Soul Taker (28 page)

"Mom, I wish you were here to help me." In
moments like this, she truly missed her guidance. She closed the
book. As she lifted the mattress to return the journal to her
hiding place, the book slipped from her hands and landed at her
feet. She let the mattress go and leaned down to retrieve it. It
lay open. She was about to close the book, but the curious symbols
drew her attention. She read the page with interest.

Not all undead are evil.

She recalled that her mother had written and
underlined that same passage on the page of the expulsion
incantation. Of course, her mother would have searched for a
loophole and this was it.

She glanced heavenward. "Thank you, Mom."

Words were powerful. If they were spoken out
loud, the power increased. But spoken out loud and written down
before being sealed, the power of the incantation proved almost
unbreakable.

She recalled Uncle Sebastian always saying
the Romans really knew how to curse someone. They used thin metal
sheets to etch their prayers and curses. They would then heat the
metal and roll it into a scroll before it cooled, binding the
curse. What she wanted to do wasn't a curse, but a protection
spell, but the process worked the same way.

She may not have thin sheets of metal, but
paper and permanent marker worked in a pinch. She drew the
protective circle, adding Garran's name.

Chapter Forty-Three

Garran wanted to observe the Mahoneys'
warehouse from a distance, hoping to gauge what they were up
against. Everything appeared normal… quiet, perhaps too quiet.

Harrison tapped him on the shoulder and
pointed toward the wharf where two vampires stood by a black SUV.
"Four over there," Harrison pointed toward the area adjacent to the
warehouse, "trying to blend into the shadows, and two more by the
front entrance. I count eight total that are in plain view."

"All vampires." Garran breathed in deeply.
The scent of his kin hit his nostrils to confirm whom they were up
against. "They're part of the Bobhan Sith sept. They're Grim Siths
like me."

Most of the vampire septs didn't mix company
when it came down to working together on a job. Each sept had their
own set of rules to abide by, and vampires weren't known to
compromise their ethics.

However, Alexander was a rogue, building his
own forces for whatever endeavor he worked on here in Boston. He
supposed Alexander wanted his territory or, at the very least,
wanted him disgraced. The Guards of Judgment, who were the
Nephilim, the Watchers—or rather the children of the Fallen
Angels—they weren't lenient if the territories assigned could not
be governed with a strong hand. Garran needed to bring Alexander
down if he wished to remain here.

"I doubt the Mahoneys invited these blokes
over for tea," Garran grumbled. If the vampires were strolling
about without a care, the Mahoneys were indeed dead.

Harrison cursed under his breath. "It's
possible they're holding Frimrose inside the warehouse. Though
eight vamps to guard one human female seems excessive."

Garran shook his head. "Remember Frimrose
isn't just any female. She's Monette's spawn. If Monette spoke the
truth, the lass possesses close to as much power as her mother.
Frimrose could hold her own against one vampire, maybe even two. I
wouldn't be surprised if Monette took down a few vamps to save her
daughter, before Alexander realized what the voodoo witch was
capable of doing. Still, eight guards... It makes me think they're
here for another purpose." He looked over his shoulder to Harrison.
"How about we take a quick peek?"

Harrison's lips slid into a cocky grin. "You
know me. I never walk away from a good fight. Let's give these
wankers something to think about, shall we?"

****

Isabella parked her car on the street so not
to draw attention to her arrival. At a brisk walk, she headed
toward the warehouse. The night proved cool, and the scent of sea
lingered in the air. She had pulled her long hair into a ponytail
before she left home. It would keep her strands from frizzing into
her face and hampering her vision.

She slowed her pace, taking cautious steps as
she neared her destination. She gripped her flashlight in one hand
and her gun in the other. A loud clatter to the right of her rang
through the night, making her jump. She swung her flashlight in the
direction of the sound and sighed in relief when a calico cat
sauntered out from behind the trash bins. "Ah, pretty girl, you
scared me."

Ninety-nine percent of all calicos were
female, a tidbit she picked up from the animal channel on TV.
Chances were pretty good this one was too. The cat came over to her
and rubbed against her legs, meowing as she did. "Friendly kitty,
aren't you." Actually she was happy for the company. "Come with me
if you must, but keep quiet."

She turned off her flashlight and shoved it
into her belt. She didn't want to draw attention to herself by
flashing a light like a beacon. She would have to rely on the
security lights situated at various points around the building.
When she reached the outer building, she halted her steps when she
spotted a movement. "There it is, kitty," she whispered, "the
Mahoneys' warehouse. See those bad vamps out there? You don't want
to mess with them. They most likely did the Mahoneys in, damn
bloodsuckers." Then it dawned on her what Harrison had told her.
The Mahoneys were werecats.
As in…

Her gaze riveted to where the calico should
have been only to see a tall slender woman with dark blonde hair
standing in its place. Isabella stumbled back and would have
fallen, but the woman's hand snaked out and steadied her.

"I won't harm you." The woman's catlike eyes
met hers.

Isabella recovered some of her composure.
"You're a Mahoney, aren't you?" She asked just to clarify, but
since the calico disappeared and this woman took its place, it
seemed quite obvious.
Obvious
? She almost chuckled. A few
days ago, she didn't know
werecats
existed.

The woman nodded. "I was away, visiting my
mother in Ohio. Me Da and her split up a few years ago." Her soft
Irish lilt came through with her words.

Apparently even preternatural beings filed
for divorce or whatever its equivalent was. "Go on."

"When I arrived back home, I find me Da and
brothers are missing and a horde of vampire scum decided to make
the warehouse their lair. I want the… What did you call them? Aah
aye, damn bloodsuckers out." The woman looked her over with a
scrutinizing gaze. "You're human, are you not?"

Isabella nodded.

"I didn't think you were shielding
Otherworldly abilities. Why are you here?"

"Long story… I'm Isabella Lucci by the
way."

"Katie Mahoney."

Once the niceties were over, she wondered if
Katie would stick around and help her. "I was meeting… um… two
associates, Garran and Harrison. They believe these vampires are
holding a young woman here against her will."

"Aah, aye. I do believe so. They had her
locked up in me Da's offices."

"
Had
?" She didn't miss the past
tense.

"They didn't suck her dry, if that's what
you're thinking. They moved her somewhere else a few hours ago,
along with a crate marked for shipment. I heard one of the vamps
talking about it. I don't know where though, but she's still alive
since she's a bargaining tool of some sort. I didn't catch for what
though."

Isabella tucked this bit of information away.
She'd let Garran and Harrison know as soon as she saw them.

"So where are your associates?" Katie asked
with a quirked brow.

"Good question." Isabella looked toward the
warehouse.

"There." Katie pointed. "Is one of your
friends a werewolf and the other… Damn, another vamp."

She caught sight of them now, too. She would
know Garran even in the dim lighting. He moved with a grace she
thought not possible for such a large man. "Trust me, Garran is one
of the good guys." Katie didn't seem convinced. Isabella couldn't
blame her since vampires had killed her family.

"What are you two doing here?" a deep voice
boomed the demand.

Isabella and Katie whirled around to face the
threat. Katie hissed and her aura shifted colors. Isabella could
only assume Katie was about to shapeshift into her alter ego and
disappear. She might have considered the option herself if she had
the choice.

Isabella didn't have claws, but she did have
a gun with iron-based bullets. Thanks to Harrison's
101
bullet
update earlier on the way to Garran's house, she learned
silver would weaken a vampire, but iron could do considerable
damage in a shorter amount of time.

The vampire could not expel an iron bullet.
It had to be surgically removed, which proved a problem with how
fast a vampire healed. The flesh would seal the iron in their
bodies where the offensive substance would eat away their insides.
Of course, Harrison admitted he had never witnessed anyone
succumbing from such a wound. All his knowledge was hearsay.

No time like the present to find out if the
theory had merit. She pointed the Glock at the vampire and he
lifted his hands in the air.

"Settle down, girlie." His gaze only
flickered briefly on the fleeing calico. No doubt he would hunt
Katie down once he finished with her, but first he had to catch the
wily cat.

Isabella released the safety on her gun.
"Give me a good reason why I should?"

His mouth slid into a grin that didn't quite
reach his eyes. "I'll give you two." His gaze flickered over her
shoulder.

Isabella didn't look. She highly doubted the
vampire would try to trick her so he could gain the advantage
when—let's face it—he already had the advantage.

But whatever
. She'd go down fighting.
She fired her gun.

Chapter Forty-Four

Pop, pop…

"What in the…?" Garran halted his steps at
the sound of gunshots. His senses flared to life, the sensation of
fear and something akin to excitement hit him full force.
"Isabella," he rasped out.

"Isabella?" Harrison looked at him as if he
lost his mind. "Here?"

Garran threw him a lethal glare. "I knew her
givin' in without an argument was too easy." He took off in the
direction his senses steered him.

Harrison cursed and followed suit. There went
their moment of surprise and best chance at rescuing Frimrose.

Garran caught sight of four vampires, heading
to the rear of the warehouse. They most likely would secure the
prisoner at all cost before aiding their comrades. He couldn't
worry about it now. Frimrose wasn't in any immediate danger, but
Isabella could very well be.

As they neared the building to the far left
and nearest the pier, Garran waved to Harrison to slow down. They
needed to assess the situation before charging in for the
rescue.

Three vampires escorted Isabella toward the
water's edge. His gaze wavered over the vampires, trying to gage
their worth. The reddish-brown haired vampire stood tall, but
didn't look as though he ever lifted a heavy weapon with his lanky
limbs.

The long sun-streaked haired vampire looked
more like a California surfer than a bad tempered vampire living in
Boston.

The light-brown haired vampire might have
proved difficult. He had broad shoulders and thick arms, but he
sported a pronounced limp.

Garran's lips twitched in amusement. Isabella
must have shot
Mr. Limpy
. At least the little twit had
brought a weapon.

Meeee...ow.

Garran looked down at the calico cat,
swirling in between his legs and around as she rubbed against him.
"Go." He tried to shoo it away. This is no place for ye." But the
persistent cat wouldn't leave him alone.

"Looks like the pussy cat wants to play."
Harrison chuckled, which won him a lethal glare.

"I'll take limpy and the blonde surfer
vampire," Garran said with a growl. "Ye go after the other
one."

"How about I take on limpy?"

Harrison and Garran frowned as they stared at
each other then at the calico at their feet.

The aroma of magic scented the night air as
the calico transformed into a beautiful blonde with gold-green
eyes.

"I'm Katie Mahoney," She made the
introductions. "And you blokes must be Harrison and Garran.
Isabella told me you were her partners."

"Well, did she now?" Garran rolled his eyes,
wondering how Isabella had found time to team up with a Mahoney.
"Let's do this before we have to fish the wee dunderhead out of the
bay."

****

Isabella fought to be free of the vampire's
grip even though she knew it was useless against the brute strength
of a preternatural being. He dragged her behind him despite her
efforts to dislodge his hold on her.

Her distractions at least gave Katie a chance
to steal away. Hopefully, she would go for help.

The vampires were furious that Katie slipped
away since the reddish-brown haired vampire voiced as much. Their
orders were to eliminate all the Mahoneys. They knew there was a
daughter and had been waiting for her to return home.

Blondie blamed Isabella and had taken it out
on her with a blow to the side of the head. Her vision kept
blurring in and out, and her head ached, making her fear she had a
concussion.

The vampire yanked on her arm again to keep
her moving. She wasn't sure which pissed him off more, the fact a
werecat and a human outwitted him, or she shot him with iron
bullets. She was glad to see the wound hadn't healed and he was in
obvious pain with the way he grimaced with each step he took.

"Keep moving." The lanky vampire, who walked
behind her, decided to give her a push.

"Sorry, boys, if I don't seem to be in a
hurry. Your kind of party doesn't sound like something I want to
attend."