Bloody merry, p.5
Bloody Merry, page 5
Ladinas’s brow furrowed, his crimson eyes piercing mine. “You went into some kind of daze. Your eyes rolled back in your head.”
Shit. I didn’t need them worrying about me right now. I glanced at Ladinas, then Alice, and finally Mel, forcing a sly wink. Hopefully, they’d think it was just a clever trick to throw off the youngling. But Mel’s eyes were still wide, her grip tightening on my arm. Damn it, she wasn’t convinced.
I shook Mel off and strode towards the prisoner, whipping out my wand and pressing it to his throat. His beady eyes narrowed as I demanded, “Tell me who Jinx is.”
He spat at me. “I ain’t afraid of your stupid little stick. Jinx would kill me if I talked.”
“Would she now?” I smirked, tightening my grip on my wand. If he was really scared of Jinx, that gave us an opportunity. I’d make this bloodsucker piss himself yet—and my spell would show us his greatest fear. “Somnum exterreri!”
A bolt of dark energy burst from the tip of my wand. The youngling’s eyes snapped wide as the spell flooded his mind, searching, probing his deepest seated fears.
Stepping back, I met Ladinas’s questioning gaze. “It’ll make his worst fears seem real. We’ll be able to see everything, like a projection.” I glanced at the youngling, whose eyes were already glazing over. “If he’s really so scared of Jinx, we’re about to find out why.”
Ladinas chuckled, crossing his arms. “Brilliant. Let’s see what this little shit is made of.”
A ripple in the air around the youngling heralded the arrival of his nightmare. At first, it was only a flicker—a flash of pink hair and pale skin. Then she solidified, sauntering into the room as if she owned the place.
Jinx.
She circled the youngling, trailing sharp nails across his shoulders. “Did you think you could escape me, pet?” Her voice was like velvet and venom. “You belong to me now. No one will save you.”
The youngling whimpered, cowering under her predatory gaze. My spell had crafted every detail perfectly, from the piercings lining her lips to the predatory gleam in her pale eyes.
“Please, I didn’t tell them anything!” He grasped at Jinx’s hands, trembling. “I swear, mistress, I’ve been good!”
Jinx grabbed a fistful of his hair, yanking his head back to expose his throat. “Liar. You’ve always been worthless.” A fang slid from her lips, descending towards his neck.
“That’s enough.” I snapped my fingers, banishing the illusion. The youngling slumped in his chair, chest heaving.
Mel stepped forward, brow creased with concern. “A vampire biting another vampire?”
“You should have let that play out,” Alice added. “We were seeing what he feared about Jinx. What if she feeds on other vampires? That could explain--”
I shook my head. “Maybe. Or Jinx is the one who turned him and he’s reliving the most terrifying moment of his life. I wouldn’t read too much into it.”
Alice crossed her arms. “He’s already a vampire. How can his greatest fear be something he’s already been through?”
I cocked an eyebrow before stepping up to Alice, my face only inches from hers. “Who is in charge here, bitch?”
“Stop it, both of you!” Ladinas shouted, his eyes focused more on me than Alice. “The spell frightened him enough. We can use that.”
The youngling’s eyes flew open as Ladinas loomed over him, panic etched into every line of his face.
I leaned against the wall, content to let Ladinas take the lead. No need to rub it in that my spell had been more effective than Alice’s suggestion of sending in a burly prisoner.
Ladinas grabbed the youngling’s chin, forcing him to meet his gaze. The youngling whimpered, shrinking in his seat.
“You have two options,” Ladinas said softly. “You can tell us everything you know about Jinx’s operations, or you can suffer the same fate your ‘mistress’ intended for you.” His nails dug into the youngling’s skin, puncturing the flesh. A bead of black vampiric blood welled up, trailing down his captive’s neck.
The youngling squeaked. “I’ll tell you anything, just please don’t kill me!”
“Smart boy.” Ladinas released him, the hint of a smile on his lips. “Now. Where is Jinx headquartered?”
“I don’t know!” The youngling tugged at his restraints. “I don’t think she has a place of her own. She comes and goes as she pleases, but she stays with us most of the time.”
Ladinas’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t believe you.”
Before I could stop him, he lashed out, backhanding the youngling across the face. The crack of bone on bone echoed in the small room.
“Ladinas!” I snapped. He froze, startled, and turned to face me. “He’s talking, damn it! Let him talk!”
Ladinas’s jaw tightened, annoyance flickering in his eyes. But he nodded, stepping back to give me space.
I turned my attention to the youngling, who was whimpering through his swollen jaw. “Relax. You’re a vampire. A few minutes and you’ll heal up, good as new. No lasting harm done. Just tell me the truth, and I’ll make sure my companion behaves himself.”
The youngling looked past me, eyeing Ladinas warily. But he nodded.
“Jinx isn’t one of us,” he said, the words muffled.
“What do you mean ‘not one of us’?” I asked. “She’s not a vampire?”
The youngling shook his head. “She’s a vampire, sort of. But she’s different. I can’t explain it.”
“How old is she?” I asked.
The youngling sighed. “I don’t know.”
“Is she your sire?” Alice asked.
The youngling pressed his lips together. “Yeah. I mean, I think. It’s all such a blur. I don’t remember being turned. All I know is that she’s different. She’s not like the rest of us.”
“Different in what way?” Alice asked, stepping up beside me. “She feeds from you, doesn’t she? That’s why she’s so strong...”
“I—I really shouldn’t say—”
I twirled my wand in my hand. “I can bring her back again if you’d like. We’re going to find out the truth one way or another. But if you help us out, we can keep you safe. I can protect you.”
Ladinas huffed. “We can end his existence painlessly, at least.”
I pressed my lips together. “Don’t mind him. He’s in a bad mood. I told you I’d protect you. Once I’ve dealt with Jinx, you won’t have anything to be afraid of.”
The youngling trembled. “You can’t kill her. It’s impossible.”
“Of course it’s possible,” I said, steadying my voice. “I know you haven’t been a vampire for long, but when you burn out a vampire’s heart...”
“You don’t understand!” the youngling added. “She doesn’t have a heart! I told you, she’s not one of us. Not exactly, anyway.”
My stomach twisted. Didn’t have a heart? I endured most of my vampiric existence without a heart. A spell had bound my vampiric life to the soul of my brother—so long as he remained in hell, I endured. I was practically unkillable in those days. I got my heart back later. Long story. But I knew what the youngling was saying wasn’t impossible. It would certainly explain a lot. Though, in my case, I never had a taste for vampire blood.
“Are you sure she doesn’t have a heart?” Alice asked. “Or is that just something she told you? Like, she’s heartless, or whatever.”
“She literally doesn’t have a heart!” the youngling insisted. “I don’t know why or how. But you aren’t the first who’ve come after us. There’ve been hunters...”
My heart skipped a beat. Sebastian? He was the only hunter I knew who’d been in the region. But if it was Sebastian, if he’d confronted Jinx. I feared the worst. “What happened to the hunter?”
“I don’t know,” the youngling admitted. “He staked Jinx, set her on fire, and left. He didn’t even know the rest of us were there and saw it all. After he was gone, Jinx rolled out the flames, laughed, and removed the stake from her chest as if it was nothing more than a large splinter.”
I didn’t know if the hunter was Sebastian. Not for sure. But he was the only hunter I’d ever faced who bested me. As strong as Jinx was, I doubted there were too many hunters who’d stand a chance against her. Unless she allowed the hunter to think he’d killed her just to get him off their trail.
Whatever the case, at least I knew whoever the hunter was who went after Jinx was still alive. Somewhere. That meant if it was Sebastian, he was fine.
Had I made a mistake leaving Sebastian back in Maine, returning to Ladinas and the team? I couldn’t go there in my mind. It was just a little crush. Sebastian was focused on saving his wife. He didn’t have room in his heart for anyone—much less a vampire like me. There wasn’t anything I could change, even with the djinn’s help, that would change any of that.
“Why don’t you give it another go?” Ladinas asked. “Cast the spell again. See how it plays out.”
I shrugged. “I could. But he’s talking. I don’t think he knows much else.”
Ladinas nodded at Alice. “Get rid of him. We’ll move on to the next prisoner.”
Before I realized what happened, Alice plunged a stake back into the youngling’s chest.
“Take it out!” I insisted. “I told him I’d protect him!”
“Burn him,” Ladinas said as he pivoted on the ball of his foot to leave the room.
I snapped back at Alice. “Don’t you dare.”
“He’s beyond saving,” Alice said. “These younglings have been feeding on innocents. We have no choice.”
“There’s always a choice!” I insisted. “Pull out that damn stake. He’s stuck in hell like that. If you really want to drive him mad to the point he can’t be saved, that’s the way to do it!”
Alice ignored me and retrieved a small blow torch from a table on the edge of the room. She was going to burn out the boy’s heart. That’s when I lost it.
I lunged at her, pushing her back with all my strength. Ladinas rushed in to break us apart, but I was too angry to hear anything he said. I could take Ladinas. I could beat Alice. But not both of them at once.
Alice and Ladinas teamed up on me. Mel tried to get between us, but a backhand from Alice sent her flying and crashing against the wall.
“You bitch!” I shouted. “Don’t lay a hand on my girl!”
“I didn’t mean to—”
I aimed my wand at Alice. I could have done it. Incendia could burn her heart out if I focused my power straight at her chest. I was about to end her then and there when two powerful hands grabbed me from behind.
“Mercy!” Ladinas screamed as he spun me around and pinned my shoulders to the wall. “Get it together! We’re on the same team!”
“Fuck you and your team!” I screamed as I shook myself free and rushed to Mel’s side. I helped her to her feet.
“Mercy,” Ladinas begged. “You don’t mean that. If it makes you feel any better, we can spare this youngling for now. But if he steps out of line...”
“It’s too late for compromises,” I insisted. “Come on, Mel. We’re getting the hell out of here. Let these assholes deal with Jinx on their own.”
Chapter 7
I stomped down the hall, fists clenched, fury pulsing through my veins. Mel hurried to catch up, her combat boots thumping against the stone floor.
“Mercy, wait. This is an overreaction.”
I whirled on her, eyes flashing. “Overreaction? Did you see what just happened in there?” My nails dug into my palms. “Get your things. We’re leaving.”
Mel grabbed my arm. “We can’t just leave. There are convergences here, and Ladinas said--”
A portal yawned open behind her with a crackle of energy. Muggs stepped through, pale eyes solemn on his angular face. He must’ve heard everything from his room.
“She’s right, Mercy. You must stay. You are the guardian of the region.”
I bared my fangs at him. “Let Ladinas and his precious Alice handle it. You have half an hour to gather your things before we head out.”
Muggs held my gaze, unflinching. “I will not leave unless you compel it. My duty is to you, as your progeny, but there are greater things at stake here.”
Rage ignited in my chest like a furnace. How dare they defy me? I was their sire, their leader, their queen—they would obey my command.
I surged forward and seized Muggs by the throat, slamming him against the stone wall. The familiar’s eyes widened in surprise before his expression settled into grim determination.
“You will do as I say,” I hissed, fingers tightening, “or I will destroy you myself.”
Muggs stared back at me, resolute. “If you command it, I cannot resist. But I only follow you under protest. This is a mistake.”
The fury bubbled over, a roaring fire in my veins. Why was everyone questioning me? I wouldn’t command Muggs to follow me. It was his choice. But at the moment I was so goddamn pissed it took everything I had to stop myself from doing something I’d regret—like removing his head from his shoulders.
Mel grabbed my arms, hauling me back with all the strength she could muster. “Mercy, stop!”
I whirled on her, snarling. She met my rage with steely resolve.
“Get a hold of yourself. You’re not thinking clearly.” Her fingers dug into my arms as I strained against her. “Muggs is right. We can’t leave now. There’s too much at stake.”
I wrested out of her grip, chest heaving. The fury still simmered inside me, urging me to violence, but beneath it was the slow creep of shame. They were right—I knew they were right. I was meant to guard this place, for better or worse. No matter my personal grievances with Ladinas and Alice. But there were others who could do the job now.
I turned away from them with a sharp exhale, pinching the bridge of my nose. When I spoke again, my voice was tight with resentment.
“You have one hour to decide. I won’t compel either of you to follow me. I’ll come back to deal with the convergence if the situation demands, but for now, between Ramon, Adam, Willie, and everyone else, it’s handled.”
Mel and Muggs shared another look, this one relieved.
“We’re coming with you,” Mel said firmly. “Wherever you go, we go too.”
“You don’t have to--”
Muggs sighed. “I’ll come with you, if only because if the convergence here demands attention, I can bring you back a lot faster than you can drive.”
I threw up my hands in exasperation, the fight draining out of me. “Fine. Your choice. Meet me in an hour and we’re out of here.”
They nodded, wisely keeping their thoughts to themselves, and hurried off to gather their things. I sank onto the edge of my bed with a groan, burying my face in my hands. This wasn’t how I expected things would go when I came back to the Underground. I’d accepted that Ladinas and Alice were together.
That wasn’t it.
It wasn’t even that they didn’t agree with my position. It was the disrespect. I wanted to save these younglings. Not just because I was partially responsible for what they became, but because I’d been pulled back from the ledge more than once in my time. If it wasn’t for a few vampires who had faith in me—if Sebastian didn’t have faith in me—I’d be dead, damned, or worse.
They didn’t trust my judgment. They thought I was volatile. And I was. But they were the reason. They could disagree with me any day of the week, but when we didn’t see things the same way, we were supposed to talk it through. It was like ever since I’d had my issue with Oblivion, Ladinas thought he could just overrule my decisions.
But I wasn’t the one whose mind was warped. At least I was trying to save these vampires. It was more like the century Ladinas and Alice spent in the pocket dimension calloused them to the point that they were now two nasty feet, just scurrying around, and stinking up the joint with their corns and fungus.
A familiar tingle ran down my spine. I lifted my head to find the djinn lounging against the wall, regarding me with an infernal smirk.
“What now?” I snapped.
“You’re wondering what choices you could have made in the past that would have stopped Alice from ever returning to Rhode Island.”
“Am not.”
The djinn arched a brow. “Sure you are. I can show you a few possibilities if you’d like to consider your options.”
“No, thanks.” I didn’t need to dwell on the past. Not when the present was complicated enough.
“I insist.” He snapped his fingers dramatically. Smoke filled the room, stinging my eyes—but when it cleared, everything looked exactly the same.
But the djinn was gone. I reached into my closet to grab my suitcase and things—only to discover half my wardrobe was different.
“What did you do?” I shouted into the air. “You changed some of my shopping choices? Diabolical!”
The stupid djinn didn’t respond. What the fuck ever.
I stomped out of my room, suitcase in hand, scanning the hallway for any other surprises. Instead, I found Demeter leaning against the wall, pale arms folded over his chest.
My steps faltered. Demeter was dead. Killed in that whole ordeal with Samuel Parris and the Order of the Morning Dawn. “What the hell?”
Demeter blinked at me with a frown. “Are you ready or not? We only have a brief window to get this done.”
“Ready for what?” My heart pounded as I struggled to make sense of the impossible. None of this was right. The djinn was responsible. But what choice did I make that killed Demeter? Oh, that bastard. He was tempting me to make a wish that would bring back a part of my old team.
“Seriously, Mercy?” Demeter’s frown deepened. “Did you hit your head or something? We need to move. Now.”
He strode off toward the security room. I stumbled after him, shouting for Mel and Muggs. No response. By the time I caught up to Demeter, Ladinas was emerging from the security room, concern etched into his face.
“What’s going on? Where are Mel and Muggs?” I demanded. My hands curled into fists, nails biting into my palms.
“This isn’t funny.” Ladinas’s tone was grim. “We need to focus if we’re going to have a chance at taking out Jector.”
