A Vampire's Battle

by Raven Steele

  I glanced back at her. “Who knows? Maybe one day you’ll train here. It would be very different from the training you received with the Principes Noctis.”

  Just before I reached Sersi’s door, she opened it, smiling big. “Samira.”

  She embraced me tightly then let me go, her grey eyes staring into mine. “You’re so different without the Kiss.”

  “How did you know?”

  “I sensed it the moment you stepped foot on this property. Your darkness was gone.”

  My gaze dropped to the floor. Had the Kiss’s dark power been that powerful? Had I been polluting this sacred place with it for years?

  She lifted my chin. “Do not feel shame. The dark energy it expelled was always masked by your own goodness. No one else ever noticed.”

  “How did you?” Lynx asked.

  Sersi’s eyes shifted to Lynx. “When you’ve lived in this place for a long time, you become a part of it. My soul is everywhere. The walls, the floor, the earth outside. I feel every touch, hear every word. I am this house.”

  Briar stared at her, eyes wide. “So fucking deep.”

  Sersi looked at her. “You must be Briar, which means you’re Lynx. I’ve been wanting to meet you both for a long time.” She reached out her arms. “May I?”

  Briar shrugged. “I’m always up for hugging hot chicks.”

  Sersi wrapped her arms gently around her. After a long pause, she said, “You are powerful, and you will live a long life full of happiness, but stitched with sorrow. However, if you remember to lean on your Komira strength, you will carry the burden well.”

  Sersi let her go and stepped back, her eyes gazing into Briar’s.

  “You’re like a super good-looking Yoda,” Briar whispered.

  Sersi laughed, a sound that rivaled the sweet singing of a songbird. “I don’t know who this Yoda person is, but that sounded like a compliment, so thank you.”

  Sersi turned to Lynx, but Lynx was already shaking her head. “I don’t want to know anything about me.”

  “I understand,” Sersi said. “You’re not quite ready, but your time is coming sooner than you think, and you will have to embrace both parts of yourself.”

  Lynx held up her hands. “Enough! Please, I don’t want to know anything.”

  Lynx’s protests surprised me. Maybe showing her the prophecy wasn’t a good idea.

  Sersi motioned us further into her office. Detrand sat on a chair across from her desk.

  “Detrand!” I was surprised to see him here.

  “Samira.” He smiled, the motion reserved for close friends only. He didn’t acknowledge Briar or Lynx.

  “I had no idea you’d be here.”

  He only shrugged with a mysterious twinkle in his eye, but Sersi explained, “He’s been helping me with something.”

  I stared at him in wonder. This wasn’t a place I’d ever expect to find him. I knew he was friends with Sersi from a shared past centuries ago, but I didn’t think they had stayed in much contact. This must be the other business he had to attend to. “Where’s Adelade?”

  “She’s with Loxley at Fire Ridge.”

  “What can I help you with?” Sersi asked, drawing my attention back to her. “I don’t think you came just to talk.”

  I looked from her to Lynx. “We came to see the scroll.”

  “You told them about the prophecy, then?”

  “I did. It was time they knew their part in what’s to come. I’m hoping together we may find a way to stop it.”

  Sersi crossed the room to the door, leaving Detrand behind, but just before we fully exited, Sersi stopped and turned around. “I’m happy to take you there but before you do, I must swear you to secrecy. The old scroll is kept with many other sacred items that if taken into the wrong hands could have disastrous results.”

  “Sounds fair,” Briar said.

  I glanced at her. “It’s not that easy.”

  “It’s a spell I put on you,” Sersi clarified. “If you tell anyone of what you are about to see, severe consequences will follow.”

  “Are you okay with this?” I asked Lynx.

  Her eyes darted around the room as if looking for a way out.

  “Lynx?” I repeated. “You don’t have to do this. You can wait for us here.”

  She shook her head quickly. “It’s okay. I do want to see it. I’m just nervous. I feel so out of my skin here.”

  Sersi smiled kindly at her. “It’s because you haven’t discovered the true light in you yet.”

  Lynx held up her hand again. “Nope. Don’t want to hear it, but I would like to go with you guys. Go ahead with the spell.”

  Sersi raised her palm in our direction and swirled it through the air. In a language only I recognized, she began to say words binding us with magic. A tight pressure built around my chest making it difficult to breathe. I told myself to relax, that this was part of the process. Briar, on the other hand, began to panic. I took hold of her hand at the same time as Lynx. With both of us on each side of her, she was able to calm down.

  A few seconds later, the pressure released. Sersi lowered her hands. “I am finished.”

  “Thank God!” Briar breathed sucking in a deep breath.

  “Use the pain you felt as a reminder,” Sersi said. “It will be a hundred times worse should you reveal the location of what I’m about to show you.”

  Briar chuckled uncomfortably. “Message received, loud and clear.”

  “Lead the way?” Sersi asked me.

  I nodded and moved through the door, taking the long hallway to the rear of the estate. As we walked, Briar asked Sersi all sorts of question about the building. I partly listened, but I couldn’t hear much of what they were saying over the pounding of my heart that grew louder the closer we came. The prophesy always did that to me. I feared it so much. I didn’t want to be a part of the end of the world, and now, thanks to my giving up the Kiss, we were one step closer.

  I stopped inside the elevator, and Sersi blew on her palm, revealing the small black pad with magical wisps of blues and purples. As soon as we were all inside, the doors closed, and we began our descent. As we rode down, Briar tightened her eyes and grimaced at the small space. I gripped her hand, and she squeezed it back.

  When the doors opened and Briar saw what lay before her, she forgot all about her claustrophobia. Rows upon rows of glass-covered counters filled the large space. As we moved through the room, lights above us flipped on, revealing even more ancient and mythical objects.

  Briar stopped and stared at a red hooded robe. “Is that what I think it is?”

  I nodded. “Except the story is much different than you remember. She actually killed the shifter wolf with a magical ax before he could eat her grandmother.”

  Briar shuddered while Lynx moved next to her, gasping when she realized what it was, too.

  “Come on,” I said and continued onward until we reached the one case I wanted to show them. “Here. Read it.”

  Both of them looked down, their eyes scanning over the words on the ancient scroll. With all three of us looking, standing close together, a strange sensation came over me. It was a heavy feeling that washed over my body, then tingled all over my skin, making my hairs stand on end. It fluttered in my stomach and billowed into my chest. The weight was heavy and yet, Briar shuffled toward me, sucking in a breath. When her arm touched mine, the pressure lifted.

  Briar’s gaze met mine. “Do you feel that too?”

  Lynx squirmed. “I don’t like it.”

  Sersi rested her hand on Lynx’s shoulders. “It can be stopped.”

  Lynx stepped away. “I don’t want to be responsible for the fate of the world! I’m not strong enough!”

  She smiled at her kindly. “You don’t know what you’re capable of. You’ve barely scratched the surface.”

  Briar looked around. “The Abydos is down here too, right? I can feel it.”

  I motioned my head just a ways down from us. “It’s safe.”

&nb
sp; We spent a few more minutes staring at the prophecy, each of us pondering on the role we each took or would take in fulfilling it. I knew exactly what Lynx was feeling, for I had felt it ever since Detrand had made it known to me.

  I took hold of Lynx’s hand. “You’re not alone in this. I’ve been where you were, but unlike me, you will have help.”

  Briar dropped her arm across Lynx’s shoulder. “Yeah. We got you.”

  Sersi stepped in front of us, blocking our view to the scroll. “You three are extremely powerful together. Stay close. Remember the bonds of friendship, no matter what happens.”

  “That sounds like a warning,” I said, my pulse racing.

  Her expression grew serious. “It is. Dark times are ahead of you three. I fear you won’t be ready in time. Each one of you will have to change in ways you never thought possible, and in ways you may not like.”

  I heard Briar swallow. My throat was tight, too. I’d learned long ago to trust Sersi’s premonitions, but how much more could I change? Maybe she was referring to the change I’d already experienced with the ghosting. But then I shuddered, remembering the vial Detrand kept, the one with my blood containing the Kiss. No matter what happened, I couldn’t put that darkness back inside me.

  I’d rather die.

  Chapter 25

  Briar groaned and stepped back. “Bloody fantastic. My life has been messed up enough.”

  Sersi blinked, her face returning to sweet and innocent. “No more talk of dark things. Do you have time to drink tea with me?”

  Briar glanced down at the time on her phone. “We do, but do you have anything harder? We have to storm a vampire castle later tonight.”

  Sersi leaned close to her. “I might just have an eighteenth-century bottle of wine in the back of my closet we can open.”

  “One for each of us, I hope,” Lynx whispered, her eyes darting around the room of mystical objects.

  For the next two hours, we didn’t talk about Korin or the Phoenix. Not even the prophesy. We talked about everything and nothing, laughing and drinking. It didn’t take long for Lynx to relax and by the time we were ready to go, the fear in her eyes had disappeared.

  Aris met us at the front door, eyeing us up and down. “You ladies look like you had fun.”

  Briar patted him on the back as she walked outside. “Sersi knows how to have a good time.”

  His eyebrows lifted. “Sersi drinks?”

  I laughed. “I was surprised, too.”

  Aris and Lynx locked eyes, and he said, “You look better.”

  “I feel better. Stronger.”

  He nodded in agreement. “This place will do that to you.”

  “So this is where you trained?” she asked him.

  He pointed across a long field. “Not far from here on the Bisou Islands. There’s an old castle in ruins that’s perfect for training.”

  “Maybe you could take me there some time?” She glanced down quickly as if surprised by her sudden request.

  “I’d like that,” he answered, his voice soft.

  Briar looked at me and waggled her eyebrows. I rolled my eyes.

  By the time we returned to Fire Ridge, Mateo had everyone organized and ready to go, including his coven. Briar had asked Samantha, Marge, and several others to join us. Other than Eddie, we hadn’t asked any fae to help. I didn’t want to involve them more than I had to. We needed to save those for when we fought the Phoenix. That was a time for numbers.

  Before we left, Adelade glamoured me and Mateo again, a stronger spell she had been working on that shouldn’t fade with fighting. This time, I had long red hair even Lynx was envious of. Mateo also had red hair, but it was more orange and looked ridiculous against his olive complexion. I didn’t say anything, but I didn’t need to. The others teased him mercilessly, including Briar who, by the way she winked at Adelade, might’ve had something to do with his appearance.

  Adelade also glamoured my swords in case Korin recognized them. I was rarely seen without them, so it was a possibility.

  We crammed into two vehicles and drove straight to Winter’s Cove. The closer we came, the more my earlier confidence began to wane. I shifted in my seat and swallowed around the tightness in my throat. Mateo sensed my uneasiness and took hold of my hand, squeezing it gently.

  I wasn’t the only one to feel the growing tension in the small space. Briar’s knee bounced, and she chewed at her nails. Lynx stared out the window, mumbling spells under her breath. As for everyone else, they remained silent, managing their nerves the best they could.

  Perhaps foolishly, we were rushing into battle with many unknowns. We had no idea for sure if Korin had ever lost his powers, or if he’d gotten them back in the meantime. Or if Teddy’s friends would be ready to stand against Korin. If I had been a betting woman, I would have bet against us in that moment.

  But we couldn’t wait any longer. He was going to share his Hyde-creation formula with a monster more vile than himself. Something like that could destroy the world.

  We didn’t bother parking far away, not when Eddie was with us. He set illusions on both vehicles, making them appear invisible. As for the sound, Lynx cast a spell when we were within a mile, muffling any noises we made.

  In the seat behind me, Aris said to Lynx, “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m ready.” Her voice sounded stronger than I felt.

  Angel steered the van down the long lane leading to Winter’s Cove and parked in front. Even though we had the sound barrier to protect us, we were still silent as we exited the vehicles. The second van Marge was driving pulled up behind us.

  Briar was about to walk over to them when the front door to the mansion opened. All of us froze and stared at the entrance. There was a collective intake of breath when we recognized Zane and Michael. Aris moved as if to attack them, but Lynx pulled him back.

  I turned around and glared at him, motioning to not only him, but everyone to stay still. Eddie nodded at me encouragingly. If his illusion held, we should go unnoticed.

  Michael continued down the stairs, but Zane stopped, his brow furrowing. His eyes scanned the grounds as if he could sense us, but he had yet to see us. A full minute passed before he descended the stairs. At the bottom, only a few dozen feet from us, he once again paused and looked around while Michael jumped behind the steering wheel of a newer Mercedes.

  Zane’s head jerked to the side unexpectedly, his cold eyes staring right at Lynx. Lynx brought her hands to her mouth as if to keep from screaming, and Aris stepped between her and Zane protectively. We all stood frozen but ready at a moment’s notice to attack. If he so much as moved a millimeter in their direction, I would go after him.

  But after a moment, Zane finally joined Michael in the car. They pulled away from Winter’s Cove, nearly hitting Marge’s van in the process.

  When they were out of sight, Briar gasped for air. “I think I shit my Friday panties.”

  Mateo came to my side. “At least we know Zane isn’t here. This is a good thing.”

  “Mateo’s right,” Angel said. “One less powerful vampire to contend with.”

  Marge and the others exited the van and joined our group. She was wiping sweat from her brow with a dirty handkerchief. “I’m too old for this.”

  Samantha patted her on the back. “Maybe you should sit this one out.”

  She snorted. “Not a chance, bitch.”

  “Quiet,” I ordered. “Let’s stick to the plan and get moving.”

  We divided into three groups. The first one was to circle the back with Angel and sneak in through the kitchen with the sole purpose of starting a fire. I would’ve loved to have been a part of that group, but my goal was just as worthy. Find and release prisoners and kill Korin. Only Eddie, Briar, and Lynx would come with me, while Mateo and Teddy led the others through the mansion quickly, getting Korin’s coven to either join us or face death. If Teddy was right, most would easily switch over. For those who didn’t, they deserved death, because that meant th
ey supported everything Korin stood for. Vampires like that shouldn’t exist.

  Mateo pecked my lips and stared into my eyes. “The next time I see you, we’ll be free. I know it.”

  I nodded, wanting to feel his same confidence.

  He scurried away around Winter’s Cove to the garage side, his coven and Aris trailing behind.

  Briar, Lynx, and I all looked at one another, each inhaling our own deep breath. Eddie stood closer to the van, shifting his weight. Even though he had easily agreed to come, by the fear in his eyes, he was having doubts.

  “Ready?” I asked Briar and Lynx.

  Briar cracked her knuckles. “Always.”

  Lynx nodded.

  My gaze roamed to the looming mansion. “Most likely he knows we’re already here. He will probably assume it’s the Ministry at first, but seeing Mateo’s coven will confuse him. Let’s capitalize on his confusion and stay out of sight as much as possible until the last second.”

  They nodded in agreement and faced the mansion with me. Together we glared at the monstrosity, sharing an intense hatred. I moved to go toward it, anxious to get this over with, but Briar stopped me.

  “Wait for the signal.”

  I made myself stop and remained with them. Movement in a window to my left caught my eye, a flash of blond hair. My heart skipped a beat as Faithe’s memory flooded my mind. I sucked in a quick breath and stared upward to the heavens, if there was such a place. Wherever Faithe was, tonight justice would be served for her brutal death. I hoped she was watching.

  “This is for you,” I whispered.

  “What did you say?” Briar asked.

  A loud explosion at the rear of the property didn’t give me a chance to answer. Black smoke plumed into the night sky.

  “That’s our cue.” I jogged toward the mansion and up the steps, glancing back at Eddie. He didn’t miss a beat and followed behind Briar and Lynx.

  At the front doors, I turned the knob slowly and peeked inside. The lobby was empty but not far away, I heard frantic voices. I slipped inside, motioning the others to do the same. The smell of smoke was beginning to the fill the air.