Divination (Deamhan Chronicles Book 4)

by Isaiyan Morrison

  “I’ll hurt her.”

  “Let me have a go at it first, sister!” Brandy grabbed a handful of Anastasia’s hair and tossed her violently. Her body landed a few feet away and before she could stand to defend herself, Branda had already run to her side.

  “You’ll have a go at it, sister,” Branda said. “Once I’m done with her.” She placed her knee against Anastasia’s lower back. “How does it feel, sire?”

  Anastasia pushed herself up from the floor but Branda forced her back down again.

  “I asked you a question. How does it feel?!”

  “Sister, let me have a go at it!” Brandy whined from afar. “You never let me!”

  Eventually, Branda removed her foot. “You used me and you used my sister. Oh, I want to see you break!” She picked Anastasia up off the floor and gripped her in a headlock. “Let’s rekindle what we had, sire.”

  Their strength proved to be a challenge. Both of them were never strong enough to exhibit power rivaling her own. It had to be the place she found herself in, this afterlife of a hellhole that she desperately wanted to wake from.

  Until then, the only thing she could do was fight back against them. She managed to slip her head from Branda’s headlock and inched away. “This isn’t real. I killed you both!” She lowered her body slightly in preparation for their attack when she felt a strong force rip into her back. The pain made her stand on her toes as she grunted, realizing that someone or something had attacked her from behind.

  “You didn’t kill me,” a male voice whispered in her right ear.

  She now felt the acute pain in her chest and when she peered down, she saw a male arm, covered in blood, protruding slightly from the right of her solar plexus.

  “But she would’ve, if given the choice,” Branda replied to the voice.

  Anastasia didn’t dare to gaze back into the face of another one of her dead offspring. She could never forget Finley’s voice. After all, he was the most outspoken of all the humans she sired over a hundred years ago. He was also the most loyal, first to her and then to Maris. Now, he too had shown up to punish her, to make her suffer, just like Krerina said before forcing her into Hibernation.

  This was no Hibernation.

  “Finley… I.” With each word she spoke, blood regurgitated from her throat and bubbled out of her mouth. It traveled down her chin, so much of it that it soaked the front of her shirt.

  “Shhhh, keep your voice,” Finley replied. “You’ll need it for what’s coming.” He yanked his arm free and the force sent Anastasia to her knees.

  All three of them stood around her, their eyes beaming down on her.

  “We’re a family again.”

  Yes, they’d become the same demented family that she nurtured in her own, sadistic sort of way.

  “All we need is Maris,” Brandy added. “She’ll be here soon enough.”

  “No, she can’t die. I won’t let her.” Anastasia attempted to stand to her feet.

  “You don’t have a choice.”

  “Now, can I have a go at it, sister?” Brandy asked.

  “Yes.”

  Brandy clapped her hands in a short, jubilant cheer before her fangs dropped from her gums and she embedded them into the side of Anastasia’s neck.

  “Don’t kill her yet,” Finley said. “You’ll shorten our fun.”

  Brandy pulled back and wiped the blood from her mouth. “Let me have my fun!” she screamed her demand at them.

  Anastasia fell to the ground. Countless Deamhan who weren’t there a moment ago now appeared and stepped forward. Each one called her name and the voices grew commingled. Overwhelmed, she curled up in a ball with her arms covering her head when they attacked her. She felt each punch to her side and each kick to both her back and her head. “This isn’t real,” she whispered. But the pain felt all too real. I’m dead. This is hell. This is hell.

  She felt something that she hadn’t felt in a long time.

  Fear.

  Fear of being alone and the fear of spending an eternity among those she wronged.

  Fear of never being able to wake.

  Fear that Amenirdis won and she failed.

  Fear of death.

  The attacking stopped, leaving a small window for her to gaze up at her attackers. The horde inched away from her and she raised herself up.

  “You and I have much to discuss.”

  To hear that voice; his voice back in the day, was like music to her ears. Now, all she felt was the obscure feeling of submission and loyalty. This wasn’t a reunion without him.

  He looked as beautiful as she remembered it: his deep seated brown eyes, his soft-looking skin. His body resembled that of a Roman gladiator, fitting for a Deamhan who lived through that historical time.

  As her battered face healed, her swollen lips pulled back into a half smile. “Lucius?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  REMY

  “So, we’re good, right?” Remy stood on the opposite side of the room, directly across from Lambert and Hallie. He watched while they fidgeted around with his laptop, trying to get it positioned at the right height. “When are they going to call?”

  It wasn’t yet noon and he still didn’t get his rest. He couldn’t when his life remained on the line. Still apprehensive that anything good would come out of this chat, he grew impatient for it to begin. Lambert took his time preparing for the call and he moved at a snail’s pace. With Remy’s eagerness to retake Blind Bluff Manor and kill Krerina, he didn’t want to waste any more time than he had to.

  “They’re going to call in a few minutes.” Lambert stood back. “There. I think that should be good.” He looked to Hallie. “What do you think?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, that should work.”

  Sia stood by the window, still mesmerized by what she saw below. Like Remy, she too didn’t sleep at all. According to her, she didn’t do well with sudden change of environment, sleeping in a vampire-owned club, surrounded by vampires.

  “Remember. Let me do the talking,” Lambert said.

  “I’m uncomfortable with this.”

  “Remy, we’re doing this,” Hallie replied.

  He tapped his right foot on floor. “I’m telling you… you can’t trust them.”

  “There are many people in this world we can’t trust but still, we have to.” Lambert placed a chair directly in front of the camera. “We’re just going to have a nice little chat, tell them what’s going on, and that if they want the tablet and Maris, they need to get on board.”

  “So, we’re actually going to let them take the tablet once this is over?” Remy asked.

  “Yes. That was Nathan’s plan or am I mistaken?”

  “Well… yeah.”

  “Then let’s begin.” He typed in his log in and password. Within minutes, the green light flashed on the camera, followed by a ringing sound. “They answered.”

  Remy circled behind Lambert and gazed at the laptop’s screen. To him, it felt like hours had passed before he saw a female staring back at them on the screen.

  Hallie recognized the woman almost instantly. “That’s Lenore. That’s the woman Nathan talked to.”

  Remy found her attractive, especially her prominent green eyes. She had beautiful dark hair and wore a black shirt, contrasting her pale skin. “Not bad,” he commented on her features. Hallie had mentioned how Ayden spoke about those green eyes, so he paid close attention, finding nothing to support his claim that she wasn’t human… yet.

  The first question out of Lenore’s mouth was about Nathan.

  “I thought you’re the all-seeing Brotherhood?” Remy joked. “You should know what’s going on.”

  Lenore didn’t reply.

  “I guess you don’t,” Lambert said. “Nathan’s dead. I’m the vampire, Lambert. I live in Minneapolis.”

  “Yes, we know about you,” Lenore said. “But… are you certain Nathan is dead?”

  “Yeah, we saw him die right before our eyes.” Remy leaned forward. “And
we’ll be dead as well if you don’t get your asses here and help us stop Amenirdis.”

  Her green eyes shifted to her left. “What makes you think that we aren’t already in Minneapolis, Mr. Durand?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe because no one has seen you yet?” he replied in a sarcastic voice. “Are you in the city or not?”

  Lenore nodded slowly.

  “Good. So how about you guys do what you came here to do?”

  “We were in the middle of negotiations with Nathan.”

  “We know the Brotherhood wants the Dark Curse tablet and Maris in exchange for your help and we accept those terms,” Lambert said.

  “You only have half the tablet. We’ll need Ruby for the other half.”

  “Oh no, we found the other one,” Remy replied. “After we killed her.”

  “I see.” Lenore slowly folded her arms. “So, the other part of the agreement—”

  “There is only one part,” Remy interrupted her. “You help us get rid of Amenirdis and we give you the tablet and Maris. Then you can go back to San Diego and stay the hell out of Minneapolis.”

  “It’s apparent you don’t know the rest of our agreement.”

  Lambert turned to Remy who turned to Hallie.

  “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Nathan kicked us out of their conversation, remember?”

  “It’s something we can discuss later,” Lenore continued. “Amenirdis goes back in Limbo and yes, we get the Dark Curse tablet and Maris.”

  Lambert agreed. “Where and when?”

  “The chapter location, a minute before sunset. Bring your vampires, Lambert. You’ll need them.”

  “You bet I will.”

  “One more thing,” Remy spoke up. “How is the Brotherhood going to send her back into Limbo? You need to do the ritual and, to do it, you need someone who can read the tablet. There are only three people we know of who can: Amenirdis, and her two twisted bitches at the sanctuary…unless you somehow found a Kashshapu and last time I checked, there aren’t any.”

  Lenore smiled. “We have that covered.” She abruptly ended the call.

  “Did you all just hear what I heard?” Remy asked.

  Lambert closed his laptop and sat back in his chair. “Yes and why are you surprised?”

  “Aren’t you? It’s obvious she’s lying to us. It’s one thing they do better than Deamhan.” He grabbed a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. “They can’t help us, especially with that one leading the charge.”

  “They have to,” Hallie replied.

  “They don’t have to do anything. I told you, this was a mistake.” He headed for the door. “I guess this is it, then. Well, I’ll try to go out with a bang.”

  “Remy…”

  “I’m good, Lambert.” He opened the door. “Let’s just get this shit over with, okay?” He left, slamming the door shut behind him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  REMY

  From across the street, Remy pinpointed Lenore out of the group of what he hoped to be the Brotherhood’s best mercenaries. Sia stood to his right and they locked eyes. There’s no way they could’ve gathered so quickly.

  They’ve been here for days, she telepathically spoke to him.

  He nodded in agreement. I guess the more the merrier, right? He watched Lambert take slow steps across the street to greet Lenore while he remained behind with Sia. When they stood a few feet from one another, she slowly circled around him.

  “Where are your vampires?” She examined him like fresh meat.

  “They’re waiting a few blocks from the manor,” Lambert replied.

  Her tapered eyes set on him. “I hope they are, for your sake.”

  “How about you just focus on your role and let me focus on mine.”

  “So who are you exactly?” Remy asked her. “President of the Midwest Division?”

  “If that’ll help you understand my role, then I’ll be whoever you want me to be.” She folded her arms. She wore a dark jacket, a short black shirt partially revealing her midriff, and tight black jeans.

  He whispered to Sia. “I don’t like her.”

  “I don’t either. But I understand why Ayden was a little suspicious. Smell her.”

  Remy took a quick whiff. “Weird. I can’t.”

  “Neither can I and the only other recent human person I couldn’t smell was…”

  “Krerina,” he finished the sentence for her. “Hmm… now, this is interesting.”

  Lenore clasped her hands together. “Let’s get down to business. I would like to reiterate the deal made between Nathan and myself.”

  “Yes. Let’s.”

  She stopped and faced him. “We get the Dark Curse tablet and Maris.”

  “Once you put Amenirdis back in Limbo.”

  “Yes.”

  “Refresh our memories but how are you going to do that exactly?” Remy asked. “I mean, we know you need Maris’ blood, but there’s this little problem with deciphering the writing on the tablet.”

  “Again, let us worry about that, Mr. Durand.”

  “The reason he’s persistent in wanting to know is that Krerina and the Defiler are two of the triplets that served Amenirdis before she was released from Limbo.”

  Lenore placed her hands on her hips. “We know that.”

  “Really? You skipped over that detail,” Lambert said.

  “You didn’t ask,” she replied in a sly voice. “Anyway, we have a plan for the Defiler and Krerina.”

  Suddenly, Remy laughed loudly, grabbing their attention. “I hope it involves their deaths. If not, then we’re all as good as dead.” He laughed again and this time, he hunched forward. “Oh, my sides!” He tilted his head back. “You researchers are so funny that it’s cute.”

  “Laugh all you want, Mr. Durand, but you don’t know all our secrets.”

  “They’re there to protect the queen. The only plan is to kill them,” he scolded.

  Lenore turned back to Lambert. “We understand each other?”

  “One more thing.” Sia stepped forward. “How are we going to get into the sanctuary without them noticing?”

  “You’re going to get us in there. Now, let’s go.” She clapped her hands and in response, the plethora of researchers at her call began to spread out.

  Remy then heard what sounded like more than one car revving its engine. Bright car lights shot at them from his right, instantaneously blinding him. He hadn’t seen the black four-door sedans and black vans. “She traveled deep.” His eyes widened. Moments after his eyesight adjusted to the brightness, his fears manifested. He counted at least fifteen researchers sitting in these vehicles. “And there are tons of them.”

  “You all can ride with me.” Lenore waved at them to follow.

  “I’d rather take the shadows,” Sia replied.

  “I’d rather you not. Not only am I here to help you, I’m also here to keep a close eye on you and that’s what I plan to do.”

  ***

  “Keep staring at me Lamia and I will take out your eyes.”

  “Been there, done that.” Remy smiled at Lenore’s comment and at the same time, he tried to pick up on her thoughts.

  Have you read her mind? He mentally spoke to Sia who replied back in a strong, psychic blast.

  It’s blocked. I have nothing.

  The van sped down the empty freeway at a fast pace. Two tall men, dressed in traditional black jackets, sat in front. Remy couldn’t see their faces but unlike Lenore, he could smell them. His body rocked back and forth due to its erratic movement and eventually, his right shoulder collided into the left side of Lenore’s body.

  “My bad.”

  “You’re still staring at me,” she said in a low voice to him.

  He placed his elbows on his knees. “I’m curious.” He rested his chin in his hands. “You don’t have a scent? Why is that?” There had to be more to her than what she projected to them. He believed he knew the Brotherhood well enough to know that they’d never have a supern
atural working for them and he could only imagine if Lenore fit into that category. “Are you human?”

  She turned in his direction. “I’m human.”

  “No, you’re something more,” Sia chimed in. “Neither of us can smell you and we can’t read your thoughts.” She looked to Lambert who remained quiet. “Can you smell her?”

  He shook his head. “I thought, maybe it was just me.”

  “So, what are you?” Remy asked.

  “I already answered you. I’m human.”

  “Y’know, I was totally against contacting you. My littlest Deamhan said that we needed to trust others if we were to make it out of this alive. That means I have to trust you, Lenore, but it isn’t easy to trust a person who pretends to be who she isn’t.”

  The van curved again and this time, it sped down a road looking familiar to him. They were getting close to Blind Bluff Manor.

  “Does it bother you so much that you can’t read my mind?” she asked.

  “A little, but I’m not the one to pry.”

  “Well, know this. We’re here to make sure that the Defiler doesn’t end your species. The Brotherhood is on your side this time. You should be thankful.”

  “Who should we be thankful to?” he asked in a sly voice.

  Lenore turned forward. “Just remember that Deamhan started this by releasing a Pure One out into the world so excuse me for not being so opened minded to our new and uncanny relationship.”

  “I’ve made up my mind. I like her.” Remy smiled and moved back in his seat.

  The van took a hard right and their bodies reacted to the sudden change in direction. Remy let his body go and he found himself nearly on top of Lenore, who quickly remedied the situation by pushing him violently away.

  “We’re here.” She pounded on the side of the van to signal the driver to stop. Once the van parked, she opened the door and jumped out.

  The air was stifled and the wind was nonexistent. Dark clouds covered the sky and in the distance, he heard the low, rumbled sound of thunder. Rain clouds approached. He could only see the roof of Blind Bluff Manor in the distance.

  Two more vans parked alongside and turned off their engines.

  “Where is your back up?” she asked Lambert who exited the vehicle.