Scarlet Revenge

by Sheri Lewis Wohl

  Now, as he stood in the kitchen, his hands braced on the counter, she came up silently behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her head rested on his back. The tenderness of her embrace undid him.

  Not since he was young and confronted with the death of his family had he allowed tears to fall. He’d wept that day for his family and his own terrible loss. Now, with Ivy’s body pressed close to his, sobs once again shook his body. He didn’t know if it was from pain or fury. Most likely a combination of both.

  Naomi’s words had triggered a rush of emotion long held in check, and he was powerless to stop it now. A lifetime of being strong and in control slid away. It was as if he was that young, lost boy standing on the street, his world shattering a little more with each body bag loaded into a van.

  He loved this bike. It was screamin’ fast and bad. All of his friends were jealous because he was the first one to get this model. Dad surprised him with it because he’d just made straight As. He didn’t want to tell Dad getting the As was easy, ’cause then he’d expect him to do it all the time. But if he could get cool stuff like this bike, it might be worth it.

  He’d kicked Jay’s butt yesterday when they’d hit the trails down by the river. Jay was smaller and not quite as strong, but the bike was what really made the difference. He was unstoppable. All night Jay had whined about his bike and they’d brainstormed how to get him one too. Then the two of them would kick everybody’s butt.

  After talking half the night, they’d slept in, which wasn’t good. His parents expected him at Mass—no excuses. When he realized he wasn’t gonna make it in time, he’d tried to call home. Nobody answered and he figured they’d already left. He was really gonna get it. The best he could do was haul it home and try to get to church before the service was over. If he was there by the end, they’d never know he was late.

  As he took the first corner, he almost laid the bike down. Sweet. He was zooming by the time he rounded the last corner onto his street. This bike was awesome. At this rate, he’d be late, but not terribly. He wouldn’t get in too much trouble.

  He slowed, his pedals barely moving. Something weird was going on close to his house. Police cars and an ambulance were parked in and around his driveway, his house. Dad’s car was still there, blocked by the police. How was he gonna drive everyone to Mass with the police cars parked behind him? Lots of people in uniforms were hanging around but he didn’t see Dad. A bad feeling started to wash over him.

  Without thinking about what it would do to the perfect paint on his new bike, he dropped it to the pavement and began to run. All he heard was the slap, slap, slap of his chucks against the asphalt.

  “Mom, Dad,” he screamed as he ran.

  A beefy uniformed policeman grabbed him as he charged the yellow tape that surrounded his front yard. His legs kept pumping even though the officer held him airborne. “Whoa, son, you can’t go in there.”

  He struggled against the vise-like arms that held him captive. “I live here. Where’s my mom and dad? My sister?”

  The grip didn’t loosen and his feet still didn’t touch the ground. “Just hold on, son.”

  “Mom! Dad!” His screams had everyone turning to look at him. He continued to fight against the arms holding him.

  He stopped fighting only when two men wheeled a gurney with a long black plastic bag on top out the open front door. “What’s that?” he whispered, a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

  A minute later a second black bag came out of the house and, after that, a third smaller bag followed. His legs turned to Jell-O and he was pretty sure he was gonna hurl.

  “NO…”

  Suddenly the vise released from around his body and he was free. Before he could bolt, another set of arms wrapped around him. A gentle, familiar voice told him, “I’m here, Colin. You’re safe.”

  Monsignor held him as he wept.

  The last time he’d shed tears was on that long-ago morning. Monsignor had been there for him, comforted him during the worst moment of his life. Before his eyes the bodies of his parents and sister were loaded into ambulances and driven away. His whole world had shattered in that moment and Monsignor was the one person there for him. He’d made him feel safe when he was most alone. He’d played him.

  All those memories crashed in on him now, all the old feelings of sorrow and despair. After a few minutes, he reined them in. Wiping his face dry with a towel he’d picked up from the counter, he turned and gathered Ivy into his arms. “This is so fucked up,” he whispered against her hair. “How could he do this to me? Why?”

  Her arms tightened. “Maybe she’s mistaken.”

  “God, how I wish that was true. Naomi doesn’t make that kind of mistake. If she wasn’t certain, she never would have said a word to me. It’s true.”

  “So the man who raised you essentially murdered your family.”

  “You ever have that feeling that you’ve always known something bad but couldn’t quite nail down what it is? It’s like somewhere in the back corner of my mind I had questions about Monsignor that I could never put voice to.”

  Ivy stepped away and put a hand on his cheek. “Yes, I know what you’re saying. I’ve had my own moments like that.”

  He took a breath and leaned into her hand. “I never imagined a man I loved so much could do something so horrible, but in my heart I know it’s true. I never understood why I was spared. Now I do.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “So am I.” No one could ever know how sorry. Rationally, he knew he wasn’t to blame, yet the emotional side of him felt guilty. If not for him, Monsignor never would have set his family up for death. They’d all still be alive.

  Ivy took his hand and looked up into his eyes. “Now what?”

  He squared his shoulders. All right, he’d had his moment of self-pity, his little-boy tears. Time to man up and find a vampire, time enough another day to face the one who’d changed his life—and kill him.

  “Let’s go take a look at those records.”

  Ivy’s brow pulled together, a small frown turning down the corners of her mouth. “Are you sure you want to do this? We can get this vamp another way.”

  She had a valid point. The records weren’t the only way to take the monster down. It was, however, the quickest way to get what they needed, and the way things were going, sooner was a hell of a lot better than later. Yeah, he was sure.

  He leaned down and kissed her slow and long. “I’m going to be okay. Let’s go use the best tools we’ve got, and when this is all done, I’ll have a long heart-to-heart with Monsignor. I’ll be fine, little vampire.”

  She smiled up at him, her dark eyes sparkling. This was the face that made his heart sing even when everything around him was crap. “That’s my big, strong vampire hunter.”

  Hand in hand they left the kitchen and went in search of Naomi and her computer.

  *

  He stood in the shadow of a large tree and looked skyward, where the moon hung round and golden. Fate was smiling on him. Even when he wasn’t trying, the gods dropped presents in his lap.

  The werewolf was young and the pull of the moon too strong to disobey, despite the dangerous mood of the city. He’d felt his presence long before he saw him, the smell of the young wolf wafting in the breezy night air.

  Red eyes almost glowed in the creamy light of the moon. His youth made him strong, fast. It was undoubtedly what he believed would keep him safe while he satisfied the urges that he couldn’t overcome.

  Hunting wouldn’t be easy tonight, for fear kept most of the residents of the city behind locked doors. He liked that because he was the architect of the rampant terror. Human nature was predictable, though, and despite it all, some wouldn’t heed danger signals. For some it was necessity and, for some, the rush of a walk among monsters. He didn’t care either way, only that they walked into the darkness. So far, he hadn’t been disappointed.

  Three groups would venture out despite the danger. The first, those w
ho had to be somewhere, did it as quickly as possible. They didn’t veer off the path, didn’t waste time. They tried to keep as far out of danger as possible.

  The second, like the young werewolf, were compelled to come out and maybe even enjoyed the hint of danger. Still, they paid attention to what was around them because, beneath it all, they didn’t want to die.

  He counted on the third group the most—the ones who would take justice into their own hands. They trusted no one, felt security existed only when they took control. Volatile, dangerous, they were the storming villagers. Fortunately for him, group three was a large one.

  A bit of humidity made the air heavy. Born and raised in a humid climate, he didn’t care. In fact, it was a little like an old friend that made him feel at home. He leaned against a tree and listened to the sounds of the city dampened by the violence.

  Smiling, he watched and waited. He was confident his wait wouldn’t be long and he wasn’t disappointed. A muffled scream cut through the night. The young werewolf had made his move. He stepped from the shadows and shifted into his best human imitation. He was very good at it. Wasn’t hard. After all, even before his transformation, his whole existence had been about blending in, making those around him comfortable. He was born with the gift and he carried it with him into immortality.

  As he drew close to a group of three men with weapons poorly concealed in their clothing, he quickened his step. Group three was about to be deployed.

  “Werewolf,” he said without preamble and looking suitably disturbed.

  “Son of a bitch. Where?” asked a short man with a deep voice.

  “I got a good look at the direction he was heading. Follow me, I’m sure we can catch the sonofabitch.” He started to jog in the same direction the young werewolf had taken, his scent growing stronger with each step, along with the hot scent of blood. All three men were right on his heels. This was going to play out perfectly.

  “I hear something.” The tallest of the group, a man at least six four or five, quickened his pace. He was reaching inside his shirt toward the distinct bulge of a handgun.

  Though it was difficult, he managed to restrain himself from smiling. Humans were so predictable. His work here was done. With the trio on a straight line to the werewolf, he faded into the shadows. At the sound of the first scream, he started to whistle.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Tory kept thinking about the New Testament and Viola’s cryptic words. Somehow, they were tied together, although she didn’t know how they could be. That book was on Roland’s chest—right next to the stake she’d driven through his heart—when she’d left him to be sealed up in the crypt.

  Logically, none of it made sense. Yes, New Orleans had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina and any number of crypts smashed by the fury of the storm. Not Roland’s. The cemetery where his remains lay was untouched by the powerful waters responsible for so much destruction. She’d checked. The book should still be walled up inside the crypt.

  That left the only other man in her life: Pierre. Again, it didn’t make sense. He’d been destroyed, and if he hadn’t, wouldn’t he have come for her before now? But Adriana’s vision seemed to point to her maker.

  Viola’s announcement that she was at the heart of the current chaos was disturbing. She’d been off the grid for over two hundred years, keeping such a low profile that no one even knew she still walked the earth. Well, that was true a few days ago. It was a new game now since her whole incognito thing was blown to hell. She went from no one knowing about her to being in an odd sort of posse. Even with all of that going on, how could she be at the center of anything?

  “What are you thinking about?” Naomi ran a hand down Tory’s hair.

  She looked up at her and smiled, thoughts of their lovemaking chasing away everything else. “Nothing,” she lied. She didn’t want to mull over the troubling questions when she could enjoy Naomi’s touch instead.

  Naomi squatted in front of her and took both her hands. “You do know what I do for a living these days, right?”

  Tory laughed. “To be honest, I wasn’t really thinking about that.”

  “No, you weren’t, but you were thinking mighty heavy on something else. So tell me. Let me help. You have to understand, Tory, you’re not alone anymore. Your days of being isolated are over. You have friends. You have me.”

  Tory was accustomed to keeping her own counsel. Sharing with someone, anyone, was a foreign concept and something that usually meant danger, both to her and the other person. It was one of the unfortunate side effects of being a vampire. As she gazed into Naomi’s eyes, she didn’t see anything even remotely dangerous, and Naomi was particularly well equipped to take care of herself.

  What the hell, might as well give that sharing thing a shot. “I’m trying to understand how I figure into this whole mess.”

  Naomi nodded. “I’ve been thinking about that too.”

  “It’s got to be Pierre. Nothing else really makes any sense, and besides he’s the one who’d know exactly how to screw with me. He was a master at manipulation to get what he wanted, especially when it involved me. Getting that New Testament out of Roland’s crypt would definitely do it, and Pierre would have no problem grave robbing.” She freed a hand and ran it through her hair. “I thought I was free of the bastard and once again I’m wrong.”

  “You know what? Before we make any decisions on who or why, let’s look at those pirated records. Maybe we’re missing something or someone.”

  Tory and Naomi both turned toward the door at the sound of Colin’s voice. “Don’t look so shocked, ladies. Yeah, Naomi, your news threw me for a minute, but we’ve got bigger issues than what happened to me decades ago. There isn’t time for me to feel sorry for myself. We’ve got to move forward before anyone else is killed.”

  “You’re sure you’re okay with this?” Naomi dropped Tory’s hand and stood up.

  Ivy, standing behind him, patted Colin on the arm. “I’ll vouch for him. My hunter is ready to find out who this asshole is and shut him down.”

  Adriana came hurrying into the room. “If you guys are done babying the poor little boy, can you get into the office and help me and Riah?”

  “Poor little boy?” Colin grinned.

  Adriana winked. “Suck it up, hunter boy, we’ve got some bad boys and girls to catch. No time for memory lane.” Spinning on her heel, she disappeared back down the hallway.

  “Well, you heard the lady,” Colin said, and headed out behind Adriana. “Can’t kick ass if we don’t know whose ass we’re kicking. Let’s go find out.”

  Tory decided she liked this former hunter more and more. He could take a punch and keep going, so she certainly didn’t have an excuse for not pushing forward. It might very well be Pierre inciting the city to violence, and if it was, perhaps it was time to get reacquainted…vampire-hunter style. She turned and followed Colin and Ivy down the hall and into Naomi’s spacious office.

  Riah leaned back in the chair when they walked in, her hands still poised over the keyboard of Naomi’s computer. “Wait until you see what our good pastor stole. This is some pretty wild shit. Way to go, Naomi.”

  *

  Naomi jumped when her cell phone rang. She’d been so engrossed in what she was doing, she’d lost herself in the moment. They’d all been reading through the church records until daylight dawned and everyone but Naomi went to rest. She didn’t want to give up, so sure she was going to come across something important. So far it was a bust. She wasn’t any closer to understanding what was going on than when she started, and sunset was approaching once again. They’d all converge again and she’d have nothing to show them for her full day’s work.

  She pulled the phone out of her pocket and looked at the display. Her forehead wrinkled as she flipped it open. “Hello.”

  “Help me.”

  The whispered words were hard to hear and she sure didn’t recognize the voice.

  “Who is this?”

  A muffled so
b and then, “Karen.”

  “Karen?” She thought of the handsome redheaded policewoman and frowned. Not once in all the time she’d known the necromancer had she heard Karen sound scared. She was strong and more than capable of taking care of herself. The frightened voice on the other end of the line sent a chill right straight to her heart.

  “Help me.”

  “What’s wrong?” She stepped out of the office and walked to the living room.

  “Someone narced on me and now my house is surrounded.”

  “What do you mean surrounded?” She didn’t mean to sound stupid, but surrounded? Karen? She was one of the good guys.

  “They’ve got guns and bats and God only knows what else.”

  It hit her like a brick. Her stomach took a sickening flip. “Oh, my God, Karen. I’ll be there as fast as I can.”

  She snapped the phone shut and ran to grab her car keys. She stuck her head in the kitchen where Adriana was brewing a pot of coffee in expectation that the rest of crew would be rolling out soon.

  “I’ve got to go now.”

  Tory rounded the corner just as Naomi turned to race out the door. “You’re not going anywhere alone.”

  Naomi shook her head. “You don’t understand, I have to. They’re attacking preternaturals. They’re even trying to kill Karen and she’s only a necromancer. I’ve got to help.”

  “Who? This Karen?” This came from Colin. Everyone was now in the room.

  “No, not just Karen, everyone.”

  “Fuck. I was hoping it wouldn’t go this far.” Colin grabbed the jacket he’d tossed across the back of a kitchen chair last night. “I’m going too.”

  “Me too.” Tory started toward the door.

  “No.” Adriana beat Naomi to the punch. “You three stay here. As powerful as you are, this isn’t going to be the time or the place for three vampires. We can accomplish more if we don’t have to worry about protecting you too.”