“Empowethor, kelanutium, unitarpeth.” The pure witch circled them while she repeated the chant.
Those weren’t the relic words. Alice swallowed down the dread that worked up her throat. The witch wouldn’t hurt her, would she? Lucius ordered her not to.
Power surged from the witches who where holding her hands. It funneled into Alice. Their grips tightened.
Alice turned, peering down when the one on her right dropped to her knees.
The witch’s head craned back as she stared at the ceiling with solid white eyes. On Alice’s left the other witch also dropped to the floor. They both kept a firm hold on Alice’s hands. Soft chanting came from each of them.
Were they sharing power or holding her into place? Alice looked back at the witch.
A large bowl filled halfway with a murky liquid rested in her hands as she approached. A conduit. She practiced making it with Morrigana. The clear crystal in the middle shimmered even in the dim light. The relic. The empty relic that needed her life to activate.
I will die today. She glanced toward the spider.
Its legs worked as it spun more web.
The power that surged through her body fed her witch, giving Alice an inner strength and balance she’d been missing. Her confidence grew. I can do this.
“Illumeeturath.” The word rolled up from her gut as if she grew up speaking the ancient tongue.
A charge of energy filled the room.
“Lacrimental.” Each word after came out with the same authority and power backing it.
The spider spun, working its way closer to Alice. Sparks caught the light as it rubbed its legs together.
The two witches at Alice’s sides used athames in their free hands to slice Alice’s wrists. Once her blood started to drip, they released her.
Warmth slipped over Alice’s hands as her blood coated them and dripped on the floor. Alice extended her arms toward the witch, bending them up and letting the blood race down to her elbow and pour into the bowl.
The spider lowered itself onto Alice’s shoulder.
“Pantheriual.” Alice continued to chant as she bled out. As she uttered the last word of the second repeat, the liquid in the bowl smoked with a red haze.
Burning blood created a scent between cooking meat and hot metal as it filled the air.
The haze swirled, changing colors from red to white and then back to red before it vanished into the crystal, leaving a strong sulfur smell.
Clothes rustled as the two witches stood, holding Alice on her feet as she swayed.
Alice took the crystal as the witch instructed, holding it in the palms of her opened hands. It vibrated and hummed with a dark energy so cold it burned her skin.
On the third repeat, the words came more drawn out as Alice started to fade. Cold and numb started in her limbs. The relic sucked her life into itself just as Morrigana said it would. Her heart slowed. Her breaths became gulps. “Eternuthiam.” Her legs gave.
The witches beside her grunted as they fought to keep her upright. The witch in front of her tossed the bowl down and cupped Alice’s elbows, making sure she didn’t drop the relic.
“Vitailiem.” Alice screamed as the relic burst into flames that encircled her hands.
The witch gripped her tighter. “Last word!”
A small sting in her shoulder, turned into a burn. The warmth fought against the chill. Her heartbeat picked up, stuttered and stopped for a few beats. Another sting jolted her back to life. “Nuritrishum.” Alice went limp as her life flowed through the relic.
Another stinging bite. Her heart sputtered back to life.
Someone pried the vibrating relic from her grasp. Hands guided her to the floor. Voices sounded far away.
“So cold.” Alice shivered. Something tickled her neck. The spider. She willed her hand to reach up and swat it. Her hand didn’t move.
“Take her to the bed. Wrap her in a blanket and leave her.” The witch chanted as she tested the magic in the relic. “Leave her something sweet to drink if she should wake. Alert me if she dies.”
A blanket wrapped around Alice. Scratchy. Musty. Movement. Her head bobbled against the floor. They were dragging her.
Alive. Still alive. Alice closed her eyes and rubbed the blood on her wrist. Stop bleeding. I won’t die today.
The spider crawled into her hair, tickling her ear. You died today, my witch. Death isn’t your enemy.
“I’VE TRIED TO get her to drink and eat. The ward she wears is stopping any healing spells.” The voice of the pure witch prodded at Alice’s awareness. “I will tug out the ward. I’ve sent a witch for a rare root that will be needed.”
“No. Leave her intact,” Lucius said with a stern tone.
“She will die if I don’t.” The witch’s voice held disdain. “What I do will allow us to attempt to salvage her life enough to sell to your buyer. Time isn’t on our side. The magic she wields doesn’t belong in a human body. Nature knows she is an abomination.”
Alice tried to open her eyes. They refused. Her fingers twitched. I’ve got your abomination.
Not yet, my witch. A metallic voice whispered in her ear. Vengeance will be yours.
A cold presence moved closer. Strong. Dangerous. Sweet. Waffles. “I will heal her. Leave us. Tend to the coven. I’ll be down soon.”
“Lucius! It’s a hybrid. We have what we need. Come away. If her will isn’t strong enough.” There was a pause. Shuffling feet. “I’ll have them dump her tomorrow.”
“Dearling. The offer for her alive?” The voice drifted closer. “That’s almost as much as another relic.”
“Waffles,” Alice muttered. Her eyes fluttered opened and struggled to focus on the face looking back at her. He smelled so sweet. “With syrup.”
“She’s delirious.” The witch sounded agitated. “I want more than my cut. To share your blood with a thing like that.”
Lucius snarled. “Yes, fine. Go now. Have one of the girls make waffles.”
“I’m as possessive as you are, my darkling. Don’t give me more reasons to kill our extra profit, aside from her elf parts.” The words were low and filled with warning.
Footsteps trailed away and the door slammed.
“Precious. You did it. I knew you could.” Lucius sat on the bed beside Alice. He stroked her forehead. “I need you to drink. Just a drop and you will feel stronger.”
Strong. Cold. Matthias? “My love.” Alice tried again to get her eyes to focus. Something was off. Not tender. Not Matthias. Pieces started to fall into place. The coven. The witch. Lucius. She sucked in a breath. “So weak.”
“One drop.” He pressed a finger to her lips.
Would his blood alter her connection with Matthias? It wouldn’t matter if she died. She parted her lips. Metallic. Bitter.
“There you are.” He tucked the blanket up to her neck. “Rest. You will recover now. After I’ve settled things here, we will leave.”
“Taking me to him?” Alice managed to focus on his eyes.
Love and hate stared back at her. Conflict. “I will take him the relic and inform him you are dead.”
Alice choked on her saliva. “No. No. Where will you take me?” Her heart started to race. Whatever she was going to do to ensure this coven and Lucius were taken in, had to happen now. Before he took her away.
“To my nest. You will be safe.” He kissed her forehead. “From everything but me.”
She watched him walk away and closed her eyes. His blood raced through her. Stings of pain randomly shot across her as the blood healed the damage to her body and soul.
He’d given her the strength to recover. A chance to bring him and his dearling to the PPK. Punishable by death. A twinge of pain raced across her temples. Not guilt. They are monsters. He deserves it.
Chapter Twenty
AMAROK PARKED HIS Jeep a few blocks from where Matthias’ tracker said he was. Unmoving. Not even a few feet. Not since last night. That couldn’t be good. He thumbed over to the other screen
and watched the targets long enough to see Alice still wasn’t moving. Why had she spent all day in the den?
“Damn it,” he muttered as he slammed the door.
As he approached a lone house surrounded by a high fence, the scent of death that was unmistakably vampire mingled with car exhaust and a myriad of human odors common in cities.
The din of human activity faded as Amarok focused his senses. Alice wasn’t there. He knew that. She hadn’t been, but someone who touched her had. Matthias? No. He breathed in, letting the air drift over his taste buds. Alice’s scent was carried on a vampire. Not Matthias. Not one who was still there.
Amarok pushed her markers to the back of his mind and breathed in again. He wasn’t there for Alice. Not yet. The scent of Matthias was faint, painted against at least five other distinct vampire stenches.
He wrinkled his nose and smiled. The orders were always the same when there was a man down. Any interfering supernatural was fair game.
Very few ambassador missions allowed him to rid the world of monsters, not like when he was on the elite wolf squad. Killing vampires was always a joy. Rescuing Matthias, not so much. The challenge of having five would make saving Matthias almost worth it. He rolled his neck, the joints popping.
They would detect him as well. The blood suckers were in tune to warm-blooded creatures. Heartbeats ranged, but none were as slow as vampires as they pumped the cold sludge around their corpse. His lip raised. Why Alice chose one as a friend…
Alice. Head in the game. Alice could press her panic button any second. He needed to be done with this and ready to answer that call. His beast grew restless as he thought about Matthias feeding from Alice in the dark corner of a sleazy blood den. Better than Reginald. Marginally.
A paled figure appeared at the end of the block. It cocked its head and bared fangs in Amarok’s direction.
Good. Single yourself out, you arrogant bastard. Amarok stopped walking and stared at the vampire. Come and get me.
As if in answer, the vampire vanished in a blur of movement. It crashed into Amarok and bit into his neck.
Amarok grabbed it by the throat and squeezed until the spine fractured. Claws pushed through his fingertips. He ripped into the vampire’s chest, pulling out its blackened heart.
It squished between his fingers as he squeezed, forcing it to stop. Only three ways to kill them and be sure they stayed dead. Heads, hearts, or fire.
He glanced toward the fence. The other four were deeper in the property. There would likely be a camera at the main gate. His gaze flicked around. He chucked the heart over the fence, followed by the dead vampire. Dead vampire? Re-dead?
A car whizzed by. Fortunate timing. After it passed he scaled the fence. The grass muffled his landing on the other side. A one-story house sat away from the fence. No lights were on.
Amarok sniffed the air. Agitation. Four strange vampires and Matthias. Matthias smelled off. Weak. Injured. His heartrate was slow by vampire standards. He closed his eyes. One of the vampires was with Matthias.
Amarok crossed the lawn. The other three should have sensed him. As he neared the house he scanned the eaves. No cameras? Maybe it wasn’t part of the underground. Home to a wealthy vampire? A nest?
His claws on his other hand pushed out. Fingernails dropped to the grass. A full shift would draw attention and wasn’t needed. Not for three.
The house was locked. No surprise there. He twisted the knob until it broke and shoved his shoulder against the door, snapping the deadbolt and chain as well.
No alarm sounded. No vampires rushed. The smell of human blood caught his attention. Almost human. Witch. His fists clenched. Claws cut into his palms. Alice?
A wave of heat rushed over him. He let his fists loosen. Not Alice. Her scent wasn’t there. Dead witches. He let out a breath and a soft snort. Magic drunk. That was why they didn’t react to him. Sloppy.
Too easy. Leave it to Matthias to ruin his fun. He cocked up his mouth into a grin. Busting up Matthias’ blood party could still be amusing. No. As much as he despised him, playing on the job didn’t feel right. Matthias was in trouble. His presence continued to weaken. Matthias was many things, but he was not weak.
Amarok moved toward the three vampires.
They started to move toward him.
Good. He rounded the corner. A spear pinned his shoulder against the wall. He growled.
One of the vampires jumped on him and bit into his neck. The other two grabbed his arms and started to feed.
“Nasty bastards.” Amarok raised his arms and tossed the two off. He crammed a few claws into the mouth of the one on his neck, breaking the suction of the bite. As he tossed it, he kept a hold of the lower teeth and ripped the bottom of its jaw off.
The vampire screeched, raising both hands to its mangled face. It yelled something garbled and launched at Amarok again.
“Destroy him,” one of the others shouted.
Amarok waved them on as he grabbed and tossed the wounded one into the wall. “Bring it, blood suckers.”
One sped toward him.
Amarok dug his claws in the chest and broke several ribs.
It attempted to back away.
“Destroy me.” Amarok wrapped his hand around the sternum and pulled. He left the other gnashing at his neck as one clung to his back.
A gargled wail came from the one in front of him as Amarok punctured his lungs.
He yanked out the heart. As much fun as playing with them was, Matthias was growing weaker.
With a shove he sent the other to the floor and crushed its chest with his heel. He ground his ankle until the heart popped under the pressure. Blood spread across the carpet like a finger-painting lesson gone wrong.
“Where’d you go? Come out come out wherever you are.” Amarok felt the fear coming from the third. He could let it live, and starve. Without a bottom jaw, it would be hard to feed.
Matthias groaned.
Amarok zeroed in on the sound. Forgetting about the third vampire, he sped down a dark corridor and crashed into the room at the end.
He glanced from the bloody woman to Matthias. “Well, well. Looks like I found a vampire chained to the wall. Did I interrupt some kinky S&M? I can come back.”
Kindra turned and jumped on Amarok. Her fangs penetrated his skin.
“I’m not into threesomes.” He lifted her off and held her extended by the throat with one hand. “Did she say the safe word?”
She struggled and kicked, landing a few to his stomach. “You are dead, wolf.”
“You need to do it?” Amarok tightened his grip on her neck. His gaze drifted over Matthias whose heart was beating erratically. “You okay?”
“Go ahead. She’s nothing to me.” Matthias reached to wipe his face, but the cuffs held firm. He coughed and closed his eyes. “Hurry. Bitch broke my nose and…”
Amarok applied pressure until her neck snapped. With a twist he removed her head and tossed it on the floor. “Stop whining. It’ll heal.” He walked over Kindra’s corpse as if it were a pile of trash and yanked the chain from the wall. “That little girl got the better of you?”
“No, she did not.” Matthias wiggled his hands. “Can you take these off, please?”
“Do I get to ask how you ended up chained to a wall with an angry, bleeding vampire whore? In a house of blood drunk vamps, when you should be working? Because this really screams kinky sex gone wrong.” He snapped the cuffs. “Beat all to hell too. Is that a bone in your chest?” Amarok leaned in. “Jesus man, is that in your heart?”
Matthias winced and pulled it out with a swift movement. His heart started to beat faster. “Almost. Nicked it.”
“You need…” Amarok glanced at his own wrist. The bites from the other vampires were healed. “That going to heal without us getting intimate? I’m all for no man left behind and you are on my squad tonight, but if you can hobble out of here and heal yourself, I’d rather not.”
“I’ll manage. It was just a splinter.” Mat
thias held his hand over the hole in his chest. “The bone will take a while but the muscle feels better already.”
“That was your bone? Bitch stabbed you with your own bone? Brutal.” Amarok looked down at the broken rib on the floor. “You want it back?”
“Yeah grab it. My witch might need it for something.” Matthias shoved it in his pocket and took the arm Amarok offered.
“There’s one alive in here. Are they targets?” Amarok licked his lips. “He won’t take much to finish off.”
“Not targets per se, but if they helped poison me, they are working for Ambrose. He’s a target.” Matthias coughed, pushing blood from his lungs and spitting on the floor. “We don’t want him tipped off to a homicidal werewolf. That reeks of PPK.”
“Because this…” Amarok waved at Kindra’s corpse. “Looks like business as usual? I picked up a faint trail of someone who was near Alice.”
“That’d be Ambrose. He runs the den.” Matthias started walking. “Let’s go. The one you left alive is trying to get out of the house.”
“Stay here. Let your blood do its thing.” Amarok left Matthias leaned against the wall. He tracked the other vampire, finding it at the front door. “Leaving?”
The vampire spun toward Amarok. Blood clotted on its face, neck, and shirt. Where the jaw had been ripped, small protrusions of bone were growing.
Damn. They heal faster than me. Amarok frowned. He grabbed the vampire by the top of the head and squeezed until the skull popped. Better to be safe. He twisted until it came off.
“I hope you know, I could be with the squad, rescuing Alice. Instead I’m here, rescuing your dead… I could report that you were dead when I arrived. Wouldn’t take much to finish you off either.” Amarok strolled back to Matthias and put an arm around his waist. “I’m not. You owe me.”
“I’ll pay that debt now.” Matthias stood to his full height and used his shirt to wipe some blood from his face. “Alice isn’t at the den. Do you have a bead on all the targets?”
“Yeah.” Amarok stepped out of the small room into the hall. “Where is Alice? Her tracker says she never left the last den.”
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