A Witch's Love (19 page)

Opening the door, he turned to her. “Stay put, Ava. I mean it.”

She nodded, but as the door shut behind him she raced across the room. It was time to put her plan into action. She opened her bag and began to take out what she needed. Lucas was going to be so pissed.

Chapter 17

Lucas sat at After Dark’s bar with a beer in his hand. He had started up a conversation with a vampire. He had known a few vampires and thought they had a lot in common. A lycan was affected by the light of the moon, while a vampire was affected by the light of the sun. The vampire he talked to now must feel the same way for they talked together with ease. Lucas had brought up the subject of the demon hive and had listened intently as the vampire cursed demons.

“So, you have never heard of the whereabouts of the hive?” Lucas hoped for a quick response.

“No, man, but there was a guy in here the other night telling stories of his escape from the hive. I for one thought it was all bullshit. I mean, have you ever heard of anyone escaping the hive?”

Lucas shook his head as he took another hard pull on his beer. Was this a dead end?

He needed to talk to this escape artist, to find out for sure if he had really been to the hive or not.

“Where can I find this guy? Lucas looked to the vampire but his companion’s attention was on the door.

“Get a load of the fresh meat that just walked in,” the vampire said with a high-pitched whistle. “If you will excuse me, I’m going over to talk to that hot piece of ass.”

Determined to get his answer, Lucas turned about to follow the vampire when he caught a glimpse of the ‘hot piece of ass.’

Ava strolled through the bar as if she owned the place. She had on a short jean skirt and a low-cut blouse, revealing too much cleavage for Lucas’s liking. Her high heels clicked as she moved over the wooden floor, and grunts of approval followed her.

A low growl escaped his lips as he watched one guy outwardly gawking at her. She was attracting too much attention, and the men were closing in on her.

“Well, hello there,” she said sweetly, “maybe one of you can help me. I’m looking for someone.”

“You were looking for me, weren’t you, sweetheart?” a big, burly man asked, as he reached for her.

She ducked out of his grasp and slammed into Lucas’s chest, hard.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. Oh, Lucas, I’m so glad I found you. Kind of a rough crowd you got here.”

He took hold of her by the shoulders. “What the hell do you think you are doing?”

“I told you I was coming. Maybe next time you will listen to me,” she said through clenched teeth. She took his arm and draped it around her shoulders. “Now who can we interrogate?”

“We are not interrogating anyone. You are taking a cab back to the hotel, understand?”

“Lucas, I’m not going anywhere. They are my sisters and—”

“Hey, buddy, get your own. I saw her first,” the big, burly man shouted as he tried to reach for her again.

Lucas shoved Ava behind him. “I wouldn’t do that, if you value your arm. She. Is. Mine.”

“Yeah, I’m his,” Ava said, peeking around his shoulders.

The guy regarded them both, then turned and walked away, shaking his head and muttering beneath his breath.

“Ava, I’m serious. It’s not safe for you here. Especially dressed like that,” he said, eyeing the clothing fitting the contours of her body.

Judging from her shifting eyes and the tension in her stance, she’d been freaked out by all the attention the men were giving her. He thought he was about to win the argument when the vampire he had been talking to earlier approached them.

Lucas took a step in front of Ava, shielding her body from his view.

“Lucky man,” he said, nodding in Ava’s direction.

Lucas held his ground, waiting for him to continue on his way so he could get Ava out of the bar.

“The guy I told you about, the one with the stories of escaping the hive, well, he just walked through the door. He is the one wearing the leather trench.”

Ava suddenly stepped in front of him. “What? Someone escaped the hive. Lucas, we have to talk to him.”

The vampire laughed. “Looks like you have your hands full with this one,” he said as he moved away.

Lucas gritted his teeth, feeling a muscle clench and unclench in his lower jaw. There was no way he was going to get Ava to leave now. He turned to her. “Let me do the talking. We don’t know what kind of immortal he is, or what kind of powers he has. Swear to me you will let me do the talking.”

She hesitated before she agreed, but he still cursed himself for letting her stay. As they turned and approached the man with the leather jacket, Ava took hold of his hand. He gripped her tight, reassuring her that he was on her side, no matter what.

Lucas stood over the man in the leather jacket, keeping Ava close to his side. Without looking back at them, the man addressed them. “Sit.”

Lucas motioned for Ava to take the empty chairs. As they settled at the table, Lucas regarded the man. He couldn’t sense what type of immortal they sat with and that made him uneasy. The man’s appearance revealed little, and his scent was unlike any he had encountered before. Lucas didn’t trust what he didn’t know, but his instincts didn’t scream danger.

“I can help you get what you seek,” the man said, breaking the silence.

Lucas couldn’t help but notice that the man refused to look at Ava, centering his attention on him alone.

“Who are you?” Lucas couldn’t contain his curiosity.

“You may call me Flynn.”

“Well, Flynn, how is it that you know what we are looking for?”

Flynn’s gaze turned dark. “You seek your sisters, do you not?”

Ava gasped. “Have you seen my sisters? Are they okay? Did they say—”

“Give Flynn a chance to speak.” Lucas took her hand, hoping to comfort her.

Flynn looked side-to-side, then leaned forward, resting his arms on the wood table. “They are in grave danger.”

Something still didn’t sit right with Lucas. “That doesn’t explain how you knew
we
were seeking her sisters.”

“She resembles them,” Flynn said, looking away from his gaze. “There is no time to waste. If you want to help the sisters, we are going to have to act fast. I can get you into the hive.”

As Ava started to stand, Lucas stilled her, never taking his eyes off of Flynn. “We are going to need a minute.”

“I will wait outside, but know time is of the essence. If the wrong person got wind of any of this, well, let’s just say, we need to hurry.”

Lucas nodded, then watched Flynn walk out the door.

Ava tugged at his arm. “We have to go with him, Lucas. He knows where my sisters are!”

“We don’t even know him. This could all be a trap.”

“Even if it is, we are both immortal now, and I’m more than capable of using my powers.”

Lucas sighed. It was time she knew she wasn’t going with him to get her sisters.

“I vowed to protect you, I swore I would help you find your sisters, but I refuse to put you in any more danger. I will go to retrieve them.”

“No! They need me to activate their powers. If something goes wrong, you will be a sitting duck in the hive, and I will have no way of finding you or my sisters. Lucas, please, you can’t mean this.”

“I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you—”

“Lucas Grant, you can’t protect me from everything for eternity. Don’t you see, I’m in the middle of all this, whether you like it or not. I’m going, even if I have to follow you.”

He drew her close. “Shit, well, you’re not going dressed like that,” he said, as they began to walk toward the door.

She reached for his hand as they made their way over to Flynn. Lucas couldn’t help but wonder what his involvement was in all of this. Why would he risk going back into the hive for complete strangers?

It didn’t matter that he didn’t trust Flynn. He was their best chance to get into the hive.

“So, what’s the plan?” Lucas asked, studying Flynn’s reactions carefully.

Flynn moved to face him. It was a rare thing when another man was able to look him in the eye. Only his twin brother was as tall as him.

“Meet me in Central Park in one hour. I will explain more then,” he said before disappearing into thin air.

“What the hell? What is he?” Ava asked, looking to Lucas.

She wanted answers, but the fact was he didn’t have them.

“I don’t know, not for sure anyways. Only certain immortals can transport themselves in such a way. Vampires, warlocks and—”

“Demons?”

Lucas nodded. He needed to think this all through. This could be a huge mistake, one they could all pay for dearly.

An hour later, Ava stepped out of a cab, holding the spell that would change her sisters’ lives forever. She was nervous as hell, but ready for this fight. Waiting for the battle that would bring her sisters back to her had plagued her every thought, and now was the time. She held onto Lucas, needing his strength, and prayed with every fiber of her being they would all survive this war and end this madness once and for all.

As they made their way through the park, Lucas suddenly stopped. He turned to her, taking her in his arms. He held her close, inhaling her scent, making her feel like he was saying his last good-byes to her.

“Lucas, we are going to get through this,” she said, wanting to reassure him yet as he refused to let her go, she knew what he was thinking. He would die before he let any harm come to her. She stepped out of the embrace, searching his eyes. “Nothing is going to happen to me so don’t even think of doing anything stupid. Okay?”

He nodded, but she knew him too well, knew she would also protect him with her own life if need be. He kissed her hard, drawing her close once more.

Letting her go, they turned, finding Flynn standing behind them. He was watching them intently with sad eyes. Did he have someone he cared for?

Flynn averted his gaze. “Are you ready?”

Ava nodded. “As ready as we will ever be.”

“Follow me,” Flynn said, leading them under a small bridge.

Ava watched as he lifted a manhole cover and set it aside.

He stood, motioning to them to enter.

She shook her head. “Are you serious?”

He raised an eyebrow at her. “Do I look like I’m kidding?”

“If you think, for one minute-”

Lucas took her by the shoulder. “Its okay. I’ll never leave your side.”

She took a deep breath, trying to force herself to do what she must.

“I’ll go first.” Lucas descended the ladder leading him into empty darkness.

She followed his lead, not wanting to be left alone with Flynn for long.

When they were all in the sewer, Flynn took the lead. “Stay close,” he said, moving through the darkness with ease.

Holding onto Lucas, they made their way through the dark sewer. She was glad he was able to see so well in the pitch black. She just wished she had the same ability. It seemed like they walked forever. She could hear rats and other things around her that scurried into the night. With no small effort, she tamped down her fear down, trying to concentrate on saving her sisters.

Suddenly Flynn stopped. She could see a light up ahead and wondered if friend or foe lay within the bright spot.

“Wait here,” Flynn commanded, moving into the light seemingly unafraid.

As he disappeared into the well-lit area, the silence became defining. She would have thought they’d hear voices, fighting, or something. Her nerves were getting the best of her. “Lucas?”

“I know Ava something doesn’t feel right,” he said, inching her behind him.

Then, as the light began to move, Flynn appeared. As he neared them, she realized someone was with him, a shadowy figure. Without warning the shadows multiplied, and before she knew it they were upon them. The firelight danced over their ugly faces, revealing over a dozen demons.

Lucas growled deep in his chest. She felt him grow large—he had released the beast. “Ava, run!”

“No, Lucas, we fight them together.”

Flynn led the group just feet from where they stood.

“Why?” she shouted. What was his involvement?

He shrugged. “I would say sweet revenge was reason enough.” A smile traced his lips. “Seize them.”

The demons charged them with speed. Lucas, lunged at them, striking a deathblow to the first demons, then moved on to the rest.

Ava willed water spheres, sending them flying through the air, keeping the rest of the demons off of Lucas—

A sharp blade scraped over her side, she halted her movements, and a familiar voice rang in her ears. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Flynn whispered in her ear as he reached into her sock and removed her dagger.

“Stop!” Flynn shouted to the demons battling before him. They obeyed, ceasing their advance on Lucas.

Lucas whirled around, taking in the scene. “Take your fucking hands off her.”

Flynn shook his head. “I’m sorry, I just can’t do that. Now all I need is the girl, which I have,” he chortled. “And if I were you, I would come peacefully or else I might just have to torture her.”

She looked to Lucas, finding fury burning in his eyes. He would fight to the death, and she couldn’t let that happen. “Lucas, no, please,” she begged.

Slowly, without taking his eyes off of her, he contained the beast. His clothes were torn and black blood marred his golden flesh.

“Wise choice, now take him,” Flynn said, sheathing his blade.

Ava couldn’t take her eyes off of Lucas. He looked so defeated and she couldn’t help feeling responsible. Tears threatened to spill onto her face as the vision in front of her began to blur and the light of hope faded right before her eyes.