by Raven Steele
"I'm afraid it's not good."
Her expression darkened. "I told you there was no proof."
"No, you don't understand." He inhaled deeply and held her gaze. "It's not good because there is no case involving a Rose Swanson. There never has been."
She stepped back, her eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about? Are you sure you talked to the right department in Blue Ridge, Georgia? Maybe you got the wrong person. My mom was born on July 2nd, 1971."
"I need you to listen to me," he said lifting his hands as if approaching a frightened animal. "After I spoke to the police, I checked county records. There is no woman by that name who lived in Blue Ridge."
Eve shook head back and forth, her mouth pressed tightly together.
"I also checked your name, Reina Swanson,” he continued. “You never lived there either, nowhere in the whole state of Georgia."
"That's not possible. I grew up there!" She took another step away from him.
"I searched every available record, including school and hospital records. There's no mention of you or your mother."
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice desperate.
"I speak the truth. I would never hurt you, Ev—Reina," he corrected quickly.
Her whole body stiffened. "That's the second time you called me Eve. What game are you playing?"
"Please, you must trust me. You're not who you think you are."
She snorted and pointed her finger at him. "No, you're not who I thought you were. I don't ever want to see you again." She spun on her heel and took off running toward the entrance of the cemetery.
"Check for yourself!" he called after her. He kept his feet firmly planted on the ground. She needed to discover the truth for herself. Hopefully he had planted a big enough seed to spur her into action.
He turned around and walked toward Llona. She was sitting on the ground, her back against the tree, phone still pressed to her ear. Her eyes were red and puffy. He stopped his approach and hung back to give her some privacy, but her soft words still reached his ears.
"I can't believe I'm not there," she said, the voice strained. She wiped at her eyes with the palm of her hand.
Lucien retreated into the midnight shade of a nearby Cyprus tree. The long branches, much of them covered in a spidery moss, gave him his own privacy. It was so difficult to be near Eve and not just shake her and tell her to snap out of it. This whole gentle approach thing wasn't in his nature. If magic weren't involved, he would do just that.
"I'm okay, I promise," Llona said again. "I just want to see you."
Llona must still be speaking with Liam. Lucien averted his gaze and looked toward where Eve had disappeared.
"It's a deal," she said after a short pause. "And hurry or I'm coming to you."
The line went dead. Llona stood and brushed off the back of her pants. She inhaled a couple of deep breaths, then looked his direction. "Thanks for telling me to call Liam."
Lucien withdrew from the darkness. "Is he all right?"
"He's better now, but I got the impression it was touch and go there for awhile." She reached up and rubbed her forehead. "It bothers me that he didn't want me to know he was hurt."
"He was trying to protect you. He knows what you're doing here is important."
"Then why did you tell me?"
It took him a moment to answer. He wanted to tell her it was because he would want to know if he was in the same situation, but it was more than that, he realized.
"Because I would never forgive myself if something had happened to him, and I had kept you from his side. I should've told you right when I knew. Love is what makes life worth living."
She swallowed hard; the sound was loud in the cold stillness of the night. "I never said anything about love."
"You didn't have to."
She cleared her throat. "I see you chased off Eve."
Lucien turned his head the direction Eve had ran to, hoping he might still catch her there, but there was no one. Only the remains of the dead.
"It looks that way," he said.
"How much did you tell her?"
"Only that there are holes in her past she needs to confront."
"Good. Hopefully she'll do it sooner rather than later."
"What were you two doing out here anyway?" He turned and walked toward a gravel path down the center of the cemetery. Llona followed.
She sighed. "Eve was hell-bent on hunting down some vampires. It's like she needed to find them, just as much as she needed to breath. But when she found some, she started fighting. It was strange." She kicked at a pebble. "Well, I guess the vamps grew tired of her picking them off one by one, so they set a trap. We barely managed to escape them, but only made it as far as here."
Lucien pondered her words, thinking he was missing something. Why did she have this strong desire to fight vampires? Had she not been happy with him? Was there something deep inside her that had hated him and everything he was? These thoughts churned his stomach.
"It's a good thing I showed up when I did," he said.
"I had a few more tricks up my sleeve, but I don't like to use them. I'm glad you made it in time."
He glanced at her sideways, wondering what she was talking about. He knew so little about Auras. "Do you have a car nearby?"
She stopped moving and frowned. "Eve had the keys."
"We're a long ways from town. If you'd let me, I can carry you back to the hotel, but I warn you, it can be a bit disorientating."
She laughed. "It can't be much worse than being carried by Liam. Talk about literally riding a storm."
"Then hang on." He turned his back to her. She jumped onto him and wrapped her arms tight around his neck.
He pushed upward into the darkness. He had to be careful to maintain a slower speed lest his body become incorporeal. She would probably fall to her death if that happened.
The city glowed eerily in the distance. The faint sounds of jazz music grew louder as they flew closer. There was something endearing about its rhythm, the rich horns and fast drums. He might come to love Rouen, if given more time.
Maybe in another life.
First he had to find Eve and help her get her memory back. Not only did he need to locate the necklace, but he also had a million questions for her. Her answers would determine his future, a future he thought was certain with her in it, but he wasn't so sure anymore.
Restoring her memory was going to take a lot of magic, and with the way he was feeling lately, he only hoped he would have enough.
Chapter 15
The sound of a vibrating phone echoed in Lucien's ears. It floated through his mind until his eyes flew open. He must've fallen asleep last night, the first time in over a week.
He rolled over and checked the time on the nightstand alarm clock. Almost eight in the morning. The hotel's drapes had been drawn tight, not allowing even a hint of morning sun to break through. His phone vibrated against wood veneer. He reached over and swiped across the screen to answer a call from Henry.
"What is it?" Lucien asked.
"Are you watching the news?"
He jumped to his feet and turned on the television. The President appeared on the screen in the middle of a press conference. He stood out against the blue screen behind him in a black suit and red tie.
"What's going on?" Lucien asked.
"Just listen." Henry's voice held a sharp edge that sent a chill up Lucien's spine.
"This has been a long time coming," the President said. "Our country has been in a silent war for decades and it's time we took control." He raised his hands to quiet the suddenly noisy reporters. "I know this is unprecedented, but I assure you the decision to step down was not made lightly."
"Step down?" Lucien said aloud.
"Starting tomorrow, the Vice President will be sworn in as President, while I take over at the Department of Supernatural Research and Defense. I will implement plans to interview and possibly contain any supernaturals we feel are a threa
t to this country. It's the only way for our citizens to feel safe again." He reached for a glass of water on the stand and took a long drink as hands shot into the air.
While the press asked him all sorts of questions about the announcement, Lucien tried to control an inner tremor that shook every part of him.
"You know what this means, right?" Henry asked.
Lucien barely had the strength to hold up the phone. "He's coming for Eve."
The line was silent.
"Who is he?" Lucien asked. "Please tell me you've learned something."
"We have. Just this morning Dr. Han finished translating the book I told you about."
"Like I said before, the necklace contains glass from Lucifer's mirror, the mirror that allowed Lucifer and his seven devils to transfer between worlds. It was the seventh devil that began to use the mirror for personal gain. His name was Erebus. We believe Erebus and the President are one and the same person."
"Why?" Lucien asked.
"Something you said Lucien." Henry paused. "You said Bo called him 'Lord Chaos'. In the texts, another name for Lord Chaos is Erebus."
Lucien spread his thumb and fingers across his forehead to try and soothe a growing headache. Dealing with supernatural creatures was one thing, but to deal with a monster from a whole other realm complicated everything. Erebus could have powers they knew nothing about.
Henry continued. "Based on what we've read, and the President's obsession with the necklace, we think he's found a way to reopen the portal using the glass orb. But such a spell will also require a great deal of magic, energy that must come from this realm and not his own. My guess is he will steal this magical energy from the supernaturals they've been gathering."
Lucien lowered his hand from his head. The pain he had been trying to soothe was in full force. "Why now? Why did he wait so long?"
"I can't answer that. Maybe the timing wasn't right. What's important, though, is stopping him. If he releases the other six devils into our world, we're talking about an apocalypse. Humans will become slaves. Everything will change. You must find Eve and get her as far from the DSRD as possible. Then get her memories back so we can find that necklace. It has to be destroyed.”
"I thought it was indestructible."
"Dr. Han and I think we found a way." Henry’s voice lowered. "Using Auras. Their power is the oldest known source of magic to man. It could work."
Lucien was quiet while he thought about it.
"We think it could help Eve too," Henry said.
"How?
"To break the spell she cast. I think with your magic, if you can access Genesis, combined with Llona's Light, you should be able to break it."
Lucien closed his eyes tight to block some of the pain in his head. "You make it sound so easy."
"It won't be, but it's necessary. And try it soon. It's imperative. There's one more text we need to translate, and then I'll join you. Just get Eve away from Rouen."
"Got it."
It took less than ten minutes for him to shower and get dressed, despite his shaking hands. He had to get to Eve. Hansen, or really Erebus, since he refused to call him anything else going forward, could be here in hours. Before he left his room, he slipped a silver dagger with a black handle into the back of his pants, along with two other smaller blades into each sleeve. Lucien itched to have Bo's blood cover their shiny surfaces.
He walked down the hall to Llona's room. She opened the door before he could knock. Just behind her, the television was turned on to the news. So she had seen it too.
"Let's go get her," she said and closed the door.
The air was hot outside, despite it being early, but at least the streets were quiet. They should be for several hours. Lucien skirted around a large pile of garbage just outside a closed bar. His pulse beat fast. Time was going by too quickly. He could feel the minutes slipping past him, and for each one that disappeared he came closer to losing Eve all over again.
"What if we’re too late?" he asked. "Erebus could've already sent someone."
"Who?"
Lucien quickly told her about his phone call with Henry.
"This is getting intense." She stopped walking and placed her hand against a brick building. "If we don't stop him…"
"We will. We have to. Come on." He continued on toward Eve's house, Llona trailing next to him.
The home looked much prettier in the daytime. The balcony rail was covered in vines and white flowers in the corners. From this distance, he couldn't sense anyone inside, but a shadow crossed in front of the window. A large shadow.
He picked up his pace. "We may be too late."
"Wait!" Llona called, but he was already sprinting up the stairs to Eve's apartment. He kicked the door down as Llona came running up behind him.
Bo spun around in Eve’s kitchen. His eyes narrowed when they landed on Lucien. "I thought I told you to skip town."
Lucien ignored him, focusing on the sounds of the apartment.
"She's not here," Bo said. "She just left to get us some breakfast."
Lucien glanced back at Llona.
"I'm on it," she said and hurried away.
Lucien stalked toward Bo.
Bo smirked at the kitchen counter and poured himself a cup of coffee one handed, his other hand casually resting in the pocket of his shorts. "You must've heard our Lord's announcement this morning. Isn't it wonderful? It was a little sooner than I would've preferred, but that’s okay. Eve is ready."
Lucien lunged for Bo, excited to tear him apart. Bo quickly removed the blue stone. A familiar barrier appeared, stopping Lucien from going any further, but he was prepared.
Swiping his hand through the air, a picture hanging on the wall behind Bo shattered and flew forward. The glass sliced through Bo's hand making him drop the stone. The barrier dissipated, allowing Lucien to walk right through. He kicked the stone across the room and grabbed Bo's throat, pressing him against the wall and lifting him high.
"You will never touch Eve ever again," Bo growled.
Bo smashed his coffee mug against Lucien's head. Lucien stumbled back, dropping Bo as the hot liquid burned his scalp and ceramic shards flew everywhere.
Bo extended claws; Lucien extended fangs.
They were upon each other instantly. Lucien swung a fist, connecting with the side of Bo's face. Bo flew back into the kitchen cabinets behind him, shattering a glass cupboard door. Bo grabbed one of the glass shards and swung it at Lucien. Lucien spun away, but the tip of the knife still managed to knick the side of his throat.
Lucien grabbed a knife from the knife block on the counter and whipped it at Bo. It shot through the air so fast that Bo didn't have time to move out of the way. It thumped into his right shoulder. Bo growled and pulled it out, then rushed Lucien. Lucien welcomed the attack. He preferred fighting with his hands rather than magic, especially against Bo.
They hit each other hard, grappling around the small apartment. Bo attempted to out maneuver him, but Lucien was too fast. Lucien drove his knee into Bo's side three times, then flipped him away only to spin and kick Bo high into his chest. Bo collapsed backwards onto a small dining room table. It shattered under the force. Lucien withdrew the silver dagger from behind his back and held it above Bo.
Bo spit blood and said, "You can't kill me."
"Watch me." He swung downward, aiming for Bo’s heart. But before the knife made impact, Bo surprised him by jamming a broken table leg into his stomach. Lucien gasped and stumbled to the side, dropping the silver knife.
Bo laughed and rose from the ground to tower over Lucien. "Now this is how I like to see you. Bleeding, suffering. Lord Chaos will be pleased."
Lucien snarled and took hold of the broken table leg. With all his strength, he pulled outward until it began to slide from his gut. But before the wood became fully dislodged, Bo punched his jaw. Stars exploded in Lucien's vision, and he fell to the ground. Bo delivered several more blows, then raised his foot. Lucien barely managed to roll out o
f the way, mindful of the wooden stake still stuck in his stomach, as Bo's boot came down where Lucien's head would’ve been.
He needed to do something and quick, but he refrained from using magic. In a strange way, he was enjoying the raw brutality of the fight, especially against someone who had been manipulating Eve. .
Bo stalked after Lucien as he scrambled on the floor. Just as Bo reached him and cocked back his fist, Lucien kicked the knee supporting Bo’s weight. The shifter yelled in pain and fell back, giving Lucien time to stumble into the kitchen away from Bo. He needed those extra seconds to remove the wooden shard from his gut. He dropped the bloody table leg and grabbed a frying pan from off the counter. As Bo rounded the corner after him, Lucien swung the pan into Bo's head. The impact crashed and echoed like giant cymbals.
Dazed, Bo dropped to his knees. It was Lucien's turn for brutality, a desire he had had since meeting Bo. Lucien's fist smashed into his face over and over, breaking Bo's nose, then his jawbone. Lucien was darkly excited by the glazed look in Bo's eyes and the blood streaming down his face. The scent of the crimson liquid filled Lucien's nostrils, igniting a primal instinct, one that demanded fresh, warm blood. His tongue touched his sharp eye teeth. If only there was more time…
Bo began to fall backward, but Lucien grabbed him by the collar and dragged him into the living room to retrieve his silver knife. Bo wheezed, sounding like he was fighting for every breath. That's probably because his lungs were filling with blood.
"Don't," he coughed, raising a hand. "This will destroy Eve!"
There was a sound behind Lucien, but he didn't stop.
"She'll get over it," he said and plunged the knife into Bo's chest.
Chapter 16
A scream broke up the sound of Bo's gurgling blood pouring out of his mouth.
"No!"
Lucien was shoved aside as Eve rushed to Bo. Llona stood behind her in the doorway, her face pale and eyes wide.
"Bo?" Eve searched his face, her hands hovering above him like she didn't know where to touch.
The vein’s in Bo's body darkened as silver raced through his blood, destroying everything it touched. When Eve realized what was happening, she yanked the knife from his chest.