Cin Craven - Wages of Sin Part 19

"What are you?" I whispered. He didn't feel like a vampire to me.

"I am something best left alone, vampire," he snarled, his breath hot on my cheek as he shoved me backwards.

I landed in a sprawled heap and looked up to see the man jump ten feet straight up to land on top of one of the stacks of s.h.i.+pping crates. He lifted one of the large crates and sent it smas.h.i.+ng through the blackened windows. In one fluid movement he vaulted through the jagged hole in the gla.s.s. Dear G.o.ddess, what had I unleashed?

A roar of denial swept through the building and I turned to see the master staring in a myriad of disbelief, frustration and anger at the broken window where the chained man had disappeared into the night. And then his gaze came to rest of me. Fury contorted his features as he grabbed the shaft of his sword cane, pulled the blade free and advanced across the room toward me.

Oh d.a.m.n, I thought as he came at me with murder in his eyes. I scooted back toward the crates as if I could melt into one of them and be safe. I kept my gaze locked on the master's, afraid to look away, and he stared right back at me. His eyes finally left mine as he neared the spot where Michael was still fighting two vampires. The master's path veered and he took a few steps toward Michael, his sword raised."Michael!" I shouted. "Behind you!"

Instead of turning around, Michael's head came up and he looked in the direction of my voice. The distraction was enough and the master's sword plunged into my lover's belly. Michael looked down and then looked up at me, confusion marring his perfect features, and then he fell to his knees and pitched forward.

"No!" I screamed and vaulted to my feet. No, this couldn't be happening. I'd just found him.

Justine was near, just a few feet to my right and one of the master's henchmen was between us. The barrel-chested vampire saw her attention waver when I screamed and he raised his sword. I grabbed his wrist as his arm drew back to strike and felt his bones snap and break under my fingers. He yelled and I took the sword from his limp grasp. Swinging it two-handed I severed his head in one clean blow.

I never slowed but advanced on the master, my eyes locked on his face, vengeance vibrating through every inch of my being. He snapped his fingers at the two vampires who had been fighting Michael and the men came toward me. I held my hand out, power and rage flowing through me, and the first man flew backwards as if I'd struck him. His companion turned briefly to look back at the fallen man and that was all the opening I needed. The blade sliced through his neck and I stepped over the body, never breaking stride, my gaze still locked with the master's. The vampire on the floor was just staggering to his feet and I buried the sword hilt-deep in his heart as I pa.s.sed him.

Fear pa.s.sed through the master's eyes and he took a step back. I smiled. Caught in his cowardice, his eyes narrowed with hatred and he advanced again, raising the sword stained with Michael's blood before him. He yelled wordlessly and ran toward me, his sword held out in front of him like a battering ram.

I stopped. Raising one hand I willed my power out into the night and the sword in his hand exploded into a cloud of little silver-gray moths. His eyes widened even as his momentum propelled him forward. I grabbed his head as he crashed into me, intending to snap his neck. I wrenched the head to one side but my anger and my new strength were a powerful combination and his head came off of his neck with a thick sucking sound of broken bone and wet meat. I stared in horror as the skin shriveled and faded away, as if decomposing before my very eyes until I held nothing but a skull with a few patches of hair attached to dried skin.

"Ugh," I groaned and dropped the thing next to its already decomposed body.

I ran to where Michael lay on his back on the cold floor, his eyes staring straight up, one hand pressed to the hole in his stomach. I threw myself across him, weeping, my hands moving over his face.

"Michael, no," I cried, "please, no. I've just found you and I think I might even love you and you can't die, do you hear me? You can't die."

Devlin walked over and stood staring down at us. His booted foot kicked Michael none too gently in the shoulder.

"Are you going to lie about all night," he asked, "or are you going to put the poor girl out of her misery?"

Michael glared up at him and then turned his head to smile at me.

"Oh, you wretch!" I said, and pushed away from him. "I thought that blasted man had killed you."

Michael struggled to sit up. "It takes a lot more than a sword through the belly to kill me now, la.s.s." He leaned over and put one hand behind my head, pulling me to him and whispered, "But I'm flattered that you care so much and I think I might even love you too."

A thrill of excitement went through me as he kissed me.

"That's enough of that," Devlin groused. "We've had enough earthquakes for one week."

I looked up at him in confusion. "What?" Michael chuckled. "Apparently it wasn't just us who felt the earth move the other night."

My hand went to my mouth and I blushed furiously.

"Just so," Devlin chuckled. "People must have felt that for miles around. You are going to get that under control at some point, aren't you?"

I laughed. "Yes, but I really don't know how I'm going to broach that subject with my aunt."

Michael grunted in pain and I stood and helped him to his feet. He looked down at the bleeding wound.

"b.u.g.g.e.r it. I could go another seventy years without that happening again."

"I'm sorry I distracted you," I said. "I was trying to help."

Michael shook his head. "The last time I saw him he was heading for the door. Why would he come back when he could have escaped?"

"That was my fault too," I said sheepishly. "I released the chained man and the master saw it. He was coming for me and you got in the way."

They all turned to the now-empty chains.

"Where is he?" Devlin asked.

"Gone," I said.

"Gone? What do you mean gone?"

I motioned to the broken second-story window. "Gone."

"Was he a vampire?" Justine asked.

I shrugged. "I don't think so. I don't know what he was, other than rude and ungrateful, but I don't think he was one of us."

"He's no longer any concern of ours," Devlin said with a shrug and then turned to me and took my shoulders in his big hands. "You did well tonight. With a little training you'll make a fine warrior."

"Really?" I said. I had a feeling that was a great compliment coming from Devlin.

Michael pushed my loose hair back over my shoulder. "You were magnificent."

I smiled at him and then I noticed the lines of strain around his eyes and mouth. I glanced sharply at Devlin.

"Is he going to be all right?" I asked.

"He needs blood. Come."

It wasn't until we'd reached the end of the alley that I thought to ask, "What are we going to do about the bodies? We can't just leave them there."

Devlin winked at me. "Watch."

At the corner of the building Justine stopped and took a deep breath. Tears welled up in her eyes and she started to scream. She ran to the door of the tavern and wrenched it open, screaming, "Murder! Murder! Oh my G.o.d, come quickly! Please!" The tavern emptied itself of its rough-looking clientele, in fact men poured out of two other taverns down the street as well. Justine led them to the corner of the tavern and pointed down the alley.

"Bodies!" she shrieked. "The whole warehouse is full of bodies!"

The men trooped down the alley to investigate. Someone stopped to help Ned to his feet. The drunk's face was ashen as he touched his neck, his eyes darting frantically around the alley. Devlin and Michael and I moved back into the shadows. As soon as she was able to slip away unnoticed, Justine joined us.

"Good job, my sweet," Devlin said.

"I thought my screams were particularly good this evening," she smiled up at him.

"I always enjoy your screams, cherie," Devlin murmured as he kissed her temple.

Michael motioned to the alley, now teaming with people. "They'll find the bodies and fetch the authorities."

Devlin nodded. "And now, my friend, we need to find someplace a little quieter and get some fresh blood in you."

Michael looked at Justine. "Will you take her back to Pendergra.s.s's?"

"But I want to come with you, Michael," I protested. "Let me help you."

He shook his head. "I don't want you to see me like that, to see me feed. Not yet. You've had enough shocks for one night. You don't need to see your lover drink someone else's blood. Let Justine take you back to the shop. I'll be fine and I'll meet you back there later. Besides, Mr. Pendergra.s.s is eager to share what he's been working on with you."

I looked at him for a moment. "You'll come back safe to me?"

He kissed my forehead. "You have my word on it."

I nodded and let Justine lead me away.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I stood in the open doorway of Mr. Pendergra.s.s's large, windowless attic. Fiona was sitting on the bed, her chin resting on her tucked up knees. I stared at her and she stared back, confusion and distrust in her eyes.

"Fi," I said, but she just winced and said nothing. I could feel the tears well up deep within me.

"Oh Fi, you know I'd never hurt you. I was... not myself, but I'm better now. It won't happen again." I glanced sharply at Justine and demanded, "Will it?"

She shook her head and gave me a sad smile. "Non."

I crossed the room and knelt in front of Fiona, this girl I'd known all my life, who had been like a sister to me always. She looked so young and innocent and I suddenly felt so old. There was a gulf between us now and we would never be the same again, but maybe we could become something else if she could only forgive me. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and reached out to catch the tear that rolled down my cheek. She looked at the wetness on her finger, felt of it as if to make sure it was real. Was she wondering if monsters cried?

"Rough night?" she asked.

I choked on a laugh and laid my head on her lap and cried. I knew I needed to be strong but I took a moment to cry, for scaring her, for scaring myself a dozen times tonight, for the loss of everything I had been and would never be again. Mrs. Mackenzie came and sat next to her daughter. She took my hand gently in hers and I cried harder.

The heavy footfalls of a man running echoed up the stairs. I looked up, worried, and glanced at Justine. She lounged with her hip propped up against one of the tables, looking vastly unconcerned. Archie appeared in the doorway.

"Did I miss anything?" he asked, glancing from the three of us to Justine to Mr. Pendergra.s.s.

We all silently looked at each other, no one knowing quite how to answer the question, and then Fiona started to laugh. Her laugh was infectious and soon we all joined in. Poor Archie was left standing in the doorway, staring at us like we'd all gone mad.

"Where have you been?" I asked. It suddenly occurred to me that he hadn't been here earlier.

He blushed and looked at his feet. "Kitty came back from her mother's this afternoon."

I smiled at him. "You should go home and be with her."

"Well, I can't stay long. I told her I needed to come check on Mr. Pendergra.s.s since he's getting quite feeble in his old age,"

Archie said with a wink.

Mr. Pendergra.s.s snorted. "Watch yourself, boy."

"Have you told her yet?" Archie said to Mr. Pendergra.s.s.

"Told me what?" I asked.

"No, I haven't. I've not had the time but now that everyone's here..." he glanced around the room. "Where are Devlin and Michael?"

"Oh," I said, "we ran into a bit of trouble, nothing to do with Kali or Sebastian, but Michael was wounded. He'll be fine but the two of them will be back a little later."

Fiona patted my hand and I smiled at the gesture.

"Well," Mr. Pendergra.s.s said with a shrug, "I suppose there's no sense in waiting, nothing the two of them don't already know.

Tell her Mrs. Mackenzie."

I looked up at Mrs. Mac, confused.

She shook her head. "We can't find the book."

"What do you mean? It's not at Ravenworth so it's got to be in the townhouse somewhere."

"We've spent the last three days packing up all your mother and father's personal effects, and yours as well, but that book isn't there."

"Three days?" I shrieked, turning to Justine. "I've been gone for three days?"

She shrugged in that French way. "Did Michael not tell you it would take three nights for you to rise?"

"No, it seems he skipped that part. Then again," I said, chewing my lip, "I never really asked. But Mrs. Mac, the book has to be there.Mother never sold a book in her life. Mr. Pendergra.s.s, what does it look like, exactly?"

"About so big, red leather binding, no t.i.tle on the cover. It's a hundred-year-old Book of Shadows belonging to a witch from Lewis. It's written in Gaelic which is why I thought your mother might be interested in it."

I shook my head. "It's not one I remember. If it's not in the townhouse then the only other place it could be is in Scotland at Glen Gregor with Aunt Maggie, in which case we're in big trouble," I sighed and rubbed the bridge of my nose. "Mr. Pendergra.s.s, what have you figured out about the talisman?"

"Ah," he said, turning to one of his many tables, "I've cleansed it as well as I'm able but considering what it is it will always have negative energies attached to it. Blood magic is bad business, indeed."

He pulled out a small, black leather pouch which contained the necklace, the leather acting as a barrier to keep it from collecting the energies around it. He also pulled out several other small pouches and set them next to the talisman.

"These are as many of the ingredients of the spell as I can remember, but I must be missing at least three or four. The additional ingredients which should bind her into an object of your choosing are here as well."

"What are you using that isn't in the original spell?" I asked.