The Souljacker struggled against his captors. “Let me go! You don’t understand, you have no idea what you’re doing—they taunt me—they’re calling me. If I don’t gather them back, they’ll leave me forever. I have to have them back—they’re what make me real. It’s so stark in my mind, all black and white with no color except for the bloody red that flows forever through my thoughts.” His voice was mesmerizing, spiraling around us like a sinuous tendril of mist.
Terrance regarded his son with a quizzical look. “I really expected them to make more progress at the hospital.”
“Hospital?” I couldn’t help it; this was the most surreal scene I could imagine. “Your son was in an institution for the criminally insane. He’s a vampire, Terrance. He’s gone over the edge, beyond the pale. He’s murdering his former clients so he can steal his art back. What don’t you understand about this?”
Terrance slowly crossed the distance between us. I struggled to stand up straight, unwilling to show weakness to the man’s face. He was as deluded as his son if he thought he could bring Charles around.
“My son may have made some bad choices in life, but we can rectify this one. He can come out of it.”
“Choices? He didn’t choose to become a vampire. In fact, your son isn’t your son anymore. Don’t you understand what vampires are like? That they aren’t…” I stopped, suddenly aware that Greg and the other three vamps were staring at me, obviously too interested in what I was about to say. I swallowed the lump that rose in my throat. Maybe, just maybe, they’d let it pass.
It was then that I noticed Marsh was nowhere to be seen. He had vanished. Fine guardian he was, I thought, but then I brought my thoughts back to focus on keeping myself alive.
Terrance began to bluster, but Greg motioned to him and he fell silent. I suddenly realized that Terrance wasn’t the one in power here, but Greg. Which could prove highly problematic. He moved forward, his gaze fastened on Dani.
“It’s been a long time, Dani. Too long. I’ve missed you, my wife.” He stopped a few feet from us, and his gaze moved toward Dani’s wrist, where my silver wristlet was wrapped around her arm.
She stood, frozen, Nate’s arm still draped around her neck as she tried to hold him up. “Leave me alone. You aren’t my husband.”
“I recall we took vows. Made promises.” Again his voice was silky smooth, but behind it lurked a hook, a sensuous lure that I understood all too well because, as a succubus, I had that same ability. I had used it in the past, but for so long now, I had hidden that side of myself away, unwilling to draw in anybody against their will.
“Vows that ended at death,” Dani said, pulling back.
Nate tried to step in front of her, but I moved to Dani’s side and eased him back. It was obvious we weren’t going to be able to run at this point, so I made him sit down to rest. My own ribs were aching, and I coughed from the pressure they were putting on my lungs. Archer hurried over, a worried look on his face when I let out sharp note of pain.
“Lily…”
“It’s all right.” When he started to protest, I shook my head. “I said I’m all right.” Don’t show weakness. My years on the road were coming back to me.
Terrance was staring at Greg. “Excuse me, but I think we should get out of here. I don’t want to wait too long. My son’s cunning, and you let him escape once.”
Greg let out a snarl. “I didn’t let him do anything. The damned cur is quick. You told me he’d be pliable and obey me, but instead the pup turned into mist and disappeared.”
“He shouldn’t have. He promised me that if I helped him get out, he would do as I said.” Terrance looked put out. “I have the silver cuffs. Perhaps I should put them on him now, before your men lose track of him again?”
It occurred to me that Terrance was rapidly approaching the point at which Greg was going to lose his temper. If he didn’t watch out, the Schafers could do a father–son duet of “Vampire’s Lament.” The song had hit the top of the charts; the musician, VamPyre, had actually been a pop star before he’d been turned.
“Just shut up and cuff him.” Yeah, Greg had had enough.
Scowling, Terrance strode over to Charles and brought out the cuffs. The vampires holding the Souljacker captive thrust out his arms, and Terrance slapped the silver wrist cuffs on him, then went to fasten the attached silver collar around his neck.
Charles screamed and began to fight them.
I winced. It had to burn, and though I wanted to see Charles staked, I didn’t necessarily want to see him tortured. I turned to Archer, intending on burying my face in his shoulder. Instead, he forcefully pulled me to him and whispered in my ear.
“We need to make a break for it while they’re occupied with him. I’ll help Nate. You and Dani run for it the best you can. But we have to go now. I doubt they’ll leave us alive.”
I nodded. There was no other choice. I quietly pushed away from him and reached for Dani’s hand. She took it, looking at me with a question in her eyes. Archer subtly shifted so he was next to Nate.
The Souljacker was still thrashing as Terrance struggled to get the collar on him. Greg’s attention had been diverted by the ruckus, and he moved to help the others hold Charles still.
Archer nodded at me, and I held tight to Dani’s hand and, ribs burning like hell, ran for the door. Archer scooped Nate up and followed. We were through before the vampires realized what we were doing and began shouting all at once.
“Don’t look back, keep on running,” Archer said behind us.
Dani and I raced down the hall the way we had come. I said nothing to conserve my breath, which was hard, given the injuries to my ribs. I couldn’t even slow down to see how Archer and Nate were doing. I had to just go on trust. From the noise behind us, I knew that at least one of the vampires was on our tail.
We reached a juncture and behind me, Archer shouted which direction to turn. Dani and I skidded around the corner. I could tell she was crying but we were running too fast to talk, and I knew she was feeling pretty punk still from being drained. Thankfully, at every twist and turn, Archer would shout the direction for us to go. I never would have remembered the way if left on my own.
We were almost at the area where the diner that catered to subterranean Fae was when Archer shouted—and this time it didn’t sound normal. I skidded to a stop and turned, in time to see him grappling with one of the vampires. Archer shoved Nate toward us, and I motioned to Dani. “Take Nate and go on. I’ll help Archer. Get up to the main level and out of the Underground!”
Feeling helpless, I raced toward Archer and the vamp. He was swinging with my dagger, but the vampire had him down, and was managing to avoid the blade. I charged over, ribs aching, and pulled my pentacle off my neck, holding it out in front of me. As I came within reach, I slammed the pentacle against the vampire’s forehead as he looked up, startled, and he screeched as the silver burned into his flesh.
At that moment, another sound back by Dani startled me—more shouting. Still holding tight to the pendant, I turned, thinking that one of the other vamps had gotten to Dani and Nate. But instead I saw four very burly Fae men come racing down the winding stair from the upper levels, carrying silver stakes. Behind them, I saw Marsh, looking pleased as punch.
“Move!” one of them shouted.
Dani dragged Nate to the side, and I dove out of the way too. The men barreled past, and one of them managed to catch the vamp as he flew off Archer and staggered back in surprise. He drove the stake through the vampire’s heart and poof…so much dust and ashes.
Archer rolled to his feet, dusting himself off. Before I could ask where the men had come from, they were facing the hall behind Archer. There, we saw the other three vamps—Greg at the helm—marching down the hall with Terrance at their side. The Souljacker was in their grasp.
The four strange Fae were bearing down on them.
Apparently, Greg seemed to recognize them and let go of Charles, backing away, his eyes wide with what
I could only read as fear.
“You’re on your own, Schafer! Retreat!” He and his men fell back and, before the Fae could reach them, the three vampires turned into mist and disappeared.
Terrance Schafer looked horrified as the Fae reached him and his son. One of the men tackled the business mogul, knocking him to the ground and holding him there. The others surrounded Charles.
“Don’t let him get away,” I said, running toward them, wincing as every step jarred my body. “Don’t let him go!”
“He can’t turn into mist, Lily.” One of the men turned to me. “Not bound in silver like he is. What do you want to do with him? Wynter ordered that we give you the decision, if at all possible.”
I stared at him. “Wynter? How did she know we were in trouble?”
“You have me to thank,” Marsh said, appearing at my side. “I went to ask her for help when I saw what was going on with the others.”
I stared at him, then back at the Fae who had asked me what to do with Charles. “Who are you, then? And how did you get here so quickly?”
“My name’s Dextra. Not all of Wynter’s warriors live out in her court. We are always ready, always on call. It was a quick trip from where we’re stationed.” He smiled. “So…it’s up to you. Wynter said that you were charged with this man’s fate.”
I stared at Charles, realizing with horror that the Fae weren’t going to take care of this for me. While I had killed before, and killed vampires in the past, I had never had to face someone who had once been a friend and run a stake through his heart. But I couldn’t ask anybody else to do it and retain Wynter’s respect. She had given me the task of destroying him.
“Don’t kill my son! Don’t…please…” Terrance was crying now. “He can be redeemed.”
I knelt beside him, staying out of his reach. He couldn’t hurt me, given he was being restrained, but still, I had learned to never get too close to an enemy.
“Terrance, listen to me. There’s nothing that can bring your son back. That creature is no longer your son. He’s a murdering predator, who is in terrible pain—his delusions are just that. They aren’t grounded in reality. Nothing will ever take away his vampirism, or make him the boy you remember. Charles died the day the vampire killed him and turned him.”
Then, ignoring Terrance’s hail of abuse and anger, I turned back to Dextra. “Hold him, please. Hold him very tight. I’ll put him out of his and everyone’s misery.”
Archer crossed to my side. “Do you want me to do it, Lily?”
I shook my head. “This is something I have to do. Charles…we can’t let him go. He’ll just kill again and again…and Dani and Nate and I are on his list. My dagger, please?”
Archer handed me the blade, kissing my forehead. “I’ll help Dani and Nate.”
I took the dagger and turned to Charles. His gaze was darting from face to face. The pain from the silver was obvious and I wanted to tell them to take the cuffs off, to give him a moment’s peace without the burn of the silver, but the danger was too great.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered to him. “I’m so sorry. You were…” But there, I stopped. Like I had told Terrance, the artist was long dead. Only the body remained, housing a monster. Better to focus on that. I drew back my blade and aimed for his heart as the Fae warriors held the Souljacker’s arms back, giving me an easy target.
“Good night, Charles, wherever you are.” With one thrust, I plunged the blade into his heart, surprised by how easily the silver ran through cloth and flesh. It was like a hot knife on butter, and as the tip penetrated the Souljacker’s heart, there was a moment’s hush, and then his body exploded in a soft puff of ash and dust, clouding the area. As the cloud began to settle, Terrance let out a loud wail. Charles was gone for good.
I turned to Dextra. “I’m hurt, Dani and Nate are hurt…we need to get up top and then somehow make it home through the storm. I don’t want him following us.” I nodded to Terrance. “We can’t…I don’t know what to do with him.”
“Leave him to us. We’ll keep him contained till you are long gone. But Lily, this man has a lot of power and influence. I’d be very careful, if I were you. Are you sure you want to leave him standing?”
I realized that Dextra was asking me if I wanted Terrance killed. I shook my head. “We can’t. We just…I can’t justify it. But if there’s any way to cloud his thoughts…to maybe wipe his short-term memory?”
“There are drugs. They aren’t foolproof, but they may help. Leave him to us.”
One of his men led us back to the entrance to the Underground, then walked us over to our car. The storm had truly taken on whiteout proportions, but with a little luck and every skill at navigation Archer had, we made it back to my place. It took almost an hour instead of fifteen minutes, but we made it in one piece.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Sorting out the aftermath is always the hard part. Nate and I were both banged up. What I thought were broken ribs were, luckily, only severely bruised ones. Nate had a concussion. Dani was anemic thanks to the blood drain. Archer managed to come through without much of a scratch beyond a few bruises here and there.
Vesper called me to tell me training would be delayed at least a day given the storm. Dextra got in touch with me, exchanging phone numbers and hinting that he wanted to keep in touch, given I was going into training as an Aespion.
All said and done, everybody crashed at my place that night, and we drank ourselves silly. The next morning, the world was blanketed with white, and the sun came out for a few minutes to sparkle against the new snow. Everything felt recharged, and I stared out the kitchen window, grateful that Archer had volunteered to shovel off my steps. Whisky was on the counter beside me, rubbing against me. I scritched his chin.
“Hey, I don’t know how you did it, but does Marsh have to leave now that I’m safe from Charles? He’s kind of fun to have around.”
As if in answer, Marsh appeared. “I heard that. And no…I’m still here, so…I guess I’m free to do what I want. I don’t have that overwhelming drive to watch over you now, though I have to say, I didn’t mind it so much.” He paused. “How are you? And Dani?”
“Dani’s in a bit of shock after seeing Greg. She told us what happened at the mall. The Souljacker had tracked us there, and when she went to the bathroom, he grabbed her. When he got her in that room in the Underground? He apparently realized he had forgotten his surgical instruments—he was muttering about them loud enough for her to overhear. So he left her there to go get them. When he got back, of course by then we had found her.” I stared at the sink for a moment. “He fed on her, though. At least he didn’t make her drink any blood in return, so she won’t have to worry about that.”
When a vampire forced you to feed on them, if you didn’t die right away, you would still turn into one once you did meet your fate. You could live for fifty years as a normal mortal, but the moment you died, the change in your blood would be waiting for you. Researchers were working on a cure, but so far, nothing.
“How about Nate?” Marsh leaned over Whisky, running his hand through the cat. Or rather, Whisky stayed still as Marsh’s hand passed through his body. I had the feeling the two had bonded in a way they never had when Marsh was alive.
“Nate’s a little shell-shocked over the whole mess, but he’ll be all right, once the lump on his head goes away. But…he’s talking about moving out of the Blood Night District now. He’s more afraid of vampires than ever, and I don’t blame him. He’s afraid Terrance will take revenge on all of us.”
“Makes sense.” Marsh turned to stare at me. He crossed his arms, a soft smile on his face. “Now, what about you? How are you dealing with all of these changes?”
I thought about his question for a moment. “Let’s see. The Weres hate my guts right now. I’ve lost my business. I’ve been conscripted by Wynter into her secret service, so to speak. I’m bruised up, banged up, have been beaten right and left the past few days by weretigers and vampires. Cha
nces are the Deadfather’s going to be looking into what happened to Terrance, so there’s potentially a field of mines to navigate there… How am I? Just peachy, I guess.”
As flippant as I tried to sound, I couldn’t fake a smile to go along with it.
“I wish I could help.” Marsh frowned, staring at me.
“Hey, you saved our asses, Marsh. You did help. And…if you can…stick around. I like talking to you. I like having you back in my life again. I missed you.”
He laughed, then. “Oh, Lily. I’m glad I’m here too, ghost or not. You’ll be okay. You’ll navigate all those problems because you’re you. You have your friends to help you. And…you have Archer. He’s good for you, Lily. I watch the two of you, and I think, you look like you belong together.”
I started to speak, when Archer popped into the kitchen. “Hey, come watch the news. They’re talking about Terrance on it.”
Hurrying into the living room, I settled down beside Archer on the sofa. Dani was in the rocking chair, Nate in the recliner. The television had a picture of Terrance splashed on it. Archer turned up the sound.
“In other news, business tycoon Terrance Schafer was found wandering in the blizzard early this morning, suffering from exposure and amnesia. When questioned as to what happened, doctors say Schafer mumbled something about the Underground and vampires, but that was all he could tell them. It does not appear that Mr. Schafer has suffered any injuries due to vampiric activity, and police say he may have taken some medication that affected his behavior or caused sleepwalking. There were no traces of drugs or alcohol is his system. In other news, opponents to the vampire rights bill are massing to ask the president to reverse his decision—”
Archer turned off the television. “So, Terrance can’t remember much about last night.”
“I hope whatever they did to him lasts.” My phone dinged and I pulled it out, checking my texts. “What do you know?” I stared at the screen, surprised. “Wynter has given her seal of approval on me working with you, Archer.”
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