by L M Preston
EmVee bit her lip. “I think you’re right. It won’t take a minute.” She’d watched her mother tie scarves over her red hair all the time. Within minutes, EmVee had covered herself with a tight burgundy scarf that matched her boots. Then she clipped on the long brown ponytail before tying the remainder of the scarf around the base.
“Silver hair wrap, at your service. Call me your stylist.”
EmVee laughed. “You’re more than that. Thanks.” EmVee took it from her, wrapped it at the base of her ponytail and let the thick wavy hair fall over.
“Now all you need are weapons.” Demi sighed and leaned on the blue van Sax’s father used for deliveries. They’d covered the name with some temporary paint.
“Demi, I am really afraid to take you with us. Sax and you…I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Demi’s brown eyes studied her for a moment. “I can protect myself.”
EmVee sighed. “I know. But your father obviously didn’t want you involved in my issues. He gave me a message to tell you to run.”
Demi waved her hand. “He’s done that before. And you know what? For some reason, whenever I’ve needed him, really needed him, he showed up. Literally, out of nowhere.”
EmVee smiled. “I just know I shouldn’t bring you. Did you hear Sax when he said we could be meeting a vampire if this goes as planned?”
Demi snorted. “They aren’t real. And if so, you and I have enough silver on to kill them.”
EmVee shook Demi’s shoulder. “They are real. There are many things that seem like a fantasy but still crawl this Earth with us. The only reason we haven’t seen them is because there are laws in place to guard us, a force that protects us. Now we are going into their territory. My friend, Megan, told Kayson we will actually be in some other Realm or dimension to attend this fight. It’s dangerous.”
Demi stood her full height, right under EmVee’s shoulder. “I can handle it. Whatever you need me to do, I’ll be there for you.” She smiled. “Okay?”
EmVee nodded. “Okay.” She saw the tight grit of determination in Demi.
“About time you boys joined us!” Demi called to Sax with a wave.
He was carrying several large bags.
Sax bent to kiss Demi. “Stuff to protect us, babe.”
EmVee couldn’t help the roll of her eyes; these two were gushing in love. She wanted to tell them to stop, but Demi was happy, so whatever got them through. Her eyes lifted to Kayson’s. His dark regard seemed hungry, pensive, and unwavering. His gaze traveled down her body then back up.
“You can fight in that?” His voice came out deep and smooth.
“You bet I can. Want to see?” EmVee smirked.
His black pants, shoes, and white shirt were covered by a black jean jacket, and he looked delicious. His dark brown hair was waved and framed his face; that made him appear sexier than any vampire she’d seen in a movie.
“Why’d you hide your hair?” His eyebrows pressed together.
“A disguise. I’m not finished. There’s more make-up to put around my eyes.”
“You can’t hide from a vamp. That’s why they are recruiters. Megan told me what we can eat that will change the scent of our blood. The vamps don’t recognize people by appearance, only by blood-scent. They meet so many possible meals in their lifetime.”
“Thanks for the lesson. It doesn’t fit with my movie knowledge, but I am a quick learner.”
“Really. Then study this—if you get a sniff that smells like ash or dead flesh heating up, we get out of there. We want to make it to the next level. The lead we want is someone this creature knows. It’s in the chain. Megan is working on a connection it has, but until then, we have to play this out.”
“I’m capable of playing this without you. Remember, you only got this far because of me. Don’t treat me like I can’t take care of myself or even you. I taught you to fight, remember?”
He smiled. “You warmed me up, and your mother taught me all I know. She was damn good too.”
“Here, you drive. I want to sit in the back with my lady.” Sax tossed Kayson the keys.
Kayson caught them, his gaze never slipping from EmVee’s. “Are you ready?”
“Born ready.” EmVee turned and hopped into the front of the van.
Sitting there, she took a deep breath and fumbled around for some spearmint gum to settle the scent she captured from him. It was dangerous, angry, and sweat driven. He wasn’t as calm about the coming confrontation as he let on. Neither was she. It’d been a long while since she’d actually had to fight an opponent. Shadow boxing and sparring with random people didn’t count. This was real. The change in her would give her an edge. But would it be enough? She hoped so.
Kayson adjusted the seat and started the engine.
“Does the gum help you?” Kayson tapped his thumb on the wheel.
EmVee stared at his hands, wondering how soft they would be if he touched her. She sighed, berating herself for wanting him and wondering how to answer him. She didn’t know how to explain the changes within her and wondered if he had the same issues.
“Not really.” EmVee leaned back into the seat, popped the gum. “Sometimes it takes my mind off of wondering what I am smelling.”
“You’ll get used to it in a few years.”
“Few years? How long ago did he attack you?”
Kayson hesitated a moment. “Quite a while ago.”
“That would make you a kid then!” EmVee stared at him.
“No, I was fourteen.”
“But you…”
“It slows aging down. I age, but it seems to be really slow. My father never noticed; he was usually too busy with work, drinking, or sleeping. Also, The Void does something funny with time.”
“What about school—didn’t your friends notice?”
“In the Void?” He snorted. “Everyone had issues. I kept failing out of classes until I was tired of school. I literally repeated ninth, tenth and eleventh grades. Not one social worker, teacher, or principle said a word to my father about it. There’s a lot there that isn’t mentioned or seems out of place. It’s a place of big cover-ups.”
“I’m trying to accept the small things I can manage, you know.”
“I get it. Everyone he turned was different in the way we each evolved. The only thing we had in common was smell. It’ll get easier.”
“I have a problem with this. I was born here, not wherever The Void is. I believe differently about living here and whatever there is. How can this be?”
“I was born here too. There are several levels of good and evil. We were kidnapped into one of them. Work with that, and it will fall into place.”
“But what does that make me? What I am now?”
“Whatever you want to be. The choice is always ours. Silas was too arrogant to find help. He liked the power he had. Sometimes even abused it. He didn’t want any different, so he was what he was.”
EmVee swallowed. “What are you?”
Kayson drew in a long breath. “I’m still discovering that. I want to be the good guy. I want to right the wrongs against my family, even yours. I want a reason to hold on to what’s good in the world—any world—I happen to be in.”
“So, did Megan tell you how Rachel was doing?” EmVee wanted to lighten the tone. Thinking on all that happened imploded her heart.
“Rachel’s had some difficulty trying to remain under the radar lately. She has a lot more at stake than Megan does. We’ll hear from her when it’s safe for her to do so.”
“You’re kidding, right? Rachel only had her aunt, and she went to school and worked at my parent’s gym. She hardly left her house. I had to drag her out most times.”
Kayson smirked. “I guess you don’t know Rachel as well as you thought. Let’s say her life is more complex than you think. I don’t know the whole of it, but I do know she was sneaking around a lot before I left. Her name even came up in the investigation against me.”
“You think, by her dating yo
u, they thought she knew something?”
He shrugged. “Our dating didn’t get far. I think we both used it as a cover.”
EmVee shook her head. “I know for a fact that she had a major crush on you, mixed in with some star worship after she heard you sing.”
“She had a funny way of showing it. I seriously tried to get with her after I knew I had no chance with you. Rachel barely answered my texts, and when I tried to kiss her, she shocked me with her hand by pushing me away.”
EmVee frowned and tugged at her silver sock. “Maybe she felt you weren’t ready and didn’t want to be sloppy seconds.”
“I don’t know. Rachel gave off as many mixed signals as you did. I’d given up and moved on before my father died.”
EmVee’s heart twitched at that. “Glad you did.” She crossed her arms.
“Did you? Find someone after you left? After Silas?”
“No. I wasn’t looking.” EmVee wanted to ask him if he was seeing someone then. Someone besides Rachel, but she wouldn’t ask. It wasn’t her business.
“That’s good. No one to miss you or follow us. Once we get in, coming out may not be too easy.”
“I know. Did you talk to Sax about his and Demi’s safety?”
“We have a plan. They are staying with the car and the weapons. We can’t take them with us.”
“No weapons?”
“None, except our hands and fighting skills.”
EmVee exhaled. “That’s good enough.”
She put her hand on her hip and shivered. EmVee didn’t know if it was the breeze from the chilly night air or the anticipation of the unknown coursing through her. The hairs on her body seemed at attention and electrical tingles zipped over her skin.
“Are you sure they will be all right back there?” EmVee turned toward the main road. It had ended about a half a mile into the plush forest they’d walked through. She’d searched around for anything unusual on their trek to the rusted iron gate in front of them. She was glad they hadn’t run into any trouble that could put Demi and Sax in danger.
“Safer there than anywhere.” Kayson stared at the fence like it held an answer.
The tall grass was wild and untamed, the trees hunched over and rotted in some places. The entire road ahead seemed a dismal deserted land framed with tainted clouds. There was nothing for miles on the other side of it, EmVee surmised. “Can we go in?”
“No, it’s got a barrier.”
“Sax taught me how to pick most locks. I can open it.”
“Not the lock it has. Megan told us to wait for an escort. You have to have someone like a manager to throw your name in and to open the portal to the tournament location. They have access and know the path. It moves all the time.”
EmVee pursed her lips. “How does the person know we are even here?”
“He owes Megan a favor. He will show.”
“Who doesn’t owe her something? She’s like a gossip columnist, private detective, and gangster, all in one. How she does it and never gets hurt or discovered, I’ll never know.”
“Megan is a force within herself. And, her help comes with a negotiated trade. You’ll always owe her.”
“Do you owe her?”
“More than I want to admit. I’m standing here because of her meddling. The girl might be a relative of Rumpelstiltskin as far as I know. She seems to pop up at the weirdest times.”
EmVee wondered at that. Megan’s orange hair, and green eyes, which seemed to hold a hypnotic fire to them, could fit that description.
“How long are we supposed to wait?” She sauntered closer to the fence, tempted to test it.
“Smell that?” Kayson’s audible sniff tickled EmVee’s ear.
She inhaled then coughed; the smell was rancid. Like rotting or old flesh and stale fish. “What is that?”
Out of thin air, a short stocky old man appeared in front of the gate. His eyes were black and sharp like that of a hawk. His white hair was thick and long, blending into his beard that had two braids on each side of his mouth. Although he seemed aged, his face only held a few wrinkles.
“You were supposed to wait further back from the barrier.” His voice was raspy.
Kayson stepped forward. “I’m sorry, sir?”
“Ha! Trying to check me name, huh. Luspardan here to pay a debt to a witch, I swear.”
“Megan’s not a witch. More like an opportunist.” EmVee folded her arms under her breasts and tapped her booted foot.
“I’m Kayson, and this is EmVee. We are trying to get a moment to speak to this guy.” Kayson flashed his cell phone in front of the dwarf.
Luspardan glanced at the picture but sniffed the air. “You can’t hide it, girl.”
“What are you talking about?” EmVee frowned.
“Ye scent. Something’s not right with ye.”
Kayson cleared his throat. “We have a sickness.”
Luspardan raised a gray eyebrow. “I don’t know if you meet the qualifications to go all the way to the top. That’s what she is. At least at this level. They are only seeking new blood for Soul Trainers and Soul Thieves. The trainers, well, they have to be badass and virginal.”
“Excuse me?” EmVee stared back at the little man studying her.
“The Soul Trainers have to be virgins, at least until the change. That’s what they are recruiting for. Nowadays, those qualifications are hard to find. Not many females in this age know how to keep their legs closed and their fists high. There hasn’t been a new Soul Trainer bloodline for twenty years. They are starting to get desperate, I’m sure. Desperation breeds new things.”
“Damn.” Kayson raked his hand through his hair. “How can they tell if she’s a virgin? She can fight; she’ll make it.”
“Well, you do know we are dealing with a vampire. They know the blood and the body of a possible candidate. I can sneak her in pretending I suspected her a virgin, but dressed like that, they likely won’t believe me. They have beings that check these things.”
“Just get us in. We fight, and when it becomes a problem, we will deal with it,” EmVee answered then she bent low, ignored the offended expression on the dwarf, and whispered into his ear, “And I am a virgin, by the way.”
“I’ll be,” Luspardan sputtered.
Kayson didn’t say a word. EmVee glanced his way and caught the frown on his face before he recovered with a blank stare.
“Let’s get along.” Luspardan turned then pushed the gate, which disappeared.
A blink of pitch-black darkness appeared, and in a flash with a shock of freezing wind, the dark, heavy, thick forest melted away, and a rock bridge appeared. Nothing but vast simmering mist seemed to hug the space beneath it and caressed its jagged sides in waves. A reflection of the moon glowed from behind the clouds, crowding the stone castled structure at the end of the seemingly floating bridge.
The castle was misshapen with twin jagged sides separated by a connected walkway. Both peaks of the mirrored structure curved in and around the wide bridge like that from a dark inverted fairytale enchanted fortress. Thick, gray outer walls that were cut from a single rock peaked at opposite sides of each other like combating mountains. Its misplaced and carved edges bent at odd angles into an iron born sculpture of art. Blackbirds zipped through the clouds and around the tips of the leafless trees that bent toward the citadel. They squawked a warning.
EmVee hesitated.
Kayson placed a palm on her upper back. “Keep going. He’s a fast little thing. Don’t want to be left behind.”
She nodded and picked up her pace to trail closer behind the impish man. It was as though he was trying to lose them.
They stopped at a thick wooden door with a high iron window in its middle.
A thick full mist formed on the opposite side of the window. The scent of spiced cinnamon teased EmVee’s nose. It thickened then formed into a woman. She was beautiful, pale but with a tinge of blue that kissed her skin. Her hair was thick and lush, fanning her hips with strands of b
lack, dark blue, and green.
Luspardan snorted. “A Kelpie? What are you doing here? There’s no water for you to suck anyone into.”
The woman laughed. “Luspardan? You are recruiting again? I thought you were banished eons ago when your last charge disgraced you.”
Luspardan’s thick eyebrows dipped. “Murdina, I hoped to never see you again, yet here we are.”
She waved at him. “You want entry? The names were cast moments ago.” Her long green nail tapped the bar separating them from the other side of the door.
“Why else would I be here? I have two entries this time. One for Soul Thief and another for the Trainer tournaments.”
Murdina’s almond shaped aquamarine eyes darkened. “Two? That’s unheard of. I would guess your time away gave you plenty of opportunities to find such specimens.” Her gaze hopped from Kayson back to EmVee. “Tall, the both of them, for humans. They don’t appear to be strong though, not like the others competing this year. I hope they survive.” She smirked and turned back to mist.
The door opened. EmVee watched the mist-shaped woman walk ahead of them. The thundering sound of cheers and battle bounced off the walls as though the sound was released when the door opened. EmVee’s skin sizzled. Hairs on her neck rose, and part of her wanted to chase the scent of blood that floated from ahead.
“Don’t give in to it.” Kayson reached over and held her hand. “You feel it? Silas called it the surge. It’s the beginning of what came over him before he gave in to the hunger. Fight it, and you can control yourself. It was the difference between him and the rest of us. Whatever was within him was too strong. We got a small dose while he was half of the beast.”
“I’m trying, but I—” EmVee inhaled—“never felt like this before.”
“Consider yourself lucky that the effects of Silas’ attack didn’t overcome you sooner or weren’t as powerful as mine.”
“Hurry along. We have to get you there in time for the first round,” Luspardan scolded.
There was a massacre going on in front of her eyes. EmVee itched to get in the sunken amphitheater and make her mark. The little man placed a hand on her stomach to stay her. She hadn’t realized she was pressing forward past the wall that was open at the top of the amphitheater.
