by Judith Post
Bart hurried ahead to keep track of Claudia. He found her at a construction site close to the airport. It was closed for the night. Vampires soared and dipped above sleeping bulldozers and earth movers. He reached her side just as she pointed. "There she is!" She raced toward Vixtra. Bart flew after her.
Immediately, a body of soldiers planted themselves between Vixtra and Bart's troops—a wall of rogues to protect their mistress. Ulrich dropped Enoch close by, and Enoch blasted a beam of Light that opened a hole in their defenses. Rogues dive bombed him to divert him, but Eva and Elijah shot through the gap before more rogues filled the space. They were separated from the others, but Eva and Elijah didn't notice. They plunged to attack.
Vixtra whirled in midair. She slammed a foot into Elijah's midsection. He hurtled backwards, crashed into a crane, and was momentarily dazed. She turned to meet Eva. Talons slashed. Fangs tore. Their hand to hand combat was fierce and intense. Eva lunged for Vixtra's neck. Vixtra darted sideways. Vixtra kicked at Eva's head. Eva caught her leg. Vixtra dropped suddenly, wrenching it free. Elijah hurried to join the foray. Eva grabbed Vixtra from behind, pinning her arms. When Elijah opened his jaws to tear out her throat, Vixtra slammed her head back into Eva's face. Arms free, she raked Elijah's eyes with her claws. He stumbled into Eva, knocking her momentarily off balance. Vixtra dug both hands into Eva's right wing. She tore a gaping hole in it.
Eva tried to flap, but the wing wouldn't hold her. She plummeted from the sky. Bart watched, but knew he couldn’t get to her in time. He glanced around to see if anyone else could help her. No need to worry. Amado was already making his move.
Amado jabbed his crook into the rogues in front of him, pushed through the others, and raced to catch her in midair. Keb came up behind him. Amado handed Eva off to him. "Take care of her."
His jaw set, eyes flashing, he flew high into the sky and dropped at sickening speed to slam into Vixtra. Vixtra was playing with Elijah. Half-blind, he fought back, but she pushed him away each time he attacked and sliced an arm, a leg, his face, or neck. She was smiling, anticipating a quick finish, when Amado crashed into her.
Bart watched and worried. Amado was one of his newer generals. Vixtra was older than most of them, hardened and strong. Bart tried to battle his way to them, but a group of rogues dropped down to surround him. All he could do was glance over occasionally to see how Amado was doing.
Vixtra tumbled, off balance for a moment, then straightened herself. With a hiss, she rushed to meet Amado’s fury. They bit and slashed, kicked and blocked. Vixtra's smile left her, replaced by cold anger and determination. She spat in Amado's face. He recoiled, wiping off the stench. Laughing, she raised her talons to dissect him. And before any of them realized what he was doing, Amado rammed his pointed crook into her open mouth. Gurgling with surprise, she lunged for him, but he kicked her away before she burst to dust.
There was a moment of stunned stillness, then Vixtra's soldiers turned and ran. "Attack!" Bart cried. His men followed and destroyed as many as they could. They fought, hand to hand, until the sun tinged the horizon. Then every vampire raced for home.
Bart and Claudia guarded the rear, following the troops. Bart watched Amado carry Eva back to the house. Keb supported Elijah. Again, Ulrich carted Enoch through the air. The angel didn't look thrilled, but he seemed resigned to it.
When they entered the kitchen, Voronika hurried to Enoch and threw her arms around his neck. "Vixtra's dead! She's really dead?"
Enoch nodded. “Amado killed her.”
Bart looked around the kitchen. "How's Eva? Is she all right?"
Voronika motioned to the window. "Amado’s taking her to the shed to care for her."
Ulrich raised a glass to toast him. "Our little lover’s one hell of a fighter when he's angry."
Then the celebration really got going. Bart tried to join in, to enjoy the moment. But when he met Enoch's gaze, he knew Enoch was having the same problem he was. Vixtra's death was only one more step in their battle. The next one would be harder.
Keb clapped a hand on Bart's shoulder. "Your mate's ready to party. Every victory life offers should be appreciated, even the small ones." He nodded toward Claudia, who was pouring champagne. "Vixtra can't destroy any more lives. That, in itself, is worth jubilation. We'll face our new problems in the morning. "
Bart relaxed. Keb was right. He'd always made a point of acknowledging each of life's blessings. This was one of them. Problems could wait.
Chapter 54
The next night, everyone circled the table, sober and thoughtful. Enoch tried to think of something hopeful to say, but nothing came to mind.
"What will happen now?" Leam asked. "We defeated Vixtra. Is it over?"
Keb shook his head. "Every time we block the big three, we up the ante, raise the stakes."
Elijah leaned on his shepherd's crook. His arm was in a sling and his eyes were puffy, but he was already healing. "They could go to Caleb. He'd let them end this thing. No one wants a war and its aftermath."
"The big three aren't forgiving," Keb said. "They consider it a weakness. If Caleb offers them a deal, they'll only resent him more."
"So what are you saying?" Elijah asked. "They'd rather die than deal?"
Keb nodded. "Okon's always chafed under Caleb's rules. He couldn't stand living with his charity."
"But they can't win," Elijah argued.
"They think they have a slim chance." Enoch thought of Caleb and Lucifer's rebellion. What were the odds that they'd succeed? But they only saw what they wanted to see.
"Who else do they have to send against us?" Claudia asked. "They've already lost most of their best men."
"They'll come themselves this time," Bart said. "They'll be ready to finish this thing."
"Can we separate them?" Ulrich asked. "Kill one of them at a time?"
Bart pinched his lips together in a grim line. "All of us together couldn't defeat one of them."
Enoch rubbed his chin, disturbed. He looked at Leam. "Your men won't stand a chance. You should send them home."
"I'll ask Caleb. If he okays it, I'll order them to go."
Enoch's gaze didn't waver. "You should go too."
Leam shook his head. "I should have turned to dust when Nula died. I'm still here, living on borrowed time. I'd like to stay."
“Not a good idea.”
Leam smiled. “It wasn’t a good idea to become a soldier, either, but it’s my life. I can’t go. I’d feel like a coward.”
“There’s nothing you can do here.”
“I can die with the rest of you if the generals have to fight.”
Enoch sighed. There was no arguing with him, he could tell. He gave a quick nod.
Voronika joined the conversation for the first time. "The big three can kill any vampire, but would they risk coming here to fight Enoch? They can't win."
Bart rubbed his forehead, thinking. "They'll try to blackmail him or distract him. The first person they'll think about is you."
"Not this time. I won't leave the house. They can't use me against him."
Keb ticked more people off on his fingers. "Gino must have told them about Danny and Kandice."
"Kandice is out of town," Enoch said. "Tony sent her away."
Keb thought a minute. "If I were going to grab someone close to you, it would be Danny."
"I'll stand guard over him." Claudia leaned forward. "We need to protect him."
Bart gave her a level stare. "You won't be able to this time."
"We have to think of a way!"
Bart raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm glad Danny's mortal or I'd be jealous."
"He's a mortal who sided with us. It shouldn't get him dragged into our messes."
"It's too late for that," Enoch said. "Gino saw us together in the alley. He knew Danny called me to help on cases. So will the big three."
Voronika shrugged. "Have Danny and Maggie move in with us until this is over."
"Here?" Enoch wasn't sure how com
fortable they'd be, living with a group of vampires.
"Why not?"
Good question. It was better than meeting one of the big three, and the more he thought about it, the better it sounded. "It could work," he said. "They probably wouldn't even see you guys. You'd be going to sleep when they'd be getting up. The days are long enough, they'd leave for work in daylight and come home in daylight. We could protect them here."
Ulrich went to the kitchen's island for several bottles of wine. "It's decided then. We can't win without Enoch's help, and Enoch can't help if the big three grab a hostage. This sounds like a plan."
They uncorked the wine and drank a toast.
"To the big three!" Ulrich said. "Let's hope Enoch destroys them all."
Bart's face crumpled. "We're leaving you to finish our battle for us, angel."
"It's the only way we might win." Enoch chose the word might on purpose. When he was trying to protect Voronika, he'd learned the hard way that things could go wrong.
Leam took a deep breath. "I'm going to the balcony to call Caleb. I want my men to leave right away if they can. The sooner, the better."
"No one will think less of you if you go with them," Elijah told him.
"I will, and my opinion's the one that matters." The rest of them milled around in the kitchen until Leam returned. He gave a quick nod. "It's done. I'm sending them home."
"Where is home? Will they be safe there?" Bart asked.
"They're spending a short time at Caleb's fortress. No one gets in there. They won't like it. Caleb encourages too much frivolity, but under the circumstances, it's a necessary evil. I'm calling them together to tell them now."
Enoch followed Leam to the basement. He stood behind him as he delivered the news. His troops didn't take it well.
"Why aren't you coming with us?" Ellora asked. "If it's unsafe for us to stay, it's unsafe for you too."
"None of us can beat the big three," Leam explained. "We aren't fighting them. Enoch is, but I’m staying to support him."
Ellora shook her head. "You're staying so that if something happens, Caleb will have to come or lose all of his best generals. And you're sending us home because you know that Caleb won't even bother with us."
Leam couldn't hide his surprise. He glanced at Enoch, and Enoch realized that was exactly why Leam was staying, but wanted his troops sent to safety. The girl was entirely too smart.
"I'm staying because this isn't Enoch's battle and we shouldn't stick him with it and take off."
Hands on hips, Ellora stood before him. "And?"
Leam sighed. "And if worse comes to worse, Caleb might come to rescue us, but none of you would survive."
She nodded. "We'd be a burden to you. You'd try to protect us when you can't. We'll go."
They bounded away as a group and Leam stood to watch them until they were out of sight.
"I'm proud of them," he told Enoch.
"You've trained them well."
"That, and they're good, honest vampires. They came to me, looking for something worthwhile to do after they were bitten."
The others came out to join them.
Voronika took a deep breath. "What a beautiful night."
"Enjoy it while you can," Bart said. "Okon, Ragnar, and Yerik won't waste time. They'll get here as soon as they can."
They sat on the patio and Eva and Amado left the shed to join them. Eva's wing was almost healed. They talked quietly until a finger of light colored the horizon. Leam sighed. "It's off to bed with me. I'm going to miss my men."
"Stay in the attic with me," Ulrich offered. "I'm camping in the house from now on. The big three can sniff me out in the Land Rover."
Bart looked at Eva and Amado. "You should stay inside too. You can have the spare bedroom upstairs."
Enoch gave Keb a meaningful look.
"I know. I might prize my independence, but not when the big three are on their way. We'll all stay in the house."
With their arrangements made, the vampires went to their nests. Voronika lingered a few minutes to lean into Enoch and kiss him gently on the cheek. "If you need some TLC, let me know."
He hugged her close. It wasn't often he got to see her tender side. "Want me to walk you upstairs?"
"No, you have things to do. Call Danny. Get everyone safe." She gave him one last kiss and went inside.
Enoch stayed on the patio to watch the sunrise. He drank coffee and read the morning paper until Danny would be at his desk, then he picked up his cell phone and called him. "Have you got a minute? This gets complicated."
"Shoot." When Enoch finished, Danny was silent a moment. "So, the big three are coming to Three Rivers, and they're huge and ugly and dangerous?"
"And infectious. If they scratch you, you're dead."
"And you want Maggie and me to play sleepover at your place?"
"I wouldn't put it like that, but yes."
"To keep us safe?"
"Yes."
"So that no one carts us off as hostages again."
"Yes."
"We'll pack our bags and be on your doorstep as soon as we find our toothbrushes and socks."
"Will you call Maggie and explain it to her?"
"She doesn't work today. I'll give her a call as soon as I hang up."
"Then I'll let you go. The sooner you guys move in, the better."
"There's one downside to this, you know," Danny warned.
"What's that?"
"Maggie and Voronika have been dying to see each other. Maggie's going to stay up all night and who knows what those two will come up with for the wedding. It's only a week away now, pal."
"That's a downside I'll enjoy." He listened to Danny's chuckle as he flipped his phone shut.
Chapter 55
Voronika pulled back the drape and stayed in the shadows when she heard Enoch pull into the driveway. A minute later, Maggie pulled in behind him. Maggie was really here!
"Care to give me a hand?" Voronika used her acute hearing to listen into their conversation. She watched Enoch walk to Maggie's trunk and pull out four suitcases. "I didn't know how long we'd be here," Maggie said, apologizing, "so I packed a week's worth of clothes. If this goes longer than that, Danny and I are going to have to leave our reception early and get out of town for our honeymoon while it's still light outside."
Voronika grimaced. That would be an impossible situation.
"I could send Bart and Claudia with you as chaperones," Enoch offered.
"Thanks, but no thanks." Maggie laughed. "I love both of them, but from what Danny said, that wouldn’t be safe for any of us." She grabbed a bag and Enoch carted the other three to the house. Maggie followed him and waited while he unlocked the door and grid. Voronika rushed down the stairs to greet her. The sun was too bright, so she had to wait in the shadows at the top of the steps.
Enoch let Maggie in, then locked up behind them. Voronika heard Maggie turn in a circle. "I love your kitchen."
"It's not as nice as the penthouse, but it works."
What was the man doing? He was taking his damned, sweet time. Voronika called, "Pull the blinds, already, so I can come down. I want to see Maggie."
She heard Enoch's chuckle. He dropped the suitcases and went to do as he was told. When the house was sufficiently gloomy, he called, "It's safe."
Voronika rushed into Maggie's embrace.
Enoch grinned like a doofus, watching them. He'd often told her that they made a wonderful contrast—Maggie with her short, brown curls and petite build and her with her silver hair and long, lean frame. Maggie was all crooked grins and caring grit, but Enoch swore he preferred her raised eyebrows and sardonic comebacks. Voronika frowned. She wondered how honest he was, if he'd like a sweet, good-natured woman better? Whatever, she and Maggie were perfect complements for one another.
Maggie pulled back to look at her. "Is that the real color of your eyes? They're so cool. You look exotic."
Damn! She'd been so excited, she forgot to put her contacts in. "
You like yellow?"
"Cleo and Felix have yellow eyes. They look mysterious."
"All cats look mysterious," Voronika teased.
"You haven't seen some of the strays I feed. Pitiful is more like it." Maggie gave an impish look and pulled Voronika toward the living room. "Enoch can take my luggage up, so we can talk."
"I'm putting you two in my room," Voronika said. "It has a beautiful bay window and a little sitting area."
"Where will you sleep?" Maggie asked.
"In the attic. Enoch chased all the men into the basement."
Enoch left them to their gossip and trudged upstairs with the suitcases. Voronika had already changed the sheets on the bed and tidied the room. Next, he carried the television set from the living room upstairs and connected it. Voronika liked the idea. That way, if Danny and Maggie wanted to, they could settle in their room for the evening before the vampires woke up.
When he came downstairs again, she and Maggie were settled in the kitchen. "Shoo!" she told him. "It's girl time now." They spent the rest of the day looking through wedding magazines and trying out recipes for appetizers. By the time Danny finished his shift and got there, the kitchen was a wreck. Pots and pans were everywhere. Food covered the kitchen island, and the list of appetizers for the wedding had grown.
"Try them out," Maggie told Danny. "But you don't get to vote."
Danny and Enoch exchanged glances.
Maggie made a face. "Stop that. Like anyone would believe I could bully you anyway."
By the time they ate and drank and caught up on each other's lives, it was getting close to ten and the last ray of daylight was fading. "Do you want to meet the others?" Enoch asked. "They'd be happy to see you."
"I want to see Bart and Claudia," Maggie said. "But I have a twelve-hour shift tomorrow. Seven to seven. I can't stay up much longer."
Voronika smiled. Her friend looked worn to the bone.
"I clock in at seven too," Danny said. "It's going to be a long day."
The sun sank, and the vampires woke and came to greet them.