The Dresdan Coven Trilogy

by Amber Ella Monroe

  Sure enough, the branding that the District gave all D5 members was there. But this guy’s mark looked distorted, as if someone had taken a knife to the back of his neck at one point or another.

  “Kill him!” Logan said.

  “No, please…” He held up both arms to show that he meant no harm. He slowly turned around and looked directly at Elaina. “I’m just like you. I’m a D5 refugee. I left the District just like you.” He lowered his arms again and reached for the bottom of his jacket. “I—”

  Mark gripped him again about the neck. “Not so fast.”

  “D5 refugee?” Elaina questioned.

  The guy looked back and forth from Elaina to her crew. “I can’t really say…”

  “We won’t hurt you. Tell me. What’s a D5 refugee?”

  The guy pointed to Mark. “But he’s a Dresdan.”

  Mark retracted his fangs, but the guy’s body still trembled under the vampire’s firm hold.

  “Release him,” Elaina said.

  “He’s seen us,” Logan warned. “Why?”

  “I said…release him.”

  Mark let go.

  The guy shifted around nervously. “What about the rest of them?”

  “They’re my friends, whether they’re Dresdan or not,” Elaina said.

  The guy examined them, peering through the darkness with his human eyes, trying to decipher their true nature.

  “Well…” Elaina said.

  “A D5 refugee is a former District employee who wants no involvement with the organization anymore. And those who are wanted dead or alive by the District for rules they have broken. Like you.”

  Elaina swallowed. “I’ve never heard of this. How do you know who I am?”

  “Unless you have a twin that I haven’t been told about, then you must be Elaina. We’ve been looking for you. ”

  “We?”

  “Yes. The Refuge.”

  “How did you find me?”

  “Once a bounty hunter. Always a bounty hunter.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I was employed as a bounty hunter for the District before I left and found Refuge,” he said. “I broke the pledge, but never gave up my profession. It appears the same applies to you…vampire tracker?”

  Elaina gave a short laugh. “If you only knew.”

  “I have a message for you,” the guy said, almost in a whisper. “Here, in my pocket. Can I get it?”

  “Where?” Mark interrogated. “I’ll get it. We want no surprises.”

  The man gestured again, and Mark retrieved a letter and handed it to Elaina.

  “You need to destroy the note once you’ve read it. And if I were you, I’d stay far away from this place.” The guy started to turn.

  “Wait!” she called out. “Did you hear about what happened here?”

  He nodded. “Yes. We came to investigate your houseboat after we caught wind of the incident here. There was a motion sensor programmed into the door, and that’s when D5 trackers showed up.” The guy looked out across the lake. “You should go… Now.”

  Elaina’s heart pounded with hope and curiosity. The messenger wanted to leave when she had so many other questions.

  “I hear an engine about a half mile south of here,” Melrose said. “He’s right. We need to go.”

  “By the way, Elaina, the note is from your dad. He wants to see you without hindrances.” His gaze floated over Elaina’s crew. “And the note is for your eyes only.”

  She gasped. “How do I know this isn’t a trap?”

  “You won’t know. You’ll just have to take a chance.”

  After that declaration, he took off. Slowly at first, but then his jogging became a sprint as he raced in the direction of the trees.

  Elaina gripped the letter in her hands, but before she could unfold it to uncover the message, Vicq enveloped her in his arms and shifted her away.

  Chapter 6

  Elaina and Vicq, along with the other members of the night’s crew landed in a small gathering room inside the sanctuary. She was still gripping the note in her hand, but had yet to unfold it. She was excited yet apprehensive about what could be inside. After all these years, what would her parents have to say to her? Would her dad hate her for making the decisions she had? Would they tell her what they knew of D5?

  Melrose patted her shoulder. “You okay?”

  “Yeah,” Elaina said, quietly. “Thanks for coming out with me.” She glanced up and looked out across the room. “All of you.”

  She took a seat in a nearby chair and sighed deeply. “I just need some time to think.”

  “All right, you three. Let’s give her some privacy,” Vicq said. He must have sensed her anguish and knew just what she needed before she’d even asked.

  Everyone began to move out.

  Everyone but Logan, who protested. “Don’t you think we should see the le—” Logan cut his speech off abruptly enough to cause Elaina to glance up.

  She saw the look of disapproval that Vicq threw Logan’s way just before he released a sigh of defiance and fled from the room.

  Vicq’s hand was on the doorknob, and he was ready to leave too until Elaina stopped him.

  “I want you to stay,” she said.

  “Sure.”

  He took a seat in the chair next to her just as she unfolded the letter.

  “Hey, LadyBug. Yes, it’s me, your dad. It’s getting late. Time for you to come home. :) Meet me at the old abandoned post office building on the corner of Anahurst and Fletcher at 07:00 sharp tomorrow. Come alone. Ask for Glory. She’ll bring you to me. Take care.”

  Elaina’s hands trembled as she passed the note to Vicq to read.

  “Is it really your dad?” he asked.

  “LadyBug is the nickname he gave me. He’s the only one who called me that.”

  “But you don’t look happy.”

  “I don’t know what to believe.” Elaina frowned. “And there’s a slight problem. A big problem actually.”

  Vicq looked on in confusion.

  “7 AM. The sunlight isn’t my friend, remember?”

  Vicq’s shoulders hunched. “You’re right. Newly created Dresdan take years to withstand even the tiniest bit of sunlight. Especially the first rays of the morning.”

  “My dad has no idea that I’ve changed or he wouldn’t have called for me like this. I can’t do this. I can’t go.”

  “Elaina…”

  “I shouldn’t have gone back in the first place. Maybe it’s best if he thinks I’m dead.”

  “That’s not an option anymore. The bounty hunter has confirmation that you’re alive. We can send a messenger out to him instead.”

  “He’s not going to trust someone sent in my place,” she said.

  “No, but we can bring him here.”

  “Would he come?”

  “You know your dad better than I,” Vicq replied. “What would it take to get him in a safer location for you?”

  Elaina laughed. “You want to convince him that a group of vampires will take him to his daughter?” She shook her head. “He’ll shoot on sight.”

  “Even now?” Vicq frowned. “Times have changed, Elaina. Even the guy back at the dock said it. Former members of that dirty organization have joined Refuge. He seemed skeptical of us, but I could tell he wasn’t sent to harm anyone intentionally, not even a vampire.”

  “He doesn’t have to know that I’m vampire. I just have to master suppressing my nature. Right?”

  Vicq shook his head. “You’ve mastered suppressing yourself well, even under the most trying circumstances. But I have a bad feeling about this.”

  “There must be a way for me to go…”

  Vicq’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. “There is…you’re strong, but not strong enough to withstand sunlight for more than a few minutes. You’d have to take blood. Human blood. And a lot of it. Whatever you consume will tide you over for a few hours to meet with your father, but you’ll need to reserve most of that strength
to shift back or seek a dark haven close by. I don’t know if there’s enough time to convince him about what happened to you and why the organization is after you and get you to a protected area.”

  She swallowed. “Lots of blood, you said?”

  “Sí. Pints of it. One human after another. And that’s only because if you take any more than a few pints, you’ll kill them.”

  “Isn’t that the way of the rogues? Feed to kill?”

  Vicq nodded. “They kill innocents mostly. The blood plus the number of kills makes them stronger. But what separates a rogue from a fledgling only seeking to ascend within the Court is restraint. Rogues continue to murder without regard for human life, but Dresdan-kind are more respectful. We honor the code and only take what’s necessary.”

  “So between now and 7 AM, I’d have to feed.” Elaina had never fed on anyone other than Vicq. She’d never needed to. He was always there when she needed him the most. Vicq had the powers of an ancient running through him, and his blood sustained her well.

  “The odds of you feeding off humans—which is something you’ve never done—are slim to none. I see the hesitation in you already.”

  “But you and I both knew that there would come a time when I’d have to take from someone other than you,” she said.

  “In desperate times…”

  “I am desperate. And just like you, I have a hunch that this will help us understand some things about the way the District operates. I have missing links and lost pieces to the puzzles because I never got involved in every aspect of the organization. It sounds like these guys from Refuge can aid in solving this.”

  Vicq leaned against the table. “Then we can’t let this opportunity pass us by. I’ll go and convince your father to meet you after dark.”

  Elaina reached for his arm. “If you meet him without me, he’ll suspect something is wrong. He’ll suspect the worst.”

  “Then I’ll go there prepared. Two hours of hunting and feeding should give me what I need to travel and get through to him. I’ve walked in sunlight. Heck, I was forced to bear it for days, remember? I’ll do it again if that’s what it takes.”

  “You don’t have to do this.”

  “Even if you feed tonight like I suggested, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be ready.”

  Elaina stood. “Look, I’ll just destroy the note and then try to get word to him some other way. Maybe through a messenger.”

  “But do you really want someone else involved in this?” he questioned.

  She shook her head.

  Vicq reached for her forearm and pulled her close. “And how much time do you think you have to play with while your daddy risks himself by tracking you down? Gunfire was exchanged during that shootout. You saw the blood evidence.”

  “You’re right. I get the feeling that the hours are ticking away here. Why, after all this time, are my parents trying to contact me?”

  “After uncovering the suspicious check stubs in their home, the shootout, and talks of Refuge, I’m going with my gut feeling… There’s a missing link and we might have just found it.”

  “I think you’re right.”

  Chapter 7

  The city’s underbelly came alive after midnight. But this area had always been a place where America’s most wanted men and women could escape detection by blending in. Stretching across some five blocks, this turf was a hotspot for criminals, low-lifes, and night-loving vampires—like him. Word on the street was that a criminal mastermind oversaw the territory. Even the cops steered clear of the area, which told Vicq that whoever had laid claim to the domain had an in with the authorities. And criminals did whatever the hell they wanted here, freely. But the discovery of shady human government operations had never surprised Vicq in the past, nor did it today. During his days of serving Zaket and the Dresdan Court, he’d frequented this spot often to feed. A nightclub or secluded bar would have been a riskier choice, but here in the underbelly, it was easier to find a not-so-innocent target.

  Dozens of warm bodies. All in one place. It was the reason why most vampires preferred the city. It was also the reason Vicq’s coven had chosen the mountains as their sanctuary. The chance of another vampire encroaching on their territory in search of food was slim to none. A chance of discovery still existed, but those chances were lowered by living in less populated metropolitan areas and mountainous regions.

  Vicq couldn’t even recall the last time he’d taken blood other than Elaina’s. He hadn’t had the need or any urgent cravings for it since he’d gotten Elaina back. It was a good thing he was as old as he was. Newly created vampires needed excess amounts of human blood to sustain themselves. Either that, or they needed to drink from the veins of an ancient vampire—like him. Vicq may not have his official Superior rank, but he still possessed Superior strength. He’d left the Court with hundreds of blood kills under his belt.

  Vicq pulled his black hoodie over his head and folded in with the crowd. Loud music blasted from every car parked in the lot. The gang members were loud and boisterous. Drugs were being traded and used without care. The women were flirty and looked dazed. It was a vampire’s paradise. He hoped he didn’t run into any hungry rogues tonight. He was here to feed, not kill.

  Vicq slowed his pace as he witnessed a guy arguing with a woman. He honed in on their conversation and realized that the man was reprimanding the woman for not charging a customer enough money.

  “Where’s the rest of it?” the male hissed at the woman.

  “I’m sorry…” She sobbed. “This is what I collected. Please…”

  The guy struck her across the face so hard that Vicq heard the impact from across the parking lot. Trying his best not to use his supernatural speed, Vicq rushed toward the couple.

  He placed himself between the jerk and the female, who appeared to be high as a kite on drugs.

  “Excuse me. Was that necessary?” Vicq asked.

  The guy’s lips thinned and he sized Vicq up. He took two steps back after his assessment and said, “Why do you care? She’s available. Are you buying?”

  Vicq glanced at the blunt that the guy held between his fingers, but then his attention quickly shifted to the veins on his upturned wrist. Even in the dark, his vampire eyes witnessed the slight throb of the thickest vein. Farther up on his arm was a gang-related tattoo that resembled the ink on the first man Vicq had nearly drained.

  “Are you policing, man?” the guy asked when Vicq didn’t respond.

  “No, but I am shopping.”

  The guy grinned. “What do you need? I’ve got plenty of merchandise back in my van.”

  Knowing what he came for, Vicq let his fangs drop slightly below the gum line but was careful enough to keep this display of hunger hidden behind his lips.

  “Hey.” The guy frowned and dipped his head a bit to try to assess Vicq from under his black hoodie. “Do I know you from somewhere?”

  “No.”

  “You sure? You don’t go to that college up the street, do you?”

  “I’m not from around here. But back to your merchandise…”

  “Come on. I’ll show you the good stuff.” The guy motioned for him to follow.

  Another muscular guy who Vicq presumed to be the drug dealer’s bodyguard followed them.

  Vicq was led to a less populated area to the right of the parking lot. The guy opened the back doors of a white van, revealing several suitcases inside. He lifted the top of one.

  “Pick your pleasure,” he said, waving his arm across his supply, naming a few of the drugs.

  “Looks good, but I need something to hold me over for a day or so. What have you got in the back?”

  “Top line merchandise will cost you more.”

  Vicq produced a wad of cash. “I’m not here to waste time.”

  “Well…if you’ve got the cash, I’ve got the product.”

  While the guy was lifting himself up into the cargo area, Vicq turned quickly and knocked the bodyguard out. Before his body hit t
he pavement, Vicq had already shifted himself into the van, immobilized his prey, and sunk his fangs into his neck. He fed until the drug dealer was nearly drained. Just before the guy passed out, Vicq washed some of his most recent memories away. After he was done, he dragged the bodyguard into the back and repeated the process. Just before leaving, Vicq dropped several hundred dollar bills next to his victims and left.

  He returned to the area where he’d met the drug dealer, only to find the woman the man had abused still waiting in the same spot like a lost puppy. When she spotted him, her eyes widened, and Vicq could see the red of his irises reflected in her gaze. Her mouth widened, but before she could scream, Vicq whisked her away to a dark alley several yards from the parking area.

  “Don’t scream.”

  Her eyes widened with fright, and her body trembled in his hold. There was nothing like morbid fear to kill someone’s high, but this woman needed to do more than come down from her trip. She needed rehab. Vicq could already smell the mix of drugs in the sweat on her skin.

  Her lips tried to part under his gloved hand.

  “Don’t…” he warned again. “I want to help you. I’m going to lift my hand.”

  She nodded her head.

  Vicq slowly removed his palm and swung her around to face him.

  Her lips trembled. “Y-you’re a v-vampire.”

  Vicq did nothing to hide his partially dropped fangs; instead he said, “I think you’re seeing things. What’s your name?”

  “Kassidy,” she whispered. “I’m not as high as I look.”

  “What’s your story, then?”

  She brought both arms up and rubbed them. He could see right through the layer of makeup on her face that she’d used to cover up the bruises.

  “I’m broke,” she said.

  “Aren’t we all a little battered and broken?”

  She palmed the bruise on her left cheek. “I guess.”

  “I read your pimp daddy’s memories, and I want to help you move on.”

  She pursed her lips and shook her head. “I don’t understand.”