by Amber Kallyn
It dawned on him. “She’s my soul mate.”
He’d known, just hadn’t faced it. But Niki had caught him from the first time he’d seen her. She was smart, brave, beautiful. Everything he’d ever wanted in a woman.
“Only if you haven’t screwed it up. I suggest you find that woman and fix it.”
Fix it. Yes. He had to, because if he lost this precious woman... “How?”
His grandmother flicked his ear. “Figure out a way.”
Shane got to his feet and after giving his grandmother a quick hug, he headed for his truck, started it with a roar, and sped towards town.
At the Inn, he was disappointed Niki wasn’t around. The chill night air helped cool him off, so after he started the tracking spell, he decided to walk. Shane had just cleared the parking lot when his instincts alerted him to trouble. He laid his hand on the butt of his gun, but didn’t see anyone. Cautiously, he continued down the sidewalk. His spell finally found Niki, jerking him in the right direction.
Ten minutes later, he was in the small warehouse district. He was still being watched, but it didn’t quite feel malevolent. Besides, his only thought was on finding Niki. He had to find her, explain he’d been an idiot, and his words so wrong—not about her. The magic tugged him in a circle around the block. He searched the night, but couldn’t focus enough to see her aura.
“Niki! I’ll follow any goose chase you send me on. I’m not giving up until we talk.”
The hair on the back of his neck rose. A huge wolf stepped into the streetlight, blue eyes blazing, lips curled back over long teeth.
Behind Shane, something clattered. He turned, keeping an eye on the wolf and the two men coming up from his other side.
Vampires.
What the hell had he walked in the middle of?
“There will be no fighting between you,” he commanded.
“Says who?” the wolf replied gruffly.
“I do.”
The vampires chuckled. “And who are you to order us around?”
“Keeper of this territory, that’s who.”
The vampire on the right paled, but the other just grinned.
The wolf padded closer. “Who said we were going to fight each other?” it asked in its gravelly, distorted voice.
Shane read the intent in its eyes. He slapped his hands together, drawing on the magic beneath his feet. The concrete beneath the wolf’s paws erupted in thin, silvery strands. The vines curled up its legs. The wolf howled and began chewing on them to escape.
Shane spun back to the vampires, but they had disappeared. He held his power tight, blinked to clear his mind and his vision. When he searched the darkness, he pinpointed one dark maroon aura.
With his vision attuned to the natural world, the magic he sent at the vampire was visible. Green light flashed as if moss rapidly spread across the street. It touched the dark aura of the vampire. The man screamed as it ate up his shadowed form, encasing him in a web of vines.
Steps raced up behind him. Before Shane could turn, the other vampire slammed into him, knocking him to the ground.
The vampire stood over him, red eyes flashing, fangs bared. Beside him, the wolf, now free, growled low and jumped on Shane.
Its muzzle slipped beneath his chin and its jaws opened, teeth on his throat.
Shane reached up and shoved his hands on the animal’s chest, then pushed power out.
The wolf flew back, squealing in pain as it crashed against the side of a building.
Jumping to his feet, Shane turned on the second vampire, but again, the guy was hidden. He unholstered his gun, searching the night. He didn’t want to kill them, but if they weren’t going to give him a choice, he would do his duty.
“This is loaded with Keeper bullets,” he warned. They would stop both shifter and vampire. The air stirred. The second vampire flashed through the night, racing for him.
Shane fired.
The bullet exploded in the vampire’s chest. He dropped, rolling and screaming for a long second. Soon, he stilled. The other vampire cried out, tearing from the vines, flying at Shane. He cocked his gun and waited.
The air crackled with power. It washed over Shane, making his skin itch. This wasn’t any ordinary vampire. It was a Master—and not Jordan.
He turned to face the new threat, only to find the area filled with maroon auras. The man had brought backup. He pinpointed the darkest shadow and fired.
He missed.
The Master was faster than the bullet.
He slid the gun in his holster and called his magic. He sent a blast out through the ground. The vampires rushing at him began to stumble, one crying out and falling. Another crashed backwards into the surging group.
Still more advanced. None of Shane’s traps even came close to touching the Master. His magic came slower, responding sluggishly. He was tiring.
He rubbed his hands together, letting the vampires draw closer. Fifteen feet away, they all stopped. Two men in the middle stepped back and Thomas emerged.
He held Niki in his arms, a long, curving blade at her throat. Eyes wide, she looked at Shane with desperation. Her soft whisper carried on the air.
“Let her go.” Shane took a step forward, but the Master tsked.
“Come closer and I will remove her head.”
Shane straightened. “As Keeper of this territory—”
Thomas interrupted, “Why should I care about such things? The Council is nothing to me.” His grip on the knife tightened and Niki gasped.
“What do you want?” Shane’s heart pounded. He stared at Niki, everything inside him wanting to rush forward and jerk her from Thomas’ hands.
But the Master was fast.
He’d never make it.
He slowly edged his palms together.
“Uh, uh. No magic either.” The knife cut into Niki’s neck just enough for a thin red line to appear. “Now, as to what I want. Why, I want you.”
“Fine,” Shane stated without hesitation. “Let her go and you can have me.” Not that he was idiot enough to believe the man would free Niki, but he had to try.
The Master waved at the vampires around him. They crashed into Shane. It took every ounce of willpower not to fight as clawed hands grabbed his hands, his legs, his head. His gun was torn away and pushed out of reach.
The Master strode over and stared down at him. “Humans are so easy.”
He let Niki go. She rose into the air, her body disintegrating into smoke. Shane watched, stunned, then stared at Thomas.
“You’re a mage?”
“Why, yes.”
It had all been illusion. This vampire didn’t have Niki. Shane had given himself up for nothing. The earth pressed against his back and Shane tried to draw on its magic. He didn’t even have time to blink as the Master reached down, arm a blur, and slammed a fist against the
side of Shane’s head.
Chapter Sixteen
A scream rang out a few blocks away. Niki dashed down the street, sniffing the air. Vampire, shifter. Blood.
Red droplets scattered the sidewalk, leading into a shadow filled alley between two warehouses. It had trap written all over it. Yet she had no choice but to enter. She smelled Thomas. If whoever screamed was hurt or in danger...
Power hummed through the air. Shane. He was fighting. Niki’s fangs extended as her blood pumped hot and fast. He might not want her, or trust her, but that didn’t mean she would leave him to fight alone. Besides, this was her fight.
She raced into the darkness of an alley. Nothing moved. Then, a burst of light drew her gaze to the other end.
Shane fought a group of vampires. Wolves circled him, snapping at his legs. He blasted magic at one and the guy fell back. Vines twisted around the wolves’ feet, but they jumped out of reach. Someone rushed in and scratches appeared on Shane’s neck.
Niki screamed in fury and ran forward, barreling into a vampire at Shane’s back.
The creature vanished. She crashed through nothin
g but air and slammed into a brick wall. Stumbling back, she wiped blood from the corner of her mouth, staring at the fight. When she reached out for Shane, he too disappeared.
“What damn magic is this?” She could smell them. Shane, the wolves, vampires and blood.
The ground was soaked red, littered with patches of fur. Shane had been here, yet all that remained was some strange visual remnant of his presence.
Niki sorted out the scents and found Shane’s, man tinged with magic. She followed it out the other side of the alley and onto Main Street.
He’d been captured.
And she knew exactly who had him. Who’d left the little droplets of blood like bread crumbs for her to follow. The crimson trail stopped at the pharmacy. Niki stared into the dark windows. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the unlocked door.
A little bell jingled, announcing her arrival.
So much for being sneaky.
Silently, she slid the short sword from the scabbard on her side and held it by her thigh. The store was empty. Shane’s blood trailed toward the back. She cautiously headed through the pharmacy, alert for those who would be waiting.
No hint of movement broke the air, no sound came to her. But she didn’t buy it.
Near the pharmacist’s counter in the back, she finally heard the tale-tell sounds of others. Below the floor. She reached to push the counter up when a dark shape barreled over it and crashed into her.
Claws slashed down her shoulder, ripping her shirt and gouging her flesh. Musty fur brushed her face. She cried out, stumbling, trying to stay on her feet with the weight of the wolf pushing her back.
Paws scrabbled on the slick, tile floor and she shoved the wolf away.
Niki swung at its face, cutting deep into its silver-furred muzzle. It yelped, backed up, and glowered, lips curled to show long, sharp teeth.
She gripped a silver dagger from her boot and rushed the animal. It chuckled, leaping to meet her charge. She thrust the sword into its belly and let go, then grabbed the scruff of its neck and slid the silver dagger along its muzzle.
The wolf whimpered, in pain from the blade sticking from its belly, but more so from the touch of silver on flesh.
“Where are they?” Niki demanded.
The beast whimpered again, rolling its eyes as if searching for help.
“Tell me.” She rubbed the silver blade over its muzzle.
“Down.” The words were garbled coming from the wolf’s throat.
“How do I get down there?”
Its paws flashed out, claws scratching along her belly and thighs. It twisted against her hold and Niki lost her grip.
The wolf fell on the sword, plunging it all the way through its back.
Niki pushed the stupid thing to its side. Its eyes were glassy from pain, but it would live. Her short sword wasn’t silver and she didn’t plan on finishing the creature. She yanked out her blade, sighing as the wolf passed out.
In the pharmacy’s bandage isle, Niki grabbed a couple rolls of surgical tape and hogtied the wolf’s paws.
One down, who knew how many to go.
Heading through the pharmacists area, she found the office. And inside, on the far wall, stood an open door. Niki crept down wooden stairs, cringing at every squeak and groan. As she reached the bottom, light flooded over her.
* * *
Shane drifted in and out of consciousness. Around him, others cried out in pain. Someone sobbed and an animal whimpered. The air was stale with the stench of vampire, wolf and blood.
He pried his eyes open, realizing magic held him captive.
Shane concentrated, blinking to see the power. It was dark and sickly, tinged black. Not his pure earth magic, but something corrupt and evil.
His hands were bound and hooked above his head to a concrete wall. Numbness spread from his fingers to his back and chest. He called for his magic, but either this place was warded or the power around him was too thick, he couldn’t feel his ties to the earth.
Something brushed against his side and he lifted his heavy head. An emaciated vampire crawled blindly, dry, thin lips drawn back, teeth snapping.
Someone shouted. The vampire was yanked back into the surrounding darkness.
A wolf howled, the sound all pain. Then a vampire began feasting. The slurping sounds made Shane’s stomach shudder.
“She’s here,” a young girl whispered.
“He’ll kill her,” a boy replied.
“No. Niki can beat him.”
“Niki?” Shane yelled.
“Shh.” Soft hands reached above Shane and began tugging on the ropes. “If he hears us, we’ll be in trouble.”
“Where’s Niki?” he growled.
The tugging at his ropes grew more insistent. “Shh.”
The knots loosened and Shane pulled at his numb wrists.
“Stop it,” the girl said. “I’m trying to get you free. She’s going to fight the Master.”
“She’ll die,” the boy keened.
“No, she won’t,” Shane replied, trying to stay still so the girl could release the ropes.
“She might,” the girl said. “But if you help her, maybe the two of you can kill him.” Her hands stopped. “You’ll help us, then, won’t you? You won’t kill us too?”
“Of course not.”
“Master says you’re a Keeper. You’ll kill us all,” the boy cried.
“And Master is a liar.” The girl’s hands brushed Shane’s face. “You smell of truth.”
She yanked hard and the ropes fell from his arms. “I can’t get you out of the magic circle, you’ll have to do that.”
“Thank you,” Shane said, but his senses claimed he was alone.
As he pulled his hands to his lap, Shane’s left arm screamed in agony, his shoulder throbbed. His wrist was broken, the shoulder out of joint. Biting his lip, he set the injured arm on his leg.
As the last of the numbness faded, the pain screamed shrilly in his head, blocking out rational thought. He wouldn’t be able to get out of the magic containing him soon enough with this mind-numbing distraction.
The only thing keeping him together was the image of Niki.
She was facing Thomas. Shane had to save her, from the Master, and herself.
He grabbed his side, palm on the grizzly bear tattoo, and pushed his last remaining strength into the ink. A roar built inside him and burst from his throat, echoing through the room. The noises around him, dim already, faded into nothing. Heat spread over his arm and shoulder, bringing the numbness back. This time, it was warm. He grew lightheaded as the power of the bear healed him.
Then it faded as if it’d never been there.
Shane thanked the great spirit of brother bear. Rolling onto his stomach, he sprawled on the floor, gasping through the nausea.
Niki.
Had to get to her.
Slowly, Shane pushed to his knees and looked at the blackness surrounding him. He gathered the little bit of power still inside him and threw it at the dark magic.
Nothing happened.
* * *
More lights automatically flashed on as Niki headed down yet another cavernous tunnel. She was no longer in a basement beneath the pharmacy. It was as if the entire town stood on top of a vast cave system.
And she was sure she kept going in circles.
She’d only met two vampires and one wolf, so far. Those three were now trussed up and left behind.
She reached a small, circular cave, with tunnels leading in five different directions. She stopped in the center, trying to figure out which way to go.
Screams came from all directions as vampires and wolves flowed out, surrounding her. Niki fought with blades, fangs and claws.
Blood and fur filled the air.
She slashed with dagger and sword, taking blows. Teeth bit into her wrists and legs. Claws gouged her skin.
Refusing to give up, Niki fought harder. Bodies fell, but more came. She slammed her sword into another vampire, then another
. A cry came from behind her, but she couldn’t turn in time.
An iron-spiked fist slammed into the back of her neck and she fell. Then they were on her, ripping her weapons away.
Drenched in blood, Niki stared up into a sea of faces. A wolf in human form grabbed her arms and jerked them behind her back, holding them an inch from breaking, as a vampire took the medical tape and bound her wrists together.
“Come with us before we hurt you more.” The musical voice contradicted the sight of a small girl, only twelve or so, bringing blood drenched fingers to her lips and licking them clean. “The Master wants that pleasure for himself.”
Hands yanked her up and pushed her in the direction of the far right tunnel. She stumbled over the bodies on the floor. As she walked into the darkness, she kicked at the rocky wall. More hands pushed her. A wolf growled. Niki hid a grin as she continued on. She didn’t know how, but they hadn’t found one of the daggers hidden in her boot. The blade Shane had given her.
As they continued to march her down the endless tunnel, weakness began to drag at her. She’d lost a lot of blood and it was starting to catch up. She bit her tongue. Niki would be damned if she’d stop now, when she was so close.
They finally came to the end of the tunnel, and a door. The little girl opened it, pushing Niki into a receiving chamber. She stumbled and fell to her knees. The door closed, leaving Niki alone with the girl, another burly male vampire, and a wolf with ice-blue eyes flashing hungrily.
The room had been decorated in old-world opulence, with red velvet curtains hiding the walls. Two Victorian-era chairs faced each other over a cherry-wood table. And on the far side, a closed black door stood sentry with two people chained to the wall on either side.
On the left, a young woman, her short blonde hair streaked with hot pink, listed against the wall, held upright by chains. The kid, Robby, had mentioned a woman with pink hair tending him. He hadn’t known if she was a prisoner, but if the state of things in this room was true, the woman wasn’t there by choice.
She moaned, throwing her head back, and Niki saw the punctures on her neck. So, Thomas had his own little buffet.
The man beside her didn’t move. Niki wasn’t sure he was even breathing. On the right of the door, two more men slumped unconscious in their chains.