Chapter Ten

When Jared and I arrived back at Donavan’s house, the sun started to set. Donavan almost had their car packed, while Monique sat in one of the rocking chairs on the porch, cradling her newborn twins in her arms. She glowed with joy as she sang softly to the babies.

We had to hurry back to Malevolent Dead, before Rose figured out we had killed her ginger dragon and sent another one after us. I saw a sleek, black corvette parked next to my car, and in Jared’s mind that it belonged to him. He had good taste. That’s for sure.

Donavan eyed us as we came over to the cars. His eyes widened slightly as he sensed the bond that now spread between Jared and I. He didn’t say anything, to which I felt grateful. I did my damnedest to keep Damian out of my head, so he wouldn’t find out yet. After our talk, I knew he wouldn’t be emotionally ready for this.

When the final rays of sun disappeared beyond the horizon, the vampires came out of Donavan’s basement, once again discussing the day’s soaps. Without looking at Damian for instruction, they approached the cars we had driven over in, and my heart ached as I saw that I wouldn’t have my friend in the front seat with me.

Monique and Donavan drove in their minivan to Malevolent Dead, with Jared, Damian, Dez, and I acting as spotters in case Rose attacked us on the interstate.

We pulled into the club’s parking lot without a problem and hurried inside. The majority of the DeLocket Clan waited in the club itself. I left Damian and Dez to dole out guest rooms, while I ran up to my room to shower. I let the hot water massage my aching muscles before tackling the dirt and grim that covered me from head to toe. After washing the blood out of my hair, rinsed, and repeated, I finally felt clean. As I grabbed a towel I saw a set of clothes folded neatly on the lid of my hamper, with my gun and throwing knives sitting beside them, and smiled. Jared. He remembered that my one-track mind often meant I forgot the most basic of needs. I quickly dressed, sliding my Walther P22 into the holster on my belt. I walked out of the bathroom as I pulled my wet hair up into a ponytail to find Jared sitting on my bed with his forgotten shirt balled up in his hands and a first aid kit next to him.

We didn’t need to look into each other’s eyes to read the pain there. Thanks to our new bond, we didn’t need to talk about it. I walked over to Jared and kissed his forehead before sitting next to him and grabbing the first aid kit.

The graze wound from the silver bullet slowly healed, but needed to be sterilized and bandaged to prevent infection. I hated silver. It made me heal like a human and those carefree days were long behind me. I saw the shadow of a smile cross Jared’s lips, before he helped me apply the peroxide and bandage.

I shut my mind off from Jared, a trick I learned from hanging around Damian, before I let my mind wander. I knew what had to be done. The BMC would never give up until Monique and I died, and probably everyone else once Rose found out about her dragon. If I convinced Rose that I killed the dragon, then she might leave everyone alone. What about Monique? I still didn’t know how to protect the witch and her offspring. I could try to barter with Rose, but I didn’t have anything she wanted. Dez said that Rose couldn’t touch the babies. I sighed, pretending the burn of the peroxide irritated me and not my predicament. Rose would kill everyone just to get to me and I couldn’t allow that.

As soon as I could get away, I’d go to Haven and give myself over to the Blood Moon Corporation. I saw no other choice.

Jared and I went down to Malevolent Dead. Damian had just about cleared the dance floor, assigning Donavan’s Weres their rooms until the danger passed. I received some angry looks from the Clan as I walked over to where Dez stood on Damian’s right. I didn’t blame them. They had been a happy Clan until I arrived.

Damian looked at me with his mouth open to ask a question, when a lavender haze appeared in the middle of the dance floor. The Weres scattered as the haze thickened. The air around us grew heavy until we heard an audible pop.

The haze cleared to show Amythist Dyier standing on the dance floor, wearing a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt rather than the ninja cat-suit she had been wearing earlier. She smiled at Dez as he walked over to her. I saw something small and round in his hand. They spoke too low for us to hear, but I could easily read the smile on Amy’s face; Dez gave her the symbol of Khor that she needed.

The tension in the room relaxed as Amy and Dez shook hands, and the Weres returned to getting their room assignments from Damian. I glanced over at Jared, but saw that he was busy talking shop with T.D. at the bar. This was my moment.

I went back up toward my room, passing by a couple of Weres as I went, and hurried to the little known emergency exit that would let me out in the alley next to the club. The October air would have been cold if I had been human, but as a Were the air felt cool and inviting. I walked down Market Street, blending in with the humans taking in the night life. I sensed vampires nearby and knew that they patrolled the area for Damian. By the time they recognized me and reported my whereabouts to Damian I would already be at Haven. It was too late for anyone to do anything now.

As I turned onto East Battery Street I felt a weight being lifted off my shoulders. The BMC wouldn’t hurt anyone else if I turned myself in. It was the perfect solution even though I knew that it guaranteed my death.

Haven was a beautiful building with one half circular and the other rectangular. Large windows with sweeping balconies looked out over the Charleston Harbor. Palm trees stood tall on the edge of the sidewalk and I felt surprised to see not a single light on. Even the porch light wasn’t lit. I glanced around before opening the gate and walking up to the front door. I had expected Rose to be here and feared the worst. I should turn around and return to Malevolent Dead, just in case she decided to come after Damian and the Weres herself, but I felt a pull to the house. I picked the lock and let myself inside.

Haven was eerily quiet on the inside, and I wondered belatedly where the shifter that lived here was. Did Rose order her out when she came to town? I used my wolf sense to listen and smell, not coming up with a single thing.

That’s odd.

Once I felt sure that the lower level was clear, I ascended the stairs to check the guest rooms where Jared and I had stayed, when we came here to take out the Skyner twins. That mission seemed like it happen ages ago, in another lifetime. I found it hard to believe that so much had happened in so little time.

Just like with the first level, this one was clear as well. My stomach lurched as I thought about Malevolent Dead. Rose had to be there. She’d never believe Damian when he said I wasn’t there. Rose would tear the building down brick by brick, killing anyone that stood in her way.

I had to return there. I had to stop this.

As I turned, a fist connected with my face. My head snapped back, hitting the wall behind me. Stars exploded across my vision as I tried to use my senses to see what attacked me. It smelled like vampire, but also something else, something much older.

Shaking my head, I tried my best to keep an eye on the creature in front of me. The vampire smiled, flashing her fangs at me, before she lashed out with lightning speed. I never felt a thing, just wind rushing across my face, before the vampire stood back. Then I felt it, warm wetness across my forehead. I looked at her hand and saw a silver blade glinting in the moonlight. Damn.

I would need stitches, I thought as I wiped blood from my eyes. I hope it doesn’t scar. I really didn’t need any more. I had enough. Thank you.

I stalked around the vampire, trying to gauge what she would do next. The vampire became more and more agitated as she watched me. Her nose smelled the sweet scent of my blood. She hissed, exposing her fangs, and lunged at me. I stayed still for a fraction of a second longer than most would, and then rolled to the side, lashing out with my fist as I stood.

The vampire’s head snapped to the side, and I smiled as I heard bones breaking upon impact. That didn’t slow the creature down. She spun, delivering a kick to my already bruised ribs. As I struggled to stand I felt an alien presence in my mind, evaluating my injuries and waiting for my next move. I froze, eyes widening, as I realized what I felt earlier.

It couldn’t be! I was mistaken, thinking Damian was the only one. How stupid of me not to recognize another born vampire when I saw one?

The vampire smiled as she felt my epiphany, and held her hand out at me. For a second I didn’t know what she was planning, until I saw blue magic blast out of her hand into me. I crashed back against the wall with the magic keeping me pressed against the wall until plaster cracked from the pressure. My vision blurred as the pressure became too much.

How in the hell could a vampire wield magic? Even a born vampire like Damian couldn’t do that, but here she blasted me like a witch of some kind.

I screamed as pain exploded though my chest as my ribs broke. The blue light of the magic blinded my vision, but not before I saw the born vampire peel her lips back in a hiss, exposing her glistening fangs.