by Judith Post
Ulrich ruffled her hair. "I stop to visit Enoch, don't I, little one? Crystal can visit you, too."
"But not very often. Not every day."
"Things change," Ulrich told her. "It would change even if Crystal wasn't a vampire. She'd go away to college. It's time for you to find your own destiny."
Angel didn't want to hear it. Had no idea what she wanted to do when she grew up. Didn't care.
Voronika threaded an arm through hers and said, "Come on. It's time to go to the apartment. When Enoch comes home, he's not going to be happy."
"But Scarlet…." Angel glanced at where her body lay. It was already turning to ashes.
"The old ones turn to dust in seconds," Ulrich said. "The young ones take longer. Soon, she'll be gone." He dragged her decomposing body into the shadows of the building where no one would notice her.
Angel felt sick again. Her stomach churned, and her thoughts wouldn't settle. When Enoch came home, she'd talk to him. He'd make Crystal stay with them. He'd…. But she knew she was lying to herself. She knew Ulrich was right, but she didn't have to like it.
Ulrich straightened from bending over Scarlet's remains. He lifted his head and sniffed the air. "Prepare, ladies, the shit is going to hit the fan."
Voronika sniffed, too. "Enoch's on his way. Get ready. He doesn't lose his temper often, but this might do it."
Chapter 34
The minute Enoch turned the corner, he saw them—Lucinda and Crystal standing shoulder to shoulder, Voronika next to Angel, and Ulrich by the building. Something was up. He started walking faster.
A couple left the apartment's lobby and walked in their direction. When they stared at Ulrich, Voronika greeted them, something she never did. A distraction. What the hell had happened? He quickened his pace.
When he joined them in the parking lot, Ulrich said, "I could use a little help here. Scarlet's taking her damned, sweet time to turn to ashes. I don't really want a mortal to find her."
Enoch walked to look down at the body. "Somebody fill me in."
Ulrich explained about Scarlet coming to challenge Crystal. Enoch turned to frown at her and noticed blood spatters on her jeans and tennis shoes. Blood smeared her hands and fingers, too. When Ulrich reached the part about Scarlet grabbing Angel, Enoch's hands balled into fists.
"Down, boy," Ulrich said. "As you can see, our little girl is fine."
"Scarlet had no business using her like that," Enoch growled.
"She's been punished. She's dead now, and I'd appreciate it if you made her disappear." Ulrich motioned for Enoch to do his thing.
A young man sprinted from the lobby and ran past them to his car.
Ulrich shook his head. "Kids, always in a hurry."
"A good thing. He didn't stop to look at us." Enoch raised a hand and shot Light up and down Scarlet's body. When he finished, all that was left of her was dust.
Angel stared, and Enoch sighed. "You shouldn't have had to see any of this. You're too young."
"It's like you have a halo inside you," Angel breathed. "You have magic."
Enoch opened his mouth to explain, but Voronika shook her head.
"Everything about our angel is special," she said. "And he's your angel. He loves you."
Angel took a deep breath and leaned against Voronika. Her worried expression eased.
"You need to hear about our Crystal," Ulrich said. And he launched into the battle between the two vampires. He ended proudly with, "We trained her well."
Enoch shook his head, surprised. He turned to Crystal. "I'm so proud of you." He hadn't thought the girl would bother to defend herself. Actually, she might not have, but she had a fierce loyalty to her little sister. Scarlet couldn't have done anything better to help Crystal accept what she was, even though it was on accident.
"I killed someone," Crystal said, still sorting through that.
"So does Ulrich. So do I. We're soldiers in the battle for Good. It's what we do."
"Soldiers…." Crystal tasted the word, seemed to like it. She gave a quick nod.
Ulrich grinned at Voronika and the girls. "You've all earned some time to relax. Go upstairs, and Enoch and I will finish up here. We'll see you in a minute."
Voronika heard his hidden meaning and shooed Lucinda and the sisters into the building.
The minute they were out of earshot, Ulrich hissed, "Feral had to have given Scarlet an ultimatum—kill Crystal or take a hike. Scarlet's a sneak, not a fighter, but she didn't have much choice. She wouldn't have lasted long on her own."
Enoch couldn't remember the last time he felt this furious. Usually, he walked into a battle with rogues and helped the generals kill them all. He didn't have to play stupid games and follow rules he didn't agree with. And he was done with it.
"She's not breaking Caleb's laws, but she's pushed me too far. She leaves Three Rivers. Now."
Ulrich's brows shot up in surprise. "Really? You're making your own laws? This is looking to be a good night."
"I'll tell Voronika we have things to do. Then we'll visit Feral's club."
Ulrich hesitated. "We're not donating blood again, are we?"
"No, we're closing the place down."
Ulrich stared. "The entire club? I thought you'd just chase Feral out of town."
"This is my city. Vampires aren't drinking mortals in exchange for venom."
If he'd closed the club sooner, Macy might still be alive. The other boy, the first one, might be, too, but he was looking for highs. He might not have made it anyway.
Ulrich walked to Enoch's Land Rover and leaned against it. "Every vampire buying drinks might turn against us." He grinned. "Let's hope. We've fought battles with worse odds. This should be fun."
Enoch smiled. His friend loved a good brawl. But it wasn't going to come to that. This was going to be a complete rout. Voice grim, he said, "If the customers are smart, they'll leave the premises--quickly."
Voronika walked out onto their balcony. She called down to him, "Are you coming?"
"No, I'm going to the club."
She didn't act surprised. "Try not to ruin another good shirt."
"I have more."
She laughed and waved him off.
He and Ulrich drove to the club and stared at all the cars in its parking lot. What the hell was wrong with mortals? Why the desire to buddy up with vampires? Did that many of them have death wishes?
Enoch squared his shoulders. "Let's do this."
When they walked through the door, classical music greeted them. Voices and laughter filled the room. Incisor, dressed in black pants and a tight, black tee, with his head perfectly shaved, narrowed his ice-gray eyes. "Do you want your usual seats at the bar?"
The scent of lust and booze filled Enoch's nostrils. "We won't have time for a drink. We came to shut Feral down."
The bouncer stood taller than Enoch. Bulkier, too. He crossed his arms over his massive chest, and biceps bulged. "She wouldn't leave it alone, would she? She's still after Crystal."
"She tossed out Scarlet unless she came back with a kill." Enoch shrugged. "Scarlet's dust now, and I'm tired of playing games. It's not like I didn't warn her."
"Feral doesn't let things go." Incisor looked around the room, filled with vamps and mortals. "Only two of you came?"
Ulrich nodded toward Enoch. "I'm just here to mop up. If people make it to the parking lot, I'll encourage them to go home. And stay there."
Incisor looked Enoch up and down. "So you're a one-man show? You can empty this building by yourself?"
"I have no quarrel with you. You're doing your job, but if you get in my way, I'll do whatever needs done."
Incisor studied him. "If vampires follow Caleb's rules, you don't mess with them, do you?"
"Not unless they come to Three Rivers. This is my city. No more mortals are getting hurt here, whether it's legal or not. Warn everyone, all the way to the top floor, to leave. And empty the kitchen. I'll hit it first."
Incisor hesitated.
; "It's your call," Enoch said. "If they stay, they're dust."
The bouncer stepped back to let them enter. As they made their way to the center of the room, he went to the bar and cut the music. He flipped the lights on high. Then he talked to the bartenders, and all of them started up the stairs. One scurried to the kitchen. The room went quiet, and customers turned to stare.
Enoch stood with Ulrich beside him. "As of right now, we're closing this club. Gather your things and leave quietly. You have ten minutes." He looked at his watch.
"Or what?" A huge, old vampire stood and long, ivory fangs snapped down, extending past his jawline.
"Or the building comes down on top of you." Enoch raised a palm and shot Light at the side wall. Bricks exploded and flew outside.
"But Caleb's laws…."
Did every vampire quote Caleb's laws to try to bend them? Enoch interrupted. "I'm not Caleb. I'm not a vampire. I make my own decisions. Leave, or take your chances." He stared at the mortals in the room. "Get out."
A group of young men at a nearby table rose and hurried to the door. Another group leaned back in their chairs and stretched out their legs, clearly calling his bluff.
Enoch aimed his palm at the ceiling above them and shot Light. Plaster rained down on top of them. The men flung up their arms to cover their heads, jumped to their feet, and left.
Ulrich smiled and bowed. "I'll be outside, watching. If any vampire thinks he can grab a snack to take on his way, he's mistaken."
Ulrich strode to the door, but no one followed him. Fair enough. Enoch waited two minutes, then blasted a bigger hole through the brick wall that bordered the kitchen.
The Light kept going and exploded out the far wall that edged the alley.
More vampires and mortals scrambled to their feet and left in a hurry. But not everyone. And then Enoch realized why they were waiting. They wanted to see the confrontation between Feral and him.
They didn't have long to wait. Feral came raging down the stairs and stopped at the edge of the dance floor. "You have no right…."
He cut her off. "I told you before. I don't have to follow rules. For centuries, I haven't challenged them out of courtesy to Caleb and his generals. But you've pushed your luck. You didn't listen. Now leave."
Her lips curled back in a snarl. "I take it that Scarlet was as weak as I expected her to be?"
"She's dust. Crystal killed her."
"Crystal?" She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "And you'd ally yourself with that silly girl over me?"
"I'd never work with you. You're sick."
"But I love strong men. Who knows? You might be able to save me." She threw back her head and keened. Her wail gave him goosebumps.
He'd heard that really old vampires occasionally went crazy. He hadn't seen it happen yet. Usually, that type got meaner and more power hungry. He raised a finger in warning. "You can walk away from this. Let it go."
She rushed him. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and gouged her fangs into his shoulder.
Before she could gulp her first drink, he pried her off him and tossed her aside. She blinked, surprised by his strength. "If you touch me again," he said, "I'll fill you with Light."
A savage growl ripped from her throat and she threw herself at him again. This time, an arm caught her in midair. Incisor shook her like a rag doll. "Get a grip. He'll kill you—true dead."
She writhed free from him and hissed. "You dare challenge me?"
Incisor hesitated. "I'm trying to save you."
"Don't bother." She raked sharp nails across his face.
He raised a hand to his cheek, as the wound healed. "Don't ever do that again."
She slashed downward from his forehead to the corner of his lip. "You're mine. I'll do as I please. I'll gut you if I'm in the mood."
He stood, facing her. "You made me your partner. I'm your equal."
"Sorry, child. I'm your sire, and vampires don't make good parents."
Incisor backed away from her, but never lost eye contact. "I've been undead almost as long as you have. Accept my allegiance and respect it."
She laughed. "How can I respect someone whose only purpose is to serve me?"
Incisor's fangs clicked down. "Partners don't serve. They work as a team."
Her fangs lengthened, too. "Who makes all the decisions, bouncer? You're here to do my bidding. What's your opinion, angel? Is Incisor worth sparing?"
When Incisor turned his gaze to Enoch, Feral flew at him. A cheap move, but Incisor quickly recovered. They were like a whirlwind of destruction, slashing and biting. They overturned tables, shattered a chandelier. Enoch watched and waited. They hit him once and bounced off, destroying everything in their path. Suddenly, the motion stopped and Incisor straddled Feral's body, his claws plunged deep into her chest. He pulled them out and slashed across her throat. Before her head could roll, she turned to dust. An old vampire. She was ashes before Incisor could catch his balance.
No one spoke. The entire bar remained silent.
Incisor turned to look at them. "Our lease is still good in Budapest. My bar will open next week. Spread the word."
Within minutes, the bar was empty. Incisor came to stand before Enoch. "I have no love or respect for mortals. I was treated no better as a guard for a cruel tyrant as I was by Feral. When mortals are frightened, they'll cage or kill anything that's different. But I'm tired of moving from place to place. I'll put a limit on venom. Mortals will still be stupid, and they'll still get hooked. But I don't want dead bodies, and no one will get turned in my bar. Will you leave me in peace?"
"That's better than Caleb's rules. Just don't come to Three Rivers. Good luck."
Incisor studied him a moment. "How do you stand it here? Why do you protect people who are so stupid?"
"How did you serve Feral?" Enoch shrugged. "It's my job, what I was sent here to do."
Incisor made a sound very similar to a laugh. "We make the most of what's on offer, right?"
Enoch nodded. "Something like that." But he wouldn't protect mortals who were cruel or manipulative either. If they weren't deserving, he wasn't interested. He held out a hand to Incisor. "I hope Budapest agrees with you."
The bouncer gave a rare smile. "It was good to us last time. I was sorry to leave."
When Enoch walked into the lot to join Ulrich, Feral's staff and servers were waiting there. He motioned them inside. "Incisor will tell you what comes next."
Ulrich patted him on his back on the way to the Land Rover. "I heard about the fight. Feral didn't know when to quit."
"I think she snapped. I'm not sure she was stable to begin with."
"And now Incisor will own the bar?"
"He was her partner. She's gone. Everything's his now."
Ulrich slid onto the passenger seat. "He earned it, putting up with her crazy ass all these decades."
"That's what I think."
When they reached the apartment, Ulrich went to Lucinda, wrapped an arm around her waist, and led her to their bedroom. Crystal looked at Enoch.
"It's done," he said. "Feral won't bother you any more."
"Did you….?"
"I didn't have to. She picked a fight with Incisor. He's grown stronger over the decades."
Crystal smiled. "He was always fair. Not nice maybe, but fair."
"He's the owner of the bar now. They're moving to Budapest."
Crystal looked at Angel. "Let's stay up and play Xbox. You should skip school tomorrow."
Angel looked to Enoch, and he nodded. "This one time. It's been a long night."
The girls took up their places in front of the TV and Voronika came to him. "Are we finished?"
"With the club." Enoch glanced at Angel. "I think we have a long time ahead of us with a little mortal, though."
Voronika's expression softened. "That's not a hardship."
"It's not going to be easy."
"If mortal parents can do it, so can we." She reached for his hand and squeezed it. "What's the mod
ern saying about teenagers?"
"That the One made them teenagers so that parents were happy to see them leave."
She laughed. "We'll worry about that when the time comes."
A different kind of battle, but Enoch thought they'd survive it. He led Voronika onto the balcony and they sat close together. He'd sworn never to get too close to another mortal, but Angel was different. Kids were meant to leave parents. It was the natural order. When Angel left, they'd be happy for her.
Chapter 35
Enoch bent down and kissed Voronika's forehead before he left their room. He'd pulled on a pair of slick, workout pants and a tight tee to relax in during the day.
Voronika smiled at him. "I've never been happier."
"Neither have I."
"Not even at Home?"
With a shock, Enoch realized that, for him, nothing beat the way he felt right now. "Not even at Home." He walked to the kitchen to sip a cup of coffee. He had a few minutes before Angel woke up. He and Voronika had enjoyed slow, sensual love making. She'd never been more giving, more gentle. Voronika. Slow and gentle—a miracle in itself. A bubble of tenderness expanded inside his heart and pushed his cares away.
Ulrich had left a week ago, taking Lucinda and Crystal to his home in Scandinavia. Incisor had packed up the club and all of its servers and left for Budapest—all except Ilona and Goth. They'd chosen to stay in Three Rivers, and Enoch had welcomed them. He encouraged Ilona and Goth to help each other. Goth fed off Ilona occasionally, inbetween learning to feed on vermin and strays. That way, Ilona could gradually wean herself from venom and Goth could occasionally strengthen herself with human blood. And once in a great while, he'd let Goth feed off him to control her blood cravings.
Ilona had moved in with Derek, and Goth shared Wayne's apartment. So far, the couples couldn't be happier. Angel had sulked for a while when Crystal left until he and Ulrich taught the sisters how to connect telepathically. Now, Crystal's image popped onto their balcony once a night, and she and Angel stayed in touch. This weekend, Danny and Maggie were coming for supper, and they were bringing Heidi along to