27. The Second Vampire-Witch War

Chapter 27

The Second Vampire-Witch War

A lice parked her black SUV on a side street, about a block from The Heart and Rose. She turned off the ignition and waited, surveying the street. It was silent. Calm. Blissfully unaware of the battle to unfold.

She gathered herself. No more fear. No more hiding. No more running. It was almost sunrise. By the time the sun rose, she would either free herself from the tyranny of Sylvia or else she would see Hugo once again. There was no other way. This would end here.

Alice turned in her seat to face Guinevere floating behind her across the back seat. “If I don’t come back, I need you to fly to Ez. Find her. Take it to her, do you understand?”

The broomstick bobbed up and down in agreement.

“I’m counting on you. If I don’t come back or someone tries to get you, deliver it to Ez. You’re a good broomstick.” Alice patted the broom handle.

She turned and pushed the button to roll down the back window, so Guinevere could make a rapid escape. Alice grabbed her black bag and witch’s hat resting in the passenger seat. She was about to open the door when a gentle tap on her shoulder caught her attention. Twice more the broom handle tapped her. Alice gave two taps back, opened the door, and exited the SUV.

The rain had long since stopped, leaving the earthly sent of petrichor lingering in the air. She flung the bag over her shoulder and put on her hat. She tugged on the brim a few times to ensure the slightly curved, wool hat was in its proper place. Alice removed two wooden stakes, fashioned from the remains of Galahad’s broom handle from her black bag. She clutched both in her hands and strode toward the nightclub. She picked up speed with every step, nearly breaking into a sprint to reach the building.

Alice ducked behind parked cars, keeping them between her and the building. The curtains were drawn. A new one was draped over the window she had shattered earlier in the night. There was no movement, at least none she observed. She moved from car to car, hunched down to not be seen. Once she ran out of cars, she sprinted to the corner of the building and stopped.

The street in front of her was silent, quiet. An occasional car would drive past, but there were no unusual movements on the street. Alice peered around the corner. Two vampires, both sizable brutes dressed in black, stood guard outside the entrance.

Alice pulled back and placed her back to the wall. She clutched both wooden stakes in her hand, raising them up to her chest. She took deep breaths, trying to soothe her beating heart. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, and malice shone in her eyes. She took one more deep breath, held it, and exhaled, allowing her body to relax.

For Hugo .

She lunged around the corner and whistled. The guards spun around to face her. One closed in on Alice, while the other pinched a microphone clipped to his black shirt.

Alice didn’t think, she didn’t question, she didn’t hesitate. She hurled one stake at the charging vampire, swiftly reloaded her right hand, and flung the second stake at the other. The stakes soared through the air, hurtling toward their targets. The vampires sidestepped the path of the stakes, as they continued their assault. Alice snapped her fingers. The wooden stakes course corrected and hit their intended targets with precision.

Both pierced the vampires’ chests, turning them to dust. The wooden stakes bounced off the cement sidewalk. Alice snapped her fingers on both hands, and the stakes returned to her. She strode with confidence, eyes on the door handle. She snapped a finger, while holding the wooden stake. The door flew open. More vampires spilled into the night air.

Alice was ready for them. She struck the first one in the chest, sending him to an ash strewn grave. A hand snared the sleeve of Alice’s black tailcoat, attempting to pull her inside. Alice lurched in, surprising the vampire, and struck him in the chest. Alice spun, pirouetting on one foot, stabbing another would be assailant. With her fluid movements, she unleashed her dance-inspired techniques to swiftly dispatch the first wave of vampires.

More rushed in from the back. Alice flung the stakes into her coat pockets and delved her left hand back into her black bag, searching for something hidden within its depths. She produced a handful of sharp splinters and hurled them at the attackers. As she focused on the oncoming vampires’ chests, she could see the glint of their fangs and snapped both of her fingers. The sharp splinters effortlessly tore through them, causing them to collapse like a fragile house of cards as they turned to dust.

“Sylvia!” Alice shouted, still near the entrance. “Let’s finish this.”

Clapping emanated from the balcony. Not in congratulations, but to mock Alice. In the dim light, Alice found her query. The clapping built into a thunderous applause before stopping on one magnanimous clap. Standing at the balcony railing, wearing her crimson coat and pointing her clapped hands at Alice, was Sylvia Savino.

“You survived. A pity. I had such great plans for my new pet,” Sylvia said.

“You took everything from me!” Alice yelled .

“Consider us even,” Sylvia replied.

Alice let out a barbaric yawp and threw the wooden stake at Sylvia like a diminutive javelin. She spun around, transferring the stake to her other hand, and threw the second. She snapped her fingers. Both stakes raced toward Sylvia’s chest.

Sylvia stood her ground. The stakes floated in the air, inches from Sylvia’s chest, as if some unseen force held them. An arcane unseen force.

She glared at Alice. “Do you think I wouldn’t be prepared for you this time?” Sylvia asked. “You’ll have to do more than stab me in the heart if you want to kill me.”

The wooden stakes floated past Sylvia and fell to the ground.

“How?” Alice asked.

“You might have taken my new pet from me, but I’d like to introduce you to my original pet. I believe you know her,” Sylvia said. She turned to someone standing behind her. “Sam, please don’t be shy and come say hello.”

Alice’s mouth dropped. The blonde hair. The rolled-up sleeves showing off her forearm tattoos. She was unmistakable. The sight of her former lover standing next to Sylvia overwhelmed Alice in a state of shock and horror, left at a loss for words. All thoughts escaped her. Her shoulders drooped. She took a step back toward the entrance.

“I have to say, she’s been most helpful in my little operation here,” Sylvia toyed with Alice. She turned to Sam. “Go say hello.”

Sam turned, heading for the stairs.

“Over the railing,” Sylvia commanded. “I like the more dramatic entrance.”

Sam turned back, placed her hands on the railing, and leapt over. She landed on her feet on the floor below, crouching down to catch herself. She held there for a moment and rose to meet Alice.

“Hello, Alice,” Sam said in a monotone voice. Her eyes were red like Hugo’s. “I’m so glad you could join us.”

“Join is a . . . subjective term,” Sylvia said from above. “Joining me is off the table, but I’ll give you two options. ”

Alice shifted her weight forward, turning her back foot. She focused on Sam, then Sylvia, and finally back to Sam.

Sylvia continued, “Option one, you hand it over now, and I’ll let Sam dispatch of you. It’ll be quick, painless. Option two, I’ll rip you apart myself. It’ll be slow and painful. You’ll beg for mercy. I’ll give you none before finally taking off your head.”

“Sam, please don’t do this,” Alice said. “Snap out of it.”

A red flaming sphere of arcane energy appeared in Sam’s hand, and she threw it. Alice dodged out of the way. The sphere smashed against the DJ booth, sending parts of the wood platform flying into the air. Sam produced another flame and continued her barrage.

Alice kept running, zigzagging across the black and white checkerboard dance floor toward the bar. She placed her hands on the railing and leapt over, rolling down to the floor below. More and more red flames slammed into the shelves above. Bottles shattered. Alice turned her back and covered her head to shield herself from the shattered glass and liquid raining down on her. Alice was covered in a cocktail mixture of wine and an assortment of liquor.

“Come on,” Sam taunted. “Let’s play like the old times. You remember the old times, don’t you?”

Alice could hear Sam’s shoes clacking against the dance floor as she approached. “I won’t fight you.”

A reddish glow bathed the area above Alice. Its light emanated in all directions along the shelves behind the bar.

“We could have been something,” Sam said.

One side of the bar led back to the dance floor. She’d be an easy target for Sam. The other end led to a secured room used to store the liquor. There were no windows behind the bar, leaving Alice without a means of escape. Sam was closing in from above. Alice’s heart beat faster, slamming into her chest as her mind went blank.

“An arcane power couple. Me and you. Together,” Sam said.

“How about you stop and we talk it over?” Alice lied.

There was no escape. The light grew brighter, now spilling over the bar top. The clacking on the dance floor had stopped. Sam was above her. Alice was trapped.

“Goodbye, Alice,” Sam said.

Alice brushed against an aluminum tube dangling behind the bar—the tube of the soda gun. Sam leaned over the bar to throw the flame of arcane energy, but Alice was quicker on the draw. She withdrew the soda gun from the holster and sprayed Sam in the face. She recoiled at the attack. The sticky soda soaking her face broke Sam’s concentration, and the red flame dissipated.

Alice rose to her feet. She dug into her bag and leapt over the bar. Alice retrieved a small, glass vial of bluish liquid. She ran up behind Sam, wrapping her arms around her. Sam whipped Alice back first into the bar railing.

Alice cried out in pain as the wood railing plunged into the middle of her back. She steeled her resolve and didn’t let go. Sam tried again, but Alice was prepared. She kicked her leg back into the bar, preventing Sam from punishing her again.

Alice snapped her fingers, and the cork stopper flew out. “Open wide and drink this.” Alice jammed the vial into Sam’s mouth.

The liquid poured out. Sam choked, but Alice didn’t stop. Not until she drank a good portion of the liquid. Once satisfied, Alice removed the vial.

Sam bent over, her blonde hair covering her face. She coughed and grasped her throat before falling to her knees. Sam let out a guttural gurgle and collapsed to the ground.

Alice’s eyes watered. She wiped away a tear with her sleeve. Her betrayer, her former lover, now lay motionless on the floor.

Alice removed another wooden stake from her bag—the same wooden stake she pierced Hugo with through his back. She returned her attention to the balcony. Sylvia was gone.

Alice’s ribs burst like fire as she was slammed into the bar railing. Alice dropped the wooden stake. Maddening screams echoed throughout the venue. A mixture of Alice’s wails and Sylvia’s bloodthirsty howls. Sylvia reared back and slammed her again .

Alice struggled to breathe as it knocked the wind out of her. She tried to clutch her abdomen, but Sylvia maintained a tight hold this time. Sylvia lifted Alice and plunged her facedown into the ground. What little wind remained in her lungs was now gone. She could only mouth the pain of agony.

Sylvia threw the wooden stake into the storage room. Sylvia kicked Alice in her side, forcing her to roll over on her back. Sylvia stood over Alice.

“Funny, this was the same position he was in,” Sylvia said. Her hair was messy. An expression of subdued rage was on her face.

A purple arcane flame manifested in the palm of Alice’s hand, but Sylvia stepped on it, driving her heel into Alice’s palm. Alice screamed in pain. She rolled over, clutching her wrist, trying to free her hand.

“I think I’ve had enough of you, little witch,” Sylvia said, showing her teeth. Her vampiric fangs elongated. Sylvia lunged for Alice’s throat.

A ball of red arcane energy slammed into Sylvia, sending her backward onto the middle of the dance floor.

“No one messes with my Alice!” Sam shouted. She threw another red arcane flame at the vampire.

Sylvia writhed in pain.

Alice smiled. She stood up and snapped her fingers. The wooden stake flew into her awaiting hand. Alice and Sam locked eyes.

“Are you okay?” Sam asked.

“I will be in a moment,” Alice replied.

Sylvia crawled toward the basement. Every time she tried to stand, she collapsed back to the floor and screamed in pain. Alice and Sam closed in on Sylvia. Alice took her time as she enjoyed seeing her suffer.

“How?” Sylvia asked. “I controlled you.”

“I sell a lot of wine. Do you know what else I sell?” Alice asked. “I call it Drink Me juice. Anytime you’re drunk, hung over, poisoned, or in this case, enthralled, you drink the potion, and it sobers you right up. I sell more of it than I do wine.”

Alice and Sam stood over Sylvia, shoulder to shoulder. A red flame was in Sam’s hand and the wooden stake in Alice’s.

“You didn’t think I was going to come into battle with you and not prepare myself against your hypnotic gaze, did you?” Alice asked.

Sylvia rolled to her back, raising a hand to keep them at bay, while trying to crawl away. “I beg you,” Sylvia said. Alice raised the stake above her head. “Please.”

Alice’s arm twitched as she held it there. Her heart pounded against her chest. Her mind raced.

Which witch are you?

Every fiber in her being wanted her to lunge it directly into Sylvia’s chest. For everything she did—to the Raskins, to the town of Newbury Grove, to Sam, to her, to Hugo. Alice wanted to pierce Sylvia’s heart with all her might.

You’re not a good witch. You’re a great witch. Hugo’s words ran through her mind. She lowered the wooden stake.

“What are you waiting for?” Sam asked. “Do it.”

A sense of relief fell over Sylvia. She struggled to catch her breath.

“No,” Alice said. “I determine how I win, how I beat you. Stabbing you is too easy. No, I want you to pay.”

“Alice, stab her,” Sam pleaded.

“Sylvia Savino, for your heinous crimes and disturbing the peace between witches and vampires, I hereby place you under arrest of the Coven of the Moon. You’ll be tried and imprisoned until it’s been deemed your punishment has been completed,” Alice said. “And I’ll recommend a life sentence.”

“Don’t let her live,” Sam yelled. “Do it!”

Sylvia narrowed her eyes. She smiled and laughed. “What makes you think you can hold me? I’ve escaped more places and more situations than I can count. I’ve seen people come and go. I’ll take great joy in standing over your grave.”

“You can’t let her go,” Sam pleaded .

“You don’t have the guts, you little witch. I’ll track you down. You can’t hold me forever,” Sylvia said.

“Stab her!” Sam yelled.

Alice turned to Sam. “No! She goes to prison.”

“You’re weak, little witch. You’ve always been weak,” Sylvia taunted.

“Then I’ll do it,” Sam screamed as she snapped her fingers.

The wooden stake flew out of Alice’s hand and into Sam’s.

“No!” Alice screamed as Sam plunged the stake into the vampire’s chest.

Sylvia let out a chuckle as the stake pierced her heart. Her legs and arms turned to dust. The erasure line worked up her torso until finally her contorted face disappeared forever.

“What did you do?” Alice asked. “Why?”

“She deserved it. She deserved it for what she did to me,” Sam said.

“That’s not who we are,” Alice said.

“That’s not who you are. But it’s who I am.”

Alice slumped her shoulders. She covered her face with her hands and sobbed. Every emotion overwhelmed Alice, and she could no longer hold back. It was over. It was finally over. The Savinos were no more.

Sam wrapped her arms around Alice to console her. Alice pushed her away.

Sam tapped the thick end of the wooden stake in the palm of her hand. “I guess I deserved that.”

Alice snapped her fingers. The wooden stake flew out of Sam’s hand and into Alice’s awaiting hand. She tossed it into her bag.

“Why?” Alice asked. “I want to know why you told them.”

Sam scanned around as if to find the right answer. “I thought if people knew, then we could sell it and make some real money. Money that allowed us to get out of our stupid lives and do whatever we wanted, instead of working behind a bar.”

“Did you ever love me?” Alice asked .

“Of course, I did. That’s a dumb question.”

“Did you love me for me or because of what I could do?”

Sam paused. She crossed her arms, bit her lips, and lowered her eyes.

“Did you love me for me?” Alice asked again.

Sam lifted her head to meet Alice’s eyes. “I did love you. I loved the idea of what you could do for us even more. Look. I’m sorry. I only had the best intentions in mind. I was going to get you an offer, and then we could escape to a beach some place. The two of us. I never meant for any of this to happen.”

A tear ran down Alice’s face. It rolled down her cheek and onto the floor.

Sam threw her hands into the air and slapped them to her sides. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.”

“Hugo loved me for me. He’s the only one who ever loved me for me, and he’s gone,” Alice said.

Sam rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know what else to say. I don’t know how many times I can apologize. I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t know if you were still alive or what after I found the door in their basement.” Alice retrieved Sam’s red hat from her black bag and handed it to her. “I brought it in case I found you.”

Sam examined the red knit hat before locking eyes with Alice.

“At least we had Salem,” Alice said.

“At least we had Salem,” Sam replied, giving a half smile to the red knit hat.

Alice gave Sam a kiss on the cheek. “Goodbye, Sam,” Alice said and left the nightclub, leaving Sam alone.

Alice made her way back to the black SUV. She opened the door and removed her hat and bag. She tossed them into the passenger seat before entering. Guinevere poked at Alice’s shoulder as she sat down.

Alice placed a hand on the ash broomstick. “It’s over, Gwennie. It’s all over.”

She pulled out her phone and sent a text message to Ez before tossing the phone to the seat next to her. Alice sat in the car, unmoving. The morning sky came alive with a kaleidoscope of colors; rays of red, orange, and purple peered over the tops of buildings as the sunlight pushed back against the darkness.

Alice sobbed.

After a moment, she wiped away her tears. Alice started the SUV, rolled up the back window, and took off.