by Kelly Hall
“Great,” said Brock. “How about we don’t stick around and find out? We should get moving.”
As the others stepped away, headed for the tunnels that led to the storage, a familiar voice called, “Rebekah?”
She turned around and found Rye standing in a cell. He wore the Arcadius issued scrubs and a look of concern.
“Rye?”
“You know him?” asked Brock, holding her back. “Be careful. It could be a trap.”
“I was locked up with him,” she said before turning toward Rye. “What are you doing down here?”
“I remember him,” said Jarreth before the shifter could answer. “He’s the one we had locked up.”
Rye didn’t bother waiting for them to shut up. “I’m next up. They’re conducting experiments. I’ve heard them talking. I can tell you everything you need to know. Just get me out of here.”
“How do I know I can trust you?” She had Ignis use truth serum on him before, but there wasn’t any around that she knew of.
“Let me out and give me a chance to prove it. They’re doing horrible things to the prisoners. I’d rather help you or die by your dagger, but please, I beg you, Huntress. Don’t leave me.”
“There’s no help for him,” said Brock.
“Can you help me?” Rebekah asked.
“I bet I could,” Rye said. “Give me a chance. I hear the guards come down all the time, and the elders were just here earlier.”
“What did the elders want?” She highly doubted that they, themselves, were getting their hands dirty or putting themselves in any kind of danger to do the experiments.
“They were here with the doctor. They discuss their findings and what’s next. I’m going to be sterilized. Please, for fuck’s sake—”
“No pun intended,” said Jarreth, earning a harsh look from Rye.
“Please don’t let them do this to me.”
“What else did they say?” she asked.
“Nothing. The doctor comes in and out. He could show up any minute.”
Rebekah looked at the others. “If anyone comes in here, kill them, especially if they are wearing a white coat.”
“Wouldn’t it be more useful to question them?”
Rebekah sighed. “You’re right. How foolish of me. Question him, then kill him.” She turned toward the rogue shifter, Rye, and then stepped closer. “I’m looking for records.”
“The elders come for records too sometimes. I see them taking our folders all the time. The other day, they came in with a large book. Like it was almost too heavy for the old man.”
“Large or thick, this book?” asked Rebekah.
“Thick. Ridiculously thick. They carried it down that hall, and then I heard a clicking sound and felt a draft.”
“A draft?”
“You’re down here long enough, you remember a draft when you feel it. It was the last time I felt anything. This air is so musty, it’s hard to breathe.”
Rebekah couldn’t disagree. “Do you think you’d remember this book if you saw it again?”
“Yes, for sure. It had a black leather cover with something sparkling like white stones down the spine.”
“You saw all of that from your cell?”
“Again, when you’re stuck down here, you remember things. The keys are in the top drawer. The code is six-six-sixty-nine. I guess he thought he was being clever.” He rolled his eyes, and for a split second, she saw her old tower partner, his humor and sarcasm shining through.
Rebekah wasn’t sure if she was making the right decision, but she would give her old prison mate a fighting chance. Besides, other than talking her ear off, he’d never been trouble. “Let him loose. Have him show us the way.”
“Thank you, Rebekah. I always known you’re a good person.” He went to the back of his cell as Jarreth went for the keys.
Brock’s eyes narrowed. He stepped forward with his knife to protect Rebekah. “Are you sure this is okay?”
“If he tries anything, you have my permission to kill him. Just make damned sure he’s done something to deserve it.” Rebekah didn’t want any of them to act impulsively.
Trillion spat on the floor. “Aside from being a dirty rogue shifter, you mean?”
“Spoken like a dirty rogue hunter.” She still wasn’t sure he had needed to kill the guard.
Trillion laughed as Jarreth opened the cell and then took Rye by the arm.
“Try anything, and I’ll kill you myself,” Jarreth said.
“I remember you,” said Rye. Then he looked over at Rebekah. “It’s right this way. I’ll even take the lead.” He walked down the hall, and they came to a large white door with a small window that was too high for Rebekah to peek into.
Brock stepped forward and gave it a gander. “Looks clear. And there are records and books, just like he said.”
“But is there the book?” asked Crest. “The one he spoke of.”
Rye turned his head. “I’ll know it when I see it.”
“Sure you will,” said Jones.
They opened the door, knowing the security was still out, and then heard a commotion behind them. Someone had come into the cell room, which meant they were blocking the only way out.
Rebekah looked at Trillion, Jones, and Crest. “Go!”
She and the others moved forward into the room, and while the place was full of books, everything was neat and tidy. It was nothing like Ignis’s piles of volumes.
“There,” said Jarreth, pointing across the room to a pedestal “Is that it?”
Rye hurried across. “It looks like it. See the stones on the spine?”
“They look like mother of pearl,” said Rebekah.
“That’s either rubies or garnets between them and on the cover. Why so fancy? Must mean it’s important.”
“Rubies, and I’m sure it is special. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Rebekah walked over to the pedestal and touched Stella to the book to see what would happen. Then she picked it up slowly and felt its vibration in her hand. She thumbed through the pages and then suddenly closed the book.”
“What is it?”
“Let’s get this thing out of here. Are the others okay?”
Brock walked into the room. “We need to hurry before another round of these assholes gets suspicious and comes looking for the others.”
“We’re done. We’ll bring this to Ignis and see if he can translate it.” She gestured for Jarreth to take it.
“Wait,” said Jarreth, pulling her to a stop. “How do we know that’s the right book? Don’t just take his word for it.”
Not even Rye could argue because he wasn’t sure himself. He had just pointed them to the book he’d seen the elders with.
But Rebekah shook her head. “It’s the one. I saw my mother’s name in it. Whatever this is about, I need to know. And we have to go. We’ve already been in here too long.”
Jarreth grabbed the book, and they walked toward the exit with Trillion and Crest staying up front. As Rebekah joined them, the door opened and in walked Dr. Spencer.
“Doc Spence?” asked Jarreth, who was taken by surprise as Trillion and Crest pointed blades at the man.
“What is this? Jarreth Barnes? Huntress? What is the meaning—”
Rebekah realized what he was doing there, and she pushed her way forward and grabbed the man by the throat. She had him up against the wall in a flash, the man powerless against her. “You’re the one torturing these people.”
“There you go again, mistaking these monsters for friends. I see you’ve let one of the dogs out of his cage.” He put up a brave front, but Rebekah could see the fear in his eyes and feel the tremble in his body.
Rebekah’s hand tightened so he couldn’t speak. “Hunters make clean, honorable kills to our enemies. We do not do the things you’ve done.”
“It’s for the better of your people,” he choked out. “I’d think you’d be glad.”
“How is locking them up and doing these unspeakable things
helping anything? You’re going to cause a war that you’re too much of a pussy to fight. Just like you already did.”
“Let me go,” he snapped. “There will be guards down here in a second, and then you’ll have a real fight on your hands.”
“You mean like this one?” asked Crest, stepping aside. The doctor looked down at the dead guard who had come to check things out, and panic lit in his eyes.
“I thought you were supposed to be working in the Nevada Academy,” said Rebekah. “At least I can rest assured that you will never hurt another one of my hunters. I saw what you’ve done.” She glanced over in the direction of the tortured Hunter’s cell.
“Brings new meaning to vampire hunter, don’t you think? It’s necessary. To defeat them, the Church needs hunters with special skills on our side. Not like you and your barbarians. The day is here. The Church doesn’t need you anymore. They offered me more money than Nevada. I came.”
Rebekah pulled Luna from its scabbard and then stabbed Doc in the gut, careful to strike him where he might suffer most. As his eyes widened, she leaned in to his ear. “That’s for what you did to my hunter.” She let go of him, and he fell to the floor. “Rye, this one’s all yours. But make sure your friends get something to drink.”
Rye’s eyes lit with surprise as he licked his lips.
She turned and walked away, the other men following, and as soon as the last of them hit the hall toward the exit, they could hear the screams of the doctor in the background as Rye ripped him limb from limb.
As they rounded the corner, there were three guards standing in the main hall. One was looking at the electric grid, scratching his head, and the other two were ready to fight, on alert with their weapons drawn.
Brock pulled Rebekah away, and Crest went after the first man. As their battle ensued, Brock pushed her at Jarreth, who hurried down the hall as the others covered them.
“What are you doing?” she asked as Jarreth, who was still lugging the book, dragged her out.
“It’s best that you’re not involved. Dad said they’ll take the blame if it comes down to it, but you can’t be recognized. They will tie up any loose ends.”
“I have to take the device,” she said, trying to hold him back.
“No need. Ignis already told Trillion how to retrieve it. He’ll take care of it.” He stopped them at the door, hoping to find the camera in a good position so that they wouldn’t have to wait to run.
Before he could open the door, Rebekah put her hand on his shoulder. “You and your father’s men work well together, you know that?”
“Yeah, well, after you went to bed, we had time to plot. I will say, we never expected Doc, but if anyone took him out, I’m glad it was you.”
As they exchanged a look, the door they were standing at came open. Both of them jumped back, Jarreth still clutching the heavy book under his arm, and guards poured in—at least eight of them. More came from the other side, and Rebekah, after slashing the throat of one guard, had little time to go after the next one that was on top of her.
Chapter 26
Canter had been working for Ignis for just a short time, and already, he could tell the mage was a genius—not that he’d ever tell him that. He’d also learned the mage was an egomaniac.
But what Canter didn’t understand was why, all of a sudden, their mage was going around collecting blood samples from everyone in the house who had their marks.
To make it all weirder, no one said a word or hesitated, as long as he let them know he needed it for something the Huntress put him in charge of.
“Okay, so, what’s this for?” asked Canter, who hadn’t yet agreed to stick out his arm.
Mace watched over Ignis’s shoulder where the two of them sat as the mage waited for Canter to put his arm out. “Yeah, what’s this secret mission? You’re acting very weird. Worse than normal.”
“And that’s something, coming from her,” said Canter.
Mace stuck out her tongue. “Watch it, young one. I can be mean as easily as weird.”
“I believe you. But that doesn’t change things. Before I give him my arm, I want answers.”
“Did I leave the room?” asked Ignis. “Stop talking about me like I’m not here, and give me your arm. Don’t tell me you’re scared of needles.”
“No, I just want to know why you need our blood. You had a package sent this morning with vampire blood, and now you need our blood too?”
“Come on. I’ll tell you when the time is right. You’re holding up progress, and Rebekah is going to want answers when she returns.”
“Fine.” Canter stuck out his arm. “Take the damned blood. But I want to know what’s going on. Does this have anything to do with Liam’s change?”
“No,” said Ignis, sticking in the needle. As he pulled the sample into the tube, he sighed. “Stop guessing.”
Mace walked over to the chair she kept by her desk and rolled it over to watch Ignis take the needle out. “There,” he said. “Quick and painless.”
“It would be nice to know what we’re doing.”
“You’re going to. I promise.” Ignis walked over to the counter where his Bunsen burner was brewing coffee, and he took a stack of slides from the shelf at the back of the table and began dropping blood on them. “Hand me that package I got from the cooler.”
“Are you about to do what I think you’re about to do?”
“I told you you’d know.”
“Why are you mixing that blood?” asked Mace.
“He’s trying to see how it reacts to the vampire virus.”
“Why?” she asked. “I heard Rebekah say it was impossible.”
Canter nodded. “It is impossible. At least, I’ve always been told that. We have immunities in our blood when we’re made hunters.”
Mace folded her arms in front of her. “Can I go back to my weapons now? I helped you take blood. I’m bored. Unless we’re making some super hybrids, I’m not interested.”
“There’s no such thing,” said Canter, putting a bandage on his needle mark.
“Okay, so I guess I’ll tell you, but you can’t tell anyone. I mean, it is absolutely important that you keep this to yourselves.”
There was a commotion from the stairs. “Come quick!” said Frankie, who turned and darted for the stairs. “We have company!”
They each looked at the other, and then Canter went for his weapon. He kept Katie’s sword down in the lab with him at all times, and Mace grabbed her knife, too, as Ignis took to the stairs.
As the three of them reached the top, Timms came down the stairs. “They are coming up the drive into the main gates.”
“Who is they?” Canter asked.
Delilah came down the stairs. “Is it really him?” Frankie nodded. “I was hanging my laundry when I spotted him. It has to be him. And the girl, she’s not normal either.”
Ignis sighed. “Okay, let’s not be so dramatic. First of all, who is here?”
“I was in the top tower pulling linens from the Huntress’s bed when something caught my eye,” Delilah said. “It’s Aziel!”
Canter got a sinking feeling in his gut. “Are you sure it’s him?”
Delilah could see the spark in his eyes and hoped he wasn’t going to cause problems for the angel. “Canter, let’s hear him out. He was only doing what he had to. He has his orders too.”
“He better have a damned good excuse.” He stormed past Delilah, and she followed in his wake until she caught up to his side.
“Let me do the talking.” She looked up and saw Ricky and Kyle both awaiting the arrival. “This is our friend,” she told them in case they got any ideas, and both men stepped back.
Ignis was next out of the house. “I should be the one to handle things. This is my house.” It was like they’d all forgotten that he’d lived there with Rebekah before she ever knew any of them. As he turned and spotted them coming up to the house, he recognized who the angel was with. “Holy mother of Esper, that’s Tula.” He
took off after the two.
“Iggy!” she screamed and ran into his arms. “I hoped we were at the right place. The driver wouldn’t bring us any closer. He said we were demons.”
Ignis looked her over. “Where are the others?” He turned and looked at Aziel. “Are you crazy, bringing her here?” He had a right mind to punch the angel in the nose. It was one thing to do your duty, but to put one of his naiads in danger?
Tula looked over his shoulder as the others approached. “Actually, it’s me who brought him. Talia told me the way. I had hoped that the closer we got, the more he’d remember the way.”
“Why wouldn’t he?” asked Canter. “I don’t see how he could forget this place.”
“What’s happened to you?” asked Delilah, who realized immediately that something wasn’t right. As she stepped forward and took his hand, Tula hissed.
“Hands off, girl. He’s my boyfriend.”
Ignis got between them as Tula showed her pointed teeth and Delilah palmed her blade. “That’s enough ladies. First of all, Tula, you will not behave that way here. This is mine and Rebekah’s home, and these are our guests. Delilah is Jarreth’s girl, and you will be respectful. As will she.”
“I like Jarreth,” said Tula, sounding much friendlier. Then she looked at Delilah with a kind smile, the innocence showing in her eyes. “My sister will be heartbroken, but that’s her misfortune. You’re a very lucky girl. Jarreth is a good kisser.”
“Wait. What?” Delilah felt Canter’s hand on her shoulder.
“Easy, Del. That’s a long story and not worth pursuing.”
“Enough,” she said, eyeing Aziel who still stared at her blankly. She looked down at his hand, which Tula now held. “Aziel, where is your tattoo?”
“I don’t know you. I’m sorry.” He looked down at the ground as Delilah’s heart broke in two.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. Aziel doesn’t have a memory. He showed up at the bayou and didn’t know how he had gotten there.” Tula gave Ignis a pleading look. “Oh, Iggy, it’s the most awful thing. He didn’t even remember me.” She put her hands on her chest, the slight webbing of her fingers looking dry.
