by Raven Steele
"It takes a long time and a lot of practice, but according to the Ames de la Terre, every human has some form of elemental magic inside them. It's just a matter of discovering it, then learning to use it like a muscle."
"That is so sick."
I touched my head, remembering last night. "I have to get a package at Liberty Park that Victor left for me. After I go through it, I want you to do the same in case you notice something I don’t. Supposedly, it has everything he knows about the Principes Noctis."
"Will do.”
I nodded my head toward the camera feeds. "Anything interesting?"
"From what I can tell, vampires are pissed about last night. But they look scared too."
"Good. What about Emma's house? Anything going on there?"
He tapped the screen just below the one of her house. It showed the front of a busy diner. Several customers sat on the other side of large, front windows. "She's at work right now. Victor's guy Jordan is in there too, and I think he's got a couple of men across the street. I can't be sure, but they're just sitting there and have been since she went to work."
I tightened my lips, frustrated that she still insisted on working when the city was so dangerous.
"Hey, what's your opinion about Victor?” I asked. “Do you really think he's trying to do the right thing?"
"He sure is by Emma. It shows he has a good side, at least. I think it’s worth giving him a chance to prove himself, especially if he can help you take down the Principes Noctis."
"What if it's a trick, and he just wants me to take out the Principes Noctis for him so he can return to power?"
He snorted. "Big deal. You could take Victor out easily enough if that’s the case. Right?”
I could, but surely Victor knew this, too. So what’s his angle? Could a man change so drastically?
"I'll see you soon," I said.
"Later." Oz shoved a handful of potato chips into his mouth and turned back to face the screens.
After leaving the laptop at my house, I strapped the scimitar blade to my back and returned to the utility shed at Liberty Park. Like Victor had said, I found a package in the corner with a single word on it: Crow. I picked it up, reminding myself to question whatever information I found within.
I stepped back outside, taking a moment to enjoy the evening alone. Several trees kept me hidden from the occasional passerby, which was rare for this time of night. I inhaled and exhaled slowly, tension slowly leaving my body as nature and darkness comforted me. Back on the island, I’d often sneak away at night to do just this.
A deep voice drew my attention to the left. I slipped around the shed and crept toward the sound, the blade warming my back should I need it. Two vampires spoke in low tones beneath a large oak tree. Instant adrenaline filled my body, and I had the sudden urge to kill them both. The feeling was so strong, it took me by surprise. I inhaled again, trying to regain the feeling I’d felt moments ago, but every nerve ending had already come alive, and I couldn’t still them.
I approached the vampires, thinking I would give them a chance. If they didn’t show they were a threat to humans, which was unlikely, I would spare them.
"Hey," I called.
They startled but didn't back away. They didn't seem to recognize me either, which meant my identity was still somewhat of a secret, at least my appearance.
“Who are you?” the one with a buzz blonde hair cut asked.
“Name’s Branson,” I answered. “I came to town a couple of days ago from Wildemoor looking for some fun, but then that crazy thing happened at Bloodlust. You guys hear about it?”
The one with a buzz blonde haircut said, "Everyone's heard about that bloodbath. And to think, I almost went there last night."
“No way,” I said with my head slightly tilted out of their view. I didn’t want them to see the tattoo on my neck, which would be a dead giveaway. "Do you really believe it was the Crow who did it? I heard he was dead."
Buzzcut looked at his partner, who still hadn’t said a word. "I don't know. People say he took over a hundred bullets. I don't see how he could’ve survived, but Roberto was pretty sure the guy said Aris Crow. Maybe it was some wannabe."
"Yeah, maybe," I said.
“You know, if you are into the whole human slave thing, we got a place you can go to." They both chuckled and smiled at each other as if they’d done their fair share of unspeakable acts.
"Oh yeah? What's the address?"
"It's a house over on Pine Street. Way in the back of a cul-de-sac. You'll smell the blood." Buzzcut smiled ear to ear.
That’s all I needed.
Before either of them could suck in another breath, I withdrew my blade and sliced their heads off in one swish. They burst into ash quicker than I could lower my sword. They were definitely new vampires, just like several had been at the club. I was told it was difficult to make new vampires, and yet I had seen dozens already. Had Bastian figured out how to make more? I would think Victor would’ve mentioned this. Maybe they were keeping this information from him. Or maybe Victor was part of it.
Committing the address to memory, I returned to Ironwood knowing I would be visiting the house later that night. I wanted to do it with Rebecca and Oz in tow, in case we had to rescue any humans, which was likely. It made me wonder how many more places were like that in the city.
Back in my post office home, I poured over the information Oz and Victor had given me. Not only were my senses heightened since becoming a vampire, but I also read faster and was able to retain far more information than ever before. Another great perk to being a vampire. In less than two hours, I had come to fully understand the Principes Noctis network—as it was given to me.
The group was much larger than I expected, their reach expanding far across the globe. Many of their members were in governments in a lot of countries. For the most part, they kept their identities secret from humans, even in Coast City. By controlling the press, they had managed to explain most vampire activities as part of a new gang who had recently come into town. No one dared question it, although there were plenty of rumors. Since no one knew what to believe, humans stayed indoors as much as possible, especially at night.
Victor's notes had given me the names of many of those who were corrupt within the local government, the most important one being the new Mayor who had replaced the old one when he died mysteriously four months ago. Many of the vampires who had taken over higher up positions had done so by compelling humans. I still hadn't mastered this skill, but if they were using it, then I better learn it too and fast.
I sensed Roman approaching. Without turning around, I said, "If we needed to get our hands on a bunch of weapons, how would we do it?"
"What kind of weapons?" He sounded winded, no doubt from practicing elemental magic, which always took a toll on him.
I turned around. "I need weapons to kill vampires."
"You already have those and then some."
"It's not for me. I want to arm the police force. Does the Ames de la Terre have anything like that?"
He rubbed at his shoulder as if it was sore. “They have a special gun that shoots electricity. It temporarily stuns vampires, giving time for the user to kill them. I don’t think they’ll have the quantities you need, though. Besides, the Coast City Police Department has been infiltrated by vampires. You won’t get much help there.”
“Not with how things are now, but soon I may need their help. The only way they will be able to do that is if they can protect themselves.”
“I will telephone Samira. She may have some ideas.”
I turned back to the computer screen and looked at a map of Coast City. The parts where vampires mostly inhabited were marked in red. There was a lot of red. “I don’t know how I can fight this on my own.”
"I've been pondering that. Since learning elemental magic, I’ve learned to filter out a lot of the noise that’s crippled me in the past. I think I'm close to being able to assist you.”
; Rebecca walked into the room just then holding Amy's hand. I smelled them both before they entered. Rebecca’s unpleasant aroma just barely masked Amy’s sweet one. I should feed soon.
"And you've got me for as long as you need it,” Rebecca said.
"And me,” Amy added. “I'm good at shooting."
I smiled at her. "I don’t doubt that. You’ve scared me a couple of times. Did you ladies have fun?"
Rebecca pulled off her brown curly wig, laughing. "It was nice to pretend to be someone else for a change."
Amy ran her fingers through her own wig with long black hair. "I'm going to keep mine on a little longer. Straight hair is fun."
"I think your curly hair is perfect and suits you well," I said.
She opened her mouth to say something, but Oz yelled from command, cutting off her words. "Get in here, Aris!"
The fear in his voice was unmistakable. I bolted to him so fast he jumped, while papers on the desk lifted into the air in my wake. I leaned over his shoulder to peer at the screen.
"This is happening right now," he said and tapped the glass.
It took me a few seconds to figure out what I was looking at. It was the diner where Emma worked. Six vampires had her and Jordan surrounded. Jordan held a stake in each hand and was swinging at them whenever they came close. My eyes darted to the car where Victor's men had been watching the place, but all I could see was a hand hanging out the window, blood dripping from five fingertips.
"Go!" Oz yelled, but I was already sprinting out the door.
Chapter 12
In less than sixty seconds, I was standing in front of the diner breathing heavily. I had never run that fast before, but seeing Emma in danger had ignited a sliver of that power buried deep within me. It gave new life to my already strong muscles and coursed through my body, making me feel invincible… and hungry.
Sirens wailed in the background, but Emma and the vampires were gone. Only Jordan remained, bleeding and lying on the sidewalk. I picked him up by both arms despite his size and held him against the brick wall. "Where did they take her?"
Both of his eyes were swollen and black, and he had a deep cut on his head. He barely lifted his hand and pointed to the left.
"Have you called Victor?"
He nodded.
I gently set him down and sped away in the direction he had appointed. Night’s darkness, normally a comfort to me, felt suddenly suffocating and warm. I resisted the urge to shake off my jacket. I would need everything in it should I encounter a fight, which was a certain outcome. I will kill anyone who threatened Emma.
I inhaled, barely catching her scent, a light citrusy aroma. The smell of several vampires tainted it. I raced faster until I heard a muffled voice.
Emma.
I dashed into a parking lot partially full of cars. It belonged to a manufacturing plant, smoke billowing in great clouds into the night sky through several long chimneys. The building was still lit up inside. It must run twenty-four hours a day, with dozens of employees working the night shift.
I ducked behind a tall SUV when I spotted Emma. Six vampires were with her. Two of them held her by each arm trying to keep her still, but she fought them valiantly not showing any fear. She looked more pissed than anything else.
I couldn't stand to see them touching her. Not wasting a second, I withdrew my daggers and faster than anyone could detect, I sped toward the nearest vamps and jabbed the weapons into two of their hearts. Clouds of dust filtered through the air. I disappeared behind another vehicle and ducked down. I had to be careful Emma didn’t see me, not yet anyway. Not until I knew for sure it wouldn’t put her in added danger.
"What the hell?" one of them said, as he lowered into a defensive position, his eyes darting around.
I bolted again, a blur faster than a human eye could track, and killed two more. There was so much dust that a vampire who held Emma coughed.
"Try that again, and we’ll kill the girl,” he called.
The vampire holding Emma’s other arm, whispered, “We can’t do that. Bastian said alive.”
“Shut up,” his partner snapped.
I raced behind him and sliced off his head with my blade. Just as Emma whirled around to face me, I disappeared. The last vampire shoved Emma aside and took off running. He didn't get very far before I returned his body to the earth to join the others.
I stepped out of Emma’s view again behind a car with tinted windows. She couldn't see me, but I could see her clearly. She stood there, stunned, trying to process what had just happened. She wore her waitress uniform, the same one she wore months ago, and her brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail tied off with a red ribbon. After a few seconds, her shoulders began to shake, and she dropped to her knees tears rolling down her cheeks.
My heart lurched painfully in my chest, a feeling I hadn't experienced in months. It took my breath away and weakened my legs. I gripped the metal of the car, resisting the urge to toss it aside and go to her. But my reasoning mind wouldn't allow it. I had to keep her safe, even if that meant keeping her away from me.
I scurried a safe distance away, but to where I could still keep an eye on her. After several minutes, she pulled out a cell phone and texted someone. She lowered it and, after inhaling a great breath, she rose tall and began to walk, wiping the tears from her cheeks. I stayed a safe distance back, only moving closer when a car pulled up next to her.
"Get in," Victor’s voice said. The sound held a note of underlying rage, something I’d heard in my own voice before.
With how different everything had become in Coast City, it shouldn't have surprised me that she called Victor, but it had. Since when did Victor rescue people? I snarled and turned away, anger still burning a line of heat through me. Nothing made sense. I was back in my city that was being ruled by vampires, the former villain was now the good guy, and I worked with a werewolf. I repressed a shiver.
I opened and closed my hands, rolling my shoulders back. I needed to burn off this extra energy, and then I needed to feed. As soon as possible.
I took out my cell phone from my pocket and called Oz. He answered right away. "Is Emma okay?"
"She's fine," I said, but the words felt all kinds of wrong in my mouth. She had looked anything but fine. How much of that was my fault?
"Good. I'm glad you got to her in time. Did she see you?"
"No. Is Rebecca with you?"
There was a brief silence, then, "She's always around. She can't keep her hands off me."
In the background, I heard something whiz through the air.
"Ouch!" he cried into the phone.
I cleared my throat. "I need you two to bring the van to Pine Street, a house at the end of the cul-de-sac. Vampires are keeping humans captive there. I'm going to it now."
"Do you want to wait for backup? Rebecca’s right here."
"I’ll get started and see you there."
I was running before my phone shut off. The chill in the night air felt good again but did nothing to soothe my rage. Everything was so different. I barely recognized the city or even the people I worked with anymore. Oz and Amy were so much older and more confident. And Roman, something had changed in him too. He no longer felt like a father figure, but more of a colleague. A year ago, I would've liked this new dynamic in our relationship, but now that I didn’t have it, I felt like I was missing something.
Lastly, there was Emma. I missed her the most. She had made me feel human and loved. I hadn't thought about love for several months, but the moment I saw her, the burning in my chest ignited a flame deep inside me, and I feared it would consume me unless I returned to her.
I reached the house on Pine Street. I knew it right away because of how the smell of blood permeated the whole street. Only a supernatural would've caught the scent. The house itself was too normal, too plain, to draw suspicion from other homes around it. Its red front door with a yellow welcome mat on the front porch created a pleasant illusion. The yard was neat too and well mai
ntained with flowers blooming on the perimeter of the sidewalk. If I hadn't smelled blood, this home might’ve been perfect for Oz and Amy.
I decided against a grand entrance and instead circled the home. Most of the blinds were drawn in each of the windows with curtains over those making it difficult to see inside.
But there were sounds. The kind that chilled me to the bone. Painful moans and tearful pleas for mercy. The voices of human's suffering.
I approached the back door and managed to find a crack in the curtains of the window. Three vampires chatted in the kitchen. A human lay naked in the sink bathing in a pool of his own blood. He was too pale to still be alive. The smell of his blood, even at this distance, knotted my stomach in anticipation. I quelled the sensation and focused on the vampires instead.
One of them dipped a glass into the blood-filled sink and brought it to his lips. The sight and smell of it made my mouth fill with saliva. I swallowed it down. Focus!
I lowered to the ground and ran my fingers through the earth, letting my senses travel in and around the house to take in everything I could about what lay beyond the door. There was death in this home. That was the first thing I sensed, followed by many new vampires. This again confused me. Where were these new vampires coming from?
I dug deeper into the soil, dirt stuffing beneath my fingernails. There was also power in this house. I sensed a couple of vamps over a century old. They would be more challenging to fight, but I was so full of rage, I didn’t stop to even question if I should be fighting them. I stood up and peered inside the window again.
One of the vampires startled and looked toward the doors as if he’d sensed my presence. The door flew open. “Who are—”
I grabbed the blade from behind my back and sliced it through his neck. His head exploded to ash as it fell to the floor. His body followed a second later. I stepped through it and toward the other two vampires who were already rushing me.
Pivoting quickly, my blade made a whooshing sound as it decapitated both. I held my breath to keep from breathing in their ashes as I moved into a large living room with cathedral ceilings. A river rock fireplace went all the way from the floor to the ceiling. Three humans, two males, and one female, barely sat on top of a large, wooden mantle. They were shivering and huddled next to each other for both warmth and support. Cuts had been made into their flesh and blood ran down their legs and dripped from their toes into three bins. It wouldn’t take them long to die if they weren't helped soon. In a back room, someone was crying.