“She’s fine. She’s still at Blind Bluff Manor and my researchers have been keeping tabs on her.”
“Are they keeping their distance?”
“Yes sir. Like you wanted.”
“Good.” Mr. Austin walked over to the edge of the desk. He swiped his hand over its base and examined his palm for any dust. “The last thing I need to hear is that my baby girl is in danger.”
Kenneth maintained his composure.
“And what of the Deamhan?”
“We’ve been reporting a decrease in their numbers and an increase of vampires in the city,” Kenneth answered.
“I don’t care about the vampires.”
“Yes, I understand, sir.”
“What I do care about are the Deamhan.” Mr. Austin lowered himself slowly in the cushioned office chair.
“Yes, sir. I understand.” Kenneth sat across from him.
“So, what of the Deamhan?” Mr. Austin asked again.
“Their numbers seem to be dwindling in the city. However, there have been reports of some moving into the city. My researchers can’t pinpoint who they are so we’re trying to match their faces with any research documents we might have on record.”
Mr. Austin nodded. “I’ve received some information on the slight decrease from other cities throughout the U.S. An exodus if you will. Apparently, Minneapolis isn’t the only city experiencing this kind of incident.”
“Maybe not an exodus, sir,” Kenneth replied. “Perhaps a migration elsewhere?”
“To where?” Mr. Austin reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and he pulled out a cigar. “Do you think they’re just slithering back into their dens?”
Kenneth didn’t reply.
“Of course not.” Mr. Austin examined his cigar. “They’re fleeing from someone or something. Now,” he changed the subject, “you mentioned we have a problem?”
Kenneth swallowed. Whatever he said next to Mr. Austin about Selene had to be precise. He didn’t want to make him feel that he made the mistake of trusting her, even though he strongly believed that the old man did.
“Selene stopped by the office. She told me that she requested an emergency meeting with you at the headquarters.” He licked his lips. “With all due respect, sir, I don’t trust her and neither should you.” He watched as Mr. Austin pulled a small guillotine cigar cutter from his pocket. “I believe she has something planned but what, I don’t know.”
“Lesson One: Never trust a Deamhan.” Mr. Austin cut the end of his cigar, lit it, and took a couple of puffs before he replied, “Of course she has something planned.”
Kenneth never forgot that lesson. The Brotherhood made sure to embed it into the brains of new researchers in training.
“The plan was not to grow a long lasting relation with her. It was only to make the Minneapolis environment more stable to get the Chapter reestablished in the city,” Mr. Austin said. “A deal that apparently, she doesn’t care to keep.”
Kenneth knew that part of the plan and he nodded. He didn’t care if the Deamhan burned themselves out of their sanctuaries, fighting against each other while Kei ran amok. Less Deamhan equaled stability in his eyes.
“The information I received involved Selene, Anastasia, and Lucius.” Mr. Austin released the tart cigar smoke and it circled in the air above him. “I’ve had your researchers track Anastasia’s movements through the city and I’ve had other researchers from different cities track her as well.”
“Wait.” Kenneth thought for a moment. “You had my researchers secretly track her?” The news came as a shock to him. “Under my own nose?”
Mr. Austin nodded. “Yes.”
“You said you wanted my researchers to stay away and to focus on your daughter.”
Mr. Austin stared at the white billowing cigar smoke in the air. “Let’s get one thing straight. I am the president of the Midwest Division. You are just one of the many Region Leaders under my command. Your researchers are my researchers. Do you understand?”
Kenneth felt his blood beginning to boil underneath his skin. His hands formed into solid fists and he dug his nails into his palms, feeling heavy stings. He now believed Mr. Austin had lost his mind. What he did was unfathomable.
“Yes, I understand, sir.”
Mr. Austin puffed from his cigar again. This time he held the smoke longer. “You put in a request to gain access to the Archives, correct?”
“Yes I did.”
“Your request is denied.”
“Yes, I know, but why?” Kenneth jumped to his feet. “Sir, Selene showed up at the Chapter, asking about a missing tablet. I have to see why this object is so important to her and Lucius.”
“You should’ve come to me, especially when it involved the Dark Curse.”
Kenneth scrunched his lips together.
Mr. Austin paused and his eyes moved from left to right. He then released the smoke from his mouth in tiny puffs. “You’ve never been that great of a liar.”
“Sir?”
Mr. Austin dropped his cigar to the floor. One of his bodyguards proceeded to stomp on it, extinguishing it. “Kenneth, you are to remain here until further notice.”
“I don’t understand—”
Mr. Austin gripped his cane and raised himself to his feet. “From here on out you are temporarily relieved of your duties as Region Leader until further notice.”
Confused, Kenneth stuttered his reply, “Re-Relieved?”
“Yes, relieved. I have chosen your assistant, JoAnne, to take your place until my decision is reviewed and approved by the Head Master.”
It was the first time Kenneth witnessed Mr. Austin’s stern demeanor and he wanted to take the nearest weapon he could find and bash in his head. Being relieved was just as bad as being shunned from The Brotherhood forever and the old man knew that. His decision ruined any chances of Kenneth being promoted in the future. Plus, choosing his assistant, JoAnne, to take his place was a slap in the face.
Kenneth needed to know why the Dark Curse had everyone, including Mr. Austin, taking cautious measures. He refused to let the old man’s decision step in the way of his plan. He had to go.
“May I ask why I’m being relieved instead of reprimanded?” Kenneth asked.
Mr. Austin pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “Your actions, Kenneth.”
‘Actions’ meant more than going over Mr. Austin’s head, ignoring the Chain of Command.
Kenneth watched Mr. Austin dial a number on his phone and place it up to his ear, realizing that he called the Minneapolis Chapter to inform them of the change. Once he finished, Kenneth expected his bodyguards to escort him from the office to the opposite side of the building where ‘relieved’ Brotherhood members went. The area; the holding cells, were nothing more than a penitentiary were they took researchers who betrayed the organization. There he had to wait until they decided his fate. There wouldn’t be any trials and jury. He wouldn’t be judge by his peers. Best case scenario, the organization would ostracized and kick him out forever. Worst case scenario, they would keep him and question him through various means; one being torture. It wasn’t something The Brotherhood did frequently this day and age. In the past, if they wanted to rid themselves of a member, they called in their mercenaries to do the dirty work.
“I know you don’t have to tell me but I’d like to know what we’re dealing with when it comes to this tablet.” Kenneth waited for Mr. Austin but he didn’t answer. “I have the right to know.”
Mr. Austin remained quiet listening to his cell phone.
They heard a loud rumble just outside the office followed by JoAnne screaming. Kenneth quickly rushed to the door and opened it slightly. He saw JoAnne hunkered underneath an office desk. Floating papers littered the air and the lights above began to flicker. He heard more commotion to his right, just outside two double doors, which led to the main elevators.
“JoAnne, what’s going on?” Kenneth whispered to her.
She shrugged her shoulders. Her
mouth trembled as she spoke. “All I saw was a blur and people flying through the air.”
“Close the door,” Mr. Austin ordered.
Kenneth closed the door and locked it.
Mr. Austin slowly lowered his phone. “It’s Selene.” His bodyguards drew in close to Mr. Austin. They all pulled out sharp wooden stakes from underneath their dark trench coats.
It couldn’t be possible. Deamhan breaking into Brotherhood headquarters had happened several times in the past, the most recent being in Chicago decades ago. Since then, the organization prepared itself in case it happened again.
A computerized female voice came over the loud speaker:
Code Three. Code Three. All available personnel, head to the armory immediately.
At first Kenneth couldn’t recall the distress codes he’d learned as a student when growing up within The Brotherhood. He was an A student who excelled in every subject from the history of the Deamhan to how to kill one.
Code One. Deamhan watch. Prepare for possible attack.
Code Two. Deamhan threat imminent.
Code Three. Deamhan intruder.
The screams grew louder and he cautiously stepped toward the glass window. He pulled back the blinds just in time to see blood splatter on the outside window. He stepped back, feeling his body beginning to shut down, his feet glued to the floor in fright.
“Where are your stakes?” Mr. Austin whispered to him.
He reached for the stake he’d always carried with him in his pocket but he paused then pointed to his desk. “Top drawer to the right.” If it was Selene, he needed to protect himself.
Who was he fooling? Selene was fast enough to take him, Mr. Austin, and his bodyguards out in one swoop without breaking a sweat. It was every man for himself. But she wouldn’t kill him because she needed to get the missing piece. That was the only reason she came back to the headquarters.
Before Mr. Austin moved, the office door blew open and a gust of wind engulfed them.
A bloodied Selene stood in the doorway, gripping JoAnne by the arm. Her natural reddish hair covered the left side of her face while blood covered her right hand. Her tenebrous eyes changed back to a natural green color while they inspected the bodyguards, Mr. Austin, and eventually, Kenneth.
“Sorry for the intrusion but I couldn’t resist.” She swiped the blood covered strands of her hair back, finally revealing her whole face.
Mr. Austin reached to pull open the top desk drawer but she stopped him by clearing her throat. “Think twice before you reach for your stake,” she said in a calm voice.
Mr. Austin stopped.
The voice over the loud speaker continued.
Code Three. Code Three.
Kenneth watched in shock while Selene caressed JoAnne’s cheek. He saw it in her dancing green eyes that she wanted to kill her.
At that moment, he opened his mind and he let Selene take advantage of his invitation. Kill her.
A devilish smile appeared on Selene’s face. She gripped JoAnne firmly by the neck. JoAnne whimpered for Selene to spare her.
“Selene, don’t hurt her,” Kenneth said, hoping Selene would catch on to his concocted plot.
She did. “But it’s what we Deamhan do.”
“She’s family. Please.”
“Give me a good reason to spare her and I will.”
Kenneth continued to stare at her. Kill that bitch now. In a flash Selene snapped JoAnne’s neck and pushed the body to the floor.
Mr. Austin’s bodyguards moved in but she moved quickly. She snapped the neck of the first bodyguard who approached her. The second bodyguard ran at her with his stake raised in the air. She caught him by the wrist, yanked the stake from his hand, and embedded it in his throat. The third bodyguard didn’t have time to attack. Selene struck him in his chest with her fist, breaking through skin and his ribcage, and exiting through his back.
Kenneth and Mr. Austin watched the bodyguard’s body slump to the floor. Selene wiped her hands as if she had just touched a dirty object. “Now, since I have you two alone.”
Mr. Austin made his move again, reaching for the stakes, but Selene moved in a white blur. She now stood next to him and she pushed him down in the leather chair.
She leaned over Mr. Austin, close enough that her lips slightly touched the side of his cheek when she spoke. “Kenneth, call the front desk and tell them to turn off the loud speaker or I will kill him.”
Kenneth didn’t want to move. He wanted Selene to snap the old man’s neck. He stared at JoAnne’s lifeless body lying on the ground with her empty eyes staring into thin air. He didn’t know what Selene planned to do, whatever it was, he hoped to not be on her ‘to kill’ list.
He felt a quick pressure in his thoughts followed by Selene’s voice. Do it.
Kenneth blocked his thoughts, gained his composure, picked up the phone, and dialed the front desk. “This is Kenneth Dearhorn. Code override six, six, two, four. Stand down. I repeat. This is Kenneth Dearborn. Code override six, six, two, four. Stand down.” He then hung up the phone.
Selene backed away from Mr. Austin and she positioned herself on the edge of the desk. “Looks like I got here just in the nick of time.”
He walked around the desk. “We don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I just saved your career in The Brotherhood,” she replied as she smiled, her teeth stained with blood.
Kenneth could only imagine how many researchers and humans she killed on her way to his office. He pointed to the carnage outside of his office. “Did you have to do that?”
“Yes I did,” she replied. “But he’s still alive.” She pressed her finger into Mr. Austin’s chest. “He’s going to help you look for my missing piece.”
Kenneth turned to Mr. Austin, trying to see if his facial expression could confirm her accusation but the old man didn’t make any eye contact. Instead, he didn’t take his eyes off the Deamhan who stood over him.
“You know if you harm Mr. Austin, The Brotherhood will retaliate.” Kenneth raised his voice.
“I’m counting on it.” She playfully patted Mr. Austin’s head.
Kenneth didn’t entirely trust her and he had every reason not to. From the files The Brotherhood collected on Selene throughout the centuries, they knew her as the Deamhan who killed human and her own alike, especially if they stood in her way. Killing became second nature to her.
She spread her hands over the surface of his desk, feeding off whatever psychic imprint she could pick up with her fingers. “You should stop smoking,” she said to Mr. Austin, “Those cigars have a tart taste.”
“What do you want?” Mr. Austin asked.
“You know what I want. You researchers have a piece of the Dark Curse tablet.”
“That tablet was destroyed centuries ago,” he replied.
“You’re lying again.” She drummed her fingers on the surface of the desk. “I can tell by your heartbeat.”
Mr. Austin clenched his teeth. “Even if we knew where the piece was, we wouldn’t tell you.”
She flicked her carrot hair back over her shoulder. “Well, there’s one way to find out.” She raised her arm and her hands formed into a solid fist. Quickly, she struck him across the face and his body fell out of the chair and onto the floor.
Kenneth kneeled down next to Mr. Austin. “You killed him?!” He checked his pulse, finding it still there. He stood up. “Why didn’t you kill him?”
“Please. You’re an idiot if you think I’d let him get off that easily.” She grabbed Mr. Austin by the arm. “Then again, you are an idiot.” She began to drag him out of the office.
Kenneth balled up his fist. He wanted to reach for the stake in his pocket. “I knew I couldn’t trust you.”
Selene chuckled. “You can thank me later for saving your career.” She opened the door of the office.
****
“Why do you want this tablet?” Kenneth pressed the ‘down’ button for the elevator. He glanced around the annih
ilated environment that resembled little of a work area. Body parts lay strewn across the floor and the work desks. Once brown, the carpet soaked up the blood of his coworkers. He placed his hand over the pocket of his jeans, checking the spare stake, still hidden.
“Just find the piece I need,” she answered.
“What if Mr. Austin told you was the truth? What if we don’t have it?”
“Then you’re no use to me.”
Kenneth’s suspicions grew. “What? You’re just going to kill everyone here?”
“Maybe just Veronica’s father. I haven’t decided yet.” She then retorted. “You do want me to kill him eventually, right?”
The elevator door opened.
“Your talents are wasted here. You would make a great minion.” She lifted Mr. Austin’s body over her shoulder. “You should be happy that I chose you instead of killing you.”
“Happy?” Kenneth smirked. “Your type don’t know the meaning of the word.”
The elevator doors closed.
While they descended to the basement of the building, he closed his eyes. He had to think. Why was this tablet so important for Selene to enter The Brotherhood and kill everyone in her way? She knew The Brotherhood would retaliate, even at the cost of Mr. Austin’s life.
She caught onto his thoughts. “I’ve told you before, don’t worry about why the tablet is important to me.”
He straightened his shoulders and he stood tall. “Excuse me for being curious. I mean, you came all the way out here to San Diego, to Brotherhood headquarters risking your life for it. Must be of some importance.”
She turned to look at him. Her eyes turned dark and she glazed her pink tongue over her teeth. “Something like that.”
Her actions continued to baffle him but he stopped thinking about it. For now he knew he had to play along.
“When any living creature has a strong desire, they do whatever they can do to obtain it as long as they don’t sacrifice themselves in return. Humans are really good at it while Deamhan struggle with the sense of self-preservation or annihilation.” She dropped Mr. Austin’s body to the floor. “You have that desire. I sensed it from you before I even met you. You will do whatever it takes to become president of the Midwest Division.” She moved her hand toward his cheek but he grabbed her by the wrist. “I can break into the Brotherhood as you see but I can’t get into the Archives. You can.” She reached for his face again and he immediately grabbed his spare stake. He moved it upward as she moved in.
Dark Curse (Deamhan Chronicles Book 2) Page 12