by RK Close
The ash seemed to have a mind of its own as it moved around the map. It finally settled on an area that looked to be on the far northeast side of town. Cole leaned over the map and studied the location. “I know where that is. It’s the oldest part of the industrial area of Flagstaff. Most of those buildings are no longer used and stand vacant. Some kids set a fire in one of them last year.”
He looked up and grinned at Zoey as if she’d just returned his hope. She smiled back before Cole reached across the table and kissed her quickly on the cheek. Zoey looked surprised, and Cole’s expression said he couldn’t believe he’d just done that.
Simon rolled his eyes and I almost laughed. Cole’s spontaneous reaction was adorable—a word I rarely used. He quickly moved toward the door and opened it. Before he left, he looked at me. “Are you going to meet us at my place? Now that we know where to look, we can make a plan to rescue Seth.”
“Right behind you,” I said.
He looked relieved as he closed the door. I looked at Simon. “Do you mind waiting outside? I wanted to speak to Zoey alone.”
Simon studied me a moment but didn’t argue or ask questions. Before he could leave, Zoey stopped him. “Wait. I’ve bits and pieces of where this can lead. My advice to you, Simon, is that you sit this one out.”
Simon stared at her for a few moments, then nodded his head and left the apartment. Zoey turned toward me. I wondered what she meant by that. It was more justification to continue with my plan, even more so if it would protect Simon as well.
“I know what you’re planning. You must know that it will cost you dearly,” Zoey said solemnly.
“I know. There’s really no option here, is there?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“I don’t know. My visions are subjective and always changing. Do you have a weapon?”
I pulled the dagger from my boot and handed it to her. She looked it over, taking its measure. I followed her over to the table, where she proceeded to set it up the way it was when we’d arrived. She used new bowls, and I couldn’t help wondering about that.
“Why do you use different bowls?” I asked, trying to make conversation.
“Spells are specific, like a cooking recipe. I never want to mix the magical residue of one spell with another,” she said, concentrating on the items on the table.
When she was done, she sat down and invited me to do the same. “This is a difficult spell, and any interruptions could be fatal for both of us.”
I swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in my throat. “How difficult?” I asked, unable to hide my nervousness. I expected to die soon, but I didn’t want to take Zoey, or anyone else, with me.
“Let’s just say, you should follow all of my instructions to the letter so we don’t die here tonight.” Her certainty was unnerving.
“Am I asking too much?” I’d worried about this since her cryptic answer about the magic price being hers to pay, instead of mine.
“If I said yes, would you leave without the spell?” Zoey asked.
Was it a witch thing or just an annoying aspect of Zoey’s personality that she couldn’t answer a simple question?
“Can I say I don’t know?”
“Would you let Seth die?”
“No.”
“Then there is no reason to ask if it’s too much,” she said, grabbing my wrist.
“You will hear things, but no matter what you hear, don’t open your eyes. Do you understand?”
I nodded.
“Even if you hear me telling you to open your eyes, don’t do it. Even if you hear Seth’s voice, don’t listen to the lies.” Zoey looked as though she may have been afraid as well. Instead of comforting me, her words terrified me more. “Remember, nothing can harm you unless you open your eyes. Have you heard the expression ‘the eyes are the windows to the soul’?”
I nodded slowly, as if in a daze. My hand began to shake from the fear that was gripping me much more tightly than Zoey ever could.
What was I getting myself into?
A vision of Zoey opening the gates of hell came to mind, and I quickly squeezed my eyes shut. It was silent for a moment, then a chilling breeze picked up, whipping my hair across my face.
I heard Zoey’s voice as if coming from down a long tunnel.
“One more thing—don’t let go of my hand for any reason.”
20
Seth
The burns on my body were slowly healing, but the level of pain I’d endured slowed the process. There would be no scars, but I’d passed out several times during the torture. My captors waited patiently for me to come around for each new round of misery. At times, I was certain they’d push it far enough to kill me.
Eventually, they seemed to bore of tormenting me. Once they began to break bones, the vamps could sit back and watch while I screamed and writhed in agonizing pain as my bones moved back into place by whatever magic allowed me to change into a wolf. Shifting would have sped up the process, but now was not the time. It was slow and painful.
Xavier, the boss, returned finally. For all I knew, he’d been watching the show from the shadows. He seemed pleased by the work his lackeys had done to me. I was almost too weak to care.
I leaned against a concrete wall; still wearing the chains. Xavier approached me and crouched down to my level. “I see that I’m one man short.” He seemed to consider this for a moment. “I’ll forgive you this once, but if you diminish my numbers further, it will be Olivia who will pay the price.”
I closed my eyes as if dismissing him when he approached, but when I heard him say Olivia’s name, my one eye that could still open, narrowed on him. “If you go anywhere near her, I’ll kill you, and it won’t be quick, like your friend.”
Xavier laughed. “I see why she’s fond of you.” His false humor came to an abrupt halt before he pinned me with an icy glare. “The fact that she’s fond of you is the reason I’ll end your miserable existence, even if she decides to take my bargain.”
His jealousy was a sour smell in the dank warehouse. But his words filled me with fear. “What bargain?”
Xavier’s good humor returned, like a mask dropping into place. “A simple trade. You, in exchange for her. She hasn’t agreed, but from what I know of my sweet Olivia, she will.”
“What do you want with her?” I demanded.
His smile broadened. “She intrigues me. I collect things that intrigue me. Olivia has a wild and willful spirit that begs to be broken. I’m just the man to break her.” He stood to his full height then, and I struggled to look up at him.
“You’re a sick bastard, and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into you, just to spit you out,” I snarled before turning to spit blood from my mouth. Xavier’s face twisted in rage. I’d hit a nerve.
“You won’t live long enough, dog. When Olivia is mine, I’ll be sure to wipe any memory of you from her mind and body. You can take that promise to your grave.” He turned and walked away.
I roared my fury at his retreating back. Escape was the only option. There was no way I would allow Olivia to make this deal. I needed a plan, no matter how desperate it might be. I’d rather die trying than chained to this wall.
When the next round of torture ended, Xavier took his leave, and I’d been thrown into an empty room, no bigger than a storage closet. There was only one small window about twelve feet up. It looked more like a pipe was removed, but the light from the moon poured in.
The walls were made of concrete blocks, and the floor and ceiling were solid as well. If not for the noise, I could eventually punch my way through, but that would bring the vampires and I’d most likely be tortured again. I was slowly regaining my strength. I’d need all of it if I was to escape. At least the chains were removed. I’d been unconscious when they’d dumped me in here, assuming I wouldn’t be a threat to anyone in my current condition, no doubt.
I called upon my wolf, and let my nails grow to sharp claws. I began the long and slow process of scratching at the mortar joi
nts around a three-by-three-foot area. If I could weaken the joints that held the blocks in place, I might be able to blow through the wall with one massive effort.
If it took me seconds, instead of minutes, to break out, I could escape and warn Olivia and the others. It wasn’t like I had anything else to do with my time.
At least two hours passed, by my estimation, and I’d made some progress. I’d used a long metal part of my belt buckle to continue digging out the mortar when my claw was not long enough.
With each passing minute, I felt my strength increase. I hoped that the vampires didn’t return to beat me down some more, or my plan might not work. I’d heard one car leave and another one arrive while I toiled to scratch away at the mortar joints. Occasionally, I could hear voices from outside the building.
Once I broke through, I’d have to shift on the fly. It would be crucial that I put as much distance between myself and the vampires as quickly as possible. There were too many for me to fight my way out. The only thing I had was the element of surprise, and then it would all be down to speed, and a bit of luck. I hoped they weren’t all as fast as Olivia, or it would be a short run.
When I pushed on the blocks and they gave a little, I knew they were ready. Now, I’d need to pick the best moment to make my move, so I waited and listened to the guard who patrolled the perimeter to determine when he was at the farthest point away from my location.
I let my body rest and heal while I waited and listened.
21
Olivia
If I never took part in another dark-magic spell, it would still be too soon. I’d never been so frightened in my entire life. Not even cancer scared me that much—it just pissed me off.
It took everything I had not to open my eyes. It felt like we were no longer inside Zoey’s small apartment. We could have been on a rowboat, in the middle of a hurricane, based on the noise, wind, and the forces that were trying to pull my hand from Zoey’s.
I held on with enough strength that I was worried I’d break her bones. Voices assaulted me from every side. My mother’s voice begging me to look at her. Then my sister begging for her life. That one almost got me, but I kept my eyes shut and gritted my teeth against the onslaught.
Zoey’s voice sounded so far away. She spoke a language I didn’t recognize. Latin, maybe? I focused on her voice and tried to block out the others. Some of the voices did not sound human when they whispered close to my ears. They told me terrible things that I never wanted to hear.
Just when I thought they’d stopped, I heard Seth’s voice telling me he was safe and that I could let go and look at him. It was the one thing I wanted to believe with all my heart.
I stayed the course by waiting and listening for Zoey. Finally, after what seemed like an hour, the wind stopped and the sounds disappeared until I only heard the clock on Zoey’s wall.
The force that tried to pull Zoey’s hand from mine was gone. Her breathing eventually slowed, along with her heartbeat. Zoey finally relaxed her grip on my hand.
“You did well,” Zoey said as she began prying my fingers off hers. “It’s over. You can let go now.”
I didn’t know if it was a trick or not, so I kept my eyes closed and refused to let go of her hand.
“Olivia. It’s done. You can release me and open your eyes,” she said in an annoyed tone. I was about to squeeze one of my eyes open to see if it was Zoey or not when cold liquid dumped over my head.
My eyes flew open to find Zoey holding an empty cup in her hand. Water dripped from my now-wet hair and ran down my shirt and jacket. I looked around the room, unable to comprehend why it wasn’t trashed after what we’d just experienced.
I found Zoey’s cocky gaze. She looked down at her hand, still held in my tight grasp. Embarrassed, I let go and shook out my hair.
“You didn’t have to do that. I was about to open my eyes,” I said huffily.
“I didn’t think my hand would survive much longer.” She worked her fingers while cradling one hand in the other.
“Sorry. You said, ‘don’t let go.’”
She rolled her eyes then went to the kitchen. She returned holding a bag of peas. Zoey rested the bag on her hand and leaned against the counter. “Vampire strength, remember?”
I sheepishly looked away and studied the apartment. “Did it work?”
Zoey carefully picked up the dagger, handing it to me hilt first. “Yes. Be very careful. If you cut yourself, you’ll die.”
I took it from her cautiously and stared at it like it was a dangerous animal.
“Here.” Zoey went into a back room and returned carrying a leather sheath with straps. She handed it to me.
I nodded my thanks and slipped the vampire-killing dagger inside the protective leather. I tied it to my belt so that it was hidden under my jacket. Zoey handed me a towel, and I rubbed the extra water from my hair. “What was happening? And why did it seem like it was so long, but really it was only a few minutes?”
“Black magic requires a price. Either a blood price or a piece of your essence, your soul. They’re actually the same thing.”
“So Cole’s blood was the price?” I asked, trying to understand.
“No, a blood price is a life. You would need to kill someone to pay the price. That’s why it’s dark magic, because it comes from a dark place with a voracious appetite.”
I blinked at her. “Then whose soul did you siphon from?” I asked with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Zoey paused a long moment before answering. “Mine.”
I released a breath I didn’t known that I was holding. My head dipped, and I looked down at the ground. “Because I don’t have a soul, right?”
Zoey looked surprised. “Of course not. I simply can’t ask someone for such a thing. I don’t really practice this sort of magic. But, when a life is at stake, it’s difficult for me to turn my back when I can do something to help. I think my soul may have been safer before I moved here,” she said with a wink. Her smile faltered as she looked away, as if deep in thought and maybe a little sad.
“You should never give away something so valuable. Not even for a life. I wouldn’t have let you do it if I’d known.”
“I know. It was my choice to make,” she said, smiling weakly at me.
“When is it too much? Is there a risk of losing your soul?” The thought made me nauseous.
“I don’t ever want to know. But it would eventually have irreconcilable consequences. Some have given up every bit in search of greater power. They lose their way. The end result is a heartless creature, with an endless thirst for power and control.” She shook her head, as if to clean it, and began clearing the table.
I touched her hand to stop her. She looked at me, a question on her face. “Thank you, Zoey. If by some crazy chance I survive, you can call on me, if you ever need help with anything,” I said, then turned to leave.
When I reached the door, she said, “Good luck, Olivia. I hope your plan works.”
“It will.” I was going to make certain that it did, even if it killed me. Zoey’s sacrifice would not be in vain. And, if it didn’t, the knife would serve another purpose that would prevent Xavier from taking me with him. A sure death would be better.
Simon was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. He noticed my wet hair and raised his eyebrows. “Zoey got a little testy,” I said, walking past him. I couldn’t believe he hadn’t heard what was happening in that apartment. Was it only in my head?
“Are you all right?” Simon asked, surprising me.
I looked sideways at him as we walked toward Cole’s house. “I’m good. Don’t worry about me.”
Simon didn’t look like he believed me. “What was that all about?” he asked, nodding back toward where we’d come from.
“Just girl talk,” I said, smiling. I knew he hated when I tried to talk to him like he was a girlfriend.
“Never mind.”
My smile faded as I thought about what I would do next. I’d
need to get away from Simon and the others to contact Xavier. I didn’t like lying to them, especially when we seemed to be making headway in our vampire-werewolf relations. Cole and Liam were speaking to us like team players, not their enemies. I’d miss seeing where it could have gone.
When we arrived at Cole’s house, I sensed the change in the air. But the scent of vampire did not make sense.
Victor?
Simon stopped, obviously thinking the same thing. We glanced at one another before approaching the front door. I knocked and Liam opened it a moment later.
“Come in. We have unexpected company,” Liam said as he stepped aside.
I could see Cole’s living room was filled with vampires.
Our vampires. They’d come back!
I was face to face with Victor for the first time since learning what he’d done for me. Tears stung my eyes, and unable to control my emotions, I threw myself at him, almost knocking him off balance in the process.
I hugged him tightly, like I would have my own father. Victor hesitated briefly before returning the embrace. Silent tears ran down my face, and I didn’t care who was judging me.
Victor was far from perfect, and yes, he’d screwed up big time from my perspective, but he’d also stepped so far over the edge to make it as right as he knew how. For that, I’d always be grateful.
“It’s okay, child. It’s going to be fine,” he said, gently stroking my hair. If he noticed that it was wet, he didn’t mention it. I pulled back and looked around at the rest of the clan and the McKenzie pack. I knew that I couldn’t risk any more lives.
Each of the clan greeted me more warmly than they ever had. All except Edgar, of course. We still didn’t like one another. Some people just don’t mix well. We weren’t each other’s cup of tea, as my grandmother used to say.
Liam cleared his throat. “Victor and I have been discussing a plan of attack. Come over to the table, and we’ll go through the details.” We gathered around, and Liam went into alpha-mode. The plan was decent, but with many unknown variables. Too many to change my mind or my path.