Other paranormals in the room were staring at each other, scratching their heads in confusion. The tension rose, energy went through me and Gordon looked me up and down, raising my anxiety even further. The other wizard in the room took a step towards me.
I couldn’t move, so running wasn't an option. My muscles were tense, and I clenched my fists, but it was Jasper who reacted first, breaking the tension, waving his magic wand. The wind in the room settled and for some reason my energy drained.
If I wanted to stay alive I needed to talk to Lancaster without any witnesses in the room.
"I need some privacy," I said with tension in my voice, desperately wanting to go back to being myself again; the tough Julia from the past. It was time to stop messing around. "My questions are very important, and I’d rather not have anyone else listening in."
Surprise began to grow on Gordon’s face; he wrinkled his forehead with effort. Jasper didn’t lower his wand, staring at me intensely.
His bodyguards began laughing loudly. Some of them threw out a few nasty remarks about my looks, joking between themselves. I blocked out their voices and continued looking Gordon in the eye, letting him know I was prepared for the worst. He lost his smile, watching me with open curiosity and growing resentment. He scratched his chin and a cold, very icy shiver crawled over my spine. Still, I refused to back down.
"You heard the girl, morons. Fuck off, leave us alone," he snapped, waving his large hands at his people to leave the room. They stopped laughing and began leaving pretty quickly without any questions. My pulse was racing along with my awakened magic. Once I was alone with him and Jasper my anxiety kicked right back in.
Gordon went back to the sofa, unscrewed a small bottle and poured a thick red liquid into a glass on the table. The tangy, metallic smell of blood made my stomach heave. No wonder Dad couldn’t catch him. The Paranormal Unit had no idea Gordon Lancaster was a vampire. I was certain Gordon already recognised my scent. He must have learned my first name, but he couldn’t know my father was Chief Inspector Jerry Taylor.
He drank the blood, swallowing in large greedy gulps. After some time, he turned his face towards where I stood.
"Talk, girl, before I change my mind and drink from you. We’ve met before and your scent is addictive."
Vampires were very keen to taste my blood. I exchanged a silent look with Jasper, trying to breathe at the same time. Even though he knew we’d met, so far he didn’t seem to connect two and two together.
"I'm looking for a white witch and I think you’ve got information that can lead me to her," I said with a less confident voice.
Gordon stood, picking up his glass of blood from the table. His yellow eyes acknowledged Jasper briefly, before he rested them on mine. My heartbeat quickened; growing panic erupted in my stomach.
"White witch, huh? Why do you want her so much?" he asked.
I wasn't prepared to tell him everything, but I couldn’t lie. Dad was dying, and Gordon wouldn't tell me anything without solid facts. Jasper wasn't saying anything, and I was wondering why all of a sudden, he was so quiet. He was supposed to be the one to help me and do all the talking.
"My father and best friend, they have been victims of a ritual. The witches wanted to use them in a necromantic spell. Something went wrong and now both of them are in bad shape. Healers aren’t giving them much time."
Jasper moved next to me. I didn’t know how I knew but for a split second I thought I’d made a mistake telling Gordon everything that went on with the witches.
"Oh, yes, I’ve heard about these witches. They’re messing with my plans," Gordon said sounding pissed off.
"One of them is from Sweden. They’re using a different level of magic," Jasper muttered.
"All right, Julia. Let’s assume I have the information you’re looking for, but what’s in it for me?"
That was a good question. It would’ve been too easy if he told me what he knew. I was prepared to offer him my magic and connections within the elves’ association. I looked at Jasper searching for some kind words of encouragement. My voice stuck in my throat and my skin started burning with magic. I was feeling flustered, waves of increased energy kept hitting me in my chest. I had to come up with something.
“Let's cut to the chase, Gordon—what do you want from Julia?"
It was Jasper who asked that question with a casual shrug. Gordon slammed his fists on the table.
"First of all, I want to fucking know why the hell you’re bringing the Chief Inspector’s daughter in here? Did you think I wouldn’t know who you’ve been fucking!"
Jasper tightened his jaw and all of a sudden, adrenaline rushed through me. Gordon knew who I was all along. He probably took one look at me and connected me with that night from all those months ago. He looked pissed, tensing his massive jaw and cracking his knuckles loudly.
"Julia agreed to give me another chance if I brought her to you. It doesn't matter that she’s the chief’s daughter," Jasper barked, puffing out his chest. "You know you can trust me. I’ve proven what I can do for you."
"Her daddy has been hunting me since he became the chief and now he’s dying. Julia, no offence, love, but listen to yourself."
Gordon had a point. This whole thing sounded ridiculous, but I’d heard a rumour that Gordon enjoyed playing hide and seek with Dad. He was either ready to kill me or keep plodding along with my idea.
"I had no other choice. My father and my friend are both dying, and your information can save them. I’ll do anything you want. And I promise that my father will leave you—"
"Please, Julia, don’t make me laugh. I own London; everyone in this shitty city answers to me. Your father is just a small monkey in the zoo. I'm above the law; no one can lock me up."
"Fine, I get it," I said, feeling aggravated with him. I stopped caring if he was going to kill me or not. "I’ll do anything to save their lives."
"Julia, be careful," Jasper warned, stepping closer to me.
"Shut up, Jasper, let the girl talk." Gordon chuckled, moving even closer to me than Jasper was. His scarred face pushed my fear to the next level. For the first time I wished that I hadn’t asked Jasper for this favour. There were other ways to get to the white witch. "Anything, you say?"
Tension erupted in the room again, knocking my confidence down, squashing it like a bug. Jasper took a step towards Gordon holding his magic wand. I didn’t like the way he was staring at Gordon. There was fear and determination in his eyes, pure and hollow. Jasper wasn't a guy who was ever scared of anyone or anything, so I had no idea what to expect.
"Yes," I croaked.
"Well then; how about a girl fight?"
"Huh?" I asked incoherently.
"Gordon, don’t push her. She doesn’t know what she’s saying," Jasper snapped with anger.
"Remember who had your back when you were hated, wizard. The elf girl is ready to do anything to save her beloved father and I'm willing to listen."
I took this as a warning. Jasper’s and my magic combined could bring Gordon down. He stood in front of us alone, without his men, but this wasn't why we were here. We couldn't fight him.
"I have a half vampire in the basement. She has been naughty at times and I haven’t figured out how I can punish her," Gordon continued. "So, let’s see how the daughter of Jerry Taylor fights."
"You want me to fight with a dhampir? Is that what you’re asking?" I asked in disbelief.
Gordon smiled, revealing his bloody fangs. I didn’t think I could take being so close to him any longer. "Yeah, I'm bored and want someone to entertain me."
The gulp in my throat became uncomfortable; his request was bizarre.
"And then, you’ll give me the information that I need?" I asked just to make sure we were on the same page. It’s not like I was expecting the fight to be easy, but I thought he would ask for something more difficult.
"Yeah, I will."
"Gordon, cut the bullshit. Julia works in an office. You know well enough she
has no idea how to fight."
I shot Jasper a sharp look, ready to argue with him about my fighting abilities. My magic was strong, and I could kick arse. I didn't get it; why all of a sudden did he want to protect me? Gordon wanted to see some girl on girl action. I didn’t mind getting battered if it meant I would get the information I wanted in the end.
"Fine, you’ve got a deal. I’ll provide the entrainment and you give me information about the white witch? And you won't kill me?"
He gave me his hand like he was expecting us to shake on it.
"Yes."
We shook hands, but as soon as my skin was in contact with his, my hormones exploded. Sweat surged over my body, causing a vibration of air and power. The contact lasted only for a moment, but I made a mental note never to touch him again.
Jasper didn't look happy with me. I didn't know what his problem was. The Dhampir didn't even have any magic and I wasn't afraid of her fangs. Gordon was willing to bargain for my father’s life, knowing who I was.
A few minutes later, he told me and Jasper to follow him. Jasper didn't say anything when we left the obscure flat and followed through a dark corridor. Gordon’s people were right behind us. I was so glad that I decided to wear jeans and an old hoody. My magic settled, but I was trying to think of all the spells that I’d learned recently. Gordon barked something to Malik and they both laughed. There was a human couple kissing on the stairs; they ran away as soon as they saw us.
We walked down to the basement storage rooms. Malik opened the steel door that led to a large open space; it looked like the basement spread through a number of flats. Most of the lights were flashing, and the room stunk of sewage and human flesh. A deep feeling of nausea arose in my stomach. It looked like the residents had used it as a rubbish dump.
"Lillian, darling, where are you hiding?" Gordon asked with a sweet caring voice. His gang laughed, and I swallowed hard. Suddenly, I didn't want to be in this room. His voice echoed around the basement, but whomever he was calling wouldn't come out.
He nodded for us to carry on. Further into the room where the lights didn’t work, two trolls went ahead. For a moment we all heard hisses, curses and then they brought a girl out and dumped her on the ground in front of me.
My stomach turned yet again. The paranormal was a Dhampir, there was no question about that, but what struck me the most was the fact that she was starving. Her skin was almost translucent, her deep hollow eyes were sunk into her skull. She was filthy, and it looked like she had been here for days.
"So, what do you think, Julia?" Gordon asked.
"You want me to fight with her?" I pointed toward the malnourished Dhampir.
"Nah, I changed my mind. I want you to kill her."
CHAPTER 14
A FINGER?
I started laughing. Gordon joined me and the two of us laughed for about thirty seconds looking crazy eyed, confused and baffled. His whacky idea didn't really register at first. Then the realisation struck me hard and deep; he was perfectly serious. The laughs faded away and I stared back at him going over and over what he’d just said. Jasper was silent, not looking at me at all, like he didn't want to be part of whatever was just about to happen.
"Kill her?" I repeated in a barely audible voice. “I'll fight with her, use my magic if you want me to, but I'm not a killer."
Gordon shrugged sluggishly, shaking his head and laughing to himself.
"Then go and stop wasting my time. Your daddy will die and you’re going to be the one to blame," he shouted, losing his gentleness and turning back into the monster that was inside him.
Then Jasper snapped back to reality. "Gordon, your games aren’t fucking funny anymore. My girlfriend is not a murderer."
I exhaled and Gordon looked annoyed. That small detail about not being Jasper’s girlfriend wasn't important at the moment.
"Oh, you two are no fun," he muttered with a nasty smile.
"What did she do? Why is she here?" I asked, trying to change the subject about the murder.
"She was sent by another gang to spy on me. I liked her, but she disappointed me. Now, are you going to fight or talk? What’s it gonna be?"
The dhampir woman wasn't even looking at me. Her brown eyes were fixated on Gordon’s. Her wheezing breaths were breaking the silence that settled between us all. Questions started popping into my mind, but I was too afraid to say anything. I just had to go with what Gordon wanted.
All the paranormals in the room were waiting for me to do something. I took a few deep breaths, rubbed my palms over my trousers and summoned my magic. This would be easy; I just had to win the fight and hoped that my energy would obey me.
The filthy paranormal twitched and peered at me from under her long black eyelashes. She was brave, agreeing to go out and spy on Gordon. Her nails were black and bloody, her eyes were weak, like the spark had been taken from them by some sort of trauma. I couldn’t think about Gordon’s cruelty right now or the things that he’d done to this creature. I was his slave.
"Lillian, darling, this lady, here… she’s your ticket to freedom. If you kill her, you’re free to go," Gordon snarled.
Then, a few things happened all at once. One of the trolls started laughing, deep and hard. Jasper shouted to be careful and someone slammed into me, crushing me to the ground. I smelled blood and then saw intimidating blue eyes. Lillian was on me, banging my head against the floor; the pain came after I started seeing stars. For a split second I had no idea what was happening. Someone was cheering, others were laughing. I sucked in a breath, trying to move her weight off my body.
The tiny voice in my head told me to fight back and that’s exactly what I did.
I grabbed her shoulder and roared as I pushed her body away, then smashed my fist into her jaw. She punched back with strength I didn't expect. It felt like the bones in my cheek cracked. The punch hurt like hell, and I snarled in pain, tasting blood in my mouth. Jasper was right: I’d worked in an office, but I couldn’t let her batter me like that. I had no idea how long Gordon had been keeping her in the basement. She looked weak and exhausted. It was me who had the advantage.
She kept sending strong, unexpected punches into my gut. I was going down fast, so I concentrated on my magic, creating a bright red ball of light. A tingle started in my toes, then moved over to my stomach and chest. She got up, regaining her strength, this time ready to sink her sharp fangs in any exposed part of my body. I didn’t have time to summon enough power; she was on me before I knew it, biting my neck. My body went into shock as she began drinking my blood, taking large gulps at the same time. When Nathaniel drank from me, it was sexual and intimate; this was far from it. I felt frozen, paralysed by an unknown clenching power that floated inside the basement. Her aura began to change; thick and dark energy began swirling around me. The suffocating darkness began clenching its hands around my throat.
She continued to drink greedily, and my pulse slowed down. The room spun, and I knew if I didn’t do something fast things were looking bleak for me. Lillian started to choke, probably drinking too fast and too feisty. She pulled away, giving me a window of opportunity. Reacting late and without much strength, I roared at the top of my lungs and wrapped my legs around her body, twisting her around as hard as I could.
Blood was dripping from her face, but she’d fed, which meant she wasn't weak and exhausted anymore. Her skin changed colour; her eyes dilated with growing confidence. I flinched, charged with a voltage of fresh magic. I slapped her, my energy surged through me, and then out of nowhere the bright red light hit her in the chest.
I got up, breathing hard, pressing my finger to the wound in my neck. I glanced at Gordon, who looked like he’d caught the scent of my blood, because now he was licking his lips, and his fangs were extended again.
Lillian tried to stand, losing her balance several times. I wiped the sweat off my face, feeling like I was charged with new waves of magical current that could rip any living soul apart. My right hand was inflamed.
"I don’t want to fight with her anymore. That should be enough entertainment for tonight!" I shouted at Gordon, spitting blood. It looked like the dhampir woman was disagreeing with me. She licked the blood off her hands, her eyes shining with the desire to finish me off. I devoured my rush of sudden heat, ripping the power from the centre of my core. It crawled from my back moving down to my hands. Then goosebumps erupted on my skin.
She was coming for me again, but I was ready this time. Bursts of magic, pure and white, blazed from me, attacking her. Her screams echoed in the space, blood poured out of her, and she crashed to the ground. I looked back at my hands, not even realising I could do this. My head pounded with adrenaline. I couldn’t be sick right then, not in front of them.
Lillian was lying on her back. She wasn't moving, and deep down I desperately wanted her to live. Waves of sadness washed over me, because I didn’t want to be a killer. This wasn't the real me, but I fought with a tortured paranormal who had done nothing to me.
Someone started clapping, and then a knife was pushed towards me, small and sharp.
"I want you to cut off her finger, Julia, then bring it to me," Gordon said, looking like he was enjoying himself.
I parted my lips releasing a terrifying gasp. My neck, fingers and head throbbed with pain. I narrowed my eyes at him trying to catch my breath at the same time.
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
"You want the information, then cut off the bitch’s finger," he roared, pushing fear into me. It was deep and cold, reminding me of the moment when I stood in front of him all those months ago.
I looked at Jasper, whose face I couldn’t read. His cold eyes were focused on me. I was on my own.
I took a step towards the knife and the dhampir girl moaned. It looked like the knife was brand new. The lighting in the basement was poor, but the knife was shiny. My hands were trembling, drops of sweat gathered on the side of my head, and my shirt was soaked with cold sweat. It felt like small stones were cascading into my stomach and I didn’t want to think about blood or human flesh. Gordon was testing either me or Jasper.
Witch's Promise : The Witching Hour Series Book 4 Page 10