Blood Relic

by Lucretia Stanhope

  He glanced to the door. “Put the spell back up. We don’t want any unexpected vampires and witches waltzing in just yet.”

  Alice cast the barrier and then turned, her eyes locking on the witch. Still not sorry. Not for stopping the killer. Something tugged at her heart. She changed. They changed her.

  “Come on. I want to get them all cuffed before the squad arrives.” He started walking.

  “You deserve this, you know? You dumped dead witches in shallow graves after using them for your own profit.” She stared at Lucius while she waited for a response. “You are disgusting.”

  Lucius scorched her with his glare. “This from the witch who kills witches for the PPK? Does she know?” he shouted toward Reginald’s back. “Do you know the history of the people you serve? They have more genocides in their history than the humans. Hybrid. They would kill you without hesitation, regardless of how long you bow to them. They are evil. Not me.”

  She started to respond, but couldn’t process what he said. Was that why the histories she searched were gone? Had the light elves taken part in a genocide? Connections that could or couldn’t be real started to form. The world around her blurred as conversations with Jasper played out in her mind.

  “Light and dark are not equal to good and evil. Things aren’t always cut and dry,” he’d said and ran a finger across her face. “Maybe the creatures who live in the shadows are actually hiding in their embrace.”

  “Today, Alice,” Reginald shouted.

  Alice gave Lucius another glance and then took a few hurried steps, falling in stride with Reginald. “Do you have to report that?”

  “That? You mean that I watched you enchant a vampire. A vampire older than anyone who works for the PPK?” He paused and glanced down at her. “Or that I watched you magically rip the heart out of a witch and eat it?” He ran his tongue over his lips. “Why did you eat it? Not that I’m judging. It’s probably the most intriguing thing I’ve ever watched a woman do.”

  “I don’t want to intrigue you. Please, can we leave that out?” Her eyes searched his. A creature of the shadows. Danger signals from him were stronger than from Lucius. Evil or misunderstood?

  “Don’t fear, doll. It’s not illegal to kill witches. There is a destroy on sight order for them. You might get a bonus vacation day.” He stopped walking and turned toward her. “Are you going to tell me why you chewed on her heart?”

  She averted her eyes, avoiding any trances. Anyone of rank at the PPK knowing she’d just taken in centuries of witch power and knowledge would spell her end. That made her what they feared. Destroy on sight. “No, I am not. I don’t care about the law. I don’t want kills on my record. I don’t want to be on a killer ‘whatever the hell’ they want me to be on. I want to work for peace.”

  “Heart eating peace?”

  “Screw you.”

  “That’s no way to ask for favors.” He tipped her head up and his pupils grew larger. “What are you afraid of?”

  Alice felt her will bend and snap. “I don’t want to be used for killing. It scares me to think I will become like my parents. I’m afraid when they see my power they will want to use it or destroy it. I’m most afraid this is my life and I’ll never just be.” The admission hurt as it came out. She fought the pull as he continued to tug at her will.

  “What else, little one?” The intensity of his gaze deepened.

  “I’m afraid when I let that part of me out, no one will be able to put it back inside. It’s my worst fear that I am evil at my core.” She reached up and placed a hand on his face. “Don’t let them make me a killing force on the side of evil.”

  “Evil.” An amused look filled his face. “Sweet little witch, good and evil don’t matter. You picked your side. It’s never about good or evil. Us or them. It’s that simple.”

  She stood frozen while his words rolled around in her mind. Were good and evil only vague constructs to allow creatures on both sides of the law to live with what they did to survive? Right and wrong existed. Her gut told her as much. Didn’t it? Killing was wrong, yet she killed, to spare other deaths. “It wasn’t a choice for me, it was an order. I…”

  “Will adapt.” He walked a little further and stopped at the first door. A sitting room that held three of the witches. “Let them out. I will cuff and trance them. If one gets loose, can you handle yourself?”

  “Sure. The witch’s heart was shriveled from hate and I’m still hungry.” Alice pursed her lips and called up enough power to fight off all three. She worked to unravel the barrier. Her hands moving quickly.

  As soon as it dropped the door flung open.

  Reginald grabbed two and stared at the other. “Don’t move, witch.”

  The witch froze and stared at him.

  “Take the cuffs from my pocket.” He kept a firm hold on the two witches.

  They started to chant.

  Alice muttered a binding spell and then reached into his pocket, pulling out three sets of cuffs. The thin blue strips hummed with magic. She walked around him and cuffed each of the witches. “You can let them go now.

  “You are going to stay in this room and behave yourselves until I tell you to do otherwise.” He let them go. “If we have a problem, I’m going to drain you and feed my little hybrid your internal organs.”

  The witches huddled together in the corner.

  “How did you get your entrancements so strong?” Alice asked as they walked toward the other two witches. “I mean you did all three, so you didn’t even have to make eye contact. That’s very, well, even elves have to make eye contact, don’t they?”

  “I didn’t think we were chit chatting.” He stopped walking again. “Why did you eat the heart? I could make you tell me. Though I do have to look at you. Why is that?”

  “Never mind. It’s my elf. Are you reporting that I killed her and that I…” Her fingers balled as magic sparked. Reginald triggered every instinct to fight and kill. Was it him, or just her witch taking root?

  “That you ate it? No. I am deeply curious and I hope that my keeping your flesh-eating desires secret, will grant enough trust for you to share.” He placed a hand on her waist and started walking again.

  “Share?” She brushed his hand off. “With you?”

  “Considering you are the one who made me ill, that I’ve granted you any favor is exceedingly kind.” The side of his lip pulled up into a sneer.

  The magic that raced to her call created a static in the air. “I was protecting myself.”

  “I was only following orders.” He shrugged and glanced toward her hands. “Mind your magic. You can keep your secrets, hybrid, but I’m not the man you want to make an enemy of.”

  Was he asking for an apology? Another one. “Look. I’m sorry. No. Actually, I’m not. I only said that because Sarg El made me. You are a prick, and I would have done it again. You drink from me again, you’ll find out how I killed a witch and entranced Lucius.”

  Reginald laughed. “Enemies it is.”

  “You don’t scare me.” She stared at his eyes, arching her brow in challenge.

  “Not today.” He dipped his head, conceding. “I thought you might be smarter than that.”

  After they cuffed all the witches, they rounded them up and gathered everyone in the main room.

  AMAROK SLAMMED INTO the barrier and jumped back when it zapped him. “Alice!”

  Matthias appeared at his side. He reached a hand to cover his laugh. “Reginald, let us in.”

  Alice ran to the door and dropped the wall. Tears of relief came to her eyes. “It’s over.”

  “I smell…” Amarok hugged her against him. “Your blood. Is this your blood?” He wiped at her face. “Why are you in… is that Reginald’s shirt?”

  “Why is she in your clothes?” Matthias stepped past them and got in Reginald’s face. “Why is she covered in blood?”

  “Easy.” Alice reached up and touched Amarok’s cheek. “I’m fine. The witch set me on fire. I needed clothes.” />
  “Witch did what?” Matthias balled his fists.

  “Please, everyone relax a minute.” Alice tried to lock onto Matthias’ eyes. Please, my love. We can’t tell Amarok here like this. Let me do that privately. “The witch.” She gestured toward the body that they’d covered with a blanket.

  “That smells like proper witch.” Amarok turned her head to face him. “You? Sweetheart, are you okay? Some of that is yours.”

  “I bled out making the…” She chewed her lip. “Relic.”

  “You made one!” Matthias, Amarok and Reginald all said in unison.

  Lucius laughed, throwing back his head. “Everyone underestimated you, precious.”

  “Yes, it’s, the witch had it.” Alice looked toward the body again.

  Matthias tapped by his eyes. Do you need healed? In her mind his voice trembled with concern.

  No. Lucius gave me blood. Alice broke eye contact when a wave of rage crossed their connection.

  Amarok hugged her tighter as if he felt the change in the air. “I’ve got you. We need to get her to a medic, now. That ritual is dangerous. Damn it. The orders were no ritual.”

  “Alice doesn’t like orders,” Reginald said and pulled out his phone. “We have the top tier secure. Send the detainment team. Report on target retrieval and raid.”

  “I’m fine.” Alice spoke soft to Amarok. “Tell me what happened. Why are you and Matthias covered in blood too?”

  While they waited for a team to arrive, Alice listened to a condensed version of what happened.

  She felt Lucius, Matthias, and Reginald watching as she drifted in and out of sleep in Amarok’s lap. One eye cracked open and Alice peered at the three vampires.

  Their eyes all said they realized that even though she was cradled in Amarok’s protective arms, she was the most dangerous creature in the room. What did that mean to them? Something different for each one probably. Worries for another day. The magic she used exhausted her even with Lucius’ blood fighting the effects. She closed her eyes and sank deeper against Amarok’s safe embrace.

  “I have your candy in the Jeep;” Amarok whispered the words against her hair.

  There was still pureness in her life. Love. Hope. Happiness. Amarok. Jasper. Matthias. They would protect her one vulnerability. Her light.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “THIS ISN’T ENTIRELY up to me.” Alice felt the emptiness of the chair beside her as more threatening than the presence of Maxwell behind his desk. “Where is Amarok?”

  Maxwell tapped a finger on a stack of papers. “Amarok is retrieving the few names Lucius gave us. He has informed me that whatever decision you make, he will stand behind.”

  Her jaw clenched and her fingers balled into fists. Don’t cuss at him. Screw that. “What you mean is that you already asked him and you are only asking me because he told you to.”

  “That is close to accurate and irrelevant. If you are done behaving inappropriately, I will explain to you the options.”

  “Will you?” She moved closer to the edge of her seat. Could she storm out? No.

  “That you continue to have options not offered to others should even out that static coming from you. I won’t tolerate it directed at me, regardless of which clan leader you have in your corner.” The challenge in his voice matched the look in his eyes.

  Decker’s dad again? Why did he continue to make demands on her behalf? “Yes, sir. It’s been a hell of a week.”

  “Yes, I understand you killed a pure witch and enchanted an ancient vampire. Good work.”

  Good work, killer. Give the girl a cookie and shitty promotion. She forced a smile to her face. “The choices?”

  “After Reginald’s report, Stryder has requested Amarok be added to his elite Aries squad.” He blinked at her a few times. “That…”

  Alice met his eyes. “We won’t be separated. Next option.”

  “Do not interrupt me again, or this will be your only option, are we clear?” He sat straighter and peered down, searching his papers. The air in the room heated.

  “Yes, sir. Please don’t separate us.” A tear fell from each of her eyes and burned a path down her face. She reached up and wiped them, glad he was looking down. He didn’t deserve to see her tears.

  “That is a point Amarok wished to dig his heels in on. Reginald is aware of the special bond you two have. He has asked that you train for Aries. Squads are partnerships. You and Amarok would remain together.” He pulled out one of the papers. “You are not prepared to jump right into a military squad of that caliber, regardless of your abilities.”

  Bullshit. I kill witches. Even you can’t hold a witch against their will. “I see. Is Aries a killing squad?”

  “Yes. They are precision assassins.” He tapped his finger on the ever-present mug on the corner of his desk.

  “And the other option?” Anything had to be better than working as Reginald’s killers.

  He tented his hands, drumming his fingers on the knuckles. “You may stay as a hybrid pair, being my ambassadors on the more dangerous missions and continue working with Sarg El.”

  “That is pretty much the same. I don’t understand.” She ran her thumb over her pinky. “Why do we get more dangerous missions?”

  “It is not the same. You get more dangerous missions because you are both more equipped than my ambassadors to fair well if a war breaks out while you are negotiating peace.” The tone of his voice continued to harden.

  “Fine. Explain how it is different. You already send us on the most dangerous missions.” Did he really think she hadn’t noticed their missions grew more perilous each time?

  His gaze lifted to meet hers. “Your military missions will go beyond level seven. Sarg El has no restrictions and will use you as he sees fit.”

  “Killers.” The word came out broken. This was it. She knew this was coming. Damn it, Reginald! He’d made the report that caused this. Fine. He’s not having us. “They want us to kill.”

  “Since you seem opposed to Aries…” He unfolded his hands. “You will be a precision team and work missions where a squad cannot go in.”

  “I don’t want to kill.” Her voice lost its edge. “Is there another choice?”

  “No.” He stared her down. All his tapping and paper shuffling stopped.

  “Can I…” What? Ruin Amarok’s life by making waves? She was already going to break his heart when he found out about Matthias. “Did Amarok have a preference?”

  “Amarok has left this up to you.” The energy coming from Maxwell remained steady. “You understand his background? He has no issues with what capacity his talents are used.”

  Reginald for a squad partner? Sarg El was bad enough. If they left Maxwell’s ranks, would that mean they had to move to the military wing? A shiver raced over her. As impersonal as the ambassador wings were, the military wing was sterile. “I’ll continue working with you and Sarg El.”

  “For us, the PPK is one entity, Alice. You work for us. The sooner you come to that conclusion the better your experience here will be.” Even though his words were harsh, his eyes softened.

  Was he glad she picked him? “Are we done?”

  “No. There is the matter of Lucius.” The softness vanished.

  “Yes? He is in high security prison now, isn’t he? Until they. Until he’s…” She swallowed. “Killed.”

  “That is the usual protocol for relic makers.” His nostrils flared as he drew in a long breath. “However.”

  She closed her eyes. One. Two. Three. “Are you giving him a job as my boss?”

  Maxwell chuckled. “He is the top of a pyramid. In his mind are the names of all of the other sellers and buyers. Vampires who would take his place and the witches who aid them.”

  “What does this have to do with me?” Exasperation stole any ability she had to filter her words. “Can’t you have Reginald raid his mind?”

  “It appears the witch you disposed of altered his already iron mind.” He gave her a tight smile. />
  “That’s too bad.” Alice wiped the sweat from her palms on her jeans. “I’m not as skilled with minds as my father. I know I have it in me, but even Reginald started to break my will in a few minutes.” The silence hung too long, making her edgy. “I can use my blood to bend his will again.”

  “Yes, and we will train that. That isn’t where you can help. Lucius is properly enchanted with you. Good work there.” The unsaid ‘but’ hung in the air.

  She remained silent until he continued.

  “He has agreed to bargain for a stay of execution.”

  Bargain? Alice closed her eyes. “For me?”

  “Briefly.”

  “I won’t feed him. You can fine me, take my special quarters, and put me on dish duty. Give Amarok to the military. I am not a blood bank for a killer.” She stood and contemplated her options. “I thought relic making was punishable by death. I get the PPK allows some creatures to…” They let elves harvest each other. “This place.”

  He raised his brows and slowly blinked. “May I finish?”

  Alice nodded and sank into the chair.

  “He has agreed to turn over the name of every single vampire and witch to you only. In return, he will serve us for the rest of eternity.”

  “That’s absurd. Why would he want to prolong his imprisonment?” She rubbed her forehead. They needed those names. Even if they brought them in, all new ones would fill their place. If they didn’t, it would happen in days, not decades.

  “You’ll have to ask him. Most vampires would run into the daylight rather than wither in our prison.” The tone he used was a strange mix of accusation and pride.

  “He doesn’t get to feed from me?”

  “No.”

  Don’t give away anything. Not even to Maxwell. They were all using her. Everyone but Amarok and Matthias. “I want something.”

  “Within reason.”

  “What did you do with the relic I almost died making?”