Beautiful Monster: The Hunt (Book 2)

by Jeanne Bannon

  “Who are you?” Alina asked.

  “My name’s Lev Baranovsky. Now, will you kindly tell us what’s going on?”

  “I don’t like it here,” the blonde woman said to Lev. She took a quick look around the room and then at Jack and screamed.

  Alina sunk to her knees and hugged ZoZo. “It all makes sense now,” she said more to herself than anyone else. She looked up at the couple. “You’re Alexei’s brother! You...you...let Boris kill your brother so you could get your soul back.” She pointed at the Book of Spells. “It’s all in there, in your brother’s own handwriting.”

  “You’ve got it wrong. He was going to double cross me. I never intended—”

  “Either way, you got what you wanted. You got your soul back so you could be with your girlfriend. And, in the process, you let loose a monster. Boris has gone wild with power and bloodlust. I was sent here to kill him.” Alina pulled ZoZo out from behind her. The girl had her hands over her eyes. “It’s okay now, Zo. This man’s name is Lev. He may look like Boris but please trust me, he is not that bad man.”

  ZoZo let her hands fall away and gasped when she saw Lev. But when he smiled at her, she returned the gesture.

  “What happened there?” Carly asked, cringing and pointing at Jack.

  ZoZo answered, “Bad man kill Jack.”

  Alina wondered just how the child knew that. She hadn’t told her. But then again, ZoZo was no dummy. She’d figured it out for herself.

  Alina gave Lev and Carly the quick and dirty details of Jack’s demise. Neither were thrilled to hear the story and each wore an expression of horror as she related it.

  But there was something beneath the horror on Lev’s face that was especially telling for Alina. He wore the look of a guilty man. For a while, they were all silent, each thinking their own thoughts. It was Carly who broke the reverie. She held out a hand to ZoZo. “What’s your name?”

  Zo took a tentative step toward the woman in the long red dress and shimmering blonde hair. But before moving within reach, she looked to Alina for permission. Alina nodded and finally, ZoZo took the woman’s hand.

  She stared up at the blonde beauty, her eyes wide. “Why you here?” she asked.

  Carly opened her mouth to speak but it was clear she had no reply.

  Lev answered for her, “I think that’s a very good question, young lady.” He turned his gaze to Alina. “Suddenly, I felt a tremendous tugging and before I knew what was happening, we were here, in this room standing in front of a dead man and you two.” Then he looked at Carly. “I suppose you felt it too?”

  She nodded. “Yes, that’s it exactly. But I don’t remember anything other than that. I must have blacked out.” Carly cocked her head. “Where are we by the way?”

  Alina sighed. There was so much more to say. “Let me lay Jack to rest and then we’ll go somewhere ... nicer. I’ll explain the rest of it on the way.”

  It was obvious the spell she’d just cast had pulled Lev and Carly back from whatever dimension they’d been in. But it wasn’t necessarily a problem. Now that they were here maybe they could help with the Boris situation.

  After placing Jack in his earthen bed, Alina and ZoZo said their good-byes. Alina knew his body would simply disintegrate and Jack would be no more. There were signs of it already. He weighed next to nothing and when she laid him in his earthen coffin, she’d noticed that his fingers were already gone. Dust to dust—so true for creatures of the night.

  ZoZo had placed an awkward kiss on his forehead but she didn’t cry. Alina’s big girl was braver and more stoic than she’d expected.

  The four of them left the dump of an apartment in search of better accommodations. They made their way on foot, from Harlem southward until they were on the outskirts of uptown Manhattan. Alina held the Book of Spells to her chest while ZoZo toted the plastic bags of cheap toys. No doubt those treasures were as dear to the child as Alina’s book was to her.

  Lev and Carly were full of questions about being on the earth plane again. Alina answered their queries with perfunctory precision, explaining the Boris problem in detail and how she’d been sent by Those on High to deal with him. There was some further explanation needed to fill Carly in on the details of a life she’d never really been part of. But Lev understood everything and to Alina’s shock, he wanted to help.

  Once settled in their suite, Alina ordered room service for the three living, breathing human beings, told them not to leave the room under any circumstances and went to find a quiet place to settle in for the day. Once evening fell, they’d talk some more. A plan of sorts was brewing. She liked Lev and could sense his sincerity in wanting to help. She knew too that he felt responsible for everything and in a way, he was.

  After a quick feed from ZoZo, which seemed to horrify Carly, Alina left to sleep in the adjacent room. It wasn’t as comfortable as sleeping in the welcoming arms of Mother Earth, but as always, in a pinch, a bed would do.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Alina was awakened by a shriek. Instinctively, her eyes darted to the digital clock on the night table. It was yet nightfall but the sun would set within the hour. If she were careful to stay out of the sunlight, she’d be okay.

  She knew who that gravely shriek belonged to and when she made her way into the adjacent room, she found ZoZo standing in front of Lev and Carly both of whom were whiter than the bed sheets they were sitting on. Together, they rested on the headboard of one of the Queen-size beds, the TV humming in the background.

  Their eyes were open but they didn’t look quite right.

  “What happened, sweetness?”

  “Dead?” came ZoZo’s reply in the form of a question.

  Alina sat on the edge of the bed and took hold of Carly’s wrist. She felt for a pulse. Her heart was still beating though Alina would normally have heard its pitter-patter without having to feel for signs of life. Carly let out a moan and her head slid onto Lev’s shoulder.

  Alina did the same thing with Lev. He too still possessed a beating heart though neither of them looked as if they were going to be among the living much longer.

  “What happened?” Alina asked ZoZo.

  The girl shrugged. “ZoZo watch TV. ZoZo fall asleep and see this now.”

  Alina ran into the other room to grab the Book of Spells. She opened it to the necromancy spell and read it over again. She’d been in such a hurry to placate ZoZo that she hadn’t taken what she was doing seriously. At the bottom of the page, there was a disclaimer of sorts. The spell was designed to last a single day!

  “Shit,” she muttered. She needed these two, especially Lev, to help her complete her mission. Lev knew more about Boris than she did. He’d be a great resource and at this point, she needed all the help she could get.

  Alina spoke to Lev and Carly, to try to coax them back to consciousness but it was clear they were at death’s door. Think! She smacked a palm against her head. There had to be a way to keep them embodied for just a while longer. Her stomach churned with anxiety and with something else too ... hunger. That was it! Alina bit into the flesh of her own wrist. Blood pricked to the surface in large blobs. Carefully, she walked back to the bed and held her bloodied arm above Lev’s head, with her other hand, she pulled down on his chin, opening his mouth. A couple drops landed on his lips and slowly made their way into his mouth. Quickly, she moved to Carly and did the same thing. Then she stood back and waited.

  Carly came round first, a coughing fit roused her. She sat bolt upright and looked over at Lev. “Lev? Wake up!” Her voice was laced with panic as she grabbed his face with both hands and gave him a shake.

  Lev’s eyes opened and he rubbed them sleepily. “What’s going on?” he said when he saw Alina. “I felt like I was a million miles away.”

  “Yes, me too,” Carly looked to Alina for an answer. Then she added, “But we’re still here.” Disappointment shone in her eyes. “This place is hell.”

  Alina contemplated Carly’s words and wondered just what
it was like in the place she and Lev had been living before the spell she’d cast sucked them back to the earth plane. Earth must be a horrid domicile compared to wherever they’d come from. Even for creatures of the night, who fed off innocents, it was a dangerous and scary place.

  “You’re fine now. That’s all that matters.”

  “How long do we have to stay?” Carly asked cringing. “We didn’t come here of our own free will and I want to go home.” She turned to Lev. “We don’t have to stay, do we?”

  Alina answered for him, “Please, just remain long enough to help me rid the world of Boris. You know him, Lev, you’d be a great help to me.” She gave him her best pleading look.

  Lev got to his feet. “I know a little about Boris and like I said, I’ll do whatever I can.”

  “He’ll rip you to shreds like he did that boy in the apartment. You’re not like you were…before, Lev, darling. You’re mortal now and you’ll be no match for Boris,” Carly said to Lev. “We can’t stay and risk our lives.”

  Alina hadn’t heard Carly argue with Lev’s decision to help before. She imagined they must have discussed the subject while Alina was asleep. What she had to tell them now was a necessary evil, one she took no pleasure in. “Carly, I know this must be worrisome for you and Lev, but I can help you if you’ll allow me.”

  Alina watched as confusion furrowed both their brows and then Lev looked down at the bed. “Why is there blood on the sheets?” His eyes narrowed with suspicion. He wiped at his lips and saw that there was blood there too. “What the hell is going on, Alina. Please don’t tell me—”

  “I did it to save your lives.”

  Carly was on her feet. “Oh my God. What did you do?” Her hands were in her hair now pulling, her eyes were wide with fear. “Are we going to be...like you?” Carly fell to her knees and rested her head on the bed. Lev was by her side in an instant, an arm wrapped protectively around her shoulder.

  He looked up at Alina for an answer. They’d just been brought back into the flesh, into the world of the living and the unthinkable had happened—Alina made them drink her blood. Was it possible that they’d soon be creatures of the night? He thought hard, trying to remember things he fought to forget. No, he didn’t think so. From what he could recall, it didn’t work that way.

  “You’re not like me.” Alina crossed her arms and thrust her chin in the air. “My blood saved the two of you. You were on death’s doorstep and I need you.” She pointed only at Lev. “I kept her around because I knew you wouldn’t help if she went back to, well, wherever it is that you came from.”

  Carly let out a huff.

  Lev brushed the sweat matted hair from her forehead and kissed her. “It’s going to be alright. We’ll get back home soon.” He stood and pulled Carly with him, hugging her tight. A contrite look crossed his features. “I’m to blame for everything Boris is doing and has done. But how can I help? I’m just a mortal now and as Carly said, I’m helpless.”

  Alina stepped close to Lev, worried about his second thoughts. She turned her head, exposing her jugular. “Drink from me. With just a little more of my blood in your system, you’ll have the same powers I do. What I gave you and Carly was only a few drops, not enough to do anything except keep you alive for a while longer. This is the only way that together we will be strong enough to kill Boris.”

  Carly pushed Alina away and stood between them. “No! He’ll be changed. He can’t drink from you. I won’t let him.”

  Alina smiled and shot out a hand, grabbing Carly by the wrist. “Darling, I could do terrible things to you right now but I won’t and do you know why?” She didn’t wait for an answer, “because your boyfriend is too important to me. You are nothing.”

  “Don’t hurt her,” Lev pleaded.

  Alina threw off Carly’s hand as if suddenly disgusted and turned back to Lev. “You seem like a reasonable man not to mention quite cunning, the way you fooled your brother into giving his life so you could gain back your soul. But do you not remember the way of our people, Lev? If you drink from me, you won’t be turned. You’ll only be turned if I drink from you!”

  Lev’s lips pursed into a thin line. She was right. He remembered now. His life as a creature of the night seemed so far off now. The place he and Carly had been living was perfect in every way, a total contrast to earthly life. He wanted desperately to return there. If he did this favor for Alina, surely she’d send them back home.

  Alina continued, “You’ll need super human strength, Lev. You’ll need that killer instinct to be able to murder the beast. You have no choice but to drink from me or we’re both doomed.”

  “How?” Carly burst in. “How can Lev be doomed? If he dies, he goes back home, to our true home. That doesn’t sound like doom to me.”

  A vicious smile lit Alina’s full lips. “I will make you suffer, Carly. Sure you’ll die eventually but believe me, I will tear you apart limb from limb. I will bathe in your blood and eat your heart while it’s still beating and Lev won’t be able to help you.”

  A horrified squeal escaped Carly and her hands flew to her face. She sunk, defeated onto the bed.

  Lev reached a hand to her. “It’ll be fine. I’ll do my job and then we’ll go home. Right, Alina?” His tone held a touch of acid.

  “As soon as the deed is done, I promise, the two of you are free.”

  “But, Lev, you’ve never been the vicious type. Are you sure you can do the job?” Carly asked.

  Lev’s gaze fell to his feet. He’d never felt more vicious than when he watched Boris pull Alexei apart. Maybe having his revenge on Boris could be his redemption.

  “I can do it,” he said with conviction and then took Alina by the shoulders and sunk his teeth into the flesh of her neck. She’d already slid a fingernail over the artery to start the blood flowing. After all, Lev didn’t have fangs yet.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Though she was curious about where Lev and Carly had come from, something stopped Alina from asking either of them about it. It was as if a black cloud of disappointment formed over her head every time she thought of asking because she knew she’d never ever get to go there. Was her life that bad? Not really. She had an important job. That was a plus. Not every creature of the night had a purpose. Most were insipid brutes who loved a good party with lots of fresh young blood to drink. In Alina’s mind, they simply existed.

  Why the others were different from her, she could not say—she too had killed many times; she too had feasted on the flesh of mortals; she too had had indiscriminate sex and she too was used to getting her way. A fierce weariness fell over her. Maybe she was tired of it all; of the craziness of her existence. Maybe that was what made her different. Did she want out? Did she want it all to end? Did any creature really want oblivion? She couldn’t answer the questions rolling around in her brain. All she could think about as she and Lev made their way along the pathway to Boris’s front door, to the house where Lev and Alexei had once lived, was how much she needed the job over and done with.

  She’d left ZoZo with Carly. It was a relief knowing the girl was in good hands for the time being. Without Zo she would be like the others, an animal, feeding on strangers perhaps even killing them. Although ZoZo had no clue, the child was doing her a great favor. Keeping ZoZo safe was the least she could do to repay her and she had every intention of returning to her charge.

  After his long draw from her jugular, Lev’s change had been immediate. His fangs fell into place soon after his first taste of her. Alina felt Lev’s strength growing as well. He was newly turned once again and was wild with fury and ready and willing to turn it on Boris. He was exactly the weapon she needed. She managed to salvage one of her three weapons, the small sharpened branch from the ancient tree grown on sacred ground though she didn’t think she’d need to use it now that she had Lev.

  Lev kicked open the front door of his former abode and strode inside.

  They were met with darkness and a pile of boxes and junk just in
side the front entrance. Lev kicked that over too and walked farther into the pitch.

  Without as much as a whisper of sound, Boris was beside them. Alina couldn’t see him but she could smell him. She saw Lev sniff the air like a dog.

  “Where are you, you foul animal?” Lev said, his voice filled with fury. “You may look like my brother, but you stink like the beast you still are. And look at what you’ve done to the house! Alexei would not like this one bit.” He strode carefully and slowly, fangs dripping with saliva, fists at the ready. He turned right, into the parlor and there was Boris, sitting in what used to be Lev’s favorite chair staring up at the stained glass tableau over the large picture windows of St. Francis clutching his bible.

  “I’ve always hated that stained glass window,” Boris said almost cheerfully. “There’s a certain holiness to it that I could never stomach. I do not know how you or your brother lived with it for so long. By the way, how the hell did you get back here?” He smiled and waved a hand. “There’s not much that surprises me these days. I must say, Alina, you’ve made my life more exciting.”

  Something was in Boris’s hand and before Alina could see what it was, he hurled it at the tableau, shattering it. Shards of glass rained down onto the floor in front of the still intact picture windows. Cool air streamed into the room and before a thought could register, Boris came at them, one hand on each of their throats, as he pushed Lev and Alina up against the wall of the parlor. Alina kicked, trying to make contact with any part of Boris she could. She yanked on his hands but his grip was like a vice.

  Her world was darkening but she managed a sidelong glance at Lev. He seemed to be faring better than she. He’d pried away a few fingers and it looked as if Boris were losing his grip. Then she heard a scream as Lev sunk his brand new needle sharp fangs into Boris’s wrist.