"Now you want to talk? I wanted to talk, remember? You wanted to kill my friend and cut me up."
The familiar hum of an active portal emerged behind her. She looked over her shoulder to see Kevin standing in an office, waiting patiently.
"You guys coming?" he asked, then threw up a palm. "But I have to warn you. You're going to see some weird shit."
Coming from the mouth of a witch, those words carried meaning.
"Jack," Victoria said. "Would you bring Amit, please?"
"Sure. I love dragging shitty people around."
He grabbed Amit by the foot and again pulled him, this time through the portal. Patrick took careful steps, approaching the magical gateway.
"What is this?"
"This is just a little of what Kevin can do."
"Yeah," Jack said sarcastically. "Can't make a cure to a curse to save his ass, though."
"Are you both going to kill me?" Patrick asked. "Speaking of cures, that wouldn't be smart. Only I have the cure to what we gave the mortals."
She smiled. "You really don't know the resources I have. And we don't want to kill you. I want you to see what I see."
Victoria took the hand of the man that at one time she thought would somehow be a part of her life. They stepped through the portal together. She could relate to the awe and wonder in his eyes, having experienced it herself many times before when it came to dealing with Kevin and his magic.
Kevin laughed as he hugged her. He regarded Patrick, but said nothing. The witch looked like he'd been through a war. Dirt, blood, ripped clothes. Still, he wore a smile, and gave Jack a nod.
For as bad as Kevin looked, Zoey was worse. Victoria's eyes lit up at the sight of her.
"You sent Zoey?" she said, glaring at Jack. She could barely contain her anger. "That's your substitute?"
"Yeah. And check it out, they're both alive. Maybe you won't baby her like you do Glinda."
Zoey sat in a chair in the corner, her arms folded tightly across her chest. Victoria took note of her injuries, the blood, and fought her protective instincts. She could smell the mortals outside the office, and knew they were responsible. She wanted to kill every one of them.
Their eyes met, and Zoey's face went through a range of emotions. Elation, fear, apprehension. Tears streamed down her face. Victoria went through the same range, but managed to hold the tears inside.
Finally, Zoey stood and crossed the room. Victoria didn't expect the hug, but welcomed it all the same. The teen trembled in her arms as she pressed her head against her shoulder.
"I'm so sorry," Victoria said, glaring at Jack once again. "You shouldn't be here. Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine. And it's okay, I wanted to help Kevin. And I'm the one who's sorry. I'm sorry for running away, for taking your stuff. I left to go…kill someone. And I couldn't do it."
"I know. It's okay." She squeezed Zoey and kissed her forehead. "Don't worry."
Jack laughed from the doorway. He was peering out beyond the office and shaking his head.
"Shit, Glinda," he said. "Just when I thought you couldn't outdo yourself."
Victoria released Zoey and joined Jack in the doorway, with Patrick a step behind. The aisles of the tiny store were a mess. Several shelves had been knocked over like dominoes. Men and weapons were scattered about. When a witch was involved, the scattering wasn't normal. It took a moment for her mind to catch up.
Some rifles and men were pinned to the wall, held in place by whatever magic potion Kevin came up with. Others were on the ceiling. Most were unconscious, but there was a man upside-down against the wall who waved frantically. His mouth moved, but he literally couldn't make a sound. A silence potion. Victoria thought Kevin was joking when he mentioned it before, during a fight he was having with Leese. Several men were encased in ice. Two others were trapped in the mirror that lined the corners between wall and ceiling.
"Don't worry, no one's hurt," Kevin said. "And it's not what I'm used to, but the break room has a microwave. I'm using it to cook up some memory potions. Nothing too crazy, maybe a year or two."
Patrick eyed the witch, addressing him for the first time.
"You didn't kill anyone?"
Kevin laughed, not having any idea that the man he was smiling at was responsible for the chaos around him.
"Of course not. I don't kill people."
Victoria studied Patrick, to see if there was anything behind his eyes at all. Second doubts, remorse, anything.
He was a mystery.
Patrick left the group, walking down the main aisle of the store. Victoria joined him, leaving the others behind. They watched from the doorway. Zoey didn't bother listening, content to simply lean her head against Kevin's shoulder.
"Unbelievable," he said. "That young boy did all of this."
She kept to herself that he was capable of so much more.
"Kevin is special."
"Where are we? Are we in Delaware?"
"You should know. You're the one that hired these men and tracked Kevin down."
The pair were quiet. Victoria hoped Patrick was absorbing everything. Kevin was a good soul, and didn't deserve to be hunted and killed.
He was also very capable of defending himself.
"Such power," Patrick said.
Turning in place, he stared into the office with confusion and curiosity. Victoria merely smiled. Kevin was at Amit's side, gingerly helping him drink a cup of water. Jack still leaned in the doorway, scolding the two of them.
"What's he doing?"
"Helping him. Healing magic. That's the kind of person Kevin is. Doesn't even know Amit, but it doesn't matter. Caring, kind."
"Kind…or naive."
Patrick continued to stare. He took a deep breath, sighing. Victoria didn't like his body language.
"It's amazing how two people can look at the same thing, but see something completely different. You see a young man with a good heart. I see someone who disarmed trained men with the items in a grocery store. He has a girlfriend. What happens when she breaks up with him? Will he lash out, unleash magic on the world?"
Victoria had to laugh at the ridiculous idea.
"No. He won't."
"Okay, let's assume he doesn't. What happens if someone threatens someone he cares about? Makes him do something terrible with his spells? Victoria, I'm so sorry. But we're never going to see eye-to-eye on this."
Their eyes met, and he offered a sad, knowing smile. They both realized what the next few seconds held for them.
"I guess we're not."
Her eyes met with Jack's.
Patrick raced forward, his claws and fangs exposed. He moved at such a speed that the young witch would have no chance to defend himself, not without a potion ready.
Victoria saw the attack coming, and moved just as fast.
She squatted and raked the back of Patrick's leg with a claw of her own. He stumbled and fell, taking half of an aisle with him. She pressed a knee into his lower back as she caught the weapon that Jack had already tossed.
Without hesitation, she thrust it into his back, piercing his heart.
She fell on her side, resting her weight on her hip. Her breaths were long and deep, more from nerves than any physical exertion. She finally crossed the fine line she'd been dancing around the last several years. No longer did she simply refuse to kill a witch outright, a general rule all of their kind followed. Now she actively defended Kevin, and would kill to protect him, if necessary.
A hand grabbed her shoulder tenderly. She didn't even realize Kevin was at her side, with Zoey kneeling in front of her. Their lips were moving, but her mind was far away. Jack hovered nearby, his face passive, arms crossed.
"What?" she asked. "What did you say?"
"Are you okay?" Kevin asked. He touched the hi-tech stake protruding from Patrick's back, but she slapped his hand.
"Fuck!" Zoey said. "What the hell was that all about?"
Jack extended a hand. He helped Victoria to her feet, but refused to let
go right away. She gave him a nod, reassuring him that she was fine. He released his hold and looked down at Patrick's prone body.
"Was he not on our side?" Zoey asked. "Was he a bad guy?"
"No," Victoria said, choking up. "He was definitely not a bad guy."
Jack offered a tiny remote, which Victoria guessed went with the weapon he carried. He offered no sarcasm, no cold-hearted remarks.
"Spin the dial," he said. "The tech will do the rest."
"No. He doesn't deserve to be killed by someone playing with their thumb. Wait here."
Victoria lifted Patrick with ease and slung him over her shoulder. She carried him to the front of the store, where the sun poured in through the windows. There were early-morning commuters on the road beyond. They needed to get moving quickly.
Patrick started to combust in her arms. She dropped him quickly near the cash register, jumping back to avoid the flames herself. Her heart ached as the tears came. She didn't bother to fight them. Everything Patrick was went up in flame. His skin, clothes, all turned to ash.
Grabbing the weapon, she headed back to the group. Her gaze fell on Amit, who was standing in the doorway, alarm and terror in his eyes. His clothes were a mess, but his face was his own once again. His teeth were even back in place.
Victoria tossed the weapon to Jack without slowing down. She moved with purpose, walking past everyone. Kevin and Zoey were wise in not getting in her way.
Amit recoiled as she approached. She stood a foot away, not taking her eyes off him.
"Damnit, Amit," she said. "I really like you."
"I like you, too, Victoria. That's why I did this. I wanted you to come back. But then they told me you were a bad person."
"And you believed them."
"Please, don't kill me. I swear, I won't tell them what I saw here."
"No, that's exactly what you'll do. They're going to ask what happened here today. Tell them everything. Tell them to stay away. If they don't cause any trouble for me, I won't cause any trouble for them. It's not hard to follow, really."
Amit nodded, but didn't move. Victoria turned and gestured to the front door.
"The airport's that way, Amit. Get moving."
He nodded and half-walked, half-ran out of the grocery store. Victoria watched him, her thoughts racing. She didn't know what the future held, but at the very least, it would be eventful. The vampires at the table in New Delhi wouldn't be happy to hear one of their own was killed over protecting a witch. Maybe she'd give some of the money she'd taken back, as a peace offering. Maybe she wouldn't.
Victoria took a breath, returning her attention to the still-unresolved situation surrounding her.
"Kevin," she said, turning in place. "Memory potions?"
He nodded. "In the break room."
"Okay, let's get started. We need to wrap this up. Make sure you have enough for everyone." Kevin turned and left. She glanced around at the various men trapped in magic around her. "Jack, help me gather everyone on the ground, at least. Make it easier for him. We'll let him worry about the ones on the ceiling and in the mirror."
"Not killing these men," Jack said. "It's a mistake."
"It's Kevin's call. He's happy wiping their memories."
"Fucking idiot. He'll never learn."
Zoey eyes went from Jack to Victoria. "What do you guys want me to do?"
"Nothing," Jack said first. "Stay in the office, out of the sun. Have a seat and rest." He nodded at her, which Victoria knew was a good sign. "You've earned it. Good job, Stray."
Zoey glanced at Victoria, her eyes filled with joy. The older vampire smiled. A good job from Jack was definitely high praise.
Victoria and Jack went to work.
EPILOGUE
Victoria paced with her hands laced behind her back and her head low outside room number three. The grand reopening of the Vermilion was in full swing. Every room was occupied, some with more than two people. The lobby had several waiting patiently for their partners. Through the closed doors, she could hear Kate laughing and engaging with the waiting customers. Kate did her job, and did it well.
At that moment, Victoria only cared about one thing, and that was room number three. She understood the need for soundproof rooms, but the silence drove her crazy. Several times, she nearly stretched out a closed fist, ready to knock on the door. Each time she pulled back. Her trust won over her anxiety, but she didn't know how much longer that would last.
"Victoria?"
She turned at the sound of her name. Michael was at the end of the hallway, at the door to Frank's office. He motioned for her, disappearing inside. She glanced back and forth between the door to room number three and Frank's office, nearly knocking once again. Sighing, she jogged quickly down the hall and poked her head into the office. Frank typed quickly at a computer. She never realized he could type.
"What?" she said, her impatience on display. "What is it?"
"You're scaring the customers," he said, not bothering to look up. "Victoria, you've got to calm down. This was your idea."
She stepped inside, walking past Michael and gesturing to the security station.
"Can you look inside room number three?"
"No. There aren't any cameras in there," he said, finally looking up. "And even if there were, no. I wouldn't let you."
Victoria arched an eyebrow. Over the past few days she'd come to admire Frank more. Like might have been too strong a word. There were moments when his sleazy salesman persona took over. But somewhere behind that persona was conviction.
"They've been in there for ten minutes."
"You booked the room for thirty."
"But it shouldn't take that long."
Frank laughed. "Maybe they're having a good time in there, taking things slow."
She scowled at him, not liking the direction he was going. He laughed and waved away her concern.
"Would you lighten up? You've been tense the past two nights. And it's making me tense. Just stop. I'm the one that had vampires die in here."
"Yeah, and I'm the one fixing the problem."
"To which I'm eternally grateful," he said, smiling and gesturing to the refrigerator behind him. "Something to drink?"
Victoria was amused at his attempt to steer the conversation. She politely declined, and was ready to leave the office when Kate called his phone.
"Frank," she said. "You and Victoria better get up here. They're fighting again."
"Shit." He eyed Victoria angrily. In his opinion, the disruptions over the past several nights were her fault. "Are the people up there upset?"
"Actually, they're laughing. But, still, I wanted you to know."
"Thanks." He hung up and pointed to the door. "Let's go. Your two friends—"
"I heard."
She led the way, casting one final glance at room number three before opening the doors to the lobby. Kate had moved past trying to act like she was working, and not watching. The customers in the lobby, a mortal and a vampire, whispered with amused smiles as Jack and Kevin argued.
Jack leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, his voice calm. But through the calmness, Victoria sensed the danger.
"I don't give a shit what you say. You're not watching Frozen at my house ever again."
Kevin sat in a chair across the room near the lobby's refrigerator. The area had become his workstation, where he'd spent his past two nights. Cups of water were spread across a table, which he constantly kept humming with healing magic.
"I don't care, Jack. It's Tiffany's favorite movie, not mine. I'm just saying she will want to watch it this weekend."
"Don't act like you don't dance around like a princess when no one's watching."
Kevin's cheeks turned red as he glanced at the people watching and smiling.
"That was one time, and only because Tiffany wanted me to dance with her. I did it for her."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night."
"Anyway, you know you'll put it on. Just to make her h
appy."
"Nope. She's had enough happiness. It's about time she learned about the Marx Brothers. Now that's good shit, right there."
"Guys," Victoria said. "You know, we do have customers here."
"Customers," Jack said. "Do you really think I give a—?"
"Jack, please," she said, using the magic word.
Luckily, his attention was redirected at the sight of Frank. Jack and Frank had been talking often. Jack was fully on board with Frank's business, willing to invest and help it grow. For his own purposes, of course.
"Frank," he said. "We need to talk."
The pair vanished through the doors, leaving Kevin to take a much-needed breath. Victoria sat next to him, trying to unwind herself. The past few days had been stressful, but more so for Kevin than anyone else. She rubbed his shoulders, hoping he was fully aware how appreciative she was of his efforts.
"How are you holding up?"
He pulled a cup of water out for himself.
"Okay. Just tired. Do you think this is the last night?"
Kevin not only spent the past two nights at the Vermilion, but also moving about the clubs nearby. He spread his healing magic however he could. Offering water to thirsty mortals was the easiest way. But ice carried the magic as well. Victoria wanted to help, but Kevin truly didn't need it. An invisibility potion, followed by tampering with the ice machines, made every drink handed out a healing potion. But the healing only lasted so long, hence the dark circles under his eyes. He'd been running rampant.
They'd also made special stops to every mortal in the Vermilion's records. It took some effort to track down addresses, but luckily the regulars of the Vermilion were getting to know one another. Once one address was known, typically they could direct Victoria and Kevin to another.
Vampires had made a drug to kill other vampires, using mortals as the conduit. But Victoria had the cure, sitting next to her.
She hesitated in answering his question. There hadn't been any further word of vampires dying mysteriously. Between the Vermilion, and the surrounding area, she was confident they'd eradicated most of Patrick's attempts to test her.
But she knew she was paranoid, and overly cautious.
"Yeah, we can be done," she said. "But could you handle being on call, in case I need you? Just for another day or so?"
Damned and Cursed (Book 7): Four Centuries Page 31