The Ian Dex Supernatural Thriller Series: Books 1 - 4 (Las Vegas Paranormal Police Department Box Sets)

by John P. Logsdon

  “No need to put your hands up, Mr. Dex,” he said as two zombies approached me. “If you get rambunctious, we’ll deal with you in the roughest of ways, which I’m sure you already know.”

  “Right.”

  “Plus, you must also be aware that you’ll end up on in my clutches eventually anyway.”

  “Yep.”

  “Good, good.” He patted the table as a group of wizards began to close in. “Just hop up here and I shall endeavor to make this as painful as possible.”

  I jumped up on the table and then blinked a few times, wondering if I heard him right.

  “Don’t you mean you’ll make it as painless as possible?”

  “No, I don’t think I did.”

  A couple of straps launched up from the sides of the table, wrapping around me and tightening to the point where I found it hard to breathe. They were cutting into my flesh, which meant they were ripping my suit. Honestly, I had to invest in more appropriate attire for these adventures.

  The wizards began their pygmy-style chanting, causing me to giggle.

  “Finding this humorous, Mr. Dex?”

  “Love the pygmy stuff,” I replied, fighting to keep my wits about me. “It’s truly hilarious, Fred.”

  “It’s Frederik!”

  “Right, right, sorry. I just thought we were starting to be pals, ya know?”

  “Pals?”

  “Buds, buddies…friends.”

  His eyes went wide. “Genuinely?”

  “No, Fred. Not at all.” I laughed in a mocking way. “You’re about to kill me and turn me into a zombie and you think I’d genuinely want to be friends with you?” Then I cursed myself and tried, “Unless our being pals would make it so you didn’t kill me?”

  “Enough out of you!” He slapped me with his gnarled hand.

  “Damn, Fred,” I said with a chuckle as I turned back to him. “You hit like a girl. It’s amazing that these people follow you at all. I mean, look at you. Old, frail, hit like a girl…”

  A stream of energy flew at me from his fingertips, but bounced off because of the amulet I was wearing.

  “For the love of Pete!” he yelled and then reached in and removed the amulet.

  Shit.

  This time his energy spell worked, and it hurt like hell. My body convulsed as my eyes rolled up into my head. I was hearing someone calmly saying, “Go to the light. Go to the light.”

  Screw that.

  I fought.

  I fought hard.

  But I was losing. The pain was beyond tolerance and that light was getting bigger and bigger. A scream burst from my mouth that was completely out of my control.

  Then everything went black.

  Chapter 44

  I don’t know what Rachel’s plan was, but I awoke to find the world was very hazy. My head was swimming and I could barely see. Sounds were muffled at best and I was having trouble focusing on anything.

  “Get your ass up,” Rachel said through the connector.

  At least that was coming through loud and clear, and it told me that she was still alive. But I couldn’t get the words out to reply. Either I was still magically drugged or I had become a zombie. The way I felt, it made me think it was the later.

  “Unn mmmm,” was all I could say.

  “The restraints are off, Ian,” she explained as the sound of popping filled the air near me. Those were Desert Eagles firing. That’s one sound I couldn’t forget. “Get the hell up and get moving.”

  My hindbrain kicked into gear and pushed me to move. It took everything in my being to roll over and I instantly regretted it because I’d fallen off the table and was now lying facedown on the ground.

  “Ow,” I mumbled into the dirt.

  “Shit,” said Rachel aloud, and then, “Merle, give him some of this.”

  I felt Merle flipping me onto my back. Then a burning sensation filled my throat as the elixir that Serena had made hit me.

  My eyes flew open and I bolted upright.

  Two hits of that potion so close together was not fun. Instant headache.

  On the plus side, Fred had clearly been unable to complete my transition into zombieism. That was obviously a relief seeing that I had no desire to die. My only thought was that Rachel had gotten there in time to stop whatever ritual that old asshole was performing on me, and my healing capabilities were enough to wrench me from death’s grasp.

  “What’s happening,” I said, my vision blurring and correcting in such a way as to make me feel seriously drunk. “This sucks.”

  “We interrupted his spell and took out three of his mages.” She grunted and I felt a stream of heat pass over my head. “I’m starting to run low on reserves, but you needed that hit more than I did.”

  “Thanks. How is Paula?”

  “She’s on the ground, we’re covering her.”

  I got up and saw Boomy sitting in the dirt. It took a minute for me to pick it up, but soon I was firing it in the general direction of the bad guys. The bullets did nothing against the magic users, as they were shielded, but the bodyguards were dropping at regular intervals.

  “Looks like we’ve got them on the run,” I said between breaths.

  “Chief,” Chuck yelled through the connector, “I don’t know what’s going on, but all of the zombies that are still walking just did a one-eighty and are running like hell back your way.”

  “Joy,” I replied, using the table as a stabilizer. “Chase after them please. We’re in a difficult spot here.”

  “On it.”

  My head was gradually clearing as I kept moving around, getting the elixir through my system. Honestly, I’d rather have been suffering through a massive hangover than dealing with this. If you’ve ever felt the sensation of your heart flipping over, take that and apply it to your brain.

  There was a scream off to my left.

  I glanced over to see that Harvey was collecting on his prize. He had Chip up in the air and he was growling for all he was worth. A second later, the crumpled body of his former brother-in-law lay in a heap, pierced by the jagged edge of a rock. It did not look like a fun way to go.

  Matilda had obviously seen this, too, because she shrieked angrily and started running at Harvey. But she had to cross by me to get to him. I had just enough energy to knock her on her ass.

  Unfortunately, I was still lacking coordination, which meant she landed on her back and I landed on top over her, wedged nicely between her legs. There was nothing sexual about this at all, but when I pushed up I couldn’t help but notice her hungry stare. Yep, she needed a firm hand. That firm hand came by way of Harvey the werebear. He clearly did not like the fact that I had mounted his wife. This was apparent because I was in the air and he was looking for another jagged rock.

  “Put him down gently,” said Cletus, “or I’ll stick a hole in ya.”

  Harvey growled, but set me down.

  “Thanks, Cletus.”

  “Don’t mention it.”

  “Sorry, Harvey,” I said. “I was just trying to knock her over so she couldn’t get to you. I’m just a bit clumsy at the moment.” To prove that point, I fell over again. “See?”

  He picked me back up. “No, it’s my bad. I’ve got a jealous streak.”

  Matilda stood up and began screaming at him while bullets and magical craziness zoomed all around us. Honestly, this was not the best time for a marital dispute.

  “You’re about to have the worst night of your life, mister,” she was yelling. “And if you think tonight is bad, you just wait until I contact my attorney in the morning. You’re going to rue the day you ever…”

  Harvey had clearly had enough. His eyes were glowing yellow. This wasn’t going to end well.

  He turned to her, picked her up to face level, and let out such a ferocious roar that everyone literally stopped firing bullets and magic. It was that intense.

  Matilda said, “Ooooooh,” and then passed out.

  “Get down,” Rachel yelled as a bolt of energy fle
w over my head a second later.

  Harvey was hovering over his wife, protecting her from the onslaught. Obviously he still loved her, which I could understand from a physical point of view—though I suppose that’s technically lust—but I didn’t get the personality mix. Still, he had to have seen what had just happened, but he may not have connected the dots.

  “Harvey, I gotta tell you something,” I said, thinking that if we did make it out of this alive, he may just be able to patch up his marriage. Again, Matilda was going to end up doing time for her involvement in this little bit of fun, but at least she’d have something to look forward to when she got out. “Matilda has a thing for powerful men. It’s probably why she married you. I don’t mean abusive here, though I have little doubt that she’d thoroughly enjoy a good spanking, I’m talking about someone who is very strong and controlling. You know, like a werebear, for example.”

  “What?” he said, glaring at me. “Her? But she’s such a dominant bitch.”

  “That’s because she’s not the kind who willingly submits,” I explained. “She needs to be pushed. Trust me, I’ve got a lot of experience with this sort of thing.”

  Matilda came to and said, “What happened?”

  “You’re a bitch, that’s what,” Harvey said, “and I’m sick and tired of it. If you want to get an attorney tomorrow, go for it; otherwise, you’d best get your shit together and start treating me the way I deserve to be treated.”

  “Oh, Harvey,” Matilda said with a mesmerized glow in her eyes.

  He turned to me with a shocked look.

  I shrugged. “Told ya.”

  Chapter 45

  We weren’t out of this mess yet.

  Zombies were zooming in behind us and they were only about thirty seconds out. Many of them were turning to dust since the rest of my crew was firing like mad at them from behind. There was no way they’d get them all, though.

  “We need to find that damn box,” I yelled right before a fireball caught my shoulder and spun me through the air to crash into the table I’d been dying on earlier. I pushed myself back up. “Okay, that hurt. I don’t suppose anyone has seen my amulet?”

  “It’s on the ground over by Fred,” yelled Harvey.

  “My name is Frederik,” screamed the old necromancer as he launched an energy blast at Harvey.

  But it was blocked.

  By Matilda.

  “Nobody shoots at my man,” she said with a sinister stare.

  Then she launched a volley back at Fred. It wasn’t powerful enough for the necromancer to be fazed by it, but it was enough to stop me from worrying about whose side she was on. Probably her own. As long as Harvey wore the pants, though, she’d go along with whatever he wanted.

  Ah, love. Strange, quirky, and full of surprises.

  “Looks like Matilda’s joined our side,” I said through the connector. “That’ll look good on her record, if she makes it to trial.”

  “Don’t care,” Rachel replied. “Trying to get Cletus and Merle through for a shot at that damn magical box.”

  “Where is it?”

  She pointed.

  I followed the direction of her finger and used zoom to pinpoint the box. It was being held by a stern-looking vampire who stood within feet of Fred. This one had runes that perfectly matched the one from my vision, and there was a glow connecting it to Fred.

  “Take care of Paula,” I commanded with a look at Rachel.

  “I’ve got her.”

  “Thanks.” I grabbed Harvey by the arm and pointed. “Do you think you can throw me over there?”

  He grabbed me without answering and I found myself sailing through the air. I wasn’t ready for that, to be honest. I’d been on more of a fact-finding mission when I’d asked the question, but his distance was perfect. I crashed right into the vampire, knocking the box from his hands while simultaneously having the wind knocked out of me.

  But who needs to breathe?

  I snatched up the box and stuck Boomy on it.

  Fred’s face went completely white.

  “No,” he said frantically. “Stop! Everyone stop!”

  They did. Including the zombies that were closing in from behind us. Again, the world silenced.

  “You can’t destroy that,” he said, licking his lips. “If you do, I’ll die. Everything I’ve created will die.”

  “Technically, they’re already dead, right?”

  “Huh?” He looked unsure for a moment. “Yes, yes, they are, but I mean they’ll no longer be animated.”

  “I don’t see a problem with that, personally,” I said matter-of-factly.

  “Please, no, I’m begging you.” He actually got down on his knees, which was kind of creepy. “It was nearly one hundred years of work.”

  “That’s a shame, Fred,” I said sadly. “Honestly, a man of your power could have done some decent stuff with all that time instead of creating a box of doom. What is it with you evil overlords? If you just channeled your abilities into something good, the world would be such a better place.”

  “Thanks, Oprah,” he replied and then paled some more. “Sorry, sorry. You’re right, of course. I’ve been a bad man. A very very bad man. I’ll change. I promise. Just don’t destroy that box.”

  I knew that the Directors wanted to get their hands on this guy, and I couldn’t rightly blame them. Fred was powerful. He’d probably be able to dump enough intel to help the magic community build blockers against all this necromancy crap. Honestly, I just wanted to end this guy. In my estimation, he was too strong. If they put him in prison, he’d slowly work his way out and then be on the rampage again. He was too set in his ways.

  But my job was to bring him in, if possible.

  “All right, Fred,” I said, pulling the gun away from the box, “if you’ll play nice, let us put the cuffs on you, and all that, we’ll take you in. The Directors want to speak with you anyway.”

  “Yes, yes,” he replied with much enthusiasm, never taking his eyes off the box. “Whatever you say.”

  He was obsessed. I moved his rune-covered prize slowly around. He followed it like a dog would a treat. That was strange, but it’s not what had me worried.

  Three things set me on edge. The first was that Fred’s eyes were somehow getting darker and glowing at the same time; the second thing was that the box was starting to grow warm in my hands and there was a tingling sensation running up my arm; and the third thing was noting that there was a pygmy-sounding chant being done as a whisper from Fred’s unmoving mouth.

  “Ian!” yelled Rachel as the box lit up.

  A light poured from it directly at Fred’s open mouth. His entire body was being engulfed by it. It was as though he’d swallowed the sun.

  In one fluid motion, I launched the box straight up into the air, trained Boomy on it, and fired.

  Chapter 46

  It was pretty amazing how powerful that explosion was, but the weirdest part is how it blew up.

  Nobody but Fred was impacted.

  I guess that had to do with the connection he’d built between himself and that box. This explained why he didn’t die during that explosion I saw in the vision. The box killed his master, but left everyone else intact.

  Obviously it was his last shot at salvaging his nefarious plans, but all it ended up doing was localizing the destruction. Good thing, too, or we’d have all died from it. If what happened to Fred was any indication of what would have happened to us, I can honestly say that it did not look enjoyable. He was obliterated. There were bits of him all over the place. If even one decent-sized chunk of his flesh could be found, I’d be impressed. You could find tons of his blood and such everywhere, though. In fact, we were all wiping ourselves down because of it.

  My poor suit.

  All of the zombies dropped to the ground with a collective thud. The apprentice wizards were blinking and looking around as if in shock. The same was happening with the bodyguards.

  “What’s going on?” I said to Harvey. �
��How come they all look confused, but you don’t?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine,” he replied with his hands up. Then he said, “Wait.” He turned to Matilda. “Why is everyone looking confused?”

  She was staring at him with judging eyes. It was clear to me that she was definitely in need of a short leash and while I didn’t know Harvey all that well, he just didn’t seem the type to hold it.

  “It was his spell,” she answered. “He had all of them under it.”

  “Why not you?”

  “Because I’m a higher level, Harvey,” she replied with a sneer.

  “Watch yourself, woman,” Harvey stated with a growl.

  Matilda cooed in response, seemingly melting from Harvey’s demeanor. Like I said, I know how to call them. Honestly, I’d first thought that Harvey was into that kind of thing seeing how their roles were originally reversed, but it was clear that side of the fence did nothing for him besides cause irritation and loneliness. Again, though, he just seemed to be a really nice guy, so I had the feeling that he’d never last as the dominant type, especially since Matilda was going to constantly make him work for it.

  Time to wash my hands of this problem.

  The rest of my crew came up the hill, looking haggard. I completely understood that. We all were going to need a little rest and relaxation at this point, especially those of us who drank that elixir. Cletus and Merle would be wiped out for a week. I’d have to see if I could get them a room comped or something.

  “You okay?” said Rachel, eyeing me carefully.

  “Yeah, why?”

  “That box had a trigger on it,” she replied, not getting too close. “I saw something jump from it right when you shot it. Oh…” She pointed at the ground near my feet. The amulet was laying just a few steps away from me. She reached down and picked it up by its string and peered inside. Her eyes widened. “You’re one lucky bastard, Ian.”