Paranormal After Dark: 20 Paranormal Tales of Demons, Shifters, Werewolves, Vampires, Fae, Witches, Magics, Ghosts and More

by Rebecca Hamilton

  I put my hand on the glass. “Can you see it, Adrian?”

  “The patterns read as a human and a possessing demonic entity.” His voice came over the speaker.

  Tres pushed past me and moved to the next pod. He pushed a button on the top, and the screen lit up. “Vitals appear to be normal . . . and they’re awake.”

  I leaned forward and inspected the glass. Etched on was a Star of David surrounded by two concentric circles. Astrological planetary symbols lined the space between the circles with their precise lines and curves.

  “They’re bound,” I said.

  Lucy gave a low whistle. “They went through a lot of trouble for this.”

  Marge walked to a pod on the opposite side of the room. “How do we get this open so we can kill it?”

  “There may be a way to destroy them all,” Adrian said. “A kill command.”

  He stared at the computer with a look of concentration. A shadow rose up behind him and another moved in front of Lucy. I opened my mouth to warn them, but I was too slow. The shadows materialized into two guards. The one in front of Lucy tackled her, pushing her against the wall. Adrian half–turned, but the vampire behind him slammed his head into the computer. Adrian slumped over the screen, and his hand hit the keyboard. The lights in our room turned red and a loud beep echoed through the speakers.

  “Release activated.” A monotone female voice filled the room.

  The first vampire’s eyes widened. He shoved Adrian to the ground and typed something rapidly. The door slid shut. I ran to it and pulled on the handle, but it stuck fast. The vampire that held Lucy turned and yelled something to the other. Lucy slammed the back of her arm into the inside of his elbow. She slipped out from under him, flicked her wrists, and her punch daggers slid into her hands. The vampire turned back to her with a look of surprise.

  “Gabby.” Tres backed to the center of the room with his gaze on the pods.

  The lights on the panel blinked on all of them, and tiny words flew across the screen, too small for me to make out. Marge and I joined Tres in the center of the room, our backs to each other. As the doors opened, a metallic smell filled the room and liquid splashed against the tiled floors and covered our feet. There was a mechanical whirring, and the demons slid from the positions in the pod to the ground.

  “Finally,” Marge said with a short laugh. “And I thought this was going to be a bust.”

  Chapter 30

  “YOU WANTED VIOLENCE,” I said. “Here it is.”

  The first demon to notice us was a bajang. She was smaller than the one I’d fought in the abandoned apartment, and a dark brown fur covered her body. She snarled at us, her muscles tensing and her claws extending. She leapt at us with a growl. I moved forward and brought my sword in an arc over my head. The blade sliced through her stomach as she passed over me. Blood sprayed on me, and she tumbled to the ground a few feet past Tres. Three small stone figures surrounded us, with their eyes beginning to glow. I looked to their feet and backed up.

  “Avert your gaze, Marge,” I said. “We need you for this.”

  “Not happening again.” Marge flung a canister to the ground.

  Mist, red in the flashing lights, rose around us. Guttural hisses filled the room, and the demons rescinded, their figures becoming slightly hazy in the mist. The pounding of stone on metal rang through the air, and I spun around to the secondary door in the back of the room. A short, stocky trouco demon bashed into the door with its stony shoulder.

  “They’re trying to escape,” I said.

  “On it.” Tres took off through the mist.

  “Wait,” I called.

  I reached out a hand to catch him. My fingertips slid along his shirt, but I couldn’t get a grip. Damn it, Adrian was already unconscious. I wasn’t about to lose Tres. The mist cleared after several feet, leaving only the emergency sequence of the lights. Tres had his hand on the back of a short stone demon at the door. Cracks formed from his fingers, spreading up along the trouco’s shoulders and lower back in a spider web pattern. It shuddered and let out a cry like that of a rumbling avalanche.

  A sharp crack came from Marge’s direction. A black tip of her whip flew past me and into another bajang, wrapping around her ankle. The creature yowled as she was jerked off of her feet and back to Marge. The bajang hissed and raked her claws into the girl’s shoulder. She scowled and slammed her foot down on the demon’s knee. She could handle that. I needed to get to Tres.

  A humanoid figure blocked my path. Its body was covered with dark oil that gleamed with reddish shimmer in the flashing lights. Another orang, except this one was alive. I swung my sword in an upward arc. A slash appeared, extending from its left hip to right shoulder. The oils spread across the wound and covered it, leaving no trace of the wound behind. It snatched my arm, and its hand melted into liquid that coved my hand. I gasped and tugged, but the stuff was like being trapped in quicksand or mud. Pulling would do no good. I ran around to the side of it, turned, and, using the small momentum I’d gained, flung it into the mist. I was pulled off my feet and after it. We both hit the ground. The oil began to bubble, and the demon’s body was subsumed into convulsions. The liquid trapping my hand slid away as the creature dissolved into a slick puddle.

  Marge stomped the crumpled figure on the ground with a crazed look of pleasure on her face. I got to my feet with a shake of my head and went after Tres once again. He’d been pulled away from the door and was stretched between two of the fluid orang demons. A truaco slammed its stone fist into Tres’s midsection. Another tuaco pounded the door. The handle gave way with a loud pop, and the door banged open. The demon clomped out of the room. No time for him.

  “Marge, use another can,” I yelled.

  She gave a grunt of exertion. “I only have one left.”

  “Adrian can make more,” I said. “As long as we get out of this alive.”

  I jabbed the pommel of my sword into the truaco’s head. His fist stopped in midair and it turned his head in my direction. I ducked my gaze away from his face and aimed for his shoulder. It raised it arm to knock my hand away. The goo surrounding Tres’s left hand contracted, and a crunch sound was covered up by Tres’s scream. Both orangs pulled in opposite directions.

  “Marge!” I said.

  “Fine.”

  The can landed at my feet in a clang, and the mist spread with a hiss. The truaco rumbled and stumbled away from us toward the door. He barreled into a bajang who was trying to escape. The bajang landed on the ground and yowled as the truaco stepped on her in its haste to escape. Marge didn’t waste any time and pounced on the fallen demon. She rammed her foot down on the creature’s neck. Tres pulled free of the melting orangs and clutched his hand to his chest.

  I ran down the hall to the observation room and flung open the door. Lucy stood over a fallen vampire with a stake in her hand. She rammed it its chest, and he burst into tendrils of shadow. I knelt beside Adrian and, with my heart racing, I touched the side of his neck. His pulse thrummed against my fingertips. I let out a sigh of relief. Footsteps sounded from the door. I spun with my sword ready. Tres stood at the threshold, panting, his hand cradled against his chest. Marge was a few feet behind him. I stood up and moved to Lucy, crossing my arms over my stomach. She looked at me with a worried frown. Tres ran his good hand over Adrian, lifting his head up and moving his eyelids.

  “Well?” I asked with my voice slightly hoarse.

  “Concussion. He needs a hospital. And so do I.” He lifted his battered hand. “I can’t do anything with this.”

  “Worthless,” Marge muttered.

  “We can’t take him to a hospital with that.” I pointed to the device that now took the place of his long missing eye.

  “Tres looks down at him and his shoulders slumped. “Well, someone will need to take him home while I go to the hospital.”

  “Can you wake him?” I asked. “Otherwise, leaving here is going to be difficult.”

  He slapped his hand against A
drian’s cheek in three sharp taps. Adrian groaned, his eyes blinking rapidly. He tried to sit up but ended up laying back again with his hand covering his eyes. Marge leaned back and glanced down the hallway with narrowed eyes.

  “We need to move,” she said. “Several of those demons escaped.”

  “Hopefully they’ll occupy the guards.” I moved to stand over Adrian. “Can you walk?”

  He sat up slowly. “I will manage.”

  “I’ll help him,” Lucy said. “Give him a shoulder to lean on.”

  “Fine.” I looked to Tres. “How about you?”

  He gave me a faint smile. “I can walk.”

  “Marge, lead the way. I’ll take the rear,” I said.

  We crept through the hall, wary of demons and vampires. Shadows flickered and growls echoed from one end of the hall. The door to the stairwell hung open with the handle and lock a busted mess. Marge pulled it open and leaned over, peering inside. She waved her hand forward and headed down the stairs. She stopped at the bottom and turned the handle. Nothing happened.

  “Move,” Adrian said.

  Marge stepped aside. Adrian’s hand dropped halfway through his wave, and the metal on the door began to disintegrate. What was left of the handle popped off under the force of Marge’s foot. The overhead lights flashed red as we sprinted through the garage. Marge shot her grapple and climbed over the wall. A few moments later, the gate opened. The guard still lay unconscious at his post. We didn’t stop running until we reached the van three blocks away. Lucy snatched the keys from Adrian, prodded us into the seats, and then took off. The tires screeched as she turned the corner. I grabbed the armrest to keep from sliding into Marge.

  A cacophony of voices filled my head, followed by Esais. “What has happened to my brothers?”

  I squeezed my eyes shut and rubbed my temple. “They’re all right. We’re headed to the hospital.”

  I mentally replayed what had happened at the facility.

  “Which hospital?”

  “Lucy, where are we going?” I asked.

  “New York Methodist Hospital,” she said.

  “I’ll meet you there.” Esais said, and the song stopped assaulting my brain, leaving only dull throb behind.

  Lucy took another sharp turn and ran through two red lights. “Almost there.”

  “Try not to get pulled over.” I rubbed my head again.

  Lucy pulled into the parking lot of the hospital, and the tires screeched as she stopped in front of the Emergency entrance. “You help Tres. I’ll take Adrian home.”

  I slid the door open and hopped out. I opened the front passenger door and helped Tres out. Marge squeezed past the gear shift and claimed Tres’s vacated seat. She stared up at the four story square building with a bored look on her face.

  “I’m with Lucy,” Marge said. “No point in me waiting here.”

  “Thanks for the help,” I muttered.

  She looked at the three of us with a smirk.

  “You got this. Besides, I’m sure Esais will rush to his brother’s side as soon as he finds out.” She looked into the parking lot at the two approaching figures. “Oh look, here he comes now.”

  Lucy sped away with a squeal of tires, and I turned to face the music with a deep sigh.

  Esais raced toward us with Viktor in tow. His mouth tightened into a thin line, and he swallowed hard as he looked over Tres. “I’m sorry.”

  Tres laughed a hoarse laugh. “The world’s not ending. We just need to get patched up.”

  Esais gave him a strained smile. “Let’s get you checked in.”

  Esais took Adrian’s arm and guided him through the doors. Tres followed behind, rubbing his wrist. Viktor watched them go and let out a long sigh. I paused and turned his direction.

  “Are you coming?” I asked.

  He gave me a fleeting smile before he crossed his arms and looked down at the sidewalk. “Not really sure if I belong here.”

  “I know it feels strange, but I think Esais would want you there.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe, but do the other two? I mean, you have to admit that Adrian hasn’t exactly welcomed me with open arms.”

  “That is his issue. He’s like that with everyone,” I said. “And he’s not even here now.”

  He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I just don’t want to come between them. They’re really lucky to have each other.”

  “You don’t have any family?” I asked.

  He gave a bitter laugh. “None I want to call family.”

  “That bad?”

  “I was a freak to them. A blasphemy.” He shook his head. “Ironic, really.”

  I blinked. “Why ironic?”

  He cleared his throat. “Nothing. Nevermind. Thanks for listening, Sweetheart, but I’m freezing. I’m going to try and find some coffee.”

  I chuckled and stepped up so the door opened. “Well, if you want to talk any more, just let me know.”

  Esais sat in one of the black plastic chairs along the wall. I wrinkled my nose at the stench of old blood under the astringent sanitizer. I sat down next to him and crossed my ankles. He stared at the floor with his fingers laced together on his knees.

  “Did Viktor leave?” Esais didn’t look up.

  “He’s getting coffee.”

  Esais ran both hands down his face. “This is my fault.”

  “They’re hunters. They’re going to get hurt.”

  “I should have been there.” He gave a harsh laugh. “I thought I could have a private life. Obviously, I’m not meant to.”

  I reached over and touched his arm. “They’re not children. You don’t need to hold their hand through everything.”

  “When I don’t, this happens.”

  I leveled my gaze to his. “Don’t you dare guilt yourself into giving up what little happiness you have. Both Adrian and Tres are fine. You can’t be with them all the time.”

  He opened his mouth to speak when Tres opened the door near the nurse’s window. His hand was covered in a white cast, leaving only the fingers free. I blinked. That had been fast. I glanced at Esais.

  “Did you push him ahead of others?” I asked.

  “I had to do something,” he said. “He didn’t take the place of anyone in danger.”

  “Good to know,” I said.

  He met them halfway across the room. “So?”

  “Broken, what else?” Tres shrugged. “It will take some time to heal. Looks like I’m out of commission for a while.”

  “Will you be able to do anything for Adrian?” I asked.

  “Not at the moment.” Tres snorted. “He’s got a concussion. He needs to be watched over for the next couple of days. I’m sure he’ll back to his irritable self by tomorrow. ”

  Esais nodded and gave a faint smile. “I guess I’ll be spending some quality time with him then.”

  “Just don’t change his music,” I said.

  Esais stared down the hall. “All right. Let’s get out of here.”

  “What about Viktor?” I asked.

  He cleared his throat and looked to the ground. “He’s going home. It’s just going to be us for now.”

  I stared at him, but he wouldn’t meet my gaze. I threw my hands up and followed them out to the van. It was no surprise Viktor felt alienated. This wasn’t helping. However, all I could do was offer the advice. I had too many crises to play matchmaker.

  Chapter 31

  THE NEXT DAY, I sat with my feet propped up on a desk in the office Jonah had commandeered. He leaned forward and peered at his tiny handwriting in his leather bound journal while he held a small vial in one hand. White foam fizzed at the top of it, like a shaken carbonated beverage.

  “Have you found anything?”

  “A few things,” he said.

  I sat up a little straighter. “Well?”

  “I will explain everything to everyone once.” He pressed his lips together in a thin line. “That way I will be less suspected of anything.”

  I si
ghed and sat back. “You’re still upset.”

  “You thought me capable of causing this.”

  “What do you expect? You aren’t exactly on the straight and narrow like the brothers believe.” I wave a hand at the various vials and jars of ingredients on the edge of his desk. “You use vampire blood. Who knows if you would decide that Brimstone could have some useful application?”

  His hand gripped the desk tightly. “The vampire blood is so I can continue with my oath. I have no legacy. Lucy is . . .”

  “I know,” I said. “But it was questionable.”

  “Even if I did, I’d never let it spread to such a degree that it has.”

  “I apologize.” I crossed my arms a leaned back. “However, you haven’t been exactly truthful to everyone. Do you ever plan on telling them?”

  He picked up a pen and wrote in neat strokes. “Now does not seem like the time.”

  “I know you were able to keep things secret by avoiding seeing them often, but you can’t hide forever. They’ve probably already noticed, especially Esais.”

  “I will consider it once this crisis has been taken care of.” His phone buzzed and he put it to his ear. “You’ve returned? Good.”

  He hung up and looked at me. “Lucy has brought dinner. Could you gather the others so we can speak downstairs?”

  “Marge isn’t here,” I said.

  “Someone else can update her later.”

  I climbed to the third floor. Adrian sat at his desk with his head wrapped in a white bandage. He glanced up from typing at his laptop and nodded to me. I froze as my heart fluttered. What was this? I shoved my hands in my pockets and leaned against the doorframe.

  “How’s your head?” My voice sound hoarse.

  “It would be better if people stopped asking me,” he said.

  “Sorry,” I said. “Esais been bothering you all night?”

  “He hovered some. He finally fell asleep a few hours ago.”