Freak Show (Alexa O'Brien Huntress Book 7)

by Lee, Trina M.

  After a hot shower, I applied some smoky eye makeup and blow-dried my hair. All the while, I turned over the events of our trip in my head. I’d known it would be crazy, but it had exceeded my expectations.

  Jenner lingered in my thoughts. Part of me wished I could go back in time and undo what I’d done to him. That had to be the scrap of humanity I had left. The side of me that was ruled by the vampire thought his arrogant ass had deserved it. Still, he was under my thrall now, a victim of my manipulation. That had to be all kinds of wrong.

  It was bittersweet to have to leave my house so soon after returning. I had recently purchased it, and it still had that new feeling to it. It wasn’t lived in enough. I cast a longing look out my living room window at the forest beyond my backyard. The forest was the main reason I had chosen the house, other than the lack of neighbors; the place was just too perfect for someone like me.

  Slinging my bag onto my shoulder, I locked up and made the quick trek from my small town to the big city just down the highway. Being on the open road with the local rock station blasting was invigorating. It made it almost possible to ignore the steady hum of the amulet in my bag.

  A quick stop at Starbucks for two Frappuccinos, and I was on my way to Toil and Trouble, the small magic shop Brogan had inherited from Lena. It was a cozy little place on the south side of the city. Hopefully it wouldn’t be too busy this close to closing time.

  The door chime sounded as I entered. The scent of incense greeted me. A table filled with gemstones sat in the center with a sale sign hanging overhead. Shelves lined with spell books hugged the walls. Everything from love charms to voodoo dolls graced Brogan’s shop.

  “Hey, welcome home!” Brogan called out from the back where she was arranging a jewelry display. “How was the trip? Looks like you made it back in one piece.”

  “Just barely. The trip was a nightmare.” I crossed the store to where she was and handed her a coffee. “You like caramel, right?”

  “Love it. Thanks.” She took a sip and made a face of pure joy. “So good. Now, tell me about your trip.”

  I gave her the recap of my Vegas vacation while browsing the aisles. A display case filled with vampire hunting tools caught my eye. “This is new. Isn’t it?”

  Brogan shrugged. “It’s a novelty item. I’ve had requests for it. Nobody is going to hunt vampires with that stuff. I mean, there’s a bottle of holy water in there. That doesn’t even work on vampires.”

  No, it would work on demons or fallen angels though. It piqued my interest that someone had specifically asked for vampire hunting gear though. “Who asked you to order in this stuff?”

  “I have no idea. I get calls and emails about stuff like that all the time. Nobody has bought any of it yet though.” She paused, scrutinizing the so-called vampire hunter kit. “You don’t think it was a serious request, do you?”

  “Can’t be too careful in this city.” A laugh bubbled up. “Next time you get a call like that, refer them to Vegas. The vampire population there is outrageous.”

  “So the amulet my mom gave you, that’s what you want my help with? I can take a look at it, tell you if she spelled it and how—”

  She broke off as the door opened with a chime. The telltale pulse of raw power accompanied the new arrival, and I turned to find Gabriel in the entryway. He nodded a grim hello in our direction but said nothing as he made his way to a shelf filled with spelling accessories.

  Gabriel was young, just nineteen. He possessed more natural power than any human I’d ever known. Unfortunately, that had made him a target for Shya. The same demon that meddled in my life had lured Gabriel in, tainting him with black magic. I could feel it. The murky pull of darkness cloaked him. Apparently, he was still very much involved with the demon.

  “Can I help you find anything?” Brogan approached him cautiously. “I just got some new stones in. And a few new books too.”

  I hung back, unwilling to get too close. Gabriel was precognitive. With just a touch, he could see glimpses of one’s future. Since he had told me he saw me as a vampire, I didn’t want to get too close. He’d said it wasn’t pretty, whatever that meant. Despite my attempts to keep him away from Shya, Gabriel had willingly become part of the demon’s inner circle.

  “No, thanks. Just grabbing a few things I’m low on.” Gabriel was standoffish, unwilling to engage more than he had to. He gathered several items including black candles, some herbs and a scrying mirror.

  Brogan and I exchanged a look. The kid was in over his head, and he didn’t realize how deep. I thought about what Hurst had said, his warning that Arys could not turn Gabriel as Shya had made him promise. Gabriel was already too dangerous. Vampirism would take that to a new and alarming level.

  After collecting his things, he went to the counter where Brogan joined him. She attempted to engage him in small talk, but he would have none of it. With his long, dyed-black hair falling in his face and black liner smudged around his eyes, he looked like any other Goth kid. I knew better though.

  Much to my surprise, he paused on his way out. Turning back to face me, he opened his mouth as if to speak but then thought better of it. For a moment, our gazes locked, and I saw something evil lurking inside him. Before I could say anything, he shoved through the door and disappeared.

  “I can’t say for sure, but I think he just bought the things needed to do a resurrection spell.” Brogan’s hazel eyes reflected her concern. “I wish there was something I could do. It’s not like I can refuse to sell to him.”

  “No, definitely don’t do that. He’ll just get it online or something. At least if he buys it here, we can track what he’s using.” A resurrection spell? I shook my head and repressed a shudder. That was all kinds of bad news. “I’m sorry, Brogan. I know you’re worried about him. I wish there was more we could do.”

  “There has to be something.” She gazed down at her copy of the receipt and frowned. “Well anyway, let’s go sit in the back and take a look at that amulet.”

  I flipped through a book on zombies while she locked up. It was impossible to tell if it was fiction or if the writer had believed every word to be truth. I would certainly take such things with a grain of salt. Although, considering Gabriel was working resurrection spells, perhaps I should consider reading up on zombies more thoroughly. As much as I didn’t want to, I would find out why Shya had Gabriel doing such spells. And hopefully, I would find a way to stop it.

  We sat at the table in the cluttered back storage room. I pulled the amulet from my bag, more drawn to it now than ever before. The teardrop-shaped, smooth, black stone warmed at my touch.

  “Oh yes, I remember this one.” Brogan took the amulet and turned it over in careful examination. “It’s definitely been spelled. I can do a revelation spell. It should reveal what exactly my mother did to it without touching her spell.”

  I gestured for her to go ahead. This was not my area of expertise. I watched in silent wonder as Brogan fetched a few supplies. After lighting blue candles and sprinkling some fine powder into the flames, she spoke a phrase in Latin, and the amulet began to glow. My heart jumped when she slowly passed the amulet through the candle flame. To my utter shock, an image began to form on the surface. The faint outline of a yin yang glimmered in the candlelight. I sucked in a breath and held it.

  “It’s made of black onyx,” Brogan began. “A stone meant for grounding, for connection to the earth and its energy. It has the ability to ward off negative energy given off by others. Only natural energy though. It won’t do much against someone like Shya.”

  “Hurst said it will keep my wolf inside me when I die a mortal death. Can you verify that?”

  “Yes. It feels like my mom tied the spell to you. I can feel its purpose. It won’t be activated until your death. Then it should bind your wolf to the amulet, keeping it safe until your transition is complete.” She handed the amulet back with a gentle smile. “My mom always was so good at planning ahead.”

  “How did she kn
ow?” I asked, going back to my final conversations with Lena. She had known about Arys and me. She’d been the first to tell me our bond was meant to be. Could she have known the risk it posed to my wolf?

  Brogan shook her blonde head, and her smile grew. “Even now, Mom never stops surprising me. She was so intuitive.”

  “She gave me the greatest gift. I wish I could thank her.” Sorrow gripped me in its rough clutches. Lena’s death had come at the hands of two members of the blood ring. I’d killed both Claire and Maxwell, but it would never be enough. I couldn’t bring her back.

  I gave Brogan’s arm a friendly pat. “You know I owe you, right? For life. Seriously. Anything you need, anything I can ever do. Don’t hesitate.”

  She started to protest then thought better of it. “Thank you, Alexa. That means a lot to me. My mom really loved you.” A solemn silence fell as we each remembered Lena in our own way. Then Brogan snapped out of it, her cheery tone tight and forced. “Let me turn that amulet into a pendant for you. It’s best if you wear it. All the time. Even in the shower.”

  Just ten minutes later, the shiny onyx stone was ready to wear. Using a special drill made for such things, Brogan drilled a small hole in the top of the teardrop. She slipped it onto a strong piece of leather, which I tied securely around my neck.

  The moment the stone lay against my chest, a slight dizzy spell hit me. It aligned itself to the earthy energy of my wolf, and a sense of serene calm spread through me. It felt right. I could have cried with relief. I might lose my light, but I would not lose my wolf.

  I gave Brogan a hug and said goodnight. Halfway to the door she stopped me with a frantic plea. “Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help Gabriel. If he’s ever in trouble or anything…”

  “I’ll keep you posted, but I won’t get you involved. As long as you’re not on anybody’s radar, I won’t do anything to change that.”

  As I exited Toil and Trouble, I made a silent vow to keep that promise. Too many people I loved were already under Shya’s thumb in one way or another. The precious few that were not part of that needed to stay that way.

  I’d told myself that I’d take a few days at home to just chill and recover from Vegas. Still, I found myself driving across the river toward downtown and The Wicked Kiss. Since I was already in the city, I might as well make sure the building was still standing. Leaving Kale in charge in his current mental state was chancy. Seeing him wasn’t something I’d been planning to do so soon. As long as we weren’t alone together, nothing should come of it. Besides, during the flight home, I’d done some thinking and made some decisions regarding the nightclub Kale and I shared. We had work to do.

  By the time I reached the club, I was convinced I should have gone back home to bed. Still, it didn’t stop me from getting out of the car. Kale’s classic Camaro was in the parking lot. Crap. So much for the hope that he wasn’t here. It made me sad, the realization that, every time I came to the Kiss now, I held out hope that it would be at a time when Kale was elsewhere. We had been such close friends once.

  It was still early. The place wouldn’t be crowded for a few hours yet; the parking lot was especially empty. Suspicious. The guys working the door greeted me as I passed through the lobby. Was it just me or were they stiffer than usual? When I stepped into the heart of the club, I saw why.

  The place was a total disaster. Worse than I’d ever seen it, and I’d seen it in pretty rough shape. Tables were not just overturned but smashed. Chairs littered the floor as if they’d been tossed around by a tornado. Broken glass crunched under my feet. The aroma of liquor and blood dominated the air while violence colored the atmosphere.

  In the middle of it all stood Kale and Willow. They each looked up at my appearance in jaw-dropped surprise. I’d interrupted their clean up attempt. I stood frozen, staring at them, unable to form words just yet. They exchanged a look with one another.

  “Do I even want to know?” I swept through the room, stepping over fragments of table and other miscellaneous debris. Was that a burn mark on the ceiling?

  “No,” they said in unison before dissolving into nervous laughter. They had definitely not been expecting me.

  “You’re home sooner than I expected,” Kale remarked with a secretive smile. “Glad to see you’re relatively unscathed. How was Vegas?”

  I stared at the trashed stage, biting back the stream of curses that threatened to spill forth. “It was a fucking gong show. Apparently, I missed something while I was gone. Want to fill me in?”

  Willow turned away, hiding what I think was another laugh. He disappeared behind the bar, leaving Kale to answer my questions.

  “Not particularly,” Kale said with a shrug. “Had a little trouble is all. I took care of it. Nothing for you to concern yourself with.”

  “Is that so?” I eyed him skeptically. “Looks to me like I was right about leaving you in charge here. Another day or two, and there probably wouldn’t even be a building left to trash.”

  Kale didn’t say anything for a moment. He continued to throw pieces of wood and glass into a large pile in the center of the room. The muscles in his arms and back rippled as he did so. He seldom dressed so casually in jeans and a t-shirt, so I allowed myself a moment to enjoy the view.

  “Gee, thanks; glad to see you too,” he said. His tone dripped sarcasm. “Actually, I’m the reason this place is still standing, among other things. Though I don’t expect you to believe that.”

  Willow emerged from the bar with a tequila in one hand and the Dragon Claw in the other. He passed me the dagger, which I happily accepted. It was so good to have it back in my hands.

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help when you ran into trouble,” he said. “Kale knew you were in trouble, but without a location I couldn’t jump to you.”

  My gaze lingered on Kale who had turned his back on me as he continued to clean up. “No worries. Shya sent Falon, who was a total asshole like usual, but he helped. I’m here now, so it’s all good.”

  “Is it?” Willow questioned, his gold-flecked green eyes intense upon me. “Then why are you back early?”

  He walked along beside me as I perused the perimeter, surveying the extent of the damage. I gave him the quick version, aware that Kale’s keen ears heard my every word. I wasn’t ready to share with anyone what had happened with Jenner.

  “You’re taking over Las Vegas?” Concern glimmered in Willow’s eyes. “Might I suggest you wait until Shya’s been dealt with?”

  “That’s the plan. Vegas is a fucking mess of vampire chaos. I’m not prepared to handle that right now. Someone else will be taking care of it until Arys and I can get back there.”

  As Willow and I talked, Kale kept working in silence. I wondered what he was thinking. My curiosity was dying to know why Willow was here with him, but I didn’t dare ask just yet. Kale was trying to keep something from me, and after the trip I’d just had, I was ok with that.

  As I walked through the mess that had been a fully functioning nightclub just days before, I put together a mental list. Jenner’s club had intimidated me. It had also made mine look like a sleazy joint compared to his high-class style. I wanted to renovate.

  I pulled out my phone and began to take notes. The old booths lining the exterior walls had to go. They were hard and uncomfortable. More furniture was needed and new light fixtures. The current ones were ugly and ancient.

  Willow returned to help Kale as I made my way to the back. He was committed to keeping the vampire’s secret. Whatever had gone on here, they felt the need to keep it from me. Had it been anyone else, I would have been pissed, but I trusted Willow implicitly.

  The back hall was lined with rooms where vampires and willing victims came to play. It was adequate but shady, not much better than a low budget hotel. That was going to change.

  I went to the last door at the end of the hall, the one room that was forbidden to all but me. It had been the suite Harley stayed in when he’d come to town. The same r
oom I killed him in. Now it was mine. And as much as I wanted to deny it, I might actually need to make use of it one day. So it might as well be nice. I stood in the doorway, scrutinizing everything from the cheap bedding to the less than impressive en suite bathroom. It was about as good as the one at Linden’s warehouse. Unacceptable.

  I felt Kale’s honey sweet energy draw closer, so it came as no surprise when from right behind me he said, “I’m sorry about the mess. Everything goes to shit when the queen is away.”

  A chill stole over me. I turned to face him, knowing better than to allow him at my back. “Seriously? What’s with everyone and the fucking royalty references lately?”

  Kale shrugged and leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. “I guess you’re the only one still in denial about it.”

  “Apparently so.” With a raised brow I gave him a critical once over. He was unpredictable, and sadly, I couldn’t trust him anymore, not since his promise to force my hand, to make me stake him.

  My phone rang, startling me as it blasted a Weird Al Yankovic song. Damn you, Arys. That vampire thought he was so funny. One of these days, I was going to bust him messing with my ringtone, and then he’d be sorry.

  “Alexa, you’re home!” My best friend Kylarai gushed excitedly in my ear. “I’ve been dying to share my news with you. Is this a bad time?”

  I glanced at Kale who likely could hear every word she said. He wore a bored expression.

  “Not at all. What’s up? You sound like you’re going to explode. Must be good news.” I tensed, waiting for her to tell me something amazing, because I sure could use some good news.

  “You’re not going to believe this. I could just pee my pants with glee.” Her giggle brought a smile to my face. She took a deep, audible breath and said in a rush, “I’m engaged!” It was better than good news. It was fantastic.

  “Aw, congratulations. Nobody deserves it more than you. He’s such a great guy.” My words were sincere. I couldn’t be happier for her.