Dangerous (Courting the Darkness Saga) (21 page)

The boy clenched his
fists at his sides. “What did I ever do to you?”

Cedric looked bored as
he replied, “You took your first breath.”

“What?”

“You live, boy, isn’t
that enough?”

“You hate me because I
was born?
You
murdered my mother
because she gave birth to me?”

Cedric tilted his head.
“Essentially, yes.”

***

Drake, I’m here
.

Drake looked up and saw
Sherry standing on top of the building Cedric had just vacated. He nodded
slightly.
It’s good to see you, vixen
.

She smiled broadly.
It’s good to be seen again
.

Hargrove?

Her smile grew.
He’s met the same fate as his father
.

Drake nudged Desiree.
When she glanced his way he indicated with his eyes to look on top of the
building.

She kept the smile from
her face and said “good” under her breath.

Let’s finish this, vixen.

She jumped down from
the building.
Gladly.

***

The four shifters
appeared from the shadows to flank their leader.

The boy raised his chin
a notch. “You’ve taken everything from me for no reason at all.”

“You are
his
son. That’s reason enough.”

“You are too.”

Cedric’s eyes widened.
“You know who I am?”

“Sure. You’re my
brother, and a psychotic son of a bitch with no redeeming qualities. I feel
cursed to even be related to you.”

Caleb stepped out of
the shadows to stand behind the boy. He placed his hands on the boy’s shoulders
to stand united.

Cedric scowled,
pointing an accusing finger at Caleb. “So, the mighty Caleb Jenkins finally
makes an appearance, the ever elusive father. Hello, Father, it took you long
enough. I’ve hunted you for the last two hundred and fifty years.”

“Then you suck as a
tracker, because I’ve been right here in New Orleans. I’ve never felt a need to
hide.”

Cedric’s scowl deepened
at the insult,
then
he grinned evilly. “Ever wonder
why a lot of your ladies just disappeared and never called you back?” Caleb
narrowed his eyes. “I see we understand each other. I was making sure you
didn’t populate the earth.” His grin broadened when he saw his father scowl. “But
for some
reason that bitch
Celia slipped my notice.
Maybe it was because you didn’t pick her up randomly in some bar like you did
the rest. Imagine my surprise when I discovered
he
existed.”

“I loved Celia.”

“I
know
,
that’s why she had to die.”

“Because
I loved her?”

“Yes, I want to see you
suffer before I eat your heart.”

Cedric felt a tap on
his shoulder and turned his head. Sherry flashed him a hateful smile. “Miss
me?”

His eyes widened.
“How?”

She balled up her fist,
clocking him on the jaw.

Cedric stumbled with
the unexpected blow. Rage rippled through him as his body phased into a large
black panther. He let out an ear-piercing scream of rage as he reared up his
large paw to strike.

The other shifters
phased and flanked their leader.

“No!” young Mica
screamed as he charged forward. In a single step he phased into the white
tiger.

“Another outfit,” Caleb
mumbled in disgust as he stripped his own clothes off. “The kid’s gonna break
my bank account buying him clothes.”

Desiree smacked his
arm. “Shut up, Caleb!”

The white tiger pounced
on Cedric before he could strike Sherry. They rolled on the ground with claws
and teeth tearing into each other. They were evenly matched. Mica was larger
and stronger, but Cedric had more experience and fought dirty.

Drake and Mica rushed
forward to take on the other shifters. Caleb shifted into a panther, jumping in
the middle of the fight.

Desiree ran up to
Sherry, embracing her in a hug. “I was so afraid that I’d lost you.”

Sherry shook her head
and smiled. “I’m tougher than that.”

“More than you know.”

The battle raged around
the women as teeth flashed and fur flew.

Young Mica rolled
Cedric on his back. His mighty paws weighing down Cedric’s heaving chest. Both
were bloodied and exhausted. Caleb let out a mighty roar as he gazed at his
young son. Cedric, sensing the end was near, struggled to regain his footing.
Mica pounced on his chest again,
then
sank his teeth
deep into Cedric’s jugular. The enormous cat ceased his struggles, laying still
in death.

The young cat stepped
off his prey and started licking his wounds. His father stood beside him and ran
his rough tongue over a bad gash in Mica’s side.

Two of the cats lay
dead and bleeding not far from their leader. Drake and Mica still fought the
remaining two.

Sherry looked over her
shoulder and caught her breath. She nudged Desiree to look away from the fight
and whispered. “Oh god, we’re surrounded.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Desiree looked up
sharply to witness what Sherry was saying. They were indeed surrounded by about
three thousand blood-thirsty vampires.
“Oh, no.
Santana’s making his move, and Drake’s here without his clan for support.”

“Justin Hargrove
planned this,” Sherry whispered fiercely. “I just didn’t know what he was
talking about.”

The circle slowly
started to close in on their small group. Drake and Mica still fought the two
remaining cats.

Desiree looked at
Sherry. She saw the fear in the young woman’s eyes. “Listen to me and listen
closely. I don’t have time to go into great detail but know this…you are not a
common witch. You carry my powers.”
Sherry’s eyes widened in
surprise.
“We will live to discuss this in length, but for now I need
you to listen.” Sherry nodded. “Do you remember the spell I told you that I
cast on that clan of vampires a few days ago?”

“Yes,
why?”

“We are stronger
together. Our magic is stronger together. We can destroy them together.”

“How?”

“Recite the spell with
me. Together it will be strong enough to destroy them instead of just frighten
them.”

“But
what about Drake and Mica?”

“They’re protected by
the amulets. Our spell will not harm them.”

“We’re running out of time.
Let’s try it. Anything’s better than standing here and dying.”

“Agreed.”

They held hands, raised
their fists in the air and began to chant:

“By the gods we beckon
thee, to bring the sun so they will see. With its rays they
doth
feel, the kiss of fire to feel so real. To burn their flesh and cause
them
pain, to dissolve their bodies to where only ash
remain. In this night and in this hour we call upon the ancient power. By the
power of three times three, let them see, let them see. We do so wish it, so
mote it be!”

Chaos suddenly sprouted everywhere as lightening streaked
the sky and the clouds boiled and churned like an angry sea. The wind whipped
up, blowing Desiree’s and Sherry’s hair and clothes furiously about them. Their
bodies glowed and levitated into the air as the power surged around and through
them.

Mica and Drake had just destroyed the two remaining cats,
and stood in awe as their mates rose higher into the air. It was then they
became aware that the cats weren’t their only opponents. The real enemies were
there, now, and they were sorely outnumbered. There was no time to call in
their clan.

Drake’s jaw clenched in anger as he
watched Santana strut proudly to the front of his group.

Santana smiled triumphantly and gestured to the women in the
air. “Nice show, Drake, but it will take more than parlor tricks to defeat me.
Your kingdom is mine. You no longer rule here. Two lone vampires and a couple
of shape shifters can’t defeat my army. Face it Drake, you’re done.”

Caleb and young Mica flanked their friends. Drake nodded to
them,
then
glared at Santana. “Fuck you, Santana.”

Santana wagged his finger in the air. “You are in no
position for name calling.”

“I will die before submitting my kingdom to you.”

“That was always the plan from the beginning. Never leave
your enemy alive to strike back.”

“I am not afraid to die, Santana.”

“I never took you for a coward, Drake. On the contrary,
you’ve always been a strong and respected leader. You’re just in the way of
what I want—this great city.”

“You can’t have it.”

Santana laughed. “I somehow knew you wouldn’t want to give
up without a fight.”

The ground trembled beneath their feet as the two witches
floated back to the ground. The witches’ eyes glowed blue and they appeared to
be in a deep trance.

The women turned and stepped apart, but stayed back to back
and raised their hands stretched out level with their chests. Blue rays emitted
from their fingers out into the throng of vampires. Everyone the rays touched
burst into flames, dissolving into ash.

Another type of chaos arose as the vampires pushed and
shoved each other to get out of the way of the unnatural light. Screams of pain
and anguish rent the air as the wounded fell and died.

Santana roared in anger. “What in the hell is going on?” He
ducked around a beam of light and made a wide berth around the group.

Amidst the ruckus and confusion Santana managed to slip in between
the women. He drew his dagger and shoved it into Sherry’s back. She fell in a
heap onto the concrete. Her blood rushed and pooled around her body.

Santana roared in triumph. “I will still win this night.”

Drake rushed his enemy. “Not if I can help it.” He tackled
Santana to the ground. They wrestled and rolled, with knives and teeth.

Desiree came out of her trance, screaming as she rushed to
Sherry’s side. “Drake, she’s dying.”

“Good,” Santana grunted at the news as they continued to
wrestle.

Drake straddled his opponent. “I’ll see you in hell,
Santana,” He raised his dagger, plunging it into Santana’s heart. Santana’s
hands dropped away as he lay frozen and unable to respond. Drake stood. “Mica,
tie him up before you remove the dagger. He will stand trial.” He made his way
to Sherry and knelt next to Desiree. “Can’t you cast a spell to heal her?”

Desiree’s shoulders shook in anguish. “She’s already lost
too much blood for magic. He must have severed a main artery. She’s dying,
Drake, and I can’t do a damn thing to stop it.”

Sherry’s eyes fluttered and her hand flopped away from her
body.
Remember that I’ve always loved you
.

Hold on, love
.
Drake bit into
his wrist and nudged Desiree out of the way.
“I have no choice.”

Desiree grabbed his arm. “No, Drake, she doesn’t want to be
a vampire.”

Drake yanked his arm out of her grasp. “There’s no other
choice. Her heart is growing weaker. It’s now or never…Mica! Come tend to your
mate.”

Desiree rushed into Mica’s arms and wept.

Drake tilted Sherry’s head back and let the blood from his
wrist trickle into her mouth. It filled and spilled out of the sides.
“Drink!”
In frustration he pinched her nose and pressed his
wrist firmly to her mouth.
“Drink, damn it.”

She choked, swallowed,
then
swallowed again. Her hands reached up, grabbing his arm, drinking now in
earnest.

He stroked her hair. “You will live, little one. Your life
will be different, but you’ll remain by my side for eternity.
Rest, love.”

He pulled his hand back and sealed the wound with his
saliva. He gathered Sherry into his arms, cradling her to his chest. “Desiree,
will she keep her powers?”

Desiree shrugged, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “I
honestly don’t know. I’ve never heard of this happening to one of us before.”

Chapter
Twenty-Three

Sherry slowly opened
her eyes. It was dark, but she saw everything clearly, down to the tiny minute
cracks in the ceiling tiles. She cut her eyes to the right then to the left.
She realized that she was in her bed at the warehouse. The memory of how she
got there eluded her.

She retraced the steps
in her mind; the kidnapping, changing Justin into a rat, the fight with the
cats, and finally Santana’s warriors. She sat up abruptly.
Santana’s warriors! Drake’s in trouble,
she thought. She moved and
stood by the bed so fast her head swam. Pressing her palms against her eyes she
cried out.
“Drake!”