by Noree Cosper
“I doubt you could kill me. Lola was inadequate. You’re not much better.” I jerked the blade away from her and spun low to deliver a quick slash to the lower part of her tail.
Lucy snuck around to her other side and jabbed both of her blades under the creature’s ribs. She screeched and flicked her tail so that the tip slapped against the back of Lucy’s knees. The girl toppled over with a grunt, and the demon slid her scales over her until she covered Lucy. I brought my blade across her abdomen, hoping to cut deep and disembowel her. She slithered to the side, and the sword only gave her a shallow cut. Green ichor from the shallow wound and a sickly sweet smell mixed with sulfur filled the air. Lucy pulled herself free and stood, panting. We glanced at each other, and with a slight nod, we rushed her.
I spun around and leapt up, trying to latch onto her shoulders. Lucy went in low, aiming for her stomach. The demon grabbed me and swung me into Lucy. We both went flying and crashed in the wall.
The lamia’s jaw distended, and she gave a hissing roar, her eyes narrowing into slits. She rose up and bashed her fists into the ceiling. The walls shook, and a rumble filled the room. Small stones fell from the brick. Her second strike hit her mark, causing the room to quake. Bricks, dirt, and rock tumbled down around her.
We were bathed in darkness.
Chapter 20
I choked and sputtered as the dust clung to the inside of my lungs. I pulled myself up, trying to untangle my limbs with Lucy’s. She groaned and shifted away from me as she sat up. Blackness surrounded us, and my flashlight lay buried.
“Do you have a light?” I asked.
Her clothes rustled, and a small, pale light erupted, giving her face an eerie glow. Blood ran from a jagged cut across her forehead and over her eyebrow. The bleeding quickly stopped, and the cut sealed itself starting from the outer edges.
I stood and held my hand out to her. “How’s the arm?”
“Fine,” she said.
“Adrian, can you still hear us?”
“The earbuds are sturdier than that,” he replied. “What happened?”
I scanned the pile of broken bricks, concrete, and rock that stood before us. If the lamia had survived, there was no getting to her.
“The lamia brought the room down on us,” I said.
“Do you need to be evacuated?’
I turned to the open tunnel behind us. It wasn’t the one we came through, but at least it was a way out. I touched my side and winced. Hopefully we wouldn’t become lost down here.
“Not yet,” I took a deep breath and counted to ten. “Lucy, can you get us out of here?”
“I think so. Not sure.”
“Great,” I said. “Let’s go. I’m starting to itch.”
We walked for what seemed like hours all the while the ache in my side grew to a sharp pain. Lucy stopped at one tunnel crossing and looked at the compass in her hand. I leaned against a wall and panted, sweat dripping down my face.
She put a hand on my arm. “Just a little farther.”
“I’m going to need Tres,” I told Adrian.
“I’ll call him,” Adrian said. “Esais and Viktor are here. I’m coming to get the two of you.”
The brickwork became newer as we walked, and soon we turned and found ourselves in a hall with metal steps and a maintenance door. We stepped into the subway tunnel, and I breathed an almost sigh of relief. Just a little farther, as long as we didn’t get run over. The tunnel was dark, but we stayed close to the wall just in case.
Lucy gave me a boost onto the platform, and I groaned, lying on the dirty tiles in agony for several moments before I held my hand to help her up. I leaned on her heavily as we climbed the stairs. I breathed in the first breath of night air and savored it with its smell of exhaust and oil.
“We made it out.” I tapped the ear bud. “We’re on the corner of White and Centre Street.”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes,” Adrian said. “Try not to draw attention to yourselves.”
I glanced at Lucy’s dirt-streaked face and our grimy clothing. He had a good point: people were already giving us sidelong glances as they passed. I pulled Lucy back into the entrance off the subway tunnel and leaned against the stair railing as we waited. Thank god it wasn’t long before Adrian pulled his van to the curb. Lucy helped me into the back, where I stretched out in the long seat while she climbed into the front. Adrian sped out into traffic and soon had us in front of the office. Once inside, I stared at my hated foe, the elevator. My gaze traveled to the stairwell, and my side flared with pain at just the thought of it.
“Come on,” Lucy said. “I’ll be inside with you.”
I remained where I was. I could still feel the lamia’s scales scraping against my skin. I didn’t want to be trapped again. Lucy took my arm and gently pulled me inside the elevator. I squeezed my eyes shut and counted toward ten. I reached seven when the doors slid open with a ding.
Tres stood in the hall with his brothers, Viktor, and a curvy redhead who pouted her mauve lips and clung to Tres’s arms. They all looked our direction as we stepped out. Tres pressed his lips together into a frown.
“Bring her inside,” he said. “Delilah, wait here.”
She crossed her arms over her ample breasts and gave him a glare. “This had better not take long. You said dinner.” She tapped her red heeled shoe on the carpet.
I leaned close to Lucy. “Is he dating courtesans now?”
Adrian, who caught the last words, snorted but managed to hold his laughter. Everyone, sans Delilah, filed into the room. Esais and Lucy helped me onto the examining table. Tres ran his hands over my abdomen, and I gave a small hiss as he pressed down on the sore spot of my side.
“Cracked rib,” he said. “Should be easy to fix.”
“She got away,” I said. “Again.”
“Well, we have more of her blood. So I can always dowse and find her again.”
“That hasn’t worked out very well,” Adrian said. “I have another plan. I have looked over the information from Acesco, and there are three warehouses ready to ship Synergy.”
My skin under Tres’s hands began to tingle and warmth spread through me. It tickled in my veins like tiny bubbles. The stabbing ache faded under that warmth. I breathed a sigh of relief and sat up.
“How soon?” Esais asked.
“Soon enough. We should move immediately,” Adrian said.
I coughed. “Does that mean tonight?”
He looked me up and down with a long sigh. “Tomorrow night, then. We will need everyone because we’re going to have to hit all three warehouses at once.”
Viktor raised his hand. “Does that include me?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened and he looked to Esais. “Well?”
“He needs to get some field experience,” Esais said. “I’ll be with him.”
“And me,” I said. “He hasn’t had nearly enough combat training to leave the two of you alone.”
“Then Adrian and Lucy will take one and Marge and Tres will take the last,” Esais said.
Marge groaned. “Not the pretty boy.”
Tres made a face. “I’m not looking forward to it, either.”
“This isn’t a social gathering,” Esais snapped. “Work it out.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket, it was a miracle it still worked. I pulled it out and checked the screen before I held it up for Lucy to see.
“Your father.” I hit the answer button. “Hello, Jonah.”
“Gabby, do you have a cold?” Jonah’s voice crackled with a slight static.
“Just dusty,” I said.
“I dread to ask. I’ve finished analyzing this Blasphemy. The base is indeed Brimstone,” he said.
Esais nodded to me once and moved closer to Adrian. The two of them began speaking in low voices while Viktor looked on with his brow furrowed. Tres moved over to Lucy while continuing to bicker with Marge. Lucy shook her head at him and moved closer to me with a questioning look. I held one finger up and turned
my back on the group.
“I’ve pretty much surmised that,” I said. “Did Lucy tell you about the other possibility we found.”
“She did. I’m quite interested in this company.”
I glanced at Adrian and chuckled. “They seem to be popular.”
“Yes, well, the conference is wrapping up here in Venice in two days. I shall come to New York after.”
“You’re getting out from behind your desk?”
Lucy raised her eyebrows.
“I have a feeling you will need my legal expertise as well as my occult advice,” he said with a long sigh. “Also, has anyone had a chance to study a human under the effects of this Blasphemy or the other one, what was it called?”
“Synergy,” I said. “I saw what their souls looked like. Almost like it was being eaten away. I guess that’s what makes it easy for the demons to possess them.”
“And it just spirals out once possession has taken place. Hmm,” Jonah’s voice trailed off for a moment. “If possible, could you find one of the users who haven’t been possessed?”
The abandoned building the demons had used for a drug den flashed through my mind. If there was one, there was sure to be others. “It shouldn’t be too difficult.”
“Very good. I think it may prove useful, in learning more about this. Try to keep the children out of too much trouble before I arrive.”
“Of course,” I said.
“Please let my daughter know I will call with the details of my arrival.”
“She’s right here, if you wish to speak with her.”
Lucy lifted up her hands and shook her head, backing away slowly.
“Unfortunately, I have a meeting to attend. I will speak with her later.”
“Very well, Jonah. Thanks for the information.”
“Well?” Esais asked as I hung up.
“The good news is we aren’t dealing with a new way to turn humans to demons. Same as Texas,” I said.
“Is there bad news?” Tres asked.
“Depends on how you feel about Jonah coming here in person,” I said.
His shoulders slumped. “Horrible news then.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Marge said. “Are we done with this sewing circle?”
Esais crossed his arms. “Not yet. Adrian had a plan for tomorrow.”
“You will each have eight charges you need to plant in the warehouse. Once they are planted, we will send a signal that will cause the charges to explode in all three locations.”
“That’s it?” Marge asked.
“Patience is a virtue,” I said.
She snorted. “Not one of mine.”
“Obviously,” Esais said.
Adrian glared at us all with his one eye. “There will be some sort of security, most likely guards, cameras, and an alarm system. I will also provide you with nanites to infect the system for a short period. Make sure you finish within that time.”
“How long do we have?” Tres asked.
“About twenty minutes.”
Tres shrugged. “That’s not too bad.”
“You say that now,” I said.
“OK, so cut security, run in, plant bombs. Got it,” Marge said. “Anything else?”
“For now, no,” Adrian said.
“Please make sure you’re not endangering human lives,” Esais said. “We don’t want them caught in the explosions.”
Marge shrugged. “They shouldn’t be there and working for vampires.”
“They probably don’t know,” Esais said.
“Their fault for being blind.” Marge pulled the door open. “Later.”
Delilah stood from her spot on the wall and walked to the doorway. Marge shoved her to the side with one hand and continued down the hall, ignoring the protest and scowl she received. Delilah turned her brown eyes on Tres and gave him a petulant look.
“Are you done with your little secret meeting?” Her voice took a high pitch. “I’m starving.”
“We just need to do the secret handshake,” Adrian said.
It was my turn to hold back the laugh that rose in me as Tres glared at his brother. Esais just shook his head and took Viktor’s hand.
“I suggest everyone get some rest,” Esais said.
I grabbed the remains of my jacket and headed out. I was in need of a hot bath and a warm bed. How had I ever missed all this action? As much as that thought came, I knew deep down I lived for times like these. Even if I broke my curse, I doubted I would live a normal life. This was all I knew.
Chapter 21
The security guard slammed his car door shut and switched on his flashlight. He passed it over the parking lot and rubbed his large stomach. I ducked down behind the car the three of us were hiding behind as the light made its way in our direction. Esais narrowed his eyes, staring off into the darkness.
“Two guards,” he whispered. “Both human.”
“I guess they don’t want to spring for the undead kind of protection,” I said.
“Eternity as a security guard? Not the kind of thing I would sign up for,” Viktor said.
I chuckled softly.
“I’ll handle them, you get to the camera,” Esais said.
I pressed my body against the wall of the warehouse and crept to the door. A small black camera was bolted in the wall above the door, impeding any further movement. I touched the small bud on the inside of my ear.
“Camera at the door,” I said.
“Can you reach it at your height?” Adrian’s cool voice echoed in my ear.
“Funny. I’m not that short.”
“Put the device I gave you on it. The nanites should do the trick.”
I climbed to the stoop while keeping as close to the wall as I could. It took me rising on my toes, but I managed to plant the device on the camera. The small red light blinked off. I waved to Viktor and Esais. They did a half-bent, fast walk to the guard.
Esais shook his head. “No keys.”
“I doubt they would really trust these humans with access to their merchandise,” I said.
“I got this,” Viktor said.
His hand hovered a few feet from the door and a click echoed from the handle. He pushed it open and motioned for me to go first. I pulled out my sword and new flashlight and stepped inside. The dim lights hung over rows of metal shelves filled with cardboard boxes. They towered over me as I walked between them. I shivered, scanning the tops of the shelves. Something could be crouched up there, ready to ambush whoever walked in uninvited. I shone the lights over them and found nothing.
“Clear so far,” I said.
I moved past the shelves to a more open area of the warehouse as Esais stepped inside, followed by Viktor. The center was mostly clear of shelves and the floor descended in a ramp down to the loading dock where three large, metal doors stood shut. The air conditioner rumbled to life, its rattle echoing through the open building. I nodded to the stairs along the left of the wall leading up to a landing. A metal bar guarded the walkway that lead to several offices. Esais slit one of the boxes open with a knife and pulled out a white bottle. On the label stood a woman in a sports bra with her hands on her hip. Synergy was written across the bottom in yellow dynamic letters. I raised my flashlight up the shelf, spanning the rows of boxes stacked, and gave a low whistle.
“This is a lot,” I said through the earpiece. “Adrian, Marge? What have you found?”
“A shit ton,” Marge said. “The warehouse is full of it.”
“Boxes and boxes,” Tres said.
“Ours, too,” Lucy said.
“How did they make so much so fast?” I bit the inside of my cheek and stared at the wall.
Esais looked to me with a troubled expression. “If it comes from demon blood, they have a lot of demons somewhere.”
Adrian said, “They are using the Blasphemy users.”
A chill ran through me. “All they have to do is take them from the drug dens, like the one we found.”
Viktor cleared hi
s throat. “Or from the night clubs. There has been a rumor going around in the club I work at about an awesome new drug.”
I swallowed hard as a sick feeling rose in the pit of my stomach. “Let’s get to burning this. If this spreads across the country, I don’t know if we can stop it.”
A truck rumbled outside. I froze, waiting for it to pass, but it only grew closer. Esais stiffened and grabbed Viktor, pulling him behind one of the shelves. I crouched behind another one and cut off my flashlight.
“We have company here,” I whispered.
“We have some of our own, dearie,” Lucy panted in her microphone with the background of grunts and gunshots. “But it looks like they were already here.”
The engine of the truck cackled and puttered in its mechanical laugh and was accompanied by a steady beep right outside the left metal, roll-up door in the loading dock. The roar of the truck was cut, and two doors slammed. The click of a lock echoed through the warehouse, and the door slid up with the screech and rattle of metal. Boots thumped across the concrete, and the room was bathed in a yellow light. A tall, thin man with a long, pointed nose stood at the power box. He nodded to the second man, this one with a thick barrel chest, who pulled a ramp from the truck.
“Grab those boxes over there,” the thick one said. “The bitch queen will have our asses if we don’t hurry.”
I switched to my aura sight. In the corner of my eye, I could see Esais’s bright radiance which eclipsed Viktor’s sparkle. I turned my head and focused on the two newcomers. Both were devoid of any color. Their shapes had disappeared, leaving behind only shadow.
“Vampires,” I sent to Esais.
“They’re taking the drug out,” Esais sent back.
“Looks like it.” I clutched my sword tighter and pulled out one of Adrian’s garlic smoke marbles. “I’m ready when you are.”
The thin man drew closer to us. A few more steps, and he would see me with just the turn of his head. I shifted on the balls of my feet, ready to spring at Esais’s word. The vampire pulled a box from the shelf one down from our hiding spot and turned to walk back to the ramp. He took two steps, froze, and clutched his head with a pain-filled cry. There was another cry from the large vampire at the truck. Excellent. He’d gotten both of them. The box tumbled, stopped only a few inches from the ground, and slammed into the thin vampire. He stumbled back and blinked, looking around in panicked surprise.
