Vengeance of the Demons

by Rebekah R. Ganiere

  Tommy raised his hand and waved at the van.

  “What are you doing?” she hissed.

  “Well they’re obviously not slavers or they’d have been on us already. They have to be humans.”

  The logic made sense. The van sat for another minute before rolling forward to the edge of the gas station and stopping. The driver’s side door opened and a burly man stepped out. A thin, haggard-looking woman exited the other side.

  “Howdy,” the man called.

  “Afternoon,” Tommy replied.

  The groups stared at each other until Evan’s hands grew slick with sweat and she had to run them on her pants.

  “Where you headed?” Tommy asked.

  “Not sure,” said the man. “Been traveling so long we don’t right know where to lay our head anymore. How ’bout ya’ll?”

  “We’re headed east,” Tommy said.

  The man shook his head. “Not too good goin’ east. Vampers everywhere that direction.”

  “We’ll try to keep our heads down.”

  “Where you comin’ from?”

  Tommy stayed silent for a minute too long.

  “California,” Evan said. “There’s an enclave out there in Palm Springs. It’s nice. Maybe you should check it out.”

  The man nodded. “Why’d ya leave?”

  “Family dispute.”

  The man chuckled. “Seems silly to even have those nowadays, don’t it? Family’s just about all any of us have left.”

  “Very true,” said Tommy.

  “Well, we best be movin’ on. If we make it to California, we’ll be sure to try and look up your people. Thanks for the tip.”

  Tommy waved and Evan held on to her gun tight as the van backed out onto the road and headed for the highway.

  When the van could no longer be seen or heard, she leaned back on the car. The world really was in the crapper. So much so that even just seeing other humans made them jumpy as rabbits and ready to shoot at the drop of a hat. She wondered if things would ever be civilized again.

  “Come on,” she said. “It’s my turn to drive.”

  “What about the new clothes?” Tommy asked.

  “It can wait. I want to get the hell out of here.”

  Chapter 19

  As Evan drove the car off the 94 to Chicago, she slowed and stared at the horizon.

  “Where are we?” William croaked.

  It was nine PM and he’d done little on their drive besides sleep. His skin no longer even carried the ashy tone. He was so smeared in blood he looked like something out of a horror movie. Only his bright blue eyes shone beneath the mess.

  “We’re coming into Chicago,” she said. “Do you remember how to get to the coven house?”

  “Northeast of the Navy Pier.”

  She headed toward the signs pointing the way to the pier. The closer they got to the city the more anxiety mingled with the hope inside her and caused her to shake.

  For the past day and a half, she’d banked on the fact that if they could make it back to Chicago William would be healed. It was that thought that kept her going. That thought that kept spirits high and focused. But now that they’d made it she was forced to face the fact that there was a very real possibility he wouldn’t be cured.

  She pushed down the gas pedal and followed the signs.

  “Wow! I didn’t realize there was this much destruction in Chicago.” Tommy stared out the windows as they passed the business district.

  “There wasn’t,” said William. “Things must be much worse on the demon front.”

  “Great. We run from a secure front right into the fray.”

  “That’s not helpful, Tommy.” Evan glared at him.

  “Sorry.” He continued to stare out the window.

  She turned north and headed past buildings she recognized and then into a more residential area.

  “Turn right at the next street,” said William.

  Evan followed his instructions. Soon they were in the coven house’s neighborhood.

  “Wow! You live here?” asked Tommy.

  “The coven house is ahead on the left,” said William.

  Evan’s gut clenched tight at the sight of the house. She’d brought William back to save him, but if he died… Not only would she be right back where she’d started, but Tommy would be in the same barred boat. She hadn’t thought of that when she’d let him come along. Now more than ever she wished she’d smashed him over the head and left him behind. Not that living with Pop would have been much better for him.

  “What are we waiting for?” Tommy asked.

  She blew out a breath. “Nothing.”

  She drove to the entrance and stopped. The black wrought iron gates loomed over her. She rolled down her window and pressed the buzzer for the house.

  A male voice crackled on the line. “Coven House.”

  “Hi. It’s Evan. I have William with me.” She tried to keep the quaver out of her voice.

  “We have no time for games. Leave the grounds immediately or we will have to use force,” said the voice.

  “No games. I have William and he needs help. Please tell Danika we are back from California.”

  Silence emanated from the other side of the intercom.

  “I’ll talk to him.” William sat up and coughed violently. Blood gushed from his mouth.

  “William!” Evan turned to face him, but he’d stopped coughing. His eyes bulged out and he started to gag.

  * * * *

  He tried in vain to suck air into his lungs as blood stuck in his throat.

  “You must leave immediately,” said someone over the intercom.

  His gaze connected with Evan’s and she jumped from the car. He coughed and nothing but blood came up. He tried to swallow but his throat was stuck tight.

  Dogs barked in the distance, growing steadily louder. Through the windshield, he spotted the house guards running for the gate. He tried to breathe through his nose but got no more than a swallow full of air before coughing again.

  Evan yanked his side door open. “William, look at me. Breathe, baby. Come on.”

  “Evan, they’re pointing machine guns at us,” said Tommy.

  “Leave now. You have thirty seconds,” said the voice over the intercom.

  “Evan!” shouted Tommy.

  William gurgled and spit blood on the floor. He coughed and choked. Pressure built inside his chest and behind his eyes until his head felt like it was being slammed by a wrecking ball.

  Evan smacked him on the back hard between the shoulder blades. His gut clenched as his lungs tightened down like an elephant sat on him. Evan whacked him harder and harder till he threw up all the Savor he’d had in the last two hours. The red liquid spewed across his legs and down to the floor. He coughed again and then sucked in a large breath.

  “Ten seconds,” said the voice.

  “Evan! Come on!”

  “I’m okay,” William whispered, throat burning, lungs like a volcano.

  Evan stared at him for another minute, biting her lower lip. Then she slammed the side door and hopped into the driver’s seat. She threw the car in reverse and backed out of the drive. The guards at the gate kept their guns trained on her.

  “Do you know anywhere else we can go?” she asked. “Any way to get a message to Danika?”

  William shook his head, unable to think straight.

  Evan looked at Tommy. “We’re all in now. We came here to do a job.”

  Tommy nodded and put on his seatbelt. “Like Pop always says, if you start a job—”

  “You finish it.” Evan threw the car in drive and revved the gas. She punched the accelerator and headed for the gate. All three of them ducked as gunfire ripped holes through the windshield. The car slammed the gate and William flew into the back of Tommy’s seat, smashing his face.

  He slammed backward and hit his head on the side window, cracking the glass.

  In an instant, the doors of the car were ripped open and Evan was flung to the
ground along with Tommy.

  William’s door opened but at the sight of him, the guard backed up. He stepped out, his head foggy from the lack of oxygen and the hit to the window. His skull pounded worse than ever.

  “Get off me!” Evan cried.

  William snapped into action. He rounded the car to where three guards pinned her down.

  “Don’t touch her,” he shouted.

  William ran at the closest guard and flung him away. The other guards caught one look at him and backed up, raising their weapons.

  William pulled Evan to his chest and she clung to him. He leaned against the side of the wrecked car, his legs like lead weights. He breathed hard trying to regain the lost oxygen but it only made his head pound harder and his vision blur further.

  “You need to lie down,” she said.

  “I’m fine.” William kept his gaze firmly on the guards. “Where’s Danika? Where’s Mason?”

  “You are in no position to demand to see the coven lord and her mate,” said a guard William didn’t recognize.

  “You get on the com and you tell Siad that William is here and I’m looking for Danika and Mason.” Fury and agitation had him almost ripping the guard’s throat out. Only holding Evan and feeling her warm body pressed against his kept him from completely losing it on every one of them.

  The guards exchanged a look. “Siad is dead.”

  Damn. “Then who’s in charge of house security?” he croaked.

  “I am.” A figure strode down the driveway and the guards parted.

  “Roth.” William filled with relief.

  Roth stared at him for a minute. “William?”

  William’s legs buckled and he fell to the ground.

  “William.” Evan followed him down and turned to Roth. “Please, he needs help. He’s dying.”

  Roth strode forward and stared at William. “What the hell happened to you?”

  William’s vision grew fuzzy and his sight clouded. “Humans.”

  * * * *

  “William!” Evan looked on as his eyes closed and his head slumped forward.

  “Let’s get him inside.” Roth motioned to several of the guards. They came to pick him up but Evan was conflicted.

  “Where are you taking him?” she asked.

  Roth ignored her. “Get him inside. Call Doc.”

  “Wait.” She grabbed Roth’s sleeve. He turned his steely gaze upon her.

  “Bring the girl and the guy. Get this car off the drive and shore up the gate,” Roth barked.

  A guard grabbed Evan by the arm and dragged her forward. She met Tommy at the hood of the car.

  “Don’t struggle,” she said. “We need to get inside.”

  The guards marched into action, carrying out the orders set forth. Evan walked up the long drive. She looked behind and found the car being reversed out of the drive and onto the street. The gate was bent but still functioning.

  She stumbled when they hit the steps to the front of the house. She caught herself on one of the white pillars when a scream rang out. Evan’s head whipped forward. Inside on the floor Danika bent over William with Mason standing close beside. The old physician Doc trudged across the entryway and knelt down beside William and Danika.

  Evan stepped through the front door and waited.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Danika screeched.

  Doc laid a hand on Danika’s shoulder. “I don’t know yet.” His voice was calm and soothing.

  “Come on.” Mason lifted Danika to her feet, and she clung to him as Doc pulled open his case and started to examine William. Danika pressed her face into Mason’s shoulder and then turned and spotted her.

  Her eyes blazed like fire as she crossed to Evan. “What happened? What’s wrong with him?”

  The slightly shorter Vampire lord made Evan feel like a toddler in time out.

  “He…”

  “He was tortured.” Tommy stepped up next to her. “And then he was given a vaccine.”

  “A vaccine?” Danika rounded on him. “What kind of vaccine?”

  Mason walked over to stand behind Danika.

  Tommy’s gaze connected with Evan’s.

  “A vaccine to cure vamps,” said Evan.

  Danika’s gaze whipped back to hers. “That’s not possible. No one has a vaccine like that. And he isn’t a vamp.”

  “It’s my fault,” said Evan. “My uncle and my cousin… They saw us together… My cousin attacked and William was trying to protect me. They were angry—”

  Danika’s eyes narrowed. “You. You did this to William.”

  “No. I promise. I didn’t. I tried to save him. We tried to save him. That’s why we brought him here.” The words came out weak and childish, but Mason’s imposing aura made her skin crawl.

  There was a huge gasp and William lurched off the floor, a tube sticking out of his throat.

  “Got him breathing again,” said Doc.

  William’s gaze shot around the room as if trying to figure out where he was. His eyes landed on Evan and his body relaxed.

  “William.” Danika raced to his side and flung her arms around him. Mason joined her and they all ended up in a group hug.

  Tears rolled down Danika’s cheeks. “I was so worried. You didn’t call, and I was going to send someone to find you but your phone signal went dead. I just…” She hugged him again, sobbing.

  William smiled but didn’t talk.

  “I’m glad you’re back,” said Mason. “I was ready to fly out there looking for you.”

  William nodded.

  “Okay, okay,” said Doc. “Let the boy go. We need to get him to his room so I can examine him.”

  “Yes, of course,” said Danika. She stood and backed away with Mason. She pointed to the guards holding Evan and Tommy. “You, take him upstairs to his room. And get Sue. He needs to feed.”

  “No,” William whispered.

  Danika turned to him. “What? You don’t want Sue? You want someone else?”

  William pointed at Evan. Danika followed his finger and her eye twitched.

  “Let her go,” Danika ordered.

  Evan yanked her arms away and walked to where William lay on the floor. He held his hand out to her and Danika backed up.

  Evan brushed the hair from his face, and he pulled her in to kiss her. She lingered for a moment but then broke the kiss. “Okay, lover, I’m not going anywhere. Don’t worry.”

  The guards surrounded William and lifted him. He grabbed her hand but she gently removed it.

  “I’m right behind you.”

  The guards carried William up the stairs and halfway up he growled and thrashed. They tried to keep their grip on him but William lunged at the nearest one, trying to bite into him. The guards dropped him and backed up.

  “William!” Danika chastised.

  Evan rushed up the stairs. “It’s all right. I’ll take him.” The guards eyed her suspiciously. She turned to Tommy. “Come on, help me.”

  Tommy looked at Danika and Mason for a minute and then scooted around them and up the stairs. The guards headed back down the stairs and Evan and Tommy pulled William to his feet, draping his arms around their necks.

  “Lord Danika,” said Evan.

  “Yes?”

  “William is going to need Sue. And anyone else willing to donate as well.”

  “One donor—”

  “Trust me,” said Evan. “He’s going to need more than one. And he’s going to need to feed every few hours if possible until he can be cured.”

  Danika opened and closed her mouth several times before she nodded.

  “Come on,” Evan said. “Let’s get you finally washed up so you don’t scare your dinner to death.”

  Chapter 20

  Evan and Tommy carried William to his room where he proceeded to yank the straw from his throat.

  “You can’t do that,” Evan said.

  He shook his head. “I don’t need it.” His voice gurgled and barely came out a whisper. He coughed and to
uched the hole in his throat. Just what he needed.

  He hobbled to his closet and an audible sigh escaped him at the sight of his own clothes. He grabbed a crisp navy polo shirt and a pair of clean khakis, held them to his nose and took in the wonderful freshly laundered aroma. He’d never missed a smell so much in his life.

  Evan scoffed and took them from him. “Uh, yeah right. I don’t think so.” She hung them back up and grabbed a T-shirt instead. Closing the closet, she then walked to his dresser and grabbed a pair of boxers and sweats.

  “There’s no way you’re going to be lying around in those business clothes.”

  “I want to look presentable,” he countered.

  “You’re sick. You’ve earned the right to be casual.” She shoved the clothes into his chest and turned him toward the bathroom.

  “I’m not sick. I’m dying. I don’t want people to remember me in my sweats.”

  “Stop that!” she snapped. She rounded to face him, her eyes filled with tears. “Don’t say that. You’re going to be fine. We’re going to fix you up.”

  Her tears were as good as a punch to the solar plexus. “Evan—”

  “Stop!”

  He softened his voice as much as he was able. “Evangeline.”

  She shook her head and a tear leaked from her eye. “Let’s get you cleaned up and fed. Then the doctor can come check you out.” She turned to Tommy. “Can you wait here?”

  “I’ll wait in the hall.” He stepped quickly from the room.

  Evan pulled William into the bathroom and turned on the shower. His eyes traveled up the slender curve of her hip to the rounding of her shoulder and over the patch of creamy skin that covered the throbbing vein in her neck. His stomach growled like a lion and he clutched tight to his clothes to keep from grabbing her and biting into her.

  Not Evan. Not Evan. Not Evan. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

  “It better be a quick shower.” He opened his eyes. “I need blood.”

  She nodded and stripped his clothes off. He stepped under the spray and let the shower wash over him. The water dripped down his body and doused everything pink. He tried to keep his breathing even and his thoughts focused on the task at hand instead of the pounding behind his eyes. Evan washed his body and hair. Her thin, strong fingers plunged into his hair line and scrubbed soft spine-tingling circles over his scalp. He tried to relax and let the scent of his favorite shampoo soothe him. But when he closed his eyes, all he saw was blood.