A Vampire's Battle

by Raven Steele

  She tilted her head, considering Lynx’s words. “And do you believe this is truly possible?”

  I nodded. “We do.”

  Her eyes flashed to Folas’s conspiratorially. “And what will you do to Korin once his powers are gone? Assuming the spell works, of course.”

  “Kill him.” The words flew from my mouth.

  A slow smile crept up the sides of her ivory face. “What do you need from me?”

  “Well, um …” Lynx’s hands fidgeted in her lap. “The spell is extremely powerful. Because of this it requires a lot of magic, magic I need to take from others.”

  Oona lifted an eyebrow. “This sounds like extremely dark magic. It’s not natural to tap into other’s powers. Are you strong enough to control something like that?”

  Lynx lifted her chin a little. “I believe I am.”

  Oona looked to Briar as if to receive confirmation. Briar had found a tall bottle full of pink liquid and was pouring into a glass. She lifted the glass. “I’ll toast to that. Lynx could kick both Sammie’s and my ass to hell and back if she wanted to.”

  Lynx laughed at that. “Not even close, but I am confident I can handle this spell. Besides, we have to try. We need to stop Korin.”

  Briar stared into her glass, swirling the liquid slowly. “What’s in this?”

  “Fairy wine,” Folas answered. “Made specifically for fae folk.”

  Briar snorted, then swallowed its contents.

  Oona sighed and turned her attention to me and Lynx. I prepared to offer her reasons to help us, beg if I had to, but, instead, Oona surprised me by saying, “I’ll help you.”

  “You will?” Briar burped. “That’s some powerful shit.”

  “Except, I have a question first.” She paused, as if trying to determine how best to ask it. “I heard about the supernaturals who freed the prisoners from the cathedral. Were you involved in that?”

  The three of us looked at each other, none of us answering.

  Oona leaned forward. “If you three were responsible for that, invading the cathedral with only a handful of soldiers, then I most certainly would want to help you.” Her eyes narrowed in on Briar. “It was you, wasn’t it?”

  “Of course it was,” Briar drawled. She was staring at the ceiling, her head moving from side to side.

  Oona smiled. “I knew it. Did you know that some of the people you freed were fae?”

  “I didn’t,” I answered honestly. I hadn’t been paying attention to who we were saving.

  “You three inspire me.” Oona beamed. “I want to be brave and stare danger in the face like you have.”

  “You make it sound so exciting,” Briar said, then frowned, her eyes darting around the room again. “Anyone else see butterflies?”

  “Thank you, Oona,” I said, ignoring Briar. “This was not the response we were expecting.”

  Oona’s gaze shifted to Folas. “Black Glen is under new rule. Lots of things have changed around here.”

  “I hope all for the better,” Lynx said.

  Oona smiled at her. “Tell me what you need me to do.”

  “Come to the center of Raven Cemetery at midnight tomorrow. I’ll be there with several others I can draw power from.”

  Briar darted between us, reaching into the air for invisible butterflies. She was smiling ear to ear. “They’re so pretty!”

  I gently pushed Briar out of the way to continue the conversation with Oona. Whatever Briar had drank, it had made her extremely high.

  Oona nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll have my own men with me. For my safety.”

  “We wouldn’t expect anything less,” I said, “but please try to be discreet. We don’t want Korin or the Phoenix to become aware of our plans.”

  She bowed her head. “Of course.”

  I came to my feet. “We’ll leave you then. Thank you for seeing us.”

  “Leave?” She frowned and nodded her head toward Briar, who was scratching at the wall and laughing hysterically. “She’s going to be like that for a little while. Must you rush off?”

  Lynx and I looked at each other. This was the last place I wanted to be and by Lynx’s pinched expression, she felt the same way.

  “If we are to work together,” Oona continued, “then we must learn to trust one another. And the only way to do that is spend time getting to know each other. Stay. The world beyond ours will survive a few hours without you.”

  Lynx shrugged, still staring at me. “I guess we can stay.”

  Inwardly, I groaned.

  Oona clapped her hands gracefully in glee. “Wonderful! Folas, bring us all glasses of Ice.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Ice?”

  “What Briar drank. You’ll love it. It will make you happy in ways you never thought possible.” She looked us up and down. “By the looks of both of you, you could use it.” When I frowned, she added, “The effects wear off after a few hours.”

  Folas walked over to us and handed us each a glass of the pink liquid.

  I accepted it and looked from Folas to Oona. “Will you be joining us?”

  The corners of her mouth turned up. “Of course.”

  Briar left her spot by the wall, slumping to the floor where she pet at something invisible in her lap. “I fucking loving cats.” She looked up at me. “Have I ever told you that, Sammie? Cats. I want a cat. A big, black, fluffy one.”

  Lynx brought the glass to her lips. “I’m a dog person.”

  She swallowed its contents. Within a few seconds, her whole body relaxed and she sunk into the couch, smiling and sighing.

  Folas handed Oona a drink. I noticed there was less liquid in her glass than there was mine. She lifted her goblet. “A toast. To new friends.”

  I smiled tightly and clinked my glass to hers. “To new friends.”

  I waited until she drank hers before I sipped at the pink liquid, but as soon as the flavor touched my tongue, my whole body jerked alive and demanded more. I didn’t even attempt to stop myself. I swallowed the rest, enjoying the warmth flowing through my veins, across my muscles and into my bones.

  “Isn’t it nice?” Lynx asked, sighing dreamily.

  The colors in the room became more vibrant and the lights were as bright as the sun. It even warmed my flesh. Maybe it was real sunlight. Butterflies, probably the same ones Briar had seen, flew by me. Their wings were bigger than normal and full of colors I didn’t recognize. Beyond them, golden dust floated through the air. At least that’s what I thought it was until one of the specks drew close and practically landed on my nose. This close, I could just barely make out faint wings. A fairy! I heard myself giggle and tried to grab it, but it flew away as fast as a humming bird.

  “My dog is going to eat your kitty,” Lynx said to Briar.

  My head lobbed her direction. She was patting the top of a monstrous dog, if it even was a dog. Its short black hair covered its massive, muscular frame, with eyes that glowed like fire, and it wore a spiked collar. Something about it was familiar. I tried to clear my mind, but I became distracted by more golden dust flittering near Briar. Several of them landed in her hair, giving it a golden glow.

  “You’re a good boy, aren’t you?” Lynx was hugging the—

  “Hellhound!” I blurted. “Not dog.”

  No one heard me.

  I rubbed at a sudden tickle on my nose. What was a hellhound doing here? My eyes began to close, but I forced them open. Just in time too because I spotted a beautiful ghost floating across the floor, arm in arm with a man wearing a regal robe. They were beautiful together. Just the sight of them made me indescribably happy.

  “I’m happy, Oona,” I said but when I looked at where she had been sitting, she was gone. My hand slid up to my forehead. I tapped it. No. Not gone. I just saw her. The ghost. Leaving with Folas.

  Chapter 15

  Where were they going? It seemed important but I didn’t know why, nor did I care. The golden fairies were playing hide and seek in Briar’s hair. “They’re so funny.”


  Briar looked up. “My cat?”

  “No, my doggie,” Lynx answered. “It really wants to eat your kitty.”

  “It’s a hellhound.” I stood up, feeling it important to see where the ghost, went but the fairies kept distracting me. I stumbled past Briar. “They’re eating your hair.”

  “Lynx!” Briar snapped. “Tell your puppy to get away!”

  “It’s a hellhound.” I reached the exit where the ghost had disappeared. Fairies landed on my hand, small and golden. Tears stung my eyes. “You’re so pretty, but I must follow the ghost.”

  “Don’t leave us,” Lynx said. I didn’t know if she was talking to me, but I couldn’t let the ghost get away.

  With my hand against the wall to steady myself, I moved slowly down a long hallway. It should’ve been dark but it was filled with pleasant light. Up head, a window full of the same warm light beckoned me forward. Sunlight. I longed to feel it on my skin again.

  I stepped into its light and began to twirl. The dress I was suddenly wearing swished around me and the gold fairies laughed and danced with me until I could barely breathe. I wiped at the tears running down my cheeks. Tears of true happiness.

  Exhausted, I leaned against the window wishing Mateo was with me. He’d like this silk purple dress on me. He’d like it better off me, though. I giggled at my naughty thoughts and peered outside. My smile slowly disappeared.

  Where light filled the space around me, outside it was all dark. I didn’t like it and almost turned away when something caught my eye. Soldiers like the ones we’d seen coming to Warwick Castle. But lots of them. As many as the hundreds of golden fairies circling my body and face. They were chittering at me with small voices, saying things I couldn’t understand.

  I swatted them away, my mind trying to think through the happy clouds filling my head. So many soldiers. Bigger than what I thought the entire fae population was. Where had they come from?

  They began to move together as if given an order. I watched them for as long as I could until they disappeared from my view. I hurried back to Briar but tripped several times. I swatted at the fairies again. A few of them bit me.

  Back in Oona’s private quarters, Lynx and Briar were dancing together to music I couldn’t hear. I still couldn’t see Briar’s cat, but I could see Lynx’s hellhound standing to attention and watching Lynx closely.

  “Join us, Sammie!” Briar called.

  I smiled, my head moving in circles with their movements. “But there are men outside … ”

  “Tell them to join us!”

  Lynx laughed and dropped her head to Briar’s shoulder.

  “Do you hear it?” Briar asked.

  I was about to ask her what, but then a steady beat grew louder and louder until the whole room was filled with music, the kind of song I’d hear at a dance club.

  Lynx perked up and began to dance, swinging her arms through the air. Briar backed up against her, gyrating her hips. I laughed, surprised by the loud sound of my voice. I hurried over to join them, jumping through the air and swinging my hips side to side.

  I don’t know how long we’d been dancing, time had escaped me, but when I opened my eyes, Oona was with us too, twirling and laughing as if she’d never left us. Had she?

  My mind felt more clear, and yet elation still flowed through my veins. I knew things were bad with Korin and the Phoenix, but right now, I just didn’t care. It felt good to let go of all worry and fear. By the smiles on Lynx’s and Briar’s face, they needed this, too. One night to forget it all.

  Eventually, I collapsed on the sofa and ran my fingers through my tangled hair. Lynx joined me on the other side while Briar just fell backwards onto the white carpeted floor. She moved her arms back and forth as if making a snow angel.

  Oona looked at each of us. “It’s good to see you three have some fun. Even warriors deserve a night free from the burdens of war.”

  I sighed and rested my head into my propped up hand, elbow sitting on the armrest. “Where’s Folas?”

  “He had things to do.”

  Briar lifted her head. “Do you love him?”

  Oona thought about this, tilting her head. “I’ve lived for so long, that word doesn’t mean what I think it means to you. Folas has become,” she glanced down at her hands resting in her lap, “like my right hand, a part of me I don’t want to do without. I don’t know where he ends and I begin. It’s a feeling beyond love.”

  “That’s so beautiful,” Lynx whispered.

  Her words made me think of Mateo and what I felt for him. I believed Mateo and I shared the same kind of bond, but Korin had driven us apart. I rubbed at my chest, wishing I had stopped Korin centuries ago.

  Briar sat up and looked around. “Were there actual butterflies in here? And did I actually have a cat? Or was all that the Ice?”

  The corners of Oona’s mouth turned up. “Ice opens your mind to many things. Some are windows into other realms, so what you saw could be real.”

  Lynx looked longingly to the corner as if she could still see something. I followed her gaze but there was nothing there.

  “I really want that dog.” Lynx frowned. “I hope he was real.”

  “It wasn’t a dog, Lynx,” I said again.

  She shrugged. “I don’t care. I really liked him.”

  Oona leaned toward her. “I have a feeling you will see him again. Hellhounds rarely appear to others. Maybe he’s your familiar.”

  Briar grimaced. “That’s a thing?”

  “It can be. For powerful witches.”

  Lynx dropped her head back into the sofa cushions. “I hope so.”

  A sudden memory came to me. “Were there soldiers? Lots of them?”

  Oona drew her brows together. “We have them stationed all over Black Glen.”

  I shook my head. “No, they were so many more. Rows and rows all ready for battle.”

  “I think you may have hallucinated this.”

  “Perhaps.” I had seen fairies after all, but maybe those had been real too, a glimpse into another realm. I sifted through my memories of the last several hours. Some of them were blank as if I’d fallen asleep, others were full of ghosts and fairies, but when thing I was certain of is I had seen Oona leave with Folas. They were keeping something from us, but was it something that could hurt us later?

  Briar pulled herself to her feet. “As much fun as I’ve had tonight, we should go.”

  “Yes,” Lynx agreed. “I should be preparing for tomorrow night.”

  Oona stood. “Drink plenty of water and get some sleep. Not only will you feel like a new person, but Ice’s lingering effects will give you confidence, and with that spell you’re about to perform, you’re going to need it.”

  “You’ll still come?” Briar asked.

  “Of course. Midnight at Raven Cemetery.”

  “Thank you, Oona,” Briar said. “I knew we could count on you.”

  Surprising me and Lynx, Briar gave Oona a hug. Oona’s eyebrows lifted, then lowered as she returned the embrace.

  We left her private quarters and only when we stepped outside of Black Glen and into the park did Lynx ask, “Why did you hug her?”

  Briar glanced up at the night sky that was beginning to gray. “Because I don’t trust her, and if she does betray us, I want her to feel guilty about it. Let’s hurry back.” Her gaze dropped to mine. “The sun will be coming up soon.”

  We decided to meet back at Lynx’s house, instead of Fire Ridge. I was ready to return to what I now considered my home. As soon as we arrived, Mateo was waiting in the front doorway for our return. He embraced me tightly. “I was getting worried. Are you okay?”

  I nodded.

  Briar jumped into Luke’s arms and he held her close, rubbing his lips across her forehead. We walked inside, where Aris and Angel were waiting for us in the foyer. I took in a deep breath, reveling in the comforting smell. It felt good to be here. We settled in the living room.

  “Will the fae queen help?” Aris asked
.

  “She will, except, she gave in a little too easily.”

  Mateo sniffed me. “Why do you smell so good?”

  “She gave us a fae drug called Ice.”

  Aris snorted. “You guys did drugs tonight?”

  “That’s just what you need,” Luke said to Briar, his voice full of sarcasm.

  “It was fine.” Briar dropped next to Luke on the couch. “We were trying to solidify a relationship between us and Oona.”

  “Did it work?” Mateo asked me.

  I undid the band holding my hair up and shook it out. “I’m not sure. Part of me thinks so, but the other part … I saw some things that make me think she was manipulating us, but I could’ve been hallucinating.”

  Mateo stepped close. “What did you see?”

  I quickly told him what I remembered, even the part about the golden fairies. “So you see, I might not have seen what I thought I had.”

  “I’ll keep an eye on them,” Angel said, a little too quickly. “I need something to distract me.”

  Mateo and I nodded, understanding. He’d left weeks ago because he couldn’t stand watching Luke and Briar together, but he’d come back to help find Mateo and me. Now he was in the same situation all over again.

  “That’s a good idea,” I told him.

  Aris looked at Mateo. “Any further news on Oz?”

  Mateo’s face fell. “We’re waiting to hear back from Teddy. He was going to search Winter’s Cove for him.”

  “I thought he would’ve contacted us by now.” Teddy’s lack of communication had me worried. I feared something might’ve happened to him.

  Aris stared into the distance, as if he could see beyond the wall in front of him. “I think it’s time I visited Korin again.”

  “Just give Teddy more time,” I urged.

  “Fine,” Aris said, and, by the determined look in Mateo’s eyes, he felt the same.

  All of us were getting anxious and just wanted this to end. Soon, however, if everything went according to planned, Korin would be stripped of his powers, and we would be one step closer to permanently removing the evil in Rouen.