back of the yellow cab with me and I gave the address to the oceanfront house where I could feel Nicholas waiting for me.

  He was outside on the step, his long b
lack trench coat flying in the breeze like a black cape on an old movie villain. I smiled at the mental picture and caught Simi watching me.

  “Oh shush you. I was thinking something funny.”

  “Oh, that’s what that face was. Good thing you clarified, I would have thought you were twitterpated.”

  “What?” I asked.

  “You’ve never seen ‘Bambi’? Never mind then. It would be lost in the explanation.” I rolled my eyes and accepted the cabbie’s help getting out of the car. Nicholas met us as Simi climbed out behind me and he paid the fare.

  “I felt your anxiety and fear as I worked. The hunters have finally made themselves known.”

  “I need to find the things killing people in your city Nicholas, or your clan will be wiped out.” He nodded and bowed to Simi. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Nicholas, this is Simi. I forgot you hadn’t been introduced, because technically, you’ve met.”