by Kym Grosso
“No, no, no. You’re lying,” he accused.
“I’m not lying. There’s nothing special,” she insisted.
“Liar!”
“What the fuck, Kellan!” Quintus jumped to his feet, resisting the urge to punch the fae.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Hunter asked. “She just answered you.”
“She. Is. Lying.” Kellan sat back into his chair and steepled his fingers.
“I’m not lying…I just…” Gabriella trembled, and nervously twisted her hair. “I don’t know. She’s always hated me. I’m not pure. I’m a hybrid. Witches only. My blood. It ruins the coven. It’s not meant to be. My blood, it taints their lineage.”
“Ah…there you go, little witch.” Kellan smiled.
“My blood,” Gabriella whispered.
“Tell me. It will stay amongst us friends.”
Quintus briefly shut his eyes and gave a loud exhale as he sat back down. Gabriella’s blood. It was different than any other he’d ever tasted, but moreover it was the magick within it that was special.
“I…I…my blood. I used to sell it on the black market,” she admitted.
“Vampires,” Quintus added.
“So it’s valuable?” Kellan asked.
“Only to vampires,” she replied. “I mean, there’s no other use for it.”
“Demonic poisoning. A while back, Gabriella saved me,” Quintus said.
“Ah, I love a good love story. Vampire meets witch.”
“It was a crypt.” She shrugged.
“Don’t say romance is dead.” Kellan’s smile faded, and he focused on Gabriella. “What else? There has to be something else. Why, why, why does she want you?”
“I don’t know. The vampires, they like my blood. It’s like a special flavor. They’re willing to pay for it.”
“You’re a donor. You let them bite you?” he asked.
“No way. I just, you know, I siphoned off a bit here and there. At first I started doing it in Boston when I was thirteen. I met a human woman on the streets who suggested I do it for money. She was a donor, and said they’d like virgin blood. It was popular, and I earned enough for a ticket to Miami. I got away.
“Then once in South Beach. I’d been selling my blood for a few weeks to this blood club. The vampire who runs it, he tells me that the others, they want more of my blood. They wanted me to let them bite me for extra money. I said no, then ran to the next town because it was unsafe. I was able to stay some places longer than others. Sometimes years.” Gabriella shoved her fingers through her hair and sighed. “But I never let them bite me.”
“Any other surprises before we talk money? My help comes at a cost,” Kellan said.
“We have something that supposedly can kill Lilitu. End the coven. But we don’t know how to use it. We’ve consulted with another high priestess. We’re coming to you. Name your price.”
“Twenty-five thousand dollars.”
“Is he out of his damn mind?” Hunter exclaimed. “We don’t even know he can help us.”
Kellan dug into his jeans pocket and retrieved a small business card and offered it to Quintus. The vampire snatched it out of his hand and promptly tapped at the screen of his phone. “Done.”
Kellan’s phone beeped. He picked it up off the armrest and nodded, a smile blooming on his face. “Well then. Looks like we’re in business.”
“Let’s make it fast. You may think you’re safe in fairy land, but we’re not. Lilitu breaks all the rules.” The Alpha scanned the courtyard.
“Fae realm,” Kellan corrected.
“He’s right. She could find us anytime. She’s able to track Gabriella with little issue.” Quintus took note of the sweat beading on Hunter’s forehead. If he didn’t get him out of here soon, he grew concerned he’d die.
“What do you have?” The fae cocked his head, staring at Quintus.
“Bone of the high priestess. Found it in the catacombs.”
“How’s that?”
“The short of it is it required Gabriella’s blood and mine, but we got the bone. Lilitu has been after it ever since. It supposedly can kill her, but we don’t know how to use it.”
“Well, well, you are clever, I’ll give you both that,” Kellan said, his eyes lit with excitement. “So. Do you want to know?” He clapped his hands together, humming.
“Are you fucking kidding?” Hunter uttered, wearing an expression of annoyance.
“Yes, Kellan. I paid you, now out with it.” Quintus blew out a breath. They were running out of time. Although the fae bar was cloaked, any of the patrons could have reported back to Lilitu if they were in need of favors.
“Blood! Blood is the answer. And a spell. Which I can give you for another fifty grand. And before you go getting rough on me, you know it’ll work. We don’t do business often, but I do not fail.”
Quintus tapped at his phone. Money wasn’t an issue, time was. “What else do you need?”
“Your blood is the answer. A potion. From the first witch to the blood of a hybrid, the witch must die through a sister of the coven. Your hybrid must be the one to destroy her. But she will never have the power without the bone inside her, the strength of the one who created the coven. This witch. Lilitu. It sounds as though she’s taken on demonic powers.” Kellan turned to Gabriella. “She’s waited for years for you. Years for you to be born. Years for you to find your mate so that you could find the first bone.” He smiled and set his focus on Quintus. “I am afraid I do not have answers to your Jiangshi, however. I, too, suspect they are related. But the Jiangshi are rare. This thing may have been set off by your mating.”
“Or the demon who made her could have a tie to Lilitu,” Quintus suggested.
“Possibly, but you need to kill Lilitu to find out. If they’re connected, perhaps it will weaken the Jiangshi. Demonic magick is very hard to defeat. While there is something special about Gabriella’s blood, that in itself isn’t enough.” Kellan reached into the fire pit, lifting one of the logs. A red-hot handle protruded from the earth and he wrapped his hand around it and lifted it upward, revealing a small chest. He set it on a large boulder to his left and opened the metal box, retrieving a brass chalice and athame.
“What do you need?” Gabriella asked.
“Your blood.” Kellan held up the knife. “There’s always a sacrifice to be made and this time, it ain’t money. You go first.”
Gabriella stood from her chair and walked over to Kellan. She extended her hand and startled as he snatched it. “Come. This will only sting a bit, my lovely.”
“Careful with her or I’ll be using that knife on you, fae.” Quintus hovered over them as the athame sliced into her palm. His brave mate bit her lip in silence as her blood dripped into the vessel. After several seconds, she yanked back her hand.
Quintus extended his wrist, glaring at the fae as he sliced him open, his sanguine essence mixing into Gabriella’s. He glanced to Hunter whose eyes fluttered shut. Fuck. “We need to hurry.”
“This will only take a minute.” Kellan shoved away Quintus’ arm and rolled up his sleeve. As his fingers stretched into the light, claws protruded from the tips.
“What are you doing?” Quintus reached for Gabriella’s arm and gently sealed her wound with his tongue before healing his own.
“Demonic magick must be fought with the hell from whence it came. You and I both know the fae walk the earth, choosing Heaven or Hell. Yet the elements from our dark past are never too far. Fire is life.”
Gabriella released an audible gasp as Kellan reached his hand into the fire pit, shoving the coals aside. His clawed fist buried into the earth while he hummed. Quintus caught her gaze and shook his head no, concerned as her fear escalated. Don’t move. It’s okay, he told her, knowing she’d hear his thoughts.
She looked to the Alpha, the light reflecting off the sheen that coated his face. Hunter. We’ve got to get him out. Please.
Soon. Quintus set his focus back onto Kellan who yanked h
is arm back out of the dirt, bright red flecks of the ash spewing from his fist. The fae laughed wildly as he sprinkled the mixture into the bowl.
“Ah yeah, baby! Hellfire and brimstone. Nothing like it to get you revved up. Fuck yeah.” He stabbed the athame back into the vessel, furiously mixing it. “Where is the bone? It is time.”
Hunter grunted, uttering unintelligible words. Quintus leaned over him, setting a comforting hand onto his shoulder. “Hang in there, brother. We’re out of here in a minute.” He reached inside his front pocket and retrieved the small fragment. Offering it to the fae, his face grew stern. “Don’t fuck this up. If you don’t get this right, you’re a dead man, understand?”
“I never make mistakes,” Kellan insisted. “Give it to me now.”
Quintus took solace in knowing that Samantha had the other half. He didn’t trust the fae but he was a last resort.
Kellan turned to a mortar and pestle, dropped the bone inside, and set to pulverizing it. Within seconds, all that remained was a fine powdery substance.
“This.” He held the crushed bone into the air in reverence. “It’s very, very rare for someone to collect the first bones. They’re usually destroyed. Make no mistake, your coupling is fate. Destiny drove the discovery. Perhaps it was foretold somewhere or by an oracle, but I believe the high priestess knew your mating would ultimately result in the discovery of the bone and possibly her demise. She attempts to control fate. She let you live all these years because she wanted you to find them. She knew you needed Quintus. Now…if the bone is in her hands, she’ll be more powerful than any witches on the face of the earth. It’s very dangerous for all who cross her. All the other covens will be at her mercy.”
Kellan held the mortar over the bowl and began to chant. Quintus spoke over twenty languages fluently and recognized it as a blend of Old Norse and Fae. “Megin, megin, megin,” Kellan repeated, his voice growing louder and louder.
Quintus tilted his head toward the sky as thunder rumbled overhead. Within the fae realm, they should be protected by the elements, but as lightning flashed in a red hue, Quintus questioned its source. Lilitu.
“Hurry,” Gabriella cried. “She’s here.”
“I see you’ve brought the trouble to my home. This will be extra,” Kellan growled.
“Whatever it is, I’ll pay. Now finish the spell and tell us what to do,” Quintus ordered.
“It’s already finished, but I’m giving this to you with a warning. I will not be held responsible, vampire.” Kellan retrieved a small vial from the chest and carefully lifted the bowl to its rim, pouring the bloody elixir inside it. Thunder rumbled and he startled, nearly dropping the glass. “Fuckin’ witches.” He fumbled with a cork.
“Hurry up, fae,” Quintus demanded.
“She’s here. We’ve got to go.” Gabriella’s body trembled as she stood, her foot tapping the ground. She looked to Hunter and went to him. Crouching, she set her palm on his face. “Please. He’s dying.”
Kellan extended his hand to give Quintus the vial but as the vampire reached for it, the fae clasped onto his wrist, yanking him to his chest. His face inches from Quintus’, he issued a warning. “This magick. She needs to drink it, but it can only be done in the presence of Lilitu to work. Hellfire…not everyone can handle it.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“It can mess with your head. The illusions you see from me? This is the power within the fire. Within Hell. It is not meant for others.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? But you want Gabby to drink this?”
“If you want the high priestess dead, then yes. I did as you asked. I owe you nothing more.” Kellan released Quintus, shoving him backwards.
A bolt shot down from above striking the fire, and Quintus caught sight of Lilitu’s face in the clouds. Her cheeks stretched the veil, like a fist pressing through latex. Her mouth opened wide, and her roar grew louder.
With his arms outstretched and frantic laughter, Kellan fell back into the fire pit, melting into the embers. As the veil broke, Quintus rushed to Gabriella and Hunter, throwing his body over theirs. Dematerializing them away, he prayed the next time he saw the high priestess, they’d destroy her forever.
Tears streamed down Gabriella’s face. “He’s dying. His pulse is weak.”
“Goddammit,” Quintus yelled as he sucked a breath.
He pressed onto his hands and knees and rolled the Alpha onto his back. Quintus tore at Hunter’s shirt, exposing the hidden wound.
“What is happening to him? What is happening?” Gabriella repeated as she caught sight of Hunter’s skin.
“It’s the poison. It’s like a flesh-eating bacteria. The demonic elements have attracted insects. They’re part of death.” Cream-colored worms oozed from a three-inch gash on his arm, the rotted skin peeling away from its edges. Quintus gently pressed down onto the wound with his fingers. Hundreds of maggots gushed from the opening, spilling down onto the carpet.
“No, no, no,” Gabriella gagged. “I’ve never…oh my Goddess, I’m going to be sick.”
“Turn on the shower,” Quintus ordered.
“Where are we?” she asked as she pressed to her feet.
Quintus took in the sight of his surroundings. A log cabin in the bayou. He hadn’t been certain of the location but Hunter had told him details, enabling him to materialize into his home. The interior was exactly how he’d described, a wide-open living room and kitchen area with cathedral ceiling. Off to the left was a thick wooden door, leading to the bedroom.
“Over there.” Quintus pointed to an opened interior door. “The bathroom should be through the bedroom. Go look.” He rounded behind Hunter and slid his arms underneath him, lifting him off of the floor.
Gabriella hurried to the bathroom, and turned on the lights. She turned the shower spigot, and water sprayed onto the white tiled floor.
Quintus followed, gently laid his body into the cold spray and tore off his shirt. Gabriella reached for the shower head and yanked it out of its cradle. She directed the nozzle toward the wound and began spraying it clean of the insects and pus.
“I’ve got him,” Quintus said, pulling the Alpha onto his lap. The vampire bit his arm, and pressed the flowing blood to Hunter’s lips. “Come on, dammit. This has to work.”
“His pulse is weak.” Gabriella reached for his arm, inspecting the wound. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Come on, Hunter. Don’t fucking die on me.” Quintus rested his head against the cold tiles, willing him to drink. The imperceptible draws on his magick drained slowly, and the vampire sighed in relief. The cool water turned warm and his gaze caught Gabriella’s.
“It’s working. Look,” Gabriella ran her finger over the new skin that had formed over his wound, “it’s totally healed.”
Quintus detected the Alpha’s strong heartbeat but Hunter showed no signs of rousing. He pulled his arm away from Hunter’s mouth, and lifted him closer, speaking into his ear.
“Come on brother. You’re strong. Can you hear me?”
Gabriella reached up to the spigot and turned off the water. She dropped the showerhead and ran the back of her hand across her eyes.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with him. My wolf should be able to contact his, but he’s not responding,” she said. “Maybe he just needs some rest.”
“Get his jeans off. We’ll put him into the bed and see if he can sleep it off. He may need more blood but I want to get him out of the damn shower first.”
Gabriella unzipped his pants, and tugged hard at the sodden jeans, until they peeled away. Still holding Hunter in his arms, the vampire shoved to his feet and scooped up the Alpha with a grunt. Gabriella reached for a couple of dry towels hanging on a rack and followed Quintus into the bedroom. As he set Hunter onto the bed, she handed him one and began to dry off her face.
“Do you have the vial?” she asked, concern painting her face as if she’d forgotten about what Kellan had given them.
“Yeah, yeah.” Quintus dug into his wet pocket and retrieved the cylinder. “Thank fuck it didn’t break.”
Gabriella began undressing. She peeled off her wet t-shirt and bra, then made quick work of shucking her panties and jeans. “Here. Give me your clothes. I’m going to put them in the dryer.”
“I can go get some new clothes,” he said. “But I don’t want to go anywhere until we know he’s all right.”
“No, I don’t think you should flash out of here for anything. We need to stay together. For as rustic as this place appears, I can tell by his fancy bathroom that he’s got a washer and dryer. Let’s use it.”
“Was it the ten thousand dollar toilet that gave it away?” Quintus laughed, unbuttoning his pants.
“I’ve only seen one of those in my lifetime. Fancy hotel in New York. Heated seats,” she laughed. “You’re right. If he’s got a bathroom like that out in the middle of the bayou, the man has a dryer.”
As Quintus reached for a towel, he pulled Gabriella to him. “This is all going to be okay.”
“I’m just glad we got the potion or whatever the hell it is. We have to text Samantha to let her know.”
Quintus pressed his lips to hers, tasting his mate. “I want you to know how much I care about you, Gabriella. You are everything.” His forehead rested against hers, lingering for moments before he reluctantly released her. She gave a sad smile and gathered the wet clothing, leaving the room.
Quintus glanced at the Alpha whose chest rose and fell steadily. They’d have to heal him further before going after Lilitu. Whatever mojo the fae performed had better work, he thought to himself.
He reached for the vial and held it up into the air, observing the luminescent flecks that sparkled within it. Hellfire. Jesus Christ. And Gabriella was supposed to ingest this shit? It wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen crazier things work in his lifetime but never had it been for someone he cared about.
Gabriella returned to the bedroom, a white towel wrapped around her body. His heart tightened at the sight of her. His tough little wolf had dried her tears but her reddened eyes gave her away. He took her hand and brought her over to the side of the bed.