The Vampire's Spell: Alone with The Night (Book 6)

by Lucy Lyons

  “Somehow I figured they’d be bypassing customs,” I hissed at Clay. “Did you plan for the time this is going to take?”

  “Have a little faith Caroline. I know you’re used to running things, but sometimes, you need to just let it go.” He was teasing me, but I took it to mean that he had it handled, and I shut up. Then the plane door opened and the gangway was pushed up and locked into place. My heart started to pound before the first passenger deplaned, and it took all my admittedly limited self-control, not to reach out with my power and get a better idea of who, and how many, to expect to come through the doorway.

  “I know what you’re thinking, Caroline. Just sit tight, and don’t blow our cover by shoving magic at them. You never know when someone on the other end has magic too.”

  I was eternally grateful for his warning when a beautiful woman in a pearl suit stepped through the door and paused on the stairs before descending. Lady Sophia was as graceful as I remembered, moving like a cat, right down to the pauses she made to preen for her all-male audience.

  Never had I shielded so hard as I did then, and cast a low-voltage glamor on the town car to make it uninteresting to her.

  “What the hell do we do if she gets in the damn car, Clay?” I asked through clenched teeth. He didn’t answer, but held a hand out to me in a gesture to stay calm. IT was only a few seconds before I realized why. Somayo, Clay’s old mentor and probably the finest fighter I’d ever known among the Venatores, took the beautiful assassin by the arm and turned her towards the crates that were being pulled out and checked off the Customs agent’s list.

  Somayo hadn’t looked in our direction, either thanks to my glamor, or because he already knew we’d be there. I strongly suspected the second, and delivered a kick to Clay’s calf for not telling me. He glanced down and winked, then stiffened and turned his head. I followed his gaze and my heart dropped. Vladikk Agnarrson, leader of the most violent and zealous hunters, stepped out onto the stairs, right behind the professor. There was no way for him to just walk away without Vladikk seeing him, and even from a hundred feet away I could see the worry etched into his age-lined face.

  “Well, hell,” I muttered. I slid the coat I’d shed in the backseat back over my shoulders and climbed out behind Clay. “Remember that movie, ‘Mystery Men’, where the kid was only invisible when no one was looking?” I said, reminding him of an ancient comedy we’d watched together back in high school.

  “Oh God. Yes, I remember. Why?”

  “Let’s hope that this doesn’t turn out like that. Wish me luck.” I drew my power into me, instead of casting outward. It was a trick Nicholas had been trying to teach me for months, without much success. I shielded myself against reaching out to him, so I couldn’t ruin my own concentration, then sucked the last bit of my magical energy deep inside me, where it coiled like a snake, ready to strike.

  Then I just walked towards the professor as though I was supposed to be there. I felt Vladikk notice me and like a whip, all that magic sprang out, wrapping around me like a shroud tight against my skin. I used all my control to prevent the bleed off that would make Sophia turn around, and when I reached the bottom of the stairs, I held out my hand to the professor, who took it and stared at me in disbelief. I pivoted and we walked back to the car together, his hand on my arm, me counting the steps to help my concentration.

  As soon as Clay and the open sedan door blocked me from view, I climbed in, clutching at the expended power and praying I could hold onto it until we were far enough away that it wouldn’t tip off the several black-clad, armed guards who were stationed between us and the artifacts.

  “Thank God the guards were watching the goods, not you,” I finally gasped as we passed the mile mark and I released the pent-up power with a sigh of relief. The car swerved and Clay swore in the front seat, and I held my breath until he got right on the road again.

  “Was that you Caroline, or are we about to be disintegrated by the Wicked Witch of the East?”

  “Sorry Clay, I held it as long as I could, but I had to let that power go. I don’t know how to discreetly pull that kind of energy back into me.”

  The professor made an explosive sound and rubbed his hands over his face. “That was the most amazing thing I think I’ve ever seen you do,” he acknowledged. It was like the poster shot from an action movie. You, striding towards us, duster flying out behind you, supreme confidence in your face.” He chuckled. “I don’t think you blinked.”

  “I couldn’t, I was putting everything I had into controlling the glamor so Sophia didn’t feel it,” I confessed. “That was the scariest thing I’ve ever done, and I’m not sure I want Nick to find out.”

  “Well, we have to meet up with the other car, split up, and get back to the club. Someone else is bound to beat us, even if they stick around to load the truck.” I waited for the punchline to the joke, but Clay fell silent, and Eldritch just shrugged his shoulders at me. We’d finally passed the point of no return, and I didn’t know how many of my people had made it out behind us.

  Chapter 8

  I jolted straighter in my seat. “You don’t think they will, do you?” I asked, a hundred scenarios of violence and death flying through my brain in quick succession. “It didn’t occur to me to make sure you had an exit strategy,” I huffed. “What if they’re still there when Sophia notices the professor is missing and she starts examining them?”

  “Don’t worry, Caroline. We’ve got it covered. Fin was curious about the shipment, and you know it’s a whole lot easier for the rats to hide what they are.” I met Clay’s eyes in the rearview as he spoke.

  “That’s true, I mean we had a wererat in the Venatores and I never felt a thing.” I settled back in my seat and nibbled on my thumbnail. “I was less than five feet from Vladikk and he didn’t see me,” I said aloud in a hushed tone. I glanced at the professor and he smiled.

  “Yes, you did.”

  “I was three freaking steps away from Vladikk, and I whisked you right out from under his nose. Ooh, he’s going to be so mad,” I giggled. My head was light from the adrenaline rush fading, and I felt like I was floating. “Do you have the documents with you?”

  “I have them right here,” the professor replied, patting the right breast of his jacket. Somayo is a handy tailor, did you know that?” I shook my head and he chuckled. “He sewed them shut to prevent shifting and bulges, so we’ll have to wait until we get back to the club to get to them.”

  “I’d be happy to tear them out for you,” I offered, and was answered with a glare.

  “I like this jacket. Don’t touch it.” I covered a laugh with cough and then laughed aloud when he scowled at me and crossed his arms over his chest to protect his coat.

  “We’re at the meeting point, and I’m not going to ruin your old-man sports coat,” I teased. “Do you want to ride with Clay on his bike, or with whoever is driving the car?”

  “I’ll take the car, thanks.” I climbed out after him and Clay took off in the luxury sedan, to leave it in a parking lot somewhere he knew he could avoid the many traffic cameras around the city.

  Meiko was driving, and I gave him a sidelong stare as I climbed in the passenger seat, leaving the back for the professor to sprawl out in. The wererat put it in gear and gently pulled away from the curb.

  “I’m Meiko, professor. I’ll be your driver until we hand you over to the wolf pack for protection. If you need me to make a stop before we get to the club, just let me know.”

  “Nice to meet you, Meiko. I think I’m okay, so long as that club of yours hasn’t run out of scotch.” I barked out a surprised laugh.

  “I’m offended, Professor. I assure you, I have all the scotch.” His chuckle floated up to me in the front seat.

  “Then you’d better get me back quickly, so our resident sorceress doesn’t have a meltdown waiting for her documents.” Meiko scoffed and I gave him a dirty look.

  “I have to ask,” he blurted, ignoring the daggers I was shooting at him f
rom my eyes. “Why don’t you guys just send things via email? You know, private server?”

  “Because we can’t access technology in the Vatican without being instantly caught, Meiko,” I explained, trying to keep the snark out of my voice. “The only way those papers were getting out, was on that plane.”

  The car fell into an uneasy silence with me staring out the passenger window and ignoring our driver the best I could, wishing I could sneak a peek at the treasure hidden in the professor’s tweed monstrosity of a jacket.

  I felt Meiko’s relief as we pulled into the underground parking for Pulse and he slowly rolled into the employee section, where we parked a dozen cars that everyone shared. He opened the door for the professor and retreated before I could ask him to do anything else, leaving Eldritch looking at me like I’d just kicked a kitten.

  “What did you do to him?”

  “He received an object lesson on why he shouldn’t underestimate the Venatores, then I kept him back from the front line for our mission today.” I waved my hand and changed the subject. “Did you know there were almost twenty shapeshifters involved in your kidnapping today?”

  Eldritch laughed aloud. “Kidnapping, huh?” I shrugged and grinned at him.

  “It sounds so much more nefarious to say we kidnapped you. I was even thinking of taking credit for it somehow, but I can’t figure out a way to do it without bringing world war III down on us.”

  “Well, thank you for not doing that. Somayo has an excuse ready for when they ask, and I’ll contact them from Hawaii when Henny and I get there, and tell them I’m just done.” I clapped my hands and made a girly noise that normally would’ve made me ashamed.

  “I’ll admit I had a little romantic fantasy going on in my head about you and Henny, but Hawaii blows it right out of the water.” I skipped a few steps and he chuckled.

  “I remember a time when you didn’t like me all that much,” he reminded me, and I lost a little of the happy, glow-y feeling that I’d had.

  “From what I understand, all teenagers hate their parent-figures at some point. You just had the misfortune of being the closest thing I had to a parent.” I kept walking, then jerked to a stop when I realized he hadn’t come with me. “Professor, we need to get you inside. Even if they don’t know you’re here, the Venatores are always snooping around.”

  “I’m sorry, Caroline,” he said, catching up in a few quick steps. “All the time you were growing up, I was extra hard on you because I could tell you were special, and Henny agreed when I had her check on you on the sly.”

  “It’s okay, really. Not scarred for life or anything,” I teased, but it fell short of lightening his somber expression.

  “You were always so strong, I forgot you didn’t have a real family to go home to. I know David’s parents took care of your physical needs, but if I’d known you needed me…” he paused and I faced him with a sigh.

  “Most days, I like who I am, professor. I’m proud that I love people and I’m loyal and honest and I don’t put up with garbage from toxic people.” I tugged at my holster while I tried to come up with the right words. “I learned a lot of who I am, from you. Not Dominique and her machinations, not Simi with her grace and genius, not even Clay, though I suspect if you were having this conversation with him, he’d say the same things.”

  Eldritch kicked at an oil stain on the concrete floor and looked at his shoes instead of me. I watched the entrance for signs of trouble while he composed himself and glanced back at him when he cleared his throat.

  “Caroline, I know the school discouraged the students from having any familial ties. But we’re both adults and neither are Venatores anymore. If it makes you more comfortable, you can call me Bill.” I tested the name out in my head, realizing I’d never considered the professor having a first name. In typical kid fashion, I hadn’t been curious at all about who he was outside of the hard-nosed teacher I knew.

  “Okay, prof… Bill. I’ll try. I might just have to stick with professor, though. It’s the only name I’ve ever known. I don’t always feel like an adult,” I admitted. “Like when I’m getting all excited to prank the Venatores.” He laughed at me and offered me a one-armed, awkward hug.

  “You really want to read the scrolls, don’t you?” he asked, and I groaned in frustration.

  “I really, really do. Can we go inside now?” he gestured me ahead of him and I strode toward the heavy steel door that led into the storage room, dubbed ‘the booze room’ by the employees for the crates of alcohol we kept back there for the bar.

  No sooner had my hand touched the handle, then the door flew open and I was jerked through the opening, the beginning of a scream dying on my lips as Nick crushed my mouth under his. I beat against his chest with my fist, but my lips parted for him and he delved deeper, until I was oblivious of where we were, or the safety of the professor.

  When he finally released me, I gasped and tottered on my feet, leaning against him to brace myself against falling.

  Damn you, Nick, I have scrolls to translate, a wedding to plan, and I’m sure we just embarrassed the professor, I silently chided him. he grinned and looked past me toward the door, where the professor had been standing.

  “He’s already on his way downstairs. Dominique’s waiting to get him settled in, and Rachel and Colette are on hand to assist with translations and keep an eye on your mentor,” he detailed, and I gave him my best side-eye.

  “She was your friend first, remember? You’re the one who keeps giving her more rope. Just don’t be surprised when she hangs herself,” I reminded him, despite the warning look in his eyes. Nick swatted my ass and pressed the call button for the elevator to the depths of the compound under the club.

  “Are you prepared for this to not go the way you want it to?” he asked. I knew he meant well, but I was tired of being cynical and paranoid and planning for the worst to happen every second. I realized that the hopeful optimism I felt was his, and for a moment, I wondered if I really wanted to just be me again.

  “You know the rule, hope for the best, expect the worst.” I recited. “Besides, who walked right up to the scariest vampire hunter she knows and snatched the professor from right in front of his eyes? This girl!” I boasted, pointing at myself as I struck a pose in the elevator car.

  Nick’s eyes got round, but thankfully, he chose not to reprimand me for taking the chances I had. The elevator whooshed open to the bustle of activity that the patrons of Pulse would never have understood.

  Upstairs, they got scantily clad vampires dancing in plexiglass coffins. Down here, those same vamps wore their oversized sweatpants and their hair up in messy buns, as they cleaned weapons, swept floors, and practiced the crafts that some of them had spent centuries mastering, from weaving tapestries to watercolor painting.

  I loved the hidden lives of my vampire family, and one day, I wanted the world to see my clan as I did, so they wouldn’t have to hide behind the premise that they didn’t truly exist. I’d lived that life in the Venatores. I knew how painful and demeaning it was to live, pretending that you were something less, without clothe color and vibrancy that make you who you are.

  The conference room was dark as we passed it, and I followed Nick toward the guest suite I’d had set up for the professor. As we drew near, I heard Dominique’s familiar, sweet laugh. Not the full, throaty laugh that could be startled out of her, but her manufactured laugh, reserved for primarily men, especially those in power, or the ones she wanted something from.

  I had no idea why the texts were so important to her, or the Night Mother, for that matter. But it meant that I’d be keeping a close eye on her, and making sure she didn’t try to skew our path to her own purpose.

  Chapter 9

  Sure enough, Dom was draped over the corner of the bed, tittering at some joke Eldritch had made while Colette pored over the documents spread across the table near the fireplace. She ushered me over with a frantic wave of her hand, and I hurried past the others without greeting
them.

  “I’ve been holding onto this for so long, it feels like I’m going to burst. But, I wasn’t going to tell anyone before I told you,’ she babbled.

  “It’s been, like five minutes, Colette.” I put my hand over hers, forgetting for a moment that she might still be suffering from the touch of necromancy. I pulled away quickly and she sighed, then turned the delicate papyrus toward me.

  “It’s about the Night Mother, I think. There’s no mention of her name, but who else do we know of, who defied the council and got her wings clipped?”

  “The Queen of Vampires could fly? Okay, Nick can do that too, so no big there.”

  “Caroline, the Queen of Vampires could do everything.” She ran her finger down the scroll as if searching for a specific section. “Ha, right here. This is a story of how she gave up some of her powers to other council members. They complained that they couldn’t fly or call animals or walk in the daylight, so she literally gifted one of her main talents to each of her children.” I held up a hand for her to stop.

  “Woah. Her children? The council are her children, and they locked her away for eternity because she didn’t give up enough of her powers?” I ran my fingers over the scroll. “Well then, they definitely deserved what we’ve been dishing out so far, but is she the forgiving kind of mom, or will she be happy we killed them?”

  “According to the scroll, she’ll be freed once… ah, here. Once the blood of her children has been taken back to the earth from which they came, the Night Mother will rise and rule over the clans.”