Damned and Cursed | Book 10 | Fallen Skye

by Bullion, Glenn

Victoria’s expression changed. Kevin could see thoughts flowing through her mind.

  “You know what’s going on. Don’t you?” he asked.

  She stood up.

  “Maybe. But we still have to find Alan. And another vampire that’s key to everything, the one running the show.” She pulled various pictures from her back pockets and spaced them across the table. “We have options. Can you use these? To find him?”

  He looked through the photos. Alan playing softball, posing with several people, washing a car.

  “Yeah.”

  Kevin grabbed a picture of Alan alone and set up the spell. A dead phone from a collection he kept in a box. The right mix of ingredients. A small tray.

  It all ended with his touch.

  Nothing happened.

  There were no sparkles, no shine in the potion. The phone didn’t come to life with a singular purpose, to track the subject of the photo.

  He’d wasted vampire ash, a difficult ingredient to find, for no reason.

  “Oh shit.”

  “What?” Victoria said. “What’s wrong?”

  “This means either Alan is dead. Or, he’s just not Alan anymore. He’s something else. I don’t know. We’re dealing with magic here. Maybe I just can’t track whatever he is.”

  “I slipped my necklace into one of their pockets. You can track that?”

  “Ah, yes. Let’s see.”

  He went to his bookshelf, where he’d reserved a special section for maps and atlases. It took a moment to sort through the collection. Maps of the United States, then Washington, then finally Sumerset. He held his stone over the map, then aimed his other hand at the wall. The projection showed only dark, moving shadows. An occasional flash of gray. There were red eyes, sharp fangs.

  “They’re on the move,” Victoria said, approaching Kevin’s projection. “This is … wow.”

  Kevin smiled.

  “This is how I found you, that first time I kicked your ass.”

  “That’s how you remember it?”

  He looked at the map of Sumerset, searching for the magical dot, the location.

  “Uh, Russell Road?”

  “They’re in the sewers,” Victoria said. “Can you keep this up?”

  “As long as the stone stays with them, yeah.”

  “Okay, then we have to move. If they find it, or he drops it, we’re screwed. And this is only going to get worse.”

  “It is?”

  She nodded.

  “They’re leaving the sewers, attacking the surface now. And whoever is in charge, he’s losing control. Alan won’t take orders much longer.”

  “Okay, just … hold on.”

  Kevin moved. He marched to the far side of the workshop, to his wall of vests and belts. He drifted a finger over the various choices, like browsing a clothes rack. Human, werewolf, witch, until finally settling on vampire. He grabbed a loose belt, full of trinkets and potions, and a hand mirror from the shelf behind him. He fastened the belt and shoulder-straps and approached his coat. It waited for him where he left it, almost beckoning. Plucking it from the air, he shoved the mirror into an inside pocket as he slid it on.

  Victoria smiled at him with a look of amusement. The stare went a little too long, making him shrink inside his coat.

  “What?” he said.

  She hugged him. The gesture came out of nowhere. A warm, tight squeeze. He returned the affection, careful of her bloody clothes. There had been so much tension between them lately. He was sure they’d fight again. But it was reassuring to know they could still hug.

  She kissed him on the forehead.

  “I’m glad you’re with me,” she said.

  He nodded and playfully slapped her good side.

  “You know I’ve always got your back.”

  She nodded and held his shoulders.

  “This is it. Are you up for this?”

  He gestured to his coat.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  “Okay. Let’s go hunting.”

  CHAPTER 26

  THE RESTAURANT WAS empty, quiet. It normally would have been closed, because of the late hour. But Jack insisted that Marie and he stop for a bite to eat. A change of clothes, a quick conversation, some money handed over, and Marie sat with a full course meal in front of her at one-thirty in the morning.

  She wasn’t very hungry.

  The food smelled delicious, but she barely noticed it. Grilled chicken and pasta, a side of vegetables. She stared at her plate, lost in her own thoughts. Quiet music over the restaurant’s sound system pushed the silence aside, and their personal server asked if her meal was okay. She absentmindedly nodded and sent him away.

  Jack said something. It took a moment to realize he was talking to her.

  “What?” she asked. “Did you say something?”

  “I said, I like your dress.”

  A rare compliment from Jack. She wished she could have enjoyed it. Flashing a polite smile, she went back to staring at her food.

  Jack had no trouble eating, nor enjoying his meal in silence.

  He finished, poked at his smartphone for a moment, then ordered dessert. His gaze fell on her while taking a drink of water.

  “I’m going to regret asking this,” he said. “But what’s wrong?”

  Marie took a deep breath. She knew she’d equally regret confiding in Jack, but she did anyway.

  “What’s wrong?” she repeated. “I actually have to explain what’s wrong. We … terrorized that little boy.”

  “Don’t forget Ezzie,” he said, smiling. “She’ll need to rent some serious time on a therapy couch.”

  “This isn’t a joke. I’ve done some terrible things in my life. But … the look on Bobby’s face. That will haunt me until I die.”

  Jack’s smile faded.

  “You know what will haunt me? Opening my daughter’s closet and seeing her, the fear in her eyes, as her home burnt down around her.”

  “I know. But you know what they say about two wrongs making a right.”

  “Yeah. I figure it’ll take about four, maybe five more wrongs.”

  “Jack—”

  “You said you were with me. I asked if you were sure. You said yes.”

  “I know, and I am. You know I’ll help you with Tiffany, your home, getting Skye back, whatever you need. But torturing little kids—”

  “Stop with the drama. The kid and stepmommy walked away without a scratch. We even saved his precious PlayStation. We probably saved that boy’s life.”

  She looked up, meeting Jack’s eyes for the first time since dinner started.

  “How do you figure?”

  “He’ll do anything now to be his own man, not follow in his daddy’s footsteps. Maybe he’ll grow up to be an accountant or a porn star or something. We changed that kid’s future, and I’m a glass-half-full kind of guy. I’m going to think we changed it for the better.”

  Marie finally let out a small smile.

  “That’s an interesting way of looking at it.”

  “You’re damned right it is. We did Ezzie and Tommy—”

  “Bobby.”

  “Whatever. We did them a favor. Now, they’ll get away from Harry. They’ll move to a farm, maybe one with an outhouse and a barn. They’ll raise pigs and goats, far away from dangerous people like me. And Harry.”

  She laughed and reached for his hands. He didn’t yank them away.

  “You won’t want to hear this. I know we won’t move in together and share bath towels. But I care about you. That’s why I’m willing to get dirty with you. But tonight … I’m not doing that again.”

  He was quiet a moment. Marie wasn’t sure, but she thought he squeezed her hands in return. Or was he just shifting?

  “Fair enough.” A mischievous smile crossed his face as he touched her arm. “Speaking of getting dirty—”

  Dessert arrived before he could finish his thought. An ice cream brownie. Marie grabbed it first, sliding it toward her. Jack arched an eyeb
row.

  “Just help yourself.”

  “I am. This looks delicious.”

  “Save half.”

  “Maybe.”

  Jack’s phone rang. Marie paused for a moment, in mid-bite. She resumed her confiscated dessert as he rolled his eyes.

  “I was starting to wonder if he’d ever call,” he said, holding the phone to his ear. “Hello?”

  She had no trouble hearing Harry, and even less trouble hearing the barely contained rage in his voice.

  “You … how dare … do you realize what you’ve done?”

  “Ah,” Jack said. “I see you got my message.”

  “I told you. What happened at your home … was an accident. Your daughter is okay, and I paid you. You went after my family.”

  Jack looked across the table.

  “Hey, what the hell,” he said, grabbing at the brownie and ice cream. “I said half. You little thief.”

  She held onto the plate, with a smile. Even in her human form, she was far stronger than Jack.

  “You think this is a joke?” Harry said. “You don’t know who you’ve fucked with. I’m going to kill—”

  “Harry, hush. Now, listen. There is an abandoned shopping mall near the edge of town. You have to love online shopping, just killing everything. You know the place?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good. Meet me there by the old fountain. Bring Skye. Come alone. I’ll have every cent you paid me. We’ll trade, and then pretend we never met. How does one hour sound?”

  “One hour. I’m not even in the fucking state, you piece of shit—”

  “Fine. Two hours.” He smirked. “And I’ll bring breakfast.”

  Harry hesitated.

  “Come on, Harry. The clock’s ticking. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we get back to our lives.”

  “Two hours. We’ll be there,” Harry said. “The bitch isn’t worth the trouble.”

  Jack laughed.

  “Tell me about it. She’s a pain in the ass. Does she keep stripping around you, too?”

  “Fuck you.”

  Harry hung up.

  Jack set down his phone and tugged at the dessert. Marie relented, and he rubbed his hands together in satisfaction as he took a bite. He pointed at Marie’s uneaten chicken and vegetables, silently scolding her for skipping dinner for dessert.

  Marie knew Jack had been alive much longer than her, had more experience. Still, she wasn’t new at the game they were playing. She stated the obvious.

  “This won’t go like you think it will,” she said, leaning across the table for another spoonful of ice cream. “He won’t come alone. There won’t be any trade. There’s no way in hell he just walks up and let’s Skye go.”

  “You’re right, except for one thing.” His eyes turned serious. “It’ll go exactly how I say it will.”

  CHAPTER 27

  A RAT SCURRIED across Victoria’s foot. She nudged it aside, then turned to check on Kevin. The witch wasn’t far behind, watching his step as they made their way through the sewers. She sympathized as he stumbled. There was a time magic was an amazing force to her. Because of Kevin, she was beginning to take it for granted. But magic wasn’t always easy, or convenient.

  Kevin carried a torn map of Sumerset in one hand, his stone in the other. He had to stop every so often to leave a magically lighted mothball in the air, for vision. Then he projected a remote image of Victoria’s stone, still in a random vampire’s pocket, on the nearby wall.

  But that image wasn’t very useful.

  The sewers were a maze, and seeing the area around the stone wasn’t very helpful.

  “This isn’t helping at all,” Kevin said, catching up to Victoria. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, it’s fine. We know they’re not moving. We know they’re still here.”

  “Yeah, but what is here? Where are we?”

  Victoria checked her phone. She kept losing her signal, no doubt from being underground, but they weren’t far from Russell Road.

  “We’re close,” she said.

  “Can you smell anything? Or hear?”

  She shook her head. Her senses weren’t at their peak since leaving Sumerset above. The scents told her little, the noise bounced all around her.

  “What’s the plan?” Kevin asked. “Are you going to … kill them?”

  She took a breath and turned to face him.

  “We might have to,” she said. “We can’t let them hurt any more people.”

  Kevin’s eyes were full of doubt, worry. That was why she loved him. So powerful and strong, and always so hesitant to cause pain.

  “So,” he said. “How many sewers have you been into?”

  She smiled.

  “More than I’d like to admit.”

  “I’m going to take six showers when this is—”

  She cut him off with a hard grip of his shoulder. He looked at her, confused. She silently put a finger to her lips.

  The noise was quick, followed by the smell. Water splashing, a quiet snarl. Blood and soiled clothes.

  The vampire rounded the corner behind them, sprinting full speed. Victoria recognized Alan as he was almost upon them.

  “Get down—!”

  Alan was too fast. Time was up.

  He collided into both of them, not caring about his own safety. Kevin took the brunt of the impact. He flew backwards, smacking and sliding down the wall. Victoria fell to her knees. Alan pounced on Kevin, wrapping his hands around his throat. Kevin tried to fight. He tried to reach into his coat for something, anything.

  Alan reared his head back. His fangs grew, and he lashed out like a snake.

  Victoria winced as Alan bit her forearm.

  She barely reacted in time, shoving her arm between Alan and Kevin. Alan bit down harder and shifted his attention to Victoria. Kevin gasped and coughed as Victoria spun behind Alan, trying to choke him with fangs still in her flesh. Alan hurled himself back, pinning Victoria beneath him, but she held on.

  Willing her free hand into a claw, she raked at Alan’s eyes. He grunted, but it was more out of annoyance than pain.

  She grabbed her own wrist and tried to pry her arm from his mouth. He took her by surprise when he released his bite willingly, but only to get a better position. Alan spun on top of her, attacking wildly. Grabbing her hair, he slammed her head into the ground, over and over. In a desperate move, she lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist, squeezing with all her strength. Her head ached and throbbed, but Alan stopped attacking, instead trying to break her grip. Grabbing his arm, she maneuvered him to the ground, tried to pin him in place.

  Alan slipped free and bit her thigh through her jeans. Victoria cried out and gritted her teeth. She was tired of being bit.

  A whistle cut through the air.

  Alan relented, but only for a second. He bit Victoria again and tried to claw her other leg.

  She turned to see the blond vampire, running at them. Victoria raised her arms, ready to fight him, too.

  He ignored Victoria, squatting next to Alan.

  “Let her go,” he said. “Right now.”

  Alan didn’t listen. Victoria grabbed Alan’s head and pushed, freeing his fangs from her. He lashed out with his claws, almost catching her face.

  “Alan, I said stop. Stop fighting. I’m your … master.”

  The vampire’s words were awkward, hesitant. His eyes met Victoria’s, and he offered a silent apology.

  Alan lashed out at his master, missing him.

  “Alan! I—”

  A bright light washed over them. All the fight in Alan left. Victoria and Alan’s master covered their eyes, blinded. The last thing she saw before everything turned white was Kevin, slowly approaching. He aimed a flashlight, its beam charged with magic.

  But she could still hear. Alan ran away, stumbling.

  “Get him!” the blond vampire shouted. “Don’t let him get to the next tunnel!”

  Victoria didn’t know about the importance of the
next tunnel, nor did she know if they could completely trust their new companion, but she didn’t ask questions. She climbed to her feet, reaching out for anything to steady her. Her hand found Kevin. She tumbled into his arms.

  “Victoria!” he said.

  She pushed him ahead.

  “Go! I’ll be fine.”

  He ran forward, with Victoria behind him. Her vision cleared, only to go white again. She kept a hand on the wall, but couldn’t run full speed.

  The blond vampire stumbled and shouted behind them.

  “Alan! Stop!”

  Kevin was pulling away, gaining more ground. But Alan was faster. The witch would never catch him. Another moment of clarity, where the white faded. Victoria could see an intersection ahead, joining multiple tunnels.

  “No!” the vampire shouted. His voice bordered on panic.

  Another flash of light, this one blue. A cry of surprise. Victoria heard what sounded like ice breaking.

  She ran into Kevin. He had given up the chase, leaning over with his hands on his knees. He grabbed her shoulder, catching his breath, and she hugged him, resting her chin on his head.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  He nodded.

  “Yeah. You?”

  “Nothing some blood won’t fix.”

  The blond vampire pushed past them. Victoria and he noticed why Kevin had stopped.

  Alan was encased in ice, one of Kevin’s magical traps, in mid stride. A broken vial lay shattered at Alan’s feet. The prison stretched all the way to the ceiling. Only part of Alan’s arm was free, his fingers twitching.

  The blond vampire ran a hand down its surface, feeling the cold moisture.

  “What is this?” he asked.

  Kevin waved away his concern, finally standing upright.

  “Don’t worry. I’ve trapped demons with this spell.”

  He searched both their faces.

  “Demons? Who the fuck are you?”

  “You first,” Victoria said.

  “Shhh! Keep your voice down!”

  “Why?”

  He grew more agitated, gesturing to keep quiet with his hands. He motioned for them to follow.

  Carefully and quietly, they passed Alan and the ice prison and approached the end of the tunnel. Victoria heard noise. Bodies shifting, rubbing against each other.