Defeat the Darkness (Hearts of Darkness) (33 page)

Chapter 39 Rescue

“Victor, you’re in charge of the north perimeter. Take out the jaguars with the longbow from a distance if you can. I don’t want to take a chance that Amyra will discover you’re here.” Dylan said. “Simone volunteered to work with you and the wolves. She’ll handle the ammunition and drive.”

“Shelby, Max developed a plan for the dart guns filled with jaguar bane to stop the guards on the south side, but we need more vampires for back up. Can I count on you and Simone to round up a few more volunteers?”

“Absolutely.”

Jackson said, “The wolves have the area staked out. According to Garr there’s no access from the west, and they only spotted one guard on the east side.”

“Everyone ready?” Dylan asked. “Then, let’s go get our boy.”

~~~~

Once they arrived outside Amyra’s location, the men spoke in low whispers and picked up their weapons from where they’d been stashed earlier. Dylan had brought in vampires he worked with on some of his cases, so they had plenty of backup while they waited for the others to arrive.

“Everyone ready? Shelby? You comfortable with that gun?” Dylan asked.

“No reputable Southern girl grows up without learning how to handle a firearm.”

“If we all know what to do. Let’s go.”

All disappeared to take their assigned positions, and five minutes into mission, Shelby’s heart twisted in fear. The silence was deafening. Even Simone began to fidget and looked concerned.

“Shouldn’t we hear something? I don’t know if I can sit by and wait, Simone.” Shelby said. “You think we can get closer?”

“I can walk right inside. If I turn into a shadow, no one will see me. I can locate Kyle and come back for you.”

“Incredible! I’ll wait for you by the back door.”

Why hadn’t they thought of that earlier?

Two minutes later, Simone returned like Peter Pan’s shadow. She gestured for Shelby to follow her.
Kyle is being tortured. Hurry!
Her voice was a whisper of sound inside Shelby’s ear.

“Where is everyone?”

Shelby heard the same whispered voice say,
They’re spread out too thin. Dylan and Max are trapped on the lower level fighting off two jaguars. Victor cleared his area. Most of the jaguars out back have been captured and subdued.

“Where’s Kyle?”

Upstairs. Down that corridor. That one there.
The shadow pointed at the far door.

Simone stuck close beside her as a shadow. When they approached a door at the end of the corridor Shelby heard her say,
I will stay with you, chér.

“No. You go for help, Simone. Tell them where to find Kyle. I’ll wait here.”

Just then, Kyle let out a blood-curdling scream, and something inside Shelby changed. She couldn’t hold back. Putting her hand to her holster, she pulled out the gun, flipped off the safety and prepared for the worst.

Although the jaguar inside her couldn’t surface, that didn’t stop her from feeling the cat’s protective instincts for her mate. She hissed and snarled just from hearing his agony.

“I have to go to him.” She put her left hand on the doorknob.

Simone ignored her and entered through the wall as a shadow while Shelby twisted the door handle and rushed in the room.

The first jaguar who rushed Shelby went down with her first shot before she picked up a bat from the floor and swung at a second. Shooting, swinging, and screaming she managed to get past the second guard, hurting him enough to bring him down. Or maybe the shadow tripped him first. She wasn’t sure.

Shelby couldn’t believe her own strength, couldn’t imagine what had gotten into her—where she found the courage.

Perhaps out of desperation.

I guess that’ll teach them to mess with a horny jaguar cat in heat, protecting her mate.

Pointing the gun at the downed guards, she inched her way at an angle across the room. When she reached Kyle, she had a decision to make. There was no other way to help him.

Still holding the gun filled with jaguar bane aimed directly at the two remaining jaguars, she said, “You two, pick up your friends and get out.” Shelby pointed the gun in the direction of the door. They didn’t waste any time turning tail and running.

“You too, Simone. Find help!”

Shelby locked the door, turned, and leaned against it as she took in a deep breath, pausing briefly before she returned to Kyle.

When she saw what they’d done to him, she wanted to cry. She put down the gun to determine the extent of his injuries.

“Oh no, Kyle,” she cried after examining him. He didn’t stir but he was breathing. From the multiple cut wounds, it appeared they’
d been bleeding him, and he looked like they’d been using him for batting practice. “Kyle, can you hear me?”

She couldn’t budge him. She needed help. “Darn it. Where are they?” She tried to untie him, but he was too heavy and the ropes were too thick. She ran her hand around her hip to the leather pouch where she’d secured a hunting knife, but the knife was gone.

“Well, hello,” Amyra said from behind her. “Looking for this?”

Shelby gasped and spun around. Amyra kicked the gun across the room into a corner. She was brandishing Shelby’s six-inch hunting knife, and she was certain the demoness knew how to use it.

Kyle’s groan drew Shelby’s attention back to his condition. Glaring at the other woman, she asked, “Why do this? What’s wrong with you?”

“The demon must rise. He suppresses it and I need it.”

“This is all about your need?”

Shelby’s spotted the bat not far from her left foot and picked it up. Her vision went black with rage. She shouted, releasing a long banshee like sound of anguish and flew at the woman, furiously swinging the bat, spitting, and hissing.

Amyra stopped her as if she was no more than a fly, snapping her out of mid-air. The sound of her harsh laughter effectively brought Shelby back to reality.

“What should I do with your girlfriend, Kyle? Cut her? Drain her?” she taunted.

The knife at Shelby’s neck was sharp and cold.

Shit.
She didn’t dare breathe let alone move or speak. Above all, how could she have been so stupid? Tracing? She hadn’t counted on the vampire ability to move at will between spaces. Now Amyra had Kyle exactly where she wanted him. Again.

“Kyle, which will it be? You make the choice or I will.”

Shelby barely saw Kyle’s chest move his breaths were so shallow. When his lids lifted slightly, she saw the red glow rise in his eyes and something too frightening to imagine.

Just as Shelby gave up hope for him, Dylan and Victor traced into the room, and relief filled her.

So much for locks.
She probably should keep that in mind for later…if there was a later.

Victor went straight to Kyle’s side to assist him, but Shelby suspected Kyle was too weak from the blood loss and the guards’ beatings to defeat Amyra even if the demon rose.

“Victor, my child, what are you doing?” Amyra asked, holding Shelby in front of her like a shield. Shelby heard the compulsion in her voice. But he ignored the question, apparently defying his maker’s mental commands.

Shelby wanted to smile at the surprised look on the woman’s face. Dylan had to be blocking her mental control.

Victor tore at his wrist with his razor sharp fangs and forced Kyle’s mouth open while Shelby watched. Dylan’s eyes met hers briefly, as he instantly took in the seriousness of the situation. Her gaze went to the gun in the corner and Dylan’s eyes followed.

“Amyra, you don’t want to do that.” Dylan stalled for more time—time Victor needed to bring Kyle up to strength.

“You’re right. I don’t.” She dropped the knife and flashed her fangs. “I want to do this…”

Shelby felt a hot slice on one side of her throat before the knife fell and hit the floor. Immediately, the sharp, tearing penetration of Amyra’s fangs on the other side brought the bloodcurdling scream bellowing from Shelby’s throat.

As her warm blood seeped from the one wound, the demoness sucked her blood from the other while everyone stood transfixed, helplessly watching as Amyra drained away her life.

Victor untied Kyle, encouraging him. “Hurry. Shift. Do it, my friend. Have faith. You have the strength to contain the darkness.”

“Last chance Kyle, she’s dying, buddy.” Dylan’s attention shifted around the room, and before her vision blurred, Shelby realized he was searching for a way to get to the gun. There was no way past her. Resignation filled his expression when Shelby’s vision filled with black dots and Dylan finally ordered, “Kyle, release the demon.”

“Yes, Kyle,” Amyra lifted her evil face covered in Shelby’s blood and purred. “Release the demon. Save your little kitten.” Amyra tossed Shelby’s limp body at Kyle’s feet, and picked up the gun herself.

Kyle’s warning roar was ear shattering.

Dylan’s voice in her mind anchored Shelby to life and the moment.
Shelby, stay with us. Stay focused.

Weak from the blood loss, Shelby couldn’t move, but weak as she was, the thought of calling out Kyle’s demon sounded nuts to her, especially after hearing that sound come out of him. He’d tapped into something that sounded like a Hellhound.

Victor sank to the stone floor beside Shelby while the action unfolded, reminding her of another place—another time. Guatemala.

No. Different.

Kyle rose up off his knees, stretching, uncurling his massive body—part black jaguar and part wolf, part demon and yet, still human. His body turned into the powerful body of the jaguar, muscled and sleek. His wolf’s face looked strangely familiar, reminiscent of his furious human expression. His hands and feet were massive, human, but clawed like a cat’s.

When his colossal taloned wings unfurled to maximum width, the size of the room appeared to shrink around him. And then, he bared his enormous fangs, longer and more lethal looking than anything Shelby had ever seen. His expression filled with deadly fury, and his crimson demon eyes promised vengeance.

Shelby was cold, so very cold, but the heat from Kyle’s anger sustained her. Uh-oh, she thought. Amyra was going to get what was coming to her. The limitless hate Shelby saw in his expression made her tremble or was it the cold. How could Amyra stand there and face him? She hoped no one ever looked at her that way. The manifestation of the beast was truly terrifying.

Max burst through the door into the room as Shelby’s pain subsided. Breathing hard, he sized up the situation, and rushed to her side. When he saw her condition, he growled, “Do it, Kyle. Kill her. I’ll turn Shelby before it’s too late.”

Too late?
She was dying. He was right. She knew all the signs, especially what happened next. She’d heard about out of body experiences. But when Shelby could no longer open her eyes and yet still watched the action in the room like an observer floating above it, she knew she was close to death.

Simone shimmered in the shadows beside her.

Oh, Simone, how can you be here with me?

I’m a shadow, chér. As a shadow, I can exist between dimensions.

So am I dead?

No, no, chér. Max will not let you go. Go back into your body now and answer him, truly.

“Shelby, answer me. Please say ‘yes’, nod, anything. Do you want this?” Max’s tears fell on her cheek, and she struggled to open her eyes.

“Y-yes,” Shelby choked out the word, and then felt Max lift her into his arms and bury his face against her throat. There wasn’t the pain she felt with Amyra’s bite. The sensation was highly sensual. But before she could dwell on the heat rising in response to having Max’s scent all around her, he let her drift off. The next thing she knew, she was sucking at his neck voraciously, feeling strong and warm before Victor stepped up and stopped her.

~~~~

Max and Victor took care of Shelby. Kyle couldn’t watch Max with her and resist the darkness. As long as he held on tightly to hope for her survival, the darkness hovered in the shadows. He reminded himself he had to keep pushing those shadows away as he wrenched Amyra’s arms behind her back, and snapped the silver cuffs Dylan handed him on her. Although she struggled and tried to pull away, he held her firmly in his grasp. The demon was out and powerful from Victor’s blood. One look at Amyra told him the fear he saw in her eyes was real.

“You are different from what I expected.” Her words tinged with admiration, revolted him. “But do not forget, I-I am your maker,” she said, slightly stumbling over the statement.

“We already discussed that issue.” Kyle said. His voice was deceptively soft, his words clipped, and precise. “Remember? Coercion? Right, Dylan?”

“Right.” Dylan agreed and held Amyra by her other arm. Before he commented further, he took time to do a complete inspection of Kyle’s attributes. “The wings impressed me before, man, but those horns are truly intimidating. Truly.”

He took Amyra from Kyle’s clutches and passed her on to one of his vampire enforcers. “He’ll take care of her. Don’t worry.”