Depraved (Tales of a Vampire Hunter #2) (13 page)

“
Gracias
,” Miranda said
to her.

“
El respeto al derecho
ajeno es la paz
,” Adonia said,
looking intently into Miranda’s eyes.

“I’m sorry. I don’t
understand,” Miranda said, looking from the girl to Lobo. “What did she say?”

“She said, ‘Respect the
rights of others and know peace’,” Lobo said, frowning at Adonia and sending
her scurrying from the room with a wave of his hand.

Oliver recalled that the girl
had said the same words to him when he’d come to. Literal meaning aside, what
did she mean? Clearly it was intended as a warning of sorts. There had been no
mistaking Adonia’s agitation or serious tone. Her aura had spoken louder than
her words.

“Why would she say that?”
Oliver asked, not expecting the man to give a straight answer.

“How should I know what goes
on in that head of hers?” Lobo laughed softly, his mouth curving into a smile
that did nothing to warm the simmering irritation in his eyes.

From
Lobo’s non-answer, Oliver knew he’d been right. Adonia had been giving them a
message, trying to help them somehow.

*****

After the doctor checked
Miranda over and reassured Oliver that she was in perfect health, and ready to
travel, they prepared to leave. As expected, Lobo insisted his men accompany
them, which was fine with Oliver. Wandering around in the mountains with no
idea where they were going would get them nowhere fast.

“And then what?” Miranda
asked. “We can’t exactly just show up and knock on the vampire’s door.”

Lobo chuckled. “You won’t
have to. He knows you are here, knows you are coming. I don’t expect him to let
you anywhere near his door. No, he’ll come for you, somewhere between here and
his lair.”

Oliver nodded as if that was
just fine with him, though the hairs on the back of his neck stood up at the
thought. “I suppose he’ll have a posse with him?”

“Of course. Vampires, walking
dead, perhaps a few humans,” Lobo said. “But he will not hurt you. He may kill
my men, though. This I expect.”

“And you’re willing to
sacrifice them, just like that?” Miranda said, her mouth curving into an
annoyed line.

“They sacrifice themselves,
my dear as they have many times before. They are undead. Their souls will
return to me, as they always have. They will walk the earth until Azazel is
gone, and then I will take them home,” Lobo said, meeting the distain in her
eyes with a proud tilt of his head.

Oliver squeezed Miranda’s
hand, stopping her from the challenge he felt brewing in her. “So, he’ll show
up, kill your men and then what?”

“He’ll use everything he
knows against you, every weapon at his disposal. But first he’ll test you, I
imagine. See what you’re made of. You are his son, after all. He’ll be curious,
but deadly. Do not forget that, no matter what happens. In the end, if you do
not strike him first you will both die,
and
there will be nothing I can do to help you.”

“Sounds like fun,” Oliver
said, unable to keep the cheekiness from his tone. He was antsy once more,
eager to be gone.

“I do wish you’d reconsider
and let Miss Miranda stay here. The vampire is especially powerful against
women, no offense to you, Dear.” Lobo glanced at Miranda.

“I can handle myself.” Her
voice bristled with annoyance.

“We leave together or not at
all, Lobo.” Oliver picked up their bag and checked the contents before slinging
it over his shoulder.

Lobo nodded. “As you wish it,
so it shall be. Follow me. I will walk with you.”

He led them through another
passageway, one Oliver had not been down before. This one tilted upward, more
dirt than stone, wooden braces keeping it from caving in. Their party did not
speak as they made their way up and through the mountain and finally came out
into the night.

Above them, stars seemed to
fill the sky and the scent of pine was in the air. They must be on the Oaxaca
side of the mountain range. Oliver remembered seeing pine trees when they’d
started to make their way through the mountain pass.

A large, black SUV was parked
on the gravel road next to the mine’s exit. Two large, well-armed men waited.

Oliver wondered if he and
Miranda could take them out and get away before Lobo was any wiser. They’d only
have to make it to Mexico City and could be on a plane before Lobo could
possibly catch up to them.

“Don’t even think about
trying to get away, Mr. Ripley. I meant what I said about my minions being
everywhere. You might be able to kill my men. You might even make it to Mexico
City,
and on a plane, but if you
double-cross me I will hunt you down no matter where you go,” Lobo said, his
tone deadly serious.

Knowing Lobo could see into
his thoughts made Oliver pause, anxiety and more than a bit of anger ripping up
his spine, but he merely nodded, placed his hand in the small of Miranda’s back
and urged her into the waiting vehicle. After she’d climbed in the back, he
turned to Lobo.

“I’m not doing this because
of your threats, Lobo. If I run, I won’t be worried about them either,” he
said, his voice containing barely controlled rage.

Lobo laughed softly and nodded
his dark head. “Always the fighter. Good. That spirit will serve you well. Safe
travels, Mr. Ripley. I do hope we meet again.”

Oliver climbed in the SUV,
sliding over to sit closer to Miranda as Lobo shut the door behind them and
slammed his hand on the hood of the car, telling his men to pull out.

Whether they were ready or
not, they were about to meet his father.

Miranda reached for his hand, and he
enfolded her fingers in his.

“You doing okay, Baby?” he asked.

A part of him only wanted to protect her and wished she
didn’t have to come with him while he faced his father. Another part of him was
happy to have her at his side, knowing she’d fight beside him if need be.

“I’m trying to hold onto my happy thoughts. What’s going to
happen is going to happen, but I’m having a hard time not worrying anyway. That
guy rocked me too, and it pisses me off,” she said, lowering her voice.

The men in the front seats didn’t react. Oliver expected
them to be as quiet as the rest of Lobo’s people had been. They must know their
lives were on the line too, but here they were willing to sacrifice themselves.
That led some weight to the things Lobo had told them.

“Let’s forget about Lobo,” Oliver said. “Put him behind us.
It’s you and me, and these men now. We’ll deal with whatever comes next.”

Miranda leaned against him. He felt her inner strength and
determination battling it out with worry and he knew which side would win.
That’s my girl, he thought.

“Do you guys speak English?” he asked the driver and his
burly companion.

“Some,” the driver answered.

“What are your names?” Miranda asked.

“I’m Antonio Castillo, and this here is Rafael Barriga.” The
driver pointed at his partner who turned an unsmiling face toward Oliver and
Miranda and gave them the briefest of nods.

“We’re in this thing together, whether we want to be our
not. Before the shit hits the fan, I’d like to know you’re with us,” he said.
“We’ll have your backs if you have ours.”

Antonio’s dark eyes met his in the rearview mirror. “We have
our orders.”

Oliver felt another prickle of unease. He needed to know
that the orders included backing him and Miranda up. He needed to know if he
could count on them.

“Lobo told me you’re going to drive us close to where he
thinks this vampire hides out. He expects him to come for us. He won’t be
alone. Lobo also told me he expects you two might die.” He left it at that,
though he wanted to ask them many more questions, demand many more answers. In
the end, none of that mattered. Oliver knew he’d be left with the same unease,
not knowing whether he could believe them or not.

“Yes, we expect to die before the night is done. But, unlike
you, we’ll still not be free, and will remain in service to our master. Save
your concern for yourself. We’ll have your back for as long as we can. The
vampire will take you. That much is sure.”

“No chance of it ending any other way?” Oliver asked.

They were well-armed. The four of them could circle, put
their backs together. If they were ready for the vampire, if they fought side
by side, maybe they’d all have a chance. The idea of being captured again and
having to deal with the vampire on his own turf surrounded by his clan didn’t
sit well with Oliver. He wanted to sort out a better plan before it was too
late.

Antonio laughed softly and shook his head. “No chance. I’ve
met this one many times before. The good guys never win. He will take you. He
will have us killed for sport and you and your lady will be on your own. Lobo
seems to think you have a chance at making it back to Azazel Priest’s home, but
me? I think he’ll kill you as soon as possible.”

That’s what I’d do if given a chance, Oliver thought. But
Lobo had seemed sure Azazel Priest would have other plans. Either way, Oliver
wanted to be prepared.

Miranda remained quiet, but Oliver heard her mind turning,
like his, looking for any possible solution, a way out, and finding nothing.
She held his hand tight.

“Just for fun, let’s say we manage to take down the vampire
on the road. What orders did Lobo give you if that happens?” Oliver asked.

Antonio’s eyes met Oliver’s in the rear view mirror. “No
orders. It’s not going to happen.”

“Good, then you’re on your own at that point. What will you
do if we manage to kill the vampire and you’re still around?”

The two men in the front looked at one another. Antonio
frowned, obviously not used to thinking for himself anymore.

“You mean nothing to us. If you’ve done what Lobo asked of
you—killed the vampire—we will let you go.” Barriga spoke for the first time,
his voice gruff.

“But that’s not going to happen,” Castillo said.

They’d driven down what must have been an old mining road.
Dirt and gravel finally gave way to a solid road surface. Moving faster now,
the SUV drove on. Its occupants fell silent.

For a while, it was quiet and Oliver got lost in his
thoughts, working through every scenario, every option. He and Miranda hadn’t
removed their sword holsters and, as uncomfortable as it was riding with them
pressing into their backs, he felt better knowing the swords would be ready the
instant they were needed.

He rummaged in the backpack, and handed Miranda one of the
daggers they’d bought in Oaxaca. “Put this in your boot.”

Finding the cheap pistol, he pushed a fully loaded magazine
in place with a click, then tucked the gun into the inside pocket of his
jacket.

“Do you trust them?” Miranda asked, her voice inside of his
head, though she looked straight ahead.

“I don’t trust anyone, but you,” Oliver answered in the same
way. “We need to lock down our thoughts. We’ve no idea who could be reading
them even now. When things go down, that should be your first priority. Do not
let anyone in, even me.”

“Okay. What’s your plan?”

“We’re going to have to wait and see what happens, but—” he
stopped short when Antonio slammed on the brakes, sending the car’s rear end
into a sideways shimmy.

Up ahead, headlights formed a line across the road. A
barricade of cars waited for them. Behind them, several vehicles crossed over
the center line to form a barrier in the rear too. Steep mountain cliff to one
side of their car, sheer, rocky hill on the other. No escape. No turning back.

“It’s on,” Antonio said, bringing the SUV to a stop. “Your
call what we do next.”

Oliver leaned over, cupping Miranda’s chin in his hand,
turning her face so their eyes met. He kissed her, hoping it wasn’t for the
last time. “Let’s go deal with this fucker.”

“You men stay in the car as long as possible. If you see
your chance, leave us,” he said, looking at Antonio, who’d turned to face him.

“You’d fight them alone?”

Oliver rolled down the window and slung the backpack out
onto the pavement. He didn’t want it to hamper his movements, but wanted it
nearby, just in case a miracle happened and things went better than expected.

“Stick around long enough to see what happens so you can
report back to Lobo and then get out of here if you can.” No time or sense in
explaining that he couldn’t trust them. They were outnumbered, and he knew it.
He saw only one option that might extend their lives long enough to figure out
what to do next. No sense anyone else dying, even if their souls would somehow
survive.

The men said nothing, confusion registering in their
expressions. They’d been told to sacrifice themselves for Lobo’s cause and
Oliver was rejecting that option, giving them a chance.

Absorbing this, Antonio nodded. “As you wish. We will remain
here until we see what is to happen. If they move to hurt you we will come and
fight side by side with you,” he said, his voice holding new respect.

“Thank you,” Miranda said. “I hope nothing bad happens to
you because of us.”

“You are a very kind lady,” Barriga said, his voice holding
a hint of disbelief.

“I’m ready.” Miranda looked at Oliver, her expression one of
steely calm once more.

“We’ll take the front. You watch our backs and let us know
if they try to rush us from behind,” Oliver told Lobo’s men.