A Vampire's Bane

by Raven Steele

  I met Sersie’s penetrating gaze, as deep and endless as an ocean’s storm. “This prophecy will never come to pass.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Because I would never give up the Kiss of Eternal Night. I earned it, and it will always be mine.”

  Chapter 3

  Sersi followed me outside. Moonlight, more than the night before, cast a silvery glow across the well-groomed landscape. A large stone fountain sprayed water into the night air, creating a fractured rainbow of dark purples, blues, and greens just above it. Only magic could’ve made that happen, but it was breathtaking nevertheless.

  The weight I always felt whenever I thought about the prophecy squeezed my chest, making it harder to remember to breathe.

  It had taken me many years of waiting and watching for clues about who these other two people could be. It wasn’t until I began to research the Morgan family line that I found the connection. It was through Cassandra, Lynx’s mother, who married a Morgan. Cassandra was born a Trite and came from a long line of witches who drew their powers from the moon, or so the rumors said. It was one reason I stayed in Rouen. I had to know if the prophecy was referring to a Morgan witch. So far, only one gave any indication she could be kissed by the sun—Lynx. I wasn’t sure what that meant yet, but sunlight poured from that woman.

  “Samira,” Sersi said, stopping me before I reached the bottom of the steps. “There is someone I want you to talk to. I believe he might be able to shed some light on recent developments, specifically the creature who recently terrorized the Silver Claws, the one Briar vanquished.”

  My eyebrows lifted, genuinely surprised. I had asked everyone I knew about this creature and, other than old tales, I had found nothing. But the way that it had disappeared had felt too easy. Briar disagreed. “Who? I haven’t been able to find any leads.”

  She laughed a sweet sound that eased the pressure on my chest. “I know something you don’t? I think I can die happy now.”

  “You know more about humanity than I ever will.” It was the biggest compliment I could ever give.

  Those gray eyes stared into mine until I looked away. “You know more than you think you do, Samira Chevoky.”

  I warmed at the sound of my birth name, a name I hadn’t heard from someone else’s lips in decades. “Who is this person?”

  “His fae name is Triandal Genlynn, but in the human world he goes by Eddie. Eddie …” She frowned. “I don’t know his human last name.”

  “Eddie who owns the club Sinsual?”

  “That’s the one.”

  “He’s fae?” I swallowed down my surprise. “I mean, I knew he was a supernatural, but I never paid much attention to him.”

  “You never had a reason to before. Now you do. Work with him.”

  “I will. Thank you.” I gave her a hug of farewell, one of the few people I ever touched, considering her words. I was surprised Eddie had information I did not. He seemed too distracted with his mortal world to be useful in the supernatural one. He was always at the club, and I’d never seen him at the usual supernatural haunts. I licked my lips, eager to find out what information he could give me.

  I parked a few blocks from Sinsual, away from the normal lot. I was always afraid my car would get scratched by the hordes of drunk people who left there each night. This club wasn’t one I liked to go to. It was always too crowded, filled way past the allotted occupancy limit. But I didn’t have a choice.

  Circling around the back to avoid the long line in front, I leapt up to the roof. There I found an access door to inside. The thirty-year-old locked door didn’t hold when I jerked it wide open. Once inside, I pressed it back into place. By the layer of dust just inside the door, this exit hadn’t been used in months. Good. It could be my personal entrance from now on should I need it.

  I maneuvered my way down a set of stairs and a metal walkway until I was overlooking the club from the back wall. It was almost eleven and mostly packed. Eddie’s office was just across from me. I sighed a breath of relief. I didn’t want to have to navigate through those crowds.

  The music changed just then. Deep bass slammed through the club, making the crowds bounce up and down, but it made me plug my ears to prevent a headache. Even the scent of sweat and pheromones made me ill.

  When I reached Eddie’s office, I pounded on the door to be heard over the music. A second later the door opened. Eddie’s violet eyes, contrasting with his green button-up dress shirt, widened at my presence. They were so vibrant, I wondered how I hadn’t noticed before.

  His expression quickly slackened. “You’re Briar’s friend, right?”

  By his reaction, he recognized I was a vampire, or at the very least, a supernatural. “My name is Samira.”

  “What can I do for you?” He peeked over my shoulder, scanning the area below.

  “Can we speak in private?”

  “Sure.” He ushered me inside and closed the door. He circled around back to his desk, keeping a watchful eye on my movements. I reminded myself to breathe, to touch my face, shift my position. All the things that put others at ease. Vampires’ unnatural stillness could be terrifying, something I hadn’t really realized until Briar had pointed it out.

  When we were both sitting, I said, “You and I share a mutual acquaintance.”

  “Do we?”

  “Yes. Sersi.”

  His pupils dilated briefly. “The name doesn’t sound familiar.”

  I sighed. “I don’t have the time to do this. I know you’re fae. I know your real name is Triandal Genlynn.”

  His mouth fell open, and his eyes lightened again. “How do you know that?”

  “Sersi. And she would have only told me if I could be trusted. She said you could help me.”

  He leaned back into the chair and ran his fingers through the back of his sandy blond hair. “You’re a vampire.”

  “Yes.”

  “You live with Briar, who is a shifter. Your other roommate is a Morgan witch.”

  “Correct.”

  “That’s a deadly combination.”

  I leaned forward and rested my hand on the desk, tapping my fingernails. “It can be. Are you able to help me or not?”

  “It depends. What do you need?”

  “I’m searching for information about someone. Someone of great power who had a connection to Trianus.”

  The color drained from his face, and he glanced around as if someone might be watching us, even in this small room. “We don’t talk about him.”

  “We?”

  “Fae. His name is a forbidden word.”

  “So you do know about this demon?”

  He nodded his head, the knot in his throat bobbing up and down. “Demons can gain power just by the mention of their name, by the stirring of belief.” His eyes darkened, and I captured a glimpse of his true power. “That is why we don’t speak of him.” He stood. “And why I cannot help you.”

  “I fear someone may still try to summon him again by using the Abydos. Have you heard of this sacred blood?”

  He sat back down, his face paling further. Silence descended over us, thick and dense. I let it settle. Long silences didn’t bother me, but they did others.

  Finally he spoke. “I can’t discuss this here. Too many prying eyes and ears, but come back tomorrow night. I will take you somewhere where we can talk privately.”

  Just then the club beyond the door exploded in cheers. Eddie smiled. “Briar must be here.”

  “She’s working tonight?”

  “Surprised? It’s been a few weeks since she came in. Something must be bothering her.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He rose from his desk again. “Briar only works when she needs to release some pent up anger. It’s like she goes to another place when she’s performing. I don’t mind, though. She brings in some serious cash. Have you ever seen her perform?”

  “I don’t like the crowds.”

  “They can be a bit rowdy, but you should stic
k around. There’s a spot on the balcony that’s not too crowded. And since you’re a friend of Sersi’s, I’ll make you a special drink.” He winked at me.

  I checked the time. It wasn’t even midnight yet. “Perhaps I will.”

  Eddie opened the door and pointed to a small table on the other side. It was tucked around the corner where most wouldn’t notice. “Have a seat over there. I’ll bring you a drink soon.”

  I thanked him and circled around the balcony until I reached the table. Down below, Briar stood on the bar, laughing and shouting into the hordes of people who had all surged forward to get a better view. I spotted a familiar looking shifter in the crowd; she was grinning and holding up a wine cooler in Briar’s direction. I thought her name was Loxley. Briar mentioned she’d been coming to Fire Ridge more often, offering help. I guess now she was showing up at Sinsual, too.

  This wasn’t the first time I’d seen someone attach themselves to Briar. With her powerful presence and desire to help others, a more recent development, people flocked to her like devoted worshipping groupies.

  Briar’s movement caught my eye. She only wore a sports bra and a pair of short jean shorts with tall boots. She juggled bottles of Jack Daniels in the air, bouncing them off her shoulder, her forearm, and buttocks to keep them from falling. It was entrancing and almost unbelievable. She even managed to sling one off her foot, catching it gracefully before she poured them in seven shot glasses, lined up across the bar. A group of guys surged forward, throwing their cash into her outstretched hand before grabbing them up.

  I hated to admit it, but she did put on a good show, although some of it was because of her shifter influence. I could feel her power pulsing outward, blanketing everyone with a thin layer of fevered energy and influence. I admit, it also affected me.

  Snatching a lone straw on the table, I slid the straw from its paper covering. I looked at it and then at Briar, an idea coming to my mind. She always said I needed to let loose.

  Balling the paper up, I stuck into my mouth and began to chew. I’d seen this same move on one of the movies I’d seen at Blutel Estate. Once the paper was sufficiently wet, I attached it into the end of the straw and lifted it to my puckered lips.

  When Briar stilled to let a man tuck a five-dollar bill in her boot, I blew hard. The wad of paper met its mark and smacked Briar in the forehead. She froze, scowling, reached up and grabbed it, then scanned the crowd for the offender. Her gaze moved upward and stopped when she saw me. Shock crossed her face. I saluted her.

  A smile teased the corners of her mouth. She raised the bottle of Jack in her hand and mocked a toast before downing a long swig. With the music still blaring, she continued to dance, even motioning for me to join her at one point. Of course, I declined. I wasn’t that ready to let loose.

  Without warning, the hair on my arms lifted. I sucked in a slow breath through my teeth at the unseen threat and casually glanced around. All the people, humans and the occasional shifter, appeared disinterested in me and instead were focused on Briar.

  Again, I felt the needle pricking of cold eyes on me. I scanned the club, stopping when I met the gaze of an abnormally tall and thin bald man. He stood out from the crowd, so much so I wondered how I had missed him on my first sweep. His eyes were dark pits, nearly black as he stared up at me, his expression void of any emotions. He didn’t look angry and yet, everything about him screamed aggression.

  Eddie appeared at my table and set down a tall, thin glass full of red liquid. I glanced away for just a moment to tell Eddie thank you, and when I looked back the bald man was gone. I searched all around, but it was like he had never existed.

  I remained on alert for several minutes, enjoying Eddie’s special drink of whiskey and cow’s blood, but when I didn’t see the man again, I decided to leave via the roof exit. I moved to stand but stopped when I saw Lynx. She was shoving her way to the bar to get to Briar. Briar noticed her and leaned over to hear what Lynx was saying. Briar looked up at me, then said something back to Lynx.

  A moment later, Lynx worked her way up to my table carrying a duffle bag. Her red hair had been braided loosely and hung off to one shoulder. The deep red color stood out against her white dress. She pulled out a chair and dropped next to me. “I’m so glad you’re here. Didn’t you get my texts?”

  “I only check them once a day at sunset.”

  She stared at me as if I’d eaten a baby. “There are so many things wrong with that statement, but whatever. I have something to show you.”

  “What?”

  “Not until Briar gets here.” Even as she said it, Briar was finishing up the show that ended with blowing fire from her mouth. Lynx looked at her wistfully. “She is so good.”

  Shortly after, Briar arrived at our table, wiping her forehead with a towel. She collapsed into a chair. “I am beat.”

  “Work off your anger?” I asked.

  She shrugged, her eyes dropping to my drink. Her nose wrinkled. “Where did you get that?”

  “Eddie.”

  “Eddie?” She swiveled her head toward his office. “He knows you’re a vampire? How? What else does he know? Does he know about me?”

  I hesitated, wondering how much to tell her. I didn’t like telling other people’s stories. “You’ll have to ask him.”

  Lynx dropped the bag onto the center of the table. “No more talking. There’s something we have to do. Tonight we’re taking out the Nocs.”

  Briar and I looked at each other.

  “You want to kill the vampires?” Briar asked.

  Her eyebrows lifted. “What? No! No one’s going to die. I just meant we’re going to destroy that warehouse.”

  Briar slumped into her seat. “They’ll just go somewhere else.”

  “Then we’ll destroy that one too.”

  “Where’s this sudden aggression coming from?” I asked her. I’d only seen hints of her darkness, but this was something new. This was her seeking it out, actually wanting to take part of something destructive and harmful. Could this be the beginning of Lynx seeking out the power of the moon that ran through her blood? If so, I needed to stop it before it grew too big, which could potentially fulfill the prophecy.

  Lynx squirmed in her seat and lowered her gaze. “I’m just tired of bad things happening and not being able to do anything about it.” She looked up at each of us. “We are strong. All three of us. We can do this, together.”

  Briar thumped the table. “Damn straight.”

  Lynx was right. We were stronger together, but did that come with a cost? I studied Lynx, the worry in her eyes, the determination of her chin. Maybe she just wanted to do something good. Maybe this had nothing to do with the prophecy.

  I motioned toward the bag. “What’s in there? And what’s your plan?”

  “Well,” she rested her hand on the black canvas. “This is my first mission as leader.”

  “Leader?” I looked at Briar. “We have a leader?”

  Briar chuckled. “Just go with it. This is great. Please continue, Lynx.”

  Lynx unzipped the bag and reached her hand inside. She paused and said, “I want you each to wear these. It’s important we blend in.”

  She handed us each a pile of clothes. Briar burst out laughing. “You got us matching outfits! This is the best!”

  I unfolded them and held up the black shirt. “I don’t wear long sleeves.”

  “You are tonight, Samira,” Lynx ordered.

  Briar was stretching out the shirt. “Will my boobs fit in this?”

  “Honestly, I’m not sure,” Lynx said. “But we’ll tape them up if we have to.”

  I set the clothes down. “What’s the second part of your plan?”

  She opened the bag to show us several bottles of lighter fluid. She pulled out a lighter and flicked it on. “Simple. We’re going to burn the whole thing down.”

  Chapter 4

  “This isn’t a good idea,” I said for the fourth time. I was driving across town with Lynx and Briar
in the back seat changing into their clothes. Turns out the shirt Lynx got Briar fit, just barely; it showed a bit of her stomach. “Back me up, Briar.”

  “Sorry, Sis, but I can’t,” she said. “I talked to Angel about it last night. He practically begged me to stay out of it and wouldn’t say anything else. It’s like he forgot who he was talking to. If they aren’t going to stop, then we got to do what we got to do.”

  I eyed her in the rearview mirror. “Does Luke know?”

  “No, and we’re not going to tell him. He’ll give me a lecture about playing with fire, then he’ll make out with me to distract me. And it will work, so best not to tell him just yet.”

  Mumbling under my breath, I turned onto the street leading to the warehouse. It wasn’t a horrible idea, per se, burning down the building. It was a quick way to take care of a big problem, but I couldn’t ignore the nagging questions at the back of my mind. Mateo had been absolutely against working with Bodian, even to the point of fighting against them. Why would he suddenly switch sides? And kidnapping supernaturals? This was something he had always been against.

  I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing a critical piece to an abstract puzzle. Sure, burning down their building would make a big statement, but there was something more important at play. I needed more information to understand the whole picture.

  “Pull over next to the coffee house on the left,” Lynx said, pointing ahead. She held a paper in her hand and kept glancing down at it.

  “What’s in your hand?” I asked.

  “It’s the plan.”

  Briar snatched it out of her hands. “Step one. Get dressed. Step two. Go to warehouse. Aww, you even drew pictures!”