Blood Thief Box Set(52)

I screamed when something clawed at my window. Simon flew past me and opened the door nice and hard. There was a yelp, and he turned to me with his sly smile. "I believe I just broke its snout."

"Let's move!" Maeve shouted as she rushed out the other door. Specter flew through the ceiling.

A burst of colorful light came from where Maeve had gone followed closely by a lot of yipping. The light twirled around like a disco ball and illuminated the shadows of the two dozen fighters. There was a high-pitched cackle followed by a high-pitched scream. It was wonderful chaos.

Dolf opened his door and grinned at us as he quickly transformed. "I can't let them have all the fun." He leapt outside and the sounds increased.

Simon grasped my shoulder and grinned at me. "We should take cover."

I blinked at him. "Before what?"

He nodded at Maeve's open door. The fog was slowly swirling. "Before our ghostly companion's trick commences."

Simon pulled me from the vehicle and into the thick fog. I clapped my hand over my head as we ducked and dodged the battle. We burst from the fog at the far end of the lawn close to the garage. I looked over my shoulder. The house was completely shrouded in swirling mist. Our friends were nowhere to be seen, but their battles were a chorus of yipping and screams.

A long, low howl interrupted the cries of defeat. It was followed by a half dozen stronger ones. Simon stopped us at a tree near the garage and turned. His eyebrows crashed down.

I glanced from him to the fog and back. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Dolf is in-"

The lights from Maeve's disco-ball fun disappeared. "Get off me!" I heard Maeve shriek.

"Maeve!" Specter shouted. The perfect swirl slowed to a stop.

I whipped my head to Simon. "We have to help them!"

He turned to me and clasped his hands on my shoulders. "Remain here."

"But-" He leaned down and caught my lips in a long, passionate kiss.

Too long. I heard another howl of trouble from Dolf. Simon pulled us apart and raced toward the fog. I stretched out my hand, but it was too late. He disappeared into the thick mist.

I backed up so I stood beside the tree. The garage stood some ten feet behind me. I gripped the rough bark of the tree and waited. My ears picked up on the slightest sounds. A groan from a werewolf, a scream from a witch. I couldn't decipher if they were friend or foe.

"Come on," I whispered. I gripped the bark tighter. "Come on."

The disco lights returned. The fog started to swirl again. A single, triumphant howl filled the air.

My shoulders fell. I clutched my chest and smiled. "Thank god."

"May I join in the celebration?"





CHAPTER 9





My eyes widened and I spun around. Standing three yards behind me in the shadow of the side of the garage was a man of thirty. He was a few inches taller than me and wore an impeccable black suit with a white shirt and blood-red tie. His short black hair stood on end in a becoming messy manner. On his lips was a familiar sly grin, and his eyes glowed red in the deep darkness. One of his hands was tucked into his suit pants pocket. The other hung by his side.

I took a step back. He gave off a creepy vibe. "Who are you?"

He sighed and shook his head. "I never expected Simon to tell his 'friends' about me, but not to tell his fledgling? That's inexcusable. Especially how a fledgling should know her 'brother.'"

I frowned. "If you're my brother than I'm a single child."

The man chuckled and pulled his hand from his pocket. His middle finger was missing. I gasped as he strode toward me. He paused and lifted his hand. "Ah. My dear brother was kind enough to tell you of my deformity, was he?" He clenched his hand into a fist and he grinned at me. "But you, also, have a deformity. Unfortunately, yours is a far deeper one. A deformity of the soul."

I blinked. He disappeared. I felt a hand brush against my hair and spun around to find him standing behind me. His hand was covered in the dull powder Maeve had sprinkled over my head.

He raised his deformed hand and studied the powder. "A useful concoction, but only when it remains in your hair."

A chill sank into my bones. My blood ran cold as I whipped my head left and right. I caught sight of a shadow. It pulled itself from those of the garage and shifted into the shape of a cloaked figure. The thing pulled a dagger from its cloak.

I turned to run, but Trica caught hold of my arm and pulled my side against him so we stood perpendicular to one another.

His eyes were on the Phantom and he grinned. "Death is a magnificent creature, isn't it?"

My eyes flickered to the Phantom. Its dagger glistened in the light of the blinking stars. It was only ten feet from us. I tried to tear myself free, but his grasp was as strong as iron. As strong as Simon's.

Trica leaned down and whispered into my ear. "Will you come with me without struggle, or shall I give you to him?"

I bit my lip. One promised certain death, and the other promised death. I whipped my head around and glared at him. "Fuck off."

He straightened and chuckled. "A very admirable reply. I think I'll keep you."

He pulled a small knife from inside his suit jacket. The silver blade shone brightly in the dark. He flicked his wrist. The knife flew from his hand and into the chest of the Phantom. It let out a horrible scream and clutched at the knife.

"Trica."

Trica spun around and pulled me with him. Before us stood Simon. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair disheveled, but there wasn't a scratch on him. His eyes blazed with anger and his lips were curled back in a snarl.

Trica smiled and bowed his head. "Good evening, big brother, and good night."

He pulled a white packet from his suit and threw it to the ground. The packet exploded into a thick fog bank. Simon lunged at us, but disappeared into the mist.

Trica tossed me over his shoulder and sprinted across the lawn toward the lapping water. I heard the roar of a boat engine and saw a large speed boat at the dock. A pale woman stood at the controls. Trica hopped and landed on the buoyant floor. He dropped me into a corner and took the controls. We zoomed into the center of the wide river.

I sat up and spun around to face the shoreline. Simon flew down the lawn and clattered onto the dock. He skidded to a stop at the edge. His red eyes glowed in the dark night.

Trica glanced over his shoulder and grinned at Simon. "Open the safe and I'll meet you there!"

We sped off down the river. Simon's figure faded into the distance. I spun around and glared at my two captives. The other vampire sat near me. Her red eyes watched me.

"Is she the one?" she asked Trica.

Trica grinned at me and nodded. "Yep. What do you think of my new sister-in-law?"

The vampire tipped her head to one side and continued to stare at me. She didn't blink. "Very usual."

I leapt at the unknown vampire with my fingernails bared. She jumped up and dodged my attack. Her hand shot out and tried to grab my wrist. I tripped over some rope and my arm tumbled out of his reach, but not my legs. I swiped at her feet and made connection with both of her ankles. She dropped onto her rear on the floor of the boat.

Trica threw back his head and laughed. "Still think she's usual?"

The vampire's expression was blank, but she at least blinked at me. "No."

"As amusing as this is, I'd be grateful if you two would play nicer together. I don't want the boat to rock into shoals," he scolded us.

"Pull over and I'll consider it," I snapped.

He faced ahead and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that. You see, you're a very important part of my plan."

"To kill Simon?" I accused him.

Trica laughed. "I bet he gets you for that word a lot."

I climbed to my feet and faced him. The other female vampire remained seated. "Get to shore or I'll rock this boat worse," I warned him.

He sighed as he reached into his suit jacket. "I hoped we could have a lively conversation. I haven't had one since-" his eyes flickered to the woman, "-well, for a really long time, but I can see this isn't meant to be."

I lunged at him. He pulled out another packet and threw the contents into my face. I sneezed and rubbed my nose.

"I think I've had enough. . .enough of-" I clutched my head and swayed from side-to-side. The world spun. My head felt light. "What. . .what did you-" I dropped onto the floor of the speeding motorboat.

Trica glanced over his shoulder and grinned down at me. "Just a little hawthorn powder to knock you out."

I blacked out.





CHAPTER 10





I don't know how long I was out, but when I woke up we were in a car speeding down a familiar winding road. I was in the back seat of a blood-red sports car. Trica and the woman sat in the front.

I sat up and regretted it when my head pounded. "You shouldn't move too quickly," Trica warned me.

I gritted my teeth and glanced out the dark window. Forests loomed toward us from either side of the road. The scent of bay water hit my nostrils like a bucket of vinegar.

My eyes flickered to the front seats. "Where am I?"

Trica glanced through the rear view mirror and smiled. "I'm sure this road is familiar to you. If I recall, you helped my brother to steal quite a truckload of valuable items."

My eyes narrowed. "Why do you keep calling him that?"

Trica shrugged. "Because it's true. We aren't blood brothers in the usual sense, but we were created by the same vampire at near the same time, he being a couple of decades older than me."