Exiled - 01

by M. R. Merrick

  “Reports of kidnappings have been coming in from throughout the city. Although no names have been released, multiple calls to authorities have been reported.

  There have been no missing persons reports filed as of yet, but the police are urging the public to take caution. Reports from witnesses say an unmarked van has been seen pulling up to people on the street, where a group of masked men then pull the unsuspecting citizens into the vehicle.

  Again, there have been no missing persons reports filed, but the sheer number of calls placed last night and early this morning have the police on high alert.”

  “Breakfast is served!” Marcus announced.

  I stared at the TV, wondering if the story had any correlation to the hunters. I shook the thought away and went to the table.

  Plates of pancakes, sausages, bacon, eggs, and toast covered the surface and gave off warm aromas. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a meal like this. With Mom working on rotating shifts, we almost never ate together, let alone meals like this. Mom wasn’t a great cook either, so my diet consisted mostly of pizza pockets and salad bowls full of cereal.

  We all dug in, loading up our plates with mountains of everything. The food was fantastic and I was grateful for it, but I was astounded by Rayna’s appetite. She out-ate both Marcus and me by a plate and a half before turning in her fork.

  We all helped clean up before settling down in the living room to discuss our next move. The TV was still on and everybody was enthralled by the news when it repeated what I’d seen. We were all in agreement that it could be connected to the Circle, and if it wasn’t, it was a strange coincidence. The hunters were searching for someone specific, and now people were getting scooped up. That would be one hell of a coincidence.

  We’d need to find out if demons were the ones being taken. The plan laid out was for Rayna and me to go back to Revelations and talk to a few people that weren’t Vincent. The less we had to work with him, the better off we‘d be.

  Rayna changed out of her pajamas and into khakis paired with a stretchy dark blue and white striped cotton shirt. Her hair was up again, this time in a high ponytail with two black strands left loose to frame her face. When she sat down to slip brown wedges on her feet, I couldn’t resist the urge to comment.

  “Are you sure it’s even worth going down there wearing that much clothing? Nobody is going to want to look at you, let alone talk to you,” I said with a smirk.

  She rolled her eyes. “Very funny, but the crowd is different during the day; I can get away with wearing this. Besides, I still look good.”

  I frowned, having expected a flaming response. I found myself almost disappointed not to get one.

  By the time we got to Revelations, it was well into the afternoon. The club wasn’t as busy as the night before, but it still held an impressive crowd. We grabbed a table near the dartboards, and I wasn’t the slightest bit sad to see that Vincent wasn’t there.

  After we settled into our spot, we surveyed the room, trying to figure out who to talk to first. I didn’t have a clue who was who or even what, so I was more or less waiting on Rayna.

  “I don’t see anybody who would be of any help. Actually, I don’t see anyone I even recognize,” she said.

  I was scanning the room again when Willy came striding through the door, so I waved him over.

  Wearing jeans and a white shirt with a spot of what looked like spaghetti sauce on the front, Willy looked as sloppy as usual. His shirt, which was too small, showed an inch of stomach as he moved and made his scrawny, hairy arms looked disproportionate. His brown hair was as messy as it always seemed to be, and his attempt at a beard wasn’t getting much better either.

  “You making yourself a regular?” he said in a surprisingly cheerful voice.

  “Haven’t decided,” I said.

  He ordered a weirdly named drink, and when it came to the table it looked as gross as it sounded, somewhere between a milkshake and the thick glop his Grams had fed me. It smelled like the inside of a gym bag.

  “I don’t even want to know what’s in that,” I said.

  “Do- don’t be so nervous. Try it.” He slid it over to me, but I cringed. “Su- suit yourself. You don’t know what you’re missing. How about you?” He offered the drink to Rayna who only shook her head, looking almost as disgusted as I did.

  “Willy, this is Rayna. Rayna, Willy.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Rayna said.

  “Sa- same he- here.”

  “Willy, have you heard anything about the kidnappings last night?” I asked, getting straight to the point.

  “Heard about ’em? I saw one of ’em happen, not long after I saw you two,” he said. “I thought they were coming for me at first. I was relieved to see them grab a shifter instead.”

  “Do you think it has something to do with the demons they’re looking for?” I asked.

  Willy shook his head. “Not demons but demon. I heard through a guy who knows a guy, whose sister’s friend’s cousin is dating a warlock, and he knows that it’s just one special type of demon.”

  It took me a moment to catch up, but he’d answered my question.

  “Do you know what kind of demon they're looking for?” Rayna asked.

  Willy shook his head, sipping his drink through the straw. “Not for su- sure, but it looks like it might be som- some kind of shifter.”

  “Well, that’s a start,” I said, but Rayna shook her head.

  “We need more than a start right now. If hunters are going around nabbing Underworlders, we've got to stop them. Who knows what they're going to do if they find whatever they’re looking for.”

  I wasn’t sure what to say. I couldn’t believe I was worried about Underworlders to begin with, but I also knew that if the Underworld had more people in it like Rayna and Willy, I didn’t want anything bad to happen to them. I was learning that bloodline doesn’t determine good and evil, but people do. I had a loyalty to myself and the oath I’d made. A hunter didn’t make an oath unless he intended to keep it. Elemental powers or not, I was a hunter.

  “Well then, we need to figure out where Vincent is and see what he can do for us,” I said.

  “Marcus said it’s too dangerous and I think he might be right. Vincent isn’t as willing to help this time. Besides, you said yourself he was bad news. We have to find another way.”

  “Well, I’m changing my mind. Doing things Marcus’s way isn’t going to be the quickest way to get answers. Whatever the hunters want, they want it badly enough to start grabbing demons off the street and that’s not their style. They thrive on being discreet. Besides, if you’ve gotten information from Vincent before, why should this time be different?”

  “I don’t know why it’s different. It just is. And Marcus said…”

  “Look, we tried Marcus’s way and it didn’t work. He sent us here to see what we could find, right?”

  She nodded.

  “Well, we found Vincent. Don’t get me wrong, I agree with Marcus. He is dangerous and I don’t want to work with him, but he’s the only lead we’ve got right now.”

  Rayna took a minute to think about it. “You’re right.”

  “Great, so where do we find him?”

  “I don’t have a clue. I’ve always met him here.”

  “Well, it’s daytime, so we’ve got to figure out where his nest is.”

  “I know where it is,” Willy said.

  I smiled at Willy. He was proving to be more helpful than I’d guessed.

  After listening to Willy’s directions three times, I still couldn’t figure out how to get to the nest. I looked to Rayna for support, pleading with my eyes in the hope that she could figure out what he meant, but she shook her head.

  I interrupted Willy while he was drawing a very sad excuse for a map on a stained napkin. “Willy, I’m glad you’re helping, I really am, but neither of us can make sense of what you’re saying. Have you ever actually been there?”

  Willy nodded, but looked hau
nted at the thought. I hated to put him through this, especially after seeing how scared he had been last night, but I didn’t have a choice.

  “Willy, you have to take us there.”

  Willy’s face drained of all color and he shook his head firmly. “Forget it. I’m happy to help, but I’m more of a stand-on-the sidelines-and-shout sort of guy, not the get-in-the-game type. I said I’d give you directions. Look, I even have a map now.” He held up the stained napkin with a sheepish grin.

  “Willy, you’re coming with us. Besides, it’s daytime. What could possibly happen?”

  ~~~~~~

  Chapter 16

  Willy wasn’t happy and he wouldn’t let us forget it for a moment, making the cab ride nearly unbearable. We passed through downtown and a few residential areas, and a ridiculous fare later we emerged from the car in Stonewall’s industrial area. The sun was getting lower in the sky, but we still had a few hours before it would set.

  We passed a few small buildings that looked abandoned, their windows smashed and the doors barely hanging on. Willy slowed and shook as we approached a large brick building. A chain link fence topped with barbed wire surrounded it, broken only by two giant gates in the middle. I tugged on one, but a chain and padlock held them shut.

  “You sure this is the right place? It looks a little rundown to be the home of the head of a vampire family.” I pulled on the gate again, but I hadn’t brought anything to pick the lock, so we’d need another way in. “Willy, is this the right place or not?” I repeated. Frustrated, I turned to look him in the eye and saw a man with a gun to Willy’s head.

  The guy was shorter than me, but his tight black shirt showed off defined muscles. One gloved hand pushed the gun hard against Willy’s temple while the other covered his mouth. Another man was holding Rayna the same way.

  I stepped forward and reached for my blade, but the cold barrel of a gun against the back of my head stopped me. I closed my eyes and cursed under my breath. “I guess this is the right place.”

  The gunmen unlocked the gate and led us into the warehouse. We entered a large open room littered with furniture, most of it old and giving off a stale smell.

  Our captors pushed us to the middle of the room, where other lackeys waited. They forced us each into old wooden chairs and tied our hands and legs with rope. I stayed silent and tried to figure out what to do. After all, these people were vamplings: humans who knew the Underworld existed and had fallen in love with their idea of it. They were unpredictable at best, and they were everywhere. Vampires, werewolves, witches, and, in fact, almost all demons had various uses for them. These ones would watch over the vampires during the day, in the hope that if they served long enough, they would be turned.

  I should’ve known Vincent would have such minions; a vampire of his status didn’t leave himself vulnerable to being staked in broad daylight. It was considered bad business to go to a vampire’s nest during the day, since it signified you meant them harm.

  The more I thought about it, the more I kicked myself and realized that everything was far from alright. The thought of how scared Willy had been to come here made my gut hurt. I had put everyone in danger.

  “Vincent will be pleased to have such a fresh meal for breakfast,” a woman said as she stepped in front of us. She was short, with a high blonde ponytail that reached her butt. Pink lips set in pale skin formed a smile that sent chills down my spine.

  “Actually, we’re here to see Vincent,” I said.

  “Isn’t that what they all say?”

  “I’m not sure. This is my first time.”

  I watched anger fill her eyes and she raised her hand to prepare a response of her own. I braced for impact, but I smiled when I felt the back of her hand on my cheek. She was a human and I was a hunter. She couldn’t compete with my supernatural strength. I might not be immortal like the vampires, but I could take a hell of lot more than she could dish out. At my laugh, the self-satisfied look drained from her face.

  “You’re a mortal. You’re going to have to try harder than that,” I said.

  A larger man moved towards me with his gun held by the barrel and smashed it against my jaw. This was more effective than the slap and it did hurt, but the pain was replaced by a burst of adrenaline. “And what exactly are you, boy?” the man said, leaning down to push his face against mine.

  “He’s a hunter.” The voice echoed through the room. “Chase Williams, son of the infamous Riley Williams, if I’m not mistaken. Exiled by his own kind to live among the demons and the mundane.”

  I hated the fact everybody knew my history, but what was worse was only ever being known as the son of Riley Williams, a name not particularly welcome among current company.

  I heard the soft padding of shoes on pavement and Vincent appeared in front of me. He was dressed in a dark well-tailored suit with a bright red silk shirt underneath, the kind that didn’t need a tie. The simple fact that he was awake showed how powerful he was. This reaffirmed my need to be nervous and my stomach turned with more guilt.

  Vincent stopped in front of us, paying particular attention to me. He smiled and crouched to look me in the eye. “I’ve done my research, and I expected more than this from you, Chase, considering your father…”

  “Yeah, yeah, you expected better from me, being the son of the big, scary Riley Williams and all. Save it, I’ve heard it.” My interruption didn’t faze him and he turned his attention to Rayna.

  “Mmm, I can’t say I don’t enjoy seeing you tied up, my sweet. Although I’d hoped it would be under…different circumstances,” he said, with the smile I imagined he used to seduce everybody.

  “How original,” Rayna retorted, rolling her eyes.

  In a flash Vincent moved back to me. “Ah, sweet Rayna. Such a pretty face, but she does have a venom all her own, doesn’t she? You see, I am one of the few that hasn’t turned his back on Rayna. While the rest of the Underworld despises her for working with a hunter and killing other demons, I have not denied her. Instead I offered her sanctuary, a home, a family, and the power that would come from being with me.” He faced Rayna again. “I’ve offered you a place to belong,” he said.

  Rayna looked up and nodded. “And for that I am grateful. But I already have a home and a family.” She was being polite and if we hadn’t been bound, I had a feeling she would have chosen her words differently.

  “Yes, the hunter. Marcus, isn’t it? I never did understand how you could refuse power and acceptance among your peers to be with a hunter. I offered you a throne and still you chose our enemy.”

  “Marcus isn’t the Underworld’s enemy and you know it,” Rayna replied.

  “Oh yes, he’s the hunter who can’t decide which side he’s on. And it seems you two have recruited yet another confused soul, one whose own family exiled him.”

  “He knows where he belongs. We don’t see things as black and white. I would think you of all people would appreciate that.”

  He laughed and looked at me with ferocity in his eyes “Does she speak for you now, boy? Have you no voice of your own?”

  I swallowed my anger and forced a smile. “No, she doesn’t, but you two seem to have some personal shit going on and I am rather enjoying the show.”

  Instantly he was looming over me again. “Is that it? Do you get enjoyment from watching her deny me? Perhaps I should kill you and get my own pleasure from watching the pain in her eyes while I drain your blood. Come to think of it, that would bring me immense delight. If I cannot have her, perhaps I can take what she wants. We will both live unhappily ever after.”

  His breath on my face was warm and smelled of death. I wasn’t sure why he thought killing me would cause Rayna pain, but I enjoyed that even tied up and unable to move, I could still get under his skin. I smiled and watched it infuriate him.

  He stepped behind my chair and I could feel my pulse race in my neck. My arrogance had gotten in my way again, and Vincent succeeded in making me anxious as he ran his fingers down my n
eck. “Careful hunter, the quickening of your pulse brings my hunger, and I have yet to have my breakfast,” he whispered in my ear.

  I closed my eyes at the smell of old blood and shuddered as his tongue ran up the back of my ear. I tried to focus and put all my energy into calming myself.

  Vincent sniffed at my neck, letting his lips graze my ear as he spoke. “It’s been decades since I’ve had a hunter. The Circle gives off an enticing scent…”

  I kept my eyes closed, trying to keep my shields up. The last thing I wanted right then was him poking around in my head.

  As though at the flick of a switch, Vincent pulled away and let his calm, seductive tone return. “Well, back to business. Shall we?” The change in his demeanor startled me, but after centuries of life I could only imagine how one might get a little moody. “You want something from me and I can assume you need it rather urgently, otherwise you wouldn’t have risked coming here. The information I now possess must be worth more to you than I previously perceived,” he said.

  Rayna jumped in. “I know the routine. What kind of blood do you want? Warlock perhaps? It’s the most expensive and I know you enjoy it. Or is it cash this time around?”

  “I’m afraid that won’t do this time, my sweet Rayna. There is no blood that can satisfy my current craving. There’s something else I need. What you’ve asked for brings us to a much higher pay scale.”

  Rayna studied him and arched a brow. “Do tell,” she said.

  Vincent smiled cunningly. “For years, I`ve kept you safe within the Underworld. I did this in somewhat of a selfish manner, hoping you’d come to your senses and accept the throne I offered. I’ve helped you in exchange for mere blood and pennies, and it has made me look weak among my people. I see now my good intentions will go unrewarded, so I must treat this situation as I would any business transaction. There will be no more charity from me, my sweet. If you wish to know what the hunters seek, you will do something for me first.”