Dark Descent (Vampire Hunter Book 5)

by S. C. Reynolds

  “When do you want me to do it?” I asked.

  Nicholas looked at Lucas. “I guess after we meet with Magnus,” Lucas said, throwing his hands up in resignation. “I’ll be outside when you go,” he added. “And keep your phone right where you can get to it, in case he tries something.”

  “I’ll be fine,” I said, sounding a lot more confident than I felt.

  “I’m coming, too,” Henry announced.

  Lucas shook his head. “I don’t want you anywhere near Tobias. He’s too dangerous.”

  Henry opened his mouth to argue but seemed to reconsider. Maybe he’s finally starting to trust Lucas.

  “My turn,” Emmett said. “I’ve been doing research. As you can see, it took several days to find it. But here it is. The spell that will close the gates – permanently.” Emmett pulled a folded up sheet of paper out of his jacket pocket and handed it to Henry.

  As soon as Henry unfolded the paper, I could see that it was actually multiple pages, not just one.

  “I can’t read it, but I know that’s the spell you need,” Emmett added.

  “How did you find it?” Nicholas asked while Henry scanned the pages.

  “It wasn’t easy,” Emmett replied. “There were lots of references online to the spell, but no one seemed to know where there was a copy. And, just like you said, everyone talking about the spell claims there is nobody capable of closing the gates, even if they were to get their hands on it.”

  “Wait.” Henry looked up from the papers. “Are you telling me that I’m the only one who can do this?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Emmett replied.

  I hadn’t wanted to divulge that part to Henry, had intentionally not told him, but now the cat was out of the bag. What does it really matter? Henry deserves to understand his role in this.

  Henry let out a low whistle. “No pressure, right?” he said with a strained laugh.

  “So where did you finally get the spell from, Emmett?” I asked, trying to steer away from the subject of Henry being the most powerful warlock in the world.

  “After hours of looking, I found an email address of a guy claiming that he had the spell. I contacted him, thinking it would be another dead end. The man – he called himself Z – insisted that we speak on a secure line, so I called him. He wanted to know my name – I was hesitant at first, but then he told me that there was only one person he was authorized to give the spell to,” Emmett said.

  “Authorized?” Nicholas raised his eyebrows. “Who the hell is this guy?”

  “I thought it was odd, too. But my gut told me to give him my name. He said that I was the one who was supposed to have the spell. That I would know what to do with it,” Emmett continued.

  “And you have no idea who Z is?” I asked.

  “He wouldn’t say. He had the spell delivered overnight to me. Said it was too dangerous to email it.” Emmett paused. “I think it’s the real deal.”

  “What does the spell say?” I asked Henry, who had been reading it the entire time Emmett was speaking.

  “There’s tons of things I need to get,” he said. “This spell, it’s worse than the most complex ones in my book. Not surprising, after what Emmett just told us. But still…”

  “Is it doable?” Lucas asked.

  “I don’t know. Some of this stuff I can buy from the dude who sold me the book, but then there’s other items I can’t even identify. For example, it says here that I need fur from the hellhound that guards the head vampire. What does that even mean?” Henry asked.

  Nicholas and Lucas looked at each other. “It means we’re playing with fire,” Lucas said.

  “You don’t want to fuck with the head vampire,” Nicholas added.

  “What is the head vampire?” I asked.

  “There’s a hierarchy amongst vampires, kind of like the one the demons have in Hell,” Nicholas explained. “Lucas and I, we’re not exactly part of it. The fact that we hunt – and kill vampires when needed – makes us outcasts. They think we’re traitors.”

  “But you only hunt bad things, right?” Henry questioned.

  “Yes, but that doesn’t matter to the vampires,” Lucas said. “To them, it’s a numbers game. It’s illegal to turn a human, so if we kill a vampire, we’re essentially eliminating one more member of the race; they think we’re supporting eventual extinction.”

  “Although, like all rules, there are exceptions,” Nicholas added. “If a vampire is killed, anyone can petition the head vampire to investigate the case. He – or she – works with the hunting agencies, our bosses, and determines if the vampire was wrongfully killed. If so, the vampires are allowed to turn a human – to replace the vampire that was staked.”

  “That’s awful!” I exclaimed. “Does the human get a say in the matter?”

  “Nope,” Nicholas replied. “In order to keep things ‘fair’ they have a lottery system. Only humans between the ages of sixteen and thirty-five are considered. They want the vampire race to be physically young and strong.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me this?” I asked Lucas. In all of the talks we’d had about vampires, about Lucas’ past, he had never once mentioned that there was a head vampire.

  “I didn’t think it was important,” Lucas replied. “There’s politics everywhere. I just try to stay out of it, to do my own thing.” He turned to Nicholas. “The last head vampire I heard about was Jet. Is he still it?”

  “Yes, according to my latest copy of Vampire Weekly,” Nicholas said. We all laughed at his joke.

  “Jet?” I asked. “That doesn’t sound like a vampire. That sounds like some surfer boy trying to catch the next wave.”

  “Jet’s been around a long time,” Lucas said, his face serious. “Even longer than Nic and me. He may have a goofy name, but don’t let it fool you.”

  “What about the dog that guards him?” Henry asked.

  “Oh, yeah,” Nicholas replied. “Like Lucas said, we aren’t exactly heralded as role models in the vampire community, so I don’t have all of the details. But I can tell you that, years ago – it was during my lifetime – the vampires managed to get their hands on a hellhound. They live in Hell, but come to earth for various reasons. Usually because someone sold their soul and it’s time to collect.”

  “Like Senara was doing?” I said.

  “Right, they would take the soul back to the fairy or demon who brokered the deal,” Lucas answered.

  “The vampire who stole a hellhound bit the dog, tried to turn him, to make him a loyal vampire mutt,” Nicholas explained. “It didn’t quite work as planned – the dog wasn’t turned – but it still got them what they ultimately wanted: vampire’s best friend. He sits outside the head vampire’s residence, ready to attack anything that threatens his master.”

  “How in the world are we going to get his fur?” I asked. “It’s a suicide mission.”

  “Maybe not,” Nicholas said. He glanced at Lucas. “Hear me out, bro. Aurora killed those douchebag twins. She can take on a hellhound. Besides, all she’ll have to do is pull some fur off his coat. Maybe he won’t even notice? She won’t really have to fight him. Just move fast enough to avoid his attacks.”

  Before Lucas could protest, I said, “Since we’re all sharing, I need you guys to know what happened on Monday. Nicholas is right; my power is here. I just have to learn how to control it.” I told them what I had done to Benji, not omitting any details, even the one about me almost killing him.

  “Why didn’t you tell me about this?” Lucas threw my question back in my face.

  “I said I’ve been doing damage control,” I retorted defensively. “Between school and making sure my family believes I wish I could spend every waking moment with them, I’m exhausted.”

  Lucas sighed.

  “You’re going to have to get used to the fact that in order for us to live through this, I’ll have to take some risks,” I said gently. My comment was directed at both Lucas and Henry. Only Nicholas and Emmett seemed to
get it. But they don’t have romantic feelings for you.

  “Great,” Henry said sarcastically. “So you’re going to see both Magnus and Tobias, and then after that stop by the head vampire’s lair to pull some hair off his dog?”

  “Aurora can do this,” Emmett said. We all turned to look at him. “She’s stronger than you give her credit for – stronger than you can understand.”

  “This sucks,” Henry muttered.

  “I agree,” I said. “But how many times do I have to prove myself? Where is Jet, anyway?” I asked Lucas and Nicholas.

  “I’ll find out,” Nicholas said. He turned to Henry. “Meanwhile, if you can translate all of these kooky ingredients into English, we can go over the list and I’ll help you get the rest of them.

  Henry smiled. “Thanks, man.”

  “I have to go home before we meet Magnus,” I said, standing up.

  “Why?” Nicholas asked. “You getting all dressed up for the former King of Hell? Sorry, bad joke,” he quickly added.

  I laughed. “We need you here for comic relief, Nicholas. I never get tired of your jokes, no matter how bad. Actually, I just have to check in with my mom and dad. Make sure they’re cool with me going out tonight.”

  “Let’s go then,” Henry said, also standing up.

  “Yeah,” Emmett commented, “time for me to go, too.”

  Nicholas and Lucas got up from their seats on the floor. “By the way,” Nicholas said to Henry, “I’m happy you’re still here. You survived a vamp bite. Impressive shit.” He slapped Henry on the back.

  “Thanks, Nicholas. But I wouldn’t have lived without these two,” Henry said, motioning towards Lucas and me.

  “Bye,” I called over my shoulder as we left. “I’ll be waiting for you outside to go see Magnus,” I told Lucas. My eyes locked with his for a brief moment and his face broke into a smile. Lucas’ beautiful face. So heavy with worry. I forced myself to turn away and follow Henry to the car.

  Chapter 17

  After Henry dropped me off, I headed to my room, my mind spinning about what I would say tonight. Lucas would run interference with Magnus, but it was down to me to say and do the right thing when I saw Tobias. I had acted blasé about it, but I was terrified.

  My parents were surprisingly agreeable about me going out on a school night. “It’s close to the weekend,” Dad had said. “And Aurora, we can see how much you’re trying to be open with your mother and me. It speaks volumes.”

  So there I stood, waiting for Lucas outside my house. I had changed into black jeans and a red tank top and pulled my frizzy hair into a tight bun. I was trying to look professional, confident.

  “You look great,” Lucas said when I got into his car.

  “Thanks,” I replied. “I wanted to look businessy.”

  He smiled. “I’ve never worked in an office but I’m fairly sure jeans and a tank top isn’t the typical attire.”

  “Do you think this will take long? I have a couple of hours at least; I told my parents I was going to a movie,” I said.

  “With me?” Lucas asked.

  “No, with my imaginary friend Kelly.”

  Lucas glanced at me. “Long story,” I said. “It was part of one of my many lies to my parents.”

  “Morally opposed to lying?” Lucas questioned. “Sometimes, it’s necessary.”

  “I’m not opposed to it…it’s just different. Before, I didn’t have a reason to lie to them. Now, they know next to nothing about my life, and I’m afraid I’ll start getting all of my fabricated stories confused,” I replied.

  “Lucas, can I ask you a question?” I turned to look at him.

  “Of course.”

  “I know you had parents, a family once. Did you stay in touch with them after you became a vampire? Did they know what you were? And what was it like when everyone you cared about died?”

  “Woah, I think that qualifies as more than ‘a question,’” Lucas said, laughing.

  “I’ve just been thinking a lot lately. Here I am, not even appreciating this time with my parents, my sister, and it’s not going to last forever. They’ll all die while I live on.”

  “I didn’t have the type of parents who would have understood what I had become,” Lucas said. “And I couldn’t stay home, not around my family, not around the blood.” Lucas paused.

  “Once you were turned, you never saw them again? Did you have any siblings?” I asked.

  “I had a younger brother and an older sister. My sister, Margaret, died when I was eight years old and she was twelve. They didn’t know what it was at the time, but she probably died from pneumonia. After Nicholas turned me, we left our hometown. I felt bad about it, especially leaving my little brother, Michael; he looked up to me,” Lucas said.

  “Why didn’t you turn him?” I asked.

  “I thought about it,” Lucas admitted. “But he was just too young, and my parents had already lost two children. I sent letters to Michael in the mail every few months at first, letting him know that I was okay but that I couldn’t come home. I didn’t tell him why.”

  “Eventually I stopped writing Michael, but I still kept track of him. He grew up, got married and had a kid. He lived a good, fulfilling life,” Lucas continued. “My father died shortly after I left, but my mother lived into her 70s, which was unusual for that time. When I found out that she was on her deathbed, I went to see her.”

  “What happened? Did she recognize you?”

  “Yes, she whispered my name before she died. Although I’m not sure if she knew that I was real and not a hallucination.”

  “I won’t be able to stay here forever,” I said sadly. “Even though my parents know the truth, there are only so many years I can get older in age but look the same.”

  “You will have decisions to make,” Lucas agreed. “But you’ll get through them. Whether you were mortal or not, your parents were going to die before you. Well, most likely,” he amended. “If you forget the fact that Leon killed you.”

  We turned onto Magnus’ street and parked in front of his house.

  “I’ll do the talking,” Lucas instructed. “You just sit there and look pretty,” he joked.

  I laughed nervously. “What if he asks me about my demon killing powers?”

  “Say what you said last time. That you can do it.”

  Magnus answered the door a moment after Lucas rang the bell. He smiled. “How nice to see you again, Aurora. And you, as well, Lucas,” he said politely. “We’ll talk in my study again.” We stepped into the house. “Please, after you,” Magnus said, motioning towards the study.

  “No,” Lucas replied. “After you.”

  Magnus laughed. “Have it your way,” he said, opening the study door and walking inside. “Think I have a trap set for you? I do not.”

  Lucas and I didn’t say anything. We sat down on the couch, in the same spots we were in last time.

  “Care for a drink?” Like before, Magnus stood by the cart containing bottles of liquor and poured himself a drink.

  “Look, can we cut to the chase and dispense with all the small talk?” Lucas asked.

  “Ah, that’s right, Aurora here can’t drink, and you only have a taste for the red stuff.” Magnus sat down in his chair across from us and lit a cigarette. “I could get used to this lifestyle,” he commented. “Although I wouldn’t care for the tediousness of everyday human life. A job, listening to coworkers prattle on about their boring lives and being forced to feign interest. No, it’s nice to vacation on earth once in a while, but I belong in Hell – ruling it.” Magnus paused. “Which brings us to the reason you two are here, I presume?”

  “Yes, Aurora will double cross Tobias, let you push him into Hell,” Lucas said.

  “And kill Leon?” Magnus questioned.

  “That, too. But there’s a condition.”

  “I’m not sure you’re in much of a position to be making demands, but please, do go on,” Magnus said.

  “This person you’re possessing
– let him go. You can visit the morgue and pick out a new meat suit there. I’m sure there are plenty of models to choose from,” Lucas said sarcastically.

  Magnus’ eyebrows shot up in surprise. “A vampire with a moral code? Didn’t you used to kill people – innocent people?”

  “We’re not here to talk about my past,” Lucas said. I could tell he was fighting to keep his tone even.

  But Magnus wasn’t ready to drop it. “Or how about all the humans you’ve turned? Poor, unsuspecting people that you decided should become a monster. I don’t see how you can even suggest my possessing this ‘meat suit,’ as you so eloquently put it, is immoral.”

  “Look, Magnus,” Lucas said angrily, “cut to the chase. You get out of the body you’re in and Aurora does what you’ve asked. Otherwise, no deal.”

  “There’s just one little problem with that,” Magnus said. He paused and took a drag off his cigarette. “You see, I don’t like sharing. Having the person constantly trying to take over his body – even though we’re far more powerful than humans – gets annoying. So, when I find a body worthy of possessing, I kill the pesky human first.”

  Lucas sat in stony silence.

  “In fact,” Magnus continued, “I quite like this chap Simon’s body. I may even take it to Hell with me and wear it around there until I tire of it. When I go back as king, of course.” He looked at Lucas. “Any other requests before we talk specifics?”

  “That was the only one,” Lucas growled.

  “So, when should we schedule this? The sooner the better.”

  “I’m going to see Tobias after we leave,” I said. “I’ll tell him that I want to help him, that I can show him my power now. Then, I’ll take him to the gates and you can push him in.”

  Magnus nodded. “Good. I’ll have one of my followers ready to tie up Tobias. He won’t be hard to restrain. Tobias will stay hidden in Hell until Leon is dead and I return as king. Leon will not get one ounce of credit for Tobias being sent to Hell.”

  “Where are the Gates of Hell?” Lucas asked.