All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire(99)

"Worse," Carlos muttered.

 

Teddy's eyes lit up. "The evil forces! They're upon us!"

 

Shots exploded below in the club, and screams filled the air.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 21

 

 

 

 

Ian dashed to the wooden screen to see what was happening below. He spotted Jedrek Janow with a pistol in his hand and a sheathed sword hanging from his belt. Jedrek shot twice in the air and laughed when the women scurried about, screaming. Thankfully, most of the women had enough sense to teleport away.

 

"Toni, call Dougal and Phineas, so they can use yer voice to teleport straight to this room. And tell them to bring extra weapons." When Ian had sent out a psychic message, he'd merely summoned them to the Horny Devils. But now he didn't want them to accidentally teleport into the turmoil below. And he didn't want to send another psychic message that Jedrek could overhear.

 

Toni whipped her cell phone from her pants pocket.

 

Sabrina started crying, and Teddy tried to comfort her. Vanda and Carlos were peering through the wooden screen.

 

"They're taking hostages," Carlos said quietly.

 

Ian looked at the scene below. About ten of the lady Vamps had frozen in fear and failed to teleport to safety. Stanislav and Yuri were using silver ropes to lasso them like frightened heifers, while Jedrek stood on stage, smiling as the silver burned their skin and made them scream. The women were herded together, and a Malcontent woman looped more silver rope around them to keep them confined and unable to teleport away.

 

Phineas and Dougal materialized next to Toni, carrying five swords and some wooden stakes.

 

Ian passed a sword to Carlos. "Do ye know how to wield it?"

 

"I can learn." Carlos gripped the hilt. "Why don't you use guns?"

 

"We can recover from most bullet wounds, but a sword through the heart is permanent." Ian offered the last spare sword to Vanda.

 

"No thanks." She untied the whip from her waist. "I'm more comfortable with this."

 

"Can I have a sword?" Teddy approached him.

 

"Teddy, no!" Sabrina pulled him back. "We shouldn't get involved."

 

"I want to be a hero, too," Teddy insisted.

 

Ian passed him the sword. "Ye'll guard the women."

 

"He can protect Bri." Toni grabbed some wooden stakes. "I'm not staying here."

 

"Ye are—" Ian was interrupted by Jedrek's booming voice.

 

"Ian MacPhie! I know you're here. Bring me the Stay-Awake drug or I'll start killing." Jedrek's voice was muffled by screams from the hostages.

 

Ian motioned for Phineas and Dougal to join him at the screen. "We'll teleport at the same time. I'll take Jedrek."

 

Phineas peered through the screen. "I'll take Stan."

 

"Then I'll take Yuri," Dougal said.

 

"And I'll take the woman," Toni added.

 

Ian stiffened. "Nay. Ye're staying here."

 

"I will take the woman." Vanda glared at Toni. "I can teleport. You can't."

 

Toni glared back. "I can handle the silver ropes to untie the hostages. You can't."

 

"Ye're no' going—" Ian was interrupted by Jedrek.

 

"Don't think you can attack me, MacPhie!" he shouted from the stage. "We have a hostage here, and she'll die if anyone comes close to me. Nadia, you will kill the blonde to please me."

 

"Yes, Master." With gloved hands, Nadia tied a blonde hostage to the dancer pole on the stage.

 

"Oh no," Vanda whispered. "It's Cora Lee."

 

The bartender struggled against the silver ropes that bound her and sizzled against her bare skin. "Let me go!"

 

Jedrek pointed his handgun at her. "Silver bullets, my dear. They really hurt." When Cora Lee whimpered, he smiled. "Your fear makes you even more attractive."

 

"Vanda," Toni whispered. "Do you have any wire cutters around here?"

 

"Maybe. There's a tool kit in my office."

 

"Toni." Ian regarded her sternly. "Ye are no' going down there." When she opened her mouth to argue, Ian continued, "This is no' a friendly request. I'm yer boss. Ye'll do as I say."

 

Her eyes flashed with anger.

 

Ian turned to Carlos. "Ye both stay here."

 

"You can't order me around," Carlos growled.

 

Ian ignored him and motioned to the other Vamps. "We teleport on three." He counted, and they vanished.

 

Ian materialized beside Jedrek and with the first swipe of his sword, he sent the gun flying from Jedrek's hand.