by Kim Faulks
A heavy thud shuddered the floor as Marcus dropped his shoulder and charged. “It’s not moving. Wedged tight.”
The thunder came again, only this time it was above us, and somewhere inside that room an inhuman screech ripped free.
“There’s only one way we’re getting out of here.” Marcus stepped backwards, his gaze fixed on the door. “And that’s if we burn this fucking place to the ground.”
My brother turned, setting his hard gaze on me. I saw it then, saw what chilled him under the dreamweaver outside. He didn't want to set fire to this place, or any other place, and yet he would.
He would for Alpha. He would for Abrial. He’d become what he was always afraid of—a mindless killer, one who would leave bodies piled in the street, and that thought scared the fuck out of him.
Suddenly, the mighty Bloodletter didn’t look so invincible.
He just looked like a man—one who wrestled with the darker side of his soul.
The Archer rose to the surface as I took a step and reached for his shoulder.
But not me. I invited the darkness to fucking dance.
Hate filled my chest, burning like a damn inferno as the boom came from above.
“Go Marcus,” the Archer's lifeless words slipped free. “Go help Zadoc. I’ll get Alpha out.”
He wavered for a second as the Archer filled my veins, and then he was gone, racing along the hallway behind me. Wood splintered from the room above as I turned back to the door.
It’d been so long, still I remembered the hurt and the betrayal as I turned my back on my Dragon—all for my family, all for protecting the ones I loved the most.
Was it the Archer’s turn to betray me just when I needed him the most?
With the thought came the answer, just as clear as it’d been all those years ago.
Just fucking watch me. Silver flames slipped from my lips. I opened my mouth, pouring out all the hatred and the hurt and along with the inferno came the memory of the male Vampire from the cavern. Hungry tongues lapped the door and spilled outward to consume the wall. The roar was deafening, consuming everything in its path.
The Vampire’s face melted into the hungry flames. Power rippled through my body fighting the urge to shift, and hunt the bastard down. There was more than the Princess was telling me and I knew that sonofabitch was the reason.
“Lucas!” X screamed behind me.
I inhaled, swallowing the fire and the fury. Stainless buckled, glass shelving cracked as the fire spread. But it was the door I focused on. The black markings were swallowed by the fire, breaking the spell. It was just a door now, nothing more than wood and steel.
I lifted my foot, drawing my knee to my chest and unleashed, driving my heel into the door. The hinges caved, wood buckled bowing inward. Screams erupted from the room above, wrenching me from the moment.
My thighs burned as I turned and lunged. The little wolf was standing at the base of the stairs, struggling with someone twice her size. But she was stronger than she looked, carrying the muscle bound brute on her back.
I leaned close, fighting the crackle of fire to scream. “Can you make it?”
She raised her head, and gave one hard nod as carnage erupted above. The urge to see inside that room was overwhelming.
“Go,” X snarled. “Get this bitch.”
And then she was gone, stumbling from one side of the hallway to the other as she heaved her mate outside this death house.
A howl tore free from the open room. But it wasn’t a wolf, nor an animal of any kind. It sounded inhuman. I surged forward, taking the stairs two, and then three at a time until I mounted the landing. The open door beckoned, smeared with blood. It was the stench that slowed my steps. I knew it well. The dead were waiting inside that room and bodies filled my mind—arms over legs reaching for the sky.
I stumbled, shoving the cracked door open to see inside the room. Marcus, Zadoc, Evander and Gunny stood with their backs to each other. The gun was in the Marine’s hand, but she may as well kiss the weapon goodbye.
Four Vampires crowded the far corner of the room. They hissed and lunged, taking a swipe at my kin before scurrying backwards. Blood smeared faces and only made them look more crazed. I glanced down to the bodies splayed across the room and took a step closer.
They were newly turned, black eyes glistened with incensed hatred, as though they were nothing more than animals unable to control even the most basic of behavior.
I opened my arms wide and stepped inside the room drawing their attention one by one. Lowest…something…kind…kynd. The three men turned back to the middle of the room while one of the undead, a woman, stepped closer.
The front of her blue and white waitress uniform was covered with blood and gore. Something that once was pink dangled from her breast pocket. I glanced to her name badge stitched on the left hand side of her chest, and for the first time I wondered, was she a mother, a wife, a sister? Was there someone out there looking for her? Someone she loved, someone she hated? How did she get here, who made her turn?
“I’m not going to hurt you,” I murmured and took one more step inside the room.
“No, but I will,” Gunny growled and opened fired. The waitress’s head snapped backwards and stayed there before the Vampire straightened, took one look at the Marine, and hissed.
The hollow in her forehead closed, spitting the silver bullet from skin and bone. There wasn’t a bullet that could stop her. Inhuman eyes were fixed on Gunny as she scanned the others.
“Gunny,” Evander moaned. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
He slid his arm protectively across her body as the male Vamp stepped closer. Time stood still for a second before the undead lunged. My brother shot forward, meeting the bastard mid-air, gripped his throat with one hand and slammed him against the wall.
The newly turned immortal was savage, bits of blood and bone shot from his open mouth as he hissed and thrashed. His name badge crumpled as he moved, turning Brian into Bran.
“Get the fuck out.” Evander wrestled with the undead. “Before this whole damn house goes up in flames.”
I stared at the blue and white uniform as Evander punched the Vampire in the face, once, twice, and then three times, knocking the bastard out cold.
The undead’s shirt looked the same as the waitress’s. The other two males’ were the same—same color, same stitching, same fucking diner. The bloated decomposed bodies on the floor looked five, maybe ten days old at the most. Someone turned these humans and then locked them inside with their food—food that’d been alive. “Someone’s turning them.”
“And breaking the goddamn treaty,” Marcus finished.
The floorboards shuddered, and then parted. The Vampire lunged across the gap, mouth open, fangs at the ready, focused on Gunny as the corner of the room dropped, pitching Evander into the other Vampires.
Evander’s eyes widened, fear shone as he screamed. “Gunny!”
But I was already moving, charging from the doorway to tackle the bastard head on. Agony pinched, and tugged until I threw the undead over my shoulder and against the ground. The thing jumped up like a jack-in-the-fucking-box and kept on coming.
Gunny opened fire, emptying everything she had. The male Vamp jerked and jolted as slug after slug tore through his chest. Still it wasn’t enough. There was no spark of self-preservation. Nothing but mindless hunger as it lunged, scurried, and grabbed hold of Gunny’s arm. This thing was a runaway train and we were in its path. I cocked my fist and swung. There was nothing for it, nothing but blow after blow.
Its head snapped backwards as the undead stumbled. I met the beast, stepping again. My muscles were ready. In my mind it wasn’t this thing I fought. It was the one from the cavern. The cruel piece of shit that crawled into my thoughts and twisted my memories.
I lashed out, driving my fist under and then upward, catching the Vampire at the edge of his jaw. Evander punched and throttled. Kicking one mindless undead in the groin, before wrenc
hing the one in his hands in front as a shield. “Gotta get out of here, Marcus. Now.”
Marcus stared at the mayhem. “Zadoc, you ready to go, brother?”
But there was no answer from the Wretched, only stony silence. I risked a glance as the other two undead headed for me. Zadoc’s focus was on the far wall staring at a mess of black and white images.
“Zadoc?” I snarled as the floor moved under my feet. Silver flames speared greedy tongues between the gaps of the floor to lick the bottom of my boots. “We gotta get out of here, buddy.”
But he wasn’t listening, held transfixed by the sight. I lunged backwards as the floor gave way. Marcus scurried forward, grasping Evander by the shirt as the corner of the room fell into the inferno.
“Holy shit,” whispered Gunny, staring through the hole in the room and into the night.
“Zadoc.” I sucked in a breath and reached for my brother.
The wall glistened with the candle light. I blinked and moved closer and the images sharpened. My gut tightened, and I was spellbound. Pictures of Eva were layered over images of baby Thorn, one after another, all in different locations. Some were ripped into pieces to litter the floor. There was a manic feel to this room…this house. I stared at the images, the Doc’s medical center, our house. Some were taken from telescopic cameras, others taken up close. Some of the Princess were years old, ten, fifty…one hundred…more.
The edge of one held me, dark eyes shining bright. I lifted my hand, fingers skimmed the mess and parted the others to reveal a black and white image of a broken smile and a chilling emptiness in her gaze. She was young, barely a woman standing with a young man…the Prince. This had to have been taken after she returned to the Shadistin clan. Even here I could see her pain, her horror. “What happened to you?”
“What?” Marcus growled and leaned over my shoulder. “What the fuck is that?”
Zadoc lifted his hand to the middle of the chaos, drawing my gaze.
You want a war? The bitch and the kid are next.
I didn’t need fucking clarification of who she meant.
An animal was most dangerous backed into a corner. It became savage and unpredictable. It became unmerciful and desperate. I bet that wall felt cold against her spine…real fucking cold.
“Jesus Christ,” Marcus hissed and reached for his pocket.
The rest of the floor crumbled. The phone in Marcus’s grip slipped. But it was the screams behind us that filled the air. Terrible, unmerciful screams that rocked the night as one by one the Vampires were consumed by the Archer’s silver flames.
Evander lunged, scrambling for the door. Zadoc followed not saying a word.
“We need to go now!” Marcus gripped my arm and yanked.
The black and white picture spilled from my fingers. But the fire was waiting, lapping the image up before it hit the floor. She belonged to the fire now, and this whole house with it.
My steps were a blur as I found the stairs, fire engulfed the back end of the house. The sound of shattering glass toward the front drew us closer. Alpha heaved a brick through the shattered hole and then punched the jagged shards, knocking them free.
Gunny slipped through the opening, followed by Zadoc, Marcus and finally me. In the distance the sound of sirens cut through the early morning air, getting closer.
“Let’s go,” Alpha snapped.
But the Marine didn’t look so hot, gray had settled into his skin, and he stumbled instead of walked. He nodded to the young wolf beside him, brushing away X’s outstretched hand as he made for his Jeep next to the curb.
“I need a phone,” Marcus snapped. “Someone give me their damn—”
Gunny shoved the dark shape toward him as behind us the house exploded. Sparks and flames shot high into the air. Car alarms blared along the street, yellow hazard lights blinked as Marcus stabbed the handset and pressed the phone against his ear.
I caught part of conversation. “She’s coming. Be ready, and Abrial…stay safe. I…ah. I love you, woman.”
I wrenched my head toward his silhouette, and for the first time in forever I had nothing to say. To know one thing, and to witness it is another. I’d seen him protective. Hell, I’d seen him downright friendly, even smiling—as often as a full fucking eclipse. But love? Had I ever heard the words…or the tremor that went with them?
Never—until now. My brother loved her. He actually loved her.
He pressed the button and ended the call, and then turned to catch my stare. The truth shone in his gaze illuminated by the silver bonfire. We were his family—but his pack had changed.
My own soul stirred as the Princess filled my mind. I wanted her…wanted her from the first moment I saw her. But she belonged to no one. She was no pack, no mate. She needed no one. Darkness consumed her soul, almost the way it consumed mine.
I raised my head to the burning building as the sharp tone of an incoming call pierced the night. Alpha hit the button as the words splashed across the images filling my mind. The bitch and the kid are next.
“Aunty?” Alpha spoke into the phone. “What? Whoa…wait a minute. Slow down. I don’t… I can’t understand you.”
Panic filled his voice, stopping Zadoc halfway inside the car. Gunny neared taking one slow step, her gaze trained on the phone in Alpha’s hand. He yanked the phone from his ear and hit the speaker.
Gray turned white on the Marine as panicked screams erupted on the other end, and then there was silence—cruel fucking silence before an unhinged familiar voice snarled. “You…you…you…you fucking bastard! I want your traitorous fucking Uncle, Darrion, and I want him now.”
Whites of Alpha’s eyes shone bright. “He is not there. I don’t know where he is, and neither does my Aunt. You want him, fine…I’ll find him. I’ll deliver him to your fucking door. But you leave her alone. She has nothing to do with this…”
“He betrayed me…they all…betrayed me. He will rue the day he turned his back on me. They all will. I’m going to cut your pretty Aunt to pieces.” Muffled screams filled the background. “There won’t be a body by the time I’m done.”
Alpha’s knees buckled. He hit the ground hard. His head shook as terror twisted his face. “No…no…no… Don’t you fucking touch her! Don’t you dare. She means nothing to you. She means fucking nothing!”
“No,” the Huntress murmured calmly. “But she means something to you.”
And the line went dead.
18
Eva
A rivulet of water ran down my cheek like a thousand unshed tears. I lifted my head, and looked through sodden strands of hair to the familiar room. Thunder filled the sky overhead, but down here the storm was barely more than a whisper.
But it was a whisper that shook my soul.
You fight me, Acheron whispered and speared unseen talons into my mind. But…you won’t win. Look down, Eva…see all that you have done.
“Eva?”
The familiar voice called from the corner of the room. Austine took a slow step. His gaze narrowed, dark eyes flared with fear, before he stumbled forward to yank me into his arms.
“God, I’ve been so worried. Where the Hell have you been? I thought…thought the damn Huntress had taken you.”
The familiar scent of blood and cold earth filled me, but underneath that was the bitter tang of cheap perfume. A woman’s perfume. His words were a muffled drone as he pulled me against his chest. Still I didn’t feel a thing but the distant rumble above, and the pull of death, a current I couldn’t ignore.
“What is that?” Austine murmured, gripped my shoulders and pushed.
His gray shirt stuck to his skin, soaked through with water and blood. Fragments of fur fell free as he lifted a hand and touched the gore my black corset hid. “Are you hurt?” He searched my body, and then met my gaze. “Were you attacked? Eva…your eyes…what happened to your eyes?”
I stared at the mess—darkness shrouded my mind, leaving fragments of memories. I tried to trace my steps, yet the
path was shrouded in nothing.
From the depths of my memories a chuckle slipped free. There was no wall to protect me now. No wall to keep me safe. Doubt closed in, sending a quake through my chest. Had I ever really been protected, or had it been a game all along?
The snigger inside my head grew louder. Right woman…wrong child.
Out of my memories a white mammoth house rose—the Guardians’ house. The baby. My heart boomed. Thorn was in there. Her screams came to me now, shrill and cruel, so clear they cut like glass.
I knew that sound…knew it all.
My fingers shook as I probed the satin and leather, and the heady scent of blood swept me away. “What have I done?”
You took my son…took what was mine…
My knees buckled, and the world swam. I killed her. Water trailed over my lips and slipped into my mouth, and with it came the metallic taste of blood. I killed the child.
I jerked my head upward, meeting Austine’s gaze.
And now I get to repay the favor…
Austine snatched his fingers from my chin. “They’re white, Eva. Your eyes…they’re white.” Gone was my brother’s soft tone. There was a hardness now, a bitterness that’d never been there before. “What happened to you? Tell me. Tell me now.”
The need to tell him rose like a tsunami. I wanted to spill my secrets, and unburden my soul. I reached for him, brushing trembling fingers across his cheek. I always wanted to do the right thing, be the right sister…the right daughter.
Secrets waited, welling in the back of my throat—secrets that would change the way he looked at me forever. “I changed my mind…” I started, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead of spilling, I pried one word at a time free. “I didn’t want to hurt her…not after I saw.”
“Saw what, Eva?” His hands found my shoulders and squeezed. “Saw what?”
“How much she fought. How much she hated. We’re more alike than I realized. I…”
Kinship, the word stuck in my throat, and yet that was what I felt. I lifted my head and stared at my brother. Austine demanded loyalty, sacrifice—as family should. But the child…she demanded more—something I wasn’t capable of before I met her.
