by Mary Abshire
“I can call Aziel and get a back up team and medics,” Rachel said.
“Did you get Reggie?” Trevor asked.
“What?” Anna asked.
“I heard them beating Zale the entire time,” Trevor said. “Reggie was taking his turn with me until you arrived. He ran and slammed my door shut.”
Zale held his head up as Anna’s hand slid off his face.
“I saw someone run around the corner right before I shot at the demon,” Anna said.
“There is a heartbeat moving away quickly and three others are heading this way,” Victor said as he walked into the room. “I put Rodney to sleep.”
“I can go after the one who escaped,” Rachel said.
“No, you call Aziel. Get a team here and medics,” Anna said in a commanding tone.
“Sean and Stanley are in the hall watching the demon. He’s alive, but losing a lot of blood,” a familiar man said as he walked into the room.
Zale noticed the man had a long beard. He squinted is one eye, trying to see him better. Zale couldn’t make out any features, but he was certain the man and Justin were naked.
“I’ll go after Reggie,” Victor said.
“No, I’m going,” Anna said. “You and Rachel fight the three heading here.”
“No,” Zale said. His voice came out a whisper, but it caught her attention. “No.”
The thought of her going after the evil monster frightened him worse than death, and he had no intentions of leaving her any time soon.
She moved closer to him. “I have to Zale. I can’t let him get away this time. I won’t let him.”
“The three are getting closer,” Victor said.
“Please.” Zale took a breath and burning pain swelled within him. He winced.
She touched his face again. “You need to shift soon. It will help. Victor and Anna will fight the demons coming.”
“Don’t.” He swallowed more of the coppery fluid in his mouth. “Anna.”
“I love you. I will be back.” She pressed her mouth to his. “I promise.”
“No. Don’t,” he said.
She backed away from him and he attempted to move, but his body wouldn’t respond. His spine blazed and throbbed.
“Stanley will go with you,” Justin said. “I’ll keep Sean here in case we need him.”
“That’s fine,” she said.
“You better hurry if you plan to catch Reggie,” Victor said.
Rachel handed something to Anna. “Good luck. I’ll call Aziel.”
“Protect them as much as you can,” Anna said.
“I’ll help Zale,” said the man with the long beard.
“Thank you, Brent,” Anna said.
“Anna, don’t.” Zale tried to yell, but his voice sounded weak.
His mate, the woman he longed to share his life with, walked away. Rachel and Victor followed her.
Agony gripped Zale’s fast beating heart. He wanted to stop her, to scream, to protect her from the evil monster. Reggie had lured her into a trap before. What if he did again? What if he destroyed her this time? He couldn’t bear to lose her. Not now.
“Stop her,” Zale said. “Please.”
He mustered every bit of strength he had, but it only sent him falling to the side.
Brent rushed to stop him. “Easy there, buddy.” He lowered Zale to the floor and then rolled him onto his side.
“Stop her.” A fiery throb in Zale’s torso and abdomen made him feel as if he were a bomb ready to explode. Yet, all he could think about was Anna.
“Sorry, buddy. I told her I’d help you,” Brent said.
Zale flinched when loud pops echoed outside the room. A werewolf darted inside. The black-haired animal sniffed Zale’s face.
“Anna,” Zale said.
The increase in shots fired raised Zale’s fear. What if Reggie had an automatic weapon? Reggie could weaken Anna and capture her again.
Fearing he might lose his mate, Zale called upon the power of his werewolf. He had to shift since his body wouldn’t obey his will to move. If he could gather enough strength in his furry form, he’d go after Anna. He refused to let a demon, master, or anyone harm his woman.
Chapter Forty-Three
Grief weighed more than a rhino in her heart and mind as she walked out of Zale’s room. The desire to stay and take care of him overwhelmed her, especially since he begged her not to go. But she had to stop Reggie. She couldn’t let him escape again.
A dark-haired werewolf and light-colored one sat by the demon leaning against a wall. Rodney’s unconscious body lay outside the door.
“Stanley, let’s go,” she said before she started jogging to the end of the passage.
Reggie’s heartbeat sounded distant, but he hadn’t left the tunnels yet. Gun in one hand, she ran down the long dark pathway. The clicks of the werewolf’s feet grew louder. He passed her in little time and reached the corner first. She followed him around it.
Loud pops echoed behind her. She almost stopped to go back and help. Rage compelled her to continue forward. Victor and Rachel could handle three demons. Bullets would hurt, but they wouldn’t destroy the vampires.
The sting of the bullets she’d taken in her chest pulsed as she smacked her boots on the hard floor. She guessed five had hit her. She’d taken more and fought demons. A little pain and blood loss wouldn’t stop her from going after Reggie.
Stanley ran almost a full hall length ahead of her. She presumed he too listened for the master’s heartbeat. With four feet, the speed of werewolves surpassed vampires. But werewolves could get hurt quicker. Multiple gunshot wounds could kill them. She hoped Reggie didn’t have a gun.
“Slow down,” she said before he rounded another corner.
The thumping sound of the evil man she sought grew louder. Behind her, the quick snaps from weapons became distant. The use of automatic weapons increased her worry, but she held faith Victor and Rachel would persevere and protect the werewolves.
She ran so fast in the maze of tunnels she began to feel dizzy. Stanley had slowed his pace to a quick trot. Each shaft had a single light and it didn’t reach the full length of the passageway. The scent of mildew remained constant.
A loud hum began after she turned left and entered another tunnel. The sound grew as if it were a machine or engine warming up. Reggie had stopped traveling. She estimated she only had two more shafts to go before she’d catch up to him.
“Careful Stanley,” she said, reaching the end of the passage.
The steady hum continued. The sound of it along with Reggie’s heartbeat became louder as she drew near. Stanley started to growl as he approached the end of the tunnel.
“Wait for me,” she whispered, but he didn’t stop.
Stanley passed the corner and gunshots fired. They whizzed past him and smacked into the concrete walls. The werewolf spun, his back feet slipping and his front nails digging into the concrete floor. He darted toward her while bullets continued to pop and fly by.
Anna stopped near the wall as Stanley circled back toward her. He shook his body as if he were a wet dog. She couldn’t smell any blood from him, but his heart pumped quickly.
“Give it up, Reggie,” Anna called out. Her voice echoed.
“Anna, I knew you’d come. I’m sorry, but I must leave again.”
The hum stopped. Two seconds later, she heard a squeal. She bent her knees and peeked around the corner. Reggie stepped into an elevator. She rose fast and fired her weapon.
Bullets smacked into the solid walls and pinged against the edge of the doors. She strode toward the elevator, shooting. A few of her shots made it inside before the doors closed.
“Shit!” She pounded her fist on the door.
Rage burned through her. She refused to let Reggie get away. Scanning the area, she found a faint glowing sign above a door.
“Stanley,” she said as she ran to the exit.
The werewolf ch
arged toward her.
She reached the door and shoved the bar. The dark stairwell smelled old and musty, worse than a gym locker room. She climbed the steps two at a time. Stanley made it through the door before it closed. He brushed against one of her legs as he passed her. His nails clicked on the steps.
She listened to the hum of the nearby elevator. The steadiness of it led her to believe he hadn’t exited yet. The muscles in her legs tightened as she climbed as fast as she could. If she had to guess, Reggie was heading for the garage.
The noise from the machine lessened. Anxiety flooded her. She hurried to climb the remaining steps to reach the level where the elevator had stopped. Panting, Stanley trotted down from the stairs. He’d gone too far, but he reached the exit before her. Growling, he clawed at the steel door.
Anna swung it open and the werewolf shot forward. “Wait!”
Two heartbeats thumped in the dark garage. Reggie stepped from behind a van, pointing his gun. He fired it twice at Stanley before the werewolf leaped. Snarling, Stanley fell on Reggie and they both fell on the ground. His gun smacked and slid away. The scent of blood filled Anna’s nose as she ran toward them.
Reggie tossed the werewolf to the side as she reached the master. The second Reggie sat upright she kicked his face. His head jerked, but he quickly returned his evil gaze to her as if her shot hadn’t hurt him the slightest. Holding her gun, she swung it at his face. She hit him so hard the weapon fell from her grasp. Again, his head moved to the side, but not for long.
“You’ll have to work harder this time,” Reggie said with a cocky grin.
Filled with rage, she grabbed him by his shirt and lifted him off the ground. He punched at her ribs as she threw him against the back of the van, denting the door. Each blow cracked a bone and sharp pain spread inside her. Ignoring it, she tossed him to the side and he ran into the next vehicle.
Stanley lay between the van and the car. Dark fluid colored his light fur and the ground near him. She couldn’t help him if she wanted to bring down Reggie.
The master rushed at her. He pushed her to the van and she smacked it hard, adding another dent. When he came at her again, she threw a punch at his face. His head turned and she grabbed the back of his head. She thrust him at the van and his head cracked the window. Blood smeared on the glass. He started to laugh. Behind her, she heard the second heartbeat and a clicking sound. Stanley barked. She grabbed Reggie’s arm and spun him around in front of her. The blast echoed in the garage while the bullet penetrated Reggie’s shoulder. He flinched and yelped.
The black-eyed demon stepped closer, pointing the gun at her and Reggie. Holding his arms, she used him as a shield and hid behind his head. Reggie twisted and tugged to get free from her grasp. If she didn’t act fast, she’d lose her protective layer.
She pushed Reggie closer to the demon and then shoved him. Reggie stumbled forward. The demon fired again and the bullet pinged off a car somewhere behind her. She snatched her gun from the ground, spun, and pulled the trigger. Her shot hit the demon’s leg and he lowered his weapon. Beside him, Reggie pulled out a small dagger from a sheath attached to one of his calves.
“You’re not going anywhere except Hell this time,” she said, approaching him with her gun aimed at his arm.
“We’ll see,” Reggie said.
He tossed the knife at her and she fired. Her bullet scraped his arm a split-second before the blade sank into her chest near her silent heart. Head spinning, she stumbled back and dropped her gun. Her chest pulsed with white-hot pain. She gripped the handle and yanked it. Coppery flavored fluid rushed up her throat and into her mouth. She spit and then wiped the back of her hand over her mouth.
Reggie strode toward her, his eyes black and filled with evil. Dizzy, her vision doubled. She gripped the blade and waited for his next move. It came fast in the form of a punch. She blocked it with her arm. But she missed his foot as it swung at her. She fell back and landed hard on her ass. The knife fell from her grasp and clanked on the ground.
Reggie laughed. “Did you really think I’d let you beat me?”
She spit a glob of blood to the side. “Did you really think I’d let you get away again?”
“Tell me Anna, the werewolf in there, is he your lover?”
“He’s more than that and he’s going to be fine. I exorcised Rodney.”
The smile on his face began to fade. “You can’t stop us.”
“I can and I will.”
“No, you won’t. We are many and we continue to grow in numbers.” He picked up the dagger.
“Same bullshit I’ve heard for two centuries. I’m still here sending demons to Hell.” Dizzy still, she started to see more clones of him.
He stood near her legs. On her other side, the demon limped toward them. He lifted his rifle.
“I hate to break this to you, but I’m going to be the one to end your existence,” Reggie said. “Hit her neck. It will help me sever the head.”
A deep growl erupted nearby. She caught a flash of movement. The werewolf crashed into the demon. Another blast echoed in the garage. The bullet smacked into a wall, missing her. Stanley and the demon hit the ground.
Reggie rushed toward her. Vision spinning, she reached to grab his arm. She caught his double instead. He shoved the dagger into her shoulder and pushed her flat to the floor. More blood bubbled up her throat and into her mouth. Pain spread to her head and created a vibrant throb.
“I guess I’ll have to cut your head off myself,” he said as he stepped over her, placing a leg on each side.
Although weak and thirsty, she refused to let him win. Filled with determination, she grabbed one of his legs and yanked it. As he came down, she rolled away. He hit the ground with a thud. Hand shaking, she jerked the blade out. Before he could attack, she stabbed him near his bullet wound. He screamed and fell back. She hurried to climb on top of him.
“I hope you burn in Hell, Christopher.” She bared her fangs to him.
“Fuck you. I never loved you.”
“I know.”
She pressed her hands around his throat and squeezed. Although she knew the holy words wouldn’t do anything, she chanted them anyway. He writhed and bucked, trying to throw her off while she choked him. His heartbeat raced. As she started to say the Latin phrase a second time, he gripped her forearms. Face turning red, he pulled on her arms. Her strength faltered since she was weak, but fury drove her to tighten her hold on his neck.
“Go to Hell,” she said from behind her clenched teeth.
Head pulsing and vision spinning, she continued speaking the commanding words. Black fluid trickled from his eyes and nose. Mouth open, he tried to breathe, but he failed. His efforts to remove her hands from his throat started to lessen. Her nails dug into his skin. Blood bubbled around her fingertips. More dark ooze spilled from him. Little by little, his fight diminished and his heartbeat slowed. His hands eventually fell away from hers. She repeated the Latin words as his heart struggled to stay alive. Many seconds passed before she heard a final beat.
The stillness of the body beneath her brought her to tears. She prayed for forgiveness for killing a human. If she could’ve somehow saved the man, she would’ve. But the evil beast inside belonged to the devil. It seemed unfair the human had to die, but it was the only way to send the servant to Hell for good.
Anna slid to the side of the lifeless body. Two heartbeats drummed in her ears from several feet away, but it was the soft taps of shoes approaching that captured her attention. The poor lighting and her dizziness made it difficult for her to see.
“Well, aren’t you a mess?” Victor said.
She turned her head and spit out more blood. “They need doctors and the demon needs to be exorcised.”
“A team is on the way with medics. We’ll handle the demons at the office.” Victor stopped in front of her. “Looks like you’ll have to spend some time recovering with your mate.”
Palms on the
gritty floor, her arms shook as she struggled to stay sitting upright. Her body ached and her thirst intensified. Yet, she felt happy. A spark of hope and peace ignited. She’d sent two masters to Hell and she had a man who truly loved her. As if it all were a dream, she couldn’t help but laugh. Moreover, she couldn’t wait to spend a night recuperating with the man she yearned for.
Chapter Forty-Four
Zale woke to a bright light shining in one of his eyes.
“His pressure is stable and everything looks good. He’s on the right path,” a man said before the light went away.
A blurred image of the stranger with dark hair on his face and head stood beside him. He wore a white lab coat. Behind him, a glass window overlooked a wooded area. The sun shined bright on the trees and spilled into his small room. Although Zale couldn’t see well, he spotted a dark television hanging on the wall, facing him.
Swallowing, Zale glanced down. He was laying at a slight angle on his back. A thin white blanket covered him from his torso down. He had to be in a hospital or clinic.
“What about his eye?” Gordon asked.
Zale saw a cloudy version of his boss stand up from the corner to the right of the television. He headed toward the man in the white jacket. Zale presumed the stranger was a doctor based on his appearance and the few words he’d spoken.
“He’s sustained damage to it. I can’t say how much at this point. When he’s up and moving around, we can run more tests. Worse case scenario, he’ll have to wear a contact in the impaired eye,” the doctor said.
Impaired eye? There had to be a mistake. Zale blinked to clear the haze from his vision. Through one of his eyes he saw a clearer view of the two men, but the other showed a blurry version of them.
Gordon faced Zale. “You’re going to be fine.” He wore a blue polo shirt tucked in dark pants.
Zale lifted his hand. Tubes connected to his arm moved. At least the swelling had disappeared and his bones had gone back in the proper place.
