by Mary Abshire
The werewolf lifted the device. "Roger." He twisted and filled the gap between the seats. "I hope you’re ready to question some vampires. We managed to detain two."
A sense of excitement flowed through me and made me smile. More vampire souls to send to Hell. I couldn't wait.
"What happened to the vampire bitch I stabbed?" I asked.
"Another unit caught up with the ambulance. There were three vampires in it. From what I heard over the radio, we lost two and two others were badly injured, but they managed to destroy all three bloodsuckers."
I pressed my eyes closed and shook my head. Two more dead, raising the count to four in the last hour. I wondered how many others there were that I just didn't know about yet.
"I'm deeply sorry," I said as I opened my eyes.
Not another word was spoken until we reached the arena. The driver parked in the alley behind the stadium, next to the almost empty garage. A second vehicle with bright lights stopped a few feet away.
"Come on," Shawn said. "Let's see what the others have to say."
Two werewolves led the way into the building. Shawn walked at my side while a couple other wolves trailed behind us. When we entered the elevator, I felt smothered with heat and the insistent urge to itch my arms and the back of my neck.
"Does everyone have to stay?" I asked, looking at Shawn.
"Jeremy is in charge. Until he gives the okay, we're sticking around. That's the deal."
Staring at him, I wondered what kind of agreement he had with Jeremy. All the talk of deals was starting to bother and worry me.
Following the ding of the elevator, everyone exited. We passed through the metal detector, but the alarm remained silent. The guards I'd seen earlier at the checkpoint were gone, only the empty table remained. Continuing down the hallway, I noticed all the vendors had their lights out and the employees appeared to be long gone. So did everyone else except for the large uniformed man standing in front of our entrance to the suite. As we approached, cold energy gathered around me. Attention on us, the officer knocked on the door. It opened as we came to a stop before him. The guard stepped to the side.
I walked into the room first and was hit with strong energy, mostly heat from the demons, but given the amount of werewolves in the room, I couldn't stop rubbing my arms. Anton and the other male vampire I'd seen earlier were kneeling on the floor in the center of the room. Two men stood close behind each vampire. I suspected they were demons keeping the vamps in check. Jeremy stood several feet from the bloodsuckers, dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt. When my gaze met with Jeremy's, a sense of relief washed through me and I made a beeline toward him.
With a light smile, he offered me his hand and I took it. "You okay?" He surveyed me from head to toe.
"I'm fine," I said, enjoying the feel of his warmth. But I noticed his touch didn't feel as heated as it normally did. "What about you?"
He blinked his tired eyes. "It's been a long day."
For him to admit that gave me pause for concern. I tilted my head to check his head injury since he wasn't wearing the baseball cap. The wound looked swollen and covered with dried blood. He had red smudges near his hairline.
"You're wound—"
"Yeah, I know," he said before I could get another word out. "The stitches came out during the fight."
I pressed my lips together to stop myself from mentioning the game. The topic of him causing the team to lose would have to wait for another time. I was more worried about his health and, as soon as we were done, I was going to insist he see a doctor soon.
He gripped my hand. "Maybe they'll talk now that you're here."
I looked at Anton and the vamp with short dark hair on his head and face. Anton's eyes had a strange glow to them. The brown-haired demon behind Anton kept one hand on the vampire's shoulder and gripped a knife in his other.
"This one keeps repeating that you already know where Drake is," Jeremy said, and I shifted my attention to the dark-haired vampire.
I stepped closer to him and my hand slipped from Jeremy's. The vampire's skin clung to his bones. His eye sockets were visible and his lips were dry and cracked. It looked as if he'd aged at least forty years since I'd last seen him. "What's wrong with him? He looks…"
"Starved," said the well-sculpted demon behind the vamp. Every muscle in the upper half of his body appeared chiseled under the tight black shirt he was wearing. Similar to the other demon, he had a blade in his grasp and his other hand on the vamp's shoulder.
"Patrick has a nifty talent," Jeremy said, and I arched a brow. "He can force a vampire’s blood to dry up until there's nothing left. As for Dylan, he can blind them, which also a very useful skill."
The thin vampire lifted his gaze to me. "The demon soul keeper returns." He half grinned. "Nice to see you again."
I crossed my arms. "I'm sorry to tell you that your friends didn't make it. Actually, I take that back. I'm not sorry. They deserved what they got."
The expression on his face changed into an unkind one. Seeing that my words had an impact on him, I decided to give him something more to think about.
I squatted before him, but kept a safe distance. "And I sent that Russian vampire's soul to Hell. I really enjoyed that."
The vampire snarled and tried to reach for me. Patrick squeezed the vamp's shoulder, bringing a quick halt to his struggle. The skin on his face and hands tightened around his bones. His shirt hung loosely from his arms.
"That's good," Jeremy said, then looked at me. "Ask him."
I rose. "Where's Drake?"
Although I knew the answer from the Russian vamp, I wanted to confirm the information. I still had a difficult time believing Drake was at the Fort in Alderney. For the VETOV to keep him on the island where I'd met with them and they'd decided my fate seemed so…spiteful. And they were supposed to be ethical. What a joke.
The starved vampire lifted his gaze. "You know where."
"Tell me," I said.
"He speaks the truth, Jessie," Anton said. His glassy eyes stared straight ahead.
"Tell me the name of the location," I said. "I want to hear you say it."
"You're going to destroy me anyway, so what does it matter?" the vamp said.
"You're right, but if you tell me, maybe I won't send your soul to Hell."
"He's at the Fort in Alderney, France," Anton said. "He's been there for the last three years."
I moved closer to Anton, but stayed out of his reach in case he tried anything foolish.
"Why did you come here, Anton?" I asked.
He tilted his head toward me as if he were trying to find me. "I was tasked to keep an eye on Jeremy shortly after Drake arrived."
"Is he being held hostage?" I asked.
"I don't know. As I said, I left soon after his arrival."
I glanced over my shoulder at Jeremy. He was wiping the sweat from his forehead. He moved closer to me.
"Surely the VETOV has been in touch with you," Jeremy said to Anton.
"I provide them with updates, nothing more," Anton said. "I have no other information on Drake. If I did, I would share it."
Pressing my lips together, I believed he was telling me the truth. If he'd left three years ago and had been tracking Jeremy the entire time, then he wouldn't have any intel on my lover. Anton and his starved partner were useless to me.
"Why the Fort?" I asked.
"Why do you think?" Anton replied.
Ire warmed my blood. "Because you and your so-called ethical buddies want me to go there so you can either kill me or keep me hostage."
"If you would've agreed to the offer—"
I laughed loudly, cutting him off. "Your offer was to work with Kuri, away from Drake, or be kept against my will at the Fort. It was not an acceptable proposal."
Anton moved his head back to a forward position. "Your skill is dangerous, Jessie."
My hatred rose for him and his kind. More perspiration surfaced on my face. I clenched my fists. "Well n
ow, I guess I should start using my talent more with your buddies."
I shot my gaze to Jeremy.
"Kill him," he said to Patrick.
Patrick moved his hand and placed it underneath the starved bloodsucker's chin. He held the vampire's head firmly while the vamp's skin tightened. Bones protruded and the eye sockets hollowed. The creature before us no longer resembled a vampire. Knife in hand, Patrick ran the sharp edge deep into the vampire's thin throat. I cringed a little upon hearing the scrape of the blade against bone. With little effort, the vampire's head broke free from the body. Only a few drops of blood spilled.
The bloodsucker's soul fell forward onto his hands. Powerful heat from my stomach radiated through me. I knelt, then grasped hold of the vamp's ears.
"Get ready to spend eternity in Hell," I said, then inhaled.
The head of his soul flew into my open mouth. He lifted his arm and braced his hand on my shoulder. I gripped his wrist, then removed his touch. More of his spirit slid into me, tasting of thick mold. The fire within me grew hotter. I sucked his torso inside and endeavored to claim the rest of him. He twisted as he passed through my intestines, but his struggle ended promptly. With one final deep breath, his legs and feet disappeared. The gates of Hell welcomed him and my stomach blazed. If I had the chance, I'd send every vampire, with the exception of Drake, to a fiery eternal grave.
"That was incredible," Patrick said with wide eyes.
I glanced around the room and all the werewolves were staring with equally shocked eyes.
"It's fucking cool," Shawn said, standing on the other side of Anton.
I straightened and looked at Jeremy. His skin seemed a little pale and sweat coated his face. He looked bad.
"Care to finish?" Jeremy asked.
"Absolutely."
"Here, let me help," Shawn said as he walked behind Anton.
I moved in front of the vamp. Shawn placed his hand on Anton's head and unsheathed his knife while Dylan stepped away. Anton convulsed from the current of energy Shawn was pushing into him.
"My death will be avenged." Anton's words came out jittery.
"You're already dead," I said. "I'm just going to make sure your soul goes to the right place."
Anton's body jerked and twitched. Blood dribbled from his eyes and nose. Part of me feared destroying the VETOV member would do more harm than good, but he'd played a role in everything. He contributed to the group who wanted to use me and was keeping Drake away from me. If he'd offered to help me in some way, things could've been different. But he was a vampire, and so very few of them seemed to have a caring heart.
When Anton's body shuddered less and less, I sensed his fight was ending. I looked up at Shawn and nodded. Shawn brought his knife across Anton's throat. The flesh tore with ease while dark fluid spilled out. Shawn made two deep cuts before he reached bone. Three more swipes of the knife, then the body fell away from the head.
Anton's soul leaped from his body. I grabbed his forearm before he could get far, then jerked him toward me. I took hold of his other wrist.
"Not so fast. My father is waiting for you," I said.
He tugged his arms, trying to free them from my grasp.
I grinned. "My strength is superior to your weak soul. So forget it. You're going to the place where you belong. Enjoy eternity."
The inferno within me raged. Opening my mouth, I gathered a deep breath. His head stretched before it entered me. He continued to resist as I pulled his arms inside me. His fight ceased after I sucked down half his chest. His essence glided over my tongue and reminded me of rotten fruit. I wanted to gag, but knew I couldn't. I wouldn't. My insides flamed, silently calling for him. I gathered the rest of his body, calling it inside me as I inhaled. After the last of his soul dissolved, I pressed my lips together and swallowed.
"Fuck me, I love watching that," Shawn said with a wide grin.
I looked behind me at Jeremy. His eyelids were half closed as if he were struggling to keep them open. He wavered slightly.
"Jeremy!" I ran toward him.
He forced his eyelids up.
I wrapped my arm around his back. "You need to lay down and rest." I guided him toward the sofa.
His body felt mildly warm, yet damp. He leaned against me and put his arm around my shoulder. "Did you get what you wanted?"
I helped him turn around, then sit. "Yes."
"Good. I think I need to rest." He leaned against the arm of the sofa. I lifted his legs and placed them on the cushions so he would lie on his back with his head somewhat propped up.
Patrick came to my side. "He didn't look good when he came up here. Maybe it was the two fights from the game."
"Two?" I asked, surprised. I'd only seen the one during the second period.
"He started another one late in the third period. It got him kicked out," Patrick said.
Dread blossomed and I shook my head. In addition to his head injury, he'd started two fights. I'd seen him take a few blows during the first match. Although I hadn't witnessed the second one, I presumed he'd acquired a few more hits. The demon could've easily received a concussion from all the violence to his skull.
"Is someone going to call a doctor?" someone in the room asked. The voice was familiar.
Sam stepped closer and withdrew a phone from a pocket on the side of his dark pants. "His heart is slowing."
Panic took root within me. Pulse racing, I said, "We have to get him to a hospital. Call it in. Now!"
Jeremy pried his eyelids up and lifted his hand. "Jessie."
I kneeled in front of him, then took his wet, clammy face into my hands. "I'm here."
"Kiss me," he said softly.
My eyebrows tightened as I gave him a puzzled look.
"Share with me," he said.
Memories of him sharing his strength with me returned. He'd been teaching me how to fight and had sent his spiritual force into me through a kiss. In Arizona, he'd shared his power with me too. Now, he wanted me to return the favor.
Eager to help him, I pressed my lips to his. My body heated while energy rose. I pushed it into him and he gladly accepted. He placed a hand over one of mine and withdrew strength from me. Sweat trickled down the side of my face as I burned with intense life and power. I fed it all too him, hoping it would heal him. Without him, I couldn't free Drake and survive.
Jeremy closed his mouth, then swallowed. A little color had returned to his face, but he still looked horribly ill. He slipped his hand away from mine, then closed his eyes. I placed a hand over his heart and felt a steady rhythm. How long would it last? How much of a beating had his head endured? Not knowing the answers instilled fear. I didn't want him to die, and not because I needed his help. Too many people had met death already. I couldn't lose another, especially a friend.
"An ambulance is on the way," Sam said.
I stood and stared down at my demon friend for several minutes. He'd pushed himself to the breaking point to help me. Through thick and thin, for better or for worse, he'd come to my aid. He was as loyal as they came, or maybe just fiercely determined. Either way, I had to give him a world of credit. He deserved it.
"His pulse is dropping," someone said.
"Does anyone know CPR?" another asked.
Shawn tugged me aside as uniformed men rushed toward Jeremy. The room started spinning. Warm arms surrounded me and pulled me away. Voices blended together, yet a ringing in my ears grew louder until I heard only it. Fear and hopelessness swallowed me whole. I closed my eyes and leaned against Shawn. There was nothing more I could do for Jeremy. The fate of his life was now up to the powers that be.
Chapter Twelve
The constant beep of the heart machine encouraged me to sleep. I supposed it didn't help that I rested my head on the bed, near the side of Jeremy's body. Underneath me, I held his warm hand. Too many wires and tubes were connected to his other arm, so I stayed on his right side. For the last two days I'd sat in the chair, touching him, and hoping he'd heal enough
so the doctors would take him out of his drug-induced coma. Day three had yet to be any different.
Patrick entered the room quietly. He and Shawn had taken turns to play guard duty. While I appreciated their efforts, I told them they didn't need to stick around any more. The demons insisted on helping. Today was Patrick's day to act as hall monitor. I sat upright as he approached me.
"There's a werewolf outside. He said he's a good friend of Jeremy's, went to college with him," Patrick said with his thumb pointing behind him.
I rubbed my eyes. "Did he say his name?"
"Ryan Foster."
My pulsed jumped with excitement. "I know him. Send him in."
I stood, pushing the chair back, then stretched as Patrick headed for the door. After delicately drawing the infinity symbol on the back of Jeremy's hand with the tip of my finger, I slid away from him. Every time I left his side, I'd drawn the figure, hoping by some miracle he'd know it was me touching him.
Hairs on my body sprang to life, but it was soft taps on the linoleum floor that captured my attention. Ryan stopped near the foot of the bed. The werewolf with short brown hair and bangs looked the same as the last time I'd seen him over four and half years ago. Grief and happiness swam through me as I rushed toward him. I threw my arms around the hunky man, then hugged him.
"It's good to see you." I fought the sadness in my heart, but my eyes filled with tears anyway.
He squeezed me against him. "I would've come sooner if you'd called me."
I lessened my embrace and took a step back. "I didn't want to bring you into any of this."
"Jeremy already had. He'd called me days ago asking for the names of werewolves who could help him in the area."
"He'd contacted you?" I asked, surprised.
"I sent him a long list of people in the area who were loyal to Vandett Trucking. After I didn't hear anything back from him, I called a buddy of mine here the next day. He filled me in on what happened."
"Then you know two werewolves were killed and two were hurt."
He lowered his gaze and nodded. "I told Alan. The company will pay for the funerals and the families of the deceased will be well compensated."