Pretty When She Destroys

by Rhiannon Frater

  “It’s close now.” The sound of The Summoner speaking broke her out of her reverie.

  “The other ring?” She dragged heavily on her cigarette.

  “Yes.”

  Amaliya watched the muscles beneath his skin ripple as he stood. It was difficult to believe it was not a true body that was standing before her. Brushing his blond hair back from his face, The Summoner turned to gaze at her. In another time, in another place, she could have fallen hard for him and kicked her humanity away to be with him. Maybe if he hadn’t abandoned her in the beginning he could have won her love. Amaliya was aware of her weaknesses. Bad boys, sex, alcohol, cigarettes, and loud music were all she had really enjoyed for a long time. Now she enjoyed those same things, but also had the added pleasures of Cian’s love, friendships, and a place that felt like home.

  “Our time is soon,” The Summoner said with delight. “Tonight we ascend as gods over the new world.”

  Crawling onto the bed, he sprawled out alongside her, his long muscular frame alluring in the dim light. His hand slid over her legs to cup her hip. Ignoring him, Amaliya continued to smoke and stroke Bianca’s hair. The Summoner desired her, and she was keen to use that to her advantage. Confidence filled her as she realized just how much power she actually had in the situation. When he kissed her, she passionately responded, her tongue dominating his. With a little growl, he pulled her closer, consuming her mouth. When he finally released her lips to tease her neck with his teeth, she took another long drag on her cigarette.

  “So...tonight you get your body back, huh?” Amaliya hated how quickly her last smoke was turning to ash. She wondered if one of The Summoner’s minions would go get her more.

  Biting her earlobe, The Summoner growled, “Yes.”

  “Will you be a vampire again?” Ignoring the hands wandering over her body, she slung her arm over his shoulders.

  “No, something more. A god.”

  “And Bianca? Me?” Amaliya tilted her head to gaze at him.

  “What you are now.” The Summoner laid his hand gently on Bianca’s head. “Alas, our little one will have served her purpose.”

  Amaliya narrowed her eyes. “What?”

  “Are you fond of her?” The unemotional blue eyes revealed nothing of his thoughts.

  “She’s part of us,” Amaliya answered.

  “My blood is the key to ushering in the new world. I have no blood. It’s in your veins and hers.”

  “What are you talking about?” Amaliya flicked the butt of her cigarette at the table with the rings.

  The Summoner’s face showed his disapproval of her disrespect. “The spell to bring forth the new world demands the sacrifice of the necromancer’s blood that casts it. All of it.”

  “So you have to kill yourself?” Amaliya looked at him with disbelief. “There’s no fuckin’ way you’d do that.”

  “The reward is becoming a god once the abyss has consumed the world.”

  “Oh, that you would do.” Looking down at the sleeping girl beside her, Amaliya tried to fit the pieces together. “If you use her blood, won’t she become the god?”

  “It’s my blood in her veins. I’m doing the spell. I will be the god. She will merely...die.” The Summoner twisted his fingers in Amaliya’s hair and drew her into his arms.

  “And what are you going to do with me?” Dread filled her.

  The Summoner’s long fingers stroked her cheek and played along her full lips. “Keep you at my side. You are my most wondrous of all my creations. I want you with me.”

  “Enough to let my family and friends live. Which I know is tough for you because you really like to get your killing on.” Amaliya wished she could read him, but it was difficult.

  “Yes. Though my hope is that once you feel the death of millions imbuing you with power you will finally realize the folly of keeping them alive. They’re your weakness. Eventually, you will have to eliminate those weaknesses.”

  Laughing, Amaliya shook her head. “God, you’re such a fuckin’ asshole in every single damn way.”

  The Summoner moved over her before slipping between her thighs. Bianca didn’t stir, which made Amaliya suspicious of what he was doing to her. As his weight settled on her, Amaliya stared into the eyes of the man who had been her ruin and salvation.

  She really, really wanted another cigarette.

  “I may be an asshole, but you’re drawn to me, aren’t you?”

  “I’m going to kill you,” Amaliya said, smiling.

  “I know you’ll try. I also know you’ll fail.” His kiss was searing, demanding, and full of need.

  Amaliya bit his lip hard, and he jerked his head back. He felt pain in his new form. That was interesting. “So, since I’m going to make you kill me later, why don’t you kill me instead of Bianca?”

  “Self-sacrifice really doesn’t suit you,” The Summoner chided her. “Besides, I have no intention of killing you. You are mine. My dark bride.” As if to prove a point, he shoved Bianca’s prone, unconscious form away. “Our time has come. You must accept it.”

  With a grin, Amaliya shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

  “But you will.” The hunger in his kiss was intoxicating.

  Even as she succumbed to his seduction and the dark, twisted power of the sword flowed through the room, Amaliya knew she would never allow him to rule the world. Somehow, she would stop him.

  Aimee set stones and crystals in a distinct pattern over the large map she had spread out on the dining room table. Candles burned in a circle on the floor and the scent of Cassandra’s blood wafted with the fragrance of magic. Cian and Jeff stood just inside the doorway observing the preparations. Cassandra sat at the table within the circle, her eyes red and swollen.

  “This will work,” Jeff muttered, sounding like he was trying to convince himself.

  Deeper in the house the cabal was preparing to leave. They hoped to intercept Galina before she reached San Antonio. If they were lucky, she was driving to meet The Summoner. Her route would take her through the Austin area.

  The longing for Amaliya filling Cian mingled with his fears of losing her. She was strong and he knew she’d find a way to manipulate, then kill The Summoner. The necromancer’s obsession with Amaliya was something Cian knew she could use to good effect if she was clever. It wasn’t difficult for Cian to understand why The Summoner desired her at his side. Amaliya was powerful, beautiful, and possessed a wild energy that was very seductive. Cian loved Amaliya for many reasons, but she was the catalyst that made him feel alive. He could easily see her doing the same for The Summoner, which would be a heady experience for a vampire who was so old he was far removed from his humanity.

  “This will work, right?” Jeff whispered, now sounding doubtful.

  “Yes. Of course.” Cian gave the man a pat on the shoulder.

  Nodding his head, Jeff edged closer to Cian. “I need to talk to you about something before we go.”

  “Now?”

  The witch continued to lay out the small stones and crystals, her long bronze hair catching the light of the chandelier overhead.

  Jeff winced, then nodded.

  Cian stepped into the main foyer of the house. It was empty except for them. Drawing a little too close for Cian’s comfort, Jeff leaned in to Cian.

  “It’s about Eduardo.”

  “Oh?” Cian said inquisitively.

  Jeff swallowed hard, then said in an ever quieter voice, “He’s a serial killer.”

  Cian lifted both of his eyebrows.

  “Girls that look a lot like Amaliya have been disappearing. Samantha has seen two of their ghosts. They were ripped apart, ravaged by a were-creature. The last girl to vanish was near your old place after you tossed Eduardo out of the van. Both ghosts were angry at me for not stopping the person who killed them.” Jeff sighed. “I know it’s flimsy evidence, but...”

  Cian gave a shake of his head. “No, I believe you. Though I’m not sure you can call him a serial killer. He’s a coyote
. His nature is to hunt.”

  “Yeah, but he’s not supposed to kill humans, right? That’s your rule over your city.”

  “True.” Cian reflected on the things Amaliya had told her about Eduardo. “He did say something once to Amaliya about wanting to have sex with her because he could rip her up and she’d survive.”

  Jeff winced. “He thought that was a come on?”

  Cian lifted a shoulder dismissively. “He’s an idiot.”

  “What should we do?”

  The human was obviously worried and unnerved by the situation on top of everything else they were experiencing. “We need him tonight.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then we tell him to leave the city, or die.”

  The spot between Jeff’s eyebrows furrowed. “Okay. I guess.”

  “It’s working!” Cassandra’s voice called out excitedly.

  Cian moved faster than the human could follow to the table and leaned over the map. A single drop of Cassandra’s blood was slowly sliding along the surface of the map just over the I-35 corridor. From what Aimee had explained earlier, Cian knew the red globule indicated Galina’s location. Her daughter’s blood was the best way to find and track her.

  “She’s just past Austin,” Cassandra exclaimed. “We can catch her!”

  “Grab everyone,” Cian said to Jeff. “We go now.”

  The long black dress fluttered around Amaliya’s legs as she walked behind the possessed Bianca. The other necromancer was dressed in a white lace dress and her blonde hair was twisted up onto her head and held in place with diamanté hair clips. The Summoner had insisted on them looking “proper” and Amaliya had reluctantly complied. The gauzy silk material of her gown whispered against her skin and the fishnet insets in the arms and torso were a nice nod to her usual fashion choices. Her dyed black hair flowed unfettered to her waist and she wore her regular heels. On those two points, she’d refused to capitulate to The Summoner. He’d been amused.

  Before them, hovering in the air, were the twelve rings. The pulsing light emanating from the jewelry formed an ethereal sword. Only a section of the hilt was missing. It was nearly complete.

  Striding down the stairs behind the glowing sword and The Summoner/Bianca, Amaliya saw Etzli and the thirteen black witches waiting in the foyer. Vampires, infused humans, were-jaguars and demons stood behind them. All were garbed in dark colors, even Stark and Trish. The levitating sword swept downstairs to the floor below and the crowd bowed their heads. The Summoner/Bianca smiled triumphantly at the sight. Amaliya supposed it was a small taste of what was to come once he conquered the sun and plunged humanity into the abyss.

  Amaliya expected some sort of arch-villain speech about the end of the world, but instead The Summoner regally strolled through the gathering and out the front door. The cold, moist air and dark, low clouds over the San Antonio skyline threatened a winter storm. Sirens tore through the night from all directions. An orange glow illuminated the sky over the south side of the city. It was a little after seven in the evening, but already the city was in chaos. The black witches had unleashed the volcanoes of negative energy and violence ruled the city.

  A black Navigator waited on the driveway, Gregorio holding open the back door. The Summoner waited for the sword to slip inside, then followed. A quick gesture from Bianca’s hand indicated that Amaliya was to sit next to The Summoner. She slid inside just as Etzli climbed into the front seat.

  In eerie silence, Amaliya watched the big house slide out of view as the SUV turned out the front gates and drove toward their destination.

  Grabbing his coat out of the hall closet, Jeff bumped into Eduardo when he took a step back to shut the door. The coyote was as quiet as ever. Jeff started, not having heard him approach.

  Tilting his head, Eduardo regarded Jeff with the eyes of a coyote, not a man. “I heard you and Alexia talking,” Eduardo said after a long, unnerving moment of silence between them.

  “Yeah?” Jeff shrugged on his coat.

  “And I saw you talking to Cian,” Eduardo continued. His teeth were sharp behind his lips.

  “Okay. Your point?” Jeff fought to maintain a calm exterior.

  “Stay out of my business.”

  “Your business?”

  The cabal was scattered through the house and the front drive as they rushed about in preparation. Cian was gone, having departed to hunt for blood in the neighborhood. The vampire had promised to catch up with them on the road.

  Eduardo smirked, leaning his beefy shoulder against the wall. “Yeah. My business. And yes, our friends are too far away to stop me if I decide to rip out your throat.”

  “Why would you do that?” Jeff slung his winter scarf about his threatened throat.

  Chuckling, Eduardo wagged his head. “Don’t play innocent, Jeff. We’re old friends. I know when you’re trying to bullshit your way out of something.”

  “Really? Well, I know you well enough to know you’re worried about the fact I figured out your secret.”

  “You don’t know anything.” Eduardo said gruffly, his look predatory.

  “Then why are you worried?”

  “You have no idea what it’s like to be two-natured. The needs I struggle with.” Eduardo shrugged his shoulders, flexing his muscles.

  “Yeah, I don’t. But you know the rules of the city. Cian’s rules and my rules. No killing. And you’ve killed close to twenty women this year.”

  “There’s no proof of that. The cops haven’t found anything – not even bodies – and neither have you.”

  “I haven’t started to look yet,” Jeff answered. His hands plunged into his coat and he found his pockets empty. He was unarmed, yet he met Eduardo’s gaze steadily. There was nothing he could do about his accelerated heartbeat, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to back down in his own house. Sadly, he realized that Aimee’s wards were not going to work against Eduardo. All the cabal members had their name engraved into the wards that protected their homes. Jeff maybe should have changed that fact when it had come to Eduardo, but he hadn’t wanted to believe the worst of his college buddy.

  “I’m helping you tonight. I’m going to go fuck this asshole up and save the fuckin’ world. That has to count for something.”

  “So I should just look the other way as you kill Amaliya lookalikes?”

  Eduardo snarled. “Amaliya just looks like the girls I like to play with.”

  “You mean kill.”

  “I like to play with my food, okay?” Eduardo gave another dismissive shrug, but from the way his head was tilted Jeff suspected he was listening to keep track of the cabal.

  “That’s sick, Eduardo. You do realize that?”

  “If Amaliya would come play with me, maybe that would take the edge off my needs.” Eduardo didn’t seem aware of how ridiculous his words actually were, for he wore a completely sincere expression.

  “You want Cian to let you fuck his girlfriend and do who knows to her what so you won’t kill in his city?” Jeff shook his head in disbelief.

  “I’m helping to save her.”

  “Right,” Jeff intoned sarcastically. “Well, Eduardo, this is what’s going to happen. You’re going to help us tonight then stop killing.”

  Laughing, Eduardo drew closer to Jeff, his face increasingly feral. “Yeah, sure. What’s in it for me? Maybe I should step back and watch the world go to hell so I can kill whenever I want to.”

  “You and I both know that weres are going to be stuck in their animal form forever once the abyss takes the world. Some might like that, but I don’t think you will.”

  “What?” Eduardo flinched. “No one told me that!”

  “Well, it’s the truth. You’ll be in your were form all the time. An animal. And you know how demons and vampires treat weres. You’ll end up some vampire’s lap dog. Do you really think you’re going to make it out of this on top?” Jeff skewered Eduardo with his most forceful stare.

  Eduardo sniffed at Jeff. “You’re telling the truth?�
�

  “This is how it’s going to go down. We save the world. You stop killing.”

  “I could just kill you.”

  “And that solves what? You don’t think Cian won’t find you and kill you even if the world goes to hell tonight? You think he’ll forgive you for not helping him save Amaliya?”

  Shifting on his feet anxiously, Eduardo finally looked away from Jeff.

  “What makes you think you are in control of your life right now? How do you know that the wards Aimee set up in this house won’t fry your ass the second you sink your teeth into me? This is my house.” Jeff stepped closer to the coyote. “My house. My rules. My wards.”

  Eduardo’s jaw flexed, his throat moving as he swallowed angry words.

  “Are you with us? Or not?”

  Eduardo nodded curtly, stepping back.

  “Right. This conversation is done.” Jeff strode past the coyote toward the front door just as Cassandra walked through the dining room with bags of weapons, Aimee hot on her heels.

  Jeff motioned toward the door with his head. “We roll now.”

  Eduardo stalked out of the house. If he had been in his were form, he would have had his tail between his legs.

  “What’s that all about?” Cassandra asked.

  “Nothing. It’s taken care of,” Jeff assured her, and hoped it was true. Looking toward the kitchen, Jeff shouted, “Sam!”

  Samantha finished pouring extra food for Beatrice, then picked up the annoyed cat to press kisses to the top of her head. Even if she died tonight, she’d find a way to have her cat taken care of from beyond the grave.

  “Love you, snookum,” she said.

  The cat endured it all, one eye on the food.

  Setting Beatrice on the kitchen floor, Samantha grabbed her big Betsey Johnson purse and ran through the house as Jeff called her name yet again. The rest of the cabal was already packed into Benchley’s passenger van. The engine was running and Benchley couldn’t keep his hand off the horn.