Deadly Beauties: Blood's Fury

by C. M. Owens

  "I just moved in a few weeks ago. My girl and I were about to go grab a bite to eat, and we heard voices."

  I could slap him right now. I really hope he's reading the vibrant red of anger my aura is flashing at him.

  He smirks, letting me know he has seen my fuming red colors lighting up like a neon sign.

  "Sorry to have bothered you. I was just checking up on something. I won't hold you up. Welcome to the neighborhood."

  Kane turns to jog off once Gage thanks him, and I watch as the three of them head into the woods - a shortcut to town.

  "Seriously?" I slap Gage across the stomach, instantly regretting that foolish move when I pull back my throbbing hand.

  "What?" he asks, feigning innocence. "We need to meet up with the guys. They've lured the night stalkers toward the edge of town - the deepest section of the woods that stretch on for miles. You, my little redhead, will be in the center, smelling like a virgin."

  "I'm not-"

  He rolls his eyes while cutting me off. "Believe me, I know. I live next door, and well... there was that one time-"

  "Oh shit." I had completely forgotten about Gage being just outside during one of my bedroom romps. "I hate you."

  He laughs harder as we hop in his very sleek, black sports car. It definitely suits a bad boy dark user.

  "Chill," he teases while cranking the purring engine and throwing it in reverse. My head jolts from the unnecessary force, and he skids around to slam it into gear. The tires squeal with me as he continues. "The virgin blood is something we have in stock. Donated to us, of course. Many people enjoy helping our cause. It'll be strong enough to lure them to you. We use just tiny drops to represent a true wound. Their victims have all been virgins."

  I still don't know the gruesome details, nor do I want to.

  "Just don't let them get a hold of my witch blood. They'll never stop."

  My breath catches when his hand is suddenly on mine.

  "I wouldn't do anything if I thought you'd be at risk. We've pulled this trap more times than one can count. Never once has there been anything go wrong."

  His hand moves back to the wheel as he skirts around a curve, making my whole body tense up. I'm starting to wish I had just let him vaporize me.

  "Some of us are still mortal, you know."

  He simply laughs at my aggravated remark, never slowing his hasty, dangerous, bat-out-of-hell driving.

  Note to self, immortal drivers are bad for my health.

  I'm relieved when he skids to a halt on the dirt drive next to the lake. The dark woods promise to carry mischief to anyone who enters. I climb out and instantly shiver upon seeing nothing but the leery darkness beyond the edge.

  Gage climbs out, and I gasp when I see his masked face along with his drawn hood. He looks just as scary as anything I'll see out there.

  "Always cautious. It's important to conceal our identities in case something goes wrong."

  "That's encouraging," I grumble.

  "No worries. Like I said, just cautious."

  I follow him, wondering why I ever agreed to this. He moves with stealth through the forest that seems to go on forever. Finally, we stop. The silence is only interrupted by the scurrying night creatures who are curious about our imposing arrival.

  "Okay, you'll be waiting here. Cade, one of my friends, just sent a text saying the night stalkers are on the way. I've got a few guys already out here."

  I look around, but no one or nothing stands out.

  "I don't see anything."

  He nods, a small smile forming. "That's the point. I'll be out of sight too, but don't you dare think I'm very far away. When a night stalker is hunting for blood, they can sense our immortal veins. That's why you're here, and that's why we'll be hanging back. If something feels off, just scream my name. It'll make for good practice."

  The devious wink he gives me after his seductive ending makes my cheeks flush. I roll my eyes, feeling completely idiotic.

  "I believe you were the one who bashed Thad for flirting with me, when you've now done it quite a bit lately."

  He smiles, his eyes lowering bashfully, and then he shrugs.

  "Well, I prefer to think of it as us being a little less defensive around each other. Don't let it go to your head. I need to go get into place."

  I think I just made a dark user blush. Didn't even know that was possible.

  He starts to turn away, and I grab his arm as the reality of the situation sets in.

  "Don't let them touch me. If they-"

  "They won't get close enough," he says in interruption. "Even if they did, they won't be using their subduing powers against a witch because they'll just think you're a pretty little mortal girl lost in the woods. Just think of yourself as Little Red Riding Hood facing off with the Big Bad Wolf."

  The problem is, I've heard the dark version of that fable - not just the bubblegum tale where Little Red Riding Hood comes out unscathed.

  I shiver slightly, and then murmur, "These aren't the kind of villains that waste time on some evil monologue. They go straight for the kill without wasting time."

  His eyes soften before the heat of his touch finds my arm in a comforting motion.

  "Don't worry. I swear I'll get you out of here if anything was to go wrong. You're in good hands, Red."

  He gives me a wink, and then he vaporizes to disappear into the darkness. In all my life, I never thought I'd be playing bait for night stalkers while my rescue lay in the hands of a dark user.

  I'm either incredibly stupid or insanely brave. I'm not betting on the latter of the two.

  I hear the rustle of the limbs, and I take a steady breath to calm my rampaging nerves. In an effort to play the part, I start playing the prey. I just hope I don't play the prey too well.

  "Is anyone out there? Please, someone?" The fear in my voice is authentic, for I'm scared out of my frigging mind right now.

  I'm sure they can hear my mortal heartbeat pounding against my chest as it tries to explode from the anticipation. Then I see them - glowing eyes in the distance. They keep fading in and out of sight as they start toying with me.

  "Hello? Someone? Anyone?" My voice breaks this time. The squeaky pitch exuded is unintentional, but it still goes with my character.

  Little Red Riding Hood only had one damn wolf to worry about. I've counted five sets of glowing eyes so far, and there were only supposed to be three. Already this plan is amiss.

  Gage, you better not fuck this up.

  I almost wish he could read minds right now. I'd tell him I changed my mind, and get me the hell out of this sacrificial placement.

  "A lost lamb?" an eerie voice pronounces, but it's alone. Where are the other four?

  "Can you help me? I don't know how, but I got turned around," I murmur to the vacant, dark air, trying to find the place where the voice came from.

  My breath is stolen as the glowing blue eyes suddenly find mine - directly in front of me. I would gasp, but the painful air is trapped deep in my lungs, refusing to budge.

  "Pretty girl," he breathes, playing with me all the more. "Let's see how pretty you scream."

  I do scream. I can't help it. When at last the sound finds my lungs, I can't stop screeching a terrified shriek, praying the action is about to go down.

  He wasn't supposed to touch me, but his hand is clamping my mouth just before my back slams the tree. Just when I think the game is over, he's flying backwards and crushing the tree behind him, causing the giant oak to creak, crack, and crash.

  "Fucking trap!" another voice screeches, and within a blink, the five start rushing away.

  Four others from Gage's mystery, masked brigade come into sight and start aiding in Gage's attempt to keep the night stalkers from fleeing.

  I breathe out in relief as they are thrown back toward the circle the guys have prepared. Slumping down against the tree, I silently watch, my heart still pounding. Though I want to help, it's best not to reveal to them I'm a witch with mortal blood still co
ursing through my veins.

  Blue balls of energy shoot free from Gage's hands, striking the snarling bloodsuckers. I cringe when I see the dark blood shooting free, and I'm forced to turn my head when the gruesome sights become unbearable.

  Then I hear Gage shouting, "Now!"

  I look up in time to see one of the guys slamming down a stone to complete a circle. A red, almost blinding light shoots into the sky from the circle, shedding light on all the curious forest creatures that instantly take cover.

  I've only ever heard of trap nets such as this. I've never actually seen one for myself. It's incredible.

  The night stalkers scramble around, but as soon as one of them tries to leap out, they're slammed back into the circle from the magic hidden inside the stones.

  "Don't bother," Gage says as he runs a hand through his dark hair, pushing it away from his face after the ruffling fight. He quickly pulls his hood back down, though now it seems pointless.

  At least his face is still well hidden.

  The night stalker who had me pinned doesn't seem very frazzled, or even worried about the situation. That scares the shit out of me. How can someone remain calm while facing imminent death?

  "You have no idea who you're messing with," the night stalker snarls, his tone threatening.

  "Don't I?" Gage taunts. "You're Isolis, leader of this coven. I admit we were just expecting two to be following your lead. I didn't realize you could find four to follow you on a single kill."

  Isolis's eyes cut toward me, and he gives me a dark grin that makes my skin prickle from head to toe.

  "Is that a fact?" he asks while turning back to Gage. "Do you always use live bait for your traps, or was I a special condition?"

  Gage lets out a sardonic huff of a laugh, and then he shakes his head, his mask still covering his identity.

  "You're not special in any way. Let's talk about the sacrificial rituals you've been performing on the girls you've slaughtered and left for dead, leaving a few breaths in their lungs. That's not very discreet or humane of you, both of which are required by your kind in order to keep peace. Now, tell me why you've been performing the rituals."

  Isolis just laughs - a deep, throaty, genuine laugh of amusement. Though I can't see Gage's face, I'm sure he's not too thrilled by the reaction.

  "Something funny, Isolis? I don't think you quite realize how severe the consequences you're facing are. Tell me what these rituals were intended to do, and you won't die by fire. Deny me, and I'll make sure you feel the same pain those girls did before you left them gasping for their last breaths."

  Isolis's laughter tapers off as his eyes grow darker with intent, his night stalker blues burning a glowing hue. A small, secretive smirk plays on his lips as he pulls his hands behind his back.

  "Boy, you have no idea what's coming. There's more power at play than you can even fathom. Just be warned, the Somage don't have a lot of friends. Your faces may be hidden, your scents may be covered, but your voices remain the same. We'll find you, and it won't be pretty when we do. Remember this moment when I'm ripping your heart out through your throat."

  If ever there was a scarier threat, I've never heard it. Gage seems cool, unaffected, as though he's heard this all too many times. I'm shaking like a leaf on a tree in the middle of a windstorm.

  "I'm standing on the outside of this circle right now, while you're facing your last few breaths. Don't think you scare me. You're low on the food chain compared to what I've dealt with. Just another snake in the grass waiting to get his head chopped off - that's all you are to me," Gage murmurs, his tone equally as terrifying.

  With all the time we've spent together this past month, I've almost forgotten the dark roots he bears. That's something I should remember before getting too close.

  Isolis turns to face me, and my stomach slaps my throat when he gives me a devious wink, warning me something big is about to happen.

  "Maybe you'd be right... if I hadn't been expecting a trap," he says, and as soon as those words release, the woods thunder with a sudden attack.

  I scream as lycans and night stalkers crash through the trees. At least ten have joined our party, and they're out for blood. We set a trap alright - our own fucking trap.

  The time for holding back is over. With this many, I'll have to reveal my power.

  Gage starts whirling blue orbs of energy while using his telekinesis to shove them away. If they touch him, his fight is over. They'll use their subduing power to restrain him, hold him... kill him.

  The other members of his masked brigade fight off as many as they can, but one screams out as he's brought down. His mask is ripped free by a night stalker who relishes the terror he's stricken before devouring him, forcing me to cut my eyes away.

  I screech as one nears the circle, but while I'm busy hesitating, he has time to rip a stone up and free the other five. Now we're all the more outnumbered, and I have no choice.

  Before I can release the first bit of magic, death's grip is at my throat.

  "Pretty girl, you've been a bad, bad girl," Isolis murmurs with malice lighting up in his eyes. "Mortal dolls such as yourself should never agree to help those weaker than me."

  I can't see the fight raging on. I don't know who's hurt, dead, or dying. All I can see are the glowing blue eyes in front of me, dulling down to a deep brown color. Golden flecks sprinkle along the rims of his chocolates, and his strong, chiseled jaw clenches as he breathes me in.

  He's a beast, seeming even taller than he did the first time he held my life in his hands. I can still feel my power inside me, stirring. Gage was right, he has no clue I'm a witch, so he doesn't know he has to fight against me.

  I hear a strangled release, and I know it's Gage. He's hurt, and I can't see how bad. It's now or never.

  Just as Isolis starts to go for the kill, I put my hands on his arms that are holding my shoulders. Forcing enough volts out to kill a herd of elephants, I shock the fuck out of him and send him flying backwards.

  The look on his face is pretty frigging priceless as the high fills me. My father's power is toxic, inebriating. I shouldn't have used it, but desperate times call for incredibly stupid measures.

  Isolis stands as several more men surround me, their attention drawn to the mortal witch whose blood they're now desperate to taste.

  With a devilishly wry grin, I pull the power forth, my silver orbs circling my hands as I step toward them without fear.

  "Holy... shit," one of them releases in disbelief.

  Little Red Riding Hood has a dark little secret. Oops.

  My silver orbs glow brighter, swelling to be much larger as they continue to swirl around my hands. With one gloriously cathartic release, I sling them forth. The two orbs split, turning into four and striking a lycan and three night stalkers in the chest.

  Their screaming yelps ring like music to my ears, proving the intoxicating dark power is starting to take me deeper into its clutches. I can't pull back though. We'll never survive if I do.

  The fire blazes from the earth to join the next set of silver streaking beauties, and the screams heard are delighting my sadistic side as my roaring inferno grabs more lives of the dark.

  Gage is suddenly beside me, slinging me to the ground before a night stalker's surprise attack can succeed, and then he jumps up to resume his attacks. Just as the high takes me over, a scream surges through my lips.

  I feel the fangs bared, crunching against the curve of my neck, as the fire of the bite brings me to tears. Gage flings his blue orbs, but a lycan sideswipes him and sends him barreling across the forest.

  More glowing blue eyes and new lycans join the party, making death a reality. Then something happens that I wasn't prepared to see.

  The new deadly beauties leap into the fight, but they're not attacking us, they're attacking Isolis's men.

  I look up just as Isolis is about to take another bite out of me, but he's thrown back as one of the newest night stalkers grabs him up and launches him back. I c
ry out in pain when my dark hero lifts me up, but relief isn't anywhere inside me.

  The red hair I'm wearing stains with an even darker red as my blood flows freely. The face of my newest captor is hidden beneath a black mask just like Gage's. His gray hoodie covers his head, and his glowing blues check me over.

  I'm starting to worry we've just stepped into a turf war, but then I realize the other numbers dwindling. The night stalker holding me feels so familiar to the touch, as if I know him. His scent is gone, just like mine. Apparently, everyone decided to be incognito tonight. Not that a scent really matters to me. I can't identify a scent or track it.

  The night stalker holding me nods to the lycans of his group, and then one of his other night stalker friends whistles twice to signal some sort of attack formation. With grace and effortless poise, the two lycans jump into the circle, and they shred several of the night stalkers attacking our few men.

  Isolis is gone - nowhere at all to be seen. Now one Devil has left, handing the keys to the gates of hell to another.

  Gage runs over, but he stops as he stares eye-to-eye with the night stalker holding me. He pulls free a blue orb, poised to strike, but the night stalker gently places me on the ground at his feet.

  Gage kneels, his eyes never leaving the foe playing friend, until suddenly they're all gone as quickly as they came.

  "What the fuck just happened?" one of Gage's friends asks.

  "Your guess is as good as mine. Don't question good fortune. Let's get the hell out of here for now. Grab Jesse. He'll need a proper burial."

  I cringe as I glance in the direction of their fallen comrade. His dark hair shades his lifeless eyes. I didn't know him, but I'm sure Gage and he were close enough for his death to sting the dark user.

  "Are you okay?" I ask softly.

  "Me? I'm immortal. You... Alyssa, I'm so sorry. I swear to you nothing like this has ever happened before."

  He had no idea I meant emotionally okay. He just lost a member of his group.

  "You-"

  "Shit. You're losing a lot of blood. I need to get you back to my place and get you cleaned up."

  Before I can argue, I feel the wind against me. Either he forgot he drove, or the fanged demon left one hell of a mark behind which has prompted a hasty retreat.