Blood Torn

by Karice Bolton

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Carter

  “Violet, are you here? Open up.” I tapped on her apartment door again, but she didn’t answer.

  Ivy only gave me one specific task.

  Check on Violet.

  I wasn’t going to screw this up

  More than anything, I think Ivy wanted to make sure that Violet had actually slept in her own bed last night.

  I wasn’t holding my breath.

  “Violet. Please open up.” After a few minutes of complete silence, I looked up and down the hallway and stuck the key that Ivy had given me in the door.

  I pushed the door open and knew immediately that something was wrong. The mail on her counter was no longer piled high. It was spread across the counter and onto the floor. A glass of water had been tipped over by the couch.

  Her television was on, but it was muted.

  “Violet, I’m coming down the hall. Ivy sent me.”

  The moment I reached Violet’s bedroom, disgust tore through me.

  I couldn’t run from my past forever.

  A raven had been painted across Violet’s headboard with blood dripping from its beak. A note had been pinned in the center.

  I reached over Violet’s bed and tore the note off, but I didn’t need to read what was written or who’d written it.

  I already knew.

  Fuchsia Boran.

  Anger pounded through me at an incredible pace. Ivy was safe at the Bureau, but I didn’t know how much time Violet had.

  I called Nightfall and tore into Raven Ward instantly. I looked around, seeing the familiar darkness, the smoke in the air, the gloomy skies.

  I hated this place.

  Within seconds, I was at Fuchsia’s house. The door was ajar. I slowly opened it to see an empty foyer. The sitting room where Ivy had been only days before looked like it had never been touched, not a book out of place or a piece of glass shattered.

  Silence was on my side as I moved through the main floor.

  No sign of Fuchsia or Violet.

  I slowly opened the door to the downstairs lair.

  Feeling the musty chill run over my skin, I inhaled and listened.

  Two heartbeats.

  Fuchsia and Violet.

  I made my way down the stairs and through the corridor, my mind flashing to Ivy.

  I had to make this right.

  “Well, if it isn’t our hero in waiting.” Fuchsia cackled.

  The door was open.

  Violet was tied to the same table where Ivy had been only days before.

  The shelves had been fixed, the tinctures refilled, the herbs collected.

  It was like nothing had ever happened.

  Magic was good at that.

  Erasing mistakes.

  “I was hoping you’d get here soon.” Fuchsia wandered toward me, her purple cloak dragging behind her. “I was getting bored.”

  She narrowed her eyes on me. “And you know what happens when I get bored.”

  Violet’s eyes were closed, her breaths short.

  The smell of clover drink was strong in the air.

  “Does the smell remind you of the good old days, Carter?” She flashed a wicked smile. “Boy, did we have our fun.”

  “Fuchsia, what spell did you cast on her?” I knelt by Violet, touching her forehead with the back of my hand. She was clammy and cold.

  Fuchsia shrugged, reaching for a tiny jar. “A little of this and a little of that. She’s such a horrible conversationalist. I just couldn’t stand hearing her.” She spun around and held out her hand. “Here, you give this to her. It will wake her right up.”

  “Why would I believe you?” I shook my head.

  I knew if I made one wrong move, Fuchsia would have no problem killing Violet. I also knew that Fuchsia was smart enough to cast some very complicated spells so that I wouldn’t kill her. I would need her to undo what she did.

  “We both want things in life, right?” Fuchsia smiled. “I want power. You want Ivy.”

  She looked at Violet. “I’m not sure what this one wants other than a good lay from a vampire. Months ago, she answered one of my ads.”

  “Your ads?”

  “Oh, come on.” She shook her head. “Carter, have you lost your edge?”

  I stared at her.

  “You haven’t figured it out yet?”

  “What, Fuchsia? What elaborate game have you been playing this time?”

  “The vampires have always been a plague on our world. Always causing problems, meddling in our affairs, controlling us . . .” She inhaled a deep breath. “I’m just quite tried of it all, really.”

  Oh, no.

  “So, it occurred to me.” Fuchsia laughed. “Why not make it look like the vampires are killing humans? It’s not like it would be the first time it’s happened in our shared history. And it doesn’t hurt that there are so many pathetic humans out there who actually want to be changed.” She shuddered.

  “You used to be one,” I reminded her. “You wanted me to change you. Begged me for it.”

  “And yet, you wouldn’t.” She cocked her head and brought her finger to her scarlet lips. “In fact, I quite think we wouldn’t be in this position if you had.”

  “You know why I wouldn’t.”

  She glared at me. “You grew a sudden conscience. Wasn’t that your story? Yet, you worked under Lux?” She threw her hands in the air. “Please.”

  “So, you’re killing innocent women as payback to me?” I shook my head, feeling sick.

  “No, Carter.” She picked up a small glass and took a sip. “I’m freeing the ones who couldn’t free themselves.”

  “Death isn’t freedom.”

  “It is when life is a prison.” She held her hands out toward me. “When you want something so badly but you can never have it. A life that is meant to be yours, but no one will give it to you. It’s hell on earth.”

  She walked over to Violet and touched her cheek. “This girl knows what it’s like. She doesn’t belong anywhere, and the one place she wanted wouldn’t take her. Imagine the feeling.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “You didn’t want me.” She shrugged, dragging her nails against Violet’s cheek. “I wasn’t good enough to become like you. Isn’t that right, Carter?”

  “That’s not true.” I bit back my anger.

  One wrong move, and I knew Fuchsia would kill her instantly.

  “And then imagine my horror when you bring some untrained heathen to my sanctuary who’s clearly squandered her God-given gifts, and you expect me to just save her?” She slashed Violet’s other cheek.

  “Enough.”

  “Oh, we haven’t even gotten started, Carter.”

  “What do you want?”

  “I want to make you watch the one you love suffer. I want you to suffer.” She smiled. “I want what you have.”

  I glared at her. “Which is what?”

  “Power.” She licked Violet’s blood from her finger and walked back to the shelves. She put a little powder on her finger and licked it again before spinning around to face me.

  “You see, the humans are ready to blame the vampires for these deaths. These aren’t just deaths. It’s the start of a purge. At least, that’s how the humans will see it. As you know, the moment the treaty was signed, the mundanes wanted out. This will be their out.” She tightened her cloak.

  “Simple as that?”

  Fuchsia flashed a wicked grin. “Simple as that. Once I developed the virus for Lux, I knew my legacy had begun.”

  Her words shook me to the core.

  “What?” Her brow arched. “You didn’t know that I was the one who’d developed that nasty little bugger? Does it surprise you? You look stunned.”

  I wanted to end this nonsense so badly, right now, right here.

  I glanced at Violet and knew Ivy would never be able to forgive me. I had to control myself. I had to coax the right outcome.

  “I know what you’re thinking, you’d
kill me now, but you need me to save her.” She pretended to pout. “But there’s no saving her. She’s in a nice sleep already.”

  “There’s always a way. You’ve always said—”

  “Anyway, once Lux kicked the bucket—and thank you for that—I knew the universe had finally accepted me. My work was finally being appreciated.” She winked.

  “I’m sure the Bureau would have loved to have your talents. Would have appreciated your magic and knowledge.” I shook my head. “You could have done a lot of good.”

  She laughed. “Don’t talk about me like I’m dead. I’m very much alive. Isn’t that what you missed most about being immortal, Carter? You said you never really felt alive.”

  I drew a breath.

  “Uh-oh. Fake breaths. You must be getting testy.”

  “What is it you want with Violet?”

  “It’s not really Violet, but she will be a glorious grand finale.” Fuchsia walked toward me and pushed her arms out in a burst. “Picture this headline. Carter Voss, Renowned Vampire Serial Killer, Captured and Exiled to the In-Between Realm.”

  I nodded. “That’s a long headline.”

  “Juicy, isn’t it?”

  I shrugged. “Well, let’s get going. Where are you staging this final act?”

  Fuchsia clapped her hands, and a noise from behind the other door caught my attention.

  I bit back my surprise when I saw one of Decker’s vampires step out from the shadows.

  What was his name?

  I shook my head.

  “Surprised?” she asked.

  Mark! That was his name.

  “Mark, I wish I could say I was surprised.” I shook my head.

  “You remember my name,” he said dryly.

  “Mark will be helping me stage the events.”

  I nodded, watching him walk over to Violet and untie her.

  His eyes flared from the blood Fuchsia had intentionally released from Violet’s cheeks.

  Mark was young.

  Inexperienced.

  Hungry.

  He wheezed as his flank curled into itself. Mark’s mouth widened, unable to control his urge as Fuchsia gasped.

  “Not yet, you fool.”

  Mark’s head snapped toward Fuchsia, and he lunged at her. I reached for Violet and pulled her into my arms, darting out of the lair as fast as I could.

  When I reached the top of the stairs, surprise washed over me when I saw Christy and Ivy.

  Ivy’s hands flew to her mouth as she gasped, “What happened to my sister?”

  “Fuchsia cast a spell.”

  “Oh, no . . .” Christy shook her head. “She was preparing her.”

  Ivy’s eyes connected with mine. “Fuchsia’s behind all the killings.”

  I nodded. “I know, but—”

  Ivy ran her fingers along her twin sister’s face. “She’s barely breathing.”

  I nodded as screams echoed through the corridor from below.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Fuchsia tapped a vampire to help her, but she made a mistake. He was young.” I eyed Violet’s cheeks. “And she drew blood.”

  Christy closed her eyes and shook her head. “This isn’t good.”

  “No.”

  “Can we wake her?” Ivy asked.

  “I don’t know, Ivy.”

  Ivy’s eyes glowed so intensely I knew there was no stopping her. “Get my sister help. I’ll find you.”

  I reached for Ivy’s hand, but she drew it back. “Don’t, Carter. If I’m going to lose my sister, let me have this chance at making things as right as I can. My sister deserves that honor.”

  I swallowed my horror as I watched the woman I was falling in love with change.

  Because of me?

  “You know what it’s like. I know you do.” Ivy moved past me and down the stairs. “Save my sister. She’s all I have. I need to do this.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Ivy

  I tore down the corridor, unable to believe that Violet was under a spell. When I barged into the lair, I saw a vampire draining Fuchsia.

  Her body withered into itself as her dull eyes connected with mine.

  “Help,” she whispered.

  The vampire lifted his gaze and wiped his mouth.

  “Leave,” I told him.

  He nodded and backed up, realizing what he’d just done. He was completely satiated, which made me safer, but I wasn’t concerned about me. I needed to destroy this woman who’d spent so much of her time taunting and murdering innocent women.

  She lolled her head to the side and attempted to lift her hand. “Please.”

  “Please, what?” I glared at her. “Tell me how to bring Violet back.”

  She slowly moved her head from side to side. “There’s no bringing her back. She’s sleeping.”

  Fury rattled through me, but this time it was different.

  It was the most personal of rages, unstoppable.

  My fingers trembled with intensity as I watched the woman cough and groan on the floor.

  “There’s always a way to reverse everything in the magical world.”

  “Not this time. It was so they wouldn’t wake up. Wouldn’t hurt. Violet won’t hurt.”

  “Like you care.” I shook my head. “You’re a murderer, and for what?”

  “You wouldn’t understand.”

  I could barely hear the last word, but I didn’t care. “One last chance.”

  “Sorry.” Her voice cracked as I watched the vacant look slide across her gaze.

  Her head rolled to the side and my stomach sank in disgust.

  She wasn’t dead. Her chest was still moving up and down slowly.

  Like my sister’s.

  I clenched my teeth and prepared to end her once and for all.

  But I couldn’t.

  All I could think about was my sister.

  She needed a chance.

  What if my one act this second wiped out her shot at survival?

  I hung my head, feeling sorrow slosh through my veins as I realized killing Fuchsia wouldn’t awaken my sister. It wouldn’t make me feel better.

  But I knew what would.

  I made my way over to the woman who’d taken so much away from me and knelt next to her.

  Placing my hand on her bite mark, I closed my eyes and thought about my sister.

  The love I had for her. Violet’s beautiful smile, melodious laugh, and carefree spirit.

  Childhood memories drifted through my mind as my chest filled with a love so strong it hurt. Keeping my eyes closed, I focused on health, happiness, and seeing my sister awaken. I thought about our birthday tomorrow.

  As my hands stayed steady on Fuchsia, I opened my eyes to see her skin supple, no longer drained. Her breathing was no longer shallow, her eyes no longer sunken into her skull as her eyes slowly opened.

  She moved her hand to her throat, gliding her fingers over the area I’d healed as she took a deep breath.

  Fuchsia’s eyes connected with mine.

  “Why?” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears.

  “To honor my sister.” I stood and turned away, unable to get rid of the disgust rolling through me. “But there’s a condition.”

  “Anything.”

  I looked over my shoulder. “Go away and never come back.”

  Fuchsia stood and nodded. “Ivy, there is one thing that can awaken her, but it brings with it a blood curse.”

  “Tell me.”

  “You’ll know when the time is right.” She nodded, and without another word, she bowed her head and her empty cloak fell to the stone floor.

  I raced up the stairs and spotted a note.

  They’d taken her back to Juniper Ward.

  I grabbed my neck, feeling the unquenchable thirst ravage my throat, but I didn’t have time to worry about it.

  I needed to get to the others.

  I dashed down the stairs and made my way through the underground network of corridors until I la
nded at the entrance to Juniper Ward. By the time I arrived at Christy’s house, my entire body ached with an unrecognizable thirst.

  My sister was lying on the couch, and two small fairies I didn’t recognize fluttered above.

  “You don’t look well,” Christy said, bringing her gaze to mine.

  “I need water.” I took a step into the apartment and nearly fell over.

  Carter came to my side and helped me to the chair. “Water, please.”

  Christy and Carter traded a concerned glance before Christy darted to the kitchen. “I’ll get it.”

  “How’s my sister?” I asked.

  “The same,” Carter said softly.

  “Fuchsia told me there was a way to awaken her.” I drew a shaky breath, feeling my head pound with every heartbeat.

  “You spoke to her?” Carter asked as Christy handed me the glass.

  I swallowed the water down.

  The liquid did nothing.

  “Briefly.” I looked at the two fairies. “Who are they?”

  “Bakula and Dace. Lydia and Gary are on their way. These two happened to be in Juniper, so they came over to help.”

  Christy refilled my glass, and I drank it with the same result.

  “You don’t look well yourself,” Christy said quietly. “Did you use fire again?”

  I closed my eyes and shook my head slowly. “The anger was there. I wanted to destroy her so badly it hurt, but I couldn’t.” Opening my eyes, I saw Carter frown.

  “Your powers wouldn’t work?”

  I looked over at Violet, her chest barely rising and falling as the fairies discussed options that sounded completely implausible.

  “They worked, but I chose to give her another chance.”

  Carter’s expression fell. “What do you mean?”

  “Fuchsia was already close to death,” I said. “The vampire had pretty much drained her. I’d planned on ending her. She wouldn’t tell me how to help my sister. The anger rolled through me so painfully, I needed a release.”

  Carter nodded.

  “But I couldn’t do it.” I shook my head. “Instead, I thought about my sister. The wonderful woman she’d become. The birthday tomorrow we both share. Her desire to live. My desire for her to live. I just wish my touch could wake her up.”