In spite of my bent over position, I nearly tumble off the couch. Gripping the edge of the coffee table, I look up at Finn, mouth hanging open, totally unable to find the wrong words much less the right ones.
“I’m sorry, eat their organs?” Ash blinks, clearly — thankfully — as shocked as I am.
Blowing a raspberry, Finn mumbles to himself as he flips the pages of the book in his hands, then snaps his fingers. “Barbaric. Ancient. Centuries ago vampires practiced this. They would wait for a full moon in the pureblood’s sixteenth year — when their blood is most potent — then perform the ritual. The Tribunal outlawed it in...” He drags a thumb down lines of text. “Hmm, more recent than I would’ve guessed. 1980. Buried it down deep. So many books burned. Not many know.”
“That’s a great history lesson,” I say. “But why would anyone do that in the first place?”
For the first time Finn’s eyes meet mine. They’re even darker than I initially realized. Not quite black like Jeremy’s, but almost, an odd contrast to his blond hair and pale skin. With his pointed ears and flawless features, he should be handsome, attractive even. But there’s something off about that perfection. It’s unsettling.
“Why?” Finn asks, his focus jumping around again. “Why, why is always the question. Why. Power. Why else? Power is always in blood. Especially shared blood. Connection. Community.”
I grimace. “But the organs? I mean, I’ve eaten chicken gizzard before, but...this is a bridge too far.”
Finn laughs that tittering, high-pitched laugh and flips another few pages. “Bridges, far too many bridges for some but not others.” His right brow lifts and he cocks his head toward Ash. “Not for some fathers.”
Ash rubs his eyes. “No. And definitely not my father. Masera will do anything to get, or keep, an edge.”
“So wait.” I stand, hands up. “This government would lock me up because of some magic I have no control over, but your dad decides he wants to munch on his kid’s innards and he’s just going to get away with it because he has powerful friends?”
“Corruption, corruption everywhere,” Finn says in a sing-song voice.
“I know.” Ash leaves a hand on his face. “It’s royally screwed up. Paranormal governments aren’t so different from those run by humans, especially not when magic is currency. Those who have the most of it tend to get their way. Besides, my dad is very smart. I have a feeling that any evidence we might find would disappear before we could even get it to someone who could do anything about it. Or it would be pinned on someone else.”
Pacing to the door and back to the couch, I lace together a string of curses. It shouldn’t surprise me. People are people, magic or plain toast, easily tempted by anything that might give them a little edge over the next person. Which also makes me wonder if people like me are actually locked up for our own good or...
I shove the thought aside. Right now, this isn’t about me, it’s about Jeremy. We have to figure out how to protect him from this psychopath. Pulling my knuckles to pop them, I walk another loop between the couch and door.
“How do we stop him from sending bounty hunter after bounty hunter until he finally gets lucky?” I ask. “We can’t expect Jeremy to hide at The Mercury Room forever and we can’t keep fighting off minions.”
Finn rocks back and forth, smiling, hands tucked under his arms. “Mythical warriors.”
Ash points at him with the hand not currently covering his face. “No. We are not going to them.”
I swat Ash’s shoulder. “Nuh uh. No. Don’t do that thing where I have to ask for exposition.”
“Sorry.” Ash rests his forehead against a fist. “There’s this group of female warriors in our society — the Amazons. They’re not exactly vigilantes, but they do work apart from our government, and they don’t like me much.”
Drumming his fingers on the stool seat, Finn chuckles. “Quarrels. All of the quarrels after mistakes. But to save an innocent? Hmm, mmm, mmm.”
I blink at Ash, fully nonplussed. “Amazons. As in the mythical Greek warriors?”
Ash chuckles. “Warriors, yes. Greek? Well, some of them are I’m sure. It’s mainly just the name they use. They’re all paranormal women who generally do things normal police can’t.”
Shaking my head, I cross my arms. “And you made them mad. How much groveling would you have to do to get them to work with you?”
“You assume it’s my fault?”
I lift my brows.
“Okay, fine.” He waves a hand. “We had a disagreement. Words might’ve been exchanged, and I may not have been as tactful as I should’ve been...definitely wasn’t as tactful as I should’ve been. Not that they were either. But I’d say...a medium amount of groveling, with a healthy side of crow for me to munch on.”
I can’t help it, I giggle a little. “Then let’s get on it. Where do we find them? Or how do we get a hold of them?”
Ash sighs. “They have a branch in Galveston. Once we get permission from Kia, we’ll head out, and hope they don’t drive a stake through my heart before I can apologize.”
UNHINDERED SUNSHINE blasts us along with a sharp gust of wind when we leave the cozy dark of Finn’s house. I shield my face with a hand, guts twisting into tight little knots as Ash and I walk toward his car. Glancing at the pizza place we parked next to, I hook an arm through the chupire’s arm, then drag him toward the door.
“I’m starved, and as much as I love The Mercury Room’s food, I’m craving pizza.”
Only a half-lie. I’m not super jazzed about going back with this new information just yet. Though Kia has been super kind about all of the things, I have no idea how she’ll react when we tell her I’m technically illegal. Will she turn me in to protect everyone else? There’s already so much pressure to protect Max and Jeremy, I wouldn’t blame her for wanting to get rid of one more problem child.
Ash laughs. “I think we can take a few minutes for a slice. This place is legendary. Some of the best pizza in Houston.”
As we slip inside, I glance over my shoulder. That feeling of being watched doesn’t press into me this afternoon, but after conversations about cannibalism, curses, and illegal magic, I’m not leaving anything to chance. On the street, I see nothing but families and joggers and one or two cyclists.
Suspicion balls in my shoulders. Max said witch charms can hide creature-y qualities. Anyone and everyone around me could be a bounty hunter sent by Ash’s dad, or a spy from their government looking out for people with non-native magic. Images of individuals yanking me off the street and tossing me into a windowless van run through my head.
I shiver, narrowing all my attention on the very important decision of what kind of pizza to have for lunch. The smell of crust baking in the two massive black ovens on the other side of the counter is almost enough to distract me. Dread sticks around though, continuing to chew on my innards as I try to choose between red sauce or white.
After we order, I make a beeline to a table at the back of the room, making sure I can face the large windows at the front of the restaurant. Ash drops into his chair, forehead crinkled as he leans back and crosses his arms. He opens his mouth, then shuts it again almost immediately, drumming his fingertips on an elbow.
I’m about to lend him a conversational hand when the door opens and a man in a sleek gray suit walks in. Though the corners of his mouth turn up naturally, his narrow eyes cut through the room with a brutal, sharp attention. My low level dread shifts to full on fear I can’t explain as he strides straight toward us.
His movements are exactly like Ash’s, graceful, serpentine, and his appearance is as put together as Finn’s was a mess.
At my gaping, Ash looks over his shoulder just as the man reaches us. Every muscle in his body hardens and his gaze bugs. Pressing his knuckles into Ash’s shoulder, the man slides a chair up to our table and sinks down into it.
Then he says nothing.
Mouth dry, I look at Ash. Sweat glitters across his hairline, his fingers curl into fists, a
nd his nostrils flare. Other than this slight movement, he sits completely still. A mix of fury and fear widen his eyes as he stares at the silent man now beside him.
Words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them. “Ash, do you know this guy?”
I anticipate the answer as the man slides his focus to me and a snake-like smile curls his mouth. “Isn’t it obvious?” he says, a faint accent flavoring his words. “I’m Asher’s father. Aiden Masera. And the two of you have something that belongs to me.”
13.
TERROR SETS TREMORS off along my bones as every horrifying testimony I’ve heard about this man plays back through my head like the worst scenes from a horror film. Masera lazes back in his chair, relaxed, apparently calm, but his hand never leaves Ash’s shoulder. His grip tightens so much that the color along his knuckles seeps away.
Ash swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Nothing we have belongs to you.”
Claws extend from the tips of Masera’s fingers. They pierce Ash’s shirt and black blood slowly blooms out along the white material. “Now you and I both know that’s not true.” He leans a little closer to his son. “And we also know there’s only one way this can end.”
My pulse drums in my ears, almost as jarring as the tremors now rolling down my legs, and into the floor. It trembles faintly, barely noticeable. I breathe in slowly. Causing an earthquake in the middle of this restaurant might chase Masera away, but not without major consequences and possible injuries of random patrons.
Then again, I’ve been able to direct it twice before, maybe I can use it against Masera. If something goes wrong, though, that will also give him extra leverage. A guy in his position and with his power could definitely get me locked up “for the greater good.”
It’s better to play it smart here, or at least give it the old college try. Or whatever.
In spite of my fear, I giggle and twist a curl around my pointer finger. “So dramatic.”
I pitch my voice higher than normal, loathing how stupid I sound, but being underestimated is one of the best battle plans when confronting a bully. The less Masera sees me as a threat, the easier it will be for me to maybe maneuver us out of this situation.
A vein along one of Ash’s temples twitches slightly, but he keeps his mouth shut.
When Masera slides his eyes to meet mine, I rest my jaw on a palm and put on my “please adopt me” grin. One of his brows lifts. “The new waitress. Case, isn’t it? It’s no wonder that mermaid took you in so quickly. How many foster homes did you live in before you aged out? Was it them, or you?” He tilts his head.
A brick forms in my gut, but I manage to hide my terror with another vapid giggle. “Ooo, have you been watching me? I know it’s cute in books, but in reality, that’s called stalking.”
Masera smirks. “I make it a point to know very well who is around my family and who knows our secrets.”
I lower my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I love a good secret.” My muscles clench against the magical pulse inside me, a single phrase repeating through my head: he can’t know what I am, he can’t know what I am.
A full, almost warm laugh I definitely don’t expect rumbles from deep in Masera’s chest, softening his sharp features. For a moment, it’s almost tempting to forget he’s digging claws into Ash’s shoulder and wants to cannibalize his other son.
“I like her, Ash,” he says. “Maybe I’ll let her live longer than your other girlfriends. Keep her around for entertainment.”
The tile under our feet quakes and the waitress approaching our table stumbles a little, nearly dropping her order. Frozen in place, I barely manage to make eye contact with her, and smile as she sets our pizza in front of us.
“Can I get y’all anything else?” she asks, rocking onto the outside edges of her black tennis shoes.
“We’re fine.” Masera waves a hand.
Pure horror digs into me as the waitress’ pupils shrink to pin points. She nods stiffly, then marches back to the front of the restaurant, almost mechanical now, devoid of all personality. Ash lurches, eyes narrow, jaw set, but the claws cut deeper into his shoulder. He winces as the blood spreads across his t-shirt. The vibrations along my bones speed up.
I’m going to lose control.
Masera smiles back at me. The open, jovial look on his face from before dies, and he leans in my direction. “If there is one thing I absolutely do not do, it’s play games. You will give me what is mine, or else...” he looks at Ash, “I will burn The Mercury Room to the ground with all its inhabitants inside. Now, we’re going to calmly and quietly leave this restaurant, and drive to yours.”
With a slight, almost imperceptible shove into Ash’s shoulder, Masera stands, his sharp eyes on the both of us. When Ash doesn’t budge, his dad yanks him to his feet. I swallow. One move and all the tremors shaking inside me might bring this pizza place to the ground. But I have to follow orders until I can come up with a better plan.
One comes to me the second I hesitate a little too long for Masera’s liking. Fangs indenting his lower lip, he grips my arm. I don’t even think past the inspiration, I just concentrate on sending every bit of quaking force out of my body and into his.
Masera chokes, my power shaking him so violently he lets me go. Diving forward, I grab Ash’s hand, then tug him out of his dad’s grip. Together, we sprint out of the restaurant and into the blinding sunlight. We jump into the purple monstrosity. It squeals as Ash cranks her engine and guns it down the road.
As we speed onto the highway, I catch sight of Masera walking out of the restaurant. He pauses on the sidewalk, hands in his pockets, and simply watches us drive away. His smirk will haunt me for the rest of my life.
He knows. He knows and he won’t stop coming after us.
I GRIP THE EDGES OF my seat, struggling to breathe, pulse raging so loud in my ears I barely hear Ash asking if I’m okay. “You’re the one bleeding,” I say around a gasp.
“And you’re the one who just showed my megalomaniac dad that you have magic.” Ash’s voice shakes.
In spite of the fact that I just dumped a bunch of power into said megalomaniac, it’s done nothing to calm the riot of energy inside me. It jars my joints and threatens to lash out again. I shut my eyes, concentrating on keeping it corked, on not thinking about what Masera said about killing Ash’s other girlfriends. If I let my mind go there now, there is no way I’ll be able to maintain my calm.
Though we are absolutely going to have to discuss that at some point.
“I know that was stupid, but we had to get away.”
Ash blows out a breath. “Definitely stupid. I don’t know what else we could’ve done considering I froze like a total and complete coward. Plus, fighting him in the restaurant wasn’t an option. So, thank you.”
I force out a slow sigh and shake my head. “I probably just delayed the inevitable if he knows where The Mercury Room is.”
“Believe it or not, Elaxi’s shields will protect against an attempt to burn the place down,” Ash says. “That’s probably at least one reason why my dad showed up at the pizza place. He’d need us to get through the doors since we’ve warded The Mercury Room against his specific magic. Masera would have to be inside to actually damage anything and only a staff member could invite him in.”
Squinting at Ash, I wince. “So, he could use his super mind control powers on one of us to get access?”
Ash’s face tightens.
“Why didn’t you tell me he could do that? It seems like pretty important information.”
Not to mention those other girlfriends. My stomach sloshes and I’m kind of glad we didn’t get to eat our pizza.
Ash runs a hand along his jaw, wincing again when this jars his injured shoulder. “It’s not something I like talking about. It’s one of the worst parts about being a vampire.”
“Uh, yeah, it is horrible.” I grip the door handle. “And not knowing it’s a thing put me in a lot of danger.”
Ash wrinkles his nose.
“You’re right. I should have told you. I’m sorry.”
Such an immediate apology kicks the irritation straight out of me, leaving only the root — fear — behind. “Can you do that too?”
Silence answers me. The sound of the wheels on pavement fills that tense quiet. Ash clenches the wheel until the tendons stand out along the backs of his hands. I bite the inside of my lip to try and fight off impatience. Of all the magic I’ve seen over the last few days, mind control scares me the most. To realize that someone can quite literally take away my free will is straight up horrifying.
And the possibility that Ash might have this ability as well? Nausea floods me.
I’m about to prod him for an answer when he finally nods. “Yes. But not very well because I won’t practice it. If I tried now, I’d really just be highly persuasive. What my dad does is...” He grimaces.
“Truly terrifying.” I walk my fingers along my pounding temples, somewhat relieved by his answer. “Your dad could use anybody to get inside The Mercury Room.”
Ash’s jaw tightens. “Kia can charm people’s minds against him. It’s not perfect, but it’s something. He also has to be making eye contact. So, if we ever encounter him again, avoid that.”
Curiosity wins out. Without looking at him, I ask, “Is that how your other girlfriends died?”
Ash makes a funny sound in his throat and the car jerks a little. Turning off the highway, he pulls into a random restaurant parking lot. With a wheezing sort of breath, Ash presses his forehead into the wheel.
The muscles along my windpipe seize up so I can barely get air into my lungs. I wrap my arms around my waist, watching Ash, debating taking the question back. Trauma like that roots down deep. Even when the pain dulls, the slightest bump or nudge will bring it raging to life once again.
But if I’m going to have to face Masera, I’ll need all the information I can get.
Head still bowed, Ash pushes himself upright, eyes shining with tears. “Yes. That’s how they died.”
Cursed: The Girl Who Shook the Earth Page 10
