Pretty When She Destroys (30 page)

Scratching at his knee, Jeff decided that none of the options before them seemed particularly good. In fact, he wasn’t too sure how they could possibly live through what was coming, but he wasn’t willing to just give up.

Footsteps in the hall drew their attention and compelled them to sit bolt upright in anticipation. Benchley paused his game and Eduardo shoved his empty plate onto the coffee table.

Baptiste entered first, followed by Aimee. The witch immediately joined Cassandra, wrapping her arms around the dhamphir. The looks on their faces made Jeff very uneasy.

“Where’s Sam?” he asked.

“Here,” Samantha answered, stepping into the room with Roberto close behind. The ghost looked entirely solid and almost alive. Samantha had infused
him with a lot of her magic. Jeff’s fiancée came to him immediately, sliding into the spot between him and Alexia.

“I take it the news isn’t good?” Benchley remarked.

“Did you reach Amaliya?” Jeff’s gaze darted to the four people who could give him an answer.

Roberto took up the spot before the television and clasped his hands behind his back. “I was able to.”

“And?” Alexia prompted.

“We should wait for Cian,” Samantha said, chewing on her thumbnail. She rarely bit her nails.

“I’m here,” the vampire said from the hallway. He sounded groggy and a quick glance out the window revealed that the sun was still setting. Lingering in the shadows of the hallway, Cian was barely visible. “I woke early. For once.”

Roberto stared at his old friend and the man he had betrayed with a strangely compassionate expression. It unnerved Jeff.

“Tell them,” Samantha instructed the ghost. It was more of a command. She was trembling in Jeff’s arms. Obviously, she knew what Roberto was about to say and was terrified. Jeff felt his heartbeat accelerate and his stomach clenched in apprehension.

Roberto didn’t raise his eyes as he spoke. It was evident to Jeff that the ghost was frightened, too. “The haven of The Summoner is near the downtown area of San Antonio. It has many spells cast on it to hide it from not only from supernaturals but from humans. The only reason I was able to see it and slip inside was because of the connection between Amaliya and Samantha. The thread between them cut right through the wards like a knife and I was able to travel along the connection through the barriers.”

“How bad is San Antonio on the magical end of things? The crime reports today are off the charts,” Alexia said.

Jeff knew the coming answer was going to be bad when the Roberto actually shuddered. “The Summoner’s witches are casting powerful spells that are infecting the entire city. I’ve never seen anything like it. There are enormous pockets of negative energy all over the city that are ready to erupt. He’s going to plunge the city into chaos.”

“Why?” Baptiste asked. “A diversion?”

“The violence and blood will feed his spells,” Roberto grimly answered.

“If the energy build up is as bad as you say, then that’s a whole lot of violence and blood,” Alexia pointed out, then her eyes opened wider. “Shit.”

“And it’s going to get worse,” Samantha said sourly.

Aimee shifted in her seat next to Cassandra, her arms tucked around her girlfriend. The witch appeared close to crying, which frightened Jeff even more.

“Eh, it always gets worse,” Eduardo said nonchalantly.

“But you saw Amaliya, right?” Cian sounded like he was half-asleep, but his tone was commanding and laced with anxiety.

“Yes. I saw both Amaliya and Bianca. They’re trapped in a room with The Summoner. When I arrived they were confined to the bed in the room, unable to leave. The Summoner was in a trance. Preparing.”

“He’s not possessing Bianca?” Benchley squinted. “Huh?”

Roberto nodded. “Amaliya says he’s found a way to create a corporeal body, at least as long as he’s in the presence of the Sword of Lucifer.”

“What?” Cassandra’s eyes flashed open. “
What?
It’s formed?”

The ghost shifted on his feet, the edges of his body blurring. He appeared reluctant to answer. “Not yet. Almost. The black witches summoned the last ring this morning once The Summoner had Amaliya. It’ll possess the person closest to it and force them to bring it to The Summoner.”

“Mom!” Cassandra lurched out of her chair, her phone clutched in her hand. In a panic, she tried to pull up her mother’s number on the screen.

Aimee clutched Cassandra’s arms and forced her to sit down. Holding her close, Aimee said, “Cass, we’ll find her. We can find her.”

Silence filled the room as Cassandra sobbed. “He has her, Aimee! He has my mom!”

Cian dared to enter the room, keeping to the shadows. He embraced his daughter from behind. “Cassandra, we’ll find her.”

“Galina had the ring,” Alexia said, stricken at the realization of what must be happening.

Aimee nodded sorrowfully. “We hid it in a box under her house. We thought it would be safe.”

“So when they called the ring, she was the closest one to it.” Benchley covered his face with his hands. “Oh, shit.”

“Where was she?” Cian asked, his hand gently rubbing his daughter’s back as he tried to console her.

“Tennessee. Near Nashville,” Aimee answered.

“Did you know about this?” Jeff asked Samantha.

“I knew they were calling the ring, but I didn’t realize Cass’s mom had it.”

Baptiste leaned forward to pat Cassandra’s leg gently. “Cass, I’m sorry. I know how it is about family.”

Alexia was typing away on her keyboard and scrolling through information. “It’s about a fourteen hour drive to San Antonio. Maybe fifteen with stops for the restroom, food and gas. If they called the ring today, then she’s probably still on her way.”

“Assuming she drove,” Benchley said, wincing.

“I can check flights.” Alexia started typing again.

Cassandra clung to her girlfriend, sobbing. “We need to find her, Aimee.”

“Cass, baby, I need to start working on a tracking spell right away.” The witch carefully disengaged herself from Cassandra’s grip. Giving Cian a significant look, she kissed Cassandra then ran out of the room.

Cian climbed over the back of the loveseat and drew his daughter into his arms. Holding her lovingly, he stroked her hair as she wept. “What else did you find out, Roberto?”

The sun was below the trees now and the vampire was more lucid and appeared much more dangerous.

Roberto rocked back and forth, heel to toe, his gaze on the floor in front of him. “Amaliya told me that The Summoner can tear down the veil at any time once the sword is restored. There is a ritual to maintain the tear and allow the abyss to consume the world. They’ve been preparing for it for months.”

“You know where his haven is, so we’ll go there immediately,” Cian said.

“The ritual won’t take place there. It will take place in a Mayan temple.” Roberto raised his eyes and Jeff wished he could read the expression in them.

“We have to go to Mexico?” Benchley gasped.

“No.” Roberto shook his head.

“It’s under San Antonio,” Samantha spoke up. “The Mayans had a temple in the area of San Antonio and it is still there. Buried underneath the fuckin’ junction of Highway 1604 and Interstate I-35. Bianca told Amaliya about it.”

“Holy shit,” Benchley said. “Holy shit!”

“He’s going to bring it forth,” Roberto continued. “And then tear the veil. He doesn’t have to wait for December 21, 2012 to do it either. He can do it as soon as the sword is formed.”

“And with the ring on its way...” Baptiste rubbed his hands over his bald head. “Shit.”

“It’ll happen tonight,” Alexia breathed.

“Yeah.” Samantha raised her eyes, tears filling them.

“So, it’s time to save the world,” Jeff said, finding it hard to take a breath. “Tonight.”

Chapter 26

The ambience of the room continued to weigh on Amaliya’s mind and body as she lay on the bed waiting for the night to come. She had tried several times to walk across the room to the door only to feel an intense lethargy that started to paralyze her limbs. Each time, Bianca had pulled her back to the bed. At last she had relented to the reality that she was trapped as surely as Bianca was. Pulling on her discarded tank top and panties, she’d lit another cigarette and contemplated the situation while Bianca drifted back to sleep curled into Amaliya’s side.

When Roberto had slipped into the room, hesitant and fearful, she’d been startled at his sudden appearance, but in retrospect wasn’t really surprised. Samantha had been diligently working on her abilities. Though it was difficult to feel it through the layers of mind-numbing energy filling the room, Amaliya was grateful for the fine thread of magic that connected her to Samantha. She was even more grateful for Roberto’s bravery at breaching The Summoner’s defenses.

Their conversation had been quick, thorough, and anxiety-inducing. Amaliya had watched the silent, kneeling form of The Summoner while Roberto had hid in the shadows. She’d told him everything she had discovered, then watched him vanish.

Now, she was on her last cigarette and feeling more hopeful than she had earlier when Bianca had revealed that much of what she, Cian, and the others had believed to be true was actually wrong. Exhaling, Amaliya ruffled Bianca’s wavy hair with her fingers. The stillness of the other vampire’s form was strangely comforting. She could almost pretend it was Cian next to her, but the illusion was broken by the feminine softness of Bianca’s body. No matter what happened next, Amaliya vowed to not abandon Bianca. She could find a place in her home and heart for the girl. Bianca had tried to save her once and failed. Now Amaliya was determined to find a way to save Bianca. She was sick and tired of people dying for her.

It was difficult to maintain her focus in the presence of the nearly reconstructed sword, but her stubbornness was benefitting her. Every time her mind would begin to drift to The Summoner’s promise of the new world and her role in it, she would force herself to remember her grandmother. It helped fight off the mind-altering power of her bond to The Summoner and the black magic writhing in the air about the nearly completed sword.

“It’s close now.” The sound of The Summoner speaking broke her out of her reverie.

“The other ring?” She dragged heavily on her cigarette.

“Yes.”

Amaliya watched the muscles beneath his skin ripple as he stood. It was difficult to believe it was not a true body that was standing before her. Brushing his blond hair back from his face, The Summoner turned to gaze at her. In another time, in another place, she could have fallen hard for him and kicked her humanity away to be with him. Maybe if he hadn’t abandoned her in the beginning he could have won her love. Amaliya was aware of her weaknesses. Bad boys, sex, alcohol, cigarettes, and loud music were all she had really enjoyed for a long time. Now she enjoyed those same things, but also had the added pleasures of Cian’s love, friendships, and a place that felt like home.

“Our time is soon,” The Summoner said with delight. “Tonight we ascend as gods over the new world.”

Crawling onto the bed, he sprawled out alongside her, his long muscular frame alluring in the dim light. His hand slid over her legs to cup her hip. Ignoring him, Amaliya continued to smoke and stroke Bianca’s hair. The Summoner desired her, and she was keen to use that to her advantage. Confidence filled her as she realized just how much power she actually had in the situation. When he kissed her, she passionately responded, her tongue dominating his. With a little growl, he pulled her closer, consuming her mouth. When he finally released her lips to tease her neck with his teeth, she took another long drag on her cigarette.

“So...tonight you get your body back, huh?” Amaliya hated how quickly her last smoke was turning to ash. She wondered if one of The Summoner’s minions would go get her more.

Biting her earlobe, The Summoner growled, “Yes.”

“Will you be a vampire again?” Ignoring the hands wandering over her body, she slung her arm over his shoulders.

“No, something more. A god.”

“And Bianca? Me?” Amaliya tilted her head to gaze at him.

“What you are now.” The Summoner laid his hand gently on Bianca’s head. “Alas, our little one will have served her purpose.”

Amaliya narrowed her eyes. “What?”

“Are you fond of her?” The unemotional blue eyes revealed nothing of his thoughts.

“She’s part of us,” Amaliya answered.

“My blood is the key to ushering in the new world. I have no blood. It’s in your veins and hers.”

“What are you talking about?” Amaliya flicked the butt of her cigarette at the table with the rings.

The Summoner’s face showed his disapproval of her disrespect. “The spell to bring forth the new world demands the sacrifice of the necromancer’s blood that casts it. All of it.”

“So you have to kill yourself?” Amaliya looked at him with disbelief. “There’s no fuckin’ way you’d do that.”

“The reward is becoming a god once the abyss has consumed the world.”

“Oh, that you
would
do.” Looking down at the sleeping girl beside her, Amaliya tried to fit the pieces together. “If you use her blood, won’t she become the god?”

“It’s my blood in her veins. I’m doing the spell. I will be the god. She will merely...die.” The Summoner twisted his fingers in Amaliya’s hair and drew her into his arms.

“And what are you going to do with me?” Dread filled her.

The Summoner’s long fingers stroked her cheek and played along her full lips. “Keep you at my side. You are my most wondrous of all my creations. I want you with me.”

“Enough to let my family and friends live. Which I know is tough for you because you really like to get your killing on.” Amaliya wished she could read him, but it was difficult.

“Yes. Though my hope is that once you feel the death of millions imbuing you with power you will finally realize the folly of keeping them alive. They’re your weakness. Eventually, you will have to eliminate those weaknesses.”

Laughing, Amaliya shook her head. “God, you’re such a fuckin’ asshole in every single damn way.”

The Summoner moved over her before slipping between her thighs. Bianca didn’t stir, which made Amaliya suspicious of what he was doing to her. As his weight settled on her, Amaliya stared into the eyes of the man who had been her ruin and salvation.

She really, really wanted another cigarette.

“I may be an asshole, but you’re drawn to me, aren’t you?”

“I’m going to kill you,” Amaliya said, smiling.

“I know you’ll try. I also know you’ll fail.” His kiss was searing, demanding, and full of need.

Amaliya bit his lip hard, and he jerked his head back. He felt pain in his new form. That was interesting. “So, since I’m going to make you kill me later, why don’t you kill me instead of Bianca?”

“Self-sacrifice really doesn’t suit you,” The Summoner chided her. “Besides, I have no intention of killing you. You
are
mine. My dark bride.” As if to prove a point, he shoved Bianca’s prone, unconscious form away. “Our time has come. You must accept it.”

With a grin, Amaliya shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

“But you will.” The hunger in his kiss was intoxicating.

Even as she succumbed to his seduction and the dark, twisted power of the sword flowed through the room, Amaliya knew she would never allow him to rule the world. Somehow, she would stop him.

Aimee set stones and crystals in a distinct pattern over the large map she had spread out on the dining room table. Candles burned in a circle on the floor and the scent of Cassandra’s blood wafted with the fragrance of magic. Cian and Jeff stood just inside the doorway observing the preparations. Cassandra sat at the table within the circle, her eyes red and swollen.

“This will work,” Jeff muttered, sounding like he was trying to convince himself.

Deeper in the house the cabal was preparing to leave. They hoped to intercept Galina before she reached San Antonio. If they were lucky, she was driving to meet The Summoner. Her route would take her through the Austin area.

The longing for Amaliya filling Cian mingled with his fears of losing her. She was strong and he knew she’d find a way to manipulate, then kill The Summoner. The necromancer’s obsession with Amaliya was something Cian knew she could use to good effect if she was clever. It wasn’t difficult for Cian to understand why The Summoner desired her at his side. Amaliya was powerful, beautiful, and possessed a wild energy that was very seductive. Cian loved Amaliya for many reasons, but she was the catalyst that made him feel alive. He could easily see her doing the same for The Summoner, which would be a heady experience for a vampire who was so old he was far removed from his humanity.

“This
will
work, right?” Jeff whispered, now sounding doubtful.

“Yes. Of course.” Cian gave the man a pat on the shoulder.

Nodding his head, Jeff edged closer to Cian. “I need to talk to you about something before we go.”

“Now?”

The witch continued to lay out the small stones and crystals, her long bronze hair catching the light of the chandelier overhead.

Jeff winced, then nodded.

Cian stepped into the main foyer of the house. It was empty except for them. Drawing a little too close for Cian’s comfort, Jeff leaned in to Cian.

“It’s about Eduardo.”

“Oh?” Cian said inquisitively.

Jeff swallowed hard, then said in an ever quieter voice, “He’s a serial killer.”

Cian lifted both of his eyebrows.

“Girls that look a lot like Amaliya have been disappearing. Samantha has seen two of their ghosts. They were ripped apart, ravaged by a were-creature. The last girl to vanish was near your old place after you tossed Eduardo out of the van. Both ghosts were angry at me for not stopping the person who killed them.” Jeff sighed. “I know it’s flimsy evidence, but...”

Cian gave a shake of his head. “No, I believe you. Though I’m not sure you can call him a serial killer. He’s a coyote. His nature is to hunt.”

“Yeah, but he’s not supposed to kill humans, right? That’s your rule over your city.”

“True.” Cian reflected on the things Amaliya had told her about Eduardo. “He did say something once to Amaliya about wanting to have sex with her because he could rip her up and she’d survive.”

Jeff winced. “He thought that was a come on?”

Cian lifted a shoulder dismissively. “He’s an idiot.”

“What should we do?”

The human was obviously worried and unnerved by the situation on top of everything else they were experiencing. “We need him tonight.”

“Yeah.”

“Then we tell him to leave the city, or die.”

The spot between Jeff’s eyebrows furrowed. “Okay. I guess.”

“It’s working!” Cassandra’s voice called out excitedly.

Cian moved faster than the human could follow to the table and leaned over the map. A single drop of Cassandra’s blood was slowly sliding along the surface of the map just over the I-35 corridor. From what Aimee had explained earlier, Cian knew the
red globule indicated Galina’s location. Her daughter’s blood was the best way to find and track her.

“She’s just past Austin,” Cassandra exclaimed. “We can catch her!”

“Grab everyone,” Cian said to Jeff. “We go now.”

The long black dress fluttered around Amaliya’s legs as she walked behind the possessed Bianca. The other necromancer was dressed in a white lace dress and her blonde hair was twisted up onto her head and held in place with diamanté hair clips. The Summoner had insisted on them looking “proper” and Amaliya had reluctantly complied. The gauzy silk material of her gown whispered against her skin and the fishnet insets in the arms and torso were a nice nod to her usual fashion choices. Her dyed black hair flowed unfettered to her waist and she wore her regular heels. On those two points, she’d refused to capitulate to The Summoner. He’d been amused.

Before them, hovering in the air, were the twelve rings. The pulsing light emanating from the jewelry formed an ethereal sword. Only a section of the hilt was missing. It was nearly complete.

Striding down the stairs behind the glowing sword and The Summoner/Bianca, Amaliya saw Etzli and the thirteen black witches waiting in the foyer. Vampires, infused humans,
were-jaguars and demons stood behind them. All were garbed in dark colors, even Stark and Trish. The levitating sword swept downstairs to the floor below and the crowd bowed their heads. The Summoner/Bianca smiled triumphantly at the sight. Amaliya supposed it was a small taste of what was to come once he conquered the sun and plunged humanity into the abyss.

Amaliya expected some sort of arch-villain speech about the end of the world, but instead The Summoner regally strolled through the gathering and out the front door. The cold, moist air and dark, low clouds over the San Antonio skyline threatened a winter storm. Sirens tore through the night from all directions. An orange glow illuminated the sky over the south side of the city. It was a little after seven in the evening, but already the city was in chaos. The black witches had unleashed the volcanoes of negative energy and violence ruled the city.