The Ripple Effect

by J. A. Saare

  “Is that the best you’ve got?” Marigold taunted her opponent, smiling as she did. “Really? And you’ve survived this long? Pathetic.”

  Marius spun around, keeping his back to us, and snarled, “Is this better?”

  I don’t know where the letter opener came from, only that Marigold was fast enough to avoid having it land in my arm—although it did slice through my jacket.

  “Amateur,” Marigold purred and rushed him.

  She tackled him to the ground, using enough force that the ceramic tile cracked with the impact. I could hear the pictures on the wall shaking, the vase containing the live flowers Disco kept on the edge of his desk crashing to the floor. She loved the sounds of violence, the thrill of victory. It rolled through me, even though I wasn’t a participant.

  “The amulet.” Marigold allowed her power to stretch out, searching for the charm she’d created, until familiar warmth seeped from Marius’s pocket and merged with her energy. “There it is.”

  Keeping one hand on Marius’s chest, she ripped his clothing with a firm grasp and tear. A portion of his designer pants came away in her fingers, along with the jewelry he’d taken from me. She quickly removed the hand keeping Marius pinned to the floor, reared back, and decked him in the face. His blood flowed, and she smeared the amulet in the heavy stream coming from his nose.

  “Listen closely, leech.” My head lowered, until Marius and I were almost nose to nose, and Marigold said, “These are words of power.”

  Marius stopped struggling in an instant, freezing beneath me, but his eyes went wide.

  “The amulet belongs to me by rite of blood, given to Rhiannon Murphy as I intend it to be,” she said, words clear. “As its maker, it will never return to you. I forbid it. If you attempt to call it to your arms, you will wander the rest of eternity in chaos. You will not see, you will not understand, and you will not know the world around you. You will be tormented forever, caught in a maelstrom of confusion. Never again seek the power that belongs to me.”

  She lifted away and asked, “Now, what should we do with him?”

  Good question.

  If I managed to kill Revenald, Marius would become the primary master of the home. He loved Disco, that much was obvious, but there was no guarantee he wouldn’t harm him. Also, there was the issue of Goose. My plans didn’t involve my fellow necromancer. Including him would only put my friend’s life on the line. Marius wouldn’t harm Goose—he would need him.

  “Let him live,” I thought, knowing Marigold could hear not only the thought, but what had brought me to my conclusion. “There is no safety net, but at least Goose will be protected.”

  “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

  “Yes.” It was the best way. Disco would need an ally. Marius might be a bastard, but I knew he loved Gabriel, so much so he might be willing to risk his own safety to protect him.

  “Very well.” Marigold didn’t sound happy. She rose, standing over Marius. “This is the way it will be, spawn of Hell. You will not come after my host, nor will you cause her harm. She is bound to me now, under my protection. Her primary purpose in this world is to assist me. If you interfere, you will pay with your life. Your end will not be swift. I’ll kill you slowly.”

  “You should know something,” Marius said and staggered to his feet. “They don’t know about the amulet.”

  “Who are they, pray tell?” Marigold asked dismissively, as though it didn’t matter.

  “Anyone—everyone,” he replied. “If Revenald knew about the amulet and the power it wields, there would be no extent to the harm he’d cause. He thrives on destruction.” He met my gaze, and I could see red rimming his eyes. “You have to stop them from putting Gabriel to ground. He’ll go mad.”

  “The masters of the vampire houses will expect you to bring your progeny to face their justice if he escapes,” Marigold said, speaking the words I thought, acting as a medium. “You know this.”

  “I’ll take care of the master vampires. It’s up to you to stay off the radar.”

  “Already taken care of,” I thought to Marigold. “We need to find Goose.”

  “Where is Goose?” Marigold asked, setting her legs shoulders width apart.

  “You knocked him on his ass, remember?” I reminded her, picturing the broken necromancer who’d been slammed into a wall. “He’s probably sleeping it off upstairs.”

  She was about to speak when Marius asked, “Who is Goose?”

  “Ethan,” I corrected quickly. “His name is Ethan McDaniel.”

  “Mr. McDaniel.” Marigold sighed, as though bored.

  “I’m here.” Goose peeked around the corner, wary and twitchy. He had his hand over his chest, shielding the area Marigold had hit. Poor bastard. Behind him stood Peter, Nala, Adrian, Landon and Corey. I wanted to reach out to them, to tell them how sorry I was, but now wasn’t the time.

  “I need the IDs, passports, and bank accounts Disco had him create. We’re going to need them.”

  “Bring me the things your master had you create.” When Goose didn’t move Marigold barked, “Now.”

  “They’re here.” Goose trembled as he walked across the room, removed a painting from the wall and revealed a safe. A few turns of the knob in the center and he pulled it open. Two envelopes were inside. He removed them, didn’t bother to close the safe, and walked over to me.

  Handing them over, he whispered, “Everything you need is inside.”

  “Tell him he has to keep this to himself. It’s too dangerous to share what he knows.”

  “You won’t breathe a word of this to anyone. If you do, I won’t knock you across the room. I’ll cut your throat.”

  “I want to speak to Rhiannon.” I couldn’t believe it. Goose was so scared he looked like he might piss himself, but he was making demands. “I know she’s there. I need to know she’s all right.”

  “She’s fine,” Marigold said before I could form a coherent thought. “She asked for my assistance, and I’ve given it to her. When she wants to speak with you, she’ll be in touch.”

  Marigold turned on her heel without another word, waltzing from the office like she hadn’t just beaten the shit out of a vampire and ravaged the joint. The vampires in the way gave a wide berth. In a way, I was glad she left such an enormous mess behind. Hopefully it would serve as a warning, a reminder that the most dangerous things in the world were the ones people underestimated.

  Marigold left the house, guided by my thoughts as she walked toward the garage. Disco’s personal driver—Jerry—was inside, waxing the hood of the limousine. He stopped his wax on, wax off motion when he saw me, going still. I wasn’t sure if he knew about the orders Revenald had given Marius, or if he was taken off guard by seeing me alone.

  “Where is Marius?”

  “Don’t worry about him. He’s busy working out personal drama.” Marigold strode forward, one foot at a time, heading for the back door of the limo. “I have somewhere I need to be. I suggest you get me there.”

  He hesitated. “But, I thought...”

  “We don’t pay you to think. We pay you to drive. Is that a problem?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  Jerry tossed the towel onto a rack and fled to retrieve the keys kept on a board at the back of the garage. I watched him go, trying to remain calm, aware that the final hand had been dealt and I had to make the best of what I’d been given.

  Then I heard Marigold whisper in my mind, “My absence was detected long ago. I must away. From here on out, you are on your own. Fight well. Do what you have to. I expect you to survive and sever our debt. The sooner you do so, the sooner you’ll be safe. I can’t protect you while I’m trapped in purgatory. Set me free and no one will ever touch you again.”

  Before she left my body, she forced the necklace around my neck, putting it back in its proper place. The powerful hum was intoxicating, something I’d missed more than I should have. Once the stone was flush against my skin, I felt a rending in my soul, as thou
gh it was tearing in two. In a flash, the sensation was gone, leaving me alone, standing in the garage armed to the gills and ready to face the firing squad.

  Jerry opened the door for me and I climbed inside. Once he sealed me off and slid into the front seat, turning over the engine, I sat back and steeled myself for what was about to happen. I placed my hand over Sucker as the amulet throbbed against my skin. I had everything I needed.

  It was time to show Revenald Bhevencourt and Anton Kostya I wasn’t someone to fuck with.

  Chapter Seventeen

  We pulled in front of the Bhevencourt Estate about an hour before dawn. This time I didn’t exit on my own, waiting for Jerry to do the honors. After he opened the door and I stepped out, I looked at him. The driver and I had always been on friendly terms, but like many things, those circumstances had changed.

  “Pull the car to the end of the drive and wait for me. No matter how long it takes, I expect your ass to be here when I come out.” He looked like he wanted to balk, so I intentionally placed my hand on my hip, allowing him to see the weapons at my side. “I don’t want to hurt you, Jerry, but I will if you make me.”

  He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I’ll be waiting for you, Ms. Murphy.”

  “Good man,” I said and patted him on the shoulder. “It could be awhile. You might want to settle in.”

  He grunted in acknowledgement, closed my door and walked to the driver’s side. I watched as he pulled the car around, stopped and killed the engine.

  Excellent.

  I couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t leave the minute I stepped inside Revenald’s home, but I was betting he would be there when I returned. Disco had made it clear that Jerry was always to follow my orders. I could only hope his fear of my lover overrode his fear of the half-demons who had invaded our city.

  As I climbed up the stairs, I placed my hand over my breast, seeking out the amber amulet. “Vim corporem, potestatem praesentiamque tuam da mihi! Libere tibi me do!” Present me your force, physical strength, and presence. I freely give myself to you.

  My, how I’d missed the power that crashed into me, so strong it was hard to breathe. The hum of the stone expanded, spreading through my limbs, making my skin tingle. Any fear I’d held onto melted away, gone as though it had never been. There was only anger now, a fury that ran so deep my blood boiled with it.

  I wasn’t surprised when a nude slave opened the door. In fact, I’d expected it. The sun hadn’t risen, but the vampires and half-demons would already feel it coming. No sense in taking unnecessary risks. As he moved aside to allow me in, I stepped past the threshold, waited for him to close the door, then I punched him in the jaw. He went down like a vulture eager for fresh road kill.

  One down. So many more to go.

  Other slaves appeared, eyes wide when they saw what I’d done. For a moment I thought they’d run or scream. They did neither. One by one they went to their knees and bowed their heads. I wasn’t sure why, but I was in no position to ask questions. They’d made things easier.

  “Where are they?” I asked, moving into the open area, placing my hand over the gun under my left arm.

  “The ballroom,” one of the slaves answered.

  Alrighty then.

  I knew the way, a straight shot past the dining area and down the hall. As I approached the area that branched off into the two ballrooms—one for sex and the other for violence—I heard horrible screams coming from a man and woman.

  At first I thought it was due to sex, but when I walked to the side where I wouldn’t be seen to take a look, I found the slaves were—for the most part—as I’d left them. Tethered and gagged. A few had their legs spread with blood seeping down their thighs. Sex had definitely taken place, but apparently that portion of the evening was over.

  I crept over to the other ballroom, staring inside. The entertainment and screams came from a young couple—no more than sixteen or seventeen years old—who were trying to crawl to each other. Both had been beaten, and the bloody tears along their bodies told me they’d been stabbed or cut numerous times. The vampires in the room were spread out, chatting, though a few watched the humans writhing on the floor. Revenald, Anton and Victoria were enjoying the action from their chairs.

  “Mark,” the girl sobbed, trying to get her arms under her, slithering forward on her belly. She was a delicate little thing, under five feet, her white-blonde hair matted with blood at her temple. Her crystal blue eyes radiated pain—pain and terror.

  “Christy,” the young man cried out, attempting to move to her as well. He was lanky as some teenagers were prone to be, his muscles long and lean. His brown eyes matched Christy’s in their despair, his Justin Beiber-like hair hanging over his forehead.

  “Would you die for him?” Revenald asked, lifting his hand and studying his nails. “Would you be willing to sacrifice your life so that he might live?”

  “Oh God,” Christy rasped, shaking her head. “I don’t want to die. I’m not ready.”

  “How about you?” Revenald continued looking at his hand, as though the tortured souls on the floor were of no importance. “She shows no such admiration for your life, but would you die for her? If I gave my word she will be allowed to live, would you offer your life in place of hers?”

  “Yes,” Mark answered, reaching out to the young woman who was almost within his grasp. “I will.”

  “No.” Christy’s pleas were wracked with horrible intakes of air as she tried to breathe and speak. “Don’t, Mark. Please don’t.”

  “I told you he’d break first,” Anton said. “Females aren’t as noble as their counterparts. It’s not in their biology. They always worry about themselves first. Selfish little bitches.”

  “It’s just as well,” Victoria remarked. “I’ve been dying for fresh meat, and she smells delicious. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into her.”

  “You said you’d let her go!” Mark screamed, appearing crazed. “You gave me your word.”

  Revenald finally lifted his gaze and looked at the man on the floor. “You’re still alive. Nothing I’ve said applies. Perhaps we’ll see if you feel the same way once you’ve seen your lover fucked by every person in this room.”

  “Just kill me.” Finality was in Christy’s voice now, an odd calm I understood. Death wasn’t shit when you were faced with gang rape. Especially when the odds were you were going to die, anyway.

  “Ah, now she wants to be a martyr,” Anton drawled. “She doesn’t want to die, but she can’t stand the thought of being fucked. Definitely a virgin.”

  “And he’s willing to die for her, without sampling her better assets.” Victoria rolled her eyes. “Idealism is definitely a human trait.”

  “Humans are predictable.” Anton was quick to agree. “That’s why games like these have gone out of fashion.”

  “How about we fuck them both at the same time?” Victoria offered. “Can you imagine the devastation? The violation? Perhaps we should keep them alive for a few days, allow the reality of the situation to sink in. That’s usually when they taste best, just before they lose all hope.”

  “Please,” Christy whispered, sobbing like the kid she was. “I want to go home.”

  “Silly girl,” Revenald scolded. “You are never going home. The life you once had is over. You belong to me now.”

  “We haven’t done anything to you!” Mark screamed, his body shaking. “Let us go!”

  Revenald leaned forward, amused. “Impudent boy. You couldn’t do anything to us even if you tried. And you’re not going anywhere. I thought we established that.”

  “Why are you doing this?” Christy whimpered, her blonde hair in tangles around her shoulders.

  Anton angled his head to the side, a sneer on his face. “The better question would be: why not?”

  “Shall we start, then?” Victoria ran her tongue along her teeth and tapped the tip against one of her fangs. “Her fear smells divine, and I’m hungry.”

  Time to drop a house
on a bitch.

  I lowered my arm as I moved into place, so that I stood directly in the center of the entranceway of the room. “I have a better idea,” I stated, voice level. “How about we make sure that the two of them are the only ones to make it out of the room alive?”

  A shrug sent my jacket falling to the floor. I reached for the Browning under my left arm and removed it. Then I leveled the barrel at Revenald.

  He didn’t even flinch. “I knew I should have killed you.”

  “You’re right.” I smiled and flicked off the safety. “You should have.”

  “Bring her to me.” He waved at the vampires around him. “I want her on her knees.”

  All of the vampires moved to do as he said—with the exception of Joseph. I wanted to congratulate him on remembering my warning to him weeks before.

  “You heard him.” I kept my gun up, smile intact, and issued the order that would make things so much easier. “On. Your. Knees.”

  The amulet burned my flesh, coming to life, strengthening my necromancy and allowing me to control the undead in the room. They dropped like flies, the motion seamless and instant. Even poor Joseph plopped down like a good little puppy waiting for a Scooby Snack. It took Revenald a moment to comprehend what he was seeing, but when the message sank in, he went from carefree to furious.

  “This isn’t possible. The rumor was a hoax. If you held such power you would have protected your lovers and sibling when you had the chance.”

  So that was what he wanted. To see if the rumors were true. And he was right, I would have tried to save Paine and Disco if I’d had the amulet earlier. The timing was off, but he was about to get the show he expected. Once I started, I wouldn’t finish until the bastard begged for forgiveness.

  “Shit happens,” I replied, striding into the room, fury and desolation raging through my veins. “Rules change.”

  Revenald stood, jaw clenching. “I’m going to kill you.”

  “You’ve said that already, and I don’t think so.”

  When he rushed me, I was ready. Silver wouldn’t kill him, but it would slow him down. I took aim and fired, nailing him with a bullet in the eye. The second shot was slightly off, hitting him just below the socket, creating a large, gooey hole in his face. He stopped in his tracks, roared like an enraged lion, and brought his hands up to cover his wounds.