He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You want to try to walk right in?"
"Yes. It's worth a shot."
Daniel scowled. "It's too risky."
"We can't just fight our way in. There's too many of them. Besides, it will give Eleanor time to get us if we're busy fighting off her thralls."
It was true, as much as Daniel hated to admit it. He stared at the alphas for a moment longer before he sighed and nodded. Mandy gave him a nervous smile, and he took hold of her by the arm and shoulder. They strode confidently from the shadows. As they got closer, one of the alphas glanced back. He spun on his heel to block their path.
“Earth mage,” Daniel grunted. “Let me pass.”
Mandy was utterly still. He could smell her fear, though. The other alpha must have been able to as well because he grinned at her.
“Scared you won't be good enough for the queen?”
Mandy swallowed. “Is anybody?”
The alpha laughed. “True."
Another alpha sniffed at her. "She smells like an earth mage, too. Damned witches. What do you have that I don't?"
The first alpha smirked. "Go ahead and take her in, then.”
He stepped to the side, letting them pass. Daniel let out a pent-up breath and guided Mandy inside. Once there, he was struck by how silent it was. It made his hair stand on end and his bear growl. This whole thing smelled of a trap. Had somebody seen them earlier in the day? They hurried through the halls, keeping a close watch as they got further and further from the entrance. Nobody was in sight. Just as they headed for the stairs to try the next level, the elevator doors opened.
Mandy’s mother stepped from the elevator, followed by Martin and Adam. Mrs. Hicks' eyes were overly bright, but the two men had clouded expressions. They moved stiffly, like zombies. Daniel's bear snarled and he tensed. Mandy gasped, pressing her hands to her mouth.
“You’ve come back!” Mandy's mother rushed forward, but Daniel quickly stepped between them and snarled. She stopped. “What are you doing?”
“Mandy has a cold,” he lied, heart pounding. Clearly, Eleanor had sent them out to make it easier to catch them. She knew they were there all right. It had been a trap from the start. But if he was convincing enough, maybe it wouldn't turn into a fight. His gaze went to Adam. His little brother stared back as if he didn't even know him. “We don’t want you getting sick.”
“Earth mages don't get sick," Mrs. Hicks said.
Daniel eyed Adam. Though his eyes were completely glazed over, there was something changing in his stance. He tensed, preparing to attack. Daniel rolled to the balls of his feet. Mandy sensed the change in him and put her hand on the small of his back. Her mother glanced between them, and her lips thinned.
"Eleanor wants to see you," she said.
"Mom, she's going to kill me," Mandy said, her voice low. "She's going to kill all of us."
"That’s—"
Daniel lunged just in time to knock Adam off course as he dove towards Mandy. He grabbed his brother in a headlock and tried to subdue him. Adam punched at his legs and abdomen, and Martin calmly circled them. Mandy cried out, and he sent a bolt of magic at her. Daniel shouted–and Adam threw him off. He lunged forward again and grabbed Mandy. A huge hand circled her throat. Mrs. Hicks slapped a hand against Daniel's arm, and a spike of pain jolted through him. His brain felt like it was in a blender. His back arched and a howl rung from his throat.
Everything blacked out.
When he came to again, Adam tossed him onto the floor, with Martin throwing Mandy down beside him. He immediately put his arms around her, recognizing the feet that stood before him. He tried to pull her back, but Adam yanked his arms from around her. His arms twisted behind his back and Adam held his wrists tightly.
"Did you really think that you could defeat me so easily?" Eleanor asked calmly. "I am very glad to see you… it has been a hassle trying to track you down. But now that you're back, we can get right to the sacrifice at once."
Daniel growled and sprung forward, but Adam dragged him back and kneeled on his chest. Those glazed eyes didn't even recognize him. Daniel's heart lurched, then hate burned through him. She wasn't going to get away with this. She couldn’t.
"She's going to kill me," Mandy said again. Her hand grasped her mother's. Tears spilled from her eyes. "Mom, please. She's going to kill me and all the earth mages. You have to fight her control, please."
Eleanor stepped forward and put an arm around Mrs. Hicks' shoulders. Any uncertainty on the older witch's face smoothed away. She smiled down at Mandy and kissed her forehead in a motherly fashion, as though she wasn't going to let a vampire kill her.
"Don't worry, sweetie. She has chosen us for great honors."
"What sort of honor is there in being killed for her generals to come back and destroy the world?"
Eleanor laughed softly. "Do you expect me to tell you my plans again? You have proven to be very slippery, Mandy. Like a little fish that you lose the moment that you think you had it hooked. But now… you won't fight me anymore, will you?"
There was a layer in the vampire's voice that made a shiver run down his spine. His muscles began to relax as a haze clouded his mind. He shook his head, fighting it. Eleanor wasn’t even directing her enthrallment on him, and it was affecting him. He tried to throw off Adam, but when he got a hand free, Martin pounced on him as well, releasing Mandy as he did so.
"You live to serve me," Eleanor whispered. "Stop fighting your duty."
Mandy shuddered, then both hands shot out.
"I'll never stop fighting!" Bursts of green light enveloped her hands. It flared towards Eleanor and hit her right in her chest. Mandy's mother cried out, holding Eleanor as she stumbled back.
The icy pallor of the vampire's face warmed. A slight pink tinge came to her cheeks, and a clear gasp of pain came from her. She leaned heavily against Mandy's mother for a moment before the whiteness returned to her skin. She straightened and brushed off her creamy dress, as though Mandy's attack hadn't done anything.
But it was enough for Daniel. Whatever else Zack had been, he had told the truth about Eleanor. Life magic broke the vampire's shield. All it would take was one moment, one opening. But even as he glanced at Mandy, struggling against Adam's and Martin's holds, her mother sent a blast of magic into her daughter's chest. Mandy collapsed, gasping for breath.
"Honey, honey, don't do that!" she said, still standing in front of Eleanor. "I don't know what has gotten into her, I really don't. She's usually so demure."
Eleanor ignored her. She stepped over to Mandy and grabbed her hair forcing her to look up. Mandy reached for her again, the green light glowing, but the vampire slapped her firmly across the face. Daniel roared, thrashing back and forth, trying to get at her. Mandy collapsed to the floor, holding her head. The vampire smiled and turned to Daniel.
He didn't look away fast enough. Her eyes captured his, and a wave of confusion washed over him. He fought against it, knowing that if it got a good grip on him he'd be gone. But he felt his mind slipping away, lost in Eleanor's beauty. She was too awe-inspiring to look away. He watched the sway of her hips as she came forward, and a smile formed on her perfect cupid-bow lips.
"You serve me, don't you?"
All his muscles relaxed. "Yes."
"Good… You may release him."
Adam and Martin stood, and he straightened. He grinned as he saw that the queen was pleased, and bent his head in deference. Mandy was still whimpering on the floor, and Martin went over to hold her. Daniel's smile dropped. The wizard had no right to do that. Mandy was smart…
He shook his head, doubts slipping into his haze of awe. "You're going to kill her."
Eleanor's lips pushed into a pout. "What does it matter?"
A growl. Why was he growling? "It matters."
"She doesn't matter," Eleanor insisted, eyes flashing.
His bear pounded against his chest. The growling increased. How could she say that Mandy didn't ma
tter? Other than Eleanor herself, she was the most important person in the world. Eleanor herself knew that. That was why she had been chosen for the great honor… it was the greatest honor… What was? Being killed?
"You can't kill her!"
Eleanor's eyes flashed again. "Oh, my dear alpha. You really are strong-willed. All those others under my sway act like puppies begging for attention, and yet you still stand here defying me. That strength is the trait that I want for my children, but it's rather annoying."
"You can't kill her." His voice dropped to a plea.
Eleanor glanced back at Mandy. Tears streamed down her face as she stared at Daniel. "Fight it. Please. You're stronger than this."
The vampire pressed her fingers to his cheek, turning his attention back to her. "I'll bring her back, Daniel. Her and all the earth mages. I will kill them, but only so I can bring them back as my new generals. And Mandy will be the greatest of them all."
Daniel hesitated. The haze was washing over him again. What Eleanor said made sense. Mandy would have a place of honor. That was all he could ask for, wasn't it?
"Are there risks?" he asked.
"Of course not."
"Why me?" Mandy's voice shook. "Why do you need to kill me to start your new vampire army?"
"Because you brought me back. You and I are bound, Amanda. So I have to cut the life right out of you."
Daniel's bear roared. "You mean kill her."
Eleanor rolled her eyes. "Only temporarily."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her full, succulent lips against his. For a split second the kiss deepened, then Daniel went rigid. This was all wrong. She wasn't Mandy.
His Bear snarled in rage, and Daniel wrenched away from the vampire.
Chapter Fifteen
Mandy
Mandy nearly vomited when Eleanor kissed Daniel. For a moment it looked like he kissed her back. His eyes closed and his hands moved to her hips. Mandy's heart shattered. So this was her punishment for daring to fight back? To see the love of her life be with the vampire without a will of his own?
Daniel went rigid. With a roar, he tore away from the vampire. He lifted her body and threw her across the room before turning on Adam; he smashed his palm into his brother's nose, then flung him aside and grabbed Martin. The wizard turned towards the alpha, freeing Mandy.
She threw herself away from the fight and rolled to her feet. Adam leaped onto Daniel's back, both brothers shifting at once. The two huge bears pressed the others towards the edges of the space. Martin was on the other side of them, eyes still locked on Mandy.
The witch ignored her best friend, ignored her alpha fighting his brother, ignored her mother calling for them all to stop. Eleanor's gaze fell on her as the green earth magic filled her hands again. The vampire opened her mouth, and Mandy shot the magic at her. The vampire threw herself to one side, the blast just missing her.
Eleanor snarled under her breath and went for her. Mandy threw another bolt of magic at her, this time grazing the vampire's temple. A flash of pain went over the witch. She screamed and fell to one knee. Daniel roared and swiped at Martin, opening himself for Adam to bite at his neck. The light-wizard sidestepped the blow and shot a bolt of lightning at Mandy.
"I need her alive!" Eleanor shouted. "Only her blood will do. If you kill her, I'll destroy you."
So she needed to be alive until she was sacrificed. Well, that was a break at least. She blasted Eleanor again, and this time it hit her right in the chest. The vampire stumbled back, gasping. Daniel lunged for her, catching her with the tips of his claws before Adam dragged him back. Blood spurted from Eleanor's cheek, bright red, before it turned black and stopped flowing entirely. The icy complexion returned.
"Mandy, stop!" her mother held up both of her hands.
Mandy ignored her, sending more magic at Eleanor. With a howl, her mother charged her. She threw herself on her daughter, clawing and biting. Mandy cried out, trying to fend her off. There was no reason or recognition in her face as her eyes took on the same glazed look the others had. Eleanor stood back, hunched over herself, a hand pressed to her chest. Her body trembled.
Now was their chance. If she could just get close enough.
"Mom, stop," Mandy pleaded. "Mom, please, this isn't what you want!"
There was no answer except a feral scream.
Mandy fell backward, tripping as her mother attacked. A snarl twisted her lips as she followed her daughter down and punched at Mandy's face. The witch was just able to avoid it and struck back. Her fist crashed into her mother's ribs, causing her knuckles to split open, but it knocked her off balance. Mandy grabbed her hair and pulled her to one side, rolling so she had the upper hand. She planted her hand against her mother's temple and send in a pulse of magic.
A short scream, and then she went limp.
Mandy didn't have the chance to check if she was still alive. Hands grabbed her, dragging her off. Eleanor spun her around and pressed her against the wall. Behind her, Adam and Daniel were still fighting, tearing and clawing at each other. Martin danced around them, shooting bolts of lightning at Daniel. The alpha roared in pain but didn't slow his attack.
"Relax," Eleanor said, hands clasped to either side of Mandy's face. "Don't look at them. I'm here, I'm all that matters."
The first trickling of the mindless haze started to fill Mandy's brain. She fought against it, her hands curling. Eleanor's eyes kept her captive, and she found herself getting lost in the hypnotizing stare. Her eyes were blue, like Daniel's.
A blood-curdling scream broke the eye contact. Mandy shouted as she saw Daniel throw his whole weight down on Martin. Martin screamed again. Adam roared, dragging Daniel off of him. But instead of attacking, he jumped over his brother. He shifted as he landed beside Martin and gathered him into his arms.
"No!" he shouted, and the glassines of his eyes faded somewhat. "Martin, don't do this!"
Daniel stumbled to his feet. Blood poured from tears in his hide, matting his fur down to his body. His eyes met Mandy's. She swallowed hard and turned her gaze back to Eleanor. The vampire had a look of horror on her face, seeing for the first time that there was no turning them back into her thralls. Mandy reached out, wrapping both arms hard around the vampire.
She closed her eyes and pumped her magic into Eleanor, hard and fast. It ripped from her own body in a steady stream of green light. Blood rushed in her ears, drowning out the screams and chaos still filling the small room. Eleanor's breathing became hard pants in her ear, and the vampire's strong arms grappled with her, fighting to break her hold. Claws tore through her arms and back.
Daniel roared again and Mandy's eyes snapped back open.
Two of the alphas from outside were in the room now, both of them attacking Daniel. He could hardly stand against them, already so weak from defending against Adam and Martin. Adam still cradled Martin's body, holding him like everything else in the room had disappeared. He rocked back and forth, grief and worry written all over his face.
"You can't win, little witch."
Eleanor broke free of her grip and threw her into the wall. The vampire grinned, two long fangs flashing. Her hands closed around Mandy's throat. Her fingers were like steel, cutting off Mandy's air. She choked, her own hands instantly going to fight against the vampire's grip. It was no use, and black spots began to flash in Mandy's vision. Eleanor's eyes glowed brightly as she twisted Mandy to the floor, straddling her to keep her down.
Mandy grasped her elbows and kept pouring the life magic into her. Her complexion colored, and blood began to ooze from her slashed cheek again. Would she bleed to death before she managed to kill Mandy? The witch buckled her body, throwing her just enough to suck in a single breath before the hands were back.
"Your death could have brought them back," Eleanor seethed. "I'm going to kill all the earth mages anyway, but your blood could have brought them back as my generals. I guess they'll all just die instead. I'll kill your mother first, and then you
r aunt. And when the final mage dies, I will be truly invincible!"
Mandy let go of her arms to jab both fingers at her eyes. The vampire drew back, earning one more gasp of air. Her hands tightened even tighter this time, squeezing so hard it was like she was trying to cut through Mandy's neck with her fingernails.
Across the room, Daniel fell. The two alphas tore into him, pulling back great meaty chunks of flesh. Adam looked up from where he held Martin. A wave of black passed over Mandy's vision. When it passed, Adam had shifted, leaping onto the back of one of the alphas. Both turned on him, and Mandy threw out a hand, reaching for Daniel. A burst of green flew across the room and struck him in the chest.
Eleanor's hands tightened again. Everything went black. Then there was a scream above her. The pressure on her throat eased. White swirled through the black, then colors and sounds. Mandy lay gasping. Her mind spun, threatening to send her back into the darkness from sheer overload. She lifted her head.
Daniel had Eleanor in his mouth. He dragged her away from Mandy while the two other alphas ripped at Adam. Martin and her mother still lay on the floor, dead or unconscious, in danger of being crushed. One of the alphas ripped away from Adam and pounced onto Daniel's neck. Teeth tore into his already-raw neck.
Mandy threw herself forward and grasped Eleanor's ankle. She pumped more life magic into her. Daniel's jaws clamped down over Eleanor's head, and the screams suddenly cut off.
The alphas both collapsed. A wave of nausea washed over Mandy, and it was all she could do not to fall with them. Adam dropped to all fours. He shifted back to his human form as his body heaved. The two alphas shook and vomited, clutching their heads. Daniel dropped Eleanor's body. Mandy refused to look at her mangled form, instead focusing on Daniel. He stumbled away and sat on his haunches, his chest heaving.
Mandy dragged herself up. She felt utterly drained but managed to pull herself over to her alpha. Her arms wrapped around his neck. He shifted and pulled her closer. His blood cemented the two of them together, but Mandy didn't care. She felt his heart beating wildly and had the ridiculous urge to start crying
The Alpha Bear's Magician Page 9
