Reaper: A raven paranormal romance (Crookshollow ravens Book 2)

by Steffanie Holmes

  “Well …” I sank into the chair, my face breaking out in a grin. The girls applauded, and Ryan pressed a glass of champagne into my hand. “How was the ceremony?”

  “Beautiful. Sir Thomas cried during his vows. It was so gorgeous.”

  “It’s been the perfect day.” Elinor gushed. “It’s just a pity about those rainclouds.”

  “I haven’t seen any rainclouds,” Alex said. “And the forecast was fine all day.”

  “That’s what I thought, but look over there.”

  I looked where she was pointing. Sure enough, a low, dark cloud was moving in over the forest, casting a grey shadow across the lawn as it hurtled towards the marquee. Odd, I’d never seen clouds move that fast before. And what was that strange noise ...

  “Those aren’t rainclouds,” Alex cried, pointing. “Look!”

  Fear clenched my stomach. The dark cloud rolled closer, and as it did it appeared to break up into pieces. Tiny black dots appeared on the edges, soaring and dipping.

  I’d seen that cloud before. It wasn’t a cloud at all. It was the unkindness of ravens, coming straight for us.

  “Take cover!” Ryan yelled. He grabbed me and Alex, dragging us under the table. All around us, wedding guests scrambled to find a hiding place. Chairs toppled over, glasses smashed, women screamed. I peered out from behind the white table cloth at the unfolding chaos as dignitaries, royalty and celebrities rushed around in a panic, and the security team Sir Thomas had hired marched forward, rolling up their sleeves as though they intended to punch the birds into submission. Bianca and Elinor peered out from under the tablecloth beside me, their eyes wide.

  With a horrifying screech, the ravens slammed against the side of the marquee, tearing through the thick canvas like it was butter. They spread out across the huge space, croaking with glee as they pulled up the tablecloths, smashed into the floral arrangements, and ripped down the fairy lights. Their wings beat up a furious wind, and that horrible croaking of hundreds of hellish birds sent shivers of terror down my spine.

  “Don’t let them bite you!” I yelled at my friends. One raven swooped under our table. Elinor screamed and kicked it with her heel. It bounced across the tiles, hit a tent pole, and flopped to the ground, stunned.

  On the other side of me, Alex screamed. Another raven had tangled itself in her hair. It croaked with rage, beating its wings frantically as it tried to free itself. I grabbed it behind its wings and tugged it. Alex screeched as it tore chunks of her hair with its talons, but it came free in my hands. I fell backward, and the bird whipped its head around and jabbed me with its beak, taking a chunk of flesh from my arm.

  Pain arced through my body. A creeping warmth swept up my arm. I fell back, grasping the cut, as the full horror of what had happened settled in my mind.

  I’d been bitten by one of Morchard’s birds. I was going to die. It was as certain as the sun rising or Cole being hot. Tears sprung in my eyes. No. I wiped them away angrily. This can’t be it. It can’t be all over. I have to do something. I have to stop him.

  “Belinda, are you …” Elinor’s voice trailed off as she saw my clutching my arm. Her stricken face confirmed my fears. “Oh, shit.”

  “We don’t have time,” I said, gritting my teeth against the pain. “We have to get these people to safety.”

  “You don’t have to do anything. You’re running to the car,” Ryan yelled. He leapt into the air, forcing his change. His tuxedo tore in half as his shoulders shifted, his body forming the lithe and lethal fox. He leapt into the fray, his jaws snapping, his claws raised. Ravens croaked with terror as their blood splattered across the white tablecloths.

  Alex grabbed my hand and dragged me towards the entrance. I forced my legs to move, racing after her. Every step drove home the inevitable truth. I’ve been bitten. I’m a dead baker walking.

  We cleared the tent and followed a frenzy of screaming guests as they fled across the lawns towards the house. Alex paused to kick off her heels, then yanked me along. My breath screamed in my lungs. We’re nearly there. We’re nearly—

  Something grabbed the back of my dress, yanking me backward. I tried to wriggle away, but it held on tight. Panic surged through me, and I threw up my hands to protect my face. My blood pounded in my ears.

  “I warned you!” The voice hissed.

  I whirled around, and came face-to-face with Ethan. Only it wasn’t Ethan any longer. His face was scratched and burned in places, his eyes bugged out like saucers. He lunged at me with his mouth open, blood dripping from two long fangs.

  “You’re a … a vampire.” I gasped.

  “Isn’t it wonderful?” He grinned, grabbing my shoulders with thin, bony fingers.

  “But … but how?”

  “It was all Clive’s fault,” Ethan hissed. “The authorities were on to us, so we had to leave Lichtenstein. He said he knew someone in Leeds who could hide us for a while, all we need is a ride. So we drag some deadbeat-looking guy from his car, only the fucking weirdo is some kind of martial-arts genius. He tears us up pretty bad, then bites us. I wake up, hours later, looking like this, craving blood. The guy had left his car behind, so we took it and headed for Loamshire, just outside of Crookshollow we saw a young guy walking on the road. He had posh clothes on, so Clive decided to rob him. We park the car and get out, tackle the guy and take his wallet and school satchel. And before I know it, my teeth are in his neck and I’m sucking him dry.”

  The pieces were starting to fall into place. “The guy on the road. Was it Harry Morchard? Is that why you were at Morchard Castle?”

  Ethan grinned wider. “I passed out again, and we all woke up with this intense longing for blood. I knew things were bad. That little twerp said we could hide at the castle, that his dad knew all about vampires and medicine, and he could probably find us a cure. Instead, his father shot Clive and I full of drugs and kept us prisoner. You can’t imagine it, Belinda. This unrelenting, unceasing thirst ...”

  The room across from mine … the banging … the three men skulking around the courtyard. Ethan was at Morchard Castle while I was, a trapped vampire ...

  “Let her go!” Alex cried. She tried to prise Ethan’s arm off me. Ethan’s nails dug into my shoulders, and he bared his teeth to me. I whimpered.

  “Morchard let us out today. He told us if we came here and bit some guy named Cole, he’d cure us of this thirst. And if we don’t, he’ll kill us. So here I am,” he grinned maniacally. “I’m looking for Cole. Have you seen him? Morchard said you’d know where he was.”

  I tried to tackle Ethan off me, but he held me down tight, his teeth snapping just above my neck. I wrestled with him, managing to free one of my hands. Alex grabbed me and tried to drag me backward, but Ethan punched her in the face, and she went down, blood spurting from her nose.

  “Not so fast.” Ethan hissed in my hair as he bundled me into his arms, trapping my hands in a vicelike grip. “Morchard gave me special instructions about you, as well. You’re coming with me.”

  23

  Cole

  We raced towards the marquee, changing into our bird forms at lightning speed. We reached the edge of the upper lawn just as the birds descended upon the marquee, tearing open the canvas and pouring inside. Screams echoed across the lawn as we swooped low. I watched out of the corner of my eye as Ingrid broke off to take down a bird on the edge of the flock. They toppled to the grass, and in one swift stroke, she tore its throat out.

  I dived at the nearest bird, my talons grabbing it on the back. I threw it into the nearest pole, sending it hurtling to the ground in a mess of feathers and blood. My eyes scanned the chaos. Where was Belinda? I had to find her. I had to make sure she was OK.

  I couldn’t see her anywhere, nor any of her friends. Something red flashed in the corner, and a tray of crostini crashed to the ground as a giant fox leapt over the buffet table and grabbed one of the birds between its teeth. The fox shook the bird violently, then dropped it on the ground, rising up on its hind legs t
o take a swipe at another that tried to get close.

  There’s Ryan, but he looks awfully busy.

  I rolled to the left as another bird flung itself at me, my outstretched talon ripping a nasty gash along its side. The bird crashed into a towered floral arch, sending the whole thing crashing to the ground.

  “Keep your eyes open,” I called to Byron. “I need to find Belinda. And Morchard is here somewhere.”

  “Why would he come here?” Byron cried as he sliced his talons through another bird’s throat. “He’d be risking his own life. These birds are out of control.”

  “He loved to torture birds in his aviary. Trust me, he wants to watch this carnage.”

  I scanned the marquee. No, he wouldn’t be there. That was chaos. He’d have no guarantee that he wouldn’t be bitten. But then where? The hedges in the garden were all too low to hide a man, unless he were lying down in the grass, and that wasn’t Morchard’s style—

  The house. Of course. I scanned the windows on the side. In the top right I thought I saw a tall shadow move, and a curtain flapping. Found you, you bastard.

  As I rounded the side of the marquee I spied a flash of red making its way across the lawn towards the parking lot. It was Elinor, and Eric. Elinor was clutching her shoulder, and I saw blood pooling between her fingers. No, not her. Alex and Bianca were with them. I dived towards them.

  “Stay away, you bastard!”

  I ducked as Eric swung a chair at me. It missed by a less than an inch.

  “Don’t hurt him, that’s Cole!” Alex grabbed me and cradled me in her arms. “You can tell because of the ring around his wing. That ex-boyfriend of hers dragged her off towards the house. But Cole, she’s been—”

  I didn’t let her finish that sentence. I broke free of her grasp and zoomed towards the hall.

  “I’m coming for you!” I screamed in caw tongue, and took off, heading straight for the window. Morchard saw me hurtling towards him, for he backed away from the window and disappeared into the room.

  At the last minute I changed my flight path, and headed for an open window in the room next to the one he’d been in. I flew through the guest suite and out into a hallway, just in time to hear a door slam on my right. Footsteps pounded up the stairs. He was heading up, heading for the rooftop deck.

  As I flew up the stairs after him, the door to the deck slammed shut. I fluttered down onto the doorknob, but of course I couldn’t move it. I forced a shift, grabbed the knob, and stumbled through the door.

  “Well, if it isn’t Cole Erikson in all his glory.” Morchard’s beady eyes flickered down my naked body, his thin lips forming a long grin. “I wasn’t expecting a show, or perhaps it’s all a mating display for your little Nightingale over there.”

  His gaze fell over my shoulder. I whirled around. Belinda sat in a chair near the opposite edge of the roof, her wrists, ankles, neck and waist bound tightly. Behind her stood a dark-haired man with the bloodshot eyes and red-stained lips of a vampire. If I had to guess, I’d say that was her bastard ex-boyfriend, Ethan.

  “Get your hands off her,” I growled. In response, Ethan grinned, baring his long incisors, and leaned in close to Belinda, who shuddered away.

  “Touch her, and die.”

  “Temper, temper.” Victor Morchard said, taking a step towards me. “I’d have thought your new master would have tamed your disobedient spirit by now.”

  “This is the most ridiculous revenge idea.” I jabbed my elbow at the edge, where the screams of the wedding guests and the croaking of the ravens floated up to meet us. “Any copper worth his salt will connect this crime to you. You’re going down for this, Victor. It’s murder. It’s an act of terror.”

  “Now you may be right about that, but you’re wrong about the revenge thing. This is not ridiculous, it is actually quite genius.” he said. “I have infected all those birds with a new, more virulent strain of the Morchard Virus. It’s extremely fast acting, and deadly. Anyone who is bitten or scratched by them will be infected, and none will survive more than ten hours. A completely natural, utterly tragic event, but not one that can be traced back to me.”

  “You’re disgusting,” I said, my hands in fists at his sides. “You would kill all these people to take revenge on me. You think I’m the monster, because I wanted to escape you, but this proves that you are the monster.”

  “You let my son die in the hands of that vampire scum.” Morchard spat. “You should have been the one killed, instead.”

  “Sir Thomas didn’t kill Harry, and neither did Cole.” Belinda cried out. “Ethan did.”

  What? I spun around, looking at Belinda’s stricken face. How did she know that? Looking into Ethan’s eyes, I knew it was true.

  “Shut her up!” Morchard yelled. He was getting flustered.

  “Sir Thomas wasn’t anywhere near Harry that night. He had no reason to kill Harry. The deal you made over Cole’s life hadn’t even gone through yet. Tell him, Ethan.”

  Ethan looked from Belinda to Morchard, momentarily stunned. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do.

  This was my chance.

  As quick as I could, I streaked across the roof and grabbed the vampire by the collar. He craned his neck to snap his teeth at me, and I punched him in the nose. He cried out as blood pissed down his face. My knuckles stung, but I ignored the pain as I dragged the snivelling figure to the middle of the roof, dumping him at Victor’s feet.

  “Talk.” I commanded. Ethan spat blood at me. I gave him a swift kick in the ribs. He moaned, and I went to kick him again.

  “I killed Harry!” Ethan moaned, clutching his ribs.

  “This is not true,” Victor squeezed his eyes shut. “Sir Thomas killed Harry, because Cole had escaped.”

  I forced Ethan to his knees. “Tell him.”

  “I killed the boy,” Ethan sobbed, clutching his hands to his chest. “Please don’t hurt me, I didn’t know. But we’re friends now. Harry and I, we just want to help each other. Please sir, I wasn’t in control of myself. I didn’t kno-ow-ow …”

  Victor’s face twisted with pain, as he realised he had let his son’s killer into his own house. Ethan clutched at his leg, still sobbing and begging for mercy, but Victor kicked him away, staring down at the vampire in disgust.

  “We’ve both had a loved one killed by a vampire,” I said, taking a step forward, cracking my knuckles together, trying to look as menacing as possible. “That might be the only thing you and I will ever have in common. But now, I have to stop you from ever creating something like this again.”

  “You wouldn’t dare,” Victor laughed, but his laughed sounded high-pitched. His eyes darted nervously between me and the door. “I am the only one who knows how to create the antiviral. I see your girlfriend has a wound on her arm. It looks as though you still need me, after all.”

  I whirled around. Belinda’s lip quivered. I rushed to her side and undid her bonds. She fell into my arms, sobbing. “Is it true?” I whispered, my heart hammering against my chest. ‘Show me.”

  Gingerly, she pulled down the scrap of tablecloth she’d wrapped around her arm. Beneath it, a long, jagged cut oozed a trail of blood.

  “No.” My blood burned with rage. Not Belinda. She can’t be taken from me like this.

  “It’s OK, Cole,” she whispered. “I’ll be fine.”

  But she wouldn’t be fine. She was going to die. The best thing that had ever happened in my entire life, and Victor Morchard had taken it away from me, once again.

  “You,” I barked at Victor, all the fury inside me welling up, pressing against my skin like a dam ready to burst. He must’ve seen something in my eyes, for he backed away, his hands raised in supplication.

  “Now, Cole. Let’s not do anything hasty—”

  I flung myself towards him, a deep growl escaping my throat. He tried to duck around me, but I was too fast. I grabbed him around his neck, lifting him off the ground. His feet kicked at the air as his fingers fought to prise mine from his thr
oat. Those beady eyes bugged out of his head. There was no smugness there any longer, just terror.

  “You’ve taken everything from me,” I growled, dragging him towards the edge of the roof. “You won’t take Belinda, too. You give me that antiviral, and then I’ll decide if I’ll spare your miserable life.”

  “Caaa—” Victor choked out.

  “What’s that, Victor?” I lifted him higher, backing him right up against the railing, so his back leaned out into nothingness. Full-blown panic flooded Victor’s face. He thrashed wildly against me, but my rage held my arms taut, my fingers tightening against his throat. I wanted to see him suffer, to feel the fear he felt as I sapped the final eddies of life from his veins.

  “Cole, no.” Belinda sobbed, from somewhere behind me. “Don’t do it. Don’t become a killer, like him.”

  Don’t become a killer like him.

  She was right, damn her. Damn my beautiful, kind, wonderful girl. It took every ounce of self-control I had, but I unlocked my fingers from his throat, dropping him like a stone at my feet.

  “I will never be like you,” I rasped, stepping back to catch my breath.

  “Then you will all die,” he croaked out, crawling to his feet. Before I could stop him, he launched himself at the edge of the building, and toppled over the side, taking with him the only means to cure the virus.

  As I leaned over and saw Victor fall, a long string of white light burst from his chest, coiling through the air like a rope unfurling. I didn’t even think. Instinct kicked in. I vaulted the railing and leapt into the air.

  “Cole!” Belinda screamed.

  As I fell towards Victor, I forced a shift. The ground rushed up towards me. I stretched out my wings, and the wind whipped through my feathers. I turned in the air as I gained control of my descent.

  Victor saw me coming; his eyes grew wider, even as he fell. He knew exactly what I was planning to do. He reached up his hand and it looked as though he would try to take a swing at me. But before he had the chance, he hit the patio below with a sickening CRACK.