"This was their only safe harbor," Quintus said.
"The smallest. They slit her throat and drained the blood to drink it. The other girl. She was stabbed in the stomach so they could inflict the most pain while she died. And the teen … fucking hell," Jake spat, his jaw ticking in anger. "They raped her. They gagged her. Suffocated her. She choked until she died. They were creating their goddess. These three met somewhere … came together. The human … he was related. He was her stepfather."
"Evil," Quintus commented, carefully inspecting the room.
"It's sick is what it is. If I met them, I'd kill them myself," Kai added.
"Dominique," Jake said. His eyes went to the vampire. "I'm pretty sure she was their mother. I can't be one hundred percent sure but I keep seeing her face. She's dressed … she's living in another time. I don't see fangs. She … she's not a vampire yet."
"Maybe they killed her too?" Shock rolled through Kai as the middle child hovered towards them. The young girl's spiral curls hung perfectly around her face. Her immaculate dress, neatly pressed, showed no sign of the stab wound. Still unable to shake the earlier images out of her mind, Kai attempted to communicate. "We're here because we're looking for something."
"The Kris," the girl said.
Kai gasped as an image flashed into her mind; the child held the knife to her abdomen, blood pooling onto the fabric. "I'm so sorry. We aren't here to hurt you. But yes, we need the Kris."
"You must ask my mother," she replied.
"Do you know where it is?" Kai pressed.
"She hid it. They don't know she took it. It's a secret." The girl held her fingers to her lips, looking from side to side. "Shh."
"You don't need to be afraid," Jake told them. "I know some very bad people did this to you, and if you really want to cross over, I know a few mediums that can help you … "
"Kasdeya. She wants it. Mother doesn't want her to have it. Not ever."
"Your mother. She's human?" Quintus queried.
"Don't believe them," she replied. "Mother's not like the others. She's beautiful."
"Is she a vampire?" Kai asked.
"She didn't want to be a vampire. She visits us. Don't tell Father. Father … " the girl looked over her shoulder as if he'd appear any second, "he's angry."
"What's your name?" Knowing she could never have children was a burden Kai had accepted long ago. But her protective instinct crushed her heart, at the way these young girls had suffered.
"I'm Serafine. That's my baby sister, Poupon. She's too afraid to talk. I'm eleven. I'm a big girl." She looked to the teen, whose expression remained somber. "That's Delia. They kept her quiet, so she won't speak to strangers ever again."
"Serafine," Kai began. She deliberately kept her voice soft and even, hoping to earn the girl's trust. "We are looking for the Kris. You see," Kai's eyes darted to Jake, who nodded, "I'm a special creature too."
"You fly," said Serafine, a smile curling onto her lips.
"I, uh," Kai stammered, attempting to conceal her surprise at the statement, "I haven't seen yet what I can do."
"You're like a warrior fairy. You sparkle like gold. You make it change. It's magick," she said, wonder in her eyes.
"Yes, I can do that. It's something I've been able to do since I was a child." Kai knelt down, taking in the sight of the smallest girl and then focused back on Serafine. "I have a sister too. She's innocent like you. Someone very bad took her. And these people … they want to hurt me too."
"The knife is special," Serafine whispered. "It is the only way to stop them."
"What do you mean?"
"The goddess. Kasdeya."
"But sweetie, Kasdeya is a vampire," Kai said, her forehead crinkling in confusion.
"Kasdeya is the trinity."
Jake blew out a breath, his eyes darting to Quintus. "She's not just a vampire. She's a goddamned three-headed Goddess."
"Things just got a whole lot more complicated." Quintus nodded.
"Serafine, I need the Kris. Kasdeya might have my sister or know who took her. You know my fairy wings?" Kai asked gently.
"Yes, they're so strong. You're scary, but pretty too."
"Thank you, honey. But my wings … everything about me … Kasdeya, she's been trying to kill me ever since I was your age. If you show us the Kris … let us borrow it, I'll be able to find my sister. We can find who did this to you and make sure they never do it to anyone else."