22. Storming The Castle

Chapter 22

Storming The Castle

A lice bolted out of the front door onto the darkened porch. She tugged and jostled the brim of her hat to make sure it was snug on her head. Hugo followed, slamming the door shut. He held the wooden stake from the vampire hunter’s kit upside down in his right hand, ready to strike at any given moment.

“They have to know we’re coming,” Hugo said as he pulled on his black leather jacket.

“Good,” Alice responded. “They better be ready for a fight.”

“Two ghouls down, right?”

“Yep. Two left.”

“Two of us against the four of them. I like those odds,” Hugo said. “What about the mind control?”

“Don’t make eye contact, and you’ll be fine.”

“Oh, I’m going to,” Hugo said with a smirk as he turned his head toward Alice. “I want to see the horror in her eyes as I drive this stake through her heart.”

Alice smiled back at Hugo.

They left a trail of ghostly clouds of vapor from their breath as they charged down the gray steps and across the yard. The sky was dark, only illuminated by the waning moon. Ravenhill Drive was silent, except for the two pairs of feet trudging through the frosting grass in the cold autumn air.

Alice snapped her fingers, and the Savinos’ porch light went out. They stomped up the white steps and into the darkness. They cared not for stealth or a tactful approach. They wanted to announce their presence. Alice wanted to let them know their reckoning was coming. She raised her hand to fling the door wide open.

“Wait,” Hugo said as he blocked her hand. “Let me go first.”

“I can handle it,” Alice said.

“I know, but this could be an ambush. What if they’re waiting for you to enter and then try to bite you? What at they going to do to me . . . turn me into a double vampire?”

“Good point.”

Hugo approached the door, readying himself in a fighting stance. He held the stake shoulder high, primed and ready to strike. “I can smell them in there.”

He took two quick breaths and gave a nod. Alice snapped her fingers to unlock the door. Hugo lifted his hind leg, lurched forward, and kicked the door wide open.

The house was dark. Alice could only see the faint outlines of the inhabitants inside. Multiple pairs of eyes, more than the expected four, leered back at them through the darkness. The sounds of growling and snarling emanated from within. The house was full of vampires.

“There’s more than four,” Alice said with a high-pitched panic in her voice.

“Good. I love a line brawl,” Hugo said.

He charged inside with a barbaric yell, the wooden stake held high. He made it two steps before he was confronted by a frenzied vampire trying to claw at his neck. Hugo tugged at the vampire’s clothing to pull him off balance. He flung the attacking vampire against the wall, knocking down a few decorations. With a seamless motion, he drove the wooden stake into the vampire’s chest. The vampire screeched as he turned to ash and dust.

“One,” said Hugo.

The next vampire closed in behind Hugo. He grasped around Hugo’s torso and flung him over his shoulder. Hugo groaned as he slammed face first onto the ground. The vampire climbed on top, biting toward his neck. Alice snapped her fingers, conjuring a flaming purple ball of arcane energy. She entered the house and flung it at the vampire.

It exploded in an array of arcane magick. The vampire wailed in pain, falling off Hugo. Hugo rolled over and stabbed the vampire in the chest, reducing him to dust.

“Two,” Alice said.

The next vampire charged down the hallway, her fangs elongated and screeching. Alice threw another ball of arcane energy, hitting her square in the chest. She fell backward, writhing in pain on the ground. Hugo jumped up, moving to finish the job.

Two vampires ran in from the living room, tackling Hugo. Alice’s stomach twisted in knots at the sound of Hugo screaming in agony as his ribs crashed into the wall. Her heart thumped against her chest.

Without hesitation, she attacked with two more purple spheres of arcane energy. One struck a vampire in the head, knocking him to the ground. The purple sphere hit the vampire in the shoulder, momentarily pulling him off Hugo.

Hugo clutched his ribs and stabbed the dazed vampire in the chest, turning him to dust. Hugo twirled around, jabbing the vampire on the ground.

“This is why I wanted to go first,” Hugo said.

He twisted and struck the other vampire writhing on the ground behind him, reducing her to only a trail of dust. The hallway was clear.

“Two minutes for boarding,” Alice said with a smirk. “ Five for fighting.”

“Why, Ms. Primrose, are you flirting with me?” Hugo asked with a half-smile. He stood up, wiping the sweat off his brow.

“Just a bit of foreplay, dear.” She blew him a kiss before biting her lips.

Seeing Hugo charge into the house, fighting, sweating, his hair a mess, breathing heavily . . . She was seeing Hugo in a new light. No longer the compassionate lover, but a force of power and aggression. Her stomach fluttered. Her body tingled. Her muscles tightened. It unlocked something deep within. Something . . . primal.

The stairs thundered as three more vampires tumbled down.

Focus!

“Get behind me.” Hugo wrapped an arm around her, pulling Alice behind him.

Hugo’s hand placed on her waist ignited a flame throughout her whole body, causing a yearning for him as he rushed past. He stood between Alice and the vampire onslaught.

Touching my hip isn’t helping.

Alice launched a few more flames toward the descending vampires. The wood railing exploded as the arcane spheres struck against it, sending the vampires recoiling in fear at the flying splinters.

“Watch it with the splinters!” Hugo yelled as he braced himself.

“Sorry,” Alice said.

The advancing vampire was met with a swift and powerful motion as Hugo slammed the vampire against the wall. Continuing his counter attack, Hugo drove the stake into her chest. Another vampire turned to dust.

The next vampire slashed Hugo across the neck, leaving a streak of blood as one fingernail dug into him. Hugo recoiled in pain, gripping his wound with his open hand.

Hugo slugged the vampire in the face, knocking him back into the other descending one. It was only a moment as the now lead vampire rose and lunged for Hugo’s neck. The vampire crashed Hugo into the wall. The shock knocked the wooden stake free from his hand. Hugo gasped for air as the vampire crushed his neck.

The last vampire on the steps leapt over the railing, knocking Alice to the ground. Her hat flew off and rolled down the hallway. He straddled her, his knees pinning her arms to the ground.

“They said we could do whatever we wanted to you,” the vampire growled as he leaned in.

The heat from his breath washed over her. Horror filled Alice’s eyes as his elongated fangs drew closer. Alice kicked and shimmied, struggling to free herself. His weight was too much.

“Hugo, get him off of me!” Alice shouted.

He didn’t reply. She couldn’t see him, only the sounds of him gasping and gurgling for air. The sound of knocking against the wall, like feet kicking, was the only response. Hugo never answered.

“You should see what they’re doing to your boyfriend. Won’t be long now,” the vampire taunted.

Alice screamed once more, “Hugo!”

There was no response, only the sound of a body slamming into the wall.

“Do you know what I want to do to you?” the vampire asked Alice as he leaned in closer. “I bet you taste sweet.”

He lurched forward, driving his fangs at her neck. Alice narrowed her eyes and snapped her fingers. The splinters shot up into the vampire’s back. He reeled backward, letting out a howl. Alice snapped her fingers again, driving the splinters into his heart.

His face contorted as his body turned to ash and disappeared. The pile collapsed onto Alice, covering her in the dusty remains of her vampire attacker.

“Disgusting!” Alice yelled.

She snapped her fingers, and the ash particles scattered away from her. She rose to her feet.

She snapped her fingers again. The wooden stake flew into her awaiting hand.

“Hey, you,” Alice said to the vampire.

Her words drew his attention, but he still held onto Hugo’s neck.

She continued, “Catch.”

Alice snapped once more to produce a new arcane flame and hurled it toward the vampire. It struck him in the face. Hugo fell to the ground as the vampire relinquished his grip. The momentum forced the vampire backward, slamming it into the wall at the base of the steps.

Alice charged, let out a primal scream, and stabbed the vampire in the chest. He was reduced to dust. Alice collapsed onto the bottom step, away from the pile of ashes, and propped herself against the wall to catch her breath.

Hugo coughed and struggled to breathe. He rolled around on the steps as he soothed his throat and gasped for air.

“Are you okay?” Alice asked.

“Ten-minute game misconduct,” Hugo struggled through his coughs. “You’re out of the game, buddy.”

“I see you haven’t lost your sense of humor.” Alice chuckled.

“It’s undead . . .” Hugo said through his gasps. “Just like me.”

“What a night. Any more of them?” She handed Hugo the wooden stake.

Hugo sniffed. “Yeah, I can still smell some.”

“Fantastic,” Alice said as she stood up. “Let’s check upstairs.” She extended her hand and helped him to his feet.

Alice snapped her fingers. Her hat flew onto her head. She adjusted the brim, so it was in its proper position.

Hugo arched his eyebrow and gave her a discerning look.

“What?” Alice asked as she gave it a final tug. “I need my hat.”

“Do you know how much I love you?” Hugo said with a smile.

Hugo fell forward, catching himself against the wall with his right hand. He was inches from Alice’s face, his arm cutting off her escape route.

A shiver ran down to the base of her spine as the internal flame reignited. Alice squirmed in the tight place between the corner and Hugo’s outstretched arm. Her eyes flared. She relished him pinning her against the wall.

Not now!

This was definitely a different side of Hugo—a side she hadn’t seen before, but had only heard about in his stories. His aggressive hockey style played out in a hallway battle with vampires. She would have to explore this later when they got home.

She scrunched her eyes as she glared at him. Her smiled faded into pouty disapproval. “How could you think of such a thing at a time like this?”

“I thought you were?—”

“Exactly,” she cut him off. “I know what you were thinking. Shame on you. Get your hormones and pheromones in check. We have a job to do.”

She smiled and winked at him as she ducked under his arm to move past him. She pulled up the hem of her tail coat, so he had to stare at the curves of her hips in the tight leather pants as she ascended the steps.

Hugo chuckled and followed. “Foreplay, indeed.”

Alice glanced back at him with a smirk.

They approached an open spare bedroom door. Hugo hurried past Alice as they stepped into the room. It was barren. No furniture, boxes, decor, or knickknacks. Only a rug covered the center of the room.

“What were they doing in here?” he asked.

“We probably don’t want to know.”

“Let’s check the other bedroom.”

They closed in on the master bedroom. Alice checked with Hugo. His eyes focused on the antique brass knob.

“Are you ready for this?” Alice asked.

“Not my room. Not my house,” Hugo said. “Open it.”

Alice snapped her fingers, and the door flew open. Hugo rushed in with Alice following behind.

“They’re not here,” Hugo said. He kicked over a foot stool. “They’re not here.”

Alice’s heart sank. They were alone in the bedroom. The bed untouched. The furniture in its proper place. Crimson curtains were drawn over the windows, heavy and thick enough to block out the sunlight. Hugo approached and pulled them back. The windows were boarded up so no light could enter.

The bed was meticulously made and flawless. Each fold of the sheets and covers was immaculate. The black and red pillows sat in their proper place. Alice approached the side of the bed. She jerked back the bedcover and sheets, spilling the pillows on to the floor.

“I thought we didn’t have time for that?” Hugo joked.

Alice glared at him and didn’t respond. He gulped and backed away.

“I thought about returning the favor and trashing her place,” Alice said as she pulled the covers completely off the bed. “But I thought of something better. I want to send her a message.” She removed two playing cards from her pocket.

“The Queen and King of Spades,” Alice said as she placed them on the bed. “I want her to know we were here. In her room. Touching her bed. I want her to question what we did in here.”

Hugo strode across the room. Alice recognized the look in Hugo’s eyes. It moved beyond flirtatious. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him.

She gasped. He gazed into her emerald green eyes. She melted in his icy blues as his hands traveled down the small of her back. Alice was enthralled by his heightened pheromones, drawing and pulling her closer to him.

“Why let them guess?” he whispered into her ear. “My heart is burning . . . yearning for you right now. Let’s remove all doubt.”

His words dripped over her like sweet ambrosia, tickling her senses. She wanted him too, but not here. Not in this defiled place he once called home. No. It would have to wait.

“What has gotten into you?” Alice said .

Hugo shook his head, his mouth agape. “I don’t know. It’s like the anger and rage is fueling everything inside. It’s as if all my senses are exploding at once. I’m having a hard time controlling it. My body is calling for you. Is this what it’s like to frenzy? Am I frenzying?”

“You’re not frenzying. Vampirism heightens everything. It’s like pouring gasoline on a candle. It’s also what makes nights . . . fun,” Alice responded. “Hold it for later. Trust me.”

“You’re such a tease.”

“I know.” She grinned at Hugo.

“Come on. Let’s check the basement,” Hugo said. “I can still smell them. They must be there.”

They charged down the steps and back into the hallway. They traveled through the dining room and into the kitchen. No signs of anyone.

Hugo approached the white door leading into the basement. He gripped the brass knob.

Alice nodded.

He flung open the door. The warm, incandescent glow of the basement light greeted them. They used their eyes to communicate with each other to go down, both nodding in agreement. He gave a three count with his fingers, and together they rushed down the stairs.

Hugo descended the steps with Alice following behind him. One of the ghouls stood at attention against the cinderblock wall. It was unmoving, smiling back at them. Hugo charged the ghoul and pinned him against the wall. He brought the wooden stake up to the ghoul’s throat.

“Where are they?” Hugo shouted.

The ghoul was silent, smiling back at Hugo.

“Where are they?” Hugo shouted once more at the ghoul, who smiled an unnerving, unwavering grin.

“They won’t tell you,” Alice said. “She entranced them to not speak. ”

“If he’s no use to us, then what’s the point of keeping him alive?” Hugo asked as he readied the stake to strike.

Alice seized Hugo’s hand, preventing him from striking. “Because we’re not like them. He’s not a vampire. He’s not attacking us. Let him go.”

Hugo grunted, releasing the ghoul who remained still—smiling and smiling. Hugo stormed off around the corner.

Alice bent over and rubbed her hands over her face. She closed her eyes and shook her head. Why? Why put us through this and not be here?

“Alice!” Hugo shouted. “Come look at this.”

Alice opened her eyes. The basement was barren. Nothing scattered across the gray floors. Nothing stacked up against the cracked cinderblocks. Yet, something was around the corner. Alice kept an eye on the ghoul as she rounded the corner. He didn’t move. The ghoul only smiled.

As Alice turned to find Hugo, the sight of a wood door, blackened with iron ornate fixtures, inlaid into the cinderblock wall, greeted her. The last remaining ghoul stood guard with an unnerving, overstretched smile.

“How?” Alice asked.

She didn’t recognize the door, but she knew what it held within and where it could lead. She wasn’t the only witch who could conjure a door to a secret location.

“I thought you said vampires can’t cast magick,” Hugo said.

“They can’t,” Alice said.

She touched the door and tried to pull on the handle. It wouldn’t budge. She examined the edge of the cinderblocks around the door. Shock filled her eyes. She recognized the arcane symbols. They were protection symbols, similar to the ones protecting her house.

“How did they do this?” Hugo asked.

“Someone cast it for them,” Alice said. She slugged the door with the palm of her hand. “Someone is working for the Savinos.”

She hit the door over and over. The blows of her hand echoed in the barren basement, each blow harder than the last. She clenched her teeth.

“Someone betrayed us,” Alice continued.

Tears welled in her eyes as she pounded on the door. Her hand numbed and turned red with each blow. The skin scraped and blistered. She didn’t care. She was going to either break through this door or break her hand.

Alice flinched and held her breath as Hugo’s hand closed around her wrist.

“Hitting it won’t open the door,” Hugo said.

“No, but it damn well will make me feel better.”

Hugo hugged her. She buried her head into his shoulder and sobbed.

“You know who did this, don’t you?” Hugo said.

“It can’t be true. It can’t,” Alice cried.

“They didn’t give us the hat to let us know they hurt her. They gave it to us so we knew Sam was working for them,” Hugo said.