“I didn’t,” Mallory countered. “That’s a side effect of being around them. Please believe me.”
“Let me get this straight,” Todd went on, “these aliens call themselves Sperns, and they got you as a child?”
“Correct. They can use magic, shapeshift . . . even summon dangerous creatures from their home realm.” Mallory pinched herself in regret.
“And how do we know you’re not a spy?” asked Jayce. “That you’re not just here to lure us into some government-sponsored torture program.”
“I don’t work for your government, nor do I have an inkling of how it works. The Sperns keep me in the dark about everything. All I know is that they are planning something sinister and if we don’t stop them then Gatsby will be lost forever.” Mallory regretted the last statement as soon as it spilled out of her mouth. Climbing out of this hole would be tough.
“How do we stop them?” Jayce continued. “What are their weaknesses? Where do they sleep? Where are they hiding?”
“I’ll answer that as time goes on,” the princess promised, “but right now let’s focus. I have a plan.”
“You still haven’t given us a reason to trust you.”
“I don’t care if you don’t trust me!” Mallory yelled for added effect. “I’m just giving you the truth. Now do you want to hear my plan or not?”
Jayce sat down on his bed. The rifle was still on his lap.
“Go.”
“Okay, I’ll start with a confession. That bull, or beast, or whatever you’d like to call what you saw last night is mine. If you want to be technical about it, then it’s proper name is a Minotaur. They are extremely powerful.”
“That’s why it stopped that one time. You were talking to it.”
“Him,” Mallory corrected Jayce. “His name is Bernardo and he’s been corrupted.”
“Corrupted? What’s that mean?”
“The thing’s got rabies or somethin’, boy,” added Todd. “Pay attention.”
“The only way he could’ve been summoned was from my cloak,” the princess continued. “But The Enterprise stole it from me.”
“What!?” Jayce shouted.
“They kidnapped me and stole my cloak, food, and grimoire.”
“A grim what?” asked Todd.
“A grimoire,” said Mallory. “It’s a book of spells. But this one isn’t just any grimoire. I took it from—” The princess abruptly stopped. Even if she did somehow manage to salvage her Gatsby mistakes, how would she explain all the Gothic crimes she committed? She felt her stomach twist at the thought of how screwed she actually was.
Jayce was floored with this new information.
“So The Enterprise can summon things like that!?”
“No,” said Mallory, unsure of her answer. “I don’t quite know how they pulled it off, but it shouldn’t be possible.”
“With everything you’ve been saying, anything seems possible.”
“True,” said Mallory. “I must get my belongings back. If you want to save Gatsby then you’ll help me.”
“We can do that,” Grandpa Todd confirmed. “We’ve had Jimbo and a few buds o’ mine spy on ‘em bastards for a while now.”
“But if we help you then you’ve got make me a promise,” Jayce added. “Promise on your life, on everything and everyone you care about, that you’re not one of them — a Spern, Enterprise member, or anything. Swear on your future, swear on your family—”
“Let God hear your truth,” added Todd.
“Let God hear your truth,” Jayce repeated. “Allies don’t lie to each other. Make me this promise and you’ll become one of us.”
“I swear it,” Mallory said without hesitation. She nearly cried.
“Good,” said Jayce. He dropped the rifle on the bed and picked up the wand box from his massive bookcase. “You said these aliens use magic. Does this count?”
The sound of a dark void sucking the air out of the room persuaded Mallory to nod. It was as if the wand inside was showcasing its talent to get the answer it wanted from the princess. Jayce grimaced.
“If she doesn’t open the damn box then I’ll make her!”
“Cool it, boy,” Todd warned Jayce. “The last thing we need’s Abby up our ass. The Enterprise ain’t got nothin’ on a woman scorned.”
“Then she’d better do it,” Jayce threatened, “or else.”
“Your grandpa’s right,” Mallory spoke up. “Abby loves you. She cooks for you, brings you food — none of my parents ever did that.”
“I refuse to wait any longer. There’s too much at stake. If this thing has power, then I need it. Now!” Jayce paused for a moment before continuing his rant. “Adults always treat kids like their opinions don’t matter. But our opinions mean more — they’re filled with emotion. We’re focused on pushing the world forward and living in the moment — old people worry about pushing us back because they live off nostalgia. That’s why our connection to God and the universe are deeper.”
“What a load o’ horseshit,” Todd laughed.
“Whatever.”
“It’s showtime,” Todd announced. “Shut your yappin’ and wait right here. I’ma go ‘round up the boys.”
Mallory and Jayce had been waiting for Todd for nearly an hour. It was an awkward wait — as Jayce was fighting the urge to bombard Mallory with questions about the wand, and Mallory was fighting the urge to pounce on Jayce and Bind him. Jayce didn’t know how dangerous it was to walk around a vampire without a shirt on. Especially a thirsty one. The fact that she wanted a Dhampir and couldn’t remember tasting a pure human’s blood before made her lust nearly uncontrollable. She tried fidgeting with guns, playing with a butterfly knife (in which she almost cut her fingers off), and fiddling with her hair — but nothing worked. When Jayce gave her a book to read — Behold A Pale Horse by Milton William Cooper — she embarrassed herself by sniffing his neck.
“What the hell was that?”
“NOTHING!” the princess whined. Jayce shook his head, seemingly oblivious to the sexual tension Mallory felt.
“Read some of that and tell me what you think.”
Touch me like your book and I will.
“What’s it about?” she asked in an attempt to have him stay around.
“You’ll see,” was his only answer. When he went back to his computer, Mallory nearly fell off the bed trying to snatch his arm. She was glad she failed.
Mallory read the three-hundred eighty-page book in just under half an hour. Jayce didn’t believe it until she could recite full passages from the book without hesitation. It was the most remarkable thing he’d ever seen — minus his two surreal tragedies.
“What did you think?” he asked the princess.
“I believe most of these theories to be true,” she confirmed. “However, I think it’s important to get proof. I’d love that as much as you.” She sent Jayce a wink.
“Yeah,” he said. “We all want proof.”
Kiss me already!
“This doesn’t help your case,” Jayce let her know. “Only one of them could read a book this big, that fast.”
“What can I say? I love reading. I suppose I just zoned out.”
Suddenly, Jayce got a text alert.
“Come on,” he told the princess whilst throwing on a black, fitted tee that accentuated his physique. “They’re here.”
Mallory followed him very closely the entire trip — sniffing his back and “accidentally” poking his butt. Downstairs, Rebecca, The Fletchers, and a group of men — some being familiar faces from yesterday’s party — were gathered around, engaging in small talk before the main event. Jayce would summon the main event.
“These are The Coyotes,” Jayce informed Mallory. “They’re friends of Jim, but Gramps took them hunting a few times and they became his minions.” The teenager didn’t mind The Coyotes loud protests. He was telling his truth.
Jayce told The Coyotes as much as he could to get them on board. He didn’t mention what happene
d last night, but he didn’t need to. Between the mysterious theories and Mallory having her belongings taken, spying on The Enterprise seemed risky, but worth it. All they needed was Mallory’s cloak to prove to the world that magic existed. Real magic that she promised was unlike anything a magician could even dream of performing. Jim and some of the Coyotes doubted the cloak, Abby flat out said it wasn’t possible, but Todd, Jayce, and Mallory held steady. They were going to Bucky’s Bakery — a known Enterprise hangout — to help Mallory get her belongings back. Rebecca would be her bodyguard should things get rough. She was about to prove another realm existed by showing off her vampiric abilities, but Mallory stopped her. If Jayce thought they were true Sperns, then she believed he’d try to kill them.
“But before we go anywhere,” Jayce added after the plan was set, “I need you to open this.” Jayce set the wand box on the kitchen table in front of Abby.
“Not a chance,” she said.
“Why not? This thing may be able to prove magic exists too if you’d just open it!”
“Magic’s not real,” Abby made very clear.
“Now, Abby,” Todd interjected, “I didn’t believe in magic either. But now I’m a believer.”
“And what made you start believing?”
Abby caught Todd between a rock and a hard place. He turned to Jayce to see if it was okay to speak about the incidents that happened last night. It wasn’t. And since Todd was the sole person he told, he didn’t want to break that bond with his grandson.
“Exactly,” said Abby.
“Open the wand or I’ll make you!”
“Jayce!” shouted Jim. “Calm down or you’re not going.”
“But she’s being stubborn! And stupid!”
“That doesn’t mean you can be disrespectful to your grandmother. Apologize or this hunt’s over.”
“Apologize?” he nearly laughed. “Are you serious!?”
“You’ll see just how serious I am if you don’t.”
Mallory cringed. They were both beyond pissed.
“Sorry for nothing,” said Jayce. He grabbed the box and stormed off.
“And no weapons!” Abby yelled. “The only thing you’re allowed to bring is that knife of yours, young man!”
Jayce was so mad he stopped in his tracks. Suddenly, he punched the wall beside the front door. He was about to keep raging, but Mallory and Rebecca were able to scoop him up and walk upstairs. Mallory insisted Rebecca stay downstairs and calm Jim down. The Coyotes were barely able to hold him back. Todd didn’t even try. He sat beside his grinning wife and shook his head. This mission was donezo.
Upstairs, Jayce went on and on about how evil, stubborn, and, “bitchy,” his grandmother was being. He even considered that she was being paid by The Enterprise to halt their findings. He took the situation well beyond weapons and a wand by theorizing that she was at fault for his parents not returning.
“Your parents,” said Mallory, “what were they like?”
“The most amazing people you’d ever meet,” Jayce concluded. “They were always spreading hope and optimism — things that witch downstairs knows nothing about.”
“Don’t call her that,” the princess pleaded.
“It’s true.”
“I’ve seen real witches and they’re much nastier than her. They’d have poisoned your food by now.”
“Whatever.”
Mallory wanted to change the subject. If Jayce didn’t calm down, there would be absolutely no chance he’d be tagging along. She thought about her next question while unwrapping her handkerchief. The cut Rebecca gave her was long gone.
Good riddance.
“What happened to them?” Mallory asked. Jayce turned around, paused for a second, and then went back to his computer.
“Get out.”
“But—”
“Just get out!” Jayce yelled. “Now!”
Mallory left Jayce alone. The princess didn’t understand why she messed everything up, but maybe this issue was far beyond her control. She could’ve sworn she heard the teenage boy crying on the other side of the door.
Moving past Jim, Todd, and the Coyotes as they prepared for the Enterprise hunt, Mallory made her way to the basement and found Rebecca in the bathroom. She had just finished putting a lapel pin on her red and black coat dress. Its design indicated a winged-woman wearing armor and holding an upside-down sword beneath her gauntlets. Her head was face down, and her eyes were closed — her wings also making a curved V-shape.
“Why are you wearing your Valkyrie pin?” Mallory asked Rebecca.
“Special occasions call for special measures.”
“Won’t it be bad luck? I don’t want to fight.”
“Your mother gave this to the strongest women she knew under that wretched Dome. She said, ‘Wear this when it’s time to fight the patriarchy.’ This is part of the patriarchy, is it not?”
“I guess — but I don’t think she was talking about the Human World.”
“There’s no reason to pick and choose, dear. We’re at war — and you never know what may happen out on the battlefield.”
“She didn’t give me one . . .”
“Your mother didn’t want you engaging in war,” Rebecca revealed. “She wanted to sacrifice her life to make sure young girls like you had better opportunities in life. If your generation becomes accustomed to fighting, peace will take longer to sustain.”
Mallory still wanted her Valkyrie pin. But first, she needed her belongings back. She puked out the food she had for breakfast and joined Rebecca and the others upstairs.
It was time to confront The Enterprise.
13
The Hunt
On their way to Bucky’s Bakery — located all the way in the center of Midtown Gatsby — the scuffed motorcade of Coyotes, Goths, and Fletchers passed by the crime scene that occurred last night. There were a few officers speaking to a man in a brown trenchcoat. Jim stopped the minivan.
“Officers? Everything okay?”
“Pratt,” the man in the trenchcoat introduced himself as. “Everything’s fine here. We’re just finishing up. The park will be open in a few.”
“What happened?”
“Check the news, sir,” Pratt told him. “Move along.”
The rest of the ride the group questioned the “wolf” attack. Jayce wouldn’t let Todd or Mallory spill the beans to Jim yet, but his uncle was finding holes in the report without their help.
When the group made it to Midtown, they split up to avoid attracting unneeded attention. By the time they arrived at the bakery, they had the place surrounded. Standing outside of the bakery, Mr. Faizhon and Mr. Gruff were speaking with a large group of men in suits.
“There they are,” Mallory announced. “I’ll be back.”
“Me too,” said Rebecca.
“Wait a sec,” Jim interjected. He turned to Todd and Jayce. “You guys don’t think we should bug them?”
“No,” Jayce spoke up. “They’re smarter than that. All we need is the cape to prove our point. I’ll record everything with my phone.”
After departing the minivan, Mallory stormed over to the men in suits. Rebecca was hopping along close behind, fixing her dress coat and straightening her matching hat.
“Well, look who decided to show her face,” Mr. Gruff smirked.
“I want my belongings back,” Mallory told them.
“You can’t leave,” Mr. Faizhon informed her. “Do you have any clue what’s going on right now?”
“She wants to leave before her Ex shows up,” said Rebecca. “He can get pretty cruel.”
“We know!” yelled Mr. Faizhon. “But there’s a Minotaur on the loose! He came straight out of that damned cape of yours!”
“Where is it?”
“Hopefully in Europe if we’re lucky!”
“My cloak, not Bernardo.”
“Let’s make a deal,” Mr. Faizhon proposed. “We’ll give you your cloak back, and you get rid of that Minotaur.”
<
br /> “What do you think I’m planning on doing!?”
“Leaving!”
“Not before sealing Bernardo, silly!”
Mr. Faizhon scowled at the princess. Her yelling at him made him look weak in front of his men.
“Get in,” he said, entering the white limousine beside them.
Mallory turned to Rebecca. She shrugged.
The pair of Goths entered the limousine. Mr. Gruff joined them soon after, and Mr. Faizhon signaled for the driver to move.
“Where are we going?” asked Mallory
“For a ride,” Mr. Faizhon responded. He reached over to a briefcase and set it on his lap. He could barely finish opening it before a velvet cloak — drenched in purple and trimmed in black — began flying all over the place.
“Despy!” Mallory beamed. The cloak followed the voice of the princess. It threw itself over her, covering Mallory’s entire body. “Nice to see you too! Sit on my lap, dear — Mommy has business to settle.” The cloak slowly uncovered itself and slunk itself on Mallory’s lap. It seemed depressed.
“You’re not getting those Beans until you catch that Minotaur,” said Mr. Faizhon. “This is unacceptable. The Toll will have our heads if that beast hurt any innocent humans.”
Rebecca went about explaining how she thought it’d be a better option to hunt while nourished, instead of hungry. Mallory wasn’t listening. She was studying a spot her cloak had pointed out by using its drawstrings as arms. The hooded cloak looked fine until she noticed something — an inky stain that was located in the center of the cloak’s dark-purple coloring. Mallory tried everything to get rid of it — even to the point of taking off her gloves, licking her fingers and rubbing the patchy, black spot. The bruise wouldn’t leave.
“He’s corrupted!” she shouted. “He’s really corrupted!”
“Didn’t you hear a word I said about the Minotaur!?” Mr. Faizhon shot back.
“There’s a big difference between a summon being corrupted and a summoner becoming corrupted!”
“I don’t care. Just get rid of that beast — or else.”
“No!” Mallory shot back. “Cleanse Despy or else I’m letting Bernardo tear this world to bits!”
Dhampir Page 14