“We need everyone on the same page. We’ve all had our asses handed to us. I want things to go back to normal. As normal as they can be. I’m not sure what that means for Rachel, Josiah.” Rainey frowned as she scrolled through his screen.
“She wasn’t like this until Cash died. Something inside her snapped.” His gaze landed on me, and he had to know the family connection. Rage like that didn’t come out of nowhere. “She means well, even if it doesn’t look like it.”
Rainey nodded at whatever she read on the screen. “Whatever her intentions were, keeping you here, she couldn’t fulfill her promise. I need you guys strong and healthy so we can generate the good energy the Realm needs to survive. How long before you can get back on stage?”
The guys looked at each other. “What about Tristan?” They knew. Rachel wasn’t that far ahead of us.
“He’ll be in better shape once he gets back on stage,” Rainey said, motioning for the guys to follow her. She already knew I’d follow her anywhere. “Do any of you have a car here?”
The guys looked at each other and shrugged. They didn’t volunteer how they got here, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. We couldn’t distract ourselves chasing down any more rabbit holes. Our focus needed to be squarely on Rachel. Distractions worked to her advantage. So we all piled into Rainey’s car, with Ryder riding shotgun and me laying over the laps of the other three in the backseat. Awkward. We worked together, we trusted each other with our lives on stage, but we weren’t friends. No one knew where to put their hands.
“Nobody recovered after we fed Blade that night in Holly’s room. I thought it was because the show was dark. We didn’t have enough energy. But Rachel said she could help us, and to trust her because she was doing something she never tried before.”
“We should’ve known better than to fall for it,” Adam groaned, and Josiah glared at him. “Hey, man, I trusted her until I woke up in chains.”
I couldn’t believe the nerve of that bitch. What a heartless thing to do to her lover. Nothing was sacred, and we weren’t safe. “She did that to you while you slept?”
“We couldn’t replenish the blood. Tonight was the first time we made any progress. That’s how she got us. First, she turned on me. Then she told us we’d been poisoned by Blade. She’s probably got him, too.”
My blood ran cold. Blade trusted her and she fucked him over, or was in the process of doing so. One step ahead of me. Not for much longer.
“She cast a spell over you,” Rainey said. “Problem is, she’s terrible at it. Anyone can cast, but it takes more than a spell to make the magic work. You have to believe in it for all the right reasons. I wrote those spells, and I intended for them to be used for good. Whatever she had planned for you was never going to work, guys. I know you don’t know me, and you’ve been screwed over before. You have no reason to trust a stranger, I’m not asking for that, but I urge you not to trust her. She’s a thief. She takes and never gives.”
“What’s the plan when we get to the hotel?” Ryder asked.
Rainey sighed. “We check on Callie and Tristan first. I think she got to them, too. Made him turn on her.”
I shuddered. “Callie was in bad shape. What we find there determines our next move.”
“So, we may not have a Mistress?” Josiah asked. Shit. Rachel was probably tuned into his mind.
“What makes someone The Mistress?” I asked. Callie wasn’t the strongest vampire in the clan by any means. She definitely didn’t have seniority.
Ryder turned around in the front seat. “It’s supposed to be whoever takes out the clan leader, which was why we followed Blade at first. It defaults to the strongest woman in the clan—”
“Doesn’t make any sense why it’s Callie,” Josiah muttered. We still had one member of Team Rachel.
“Rachel isn’t part of the clan. Cash created her. Different bloodline. Callie’s the only female in the clan, because Rachel created Lennon, too.”
“Then who will be in charge of the clan?” Tommy asked.
“Let’s not write Callie’s eulogy until we get there,” I said. A clan without a leader would be chaos.
Rainey pulled into the parking garage of the Alta Vista. She laced her fingers between mine and held me back as the guys headed toward the hotel. “I thought it was a good idea to bring them here, but now I’m not so sure. They’re making plans without their Mistress. Not a good sign. If she’s weak, they could attack her, and there’s no one to step up to take her place besides Rachel.”
“I want the clan.”
Her eyes widened. “You do?”
“Yeah, if Callie’s gone... I’ll step up. I want the clan to succeed. Not because I’ve become best friends with them, but when we come together and create music and art, we can change the energy of the city. The guys need to be on stage. More than they need blood or anything else. I understand that, because it’s true for me, too.”
Rainey bit her lip. “But you’re not a vampire.”
“I’m half-vampire.”
“You’re not part of the clan. Cash—”
“I am this clan. I brought them together. I gave them a purpose. They need me much more than I need them.” But there was no denying that I did need them. “With me, they’d be in chaos. Look at what’s happened since the show closed.”
Rainey sighed. “Don’t set yourself up for disaster.”
“You’ve spent the last two-hundred years telling me I’m selfish. I’m ready to step up and do something for other people. I fought for you, not just because I love you, but because I care about the people here. I didn’t want them to suffer because I was selfish.”
“Wow.” Rainey bit her lip, but she couldn’t contain her smile. All the things she told me for the last two hundred years had finally sunk in.
I leaned in and kissed her before giving her hand a tug. We couldn’t let the guys get too far ahead of us. “It’s time for this Realm to thrive. I plan on staying here for a long time.”
“That’s because everyone who meets you falls in love with you. I’m proud of you, Holly. When I left, you were in this for yourself. Because you wanted people to call your name. But let’s hope it doesn’t come to you being the leader. Callie can be The Mistress, and you’re the heart and soul of the clan.”
“I know.” I flipped my braid over my shoulder and led her out of the elevator.
The guys must have headed for the penthouse, because it was too quiet outside my hotel room. I knocked before inserting the key, and gasped.
Blade answered the door.
It wasn’t much different from the last time I found him here unexpectedly. He was covered in blood. This time, I knew it didn’t belong to him.
“What did you do to her?” I pushed past him and stopped short. Lennon sat in the chair with her head in her hands. I turned around to Blade. “You killed her, didn’t you?”
Chapter Thirty-Six
There was nothing left. Bloodstained sheets, sooty handprints on walls, but no evidence of Callie’s body. I turned back to Blade, wishing I were full vamp so my eyes could glow red. Instead, I was the Fire Dancer, and flames dripped from my fingers. But he wasn’t afraid of anything, least of all, me.
“What did you do to her?” I roared. If I wasn’t careful, I’d fully ignite. All of us—Rainey, Blade, and I—had grown more powerful since the last time we shared the same room. We didn’t have to touch each other to feel the power.
And it was a good thing, because we needed it now. The clan belonged to us.
“I didn’t kill her.” Blade stepped toward me and batted away the flames like they were nothing.
“Bullshit!” My arms completely ignited. Lennon and Rainey screamed when I grabbed him. Blade absorbed the flames. His eyes glowed red like he knew my every desire, and held them just out of reach. “This clan does not belong to you. I will not let you hand it over to Rachel.”
“What the fuck, Holly?” Smoke seeped out of his skin as he reached for my face. I wasn’t
sure if he’d kiss me or slap me. He did neither, instead grasping my chin and making me meet his gaze. The red flickered as it faded. “I tried to save her.”
My knees gave out, and I was glad he held me. Blade guided me down to the floor and held me. Tears didn’t come. In my heart, I knew we had been talking past tense all along, but I didn’t want to believe it.
“It’s true, doll.” Lennon sniffled, and every word wavered. “He showed up right after you left. He tried to help her. He gave her blood.”
“Your blood is poison. It almost killed the guys in the band.” I pushed myself away from him and hugged myself. It wasn’t worth it to fight with him. That was what Rachel would want. Divide and conquer. The last thing I’d do was make that bitch happy. “I’m sorry. It’s been a rough night so far. Tell me the rest.”
“She was gone when I got here. Never seen a vampire suffer true death before, and I ripped myself open and gave her everything I could.” Blade shuddered. “All the times I said I’d kill her when I had the chance, I... I loved her once. That was the girl I saw as she faded the way. The human girl who thought love could conquer all. In that moment, I forgave her for what she did to me. But it wasn’t enough.”
Blade bowed his head, rubbing the space between his eyes. I hugged him. “She’ll know that you forgave her,” I said. “You have to do the right thing for this clan now.”
“I thought that was what I was doing all along.” His lips grazed my cheek. He needed more than I could give him, but I wouldn’t turn my back on him.
“I know.” I looked over his shoulder to Rainey. It was the three of us, now and forever. Our love would keep Blade on the right track. And he’d give us the fire power we needed. I’d thought that being on stage and having people call my name was what fed my soul, but it was never enough. I always knew I needed to be a part of something bigger than myself. To feel the love and adoration of many and give everything I had back to them. “Does Tristan know yet?”
Lennon shook her head.
“We have to tell him,” I said. This could be a near-fatal blow to him. Callie kept him grounded. She was to him like Rainey was to me. His voice of reason and his muse. The person that was there for him when all the crazy faded away. I climbed out of Hell to get Rainey back. Tristan wouldn’t have that option. I pressed my lips against Blade’s forehead. “You should come, too.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Blade backed away from me.
“Tristan needs to know that you tried to save her.” It was risky bringing Blade along. Tristan wouldn’t understand it now, possibly ever, but to let him think Blade had a part in her death would start a war with no general. “We have to work together to save the clan.”
“I KILLED HER.” A GRIEVING Tristan was like a live minefield. He sank to his knees in the middle of the destruction. His long, dark hair shielded his face, nothing visible but bloody skin and stained jeans. “I should’ve made her go home when she came here. But I wanted her. I always wanted her.”
Lennon was the only one brave enough to sink down next to him. I gasped when he grabbed her roughly and pulled her into a kiss. There was nothing passionate about it—it was raw need and desperation that couldn’t be expressed any other way. I couldn’t tear my eyes away, wondering if I underestimated the complexity of their relationship. Callie had loved them both. I certainly wasn’t passing judgment. We’d moved into uncharted territory and needed protection, comfort, and understanding any way we could get it.
Lennon didn’t move away from Tristan when the kiss ended. She settled against him, and he put his arms around her. No one in this room knew what happened next. The rest of the band sat on the couch, heads down, oblivious to the scene. They’d come face to face with their immortality, and it was a lie.
“Callie put her faith in the wrong people.” Everyone turned to glare at Rainey. “Not you guys. Rachel. I won’t let her die in vain.”
“What the fuck are you gonna do about it? Cast a spell and bring her back?” Tristan snarled. Lennon pushed against his leg, and he settled.
“I would if I could.” Rainey was so amazing. Nothing rattled her. “But I can stop Rachel from doing any more damage. Bring balance back to everyone’s lives.”
“You’re not a vampire.” Tristan crawled toward her. “You can’t expect to lead us.”
“You have no leader, Tristan. This clan is susceptible to attack. You can follow Rachel or Blade, or you can listen to me.”
He shook his head. “You’re working for Gabriel.”
Rainey sighed. “Last I saw Gabriel, he was in slightly better shape than Callie. So I’m not working for anyone but myself. And I’ve been dealing with the foolishness between the Realms for centuries. Let me tell you a couple things—no one is totally good. There’s no need to punish yourself for that. But there aren’t many people who are completely bad, either. We deal with them and move on. Gabriel had the right idea about a lot of things. He believed in pleasure, just like you. It made you fucking famous, Tristan.”
I was about to burst into flames with desire for this woman who stood up to the scariest creatures the night threw at her, and killed them with kindness and a whole lot of real talk. If she weren’t already mine, I’d do anything to make it so. I’d do anything to protect her. Which meant cleaning supernatural house.
“You’re working with him.” Tristan pointed at Blade. “Everything he touches turns to shit.”
I took exception to that declaration, but Blade put his hand on my leg. This was his battle, not mine. “I’ve made peace with what I am. Embrace has been a shit show. The donors are scared and it sucks. There’s nothing good that can come of that. The vampires aren’t starving—but they aren’t satisfied. The shows work.” He took a deep breath. “I tried to save her, and I’m sorry I couldn’t, man. I know why you felt that way about her.”
Tristan narrowed his eyes, but the glow faded. He nodded. Vampires drank emotion like wine, and there was no bullshit in Blade’s sentiment. Both men mourned the same woman in very different capacities. Tristan as losing his soulmate, and Blade for everything that had been taken away from him.
“So what do we do?” Tristan asked.
“Get your ass back on stage,” Rainey said. “Bring the humans back to the Alta Vista. Pull them and their good energy away from Gabriel’s Realm. Let me do the rest.”
WOMAN THREW THEMSELVES at the guys in The Afterlife, and people chanted my name, but I was Rainey’s biggest fan. I looked back at her before opening the door to my hotel room. “You were so smoking hot up there.”
“They don’t believe in me.” She sighed as she walked into the room ahead of me.
“They didn’t believe in Callie, either, but they followed her.” Probably for lack of better options. “We can make them believe. Your spells. Our power. We’ve got this.” I considered the clan my responsibility, and I needed all the help I could get. Rainey had already been promoted to a leadership role in the other Realm. “But Tristan’s right, you’re not a vampire.”
“Holly, the clan will follow you to the gates of Hell and back. I’m just here to make sure you come back.”
“So I’m The Mistress?”
“You’re so much more than that.” She leaned in and kissed me.
“Let’s get to work.”
“Where did you keep my books?” Rainey called from around the corner. “Why aren’t you coming into the room?”
“Because. She’s still in here.” We needed to gather my shit and get a new room. I didn’t want to sleep with The Mistress’ ghost.
“I can cast a spell to make it go away,” Rainey said.
She couldn’t, not the stuff that bothered me. “No, it’s better that I deal with it.” I stepped into the room. Besides blood spattered on the sheets there wasn’t any trace of her body. I liked to think that Lennon and Blade spread her ashes over the Alta Vista. “The book is in the nightstand. Next to the Bible.”
One held stories about her, the other was writ
ten by her.
“Where were you born?” I asked. Rainey had claimed to be an orphan like me, and I had no reason not to believe her until she owned up to the illusion.
“In a place that doesn’t exist for me anymore.” She hugged the book against her then flipped through it, checking to make sure everything was still there. She softened as she read the words she wrote a lifetime ago. “It doesn’t matter. This is my home. Speaking of, do you want to stay here or go back to the apartment?”
“The apartment, if it’s safe.” I pulled my clothes out of the closet and tossed them into my suitcase. I was anxious to feel at home. With Rainey. “And it does matter where you came from. It doesn’t matter that you told me what I needed to believe before. I love you. And now that I know the truth, I want to know everything I didn’t before.”
“It was a long time ago.” She lowered her eyes. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Was it Heaven?” I asked. I expected the eye roll. “Come on. It would be weirder if I wasn’t curious. You know everything about me.”
“Yes, it was Heaven.” Rainey snapped the book closed. “And we’re not invited back. It doesn’t bother me as much as it bothers Gabriel. He’s done everything in his power to recreate it on Earth, and he failed. It’s my mission to give him another chance, and if I can’t do that, I want to make sure he’s welcome there. He deserves that.”
“He does.” I dropped my clothes into the suitcase, not caring if I missed. With Rainey back in my life, I’d have to clean up my act. She cared about things I didn’t. She made me better. But the clothes were the least of my concern. I wanted to hold her. My angel. “You are an amazing leader because you want the best for everyone. You understand what Gabriel wanted from his Realm even more than he did. That people deserve to be happy, whatever that means. And I can’t wait to make it happen with you.”
“Yeah.” Rainey frowned and looked at the grimoire one more time. “But if we have any hope of achieving that, we have to do something that goes against everything I believe in.”
Queen of the Night Time World Page 23
