Anastasia felt her canines extend to a fine point at the sight of Selene. Her rage began to boil inside her and she struggled to contain it.
“Yes,” Lucius replied.
Selene motioned for her minion, Jessica, to leave and the human returned to the elevator.
Still unsatisfied as to why Lucius kept Deamhan in cages, Anastasia rubbed her chin. “You shouldn’t be surprised that Deamhan have came to the city to stand up against you and Selene. Killings, torture, sanctuary decimation...”
Selene’s eyes drifted to her. “I forgot. You’re the expert on those subjects, aren’t you? We’re trying to do what is best for all Deamhan.” She grinded her teeth. “Your sire was also made by the same Ramanga who sired Silvanus. That same Ramanga was sired by Kyra. You see where I’m going with this?”
“No. I don’t.” Dubious of her answer, Anastasia caught her words as they scrambled in her throat. Again, she found herself walking a thin line and she had to calm down. Both Lucius and Selene proved strong enough to kill her if she stood against them.
“Think harder. You of all people know what happened in London back in the last part of the 1800s. You remember that time as if it happened yesterday.”
Anastasia didn’t want to remember those days. In fact, she buried what she had done in her mind, hoping to forget about how she sired the descendant of the Kashshapu who created the Dark Curse for her own gain and against Silvanus’ wish. How she betrayed her own offspring to save her own skin.
“To this day I regret the decisions I made in the past,” Anastasia replied. “I had to do what I had to do. I knew that sacrifices had to be made in order for me to survive.”
Lucius placed his hand on her shoulder. “We aren’t holding that against you. Like many Deamhan in those days, you followed orders, not knowing the implications. You would think, as the oldest Deamhan on the planet, Kyra would join us and support us for what we’re trying to do.” He shook his head. “But she doesn’t care about the plight. She only cares about keeping the Deamhan world the way it is. She wants to remain the oldest.”
“Maybe she knew the dangers.” Anastasia couldn’t believe the words flowing from her mouth. Again, she had to be careful.
Lucius turned and started to walk toward the back. “I have one more thing to show you.”
She followed Lucius and Selene down the grated walkway. Near the back, on their left was a small office and more wooden pallets and other debris stacked against the back walls.
He opened the door of the office. “In Limbo, the Pure Ones showed me a vision.” His tone then changed into a deep unsettled voice. “They showed me the future; what awaited Deamhan. I saw Ramanga and Lamia staked against wooden walls. Metusba and Lugat tortured and tied to metal fences by The Brotherhood. I saw the rise of vampires who kidnapped Deamhan, placing them in large holding facilities with retractable roofs, waiting for the sun to rise. It was a warning of our future. We need the Pure Ones in order to survive.”
His explanation didn’t sound like a future Anastasia wanted to experience. But nothing stopped the Pure Ones from placing fake memories inside his mind. How could they see the future anyway? It wasn’t part of the ‘gifts’ they possessed.
She walked in, not prepared for the gruesome sight inside the office. On a table she saw Kei, his face covered in puncture marks, with his arms stretched overhead with wooden spikes lodged into his wrists and his feet. A long gash ran from his left ear to the middle of his cheek and another scar traveled from the base of his hair line to his left eye. He looked weak and he hadn’t eaten in days, maybe weeks, from the color of his grayish skin. He moved his head to the left. Tears streamed down his face and scratch marks enveloped the right side of his neck.
Kei’s calamitous situation startled Anastasia. Both Lucius and Selene told her that they no longer looked for him, but there he was. She held back her desire to take one of the stakes pinning him to the table and shoving it into his heart.
“Where did you find him?”
“In Oklahoma of all places,” Selene answered. “Trying to hide with one of his weak offspring.”
“Why haven’t you killed him yet?” Anastasia looked to Lucius.
“Oh he will die, but not now.” Lucius stared down at Kei.
Selene stood over Kei and scowled at his wounds. He opened his mouth to speak, but blood bubbled from his throat and streamed down the side of his face. “In exchange for placing Lucius in Limbo, Kei agreed to help Amenirdis find the Dark Curse but he went back on his word.” She took off her leather jacket and dropped it to the floor.
“What?” Anastasia couldn’t believe what she heard.
Selene swiped away the excess lint from the front of her long dress and gathered her reddish hair in one tight grip, placing it in a ponytail. “Kei will pay for betraying her.”
Anastasia knew the history between Selene and Kei all too well. Selene hated Kei with a passion since the day Lucius sired him. As Kei’s sire, Lucius cared for him and treated him like the son he never had. By betraying Lucius, Selene considered Kei’s life to be null and void. What Anastasia didn’t quite understand was how Lucius could follow the orders of the Pure Ones knowing that they placed him in Limbo in exchange for Kei to do their bidding.
Their conversation was cut short by Kei coughing up more blood. They watched it pour from his mouth. He then chuckled. “You’re fucking idiots if you think releasing the Pure Ones will save us all.”
Quickly Selene slapped him across the face. “Be careful how you speak, Kei. You’ve already overstepped your bounds.”
Kei continued to laugh as he replied, “Always so headstrong, Selene. That’s what Lucius likes about you. You’re willing to get what you want whatever the cost. However, like humans, you’re also absentminded. You really don’t know who you’re dealing with.”
Selene didn’t respond to Kei’s reply as quickly this time. Instead her eyes changed from green to black and she remained silent, still fixated on him.
“The Brotherhood won’t give you the piece,” Kei continued, “even if you have him.”
“Have who?” Anastasia questioned as she witnessed Selene’s eyes bubbling in anger. She had seen it before, in the past, when it was directed at her. Selene wanted to rip him apart, piece by piece.
Selene turned and walked over to the wall. She opened a small door to a safe and she pulled out a remote. She pointed it to the wall and she gently pressed on a red button. “Him.”
The wall began to pull back, slowly exposing a chained up and withered Mr. Austin against a wooden façade in the form of a cross. Like humans held in Ramanga sanctuaries, needles stuck rudely in his arms, siphoning out every ounce of blood that he had. The blood traveled through the small hoses and disappeared into drilled holes at his feet. Stunned, Anastasia’s mouth dropped in awe.
Selene approached Mr. Austin’s unconscious body and she gripped his chin. “The Brotherhood has one piece of the tablet.” She retrieved a vial from the safe and she spoke again, “They have two more nights to hand it over to us or this one dies.”
At that moment Anastasia thought only of Veronica and just as quickly she forced the thought from her mind. Again, she had to play along. “What if they don’t find it or refuse to give it to you?” She folded her arms against her chest.
“Then we will kill them all,” Lucius answered. “And we will kill their husbands and wives, daughters and sons, grandmothers and grandfathers.” Lucius placed a vial underneath the spout. The blood poured in, filling it to the rim, and he handed it to Anastasia. “Drink.”
Anastasia eyed the drink before downing the blood in one gulp.
He pulled another vial from the safe and again handed it to her. “You’re going to need your strength when you go to Chicago.”
She lifted the vial to her lips. “Chicago?”
“That is where Kyra is hiding.”
The memory came back to her and she couldn’t believe that she’d totally ignored the fact that Nathan was
in Chicago as well.
She closed her eyes and again she downed the blood. She felt it work its magic and her body began to rejuvenate. She opened her eyes slowly, realizing that somehow she had to get the hell out of this situation before they decided to kill her as well.
1
DARK CURSE. DEAMHAN CHRONICLES #2
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Remy gently helped Veronica to her feet. He watched quietly as she straightened her shirt and regained her posture.
She looked around. “Where’s Hallie?”
Remy also scanned the area when he heard Hallie’s fast traveling footsteps in the distance. “She should be here any second.”
In an instant Hallie appeared in front of them. A wide grin appeared on her face and her eyes expanded to the size of coke bottles. “Oh my God. I’m so fast!” She lifted her hands in the air in celebration.
He smiled at his new protégé. “That happens after you’ve had human.”
They had just traveled in Deamhan speed from Blind Bluff Manor to Dinkytown located northeast from the University of Minnesota. The last time Remy had taken Veronica in such a manner he had given her Sensual Appetite to curb her sickness, but this time he didn’t have any to help her.
“Just a few blocks this way.” Remy walked to the end of the alley with Veronica and Hallie following him.
Hallie stood to Veronica’s right, cautiously staring back at her. “You look sick.”
Veronica raised her head and she straightened her posture. “I’m fine.” She looked at Remy and he stared back at her.
“Are you sure?” He scanned her from head to toe with his eyes. “You look a little woozy to me.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Are you sure this is the right location?”
He nodded “This is what Lambert told me. Let’s not waste any more time.”
They walked out of the alley and Veronica turned her head to the left then to the right. A woman walked by followed by a man who passed in the opposite direction. They stopped at a crosswalk and just to their right were tall brick brown buildings and a sign signaling the entryway to the University.
“Welcome to Dinkytown.” Remy raised his hands into the air. “Where college students spend their afternoons away from the challenges of their homework.”
They crossed the street and walked away from the university grounds. Blocks away they found themselves in the heart of fraternity and frat houses. The farther they walked from the University, the emptier the streets became.
“What if your source is wrong?” Veronica asked.
“Well a Deamhan lives there, that’s for certain,” Remy replied. Just what Deamhan is the real question. “I kind of wish it’s Ollie. After I stole a vial of Sensual Appetite from him last year, our friendship hasn’t been the same.” He stopped and turned his head right to an abandoned house. “Poor, poor Ollie.” He climbed the steps. “He’s never been able to hide from me.” They walked up to the door and he placed his hand on the knob. “Remember what I told you.”
She shot him an irritated look. Before they left Blind Bluff Manor, he explained to her the importance of remaining quiet and letting him do the talking. If Kei was in the house, Remy was old and strong enough to catch him. There was a high probability that Kei was on edge, fearful about being found by Lucius and Selene.
He immediately kicked and the door fell back, revealing an empty, dirty, and disordered dark interior. The smell of mold and rotten eggs infiltrated his nostrils almost immediately. Even though the area was dark, it didn’t interfere with his Deamhan eyesight.
Unable to see, she gripped his arm tightly.
Finding her reaction amusing, he whispered. “Watch out for the pile of trash.”
The further they walked into the abandoned home, the lighter the scenery became. Veronica saw an old couch with missing cushions settled in the corner of the room. She saw a busted light bulb still screwed in its socket on the ceiling and ahead of them a staircase with broken stairs.
Suddenly Hallie jerked her head to the right. “What’s that smell?”
Remy also picked up on the scent. “Mildew I think.”
Veronica walked forward, treading lightly so as to not create any noise. Even her human hearing picked up on a faint rustling sound coming from the back of the house, which Remy also heard. Someone or something was there. He motioned for her to stay still and he headed in the direction of the noise.
“Come out, come out wherever you are,” he taunted.
The faint noise turned into quick footsteps and suddenly Remy increased his pace down the dark hallway, jumping over empty cardboard boxes and a broken chair with Veronica and Hallie close behind him. They stopped in the kitchen and scanned the room.
Quickly Hallie pointed through a broken glass window just above the kitchen sink. “Someone’s back there!”
They caught a quick glance of a short, pudgy figure, carrying a suitcase in hand, quickly walking away from the house. In a breeze, Remy disappeared from Veronica’s side, only to reappear outside, standing in front of the figure.
Hallie grabbed Veronica’s hand and she pulled her to the back door. With her Deamhan strength, she kicked it. The door flew off its hinges and Hallie ran at the figure full charge. Only when Veronica stepped outside, did she realize that the unknown figure was Ollie. He was dressed in a long brown trench coat. He dropped his suitcase to the ground and it popped open, spilling its contents onto the dirt. Vials filled with colored liquid rolled around them, coming to a slow stop.
Remy gripped Ollie by his throat and he held him still in place. “It’s been awhile friend.” He ripped off Ollie’s hat, noticing he had shaved off his brown hair. He then pushed the pudgy Deamhan to the ground. “Where were you going?”
Ollie laid his head back on the ground and exhaled. “I was on my way to see you.” His lips formed into a halfcocked smile. He looked at Veronica who stood in the doorway. “You’re still hanging around that human?”
“Mind your manners.” Remy increased his grip. “Her name is Veronica.”
Ollie let out several grunts, which sounded like a choking cat.
Veronica folded her arms over her chest. “Where’s Kei?”
“Kei? I don’t know.”
“Are you lying to me?” Remy said.
Ollie grinned. “I don’t know, really.”
Remy noticed that Ollie’s body had slightly deteriorated. His skin looked like wax and had sunken in, revealing his cheekbones. He hadn’t fed in weeks.
“I’m not lying.” His grin did little to change his predicament. “I don’t know what the hell is going on in this city anymore and I don’t care. I’m leaving this hellhole as soon as possible.”
“Well, this city isn’t going to miss you,” Remy replied.
“That’s the point. I want to be as far away as possible from Lucius and Selene.”
He released his grip. “I thought you were best buddies with them now?”
“Funny, Remy.” Ollie rubbed his neck. “You know I’ve never liked them, especially Selene. They threatened to kill me unless I handed over my warehouse to them.”
“So you just handed it over without a fight?”
“What else could I do? Have you seen them lately? They’re freakin’ scary.”
“Everyone scares you Ollie.”
“No, not like that. I mean, they’re on some cloud nine shit right now.”
Remy placed his foot on Ollie’s chest, pinning him to the ground. Without taking his eye off him, he spoke to Veronica. “Do me a favor and grab the nearest stick you can find. Any size will do.”
Ollie’s eyes widened. “No, wait a minute Remy. Don’t!”
Veronica searched the ground for a stick. She found a warped one near the back of the house and she handed it to Remy, who raised it in preparation to strike over Ollie’s heart.
“So tell me what you know about Lucius and Selene.” Remy leaned in close to Ollie’s neck and he whispered in his ear. “And don’t lie to me.”
Ollie nodded frantically. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll tell you what I know.”
He lowered his stick. “Talk.”
“Okay. After Lucius was freed from Limbo he came to my warehouse; trashed everything. He said that he was ushering in some new Deamhan era.”
“Deamhan era?”
“Yeah, that’s what he said.”
Remy rubbed his chin. “Not good enough.” He raised the stick in preparation to strike.
“Wait! There’s more!” Ollie’s eyes began to slowly turn black. “So all of a sudden Lucius comes back with Selene and they took my warehouse and kicked me out on the street. I mean, it looked like Lucius but he smelled different.”
“Different?”
“Yeah, like his scent...you can’t miss it, you know? So now your girl Anastasia is with them and they’re going around, destroying sanctuaries. What I heard is that they’re looking for something old.”
“Is that it?” Remy lowered his weapon close to Ollie’s chest.
“No! There’s more. I also heard that Selene has her father.” His eyes reverted to Veronica.
“What?” She rushed over to them. “What did you say?”
“Selene went to San Diego and kidnapped your father because The Brotherhood has a piece of the Dark Curse.”
“The what?” Veronica asked.
“The Dark Curse,” Ollie repeated. “You’re a researcher. You should know what that is.”
Remy dropped the piece of wood. “What the hell is that?”
“None of you know?” Ollie swallowed hard.
“If I knew I wouldn’t be asking you now, would I?” Remy answered. “So enlighten us.”
“Okay.” Ollie took a deep breath. “It’s a curse of some kind.”
“A curse for whom?” Remy’s eyes squinted.
“Deamhan.”
Remy chuckled. “I don’t believe in magic.”
“And I thought I was the dumb one,” Ollie spoke.
He gripped Ollie by the throat but Veronica interrupted him. “I need to know why Selene took my father.”
“Ollie’s lying. Selene wouldn’t have the balls to...” Remy paused just short of finishing his statement. He recanted. “Yeah, she would have the balls to do that.” He released Ollie. “I thought you no longer cared about your father?”
Dark Curse (Deamhan Chronicles Book 2) Page 15