The Blood Will Run (12 page)

It was Detective Fleager.

“And who might you be?” Vanstrauss asked as Detective

Harper ran up to stand beside Fleager.

“I’m Detective Fleager and this here is my partner Detective Harper,” Fleager said never taking his eyes off Vanstrauss.

“What business do you have with these kids?”

Harper asked.

“Well it’s simple really. They have something that I want,” Vanstrauss said.

“And what exactly is that?” Fleager asked.

“The girl, Alivia Marks,” Vanstrauss said.

“What do you want with her?” Fleager asked.

“I plan on killing her.” Vanstrauss smiled wickedly.

“I’m afraid you won’t get close enough to carry out with that plan,” Fleager said.

Vanstrauss laughed. “And you are the one who is going to try and stop me?”

Fleager reached into his holster and pulled out his gun. He pointed it at Vanstrauss. Harper followed his lead.

Within seconds, Vanstrauss disappeared.

Suddenly, Harper shouted out in pain. When Devin and Chace turned to look behind them, Vanstrauss was sucking the blood from Harpers’ neck. Harper was trying to fight him off, but Vanstrauss suddenly ripped a chunk of flesh out from his neck. That’s when Devin spotted the knife that Harper had clenched in his hand. Harper jabbed the knife into Vanstrauss’ leg. Vanstrauss didn’t even notice. Fleager fired off his gun. The bullet hit Vanstrauss in the chest.

In a split second, Vanstrauss twisted Harpers’ neck and his body collapsed to the ground.

“You fool. Now look what you have done to a perfectly good suit.” Vanstrauss pulled out the knife and tossed it.

He ripped open his shirt and dug around inside his chest, never once flinching. Once he had the bullet between his thumb and index finger, he held it up to examine it.

Everyone was staring at the bullet. No one noticed the gun in Vanstrauss’ other hand. An explosion fired out from the gun and headed for Fleager. The bullet hit Fleager somewhere in the stomach. He stumbled back and hit the wall. Then he slumped to the ground.

The door to the Cafe suddenly opened.

“Are you looking for me?” Alivia asked.

Chace spun around to the sound of Alivias’ voice. “What the hell are you doing?” Chace asked and sped to Alivias’ side.

Alivia ignored him.

Devin made his way and stood in front of Alivia.

“I must admit,” Vanstrauss said and chuckled, wiping the blood from his mouth. “The girl seems to have more testicles than either one of you.”

“Alivia get back inside.” Ericas’ voice screeched from the open door of the Cafe.

Alivia turned back to look at Erica and shook her head.

When Alivia turned back to stare at Vanstrauss, there were two tiny hairless creatures with wings, sitting on each of his shoulders. The creatures’ ears stood straight up and were pointed. Their ears were much larger than their deformed faces. Small horns stuck out from the side of their heads. Their long thick tails whipped back and forth. The creatures’ opened their mouths and their tongues slipped out of their drooling mouths and began to slither slowly toward Devin.

As the tongues slid along the ground, they shifted into scaly thick snakes. An atrocious hissing sound shattered through their eardrums.

Alivia launched herself at Devin and pushed him out of the way. Together they landed beside Harpers’ dead body. Devin was startled and wondered why Alivia put her own life at risk just to save him. Seconds later, Alivia pulled herself up off Devins’ chest and stood. Devin scrambled to his feet and glared at Vanstrauss.

Vanstrauss lifted his hands high above his head and waved them in a circular motion. A vicious wind suddenly whipped through the air around them. Bolts of lightning boomed in the night sky and struck the ground close to where they were standing.

Mercy suddenly appeared and stood beside Alivia.

She held her hands out in front of her and began to chant, “
Te : et compello infirmare spiritus malus.
”

Vanstrauss stumbled back. The snakes crumbled into dust right before their very eyes.

“Te : et compello infirmare spiritus malus,
” Mercy chanted even louder.

Vanstrauss fell to his knees as the creatures had vanished in a puff of black smoke.

“I have risen from the dead and was ever so pleased to be blessed by the devil himself, witch!” Vanstrauss yelled.

“
Te : et compello infirmare spiritus malus,”
Mercy chanted and walked closer to Vanstrauss.

Vanstrauss pounded his fist hard on the concrete. The ground shook with such a tremendous force that everyone stumbled to keep their balance.

“I have destroyed Gods much stronger than you, witch. I have wiped out entire towns for my own amusement.” Vanstrauss roared and stood up.

Erica appeared with the shadow damnation box and tossed it into the air. “Here Devin catch!” Erica shouted.

Devin leaped up and caught it.

“
Te : et compello infirmare spiritus malus,
” Mercy chanted as Devin opened the box.

“I have mastered the seven deadly sins and fed off their power bringing chaos to useless mortals for centuries.” Vanstrauss was floating above the ground.

Mercy continued to chant.

Vanstrauss’ body began to turn, faster and faster.

Mercy chanted louder and louder.

Thunder roared above them. Lightening lit up as it snapped across the dark sky.

Then just like that, Vanstrauss stopped spinning. Everything was silent again. Seconds later, a dark shadow with long horns and over-sized wings floated out of his chest and glared at Devin with glowing red eyes.

Vanstrauss’ body slumped back and hit the ground in a hard thump.

“Who dares lift me from my immortal body?” the shadow asked.

Thick black smog drifted around them.

“Devin you need to get over here. I need your help!” Mercy yelled.

Devin sped to where Mercy was standing.

“Grab my hand and concentrate,” Mercy said a few inches from Vanstrauss.

The two of them stood together and clasped each other’s hand. Mercy chanted in Latin, ”
Præcepique tenebras in capsa in aeternum.
”

A bright flare of white light lit up around them.

The shadow lifted up its sharp claws and shot out a ball of fire toward them.

The ball of fire disappeared as it hit the shield of light.

Mercy chanted. “
Præcepique tenebras in capsa in aeternum.
”

The shadow became enraged and hundreds of tiny fireballs exploded from its eyes. The balls of fire flew in every direction.

Mercy chanted as loud as she could.

The bright white light suddenly lit up the shadow.

A shrilling screech exploded from the shadow as the box pulled it inside.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“
H
ere, drin
k
.
”
Chace sank his fangs into his wrist and offered Fleager his blood.

Fleager shook his head.

“Listen man, after what you’ve seen tonight would you prefer to die like your partner over there?” Chace asked.

Fleager stared at Chace for what seemed like forever and finally gave in and grabbed his wrist.

“Why don’t you just heal him?” Erica asked.

“I’ve never healed someone as close to death as Fleager. Him taking my blood is just a precautionary measure,” Chace explained.

Erica nodded.

Chace placed his hand over Fleagers’ chest and concentrated.

Erica hovered over them and watched as tiny specks of light circled around the wound. Seconds later, Chace had the bullet in his hand.

“That’s so freaking cool,” Erica said.

“Chace you better get over here,” Devin said.

Chace knew from the sound of his brothers’ voice that something was wrong.

When Chace turned and got up, he saw Alivia lying on the ground beside Harper.

“It’s not good Chace,” Devin warned as Chace knelt down beside Alivia.

Alivia moaned as Chace lifted up her blood-drenched top to examine the wound on her stomach.

“This black ash was from one of the fireballs,” Chace said. “The wound is really deep too.”

“Well heal her,” Devin said. From the sound of his voice, Chace concluded that Devin was a little more concerned than he should’ve been.

“I was getting to that brother,” Chace snapped and laid his hand over the wound.

Nothing happened.

“I don’t get it,” Chace said and tried again. Still, nothing happened.

“You must have limited healing ability,” Erica said resting Alivias’ head on her lap.

Alivia moaned.

Chace felt hopeless. He never felt like that before.

“What the hell is going on out here?” Jules asked coming up from behind them.

Everyone turned and stared at her.

Jules pushed her way through them and knelt down beside Alivia. “What happened to my sister?” Jules asked and she looked pissed.

“It’s a long story,” Detective Fleager said.

Jules eyed him with an evil eye. “Why is there blood all over your shirt?”

“I was shot,” he answered.

Jules glanced around. “What the hell is with the dead bodies?”

“I told you, it’s a long story. We don’t have time to explain right now. Your sister needs help,” Fleager said.

“I can perform a healing spell but we need to get Alivia to the shop,” Mercy said.

“A healing spell? What the hell is wrong with you people? Alivia needs a doctor. I’m taking her to the hospital,” Jules said staring at them in utter disbelief.

Chace lifted Alivia in his arms. “Fine, have it your way Jules. Lock up and meet us in my car.”

Jules ran into the Cafe.

“Mercy, you take Devin and Erica in your car, we’ll meet you at the shop,” Chace said heading to his car.

“But I thought you said you were bringing her to the hospital?” Erica asked following close behind him.

“Yeah right,” Chace said and slid Alivia in the back seat. Erica ran off to Mercy’s car.

Jules returned seconds later and slid in the seat with Alivia.

“Don’t worry about things here!” Fleager shouted. “I’ll take care of it.”

Chace drove like a maniac. Jules grabbed the hook on the roof of the car.

“How’s she doing back there?” Chace asked, looking through the rear-view mirror.

“She’s breathing, if that’s what you’re asking,” Jules said harshly.

“Look, I know you don’t like me much. But I love your sister and I want her to be safe too.”

“Some job you did keeping her safe,” Jules said.

“I didn’t realize she was hurt,” Chace mumbled.

“Yeah, I guess from the looks of it, you don’t know much.” Jules said.

Alivia moaned. Chace watched as Jules smoothed down her hair. Alivia was drifting in and out of consciousness.

For the rest of the car ride, he didn’t say another word.

When Chace screeched to a sudden stop in front of the Witchittin shop, Jules eyed him angrily.  

“This is not the hospital,” she said.

“No kidding,” Chace answered and slid out of the seat. He slammed the door.

Chace opened the back passenger door and lifted Alivia gently out of the seat.

“Don’t worry babe,” Chace said kissing Alivias’ forehead. “You’ll be as good as new in a few minutes.”

While Chace was making his way to the front door of the shop, he shouted over his shoulder, “Look Jules, you could either come inside and watch Mercy save your sisters’ life or you can sit here and wait for Alivia to come out and get you. Either way I couldn’t care less, it’s your choice.”

Jules shook her head, but ended up following them. “Each minute that you waste, my sister loses more blood,” Jules said walking behind them. “You better know what the hell you’re doing Chace. If she doesn’t make it, and I lose another family member, I will kill you myself.”

Chace smiled as he walked to the back of the store. These Marks woman really had a way with words, he thought. Seconds later, Chace laid Alivia on the table that Mercy had already cleared. Mercy scattered about collecting the items she needed to perform the spell.

Mercy emptied a white velvet sack with tiny clear crystals and positioned them around the wound.

She lit several candles and stood over Alivia with a large solid white crystal in her hand.

Everyone stood back except Chace and Jules. The two of them stood on either side of the table and held Alivias’ hand.

“
Trahe potestas a terra sanandi
,” Mercy chanted, circling the crystal over Alivia.

Jules gasped when the crystal in Mercys’ hand lit up in several colors. When the crystals around the wound started to radiate with color, Jules looked fascinated and worried both at the same time.

Chace was relieved when the wound started to fade. When it disappeared completely, Chace expected Alivia to leap into his arms, but the opposite happened. Alivia shut her eyes and her body went lifeless.

“What’s happening—?” Chace began to ask Mercy, but before he had a chance to finish what he was about to say, Alivia leaped off the table and began to jump around as she struggled to breathe.

Chace managed to get behind Alivia and slap her in the back with his palm.

“What the hell are you doing? Are you out of your mind?” Jules yelled holding up her fist as she made her way toward Chace.

“Relax Jules, what Chace did is working, look Alivias’ breathing again,” Erica said and pointed to Alivia.

“You’re lucky you little shit, another second and I would have knocked you out,” Jules said wrapping her arms around her sister.

☼

“I’m fine Jules,” Alivia said softly.

“We should thank our lucky stars, for a minute there I thought I had lost you too,” Jules said.

“Does Jules know about Lawson?” Alivia asked looking at Chace. Chace shook his head and frowned.

“What about Lawson?” Jules asked eyeing Chace.

“Do you believe in the supernatural?” Alivia asked her sister.

Alivia moved to stand beside Chace.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him.

“Well what I just saw Mercy perform would be considered magic,” Jules answered.

“Yes that’s magic, but what I’m talking about is more along the lines of ghosts, vampires and werewolves, if you catch my drift,” Alivia said.

Jules shook her head. “All that stuff is just a myth. There are no such things as ghosts, vampires and werewolves.”

Alivia looked at Chace and he nodded.

“We have something to show you Jules,” Alivia said and went to her sisters’ side. Alivia linked her arm through her sisters’ arm. “But we have to go to Chace and Devins’ house to show you.”

Jules nodded.

Devin looked at Mercy. “Mercy I don’t think you should stay here alone. I think until everything has settled down we should all stay together,” Devin said.

Mercy nodded, but from the expression on her face, she didn’t really seem to like the idea. Mercy locked up the shop.

Devin and Erica followed Mercy to her car.

Alivia and Jules followed Chace to his car.

It was several minutes later, when everyone walked through the Casa De Luca doors.

Devin left the grand living room to go get Lawson.

“Jules you’ll need to keep an open mind. What you’re about to see is really going to freak you out,” Alivia said and stood with Jules as she glanced around the room.

Devin came into the room seconds later with Lawson.

When Jules saw him, she just stood there. She looked as if she had just died herself. The rosy color in her cheeks drained within seconds.

“Now Jules, listen to me. We see Lawson too. You’re not going crazy,” Alivia said.

Jules swallowed hard. “Mom use to tell me stories when I was growing up about the guardian of the physical realm. She called the guardian a Shayvan. She had said that she had died once before and had come back to life again. She said that the reason she was brought back was because I was too young to take over guarding the realm.”

“You knew about this and didn’t bother mentioning it to me?” Alivia asked looking betrayed.

“I knew about it too. I just wasn’t sure which one of us was the Shayvan. I guess we know now,” Lawson said.

Alivia stared at them in disbelief. “All this time and you two knew. Why didn’t you guys let me in on your little secret? Things wouldn’t have been so bloody hard to accept when I saw Miles turn into a werewolf. Not to mention that I wouldn’t have been so freaked out when Miles told me that Chace was a vampire.” Alivia stared at Lawson and then at Jules.

“I didn’t really believe the story until now,” Jules said.

“I can’t believe this,” Alivia said shaking her head.

“At first we thought that you were the Shayvan when we spoke with Lawson in your mind,” Chace explained.

“You were talking to Lawson in my mind?” Alivia practically shouted.

“Relax Alivia, it’s really not that big of a deal,” Chace said.

“Not that big of a deal,” Alivia mimicked.. “All this time there has been nothing but secrets and lies. I’m so sick of being left out of the loop.”

Chace wrapped his arm around Alivias’ waist. She moved away.

He was hurt, but he understood Alivia just needed some space.

“I’m sorry but after all that I’ve been through, I cannot wrap my head around the fact that all of you kept this from me,” Alivia said.

“Alivia come on, they thought that they were protecting you,” Erica said.

“Did you know about all of this too?” Alivia glared at Erica.

“No, I had no idea.” Erica looked shocked.

Alivia turned and eyed Chace. “And you, you are the one person I thought I could count on.”

“You can count on me,” Chace said.

“But yet you still lie to me, don’t you?”

“I’m sorry you look at it that way. I was trying to keep you safe.”

“Tell me Chace, is there other things you don’t want to tell me as well?”

“Like what?”

“Like the fact that you own that disgusting place called Ticklers,” Alivia blurted out.

“Yes, I own Ticklers, but that was something I did before I met you,” Chace said wondering how Alivia had found out.

“You’re the owner of Ticklers?” Erica asked.

Chace nodded. “I’ve seen you and Tucker there on occasion, but you already know that.”

“Um…yes, we go there, but never in a million years would I have ever guessed you were the owner.” Erica said, looking surprised.

“What is Ticklers?” Jules asked.

“It’s a bondage dominance sadomasochism brothel for people who prefer kinky sex,” Alivia explained.

“Wow, you own that place Chace? I knew there was something wrong with you.” Jules asked shaking her head.

“Okay, really what’s the big deal? It’s a place where people go and enjoy themselves in a controlled setting. It’s completely safe. The staff is equipped to handle any emergencies that may arise if someone happens to get hurt. Up until this day, we haven’t had anyone go overboard.” Chace said.

“What I can’t wrap my head around is why you own such a horrible place like that,” Alivia said staring at Chace.

“Listen Alivia, just because I happen to own it, doesn’t make me an awful person. It just happens to be my sexual preference.”

“Then what the hell are you doing with me?” Alivias’ voice was harsh and loud.