by Poppet
Božena & Sveta
by
Poppet
Book 3 in the Neuripra Series
A Thorstruck Press Publication
Published by Thorstruck Press in 2014
Copyright @ author Poppet
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This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters, and incidents, are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organisations, events or locales, or any other entity, is entirely coincidental.
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Chapter 1
Stampeding catapults my blood pressure and I hinge toward the noise. Shrinking into the shadow cast by the full moon I hug the wall I was taking a piss against, silently zipping up and holding my breath, terrified to make a sound.
Streaming out of the trees lining the back field behind Pravus are shadows with glowing red eyes, all focused on the teenager in the middle.
He's ribboned with slashes and his chest inflates with every gurgling inhalation. He's been running, that's obvious.
A big shadow steps into the circle and the opening is immediately closed with dark bodies, blocking off escape and hindering my view slightly.
It says nothing, it just launches at the boy.
The howl of agony immediately sears into my hippocampus, to remain with me the rest of my days. Flesh shreds, skin droops in bloody tatters, and the monster snaps open the victim's ribcage.
He's beyond agony now. He's in so much shock all he can emit are rasped squeals of terror and excruciating pain.
“You don't need this. You never use it,” the shadow says in a deep thunderous voice.
The final scream splits my soul in half when the monster rips out the boy's heart with his bare hand; a huge hand, his eyes glowing with malicious victory.
The organ is tossed to the audience and in seconds a feeding frenzy starts, each having a bite from the corpse before sauntering back into the shadows, vanishing as suddenly as they manifested.
Frozen, terrified, I'm afraid to move in case one of them is still around to do the same thing to me.
Waiting for what feels like ages, I finally jerk stiff limbs into moving and hightail it to the entrance of Pravus. I know they don't usually allow men inside, but by god they have to let me in.
*
Zarak:
Seeing his spirit, soul, aura, and intentions, as easily as a star on a clear desert night, I look to Akae with immediate warning.
The human's heartbeat is drilling when he sprints to me and his pallor is whiter than the full moon.
“Please! There was an attack. You have to let me in!”
Supporting the man by the arm, I nudge my head at my brother, “Go check out back.”
Pulling the panicked human along with me, I head toward Zauran, “Don't worry sir, we'll get you safely to the office and you can tell us what happened.”
The man is trembling violently, his fear so palpable I can smell it. I don't stand on ceremony and as a demon I have the superior rank here, so when I reach the closed door I shove it open without knocking and steer the victim to the open chair.
Retreating to keep an eye out the door toward the front of the club, I say to Zauran, “There's been another attack. I think we have our first eye witness.”
Zauran stands, his attention flicking to beyond me, “Get Sveta. Call in Venix and Jowendrhan too. And get this man a strong drink.”
I'm happy to escape as the human's relief unclenches his body and he lunges out of the chair to vomit into Zauran's trash bin.
*
Zauran:
I know trauma when I see it and this guy is exhibiting every symptom. Damn it. What the hell is going on?
Moving around my desk, I force the neuri fire to cover my eyes, compelling the innocent bystander so I can pilfer his memories and get all the details.
“Tell me what happened. Just take a deep breath, you are safe and calm.”
He inhales a jagged breath, shivering uncontrollably, his pupils dilated with cortisol radiating from him stronger than the stench of vomit.
“The ribs snapped man. Snapped like brittle twigs. Eyes like cigars in the dark. Fuck man.”
Immediately he slips toward hysteria with the recollection and I dive into his head, rearranging events, deleting what he witnessed, soothing over the drama.
As the neuri alpha in charge of Belgrade's spiritual protection, it is my duty not just to erase damaging supernatural memories but to also address the emotional carnage it induces.
There's no point in extracting an event if you leave them with no recollection to explain their severe post traumatic stress, panic attacks, unfounded fear of the dark, and especially terror of Pravus and those who frequent it. You either fix the whole person, or you leave them the fuck alone.
Easing back behind my desk, I smile at him and release my control over his spirit and mind, “Well thanks for stopping in. We'll certainly review opening our doors to the general public as a whole. You take care and have a safe journey home.”
I wave my hand at Sveta as he walks in, “My brother Sveta will take you to the bar. Please, stay, have a few drinks on the house, check it out and you will see there's absolutely nothing illegal happening inside our doors.”
Standing to dismiss the man, I lean over my desk and offer him my hand to shake, “It was nice to meet you Igor.”
When he stands, believing he came in here to check out our covert activities, I give his hand a firm shake, saying, “Next time just ask for me, Zauran. And you can come straight through to my office.”
I nod at Sveta and he instantly dwarfs the human, escorting him with a firm hand out of my office, while I communicate telepathically, Get him the strongest drink we have, don't take your eyes off him. Report back to me the second he's gone, we have shit going down and I need a meeting.
Zarak replaces Sveta and Igor, completely blocking the doorway to my office. I point at the trash bin, “And that's why we don't like humans in our club. They have a tendency to purge.”
Shaking my head, wrinkling my nose, I pick it up to throw it away out back, “Walk with me, Zarak. What I understand from his memories is we had a rogue vampyre attack behind the building.”
He nods, “Yup. They are attacking humans close to our premises, I would imagine in a bid to reclaim their territory.”
“How bad is the body? Did the victim suffer?”
Zarak pauses with me on the steps, inhaling the crisp air of predawn Serbia. “Zauran, you know the answer if you reviewed his memories. I read them as he came to the doors. The victim lost his heart and had his body pulled apart when he was still conscious and alive. They made it as brutal and violent as they could.”
Taking the stairs down, I walk over the gravel of the front parking, round to the grass at the back, “They want to leave a psychic signature here warning supernaturals to stay away. Pain and abuse mark the land, spiritually.”
“I called Venix. He'll be arriving in seconds with Jowendrhan,” says Zarak, quietly.
He watches as I throw the bin into the skip, turning to survey where I know the attack happened minutes earlier.
<
br /> It's clean.
“Thank you, Zarak.” The demon bouncer has a way of eradicating corpses and every shred of their existence and demise, with amazing speed and attention to detail.
I've yet to ask him how he does it. I'm not sure I want to know.
Aiming back to the front, I say to my comrade, “At least we know they're not just targeting women. I was naïve enough to think we had a serial killer in our back yard.”
Halting, I look up at the setting moon, breathing in the night which is too still and ominous. “This is an attack on neuri leadership. What's next? Zaria is pregnant with my children, and she works here. It's unsafe for any human or woman to be here now. We're going to have to close our doors until this anarchy is eradicated.”
Looking away from the saffron moon, I meet Zarak's black eyes with my gaze. He's the biggest man I've ever encountered, and knowing he protects us with the might of the elite gives me peace of mind. But I need confirmation from a being who's lived long enough to share wisdom.
“This is a war, isn't it?” I ask him. “They've declared war on the neuri.”
“Not just the neuri, Zauran. This is a war between good and evil. Evil is framing good to take the fall. And they're not being gentle about it. This is a violent attack on innocence.”
Only now do I realize my hands are curled into tight fists.
If it's a fight they want, it's a fight they'll get.
Chapter 2
Sveta:
After seeing Igor out, I'm the stupid sap who has to deal with Venix pouring through the front door like a killer whale after a seal.
Jowendrhan is with him.
My instincts notch up and I pine for days when men walked with swords, and a vampyre like him could accidentally meet mine with lethal force.
Archangel Venix pins me with eyes of blinding brilliance. “Sveta,” he nods in greeting. “Is it true?”
“Yes.”
I turn my back on both of them, stomping back to Zauran's office.
Why the hell does Ryan have to be off helping Phoebe heal when we need our sovereign here to keep vampyre and angels in check. This sucks. It's like the leeches knew exactly when to launch their attack on us.
Both demons are already in Zauran's office and we've closed early without telling the patrons why. They all got a free Pravus t-shirt, key-ring, contact lenses, and our signature drink known affectionately as The Pravus Potion. Pissed and happy they fucked off long before the sun is due to rise.
The neuri patrons were asked to stay nearby just to keep an eye on things until the meeting is concluded. That's how both bouncers can be in here to attend Zauran's emergency gathering.
Keeping my distance from Pravus' first owners, Jowendrhan and Venix, I slouch against the wall next to the safe, glowering at the most powerful males in Belgrade.
If they bomb us now they'll solve all their problems.
If I was the alpha here, this meeting would take place underground in an untraceable location.
But as no one ever asks me for my fucking opinion, I'm left here feeling overexposed with dread building, waiting for the imminent attack.
It's what I would do if I'd just declared a war.
All these men and not a brain between them.
Fucktards.
And why the hell did Zauran have to insist the bastard who made my girlfriend pregnant attend this meeting? Jowendrhan should be impaled and bled out slowly for what he put Božena through.
*
Zauran:
Sveta's a moron. Except for Jowendrhan, every person present can hear his thoughts as clearly as if he'd announced them over the sound system.
Shut the hell up!
Scowling at my little brother with his rusty hair that matches his fiery temper, I'm still surprised he had it cut military short and looks like a man instead of an insolent rebel. Hoping the rest of the attendees ignore Sveta too, I look to Venix.
Forcing myself to relax, I meet his luminous stare with my own, “You used to lead the vampyres. You are their elder, even though you are an angel again you are still their supreme leader. The red eyes are rogue but they should be your problem, not ours. Jowendrhan is the only pure silver-eyed vampyre left, all the others are vicious killers who get a kick out of murdering humans. Without humans none of us could survive.”
Leaning in, I dare to push my advantage, “Venix, they're your vampyres. You spawned them. You fix this, and fix it asap.”
Before I can react, Sveta vaults over my desk and slams Jowendrhan solidly in the face with his fist. “You fucker! I should have kicked your ass then but now will have to do!”
Zarak pounces out of his chair, Akae mirrors his movement like a mime, and Venix explodes diabolical light all over my office, all the while Sveta is yelling, “You fucking vampyres started all the shit this planet has ever seen!”
Zarak moves so fast he's a shadow of wrath yanking Sveta off Jo, dangling him by his jacket. But it doesn't stop Sveta from multitasking, snapping Jo's head back with an almighty kick to the temple with the heel of his boot.
“Fuck you Jowendrhan. Fuck you!”
Wrestled into a painful arm lock by the bouncer, Sveta ends his assault by spitting at Jowendrhan just as he turns his head to Venix, wiping the blood exorcising out his nose. It splatters with a curdling slap, and I look down, caught between wanting to laugh and being ashamed of my brother.
Venix's voice booms with ire, “Animosity will get you nowhere. If you have issues with Jowendrhan I suggest you choose a more appropriate time to air them. Right now we have more pressing concerns than your misguided desire to defend a harlot's honor.”
“Harlot?! She's not a fucking harlot and you know it!”
Sveta's rage is pumping the neuri glow out of his eyes, declaring the depth of his fury to all present.
Choosing the diplomatic road, I say, “Sveta go outside and cool down. I'll fill you in on the details later.”
I'm his alpha and should behave like one.
It sucks, but there you have it.
Steepling my fingers together, I wait for Sveta to evacuate before speaking to Venix. “That killing was a mob of red-eyed vampyre. These murders have been escalating in frequency and violence. How do you suggest we handle this?”
Slumping back into his chair he goes so far as to offer me a smile, “Round them up, let Zarak and Akae interrogate them, and then we'll find out who is behind this. Someone has incited them into a murderous frenzy. The question is, who?”
Narrowing my gaze, I have a damn good idea who.
Keeping my thoughts shielded and my voice even, I return his cocky smile, “Do I have permission to deliver instant karma? I'm not letting any of them go free. All red-eyed vampyres are no more than devils walking in earthly bodies. I will annihilate every one I catch, are we clear?”
“Oh absolutely. They outnumber us and serve no purpose other than population control. The problem with the rogue cell is they don't care about exposing the supernatural community, so we simply must shut them down with immediate and fatal force. No second chances. None,” says Venix.
Satisfied, I nod, “Meeting adjourned then.”
Looking to Zarak, and then Venix, I say, “Do some reconnaissance. Show no mercy to the spiritually dead.”
Akae gives me his flat and cruel smile, “Zombie killing. Sounds like fun. I say we hunt them and see how they enjoy it when we hunt in a pack.”
I like the way the demon thinks. “Zombies, it's apt,” I smirk, knowing damn well it's a phenomenal insult to the vampyres present. He called them the walking dead in the worst possible way.
Slipping my gaze to Jowendrhan, I am duty bound to apologize for Sveta.
He shakes his head, “We didn't tell him. It's my own fault he thinks I got away with breaking spiritual law without recourse. He's hot-headed and should learn to curb his vicious temper.”
Arching my eyebrows at Jo, I say, “It's the neuri way to be passionate. His heart is true, and that matters more to
us than diplomacy. He's protecting this land as much as I am. He'll make a fine neuri alpha one of these days.”
Venix rises, indicating Jowendrhan should do the same.
The ex-vampyre and his nephew Jowendrhan nod their farewell, leaving me with the demons Zarak and Akae.
I wait until I'm positive we're alone, then lean on my elbows and impale my desk with them, “Are you thinking what I'm thinking?”
Akae's smile is wide enough to swallow the cosmos, “There's no wrath nastier than a woman scorned.”
I nod, “Yup, we're on the same page. So, what are we going to do about it?”
Zarak stands, looming large, “I'm on it. Give me a day and I'll report back.”
He's a man of few words but I'm compelled to yell after him, “Be a gentleman about it!”
Akae dissolves into a musclebound giggling mass, “Gentleman? Damn Zauran, you need to pay more attention. Zarak's had the hots for that bitch for centuries.”
The thought coagulates my stomach acid, “That's so gross. God, I wouldn't touch her if she was the last female in existence, on any plane or dimension.”
He leans in, fidgety with mirth, “Trust me, Zarak will seduce her into admitting guilt. She'll never see the betrayal coming.”
That gives me pause and I fight the impulse to frown.
If that's the case, can he be trusted?
Chapter 3
Sveta:
I knew it. The arrogant motherfucker thinks he's untouchable and invincible. Well he doesn't have the goons protecting him now.
He could easily have left Pravus from inside the club, transporting the way they do from place to place like ghosts, but instead he came out here, itching for a confrontation with me.
His ego wants revenge and I'm more than willing to turn his male pride into Texan oysters.
“Looking for me?” I snarl across the blackened corner of the waste area.
