Wulf's Redemption (Borne Vampires Book 3)

by W. M. Petzler

  With no way to decline without raising suspicions, Alex offered his arm to her. “Shall we?”

  Slinging her backpack over her shoulder, she accepted his arm. “Let’s.” They left their room and one of the bodyguards closed the door for them. As they walked down the hallway, she asked, “Mr. Sper, has Waters sent men to search for Lisle?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Why do you ask?” Sper waited for his bodyguard to push the button to open the elevator and the doors opened.

  Entering the elevator, she said brusquely, “Call your boss and tell him to bring them back. Lisle’s returning to Magdeburg, to the club.”

  Gulping, the man’s composure slipped. “She is returning to Club Vampyre?”

  “Oh, yes, and she’s pissed.”

  ✝✝✝

  Jeremy Waters stared out his office window, gun in hand. His first job as a vampire and the unhinged bitch Angel released was screwing it up!

  In the seven years of serving the Damned as a ghoul, he’d never seen anything the likes of Lisle Breber. Hell, he was praying he’d never meet up with her again. To top it off, the vampire hunters were staging organized attacks on his people. Between them and Lisle, he was losing men.

  His cellphone laid on the glass desk began to vibrate.

  Answering it, he asked, “Is it done?”

  “Yes, sir. We have him in our possession. Cost us a few men though. Strong bastard.”

  “Dammit, it’s not like we had men to spare!”

  “Couldn’t be helped, sir. Took everything we had to subdue him.”

  “The tranquilizers didn’t work?”

  “Took twenty darts to slow him down enough so we could get the chains on him.”

  Eyes widening at the amount to bring him down, Jeremy had to ask, “How many dead?”

  “For us: seven. Them: all dead.”

  “Excellent. Bring him back to the club.”

  “Any sign of Lisle?” the vamp on the end of the line asked, fear in his voice. Hell, it matched his.

  “No, not yet. She’ll be here. That much we can count on it. Return to the club. Keep an eye out for her. I can’t afford to lose any more people.”

  “Have the guys from Berlin arrived yet?”

  “Yes, and they’re dead.”

  “Dead? How, when?”

  “Lisle attacked them when they rose from their sleep.”

  “Shit. Boss, I know you’re under a lot of stress, but we have to kill that freakin’ bitch before she annihilates us all!”

  “We will. I have the perfect bait to bring her in. Hurry and get back here. Our guests have arrived.” Jeremy ended the call.

  The Slayers exited the town car he’d sent for them. Walker was dressed immaculately as usual, Kai dressed casual, except for both were packing guns loaded with silver bullets. She glanced at where he stood and he saw death in her dark blue gaze. Terror threatened to strangle his confidence that he was in control and the Slayers were working for him. Kai held grudges, just like her mother. She’d want revenge for what he’d done to her in England. Want his head for it.

  “Tonight, we tie those pesky loose ends, and I can get back to the plan,” he whispered to himself as he watched the Slayers enter Club Vampyre.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Waved through by armed bouncers, Kai did a check of Club Vampyre. Four armed vamps were at the two exits, two stood guard at the long, glass-topped bar illuminate by hot pink neon lights. Half-naked people grinding to the rhythm of techno-rock, blended with heavy metal, while others walked toward the back of the club, ducking in the small rooms set aside for private parties. Weird part was the humans weren’t concerned; they kept on drinking and dancing.

  Waters was insane to allow people in the club, especially with Lisle on her way there?

  Did he hope the humans would slow her down so they could kill her? What about the local police? How was he planning to explain to the local authorities the bodies after the shooting started and the humans started dying in the crossfire?

  “At least the music is cooler over here in Germany,” she commented, winning a questioning glance from Alex. “What? German metal rocks.”

  Leon Sper flashed her a pleased grin, exposing his white fangs. “From a Slayer, that’s quite a compliment. My goal is to please the clubbers and provide an evening of entertainment they’ll never forget.”

  Or survive.

  “Your design?” Despite her aversion to the Damned and their subterfuge goals, Kai had to admit she liked the neon and black lights, the glowing fog engulfing the dance floor and its dancers.

  “Yes,” Leon replied proudly. “I am in charge of designing our clubs in Germany, Romania, and Greece.”

  “Cool.” To Alex, she remarked, “The Damned is spreading everywhere.”

  “I told you they have better PR than we do.”

  “I got a suggestion on how to draw the Damned to us. Why don’t we start our own clubs?”

  “That’s not a bad idea. We’ll have to discuss it with Faeroes and Anya.”

  Leon pointed up, directing their attention to two levels, open rooms with plexy-glass and steel railing. “We are to meet Mr. Waters in the VIP room, third floor.”

  It wasn’t the third that drew her attention, it was the second floor. Men and women fondled each other, making out, not caring who was watching them. She didn’t need to read them, sickened by the perverse entertainment they enjoyed.

  “Lead on, Mr. Sper,” she forced a bright smile, “Mr. Waters is waiting impatiently for us.”

  The vampire looked like he wanted to ask her how she knew; instead, he inclined his head. “Yes, Miss Jordan. Follow me.”

  To the mirrored elevators Leon led them. Pressing the button with arrow indicating ‘up’, they waited for the doors to open. When it did, a group of meagerly-dressed women walked out, their high heels clicking across the polished black and white tiles. One stopped in front of Alex, her fake breasts ballooning out of the metallic scarf pinned around her in a makeshift bra. The skinny little bitch raked her claw-like, red nails through her long, bleach-blonde hair, her blue eyes sizing him up appreciatively.

  “Sexy beast. Wanna take me home?” the girl rubbed herself suggestively up and down him.

  Jealousy rose up in waves of blinding rage in Kai. Grabbing a fistful of the girl’s hair, she pulled her off Alex. The girl started screaming. Whipping her to face her, she snarled, her fangs longs. “Shout up or I’ll drain you dry!” The girl’s mouth clamped shut. “He’s mine. Understand?”

  “You a vampire, too?”

  “No, I’m in costume. Want to feel how real my fangs are?”

  “No! I’m good.”

  “Get the hell out of here.” She shoved the girl at her friends who caught her. They fled, casting worried glances behind them.

  Alex was grinning at her. Punching him in the bicep, she warned, “Not a word!”

  Rubbing his injured arm, Alex grinned, “Yes, dear.”

  “Slayers, if you would please,” Leon held the elevator open, trying to keep a straight face.

  Stepping into the elevator, Kai maintained an impassive face, expressing no emotions. Alex took position in front of her, protecting her if it were a trap. She placed her hand on his shoulder, he covered it with his and squeezed. With a bump, the elevator halted. They readied for a fight as the doors rumbled open. Jeremy Waters sat on a black vinyl couch positioned across the red velvet room. Thirty vampires guarded him. They were wearing bullet-proof vests, helmets, and battle gear, the whole battle gear, and they were aiming their laser guided machine guns at them.

  “Welcome to Club Vampyre. Ready for war?” Jeremy asked, his attractive features disappearing into the true face of a demon vampire.

  ✝✝✝

  Checking out the red dots centering on his chest, Alex arched an eyebrow at the nervous vampires, “War with us or Lisle?”

  Jeremy rose from the couch. “Gentlemen, relax. We invited the Slayers, remember?” His face returned to human. “Forgiv
e us. We’re a bit jumpy.”

  “Understandable. Lisle has a way of making the strongest of men frightened.”

  The nearest vamp snapped, “We don’t fear her. She’s a traitor and will be executed as one!”

  “Have you met Lisle Breber yet?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Ask your boss what the Wolf of Magdeburg is like. He’s personally seen her in action.”

  The vamp’s confidence slipped a notch when he saw his boss flinch. Attitude changed, he asked, “You know how to bring the bitch down?”

  “Beheading her seems to be the only thing we haven’t tried.”

  “Shit, that means getting close to her.”

  “Yep. Want to volunteer?” Alex asked him with a straight face.

  “Where are your swords?”

  “Didn’t think we’d need them.”

  The vampire cast worried looks with his companions. “You said the only way to put her down was to take off her head. Slayer, why aren’t you ready to do that?”

  “We’re ready, are you?”

  “Renner, the Slayers know how to kill us better than we know how to kill them. Just follow their orders.” Jeremy motioned Alex and Kai to follow him to the rail overlooking the dance floor. “As you can see, we have the manpower to hunt Lisle down. What we couldn’t figure out was what to use as bait to free you and Kai to kill her.”

  “Is that why you opened your doors and let the humans in?” Kai accused, glaring at him.

  “Lisle has to be stopped. My tactics might not set well with you, but I’ve lost two-thirds of my force in two days, and she’s killed the extra men Berlin sent me to stop her. If we don’t stop her, she’ll start making other vampires indiscriminately and will set them loose to feed and destroy out of control. The world will truly be drenched in blood.”

  Alex watched the unsuspecting humans as they danced, fog swirling around them, rising in white waves from the floor to engulf the people. “What do you want from us, Waters?”

  “We wait for Lisle to arrive. When she does, we’ll keep her occupied while you and Kai try to cut off her head. You will have your swords, yes?”

  Kai straightened, asking Waters, “Where are the armed security guards?”

  “If she thinks there isn’t anyone to stop her, she’ll seek us out.”

  “So, you have all your men here, with you?”

  Jeremy nodded. “Yes. I want to draw her into a tight area so we can pin her down.”

  Alex pushed away from the rail and placed his hand on Kai’s back, urging her to the waiting elevator.

  “Where are you going?” Waters demanded.

  “I need a drink. Feel free to watch us from here.” In the elevator, Alex pushed the 1st floor button. The doors closed.

  “A drink?” Kai repeated, bemused by his actions.

  “Yeah, I need a drink. Why?”

  “I just find it odd, that’s all. Waters sure didn’t expect it.”

  “I hate being in a fight with only one way out.”

  “I agree with you there. He does seem to understand what his enemy has in mind though.”

  “No, he doesn’t. He thinks he does, but he doesn’t.”

  “Do you?”

  “No, and that’s why I need a drink,” Alex admitted. “Edgar and Eddie had better be here. We need our swords.”

  The doors of the elevator opened. There, standing in the myriad of flashing lights, his black hair pulled back in a ponytail, the white streak at his right temple brilliant in the black light. Garbed in a black tee-shirt and worn jeans, bicep muscles bulging as he crossed his arms. Sin Dracula grinned at them.

  “What? No welcoming kiss?” Sin teased.

  Kai jumped into Sin’s arms, hugging the surprised vampire. “You got one from me!” she laid a kiss on Sin’s cheek before releasing him to grab a laughing Mina, who stepped up by his side. “You have no idea how glad I am to see you, both!”

  Mina wrapped her arms around her, similarly dressed and armed like Kai. “When we talked, I didn’t think you’d seriously go through working with Waters. What were you thinking, girl?”

  Stepping back, Kai shrugged her shoulders helplessly. “We’d run out of options.”

  “Not anymore,” Sin said with a predatory smirk.

  Alex wanted to hug the big man, too. Extending his hand out to Sin, he said, grinning, “Man, you are a sight for sore eyes.”

  “I’ll bet. Let’s get a drink. You look like you could use one.”

  “Hell, I could use a dozen.”

  At the bar, Alex ordered a bottle of whiskey and four glasses. Mina emptied a table for them, using her power to influence the humans to leave. Sitting down, he poured four shots and set the bottle down.

  Lifting one, he made a toast, “To friends.”

  Sin added with a dark note, “To killing our enemies.”

  They downed the fiery brew and held out their glasses for him to pour another round. After downing the second shot, he asked, “How did you know we were experiencing difficulty here, in Germany?”

  Kai replied, “I reached out to Mina, except she was supposed to stay on Angel’s trail not come here.” She directed to Mina, who merely shrugged.

  “No way in hell was I going to let my best friend be in the same club with Jeremy Waters and his goons. Family sticks together! Besides, what we encountered in London, Lisa is one sick bitch.”

  “I,” Alex said, “am very glad you and Sin are here. The Damned never clean up their messes and to ask us to help is way off track.”

  Leaning forward on his forearms, Sin asked, “Why is this woman after you and killing her own kind?”

  “Sheer luck attracting a psycho.” Sin coughed, trying hard not to laugh. Alex glared at him. “Knock it off. Not like Angel was any better. If memory serves correctly, your ex is trying to rule the world,” he shot back at Sin who nearly choked on a sip of whiskey.

  “Right.” Mina glared at Sin, who straightened in his chair. “Why is Lisa so hard to kill?”

  “Ever hear of the legend, Wolf of Magdeburg?”

  Sin leaned forward. “The Wolf of Magdeburg?”

  “Lisle Breber is her name. Bitch cost me and my family dearly. Apparently, Angel found her tomb and released her. She promised Lisle that she could have me as her reward. Kai said Lisle, which is who you would know as Lisa, went crazy and left Angel’s castle before we got there. She followed us to Magdeburg and is killing the Undead left and right.”

  “And that’s a bad thing?” Sin asked, tilting his head to the side, confused.

  “She recently turned a family,” Kai said grimly, “with young children. She killed fourteen children in 1819 and has threatened to return to her old ways, if Alex doesn’t agree to be hers again.”

  Mina leaned closer to Kai, sniffing her. Kai drew back, frowning at her. “What?”

  Giving her a sly look, she asked, “What have you been up to?”

  Cheeks red, she glared at Mina. “None of your business!”

  Apparently Sin had caught on and instead of harassing him, he appeared concerned. “Lisle’s gonna know, and it will set her off majorly.”

  Kai leaned forward, fearful. “Alex—”

  Taking her hand in his, he pressed a kiss on the back of it. “Kai, I chose you. Together, we can put Lisle to rest.”

  “Finally, you, two, have admitted you loved each other! Wonderful,” Mina crowed, grinning from ear to ear.

  Spatter of machine gun fire sent the humans screaming and running for the doors. Sin and Mina’s swords appeared, the illusion of being hidden removed. They drew them, prepared to fight as she and Alex pulled their guns out, aiming at the third floor. A vamp flew over the railing, hit the dance floor in a broken heap of broken bones and green blood, his head nearly ripped from his body.

  An ear-piercing howl broke over the loud music, breaking windows in its ferocity.

  “Dammit, Lisle’s already here!” Alex shouted, checking on Kai, who looked shaken. “Kai?”


  “I didn’t even feel her presence!”

  “Don’t stress over it,” Mina said to Kai. “She learned a few tricks from Angel.”

  Another howl interrupted them, followed by men shouting, more machine gun fire. Body parts flew over the railing, splatting everywhere. They jumped back to a safer distance as blackish-green blood erupted, coloring the fog. Waters jumped over the railing and landed not far from them. He was covered in green blood. His eyes wide and the man looked terrified.

  “The bitch rode the elevator and walked right in and just started killing my men!” He saw Mina and Sin, his gaze dropped to their swords.

  “What are you doing here? How the hell did you get in my club?” Jeremy shouted, shaking uncontrollably.

  Sin lifted his right shoulder, “Mina and I just walked in. Your bouncers were gone when we arrived.”

  “Son-of-a-bitch. Alex, what do we do?” Jeremy demanded, deciding to ignore the fact he was the one who pulled the security from the entrances.

  A wicked grin exposed Mina’s white fangs as she advanced on him. “We’d like to kill you.”

  Alex moved in front of Waters. “No, Mina. I gave him my word there’d be a truce until Lisle was dead.”

  “You gave your word, I didn’t,” Mina snarled. Sin clamped his hand on her shoulder, forcing her back. “What?”

  “Not yet, honey. Alex gave Waters his word. We must honor the agreement until Lisle Breber is dead.”

  Mollified by what Sin implied, Mina grinned, a wicked one. “Let’s get on with killing Lisle Breber, shall we?”

  From high above, the silver wolf dropped to land in the middle of the dance floor. “Who says I will die?” Lisle rasped out. Dark green blood soaked her muzzle and fur. She walked on two legs, her arms more human-like than wolf, long fingers with razor-sharp claws.

  Waters snapped his fingers and armed men in battle gear rushed out, their guns trained on Lisle. As one, they turned their guns on Kai, Sin, Mina, and him. “Well done, Lisle. We could not have captured them without your assistance.”

  Mina glared at Sin, shaking her head in disgust. Rueful, he shrugged his broad shoulders. “Sorry. Next time we fight your way. Happy?”