The Devil's Fool: A Paranormal Vampire Romance Novel (Devil Series Book 1)

by Raven Steele

  “But where? I don’t see anyone.” The car behind us had turned off, leaving us alone on the road.

  Charlie glanced at my waist. “Put your seatbelt on.”

  Knowing I was immortal, a seatbelt never seemed important, but I obeyed anyway. I pulled over the shoulder strap, but my hand slipped off.

  I stretched it out in front of me. “Um, Charlie, your seatbelt—”

  The gray seatbelt strap was jagged on one end as if it had been torn.

  Charlie’s hands tightened further on the steering wheel. “Get in the back.”

  I began to crawl in back of the vehicle but stopped. “The back ones are ripped, too.”

  Ignoring the road stretching out in front of us, Charlie turned to me. “It’s you they’re after, isn’t it?”

  It seemed an eternity that I stared into his eyes, when in reality it was only a fraction of a second before something big and hard smashed into the side of Charlie’s car. It had come from a side street traveling at a fantastic speed. Our vehicle flipped several times, and I rolled with it until I was finally thrown from the passenger window.

  My body landed in the weeds on the shoulder of the road, and something cold pierced my chest on the right side of my sternum. I cried out in horrific pain, clawing at whatever had stabbed me.

  The car stopped rolling several feet from me in a twisted heap of broken metal and glass. The still night held its breath, and so I did, too. I wasn’t sure who could be around, and I didn’t want to give my location away.

  The ground was wet, and it soaked through my sweater and to my skin. But the icy coldness was secondary to my pain. I lifted my head. There was some sort of wooden stake protruding from my chest.

  Charlie’s moan from within the car broke through the silence. The night gasped for air in a thousand different sounds: a horn honked in the distance, a dog barked, crickets chirped, and a loud engine revved. The truck that had hit us slowly crept forward; one of its headlights, broken. The remaining good light shined on the upside-down car.

  Charlie cursed as he struggled to get out of the car. After kicking the door open from the inside, he crawled out. His clothes were torn and his head bloody.

  “Eve!” he called.

  “Here,” I whispered loudly, hoping those in the car wouldn’t hear me.

  Charlie limped toward me, dragging one foot behind the other. The truck slowly turned, following his movements. The one good headlight turned Charlie into a dark shadow.

  He knelt next to me and his expression turned to horror when he saw my condition. I could only imagine what I must look like. Many of my wounds had already healed, but I could still feel sticky blood covering my body. Charlie inspected the stake in my chest, the one wound that wouldn’t heal until he removed it.

  “What is this?” I asked, clawing at it again.

  “I think you’ve been stabbed by a roadside memorial cross,” he said, his voice cracking.

  Whether from shock or because it really was funny, I began to laugh.

  “How can you be laughing?” Charlie said. “You should be dead!”

  He tore the bottom of his shirt and pressed it tightly against what he thought was another wound on my head.

  The truck behind us inched forward, reminding me of our dangerous predicament. “Charlie, you have to listen to me. I need you to drag my body into the woods.”

  “No way! I’m not moving you. You could bleed to death!”

  “But they’re watching us. Pull me into the woods. Now!”

  He jumped as if remembering the truck that had hit us. He turned toward it, his eyes widening then narrowing. He stood and shouted, “What do you want?”

  Its engine revved.

  “Get me out of here,” I whispered again. I didn’t want whoever was in the truck to see me heal.

  This time, Charlie didn’t argue. He took my arms and pulled me into the woods, away from the threatening truck. An unexpected ravine made Charlie stumble, but he managed to keep me on my back even though I practically slid to the bottom. The light from the truck remained above us, spreading along the tops of the tree branches.

  “Get this thing out,” I growled once we were safely into the forest. I pushed to my feet, ignoring the biting pain, and used my own hands to try and yank the cross out.

  Charlie’s mouth fell open. “How can you be standing?”

  “I still have legs. Please, help me!”

  “If I pull that out, you’ll bleed to death.”

  “Trust me, I won’t. We have to get out of here before they follow us on foot, and I don’t want to run with a stake in my chest.” I continued to struggle with the splintered wood.

  “This is insane! You were just thrown from a car and stabbed in the chest, but you act like you’ve only stubbed your toe.”

  The sound of a truck door opening made my heart pound. I grabbed Charlie by the shoulders, and in an urgent voice said, “If we don’t get out of here now, we’re both dead. Do you understand? Now rip this thing out of me!”

  Charlie grabbed the cross with both hands and pulled while I pushed away from it. Finally it broke free. Blood poured from the open wound, and I cried out and fell to the ground.

  “I told you it was a bad idea,” he said and helped me up.

  Two masculine figures stepped into the beam of light. A deep, raspy voice called down, “Leave the girl, and you might just live.”

  Charlie pressed his torn shirt to my wound.

  “You leave your girl, and I’ll leave mine,” he shouted back.

  The figures turned to each other. The shorter of the two jumped down the gully at an impossible height.

  By this time, my wound had healed, and I no longer felt any pain.

  “Let’s go,” I said, grabbing Charlie’s hand.

  As I turned to run, Charlie bent down and picked up the bloody wooden cross. We didn’t make it far before two vampires, the truck’s drivers, appeared before us to block our escape.

  Charlie stepped in front of me before either of the vampires could speak, holding up the cross like a weapon. Something must’ve happened to his shoulder in the accident, because he flinched at the movement.

  “What do you want with us?” he asked. “We don’t want to fight—”

  The shorter vampire’s meaty hand clamped around Charlie’s throat, and he lifted Charlie into the air.

  I reacted quickly, yanking the cross from Charlie’s hand and driving it into the vampire’s heart. His shocked expression lasted only a moment before he crumbled lifeless to the ground. Charlie dropped to his feet gasping.

  The second vampire lunged for me, but I was ready, my powers having grown even before the car rolled. I darted out of the way, moving just as fast as him, then snapped my gaze to a nearby tree. With a simple thought, a thick branch shot forward and pierced the vampire through his stomach. The branch jerked back just as quickly, lifting the struggling and screaming vampire several feet into the air.

  “Let’s go!” Charlie said, grabbing my hand to run.

  We raced up the gully, Charlie half running, half limping, toward the idling truck. I hopped behind the driver’s seat, jammed the clutch in, and slammed the gear shifter into reverse. The truck clawed its tread into the road before Charlie had closed the door.

  “I think we’re okay,” Charlie said after we’d driven a few miles. “We’re not being followed.”

  I glanced into the rearview mirror. Only darkness reflected back.

  “Do you want to tell me what happened back there?” Charlie asked. “How you’re acting like you weren’t just thrown from a car and stabbed?”

  “I’m a fast healer.”

  “You might have blood that clots fast but not that fast. Are you using magic?”

  Lights from a gas station appeared over a small rise in the road. I pulled into its parking lot and drove behind it. When I stopped the car, I turned to Charlie.

  “I am a fast healer,” I repeated. “Look.” I pulled down the top of my blood soaked shi
rt just below the clavicle where the stake had pierced me. “See? There’s nothing there.”

  He touched it lightly with his fingers in wonder. “How is this possible?”

  “I don’t know how else to tell you other than to just come right out and say it, so here it goes. I’m immortal.”

  “But how?”

  I faced forward out the frosted window. “Boaz.”

  “He bit you? But wouldn’t that make you a vampire?”

  “I wasn’t bitten. I was injected with his venom, but it had been altered. I received only the immortal part of it, not his power or blood lust.”

  “Why would Boaz do that?”

  “It’s a long story,” I said, and wrapped my arms close to my chest. Even though the heater was on in the truck, I couldn’t get warm.

  “I think it’s time I heard it,” Charlie said.

  “I do, too.” I sucked in a deep breath and began my story at the beginning, speaking first of my powerful and abusive parents, the pact they’d made with Boaz, the way I’d naively and foolishly fallen for Boaz, how he turned me, and finally I ended on the necklace and how Lucien had saved me.

  When I was finished, Charlie stared at me with his mouth open. “And I thought my life was difficult.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. The timing never felt right.”

  “Timing is everything,” he agreed. “But that still brings us back to why vampires, and quite possibly the Dark Prince, are after you. What’s the connection?”

  I shook my head, a sudden panic swelling in my chest. “You don’t think Boaz is actually alive and calling himself the Dark Prince, do you?”

  Charlie laughed. “I’ve met the vamp that calls himself that ridiculous name. It’s not Boaz.”

  “Then maybe someone else from my past is working with him. It could be my grandfather, my aunt, or…” I swallowed hard, still unable to stomach her betrayal. “My former best friend, Liane. She is the one who told my parents where I was before they captured me and put me in that coffin.”

  Charlie leaned back into his seat, seeming to ponder my words. “I’ll have some people look into all of them. It’s important we find this connection before anything else bad happens.”

  I agreed, not liking the sick feeling spreading in my gut.

  Chapter 44

  The next day, Charlie left town. Michael had called and insisted Charlie come to Ireland as soon as possible. Charlie didn’t tell me what for, but by his expression, I knew it was bad. He wasn’t sure how long he would be gone, but he assured me he would have men look into the people from my past. He also assigned two Deific guards to follow me around. Just in case.

  Because of this new threat toward me, I pushed my abilities as far as I could, which helped me develop a new gift not even Dr. Skinner could explain. With certain people I came in contact with, I would only have to look at them, and instantly I’d know their feelings, thoughts, and intentions. They always seemed to be individuals who were going through a difficult time in their life. It was as if their souls screamed for relief, and somehow I was able to tune into their cries. Sometimes I wondered if my magic grew this way because it’s what I wanted. Now, maybe I could be more of a help to both Lucien and Charlie.

  This new ability exhausted me at first, but with the help of Dr. Skinner, I learned to magnify it, giving me the ability to call upon it at will. I was especially excited to use this gift to help the children at the Academy who couldn’t communicate, but to my surprise, it was useless. They had no worldly sorrows or heavy burdens, despite their obvious physical afflictions.

  Unfortunately, the people outside the school were not like the special children. They did have heartache, and I couldn’t find enough hours in the day to help them all. I spent what time I could walking the streets, searching for those whom I might help, much to the dismay of my two bodyguards who kept a mild interest in what I was doing.

  It was during this time that I decided to return to Lucien. Feeling other’s pain and burdens weighed me down, and I desperately needed the peace and comfort his presence gave me. This time, though, I stayed at a distance, afraid I might upset him again.

  Lucien led a simple, predictable life. Most of his days were spent by the marina. Something about the water seemed to soothe him. When he was away from the sea, he appeared more tense and agitated. He fed very little, but when he did, it was as if he had researched his victims first and knew exactly where they would be.

  Because I spent only small moments with him, I was never able to find out how he chose his victims. The only thing they all had in common was some kind of bag or briefcase that he always disposed of with their body.

  There was no joy in Lucien’s life. Even feeding seemed to cause him pain, yet he didn’t stop. I longed to remove his suffering, wanting desperately to help him feel the same peace he gave me. As the days passed, I found it harder and harder to stay away. It was only a matter of time before I knew I’d have to move to Skystead. I worried how I was going to tell Charlie who had become my closest friend.

  Charlie had been gone for a full ten days. He’d called once while he was away, telling me that his men found nothing out of the ordinary with my grandfather who had fallen ill almost a year ago. Anne still lived with him and apparently she rarely left the house.

  As for Liane, she’d disappeared nine months ago. So thoroughly it was like she didn’t exist anymore. I wasn’t sure how worried I should be about this. Liane may have ratted me out to my parents, but I didn’t think she would actually cause me physical harm. But then again, dark magic was extremely alluring. Who knew what she was really capable of?

  A knock on the door startled me, especially since it was two in the morning. I peered out the peephole and smiled.

  “Don’t you sleep?” Charlie asked when I opened the door. His right cheek was scabbed over, and shades of purple and blue circled his eye.

  I opened the door wide to let him in. “What happened to you?”

  He sighed and moved into the living room to drop onto my couch. “You can’t go anywhere with Michael and not expect a fight.” He paused. “Am I disturbing you?”

  I joined him on the sofa. “Not at all. Did you just get back?”

  “An hour ago. I wasn’t going to bother you, but I had a feeling you were awake.”

  “Do you want something to eat?”

  “No. I won’t be staying long. I just wanted to tell you what I discovered.”

  I waited quietly for him to continue.

  “It’s as I feared. The Dark Prince is recruiting vamps on a large scale, but not just recruiting. He’s creating new vampires at an alarming rate. We took care of one of their cells in London, but there were at least three others.” He paused to take a breath. “We’re asking everyone at all the Deific offices around the world to spare all their fighters.”

  “I’ll help,” I said without hesitating. “Whatever you need.”

  “If we weren’t so desperate, I’d say no. It’s still soon for you.”

  I was about to say more when there was another knock at the door.

  Charlie jumped to his feet. “Are you expecting anyone?”

  My pulse raced. “No.”

  Charlie’s pinched face relaxed, and he smiled. “It’s Henry.”

  He walked to the door and opened it. Henry stood in the doorway, his expression serious.

  “I apologize for the late hour,” he said, looking first at Charlie, “but I knew you were here talking to Eve about what you learned in Ireland, and I’d like to be in on the conversation.”

  Charlie motioned him inside. “I don’t know how you do it. I’m the psychic, yet you always seem to know what’s going on.”

  “You sure took a beating,” Henry said to Charlie. “Had you waited, I could’ve helped.”

  “We did just fine,” Charlie said, closing the door behind Henry. “Besides, I know you have your hands full with the other Deific offices.”

  “What’s going on with them?” I
asked, shifting my position to be more upright on the couch. It was strange having Henry in my home. Not in a bad way, but his presence was so powerful and commanding that I felt my house should be cleaner or more formal. Something.

  “You can relax, Eve,” Henry said. He lowered himself into a chair opposite of me so we were at eye level. That helped. A little.

  “A few of the Deific offices that were attacked had high casualties,” he continued. “Their morale is low, and it’s been difficult to not only find replacements, but get the current ones to stay. Out of all the Deific offices that were attacked, yours had the least casualties. It was also back up quickly and running smoothly.”

  I glanced at Charlie wondering where Henry was going with all of this.

  “The real reason I’ve come is,” Henry said, looking at Charlie, “I want you to do what you’ve done here, but in our Skystead office.”

  My head jerked toward Henry. This was my opportunity. I could feel it. Henry glanced over at me as if he sensed my excitement, but he didn’t say anything.

  “I want you to heal that office, Charlie. They need you.”

  Charlie shook his head. “I can’t leave. Not now. There’s way too much happening. I need to be in the field.”

  “Don’t worry about that,” Henry said. “I’ll take care of it.”

  “But I’m no healer. I can barely manage myself.”

  “You do a fine job, and I don’t mean a healer in the literal sense. Your energy and leadership will give life to those still working.”

  Charlie narrowed his eyes. “You could’ve asked this over the phone and when it wasn’t the middle of the night. Why are you really here?”

  Henry leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful. His gaze slowly turned to me. “I want Eve to go, too.”

  I inhaled a quick intake of breath.

  “Not only will she be able to use her new ability to help those who are suffering, but she’ll also be able to find someone she’s been looking for.”

  Charlie snorted. “The vampire Lucien? That seems like a waste of time when we should really be out helping Alana and Michael.”

  “Lucien is important. He is more valuable than anyone knows, and the Deific needs him. This just cements why I need you two in Skystead. Eve is the only person who can bring him in, but I need you, Charlie, to make sure she’s safe doing it. There’s a war coming, and without Lucien, we don’t stand a chance.”