At Risk

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At Risk Page 22

by Gayle Parness


  “Who is Emeline?”

  “The female vampire who’s running things with her mate, Richard. She hypnotizes people. He’s the muscle. A real fun guy.”

  “Where…”

  “They rest in the Longwood Library basement. It’s five blocks in that direction.” The female pointed north. “It was closed over ten years ago when the town built the new library. The vampires put up a building behind the library that contains a lab and…” She rubbed her throat. “Emeline keeps humans there. She’s testing the mind control tattoo on them now.”

  “Is she the one controlling minds?”

  “Yeah, but she works with someone else too. Someone who supplies the torcs.”

  “You feel nothing with the tattoo?”

  “A minor urge, like being thirsty all of a sudden and wanting a glass of water.”

  Garrett glanced at Farrell and he disappeared.

  The female jerked in surprise. “You have fae with you?”

  “Four.” Liam, Elle and Kaera nodded. “All part of the team,” Garrett said.

  “I’m sorry. I should have been more respectful.” She bowed her head deeply.

  Kyle laughed at the idea the fae should have more respect than the rest of us. Liam frowned at Kyle and took the female’s hand. “We thank you for the information. You may have saved many lives. What is your name?”

  “Shirelle.”

  “I am Liam.” They shook hands.

  “I’ve heard of your team from some of the wolves who come to town. Haven’t seen them lately. And I know you too, Alpha Green. You and the rest have helped a lot of shifters. That’s why I called the number on the Rogues website to ask for help.”

  I held out my hand and we shook. “I’m Jackie. You did the right thing.”

  Farrell popped back and Shirelle tensed in surprise. “The lab is empty of vampires. I could use some help getting the humans to the hospital. Some of them look like they’ve been drained of too much blood. They have the same neck tattoos as….”

  “Shirelle.”

  He smiled. “As Shirelle. Thank you for your help, Shirelle. You show much courage.”

  The female blushed.

  “If the archdemon controls humans now…” I clutched at Garrett’s shoulder. “They’ll bring their weapons. Bullets can kill us almost as fast as a sword through the neck. My father was dead before he hit the floor.”

  “The fae will never condone the use of human weapons,” Elle said.

  Farrell fisted his hands. “Our people had better get off their ancient asses and face the facts. Modern weapons will kill us if we aren’t prepared for someone pulling out a machine gun.”

  Kyle huffed out a breath. “Bullets? What about bombs and missiles? If our existence is leaked to the government or the military, we’ll all end up in hiding or camped out in Faerie or the Demon Realm.”

  “More than ever we have to create a space away from the human population where the battle can take place.” Garrett pulled me in for a hug.

  Liam leaned against the van. “That will require a great deal of energy. And it must be sustained throughout the entire battle. On top of that, whoever is holding it steady must be protected. If he or she falls, the veil will fall.”

  “Let’s get to the lab. Thank you, Shirelle.” After making sure Ethan, Kyle, and Aaron had partners, we took the lines and immediately picked up the sound of moaning.

  The lab was housed in a large, modular building with an industrial appearance. Cages with blankets and buckets lined the wall of the lab. The smell of human waste and rotten food overcame the faint order of disinfectant. Farrell had unlocked their cells during his initial visit and given the victims coveralls to wear over their ragged clothing, but most of them only had enough strength to pull the clothing halfway up their bodies.

  Humans. All humans. This was a disaster waiting to happen.

  Two of the females were way too pale and barely able to lift their heads. Aaron gave us directions to the nearest hospital that treated humans and supernaturals and understood the importance of discretion. Between the six of us who could use the lines, we got the thirteen humans to safety.

  When we returned, Aaron beckoned us through a door that led into an industrial room, his expression grim. Cubic shaped plastic containers were stacked two deep and five high on either side, leaving a thirty-foot-long aisle between them. Ethan and Kyle crouched on the floor, each with an opened a carton before them.

  Torcs. A slightly slimmer model than the kind I’d worn when I’d been held as a prisoner.

  “How many in a box?” I asked.

  “Twelve,” Ethan said.

  I traced the etched lines that covered the surface. They looked the same as mine had, only I couldn’t be positive. “Indigo?”

  She handled one and read through the symbols. “These appear to be the same symbols as those on the female leopard’s neck.” She fiddled with the clasp, then clicked it together. The etched lines lit up in shades of gold and orange. Indigo pulled at the clasp. When it didn’t open, she narrowed her eyes and sent out a thread of magic so thin it wouldn’t be visible to humans. It clicked open without any obvious effort on her part. The lights faded.

  “Are you accessing demon magic?” I hadn’t felt the usual pull of someone drawing on the lines.

  “For this I used unseelie. It is a power known by few. Dragons are born with a flame and can access any magic we need to stir it. Fae, demon, unseelie, it does not matter.”

  “Can you blend magics?”

  “To use more than one kind of magic for a single task takes a mind able to focus with great intensity. Each magic has its quirks and requirements. To teach them to meld together is a task for a master. When it occurs, the results are extraordinary.”

  No one on the team mentioned Charlie’s ability to do just that. Or mine. The dragon was a new member and even though Kaera trusted her completely, she had yet to be tested.

  I locked my torc, then drew on demon magic, snaking it around the outside and inside surface, adding intent. The torc clicked open.

  “Neatly done, Jacqueline Cuvier.” Indigo nodded, smiling.

  “Thank you.”

  “How many can you manage at one time?”

  “Why?”

  She swept her enormous hand toward the two rows of boxes. “I would imagine this is only one of Naberia’s drop off points. If mind-controlled humans, shifters and others march onto the field, you may be needed to free the victims.”

  “Liam. Will you pile them up in the field? Leave two cartons so Jackie can test her strength.” Garrett glanced at me.

  “Three boxes.” But I had no idea if I could even release two clasps at once, let alone thirty.

  “I will help Liam move the containers.” Indigo pointed to the row on the right and turned to Liam. “Mine?”

  Liam smiled. “Thank you. We’ll put them on the field of dirt one hundred yards behind the library, then perhaps you can melt them?”

  “Easily accomplished.”

  “You can teleport objects?” Kyle asked.

  “I explained. I can use magic of all kinds, but only for one purpose at a time.”

  “But you can’t teleport yourself?” Kyle spread his hands in disbelief.

  “I am able but Jacqueline seemed to enjoy guiding me. I did not want to appear ungrateful.”

  I should have seen if “Dragons for Dummies” was available at the bookstore.

  When the containers had been restacked in the patch of dirt, we stepped back so Indigo could do her thing. The heat from the first blast was stronger than we’d imagined. I grabbed Kyle and Ethan and moved us to the edge of the woods. Garrett rescued Aaron.

  The moment Sasha and the fae arrived beside us, a dart hit Elle in the neck. She collapsed almost instantly. Farrell was closest and grabbed Elle, disappearing immediately, then arriving back in time to see the rest of us crouching behind whatever bushes, rocks or cars we could find. Farrell dropped to the ground and crawled the five feet to th
e car Garrett, Sash and I were hiding behind.

  “What did you do?” Sasha grabbed him by the collar.

  “I’ve taken Elle to Flynn. He’ll know how to help her.” Flynn was a lion shifter who’d studied medicine, specializing in all species of supernatural creatures. He worked at Stanford Hospital in a specially designed and very secret wing.

  “Good call. Thank you,” I said.

  “Take me to her!” Sash demanded.

  “You’re needed here with the team.” Farrell spoke as if he was in charge.

  Sash looked to Garrett.

  “He needs to be with his mate. Take him,” Garrett ordered.

  “He is your second.” Farrell frowned at Sasha.

  “You’re standing in tonight. Get your ass back here as quickly as you can,” Garrett said.

  “Yes, boss.” He’d used the phrase Sash and Rick always did when Garrett gave them orders.

  They disappeared as Liam rolled his eyes. “That young male…”

  “Is fine the way he is,” I finished for him.

  “I wasn’t…”

  “I know,” I said. We all loved and respected Farrell. Maybe I understood him a little better than some because I had the same impulsive nature. It got me into trouble too many times to count, but mostly my instincts were on the mark.

  The first vampire appeared directly behind me, pressing the familiar cold metal of a torc around my neck. I kicked out reflexively, my foot landing on his hip and forcing him backward before he could click the clasp. I ripped it from my neck and turned to see Garrett tearing out the vampire’s throat, then beheading him with his spelled dagger, now a short sword.

  The vampire decayed slowly, turning into a small pile of ash. Older vamps dusted instantly. This male had been young. Too young to know how to travel the lines. Before I could puzzle this out, another vampire took his place. And another. And another. All of them carried torcs attached to their belts and wore torcs around their necks.

  Farrell returned in time to behead three more vampires, dodging bullets with a grace only the fae could call on. Kaera matched him swipe for swipe, her expression so terrifying, some of the vampires dropped their swords and ran off. Liam picked them off easily with arrows through the ears or eyes.

  Garrett and Aaron, who’d taken his wolf form, became a deadly team, taking out vampires before the young males and females had even chosen a target. They darted around the killing field using vamp speed and sometimes taking the lines to get to their victims.

  Indigo had transformed into an alternate demon form and was using two enormous swords at the same time, making piles of dust so thick they covered her ankles. The partial shift left her body covered in scales. The bullets bounced off, ricocheting in different directions. Also a danger for someone like me, vulnerable in flesh and bones.

  The guns were our major problem, but Ethan, Kyle and I had that covered. “You keep them busy. I’ll take them out.”

  “And how?”

  Calling on every spark of my magic, I shifted, my shift to cheetah instantaneous now that I knew how to blend my energy. It was night, and my coat didn’t stand out the way it did in the daytime. All the lights were out in the building; so as long as that held true, I’d be able to sneak around without too much trouble.

  “Awesome,” Kyle whispered.

  I shifted back, crouching beside them. They were staring at me like I’d grown tusks. “Focus. Can you tell where the gunners are?”

  “Yes. That window. That window. And that corner of the roof.” Kyle pointed.

  “And you brought your latest toys?”

  “What do you think?”

  “Great. Do your thing. I’ll signal when I’m behind a gunner.”

  “How?”

  “Like this.” I sent the message mind to mind.

  “I didn’t give you permission to…”

  “This is an emergency.” Ethan smacked Kyle on the back.

  “Okay, okay. You have my permission.”

  “You always have mine,” Ethan said.

  “Make sure this sheath stays outside the shields.” I placed my dagger on top of the sheath under a bush. I’ll be calling the dagger to me and sending it back each time I shift.

  “You’re going to shift multiple times and still use the dagger?”

  “It’ll be a quieter kill than if I do it in cheetah form.”

  “Brilliant.” Kyle grinned. To win his approval was a rarity.

  “It’s going to tire you out quickly.” Ethan frowned.

  “No choice. And let’s not mention this to Garrett until I’m gone.”

  I shifted and slunk away, feeling only mildly guilty. I was gonna save some lives and kick some ass. Wasn’t that what the team was all about?

  The first kill was an easy kill, a soundless kill, but still a death that would haunt my dreams. In human form I called to my dagger stretching it to the length required to cut through the neck of a young female vampire wearing a torc. A female who’d probably been turned through trickery, then torced and forced to fight against a team that might have been able to help her if we’d known in time.

  I shook off the guilt. Aaron had taken a few bullets. Elle had been injured. Liam was bleeding from the shoulder. Ethan from the arm. Every member of our team had the ability to heal their bodies, but injuries slowed them down, and the vampires kept coming. I disabled the weapon and shifted.

  The next death wasn’t as simple. He saw me at the last second and had time to shout out a warning. I ended his life quickly, disabled the weapon, then shifted again, slinking off toward the stairs that led to the roof.

  They were waiting for me. The male and female who were working for Naberia, and the gunman. Emeline and Richard.

  “Welcome, Jacqueline, your mistress is waiting for you.”

  “Try to take me.”

  I shielded my body from the bullets and bound the male with magic. The female and I fought, my magic, my ancient blade, and my cheetah speed against her vampire speed, vicious claws, and sharp fangs and sharper sword. I shifted back and forth, throwing her off balance, but the shifting tired me more than it should. I’d been working behind a desk for too long.

  A bullet grazed my cheek. Another pierced my right side. I turned my back on the female who’d already collapsed from exhaustion and beheaded the gunner, something I should have done first. But I’d been so certain I could handle these three. That my shield would hold.

  Indigo roared from the top of the lab, then flew overhead, a blue monster with wings and fire. Garrett appeared through the lines and scooped me up, bearing me away as fire engulfed the building.

  17

  Winter

  What under the gods had I agreed to? Father forced me to swear allegiance to Charles, knowing full well his daughter, my half sister, was determined to bring Queen Aine to Cascade.

  Fionna was a difficult soul, but she was nothing if not resolute. Her chances to succeed were good, but Aine’s appearance might not go exactly as Fionna planned.

  Fionna was certain her mother would put her back on the throne, but if Aine forced Finvarra to submit, she would want the throne for herself.

  Even worse, if the rumors of her madness were true, Aine would set out to imprison or murder every child and grandchild Finvarra had produced through one of his consorts. Aine had already killed his consorts. Why not destroy the rest of their line?

  Of the four Cascade council members, three were the children of Finvarra’s murdered lovers. Lady Dinestri, Lord Argon and Lady Jorrenn. If Aine returned as powerful as she once was, she might decide to take revenge on all of us, even my sister Korwyn, who’d never had any interest in politics.

  Fionna would urge Aine to wrench power away from Finvarra, which she was once capable of doing, and send Charles to Naberia to prevent the war. It wouldn’t prevent the war at all, but it would be another way to wreak revenge on Finvarra, his grandfather. And me, Charles’ father.

  Fionna might stand up for me, but never for Charle
s, which placed me in an impossible situation.

  This was Father’s plan all along. The whole reason he’d allowed me to live. Somehow he knew if he took away everything I’d learn to accept and despise my sins, to mourn and move forward for the sake of my child, a precious miracle.

  I shuddered at the memory of my capture, almost twenty human years past. Some nights I would dream of the biting, burning cold of the chains. The aching depression that overcame me after only minutes in restraint. The hate-filled gaze Jacqueline struck me with on that night was worse than any weapon.

  I shivered and had to sit on the edge of a hidden low stone wall to calm my mind. I’d deserved every moment. Even the torture Isaiah had inflicted. Jacqueline’s suffering was my burden. My shame.

  But when Fionna rescued me, the obvious evidence of Jacqueline’s pregnancy was the worst blow of all. It gave me hope, made me long for more. But hope crushed and pounded to sand was a death one doesn’t recover from easily.

  Yet against all reason, hope that I might gain the respect of my son one day clung to my battered spirit like a burr. It stuck to me with plans and schemes to make it happen, then burrowed deeper to remind me of the odds. If I took the job as Jacqueline’s assistant. If I became a valued worker. If I managed to speak to Charles at every opportunity. To gain his trust. Then one day I could…

  I huffed out a breath. Useless thoughts. Foolish dreams. Forcing my body to rise, I walked to the office. There was work to do.

  I mused over my current situation. Would I still protect Charles without the blood spell Father had administered? I wanted to say yes, absolutely, without hesitation. A father would naturally react that way if his son were in danger. But I hadn’t been Charles’ true father. I’d donated sperm in the most violent of ways, disregarding Jacqueline’s lack of consent for the sake of creating an heir. Afterward, I’d blackmailed my way into my son’s life so I could spend bits of time with him, but he’d never warmed to me.

 

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