Academy of Magic Collection

by Angelique S Anderson et al.

  I need to get through the double doors. I need a diversion like a possible fire so I can slip past the bodyguards. Cade

  You’re trying to get me permanently banned from here. This is my favorite club, and you’ve been here longer than ten minutes, so I know you know why. Orion

  Orion was a mess. His wry sense of humor was nice. I prefer him over Maximus any day. I didn’t know much about him except he respected Liam’s laws and he hated betrayal. Those seem like excellent qualities to me. He makes me laugh and laughing keeps you living longer.

  Not really. Are you going to do it or not? Cade.

  I smiled as two girls flocked to my side once they noticed that there was room on this cream leather couch next to me. They came right on time and saved me from buying some random girl drinks tonight. Guys don’t come to the club to sit alone. I’m not trying to stick out like a sore thumb.

  Yes, against my better judgment. For the record, the strong drinks, music selection and location make this a nice hot spot.

  I slipped my phone in my pocket. The red-headed girl who sat next to me was giving me bedroom eyes. I hope that was what was wrong with her eyes. Every time I looked at her, she batted her eyelashes and looked away.

  “My name’s Vick. What’s your name?” I looked at her and glanced at her friend.

  “My name is Heather and that is my best friend Gayle.” She sat her drink on the table.

  Gayle looked a bit disappointed. I wouldn’t be surprised if Gayle gets the most attention when they go out. A lot of guys prefer busty blondes.

  “Heather, that is a beautiful name.” I picked up her hand and kissed it. Her skin wasn’t as smooth as Melody’s. If I was going to get out of here alive, I needed to flirt my butt off and mingle with the crowd. I might learn something important from the regulars and it might improve my flirting skills. I don’t foresee me needing them anytime soon.

  “Do you come here often?” asked Gayle. She tossed her black hair over her shoulders and drained her glass of tequila.

  “Nope. My friend dragged me out of the house.” I feel some anger surfacing and I tried to sit back. I’m chit-chatting but I don’t need to tell them my whole life story. They may question why I’m still sitting here if I didn’t want to come out in the first place.

  “Why did he have to drag you out of the house? You don’t like going out to the club,” asked Gayle?

  “He probably didn’t want to come because of what happened last week,” said Heather.

  “He’s a man. He knows people get shot and killed all the time and nobody but you expect the government to help out,” said Gayle.

  “You looked surprised. You didn’t hear about it?” asked Heather.

  “Heather let’s get another drink, this is your favorite song,” said Gayle. She stood and tried to pull Heather to her feet.

  Great. They think I’m a serial killer or deranged. I have a minute to turn this around.

  “Nope. I recently had a bad break-up, so I’ve been trying to figure things out. I never expected her to leave me.”

  “I understand how that goes. It took me five years to get over my ex-boyfriend,” said Heather. She patted my knee.

  “Heather was there for me when I divorced Julio. It was the hardest thing that I ever had to do. I barely wanted to get out of the bed. I’m glad you came tonight,” said Gayle.

  “I think I am too. Sometimes you have to take baby steps.” I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

  The fire alarm rang out and water poured out from the ceiling. People started running everywhere. I jumped up with everyone and led the girls toward the front door. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the bouncers run in the back and escort a brunette-haired short female from the back.

  “Who is that?” I asked Heather, as the bouncers pushed us out of the way to get the woman out of the building.

  “That’s Patricia Bright, she owns the club. She has a lot of money, and a lot of enemies.” Heather grunted as someone stepped on her foot and she hopped toward the door.

  “If she’d stop sleeping with people’s boyfriends, she wouldn’t get so many death threats,” said Gayle.

  “Patricia slept with Gayle’s husband Dennis, and that was the beginning to the end.”

  Looking at Gayle, I could see anger, hurt, and craziness lurking behind her emerald eyes. She kept getting closer and closer to Patricia and the bouncers. This was about to go sideways quick. I slowed down and allowed them to move toward the front door. Gayle lunged at Patricia and grabbed a fist full of her hair. Her screams of rage echoed over the music. Everyone stopped moving, chanting ‘fight’ and some people pulled out their phones to record it.

  Ducking I ran through the double doors. Patricia had provided a better distraction than the fire alarm. I heard heavy footsteps and dashed through the first door on the left. Dang. It was a bedroom. A plush bedroom fit for a queen in this dump. The comforter was mauve with silk and lace pillows, but it was a platform bed. The small window was barred and couldn’t fit the size of an adult. I was trapped with nowhere to hide.

  The walls and the ceiling over the bed had wall-to-wall mirrors. There was something very sensual about having mirrors on the ceiling. Slipping behind the heavy drapes I held my breath.

  “I risked everything tonight David,” said Patricia.

  “We’ll find her. We have the best protection, so nothing’s going to happen to you.”

  “Don’t be stupid. I was just attacked by that dishrag out there. She pulled a chunk of my hair out before you got her off me. What if she had a gun?”

  “Derrick wants you dead. He isn’t going to pull your hair out. He’s more likely to put a gun in your mouth and pull the trigger,” said David.

  “Find Trinity and bring her here. She should be here.”

  “We tried, but she refused.”

  “That didn’t go well and we lost several men. If we keep trying to force her to come here, you won’t have anyone standing in between you and Derrick. What did you do to him anyway?”

  “Nothing. His thinks I slept with Myron.”

  “Myron, his father? Please tell me you drew the line there. That’s even low for you.”

  “I didn’t do it. Myron tried to force himself on me, but I stabbed him and ran.”

  “If you stabbed him why has he been on doing all these speeches and appearances?”

  “The wound healed almost immediately after I stabbed him. The blade pierced his heart. I watched him bleed and heal almost instantly. I ran before he got his hands on me.”

  “Patricia, I swear. You’re going to be the death of me. I will go one more time and talk to Trinity. If I don’t come back, take care of my mother.” David walked out of the bedroom door.

  Trinity doesn’t seem to like people that try to force her into doing what they want. I guess that is good to know. Therefore, I need to change my strategy on convincing her. It’s clear to me that she didn’t show tonight and I’m doubtful that she will. Glancing at my watch, I noticed it was two in the morning. Time flies when you’re on an aggressive deadline. Patricia was in a bind. Peeking out from curtain I saw her drop her clothes on the floor and stroll naked into the bathroom.

  She was a beautiful woman and she knew it. I’m not a creep, so I lay flush against the wall until I hear the water tapping on the tile in the shower. Rushing out I headed toward her dresser drawer. She was shampooing her hair and humming to herself. Wow. She has a voice. Shuffling through her drawer I saw some photos of Trinity. It was more like an intelligence file, where she had been spying on Trinity. It looked like a folder on how to blackmail her.

  If I was Trinity, I wouldn’t have shown up here to help her either. It is never ok for you to blackmail someone. Shifting through the photos there was a piece of paper with several addresses, so I tore that page. I’m hoping that these addresses will lead me to Trinity.

  I heard footsteps heading this way. Whoever was coming was trying to be quiet. Patricia was leaning her head
under the shower head, with her eyes closed. Jumping up, I pulled myself up on the recessed beam on the ceiling. I hated heights but I’m not trying to die in Patricia’s bedroom.

  Four men with black masks crept inside the bedroom. They all had on tactical military gear, and AK 47’s in their hands. This was a structured hit probably by Derrick. When the last guy closed the door, I jumped on him turning his gun on the other three. My knees twisted and I snapped his neck, flipping off him with the gun in my hand.

  The three men came back. What the heck is going on? I fired all head shots, but that wasn’t killing them either. I heard screaming and the water shutting off. Removing my sword from its sheath, I decapitated them.

  “Who are you?” Patricia pointed a gun at my head. She stood there naked and wet.

  I zoned out and focused. I heard footsteps pounding on the roof. There were a lot of assassins coming this way and soon all hell would break loose. They will probably jump through the window and take her by surprise.

  “I’m not with them or you would already be dead. Put the gun down. There are more men coming. If you want to live you need me.”

  “You’re bluffing.” She turned and grabbed a pair of jeans and a top.

  “Why don’t you stay and find out. I’ve saved you once but I’m not going to stand here when they come crashing through the window.” I turned on my heels and walked out of the room.

  I quickly texted Orion and told him that I needed to know everything about this place right now if I’m going to make it out of here alive.

  “Wait. You must keep me alive. You can’t let me die here,” said Patricia. She yanked on my shoulder but I barreled through the door despite her trying to slow my pace. I think we have five minutes.

  Orion ran to me. His shirt was covered in blood and he looked like he had been living in a war zone. His feet were bare and his hands filthy. “We have company. I found a way out for us but I wasn’t expecting a crasher.”

  “You’re taking me with you so change your damn plans.” She pointed the gun in Orion’s face and he laughed.

  “You and I have got to discuss your choice in women. I’m beginning to think you’re drawn to difficult women that have death wishes.”

  “Not now man.” I heard the glass in her bedroom shatter. Picking her up, I ran behind Orion as he jumped out of the window. I covered her mouth and followed him. We landed ten feet below on a slender ledge. The rain made the ledge slippery but I took my time jumping to the next building and down the chimney.

  Coughing up dust and debris I looked at him as he grabbed two guns from under the sofa cushion. Patricia dug her nails into my chest.

  “Put me down. Your plan was to jump out of the dang window? I almost had a heart attack.”

  Rolling my eyes, I dropped her. She was ungrateful and spoiled. I saved her life and all she’s done is point guns and complain.

  “If you don’t lower your voice, they will come here to finish you off and I might let them.”

  Orion laughed. He swiftly covered it up and handed both of us a gun.

  “We’ll keep you alive until you drive away from here, but we want something from you in exchange.” I need to make sure we don’t go home empty-handed. Failure isn’t an option. I need to locate Trinity. She had answers that we need.

  “You want me to do you. I get it but I don’t think I have time to do you together unless you really like the back-door option. Are you going to do each other first then you want me to join in or what?”

  “She thinks we like men. She’s on her own. I’m not keeping her alive,” said Orion. He snatched my gun from me and handed it to her.

  “Don’t mind him we will keep you alive, despite you being a home-wrecking tramp, your life choices are on you. We would never defile ourselves with sleeping with you.” I hope she’s not as vain as I think she is but the truth needs to be said. Her actions are horrible and she isn’t the nicest person.

  “I’d rather eat a bullet.” Orion grabbed himself and cringed. I tried not to laugh, but he made it hard.

  “Orion, shut up.”

  “We want to know where Trinity is. We need to know everything you know that would help us find her.”

  “She’s probably at the Milton Brace Steel factory. That is a place that she goes from time to time. Can you really get me out of here?” She ran her hands through her hair and slid the gun in her jeans.

  “Follow me we will cover you. There is a silver car at the end of the block. When I say run, I want you to run, jump through the window, get in the car and drive as fast as you can. Don’t stop or you’re dead,” said Orion.

  “What is to stop them from killing me when I jump through the window?”

  Orion smiled. “Him.”

  “I’ll make sure you aren’t followed.” This building looked narrow from the outside. Most assassins keep coming until the contract was closed but I didn’t want to discourage her. For a human, Patricia had brass balls and an iron will to live. I wasn’t going to say anything that might dampen her spirits. She needed all of her will power to fight for her life. We all do.

  I pushed her toward the door. My ears perked up and I heard several boots outside on the roof. I doubt we could get lucky twice. If we followed Orion’s plan Patricia would be dead. I would be expecting us to exit out of the window and I’d be ready.

  “They’ll be expecting that. If we send her running out of the window, she’s dead. Change of plans. We exit the way we came and fight them. If we decapitate them, they need time before coming back to life. She can get to the car and out of town.”

  Orion shook his head. “Maximus think’s they can’t be killed, so fighting them puts us in a losing situation. We need to keep moving.”

  “How is running a strategy?” What is Orion thinking? I didn’t peg him for a coward, but he must know that he sounds like a punk running from a bully. “I’m not running. I’m a man of my word, so I will fight alone if I have too and give her time to escape.”

  “Man, get out of your feelings. I didn’t say I wouldn’t fight, just that we’re probably going to die,” said Orion.

  “I sure wish we had Trinity.” I’m not certain that she would help us considering she doesn’t know us, but I know she could probably destroy these undead beings.

  “I’ve been calling her all day. She won’t return my call. She’s probably listening to my desperate voicemails with glee,” said Patricia.

  “Dial her and give me the phone.” I’m not certain this will work but what do we have to lose? There was a chance that we would die out here on the roof, so I’m laying everything on the line and playing all my cards.

  “Do you think she’ll talk to you?” asked Patricia.

  “That’s a joke. His luck with women is terrible. I’ll bet you that she doesn’t answer his call.”

  “If we live through this, I could help you with your bad streak with women,” said Patricia.

  “I don’t have a bad streak with women. Thanks, but no thanks.”

  I watched her dial Trinity. My palms sweated when she handed me the phone, but I stood tall.

  “Trinity, if you’re listening, the men, the demons that plot to kill Fred are trying to kill my family. I plan to end their lives tonight. If you want to stop running and live a life of your own choosing, come fight at forty-three eighty-seven Diablo Road near the underground club.”

  I hung up the phone and handed it back to her. It was time. It had quieted and I’m sure that they are in there hiding, waiting for their chance to strike.

  “Do you think she’ll come and fight? Are they really trying to kill her boyfriend too?” asked Patricia.

  “Nope. They’re here to kill you. If I told her that she would never come. I don’t think she likes you.” I pulled her to the chimney.

  “I think he’s right. You need help talking to women.”

  Orion laughed then nodded. He sobered up and balled up his fist.

  Grabbing Patricia by the waist, I jumped up to the roof.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man rushing toward me while the other man fired the assault rifle. Shoving her behind the high ledge nearby I jumped and rolled into a ball hanging off the ledge. I fired the AK forty-seven taking out the man that had almost reached her.

  Patricia jumped out from her hiding space and opened fire shooting at the man firing at me. She jumped back around hiding but the man was now firing at her.

  “They’re on the roof and more are coming,” shouted Patricia. She ran out of bullets and held her head with her hands. The glass above Patricia’s head shattered and a man reached down to grab her, but she crawled away.

  Jumping up, I shot at the man with the gun. Several bullets flew past me, but one caught me in the leg, and I fell to my knees. I rolled away, firing shots as I rolled. Ducking close to the wall, I hit the glass window with my gun. Grabbing a piece of glass, I saw where the last man was hiding. When he popped his head up, I fired several shots and one bullet lodged in his forehead.

  “We’ve got to move.” Running to Patricia, I yanked her behind me. I saw Orion fighting two men. He was in full werewolf mode. I fired several shots at the two men’s legs, giving Orion the upper hand. Jumping over the edge, I landed on my feet carrying her in my arms. Turning around, I saw five men jump down and they were hot on my trail.

  “We’re not going to make it,” said Patricia. She yanked the gun strap in her hand and open fired on them.

  “Don’t stop until the car runs out of gas.” Reaching the car, I ripped the car door off and stuffed her inside. She jammed the keys in the ignition and flew down the street. When she turned the corner and disappeared, I ran toward the men.

  I swung my sword at the first man slicing his head from his shoulders. Pain sliced through my left shoulder blade as I ducked the man’s punch and slid between his legs. Pulling the knife from my back I tossed it at the man’s head running down the street after Patricia. Jumping to my feel I flew to the other men and sliced their heads off. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw ten more men jump from the roof.