Of A Darker Nature

by Clay, Michelle

  From somewhere nearby, Starr yelled, “Mortis ignis!”

  Evan scrambled to his feet. “No!”

  “There’s nothing you can do for him.” Beau grabbed him and pulled him back down. He pressed the soiled rag into Evan’s hand. “Stay with her. I have to help Corey and the others.”

  Evan looked in the opposite direction. Tears streamed down his dirty face and his entire body shook. Emily followed his gaze and caught sight of Starr and Marcus. Fire engulfed the upper half of his body, but somehow he found the strength to wrestle with the witch. His skin boiled and blackened. The flesh cracked and peeled away.

  Marcus surged up out of the ashes and took hold of Starr. He dragged her into the balefire with him. Flames wrapped around their bodies and swallowed them whole.

  Emily squeezed her eyes shut. Tears mingled with the blood and dirt on her face. Her body shook with emotion and loss, the sight of him falling into the fire burned on the back of her eyelids. He couldn’t be gone, could he? She didn’t even have the chance to tell him how she felt about him—how she really felt about him.

  The incredible pull of unconsciousness tugged at her weakened body. She closed her eyes, content to succumb to it. Her mind clouded with darkness. The darkness offered hope, relief. Would she die here in this killing field?

  “Oh holy God…” Evan’s voice cracked with emotion.

  Emily forced her eyes open. What she witnessed belonged in a horror film, not her lackluster life.

  Marcus rose from the flames, no longer resembling a human. His upper body was charred, some of the bones and musculature exposed. He lurched toward an injured coven member who tried to crawl to safety. Marcus was reduced to a feeding machine, a monster. The woman gurgled a plea, but it didn’t stop him. Once he’d taken her life, he dropped her and moved to the next unfortunate soul. Emily shut her eyes and tried to tune out the anguished cries of the ill-fated.

  Moments later, Marcus’s restored voice cut through the night. His burns receded and new skin replaced the damaged. Only a few shiny scars lined his face and chest now.

  “I want this mess cleaned up immediately.” He stripped the robe from the man he'd just stepped over and shrugged it on. “Dispose of all the fallen. Any human who isn’t dead will have their minds erased and be removed from here. We’ll figure out what to do with them later.” He glared at Hahm. “What you’ve seen here…no one must know.”

  “You can trust me.” The detective looked a bit peaked. “Besides, who would believe me?”

  Marcus turned to Beau. “Make sure the detective makes it back to her car safely.”

  Car doors slammed and feet pounded the earth around her. Both vampires and the shifters carried out his wishes.

  “Someone put out the fire. We don’t need to draw the attention of the fire department or anyone else that might come along.” He moved closer to Corey and Jai Li who held onto a struggling Trent.

  He was bloodied and injured, but not mortally so.

  “As for you…” Marcus’s gaze swept across him. “You aren’t worthy of a proper death, traitor.”

  Trent twisted away from his captors, but didn’t get far. Marcus slammed him against the ground. One hand held him by the throat, the other rested atop his heart.

  “I owe you a lifetime of misery. Too bad your death will be short lived and unfulfilling.” Marcus pushed fingers into Trent’s chest cavity. The vampire’s legs kicked out and his spine arched. His mouth fell open in a series of screams.

  A shocked expression crossed Jai Li’s dirt smeared face. “Marcus, no! Isabella will want him brought to her. Alive.”

  Marcus watched his friend with darkened eyes. He seemed to dare her to come closer and Emily believed he would attack Jai Li if she interfered.

  Trent’s hands tore at Marcus and his legs made ruts in the mud. It seemed nothing he could do would save him. Finally, his body stilled.

  Marcus withdrew his hand, Trent’s bloody heart in his curled fingers. Both Jai Li and Corey moved toward him.

  Marcus growled in warning. Snarling, he crushed the organ in his fist then dropped it to the ground.

  Jai Li took a step back. “Oh, Marcus, what have you done?”

  “He deserved far worse.” Marcus stood and wiped his hands on the cloak. Instead of recovering, Trent’s body withered. It decayed at a rapid rate until only a puddle of putrid goo remained.

  Jai Li opened her mouth to say more, but Marcus cut her off. “Do you wish to be next?”

  Jai Li’s eyes widened. Corey gripped her hand and pulled her against his side. In a low, harsh whisper, he said, “He sounds like Isabella.”

  “Where’s my sister? Where’s Emily?” Liz bulldogged her way to Emily's side. Scott hurried beside her, naked and in human form.

  “She’s over here.” Evan stroked crisp, vomit dried hair from her face.

  Emily felt her energy—her very life—ebbing away. She fought to keep her eyes open, needing to see her sister one last time.

  Liz bent over her and clasped her hand. “I love you, you big dummy.”

  Emily squeezed her eyes shut and smiled a little; remembering how she used to say it when they were kids.

  Liz’s eyes were glassy. She brushed aside Emily's hair despite the mud, blood and vomit matted in it. She tested her pulse and frowned at its unhurried rhythm.

  Corey returned with Wren in tow. The frail woman lay in his arms, her eyes searching each of their faces. She held a bronze goblet boasting what looked like Celtic designs in one hand. “If an ambulance gets here in time, they'll need to know about this.”

  Corey sniffed it and made a face. “Eww, that’s rank. Smells like…”

  He sniffed it again. “There’s ground up flowers and stuff in here.”

  Tears shimmered in Liz's eyes. She leaned over and kissed Emily’s forehead. “I think she’s been poisoned.”

  Marcus’s darkened gaze dropped to her then away. He couldn’t possibly still be mad at her could he? Not when she was dying in a puddle of her own vomit and blood!

  “Is anyone getting service out here?” Liz was desperate as she held up her phone and attempted to get reception. “We need to get some help.”

  Corey shook his head. “I already tried, Liz. No one’s getting any bars out here.”

  Emily’s body continued to tremble, limbs twitched and jumped. Really, she just wanted to go to sleep.

  Her sister clutched Emily's hand in hers and tried to find a smile. “I’m sorry I blamed you for something that wasn’t your fault. I never meant to hurt you.” Her bottom lip quivered and she got to her feet.

  “Please hold on a little longer, Em. I’m going to get help.” Liz hurried into the darkness.

  Scott accompanied her.

  Jai Li cast a cursory glance at her. Seeming to write Emily off, she turned toward Marcus. “I’ll get everyone moving. We’ll have it back to normal before anyone arrives.”

  Nodding, he said, “Find Starr’s body. I want what’s left of it.”

  Marcus knelt next to Emily, a concerned look on his face.

  Evan threw his arms around Marcus’s neck in a fierce hug. Marcus didn’t even flinch when he kissed his cheek. “I thought you were dead.”

  The vampire leaned against the smaller man for a moment. “Nah, I’m harder to kill than that.”

  Evan rocked back on his heels. “Do you think she’s gonna make it?”

  Marcus grimaced and shut his eyes. “I can smell death on her. She’s close to gone.”

  “I can still hear you,” Emily wheezed. Her body wanted to curl and absorb the pain in her abdomen. The tremors had stopped for now and her heart was keeping beat to a slow, melancholy song only she could hear.

  Marcus dropped to his knees beside her and stroked a thumb across her cheek. “Do me a favor, Evan. Go wait at the house.”

  Evan cast a suspicious glance at him, a slight frown working at the corners of his mouth. “What are you going to do? You know you can’t…”

  “Do
as I say.” Marcus growled and sent his friend scuttling away. Emily’s eyes fluttered shut as he jostled her into a sitting position.

  “Whatcha doin’?” she could barely form the words.

  “Keeping you alive.” He cradled her against his chest. His wrist pressed against her mouth.

  The coppery, sweet tang of blood filled her dry mouth. The torrent of liquid coated her throat and gagged her. Emily turned her head, refusing to drink from him.

  “Please, Emily, I can’t lose you.” Raw emotion roughened his voice and his embrace tightened around her.

  Emily was too exhausted to fight him. When he pressed his bloodied wrist against her lips again, her lips clamped around the wound and allowed his lifeblood to flow into her.

  After what seemed like forever, Marcus pulled away. She allowed her head to fall into the hollow between his collarbone and shoulder. His arms tightened around her once again. Warmth—whether it was from the blood she’d taken or her imagination—was welcomed. The ashy odor of his charred skin and hair tickled at her nose.

  Corey’s black and white sneakers came to a stop beside them. Mud and soot covered the hem of his jeans. A worried expression swallowed his grimy face. “She's gone. I can’t find Starr’s body anywhere.”

  Liz left the room to make sure everything was set for Emily to leave the hospital. She had a few questions for the doctor and had probably made herself a complete nuisance by now.

  Memories of all that had happened three nights ago flooded through Emily.

  Though Marcus had given her his blood, he’d only given enough to keep her alive and begin the healing process. The hospital had been a necessary precaution.

  Unfortunately, the hospital deemed it necessary to call the police. It was Hahm who filled Emily's doorway. The detective left only moments ago with promises that this would not go any further. She’d laughed and said, “Like anyone would believe it?”

  The outpouring of support cheered Emily somewhat. Flowers and balloons lined the tables along with cards full of well-wishes. Liz told her a ruggedly handsome guy with a wolf’s head tattoo on his arm had stopped by. Liz also said everyone at the funeral home came to visit while she was asleep. They’d even planned a welcome home party. Emily glanced at the bedside clock. She’d be late for it if Liz didn’t get her butt in gear.

  The rustle of clothing alerted her to someone’s presence. Emily fully expected to see her sister’s reflection in the window. Instead, she discovered Isabella. Evan stood at her side. A bandage covered his cheek where he’d most likely gotten stitches.

  The vampire wore a long white dress tonight. A prim little hat sat atop her head. Dainty lace gloves covered her slender hands. Did the woman ever step out of the time warp she lived in?

  Emily shut her eyes and feigned sleep.

  “Maybe we should do this another time.” Evan sat a potted plant on the table by the window. “She might not feel up to seeing us right now.”

  Isabella shushed her grandson. “We shall do it now. I wish to finish this business. Go bring the car around. I will not be long.”

  Evan sidled around the bed. He placed a tentative kiss on her cheek. “Thank you, Emily. I appreciate all that you did. I hope to see you again, under better circumstances.”

  “Go, go, go!” Isabella admonished, but she didn’t sound angry. She waited for him to leave the room before she brushed Emily’s hair aside. The tickle of lace touched the back of her neck.

  “I know you are awake.” Isabella sat on the bed. Her slight weight hardly registered on the stiff mattress. She rested a hand against Emily’s hip and leaned closer. Isabella’s breath drifted across her face. “Did you really follow through on the task I gave you, Emilia?”

  Emily opened her eyes and carefully rolled onto her back. After much maneuvering and wincing, she sat up and leveled her gaze on the city’s mistress. “I did. Marcus is loyal to you and I think he’s more than proved it.”

  Isabella’s lips twisted into a wry smile. “But you do not think he should be?”

  “It’s not my place to make that judgment.”

  Isabella seemed satisfied with the answer she’d been given. She studied the colorful balloons for a moment. “They did not find Starr Carter’s body. You should watch your back until we know for certain.”

  “You too.”

  Isabella opened a small beaded handbag and laid a wad of bills atop her blanketed legs. “Here is the rest of the money I promised. I also covered your medical expenses. Consider it my way of saying thank you.”

  “Thanks, but I don’t want the money.” She’d hurt Marcus by doing the job she’d been commissioned to do. He’d called her a whore and his words still stung. She didn’t know if she’d ever see him again, but she’d like the chance to explain.

  “I see.” Isabella stuffed the bills back inside the little handbag and scooted off the bed. Her heels tapped out a sharp rhythm on the tile floor. She turned back, her dark eyes narrowed with warning, reminding Emily of how brutal she could be. “Oh, and Emilia? I know he marked you. I also know he gave you his blood. I can practically smell it running through your veins.”

  “How did…” The hospital gown was overly large and had slipped off Emily's shoulder, revealing the fang marks.

  “Marcus belongs to me.” Isabella’s gaze softened just a bit. For a moment, Emily thought she saw a little compassion there. “He was just doing his job, Emilia. It meant nothing. You must move on.”

  Of course Isabella was right. Marcus wouldn’t want anything to do with her. Not after all that had been done and said.

  ***

  The crunch of gravel and the sound of footsteps on the old porch lifted Emily’s spirits.

  “I’ll get it!” She shuffled out of the kitchen, leaving Liz to deal with dinner. Each movement pulled and tugged at her stitches, but she didn't care. Despite what Liz demanded, she couldn't stay in bed all day.

  She found Scott standing on the softly lit porch, the rest of her adopted family crowded around him. He dropped a heartfelt kiss on her cheek and grinned. He held a covered dish that smelled divine while Beau had his arms full with a container of plasma and a twelve pack of Dr. Pepper.

  “Hi guys! It’s good to see you.” A sideways smile lit Emily's face, but faltered when she spotted an ailing Wren. She readjusted the tote bag hanging from her shoulder and struggled for breath. Though she looked as terrible as she must feel, Wren wore a smile. Emily took the tote from her, surprised to find it was pretty weighty. “What do you have in here? Bricks?”

  Wren grinned. “I brought stuff for a protection charm. I hoped we could make it together. Consider it craft night.”

  Emily opened the nylon bag and peeked at its contents. A small copper cauldron sat inside. Several wooden spoons, vials of herbs and colored bits lined the bottom. There was even a hammer and a box of nails.

  She met Wren’s hopeful gaze and smiled. Liz would flip her lid at the kitchen witch’s hocus pocus. “Sure. What could it hurt, right?”

  “You look incredibly well for someone who was on their deathbed,” Beau said with a knowing smile.

  Everyone managed to squeeze into the kitchen.

  “Did Beau tell you yet?” Scott looked at Emily over his plate of pasta.

  Emily sat her fork aside and cut her gaze around to Beau. “Tell me what?”

  “I’m leaving.” He looked at her and grinned. “I kind of wanted to tell you after dinner, but I suppose there’s no time like the present.”

  “Leaving? Where are you going?” Emily’s heart leapt into her throat. The funeral home would feel weird without him.

  “I’ve decided to take Marcus up on his offer. I’m going to be an enforcer again, especially now that Trent won’t be in charge and Marcus has control of Isabella.”

  Emily clutched his hand in hers. “We’ll miss you.”

  Beau smiled. “I’ll miss all of you, too. I’ll still drop by from time to time. This isn’t goodbye.”

  Emily leaned over
the table to hug him. “It better not be.”

  Eager to keep everyone together just a little longer, she pointed at the tote hanging on the back of Wren’s chair. “So, what kind of stuff do you need for your charm?”

  “I brought everything we need. We’ll just need the stove to heat it with.” Wren pulled the bag around to paw through it.

  Setting containers of this and that aside, Wren removed the cauldron and a wooden spoon for each of them. She moved them out of the way, frowning. “Do you have some little trinket we can use for a charm? I brought one, but I seem to have misplaced it.”

  Emily wished she had a camera handy. Liz’s face had paled at least two shades. “Yeah, I’ll see what I can find.”

  Life had a funny way of working things out. Her friends were gathered around the table. They laughed and talked amongst each other. A cauldron bubbled on top of the stove, filling the small house with the aroma of cloves and rosewood.

  Someone’s chair scraped across the hardwood floors and Emily knew her sister was probably making an excuse to leave.

  Wren’s voice called her back. “You really ought to stay and help, Liz. Love makes the spell stronger.”

  Emily grinned. She doubted it made much difference, but what would a little white lie hurt?

  Liz cleared her throat uneasily. “Right, okay. It doesn’t involve anything weird, does it?”

  Wren laughed, though it sounded more like an asthmatic cough. “It’s just a run-of-the-mill charm. It's like following a recipe.”

  Emily bent over the dresser and took several slow breaths. Her stomach hurt where the knife had slid in. She probably should have listened to the doctor’s orders of lying around and taking it easy. The problem was, she couldn’t. She had a life and things to do.

  She turned to dig through her small jewelry box. There had to be something in there that could be used. She’d lost her heart charm during Starr’s ritual and was quite upset about it.

  “Looking for this?” a smooth as melted chocolate, male voice asked behind her.

  Marcus held up the necklace, letting it dangle from his long fingers. A sly smile tipped up one side of his mouth. “Aren’t you going to say hello?”