“What man?”
“A stranger. He could be anybody. I’m hoping it’s Maximus since the girls said Kyra was attracted to him until he turned her down.”
Cade
My body ached all over, and my skin was drenched with sweat. I sat up in the bed. Shaking my head, I tried to clear the brain fog, but I was lethargic. I didn’t feel like myself but that was the least of my worries. Closing my eyes, the last memories of my life played in my mind like a video camera. Bethanny set me up and there was no doubt in my mind. Where am I?
How many traitors do we have at the academy? I patted my legs and frowned. Where the heck were my clothes? My eyes feel tired but I must have been out for some time. Once I find Trinity, I will have to find Claire. I hope Maximus is doing better than me.
The bedroom was lavender and pink. It looked feminine in here. An aroma of jasmine and brown sugar floated through the air, and a sense of calmness swept over me. Breathing deep I stood up and fell back on the bed. There was no doubt in my mind, that I was infected with the vampire virus. My life will soon end.
Orion walked inside. “You gave us quite a scare. I didn’t think you would ever wake up.”
Rubbing the back of my neck, I tried to stand. “How long was I out?”
“You’ve been in and out of a coma for five days.” Orion handed me a red cup of water.
“Where are we?” I forced a smile to my lips and sipped the cold water. The liquid hurt my parched throat but I drank it anyway.
“Trinity and Fred showed up. They fought the demons and the demons ran but not before infecting you with the vampire virus,” said Orion.
“Bethanny, a student at the academy, set me up.”
“Trinity didn’t want to repeat herself, so she waited to talk to me to see if you would live.”
“Where is she now?” I followed Orion’s eyes to the bedroom door. Closing my eyes briefly, I summoned the last bit of my strength. It had only been five days and I feel like I can’t breathe. Things were going to get worse soon. Whatever I was going to do, I had better do it now while I can.
The door opened and Trinity and Fred walked inside.
“You must be stronger than the rest of the vampires. It usually takes some vampires twenty-four hours before they succumb to the virus,” said Trinity. “There is unrest with everyone living in the capital while Myron Grands and Jimmy Ballar have a power struggle.”
“Jimmy isn’t any better than Myron, but he’s more covert with his treacherousness,” said Orion.
“Jimmy and Myron were thick as thieves and the best of friends until Walter Higgins came in and started funding Myron’s political agenda,” said Trinity.
“Walter isn’t just giving his money for nothing, there must be something that he wants out of the deal.” Myron was greedy and he was fine if he had a rich sap to bleed dry. Myron was a trickster and a liar, but his son was conniving.
“Myron and his son Derrick have been experimenting with DNA, and making people with abilities, like me. They called us Mutagens,” said Trinity.
“The whispers around the lab where they kept people like me in cages, was that Walter wanted a super soldier and felt that he was entitled to one.”
Why does Walter feel he’s entitled to some super soldiers? I’m sure he isn’t the only sap funding this operation. There must be something that we’re missing but I can’t finger it out.
“You’ve been infected by the vampire virus, and your only hope is for a witch to bind the virus and slow its progression so that you can find a cure. Rose Picard is a witch powerful enough but the only person who might know where she is, Aidan Reynolds,” said Trinity.
“Where can I find Aidan?” If he could slow the virus then he could slow it for Leonardo as well and maybe that would give us enough time to make a cure.
“Aidan is Derrick’s personal bodyguard. Derrick hold’s Sandra, Aidan’s five-year-old daughter over his head, so that he protects Derrick. If Derrick dies then so does Sandra,” said Trinity.
“I have a friend on the inside at the capitol. I can get him to tell me where Derrick will be next.” Leonardo was reckless and wasn’t always dependable but this time I need him. Our lives depended on him. I texted him.
“Myron and Derrick need to be killed,” said Fred.
“I’m glad that you know the Mutagens and the vampires can get along but you’ll need the werewolves to help you battle the demons,” said Orion.
“I’m only telling you this so that you can help us defeat the demons. It’s going to take the witches as well. They don’t trust anyone but their own,” said Trinity.
An hour later, my phone chimed. I almost wept when I saw the text. There was no way I was losing the chance to get Rose Piccard to buy Leonardo and I some more time. I frowned. I had hoped it was Maximus but I still haven’t heard from him. I didn’t want to admit that I was worried that someone had gotten to him too. Our enemy was cunning and intelligent and always a step ahead of us it seemed. Tonight, I intended to rectify our odds and swing the pendulum our way. Valcrum knows we could use all the help we could get.
Hocksum Hotel
4556 Cherry Blossom Lane
Walter & Derrick will meet at 9pm
My time is running out. I don’t have much longer.
Walking into the living room I noticed them all huddled together talking. They didn’t think I had a real shot of making it with the vampire virus. I’m a warrior and all my life, I’ve had to fight, so death isn’t anything new to me. I’m prepared to lay my life down if the others are saved. This can’t be the final chapter for the vampires. We deserve a chance to live like everyone else.
“Do you know if there’s a way to cure the vampire virus,” asked Orion. He leaned against the column looking at Trinity.
“I haven’t heard of one but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one. Rose is his only hope right now.”
“Maximus isn’t having any luck finding the girl that could help us make the cure. We’ve got to convince Aidan to help us,” said Trinity.
“Aidan will be at the Hocksum Hotel at nine tonight protecting Derrick while he meets with Walter.”
Time seemed to fly by. We arrived at the Hocksum Hotel at seven-thirty. This place was very upscale. The only place a meeting could happen here was the large conference room in the back. The conference room had one way in and one way out. This would be tricky, but all we needed was a few minutes to convince Aidan to tell us where Rose was. How hard could that be?
Once we scoped out the place, all of us took our positions. It made sense that Aidan would be posted outside to stop any intruders before they ever reached the inside of the hotel. Fred and Orion were inside, and Trinity and I were outside waiting for them to arrive. The tall oak tree with its sturdy branches allowed us a clear view of everything up and down the street.
“Do you think Aidan will help us, or is he loyal to Derrick?” I had my doubts but what choice did I have? I didn’t know Aidan and I didn’t know Rose. Vampires and witches weren’t the best of friends.
“He’s loyal to his sister. The black limousine is slowing its speed, so this is probably Derrick. He always likes to make an entrance,” said Trinity.
The limousine stopped in front of the hotel, and the driver opened the back-passenger door. Derrick stepped out wearing a black double-breasted suit with a purple handkerchief. He walked past the driver and walked inside. A second later the driver side back door opened, and a young man stepped out.
He wore a low black hat that covered half of his face. His black slacks and teal Hawaiian shirt made him look older than he was. The outfit looked like something my grandparents would have worn to a bingo tournament. The driver touched the brim of his hat before getting in the car and driving off. Once the limousine turned the corner, Aidan walked inside the hotel.
“Why is he going inside? He can’t protect Derrick inside the building,” asked Trinity.
“You can only push people so far, and they start pushing back.
He must realize that Derrick never intended for him to see his sister again. Knowing him she’s already dead.” Pulling out my phone I texted Orion. His response was a skeleton face. This didn’t have to be complicated, but Aidan killing Derrick makes this situation tricky.
Glancing up to the third floor, I saw Aidan creeping near the conference room. He pulled out a nine-millimeter pistol. He wasn’t looking around. His stride was purposeful as he walked toward the conference room.
“Let’s go, he doesn’t look like he’s doing a security sweep.” Jumping down to the ground I rushed toward the door.
“Aidan has never been the patient type,” said Trinity.
“How long has this been going on?” I ran across the street and ducked behind the pillar. Bending down I grabbed a rock and tossed it at the outside cameras.
“It’s been going on for seven years. Follow my lead and try not to get yourself killed again,” said Trinity. She walked through the door. Lifting her head, she stopped walking and smelled the air.
Following her up the stairs I saw a shadow pass near the back entrance. I elbowed Trinity and she smiled. Her face turned red and scales started replacing her skin. As her bones cracked, and she became over ten feet tall. I stepped back. So much for sneaking in and out. In a minute we would lose the element of surprise.
This looked like an assassination attempt, but by who? Soft footsteps tracked along the roof and the shingles shook underneath their weight.
A man dressed in all black crawled inside the window. I threw my knife at his head. He collapsed to the ground, and I dragged him to the storage closet. Several men burst through the window. Trinity nudged me toward the conference room with her head, as she turned around and breathed fire on the men. Their screams as she roasted them made me cringe.
Running to the conference room I stopped when Aidan stepped out from the shadows. He pointed the gun at my chest and fired. I ducked and slid toward him round kicking the gun from his hand.
“I can’t let you kill him,” said Aidan. He got to his feet wiping the blood from his mouth.
“I’m not here to kill him. Whoever he’s meeting with is trying to kill him.”
“Everyone that meets Derrick wants to kill him.”
I shrug. “I need to know where to find Rose Piccard, and you’re going to tell me.”
He ripped a nearby door off its hinges and threw it at me. I grabbed the door, but the force of the impact sent me flying into the wall. The beach painting glass shattered and the painting slipped to the floor. I blinked and he was before me stabbing me in the shoulder. The knife went through my flesh and stuck in the sheetrock of the wall.
Pain shot through my shoulder as I pulled the knife out of my flesh and pulled free from the wall. Derrick started shouting from the conference room and a series of gunshots rang out. Aidan took off rushing inside the conference room.
The conference door swung open, and ten men opened fire on Derrick. The conference room was dark and looked like a firework show.
I ran inside the conference room when the gunfire stopped. I rolled and ducked behind the table. Aidan open fire on the ten men firing at Derrick and him. He moved faster than anything I’d ever seen. Before the men could reload Aidan was firing two rounds of bullets one to the head and one to the heart.
There were only two men left. One man was hiding in the corner near the minibar, and the other was firing twelve rounds of bullets at Aidan and missing him. I fired at the man and ducked behind the table. Trinity flew through the conference door and breathed fired at the men fighting Aidan.
Derrick stood up and ran for the door. I jumped up but a bullet flew past my head and landed in the wall. Dropping to my knee I fired several shots behind me and followed Derrick. He opened the door and was stabbed in the stomach. He grunted and looked up.
A black-masked man twisted the sword and leaned forward pulling Derrick against the sword.
Aidan ‘s face turned red as he vaulted over the table. He reached for Derrick but a man burst through the window tackling him to the floor.
When the assailant pulled the sword out of Derrick’s stomach he fell to his knees and hung his head. When the man turned to look at Aidan, Derrick stood up and ripped the man’s head off his body. He ran toward Trinity who breathed fire at him. Derrick laughed and ran toward her. The stab wound to his chest started to immediately heal. Running I leaped over the conference chair onto the table, with my sword held high.
I leaped in the air, but strong arms knocked me to the ground. My sword slid across the floor and hit the wall. Kicking Adian off me I scrambled to get my sword. Aidan was right on my heels. I threw my sword at Derrick. It pierced his side and he fell to his knees. He ripped the sword out and jumped out of the window. Aidan tackled me and wrapped his hands around my throat, squeezing so hard that my blood pressure pounded in my head.
I swept his feet from under him and climbed on top of him punching him in the face. I yanked him up by his shirt and flung him into the wall.
Trinity transformed back into a girl. Fred and Orion rushed in. Fred took his shirt off and put it over Trinity.
“Aidan, we are here to help you. Are you so brainwashed that you don’t remember you hate Derrick?”
“I can’t forget I hate him, but I love my sister more than I hate him.”
“We can help protect your sister, but we need help,” said Trinity.
“You can’t protect her nobody can. Why did you come here?” said Aidan.
“We need to know where Rose is hiding. She’s the only person that can halt or cure the vampire virus that Derrick unleashed on the city,” said Trinity.
“I don’t care what he does to the vampires, and neither should you,” said Aidan.
“We are some of the most powerful creatures on Earth, and we will stand and fight with you,” said Orion. He moved to look Aidan in the eyes. Orion’s eyes turned light yellow and started to glow before he blinked them green again.
“What are you?” asked Adian. He squinted and leaned forward looking at Orion’s eyes changing color.
“I’m a werewolf and we are prepared to stand and fight with you if you stand with the vampires,” said Orion.
“People said werewolves went extinct thousands of years ago,” said Aidan.
“They’ve been living among you the whole time. There’s a bigger threat than Derrick and the corrupt government. Demons from the spiritual Xundar were cast down to earth, and they have been killing everyone. Trevor the head of the shapeshifting demons plans to kill the mutagens, vampires, and werewolves and rule earth as king,” said Fred.
“The thousand-year treaty protects demons and angels from battling one another,” said Aidan.
“The treaty was broken by Trevor and he was cast down here to earth. I know because I was cast down with him. If you don’t believe me watch this,” said Fred. He dropped Trinity’s arm and focused. A second later two horns appeared on his head and bent down and bit Trinity’s neck. Her blood dripped down his neck, and he shape-shifted into a dragon. After a few minutes, he shifted into one of the assailant’s body double.
Orion walked out of the conference room. He came back with the security tapes and handed some to me before putting the rest into his jacket.
“The vampire and werewolves are going to help mutagens fight. If we want to defeat Derrick and the corrupt people that experimented on us for their pleasure, we’ll need the vampires, witches, and anyone else willing to band with us to fight,” said Trinity.
“I will take you to Rose but she may not help. She doesn’t want to be forced to choose sides in this fight because humans think witches are dead,” said Aiden.
It was three in the morning when we got to the pet shop on Peachtree Street. The shop looked like it was built in the eighties and should be shut down. Aidan didn’t go to the front of the store but walked around the back of the store. In the alley, a black cat ran out of the dumpster meowing.
“I hate cats,” said Orion. His eyes nar
rowed and he leaned close and whispered into my ear. “Keep your third eye open. Why was this place chosen over any other place?”
Nodding, I followed Trinity into the back door. The door automatically shut behind us and the lights went out. Pulling my sword, I felt a force bind my hands as I floated to the ceiling, stuck in a purple bubble. I looked around and Orion, Fred, and Trinity were floating to the ceiling too.
“Aidan, why did you bring strangers to the house? You know what happens to people who come here unannounced,” she said. A short woman about four foot ten stepped from the shadows. Her long auburn wave hair was plaited in a thick braid down her back and she appeared to look in her thirties, but something told me she was very old.
“They don’t mean you any harm. They’ve come to ask you for your help. He has been infected with the vampire virus. They are falling apart outside these walls, and we need you,” said Aidan.
“What does that have to do with me? The humans and the vampires war have nothing to do with us,” said Rose.
“That’s where you’re wrong. The shape-shifting demons are a threat to you too. They were cast down from Xundar for breaking the treaty, and they are killing everyone, so they can rule Earth.” Rose wasn’t the patriotic type and I’m not sure she cared about her race either. I don’t know her well enough to figure out what’s most important to her but something and someone must matter to her.
Looking through the entrance to the shop, I saw the rose gold picture frame on her register. It was a photo of a beautiful girl, who had to be no more than ten years old.
“The little girl is beautiful. Is that your granddaughter?” Rose looked at me and rolled her eyes. “Keep your eyes off that picture or I’ll make you blind for the rest of your days,” said Rose.
“Rose, we don’t have time for this. If the demons kill the vampires the witches are next. They aren’t humans, and they know that the witches exist. Your kind is next,” said Aidan.
The hatred between the vampires and witches went back thousands and thousands of years. There would always be friction between them and us, but at a time like this, we should be able to unite against our common enemy. I guess it was foolish to think she would help.
Shape Shifter’s Demons in the Mist: Angel Academy Page 25