by Sarra Cannon
Talon tried to wrap his head around the fact a dirty cop was having free reign in his district, but a word floated to the forefront of his mind, a piece of the puzzle Slick had mentioned earlier. “Phage?”
“Ding ding. He’s got it. Give him a prize.” Talon scowled, but Bud continued unfazed as he pounded a third round of Jack.
“Who’s the main player amongst the phage?” Drake sat back on the stool and crossed his arms. His jaw tensed as if he bit down hard on his cheek.
“That’s the thing about the phage hierarchy,” Bud said. “They’re not like vamp groups. No individual freedoms allowed. The phage stick together, all connected like a swarm of locusts. Lots of different generals though. Rumor is there’s one all the way at the top, a female. But she’s an unknown. No way to say for certain who the leader of their group is.” He scratched his head as if in thought, then threw down his towel abruptly. “Hey you boys are gonna pay for those drinks, right?”
Drake sucked his fangs. “Add it to the tab.”
The tangy scent of blood permeated Talon’s nose. He spied a drop on the corner of Drake’s mouth. “You need a breather?” He whispered to the vamp.
Before Drake could respond, the vamp’s phone started playing Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire”. He reached in his pocket and plastered the cell to his ear. “Bad timing, luv.”
Talon’s ears perked up. A quick change could amplify his hearing tenfold, but he didn’t want to risk a brawl with the bartender. He settled on minor shifts to his inner ear canal. The effect enabled him to listen to the other side of the conversation.
“You have no idea,” a female said. Her voice strummed like a harp, despite the message. “We were attempting to take the girl to safety, but they raided us before the airport.”
“Not a good time.” Drake cut her off with a throat clearing. “Text me the location.” He said no more, ending the call with a final click.
Talon’s bullshit meter spiked off the charts. “What’s up, Drake?”
“It’s time to go.” He pulled some bills out of his jeans and flung them on the counter. “Thanks for the info, Bud.”
The elusive vamp rushed the door, knocking over two human females on the way out. Talon followed, stepping over the surprised women and muttering apologies. When he got to his bike, he grabbed Drake by the shoulders and shoved him hard. “You’re going to tell me about that phone call now.”
Drake’s fangs elongated and his eyes blazed. “Get on your plastic piece of shit and follow like a good dog.” He spun on his Harley and peeled down the road.
Talon barely had time to curse up a shit storm before his power skyrocketed. The buzz singed his nerves as he tried to keep his hands from shaking. Already ten extra teeth popped from his gums as his mouth extended. Hair sprouted over his arms and legs. His ears pointed upward and he crammed them under his helmet. He wrapped his legs around the bike, pushed the key in the ignition, started her up and took off. As the Harley appeared, Talon experienced a split moment of terror as his mind swam under a wolf’s rage. He’d threatened it so many times before, but today might be the day he finally bit off the vamp’s head—literally.
Chapter 8
LOCATION UNKNOWN
The woman circled around Sera once, twice, then knelt with the grace of a dancer. The weight rested on the balls of her feet as if she could spring up in a second. Her balance remained even as the ground below them shook. Garbed in black from head to toe, her sleek curves hid behind a wall of darkness. Her tall feminine frame sat poised as a panther, projecting a predatory violence.
A sweet medicinal scent assailed Sera’s nose. The aroma pushed her back in time. An image of eyes flowing black like slick oil passed through her mind and matched the woman before her. Coco’s curses, commands of “Get down and shut up” from an unknown male, sounded in her head, buzzing in her ears.
Guy paced inside her mind, banging against the walls, and stomping along the floor of her internal world. Free me now, he screamed.
One step at a time. Sera winced. Guy’s insistence made her temples throb. I can’t keep a leash on you and an eye on her. Cool off.
I don’t like it, pet.
Neither do I. Taking her own advice and keeping cool, she counted up to ten and back down to one. Guy’s pacing slowed. I’m handling it.
“I will ask you again. Are you injured?” The woman’s tone didn’t soften with the question, nor did her gaze lose its fire.
Sera’s nerves walked on a slippery edge, but she raised her chin nonetheless. Steeling her words with ice, she said, “What’ve you done? Where am I? What did you do to Coco?”
“No harm has befallen your friend. We have no quarrel with humans.” The woman’s words fell like thunder, punctuated with hard electric endings. They sounded out of place, as if from another time or other world. “And we do not hurt innocents.”
“Really?” The van spun a sharp left. Sera rocked backward, smacking her elbow. She tried to rub the pain away, but the rope around her wrists prevented the movement. Her hands shot forward seemingly of their own accord. “What do you call this?”
The woman nodded to the bindings. A rainstorm and rose scent wafted in the air with the motion. “You are not in any danger from us. The rope is meant for our safety.”
“Your safety?” Sera found her throat scratched apart as if she’d ingested rocks.
“Yes. We feared you would be difficult to contain since you are prone to...” Without warning, the formal tone fell and a hint of modern speech slipped in, “well, let’s say, fits.” The woman held a syringe in her right hand and waved it like a flag. Her dry accent returned. “I truly mean you no harm, but I will defend myself if need be. Please, do not make me use this.” The plea sounded more warning than concern.
Sera stared at the blue liquid and pointed needle. A humming started in her ears. Guy struggled for control again. The internal battle proved too much and Sera fought to stay on her feet. Guy must have felt the slip in her strength. His persistence abated a touch. I’ll back off, pet. But best be wary of her. I don’t like the looks of that needle.
Gee ya think? She breathed deeply to try to keep a headache at bay. Just keep quiet and let me concentrate.
“So now, what shall it be?” The fiery eyes, the rainstorm and rose scent, the thunderous voice, the formal language, it all clicked into place.
She’s a vampire. Sera inhaled. An old vampire.
Gee. Guy shot back her sarcasm. Ya think?
Biting a retort, she cranked Black Sabbath’s pounding notes to the highest decibel she could handle without a migraine, then ignored him. With Guy distracted by the rock beats, she focused her mind on the vampire. Scrutinizing her hands, she said, “I’ll play nice, if you untie this rope.”
“We have started badly.” The vampire crouched down and slipped an object from her forearm. A flash of steel reflected the van’s weak lighting. It swiped across Sera’s palm and between her wrists. Before she could panic, the cool metal caressed her flesh. Not a single drop of blood spilt as the binding fell away. “I hope this will foster trust between us, Ms. Benenati.”
“Trust is earned, Miss...” Sera faltered. The vampire leaned closer.
“I possess no Miss to my name. I am called simply, Strife.” The vampire, Strife, pulled back and inclined her head to the side.
Sera swallowed and circled her wrists around for show. She knew it was a pointless display as her bindings hadn’t been tight enough to do damage. Still, her pride demanded retribution. Hell, anything to keep away the fear bubbling in her stomach. I will not freak out in front of a vampire. I will not.
A half grin played on Strife’s lips, but she remained silent.
Sera inhaled. Straightening, she fixed the vampire with a hard stare. “What am I doing here?”
“We hoped you would heed our early warning, but it seems that hope was misplaced.” Strife’s smile widened revealing two very pointed—and no doubt, very sharp—fangs. “We did give you until suns
et.”
The note from the hospital, the eloquent handwriting and frightening message, emerged in her mind’s eye. She recalled the way it rested on the table beside Talon’s card. Talon. She should have called him. Somehow the thought of never seeing him again hurt more than it should. She barely knew him and here her life was in danger, yet she thought of him.
“Foolish,” she muttered, then locked eyes with the vampire. She needed to keep all her wits about her, to concentrate, not lose focus on some daydream that could never be. Evenly, she said to the vampire, “I don’t respond to threats.”
Point for her.
“I see.” Strife raised her chin. She waved her hand in the air as if dismissing Sera’s response. Point for the vampire. “Believe it or not, we have orchestrated this event for your protection.”
“Event? Don’t you mean abduction?”
Strife shifted lower, adjusting her weight smoothly as the van rocketed around another corner. “Even so, it is to your benefit.”
The van lurched again, knocking Sera into the wall. She jumped to her feet with a curse and glared in the driver’s direction. The solid metal divider made it impossible to see him, but she imagined a hole burning into his head nonetheless. As she continued her pseudo-revenge on the driver, her ears perked up. Silence invaded and a thought snapped into sharp clarity. Strife’s icy voice filled the space. The air conditioner streaming through the vents provided the background noise. Nothing from the outside, not the van’s screeching tires as it rounded corners, or horns from passing cars could be heard from the interior of this van.
Sera’s earlier caramel latte churned in her stomach. Her breathing increased to rapid puffs despite her best efforts for control. “Why?” She paused, trying to lose the tremor. “Why is the van soundproof?”
As if attuned to Sera’s discomfort, Strife’s body suddenly transformed. Her black eyes softened to a gentle charcoal. The hard lines above her brows blurred into her face giving her a vibrant countenance. Light pinkish hues flourished on her cheeks. The rose and rainstorm scent increased as if emerging from a springtime sun shower.
Sera’s mouth fell open. The perfect predator, cold and deadly or warm and alluring, a chameleon viper.
Not so different from us, pet. The rock music quieted with Sera’s shock.
We’re not like the vampire.
Guy laughed. Well, at least you said we.
Sera answered by way of calling on a Led Zeppelin guitar solo. The sharp beats vibrated across Guy’s half of their shared psyche and drowned out the pest.
“This should put you more at ease.” Strife’s words quickened, losing the stiffness. “I don’t know all of your American idioms, but I’ll attempt to rectify my speech as well.” She placed a gentle hand on Sera’s shoulder. “I need your attention, not your fear. The fault’s mine. I’m used to interrogations.” She sighed, a more human sound than vampire. “Social settings, not my forte.”
Sera half grinned despite her wariness. The vampire’s new demeanor did put her more at ease. “Fair enough.” She rolled her head along her shoulders and willed her nerves to settle. The tension in her muscles, however, refused to subside.
Easy pet. Don’t be put off guard.
I can’t think if I’m wired like a friggin’ coil. Sera clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Stop fighting and help me relax or I’m going to alter my mind into a one-woman steel drum band.
Not a chance. Drum solos or no. We’re staying alert with her around.
“Pain in the ass,” Sera muttered.
“Excuse me?” Strife sat against the van’s wall. Her long legs stretched before her, one booted ankle over the other.
“Nothing.” She followed the vampire’s lead in adopting a friendly posture, sitting cross-legged with her hands at her sides supporting her weight. “So...” She drew circles on the floor and stifled a nervous laugh at the idiocy of the situation. “Why’d you kidnap me?”
Strife’s cheeks reddened, a look of embarrassment for a human. But then, this creature was so not human. Hopefully, she wasn’t hungry. “Safety is our concern. We’ve known about you for some time, but didn’t pursue the matter until the murders.”
“You’ve known what about me? Who’s we?”
“I’ll explain.” She raised a hand as if conducting an orchestra. “Long ago, I became involved with a group known today as Veritas, the We, I spoke of. Its purpose was to protect innocence and seek truth. But today the outsiders label us vigilantes.”
“So what’s the real deal?”
“Our organization has been around for centuries. We are the peacekeepers, they who bring justice.” The fire returned to her gaze. Her eyebrows pulled together. “This government’s PCD is a babe compared to us. Child’s play for the humans to feel safe.” She scoffed. “We are the true...How do they put it?” She snapped her fingers. “Agents. We are the true agents. We identify criminals in our world, hunt them down, bring them to trial, and administer the punishment.”
Judge, jury, and executioner. The lump in her throat itched. She scratched her neck and said without thought, “Sounds like vigilantes to me.”
“No.” The quiet declaration hung in the air, before Strife cast her eyes downward. “We serve no government, no political entity, so perhaps I can see why they label us so. Yet we are far older and serve those of far more worth. Without us, humans would not fair long in this world.”
“Ok. So let’s assume for a second I believe your group is the good guys. Who’re the bad guys? And where do I fit into this?”
“We believe the timing of these humans’ murders was no mere coincidence. Someone wanted you there.” Her hands danced around. “And we believe that someone is phage.”
“What?” Sera’s head reeled. “What the hell is that?”
Strife’s next words reeked of frustration. “The phage are an ancient group as old as vampires with a radical leader at the top and several of her minions scattered over the globe. Their one unified goal is power.” Her hands stopped their butterfly movements as she crossed her arms. “We’ve been fighting them for a long time. It is only now they’ve come into the open, revealing their existence. We don’t know why.”
“I still don’t get it. What does this have to do with me?”
“The phage collect those to their cause they deem useful. We believe your abilities have caught their eye.” Strife shrugged. “Their leader, Reyna, has a lust for power unlike I’ve ever seen before. She is attracted to it like a moth to a flame.” A smirk drew to her lips and she winked. “And you have a tendency to burn quite bright.”
Sera paled. Does she know about the fire? Does she know about my past? Yelling for Guy in her mind, she lowered the electric chords. He remained stubbornly silent. With no answers from the parasite, she tried to pry the vampire for more information. “How could they possibly know about me?” She stood up, bending so as not to hit her head on the van’s roof. “And for that matter, how do you?”
“Your father’s political interests may have caused certain files to leak.” She motioned for Sera to sit down, but did not pursue the matter when ignored. “But we knew of it long before from your grandfather.”
Her eyes widened. A look of pure shock etched on her face. “My grandfather?” The memory of the luminescent man, whispering of family ties, ghosted across her mind—the car accident, the hospital, even moments ago in the van. Could he be real?
“Yes.” The last word rattled between them as an explosion above cut their conversation. The van’s roof ripped apart, raining down metal debris. A second later, the vehicle collided with something outside. It folded like an accordion, killing the driver on impact and pitching them both into the divider. Even Strife, with her vampire speed, could not block the force. They fell backward after the initial jolt, knocking into each other and collapsing onto the floor.
The outside commotion assailed Sera’s ears. Cars skidded across the pavement, horns blared, people screamed, the van’s engine cra
cked. She struggled to orient herself against the onslaught. Moonlight crept through the hole in the roof like a ghostly specter. Her vision adjusted gradually giving time for the creatures to swarm the van and gaze down at her from above. Time slowed and sped up in the same breath.
The fire began to rise inside her. “Shit. Not now.” Her muscles contracted and released in deadly waves. She clamped down the growing flames, waved a dismissive hand at the roof, and checked on Strife. The vampire lay flat on her back, her body motionless. Blood gushed from her head. “Double shit.”
Leave her. Let’s get this over with. Guy struck a match inside her brain.
Her conscience gnawed at her. The vampire had abducted her, so she really had no reason to feel pity. “It would serve you right.” The words fell hollow. “But you’ve got some information I want. Guess I don’t have a choice then,” she said aloud, more for Guy than herself. Despite the vampire’s wrongdoings, she wouldn’t leave someone to die. That happened only once, but once was too much.
She steeled her spine. “Ok, Guy. Let’s do this.”
Yes, finally. Time for a party.
“First things, first.” Sera grabbed her pink platforms. The four-inch sandaled wedges would not be ruined today. She flung the pair one at a time through the roof, purposely missing the bastards above—no reason to risk the shoes falling back inside, even if they did make a nice weapon.
The next part required a bit of acrobatics as the creatures began to jump inside the van. The small space became suffocating too quick. Sera dived to avoid a bite by one of the sicko’s gaping jaws. Landing close to Strife, she hefted the vampire onto her shoulder in a fireman’s grip. She let the fire swim in her, banking on the strength from her supernatural side. Adrenaline blocked her emotions and let her mind focus on the task.
Guy squealed like a teenage girl in glee. “Get a life,” she muttered as she jumped. Strife’s extra weight made the task more difficult and she had to grab the sharpened edge of the blown out roof. The creatures flocked to her within a second. Light began to flow from her body in rays.