by Lucy Lyons
Henny puffed up and the professor grabbed her shoulder and spoke to her as I checked my phone and instruments for battery life and packed them in my various pockets and my leather fanny pack. I smiled to myself as I jammed one more magazine into the leather pouch. It had been a gag gift and it looked stupid. But it carried extra magazines and flashbang grenades and my car keys, so I was never going to stop using it.
“I can’t believe you have a wife and never told me,” I reprimanded the professor.
“When I got you, you were already a teenager. You didn’t care about anything but hunting and proving you weren’t weaker just because you were smaller.” He folded his arms and sighed. “Good work with that, by the way. You’ve really made a name for yourself,” he deadpanned and I laughed, because sometimes, it was either laugh at your hell, or be drowned in it.
Chapter 10
I left Henny and the professor to do whatever they had to in preparation to receive Clay. I climbed into the ventilation system and snuck back to my room, still shell-shocked that the compound was the place I was the most in danger. Dominique seemed to be more concerned with her power base than the actual problems of right and wrong, and I didn’t have much hope that she’d be back in time, as busy as she was trying to stop her cousin from taking her position.
Thankfully, the vent to my quarters in the barracks was still unlocked and it was a simple task to shimmy down the bookshelf and land silently on the concrete floor. I contemplated keeping my moccasins on for their ability to make my steps truly silent, but settled for the boots with lightweight steel toes. They had short, stacked heels that I’d modified to hold a vial of holy water and a blessed object, with a twist off top I could easily remove. I texted Simi and asked for her location and, after double-checking the lock on my door, I sat cross-legged on my bed and reached out to Nicholas and through him, Jeremy.
“So much has happened here, I don’t know where to turn for help,” I confessed. “I can’t go to my car, but I need to come to you. Where can we meet so you’re safe?” His instant reaction was the telepathic version of a rude noise and I replied by letting him feel my frustration and anxiety.
“I will come to you, at your front door, and no one will stop us.” His declaration did nothing to help my growing sense of dread, but how do you argue with a master vampire who’s hellbent on showing the world he can protect you?
I agreed to meet him in the garden and texted professor Eldritch to tell him. I suggested he use the disturbance I was about to cause to sneak out another way. It wasn’t wise for Nicholas to come here after a vampire had knocked out several hunters to get in and then torn one up to get back out again. I prayed the focus would be on us long enough that some good came of it.
I changed into new tac-gear and chose a top with a mock turtleneck to protect against animals grabbing my neck. I shuddered remembering how it had felt when my bones began to crumble under the pressure of Clay’s teeth and swore to myself. “Never again will I let that happen,” I said aloud. I cleaned my knives and rewound them into my hair, adding a knife down my boot as well, since I was planning to go in after Glory by myself. I couldn’t depend on the hunters to help me, when it seemed she had them on her payroll all of a sudden.
None of it made sense. Vladikk was a zealot, but he was devout. His followers were some of our best, most stoic men. Something bigger was going on and I had the sinking feeling that by the time I got all the pieces to the puzzle, it would be too late.
By the time I was ready to leave, Simi had texted me the address of the safehouse. I passed it on to the professor as well and climbed up to the loose vent cover over my bookcase. I peered into the darkness and saw a pair of beady eyes looking back at me. Startled, I backed up, but the rat in the conduit carefully picked her way forward and sniffed my face through the slats.
I lifted the cover and she jumped out into my lap and sat there, preening herself. I chuckled and picked her up, examining her any sign that Jeremy had sent her. Belatedly I wondered if she had been a survivor of the earlier massacre of her kind and I slipped her into my pocket to return her to her King.
I clambered down from the bookshelf and straightened my clothes, then unlocked the door almost silently and sauntered out into the hallway. Several young hunters stared in shock as I walked past them, absolutely certain that they hadn’t let me past them. I smiled and patted one girl on the shoulder. She flinched away from me and it made my heart ache to know that these new hunters had been poisoned so badly before they ever got a chance to learn the truth. I saw her flush with embarrassment at the hurt and sadness plain on my face and I left the wing without bothering to speak to her.
The professor called me and I answered on my Bluetooth as his call reminded me to put it in my ear.
“Hey, just heading out now. What’s up?”
“Are you in the vents?” He asked and I laughed without mirth.
“No. I just walked out of my quarters and confused a lot of new hunters who were told I’d be headed in the opposite direction. Who knows, maybe it will make someone question the lies they’re being fed. Too bad I used a lie to do it…” I sighed and Eldritch laughed at me.
“Now you’re acting like a watcher,” he reminded me. I bristled and went quiet. “Fine. Look, I got Somayo on the line and told them what they’ve been doing behind his back. He wants to come back to the compound, but I told him you were planning to take on Glory by yourself and he asked for the intel.”
“Knock yourself out, professor. I’m already assuming that if I die, it will be because a hunter betrayed me. Invite as many as you want to the party.”
I felt his anger on the other end of the line, no psychic powers necessary. I hung up and jogged toward the garden, trying not to expend my energy looking for Nicholas, but worried that if he was seen, they’d kill him before I could get to him.
The garden was peaceful and beautiful, even at night, and I prayed that whatever happened here didn’t ruin it for the hunters who would come after me. I placed a hand on the statue of St. Eustace Placidus, patron saint of hunters and those who face adversity. He was our saint, a Roman general who had converted to Christianity. His spirit appealed to us as fighters for justice and righteousness. But a viper had infiltrated our home. My home. A couple of years before I’d thought it was Nicholas who had turned our noble work into an abomination, but that wasn’t true.
For me, the destruction had started with my foster brother, David. It had left a sour taste in my mouth to discover he was a witch too, but that his power was vampiric in nature. He had fed off my power and my innocent love for years, and tried to kill me when I finally cut him off. Now, I had feelings for Nicholas, a true vampire, and I was terrified to let myself love him. Somehow, he knew though, and hadn’t given up on me, even with all the justification my fellow hunters had given him.
I felt a breeze and heard the flutter of wings, even though I knew they didn’t fly that way. I turned and he was standing there, tall, and pale and almost beautiful. He made the sign of the cross and bowed his head to my patron saint and I knew what I had to do. He smiled down at me and touched my cheek gently as a salty wet trail down my cheek betrayed my emotions.
“Are you alone?” he asked and glanced around as he embraced me. I nodded, my head banging against his chest. “Are you hurting?” I nodded again and dashed any remaining tears from my face with the heels of my hands.
“We have to hurry. There’s the beginning of a full-scale coup going on in there. We need to be gone, before one of Vladikk’s ranked men notice I’m missing.” I shook my head before putting my arms around his neck. “The young ones have no idea what’s going on.” I leaned into him and breathed in his cologne and the earthy, clean smell that was only him.
“It has been going on for longer than you’ve been aware, little watcher-huntress. Not so long ago, you were one of those trusting young fools.” I pretended not to hear him and let him lift me up so I could wrap my legs around his waist.
; “Flying with you is so intimate. Do you do it like this with everyone you carry?” I thought back to the blind rage I’d felt when he flew with Simi and my emotions bled through enough for him to notice.
He didn’t answer, but pressed me tighter to him, enough that I began to think about how we could do this with less between us. He chuckled and I cursed into his chest, embarrassed that I’d let him see those thoughts.
“Never be embarrassed that you’re drawn to me, Caroline, I certainly am not embarrassed by the depth of my feelings for you.” His voice in my head was warm and possessive.
I wished I had simply told him in the garden, that depth of feeling couldn’t begin to describe how much I desired him, not only the physical line we hadn’t crossed, but all the moments of our time added together. Even when I hated his methods, I knew I could count on his loyalty.
My phone bleeped at me from my pocket, announcing our arrival at the safe house. I grumbled and shut off the alarm and clung tighter to him.
“Clay’s all right, isn’t he?” I asked and I felt Nicholas stiffen with the same jealousy I had felt for him earlier.
“Yes, Caroline, he will survive the change.”
“Then can we go around the block one more time?” I asked in almost a whisper. He flinched and laughed, resting my butt on one arm and holding me tight with the other.
“Soon enough, I will prevail upon you to come away with me and I will fly you all over the world and hold you every free moment I have.”
“When Clay is safe and Glory is dead, I’ll come with you and be your servant... in name only,” I added, expecting him to argue. Instead, he set me down and held my hands to his cool lips.
“You are in earnest?” He said and I laughed.
“Yes, I’m serious. Serious, Nicholas, it’s what the kids say now.” He kissed my fingers and then my palms and my wrists, and my pulse pounded under his lips. His kisses went from light pecks, to sucking the pulse to the surface of my skin at its thinnest point and when our eyes met, his held the same glow as they had when he hunted. An edge of fear eroded away at the glow until even he noticed and sighed heavily.
“One day, you’ll know that just because I know I could devour you, doesn’t mean you have to worry that I will.”
“But you thought about it,” I retorted. “I saw that hungry look in your eyes.” He barked out a surprised laugh and coughed to cover it.
“Caroline,” he said, then cleared his throat. “Caroline, there is more than one kind of hunger in our life experience. Surely you understand what I mean when I say I want to devour you, or at least know I’m not talking about you as food.” My body seemed to know, because something low in my stomach tightened and I felt too warm for my leather gear, even though the night was cold.
“I’m sure we can talk about that later,” I stammered and strode towards the roof access door. Nicholas beat me to it, as I knew he would, and opened the door for me. Instead of getting angry though, I noticed he did it in such a way that I could have my gun up and not have to lose coverage when entering the building.
If he could adjust his behaviors so that I could still be myself, perhaps I could afford to be gracious towards his old-world habits. After all, how many girls my age could brag that their boyfriends knew how to let a girl kill her own enemies?
Chapter 11
I ran down the stairs toward the third-floor apartment, grateful that at least Clayton’s rescue was happening without any issues. Glory wasn’t going to just wait for me to come get her and I preferred to be on the attack instead of looking over my shoulder for evil, crazed vampires like her and Vittorio. Of course, Vittorio was chained in a coffin, which was better than Glory was going to get. He’d be released someday. I was going to keep her head as a bloody souvenir.
Nicholas knocked on the door, then just as I felt power push against me, he paused and turned around. There was Dominique, in full tactical gear, her gun trained on his head.
“Dom, wha— what are you doing? We have to rescue Clay.” Her intensity made my heart pound and I sent a quick prayer up to whoever was manning the phones. “Please, don’t let her have betrayed me as well.” The moment stretched into seconds, until I made a choice. I turned my back to her and cautiously opened the door. Inside were Somayo, Simi, and Clay, and sounds from the kitchen indicated, at least two of the were-rats.
“Hey guys, Dom’s here,” I said, injecting excitement into my voice, while my face indicated anything but. Somayo nodded and shifted so he could pull his gun more easily and Simi drew her sword and held it naked in her hand. Clay just stared at me, looking miserable.
I sniffed back tears and wiped the escapees off my cheeks, approaching him slowly. Cautiously, I held out my hand so he could touch my fingertips and he reached for me, sobbing and wrapping his arms around my waist. He was crying so hard, it took a few seconds to realize he was saying, “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, Caroline,” repeatedly. I flinched and patted his head and shoulders, oblivious to whether Nicholas and Dominique had made it inside.
“Hey, hey buddy, shh. Guess what?” I asked him, forcing him to let go of me so I could crouch at eye level. “Freaking Professor Eldritch has a flipping wife. Did you know?” he nodded and took a couple breaths through his mouth to help him calm down.
“Uh, yeah, estranged or something, maybe they just took a break, I don’t know. I was his TA, so I got some mail for her.” I laughed and pushed his shaggy hair back from his face.
“Well, she’s an earth witch and she has a whole pack of wolves to help you.” He opened his mouth then shut it without speaking. He scratched his head and tried again.
“You found me help before I even had time to process what’s happened. I just woke up. I’ve been out all night.”
“You know the professor. He had suspicions and spies, so once the victim was chosen,” I paused and patted his shoulder, “he could act quickly. They’re on their way now.” I smiled and he took another deep shuddering breath.
“I… you think I might be okay?”
“You always were a little pissed that I had psychic powers. I’m pretty sure this will make you stand out with the hunters.” I assured him and I heard a hiss from behind me. I glanced at Dominique and Nicholas behind me and saw the reason for the vampire’s distress. Three more hunters were standing at the doorway, blocking our exit.
“I’m not going back, Caroline,” Clay said and I felt his shoulder growing hot under my hand, until it burned my hand and I yanked it away. Jeremy emerged from the kitchen with a worried look on his face.
“Hey, guys, whatever you’re doing, you need to cool it off. Literally. You’ll bring on the change if he feels like he’s in danger.”
“Nonsense,” Dom cut in. “We’re taking him back to the compound for his safety.
“No,” he countered. “That’s where this happened to me. I’m not going back to them. I was loyal, but they tried to kill me. I can’t. Caroline, I can’t.” I shushed him and stood so that he couldn’t see Dom past me, using my body as a blockade.
“We’re not going back, Dominique. I’m sorry that I can’t be your apprentice right now. I’ve held on long enough and you can’t stop the attempts on my life, or apparently, the compound. I won’t continue to live in a place where I’m afraid to go to sleep.” I glanced at Nicholas, who peered out the window then nodded almost imperceptibly. I hoped I was reading him right, but Dominque was such a powerful psychic, I didn’t dare use our connection or we’d just tip her off with the power that surged.
“Clay’s going to live with the wolves. They’re his people now and they want him to live and learn how to stay safe and keep others safe. The Venatores just want to weaponize him, just like they did you, and me, and every other person with any unique strength.” The men behind her stepped out from behind her to fill the doorway. They pulled their guns and I laughed mirthlessly.
“There’s a name for women like you,” I thought at her and her face crumpled.
“I did my
best. Vladikk isn’t acting on his own volition. His own people don’t know what to think of his behavior. He’s gone mad. I don’t know why he keeps trying to kill you, but the council’s afraid of him now.” I almost cried in relief at the pain and guilt I felt in Dom when she opened her telepathic link to me.
“I’m sorry it has to be this way,” she said aloud and I gave her a small bow.
“I am too. I’d love to end this with a happy nostalgic look back at all the ass we kicked together, but I have a vampire and a former hunter to kill, so…” Dom looked confused, but Clay swore under his breath “David”.
“Why won’t he just go away?” he asked and recognition dawned in the faces of the other hunters.
“Good revenge though, right?” I asked, monologuing as Nicholas carefully wound his glamour around himself. “David uses his mind control on Vladikk, it makes him a little nuts in the process, and turns Clay into a werewolf. Then I’m told the Venatores will all be murdered if I don’t find Glory an animal servant.”
Nicholas continued shrouding himself in magic until even Dom forgot he was there. The blood and power we shared made me immune to his magic, but it was thrilling to watch it at work. He slowly walked toward the window, careful not to make a sound that would break the fragile spell. One of the hunters at the door lowered his weapon.
“Vladikk is under mind control?” he asked and I shrugged.
“I can’t prove it from in here, but Clay and I are the two people David hates most in the whole entire world, and look at what’s happened.” The hunter shook his head and swung his gun up into his holster.
“I’m going home.” From his accent, I assumed he meant his homeland, away from all the craziness of the Seattle Venatores Lamiae.
