Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Kill Or Be Killed

Nera

Janelle's eyes widened as we were chatting and I looked behind me to see Deon heading my way from across the warehouse. We quickly stopped talking.

With my back to him, I snatched the decorative rock and sock from my pocket and struck the rock against the high-carbon steel of my cage, desperately trying to create a spark. I couldn't create fire out of nothing or shoot lightning from my hands—I was sure I'd learn those eventually—but I could use my magic to enhance fire that was already present.

A spark flew up from the rock but it wasn't enough. I slid it roughly again and again against the steel until a larger spark showed up. "Ignis," I whispered. The sock burst into flames and I dropped it.

The girls gasped at my cunning, but I wasn't paying attention to them. As soon as Deon came around the front of the cage, I had to think of something—fast.

"Help!" I screamed. "The cage is on fire! Get me out of here. Please!"

"Dammit," he said, quickly unlocking the padlock holding the cage closed with a key he produced from his pocket.

As soon as it was open, I quickly kicked the sock and it landed on his foot. It ignited his clothes and he screamed, dropping his keys. I snatched them up and ran to Leticia's cage, unlocking hers and then to the others while the smell of burning flesh permeated my nose and his screams assaulted my ears.

It took the other vampires a few long seconds to realize what was going on. One snatched a fire extinguisher off the wall next to the eye-wash station and doused Deon, whose dark skin was peeling and chunking off, leaving angry pink patches of skin.

I had only gotten three cages unlocked but I knew I had to make a run for it. I had to leave the rest there in order to come back and get help. Leticia, Janelle, and Sarah would have to get away so I could come back and rescue the rest.

I felt my hair being snatched at the scalp as I ran, my body halting as I was dragged to the floor.

"Dolor!" I yelled.

The one holding me let go and cried out, but then another snatched me. I tried the spell again and he grunted but didn't let go.

I whirled around and saw him with a needle in his hand. I kneed him in the groin and he dropped, the syringe clattering to the ground. I stomped on it and kicked it away, then ran for the door.

One of the vampires had grabbed Janelle but I didn't see Leticia, glad she had got away.

The one I'd kneed grabbed me around the waist, trying to drag me back to the cage. I snapped my head back and head-butted him in the nose.

Damn, that hurt.

Pain exploded in the back of my head but he loosened his grip enough for me to get away.

I was almost outside when I heard a car pull up. I ran through the doors to see a black Humvee and men spilling out of it.

"Shep!" I cried, and he ran toward me carrying a pistol.

I jumped into his arms, he kissed me, and threw me at Chaos, who tossed me into the back of the Humvee. I looked around and saw Leticia running away.

"Leticia!" I yelled through the open window.

She stopped and turned.

"Come here! Get inside!"

She doubled back and ran, darting into the backseat through the other side. We hugged and cried, then watched my man and his men go to work.

A smoking and burnt Deon snatched Janelle from the other vamp's arms, bared his fangs, and sank them into her neck while she screamed, her arms flailing.

Oh boy, she was going to need serious therapy—and vamp hypnosis—after this.

He dropped her to the ground and Leticia and I gaped in fascinated horror as his skin began to heal. Then, he used preternatural speed to whiz out of the warehouse through what must have been a back door.

I flinched when gunshots rang out, and my eyes widened when one of the bullets exploded a light show inside one of the vamps, lights beaming from his eyes, nostrils, and his open mouth, as it fried him from the inside out. He fell to the concrete floor, and quickly turned to ash.

"What the actual fuck!" Leticia squealed from next to me, gripping my shirt sleeve.

"Uh, we should probably have a talk—"

I startled when one of the bastards opened her door and snatched her out by her hair. She screamed for help and kicked and flailed.

I got out of the car and tried to go after the vamp but he was of course too fast. Then I went back into the SUV, peering over the backseat to see an arsenal of weapons. I snatched a gun, hoping its use was self-explanatory since I'd never used one, and yelled, "Psycho! Anyone! Help!"

Shep turned from where he was watching the vamp turn to ash and rushed over to me.

"Not me! He's got Leticia!"

I raised the gun and popped off a shot in their direction while Shep flinched and smacked my hand down. Then he took the gun from me. "You could have hurt the girl. You can't just go wildly firing! Use your…" He wiggled his fingers.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on the remaining three vamps. I knew Deon had gotten away, and we'd have to deal with him another day, but I stared at the three of them and whispered, "Dolor."

Three things happened at once:

One vamp had Sarah by the hair and was attempting to use super speed to put her in the black van. He dropped her to the ground to grip his head and scream in pain.

The second one had Menace's head back and was about to bite him when Menace reached around his belt and stabbed the vamp in the chest at the same time I delivered the brain sting. He went down and then turned to ash, a bare knife sitting on top of his clothing and ash.

The third, with Leticia, was headed toward the office when Chaos fired what I assumed was a vampire bullet into him. He dropped to the ground, holding his head and exploding in a light show the same way the first one had.

Man, I had to get them to teach me to use one of those things!

I heaved out labored breaths, my hands on my knees and my head pounding from using so much power. Eventually, I dropped to knees, and I felt wetness trickle out of my nose. I lifted my finger and it came back bloody.

"Whoa, that's never happened before," I slurred, right before I fell to the ground and darkness took over.

"There she is." I heard Shep's voice, and blinked up at him.

I was lying on something soft and comforting, and my momentary panic subsided when I looked into his rich brown eyes.

"What happened?" I groaned, sitting up.

"You used too much witchy hocus-pocus and passed out, but not before I caught you." He smiled, his beard curling around his full lips.

"Did we get the bastards?" I asked, reaching for a water bottle I spied on the table next to the bed. The bed, I realized, was Shep's. I was in his bedroom.

"We got them all except one."

"Deon," I groaned.

He lifted a shoulder. "I didn't get any names."

"You couldn't have missed him, he was smoldering smoke and was missing half his hair," I snarked, eyeing him over the rim of the bottle.

"I didn't get a good look, but that seems right."

I pursed my lips but didn't say anything. I wanted to cry that he was still out there, roaming free, and would never pay for his sins.

Shep sat on the bed. He wore his Bayou Wolves vest and a pair of jeans, but his look softened. He placed a gentle finger under my chin and made me look at him. "What's wrong?"

"Deon is… he's the bastard… the one… he's their leader." I couldn't bring myself to say the words. It seemed easy to say it to the bastard's face, but here, alone in the quiet with Sheppard, it was too much.

"Hey. We'll get him. I'm planning to call Viper once the sun goes down tonight. He's gonna be pissed I didn't call him for help, but he'll get the fuck over it."

I glanced at the bedside clock: 12:06 p.m.

I'd slept in this late?

"But, Nera"—Psycho slid his thumb over my jaw and stared at me in the eyes—"you're gonna have to tell him most everything this Deon guy has done. Do you think you can do that?"

"I can. And I will. I know those guys are old and there's nothing they haven't seen."

"That's a great attitude to take, and also very true."

"Where are the girls?" I asked.

"Safe," he replied. "Charlie was awesome. She had faith in us that we'd be rescuing these girls and went out to get them supplies, like feminine products, soap, razors, shampoo, that kind of shit. We also got a bunch of burner phones for them to use. Most of them are waiting for family to come get them."

"Most?" I asked.

"Leticia, she said her name was. She is hesitant to call anyone."

"Can I talk to her?" I asked.

He stood and grabbed my hand. "Of course, larkspur."

I looked up at him, love and something close to relief shining in his eyes. "What?" I asked.

"Are you all right? Really?"

"If you're asking if they touched me, the answer is no. That Deon asshole backhanded me but I'll live." I reached up and touched my cheek, where it still burned.

"You have a handprint around your throat." He looked murderous.

I reached up and touched that. "Oh, that was a different vamp."

Shep's eyes turned to fury. "I'm gonna kill Deon slowly."

"Get in line." I smirked. "I'll be cutting his dick off first. I know you men usually can't stomach that."

He visibly grimaced.

"Told you."

Shep put his arms around me and pulled me flush with his body. "I missed you so much." He gripped my face with both palms and stared into my eyes. "Nera, do not ever do that again. You understand?"

I nodded, my eyes filling. "It was stupid, I know. They said no cops… I apparently don't watch enough TV to know that means I'll for sure get kidnapped."

He gave me a brittle smile. "It's just a scare tactic. They wouldn't have done anything to you or that redhead if you had brought the calvary. They would have just fled. They're fucking cowards."

"I know," I whispered. "Hey. How did you find us?"

He grinned. "Agatha."

"Ah, locator spell?"

"Yep." His eyes volleyed between mine and he whispered, "Nera, can I kiss you?"

"You never have to ask," I murmured before he leaned down and pressed his mouth to mine.

We stood like that for a while, kissing, hugging, comforting each other. I was aroused, and I could feel he was too, but now wasn't the time.

I gently broke the kiss. "Where's Leticia?"

He gripped my hand. "I'll take you."

We left the house and hopped on his bike, taking it the short ride to the clubhouse. But instead of parking right in front, he parked in front of Rumble.

I dismounted the bike when he did and looked at him, confused.

"We made a makeshift triage area and shelter inside for the girls."

My heart soared. "You did?"

He nodded and grabbed my hand. "We did. I take zero credit though."

"Charlie?" I asked.

"Bingo. All her idea."

I'd have to thank her later.

As soon as I walked in, Janelle, Sarah, and the other two whose names I never got rushed up to me.

"You're okay!" Janelle said, hugging me.

She wore clean jeans and a pink T-shirt, a bandage on her neck. I looked over at the bar where a large box marked clothes sat. I hugged her back. "I am. Are you?"

"Thanks to you," she said. "My mom and dad are on their way from Tallahassee. I can't wait to see them!"

"I bet they can't wait to see you, too." I smiled at her.

"Thank you for everything," Sarah drawled quietly. "My brother's coming from Biloxi. He'll be here any minute."

"You were taken from there huh? So was I."

"Yeah, you and I were at the Shark Bait club on the same night. They snatched me before they got you." She shook her head. "Never going to a bar again."

I laughed and hugged her. "I don't blame you."

I looked over and saw Leticia sitting at a table with Charlie. They were eating, and my stomach rumbled. Glancing at the bar, I saw Cutter setting out a big tray of foil-wrapped burritos. I excused myself from Sarah, went to the bar, grabbed a burrito with a thanks to Cutter, and sat down with Leticia.

She glanced at me with sadness in her eyes. She looked less stressed, of course, but she seemed defeated somehow.

"I'm gonna go grab a soda. You want something to drink?" Charlie asked, standing.

"No, I'm good." I looked at Leticia. "You?"

She shook her head.

"Thanks," I mouthed to Charlie.

She nodded, swiping some purple hair from her eyes.

I looked at Leticia's half-eaten breakfast burrito and unwrapped mine enough to take a bite.

"Not hungry?" I asked her.

She shrugged. "I ate a little. My stomach doesn't feel well."

"Yeah, that's normal. They didn't feed us very much. We're not used to big meals." I knew I'd only be able to eat about half of this myself.

I glanced at the flip phone she had sitting on the table. I used my burrito to point to it. "Did you call your family?"

She glanced at me then back down, using her long fingers to play with one of her braids. I noticed she wore a clean white V-neck tee and a pair of black sweatpants. Then she shook her head.

"Why not?" I asked gently.

She was quiet, and didn't respond.

"Do you want me to call them for you?" I pushed.

She shook her head. "That's probably not a good idea."

I put my hand over hers, and she started at first, but relaxed.

"How old are you?" I asked.

She pierced me with sad brown eyes. "Seventeen."

"Oh, my gosh. You're so wise and tough. I thought you were in your twenties."

"Nope. I'm still in high school. Or I was until…"

"How did they get you?" I asked.

She looked down at her fingers. "I was playing basketball at the local park. I stayed after everyone left, trying to perfect my free throw. One of the assholes approached me, started talking to me."

"Deon?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yeah. I thought he was cute. He invited me back to his house to party. I got in that stupid van…"

"Say no more." I squeezed her hand.

She lifted scared eyes to mine. "Nera, why did those guys explode to like that? How come Deon didn't die when you set him on fire? Why did he bite Janelle's neck?"

Dammit. I hated vampires but I really wished I access to one to make her forget. They had this weird magical property in their gaze that basically hypnotized humans into believing whatever you told them. But Leticia seemed too smart for that.

"Do you believe in vampires?" I blurted.

Her eyes went big. "What? No." Then, she laughed humorlessly.

"Well, you should. That's why they turned to ash when they died. That's why Deon healed enough to get away. I'm sorry, but they're real. I believe they snatch girls to sell them to higher powered vampires for blood whores." And sex slaves, but I left that out.

"What!"

I resisted the urge to tell her we were surrounded by werewolves and that I was a witch, as I felt that would be too much for her.

"I can make you forget, if you want. Vampires can do that, hypnotize you to forget. Psycho knows a few who can help you. You'd forget they even existed."

She stared at me in horror. "Hypnotize me to forget?" She shook her head. "No. Hell no. That's weird."

"Okay. Well, tell me why you won't call your family."

"My mom… we aren't on the best terms. She probably doesn't even care that I've been missing for a month."

"I promise you she cares," I said. I picked up the phone. "What's her number?"

She chewed her plump bottom lip and looked scared, but I squeezed her hand. "Please. Let's get you home." I handed her the phone, and she slowly dialed, then put it on speaker, setting it down.

"Hello?" a female answered.

"Mommy?"

Silence, then a squeal. "Leticia? Oh, my God! Is that you?"

"Yeah, Mama. It's me." She jerked out a sob. "I wanna go home."

Her mother started uncontrollably sobbing, so did Leticia, and I hugged her, my own tears leaking down my cheeks for this young girl.