by TJ Green
“But Dylan won’t be. Or Cassie. She smacked her head against the wall, too.”
“Sorry,” El said to Cassie. “My fault.”
She grimaced. “At least I still have my head. Poor Bethany. What an end.”
El wiped her sword on a cloth from her pack. “Better dead than killing us.”
Jasper watched Avery help Dylan to his feet. “I’ll escort them out, and get Dylan to a hospital.”
“No!” he protested weakly.
Cassie looked defeated. “You can’t fight like this. Neither can I—I can barely focus.”
“That settles it, we’re going.” Jasper looked at the other witches apologetically. “I’m sorry; we’ll leave you short-handed.”
Avery brushed off his concerns. “There are still plenty of us, but one of us needs to go with you. What if you’re attacked by other vampires? You’ll all die.”
“I’ll go with them,” Eve said decisively. “You guys should stick together. I have a plan, but it will get hot. I’ll surround us with fire for the entire journey. If I make it big enough on either side, they won’t be able to penetrate that.”
Alex frowned, looking between her and Jasper. “It’s a long way to hold that spell. You’ll be exhausted.”
“But we’ll live, hopefully.”
Avery hugged Eve. “Stay safe, and we’ll see you soon.”
The White Haven witches watched them walk a safe distance away and fire ignite around them, and then they ran to catch up with the others.
***
The group raced through the twisting passageways, and after a few minutes heard shouting and the familiar blasts of magic.
“What now!” Alex said, sprinting ahead.
They burst into a low-roofed cave, and Avery’s feet immediately crunched into old bones that littered the floor. At least a dozen vampires were fighting with the three witches, the wolf, and Ben. It was mayhem, and without hesitation, they dived in to help.
Genevieve, Caspian, and Ben, were back to back, fighting furiously, battling either hand to hand or with magic. Ben kicked, punched and rolled to defend himself, swinging an axe viciously as one vampire tried to get close enough to take him down. Another scuttled over from above, clinging to the roof like a spider, and Avery picked it up in a flurry of wind, smacking it repeatedly against the far wall until it fell, unconscious. Alex readied his stake and ran to it, plunging it into his chest. Avery directed the wind to another vampire and smacked it so hard against the cave walls that it was almost swallowed by them. Ben threw his axe and it embedded into its chest with a thunk. But it wasn’t enough, and it struggled to break free, ripping the axe out. But Ben hadn't finished. While Avery still had it pinned to the wall, Ben grabbed a stake and drove it into the vampire’s chest, then picked up a heavy rock and smacked the stake, forcing it deeper. The vampire fell to the floor, dead.
At the same time, Briar had opened the earth beneath a vampire and it sank into it, desperately trying to free itself, but it was waist-deep, and although its arms clawed wildly, it couldn't move. Hunter raced forward, and ripped out its throat, and then followed that up by ripping her head off.
El and Reuben were together, both wielding swords as they attacked two vampires with grace, severing limbs as they went, but although that slowed the attack, it didn’t stop them. The witches were quick, but the vampires were quicker.
One vampire had Caspian cornered, and he was losing the fight. The vampire’s long, talon-like nails had sliced Caspian’s chest open, and the smell of blood enraged it. Just as the creature was about to sink its teeth into Caspian’s neck, Caspian disappeared in a whirl of Air, appearing right behind it, and he plunged his stake through its back, into its heart.
Genevieve was fighting her own battle, fending off a vampire with fire streaming from her fingers.
They must have found their main cave.
“Ben!” Avery yelled, “Did you bring the spells I gave you?”
Ben was busy fighting yet another vampire. He ducked, swung his axe, missed, and rolled to face the vampire again. “The bag at the side,” he yelled back breathlessly.
Avery turned swiftly, spotting his rucksack near the entrance. Only days ago she had made the sunlight spell. She hoped they’d brought it, and she hoped it would work.
She was steps from the bag when a vampire attacked from above, lifting her off her feet, its teeth inches from her neck. Avery was so annoyed, she didn’t hesitate. She punched him and his head snapped back, and then she pressed her hand into his ice-cold skin and burned through his flesh, hearing it sear and pop beneath her fingers as its eyeballs exploded. He screamed and dropped her, and she used Air to cushion her fall. The vampire fell at her feet, blind and vulnerable, and she plunged the stake through its heart, and set fire to it at the same time.
Avery ran to the bag, fumbling through the contents, vaguely aware of the mayhem around her. She found bottle after bottle and cast them aside, until she found the right one—a black bottle, sealed with yellow wax.
She needed to be in the middle of the room for the best effect, and she used wind to lift her to the roof, rising above the carnage. She uttered the simple words of the spell and smashed the glass against the roof.
A wave of energy knocked her to the ground as sunlight streamed through the cave, bringing with it screams, fire, and then silence. For a few more moments the sunlight warmed them, cleansing the cave of vampires, and then it was gone, leaving them with only the pale, white witch light.
Within seconds hundreds of candles were burning as someone’s magic lit them, and the witches, wolf, and Ben stumbled to their feet. Avery could see Alex, covered in blood, but he was standing, and seemed otherwise okay.
“What the hell was that?” Genevieve asked. Her clothes smoked from the fire spells she had been casting.
“My sunlight spell. It worked better than I thought,” Avery confessed.
Reuben looked around warily. “Let’s talk about that later, and instead get the hell out of here.”
Caspian stumbled, and Briar ran to him. “You’ve lost a lot of blood.”
“I’ll live,” he said. “I’m just dizzy.” Blood poured from the wound down his chest, and he winced. “It’s burning.”
As Briar pressed her hand to it, Hunter growled softly at her side, and she glanced at him. “Behave.” He sat and watched, his eyes boring into Caspian.
Avery surveyed the room. “How many do you think there were here?”
“Probably a dozen.” Genevieve shrugged. “More or less. I didn’t see Lupescu, though.”
Reuben twirled a sword like a Samurai and looked appreciatively at El. “But Bethany’s dead. El killed her.”
Genevieve suddenly realised the others weren’t there and she looked panic-stricken. “Where is everyone else?”
Avery tried to reassure her, hoping that what she was about to say was true. “They’re okay. Dylan’s broken his arm, and there were some minor head injuries, but hopefully they’re all safe now. We need to get out, too.” She looked around for the closest exit, but there were too many; at least half a dozen passageways left the cave.
“We’ll go back the way we came,” Alex said, already striding towards it. “Quick, in case reinforcements come back.”
***
It was relief to be out of the dark, narrow tunnels, although the house felt strange, somehow expectant. They shut the hidden panel, and left the tower room as they had found it, and after gathering their gear, they congregated in the hallway, ready to head their separate ways.
“Wait,” Reuben said, halting by a small door beneath the stairs. “I need to show you the cellar, Alex. I’m pretty sure it’s all hooey and no doey, but I’d like your opinion.”
Alex nodded, weariness etched across his face. “Sure. Let’s make this quick.”
Reuben turned on the overhead light, and led them down the stairs to a long cellar, lined with brick. Dozens of candles lined the edges of the room, and in the centre of the floor
, drawn in chalk, was a rudimentary series of sigils and signs within a circle. The witches walked around it, and Alex crouched, examining some of the signs carefully. Caspian echoed his movements, and Avery remembered that Caspian’s family also had a history of demon raising and necromancy, particularly Alicia.
Alex looked up and grinned. “This is useless. A façade.”
“I agree,” Caspian said, rising to his feet. “It looks pretty, but it has no power. Idiot.”
Alex stood, too. “It’s a worrying occupation, but essentially harmless.”
Reuben looked relieved. “Great. Just wanted to check.”
They filed back upstairs, Avery sure her legs would collapse beneath her at any point.
“We need another plan of attack,” Genevieve said, her face grim, once they were in the hall again. “Lupescu is still out there. Have we heard from the others?”
Avery nodded. “I spoke to Eve; she’s on her way home.”
Ben held his phone. “Cassie texted. They’re at the hospital. I’ll meet them there.”
“Maybe have a shower first,” Reuben suggested, gesturing at his clothes.
They were all covered in blood.
“Right, shower.”
Relief flooded Genevieve’s face. “Good. Let’s go home, I’m too tired to think now. I need space, and I want to see my kids.”
Briar’s expression was gentle as she said, “I think we all need space to think. This feels like a house of horrors. I don’t know how Rupert and Charlotte can bear to live here.”
“Because they don’t know what’s under them,” Alex answered. “I hope. Let’s talk again tomorrow.”
“It’s the solstice tomorrow,” El noted. “The longest night of the year.”
“Let’s hope that’s not bad news for us,” Caspian said, clutching his coat to his chest.
Briar noted his wince. “Who can heal you?”
“My sister has passable skills. Thanks, Briar.”
“Even so, come and see me tomorrow,” she insisted. “I’m better than passable.”
He nodded, and as Ben locked up, they called their goodbyes.
Avery turned to watch the house as Alex drove away. Within seconds, it was swallowed by the swirling snow, as if wrapping itself in its secrets once again.
23
The Wayward Son was a welcome haven of warmth, cheer, and noise, after a tense journey in heavy snow on hazardous roads. Only the use of magic had helped them get back so quickly.
Once the witches had arrived in White Haven they headed home to shower, and then met in the quiet backroom that overlooked the courtyard. No one wanted to be alone, needing the normality of a crowded pub to cheer them up. And besides, it was still only 9:00pm. They had been in the tunnels under the house for all of four hours, although Avery felt like it had been much longer.
Avery sipped a glass of wine while she looked out of the window. The snow was still falling thickly, which was unusual so close to the coast. She would have enjoyed it, had she not been so worried. She caught her reflection in the glass and wondered how she could look so tired and still be awake. She ran her hand through her hair, trying to look more presentable.
“Cheer up,” El said, chinking her glass. “At least we found out a lot more today, and managed to kill some vamps.”
Avery turned to face her, amazed that El could still look so cheerful after all they had seen today. Her long, blonde hair was swept up into a messy knot on her head, and her red lipstick was bright against her pale face. “How come you always look so good?” Avery asked her. “Even when we’re fighting vampires, you manage to look cool.”
El winked. “It’s a skill. Besides, you always look pretty good yourself. So do you, Briar.” She nodded to Briar who sat next to her, her dark hair tumbling about her face. She was looking particularly pretty tonight, and Avery was sure she knew why. El continued. “Stop changing the subject.”
Avery sighed. “Sorry. I’m trying to distract myself from that horror show we’ve just experienced.”
“So am I. Wine helps.” She looked behind her to where they could see Reuben at the bar, ordering food. “So does he, even with his stupid water gun.”
Briar laughed. “It is stupid, but it works.”
“True dat,” El said, nodding. “And unfortunately, I’m sure he’ll have to use it again.”
“We need to tell Newton what we found,” Avery pointed out. “There’s nothing he can do, but even so.”
“There’s plenty he can do,” Briar said, frowning. “They need to collect all those bones down there and give them a proper burial.”
“Not yet he can’t,” El replied. “It means letting Rupert know what we’ve found, and we can’t let that happen yet. We have no idea whose side he’s on, or what he’s prepared to do. Finding that necromancy stuff was weird.”
The arrival of Reuben, Alex, and Hunter interrupted them, and they all sat down with fresh pints. Alex sat next to Avery, nudging her arm. “Cheer up.”
“That’s what El said. I can’t help it. Lupescu is still running around, and we have no idea where he is.”
“I can rip his throat out,” Hunter said nonchalantly. “I’ve got Lupescu’s scent now. It will give me great pleasure to hunt him down.”
“It’s a bit weird that he’s called Lupescu,” Reuben said. “Is that something wolfy?”
Hunter shrugged. “Maybe. But it’s just a name. He sure didn’t smell of wolf—just death and rotting flesh.” He tapped his nose. “I’ll be able to find him again, if we can narrow down where he is.”
“How can you distinguish him from the other smells?”
“They may be vampires, but they all have their own distinct scent, beyond the decay.”
Avery watched him thoughtfully. “Had he been in that cave?”
He nodded. “Yep, but it wasn’t as strong in there as in his ‘bedroom,’” he said, making air quotes. “We were close to the sea in that cave, though. I could smell it.”
“Smugglers’ caves again,” Briar said. “As we thought.”
Avery persisted. “But how do we find him?”
Reuben took a long drink of his beer, as if bracing himself. “We go back tomorrow, in the daylight, through the hatch in the woods. We don’t need the house now.”
Avery rubbed her face, annoyed with herself. “Of course. I’m so tired I’d almost forgotten it. Could you find it again?”
“Easily. But I think only we should go. Eve, Jasper, Dylan, Cassie, and Caspian, were injured, and Gen has three kids! She can’t risk her life with them at home.”
“I’m not sure she’d agree with you,” Briar said, glaring at him. “She’s our coven’s High Priestess, and will want to be there. She saved us on Samhain.”
“But that was different,” he argued. “It was a huge coven spell. This is us hunting vampires. We have agreed we aren’t going to try and bind Lupescu—who it seems is the lead vamp. We’re going to kill him, and end this once and for all.”
They were interrupted by the arrival of their food, and they fell silent for a moment, as Grace spent the next few minutes bringing their plates. The young blonde woman looked as knackered as Avery felt.
“Anything else, boss?” she asked Alex.
He smiled at her. “No thanks, Grace. You can start taking out the rubbish, if there’s time.”
She nodded and went back to the bar, and Avery’s stomach growled with hunger. No wonder she was tired. She was starving. For a few minutes everyone was silent as they ate, and then Avery asked, “But what if there are another dozen vampires?”
“I don’t think there are,” Reuben said. “I’m pretty sure we killed all of them except Lupescu. It was only just after dark. They wouldn’t have had time to leave.”
El frowned. “Unless there was another base. There was the last time.”
He shrugged. “Maybe, but the deaths and disappearance have all been local, which makes me think they are only based here.”
“True,” Alex
agreed. “But I was wondering where they came from. There were more there than I was expecting.”
“I was wondering that, too,” Hunter said, pushing his plate away. “They’ve probably been accumulating over years of disappearances, probably from long ago. I think Felicity’s spell not only sealed Lupescu, but all of his progeny. That would explain why they’ve been inactive for so long. And why they’ve woken so hungry that they’ve caused such obvious devastation.”
Briar looked at him, admiringly. “Good point. There have only been a few recent deaths that we think have turned. The others are accounted for.”
“But there have been quite a few disappearances,” El reminded them. “They may not all be dead.”
Reuben picked his glass up. “I need another pint. Anyone else?”
The others nodded, and Avery drained her wine. “Yes, please.”
He headed back to the bar while they discussed their options, and then a scream sliced through the hum of conversation. Something fell with a thump into the courtyard, blood splattering against the windows. They all leapt up so quickly that their chairs scraped back and fell to the floor.
A woman’s body lay on the ground of the courtyard, her limbs spread at unnatural angles, her throat ripped open. Blood spread around her, staining the snow. It was Grace.
Without hesitation, Hunter rose to his feet and headed to the back door.
Briar shouted, “Wait! What are you doing? You can’t go out there. It’s a crime scene! And you’ll get hurt.”
Hunter’s eyes were already developing a molten yellow glow. “I’m going to find him. Wait here!” And then he was gone.
***
Newton stood over Grace’s body, looking furious. The coroner was next to him, and they had a few hurried words before Grace was lifted up and carried out of the side gate. The place had been cordoned off by SOCO, and blue and red lights were flashing, making the blood on the floor look black against the snow. He looked up at them watching through the window, scowled, and turned to speak to Detective Moore.
The Wayward Son was now empty of everyone except the witches and the bar staff, and everyone was upset. The bar staff were sitting together by the fire in the main room, but the witches stayed by the courtyard window, watching the police. For a while, Alex had sat with his staff, but now he sat next to Avery again, looking white faced and grim, his hands clenched. He stared at the blood staining the snow, unmoving.
