Fratelli: Eternal Bloodlines (The Vampire Cartel #2)

30. Path to Perdition

Chapter 30

Path to Perdition

B ellagio - Las Vegas, Nevada

April 18, 2018

(3 Days Before Death)

Midnight —

Russell’s head felt heavy as if ready to explode. He was slow to wake. A hard squint through the piercing aches in his skull helped. As he stabilized his runaway thoughts, he noticed the strangeness of his current situation. His face pressed against something cool, like glass, and his body leaned into a cramped corner with movement beneath him.

Pushing through his fear, Russell opened his eyes. He saw the back headrest of a car seat. To his left, Lamont sat. The young rapper scrolled through Instagram on his phone.

“What the hell?” Russell mumbled. “Why? Why am I here!”

Lamont glanced over. Unfazed by Russell’s outburst, he returned his attention to his phone. The driver and passenger in the front seats remained silent. They didn’t listen to music or have small conversations. The car was eerily quiet except for Lamont’s dancing TikTok’s to his rap lyrics. The phone's light that illuminated Lamont’s face dispelled the darkness of the backseat. There was a look of nostalgia for the former hip-hop star over seeing fans of his music doing tributes. Outside, the Vegas city lights faded into a dark. The isolation under a starless desert and mountain scape surrounded them.

“Stop the car,” said Russell.

Lamont ignored him.

“I want out of here. I want to go back to the hotel,” Russell shouted.

Lamont ignored him.

“Let me out! Now!” Russell demanded. He slammed his fist against the window as hard as he could.

“I suggest you chill, bro,” Lamont said in a monotone unaffected voice. He scrolled to the next video post.

“Fuck you. I’m being kidnapped,” Russell replied.

“You’re being rescued,” Lamont replied.

“Take me back! Now. To my sisters. Take me back, damn it,” Russell’s protest sounded weaker.

“One more time, bro. Chill,” Lamont's gaze slipped over. There was a sincere threat in the hard glare he gave him. It shocked Russell. Lamont had been nothing but patient and cool. The silence in the car became even more threatening. The men driving, silent as crypt keepers. The hairs on the back of Russell’s neck stood on end.

Russell fumed but understood the situation. His disability and the indifference of the men in the car meant anger wouldn’t help. He needed to diffuse the situation without escalating it.

“Can you tell me what’s going on? Was I drugged? Where are my sisters?” Russell pleaded.

“Sister?” Lamont frowned. “You mean sister?”

“Yeah, okay, sure. Where is Dolly? Does Lucio have her? Did he take her? Is he sending me away? What’s happening?” Russell asked.

“I don’t know any fucking thing about Lucio. In fact, from now on, let’s keep him out of it. We had to get you out of Bellagio for protection. You were asleep in the car when I got in. I couldn’t wake you.”

“How? Who put me here?” Russell asked.

Lamont sighed. “Look, kid. You know who these motherfuckers are. What they are.” Lamont glanced at the front seat, at the silent vampires driving them.

Russell fell silent.

“I’m not one of them, and neither are you. But your sister, her boyfriend, and the rest of the Bellagio crowd are things from nightmares. Some dark shit is going down back there. I was supposed to be headed to my next job, but then I got saddled with you,” Lamont said.

“Dark things? Like what? Is she in danger?” Russell asked.

“They’re at war. That’s all I can tell you.” Lamont shrugged.

“Where is she?” Russell’s voice quivered.

“Not sure. We’re headed to Reno. I’ll protect you, but I won’t baby you, Russ. Whatever’s in Reno, you need to man up and deal with it. Understand? Shit, I got enough on my plate,” said Lamont.

Russell searched for his backpack out of defense. When he realized he didn’t have it, panic settled in. Lamont sensed his alarm, reached down, and pulled it up like a magic trick.

“Everything’s in there, your medicine, some other interesting shit you keep on you,” he said and tossed the backpack to Russell.

Russell opened it, finding his things, including his sister’s doll. He sighed in relief when he noticed his cell phone.

“Put on your weight,” Lamont ordered.

“Huh?” Russell asked.,

“Chain. It marks you as one of Lucio’s boys. Put it on and never take it off. It’s like a fucking silver bullet to these motherfucka’s. We’re headed to Reno. The den for the Wolves,” Lamont yawned.

“As in…?”

“Werewolves,” Lamont said. “If there are vampires, there have to be wolves, right?”

“I guess,” Russell stammered.

“I don’t know the setup, but Tristan was clear: your life for mine. And I ain’t fucking dying out here. I don’t give a fuck. I have to protect and serve. You do as I say, no questions. I’ll check in with Tristan regularly and try to connect you with your sister. Deal?” Lamont asked.

“Deal,” Russell mumbled. He pulled out the enormous diamond Cuban link chain and medallion, fastening it around his neck. Lamont reclined his head and closed his eyes. The car sped through the midnight hour, further away from Vegas. Ahead and behind them, a caravan of vampires moved toward an unknown destination.

Dolly squinted against the glare of the lights. She used her hand as a shield.

Darlene? Dolly evoked her sister.

I’m here. Why didn’t Lucio say hi to me? See? See how he ignores me? How he treats me! Darlene said.

As Darlene had done in the desert canyon, she materialized at her sister's side. A metaphysically darkly dressed version of her individuality. Even her skin tone had changed. It has become enriched with the deepest manifestation of melanin. She glowed with vitality.

“Oh, my…” Charmaine gasped. To see Dolly in a metaphysical state with darker skin and flowing dark hair was a sight even for her friend.

Dolly smiled like a proud parent of her naughty, but now well-behaved child, who pranced in front of them. It was the very first time the sisters could harness their powers in such a way and separate. In this form Darlene was her own person.

The metaphysical side of Darlene was without obstruction. Like a powerful poltergeist, she existed in their universe and was seen. Darlene defied gravity as a demonstration of her power. She flew around them. Dolly and Charmaine watched in stunned wonder, almost forgetting the idling car and the occupants inside.

Then Darlene dissolved into black smoke that swirled over the car in a spinning motion as Darlene peered inside.

Windows are too dark. I think it’s a woman, though. Said Darlene.

Dolly and Charmaine exchanged a look of puzzlement. Darlene materialized. She walked back from the car.

I don’t care who it is. She can’t hurt you, said Darlene.

The car idled before them. The three stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the unknown. When the door opened, Dolly said a silent prayer that Darlene was wrong. What if it weren’t a woman? What if it was Lucio coming to their rescue?

It wasn’t Lucio.

“Nzinga?” Charmaine said and stepped forward.

“I found you, my Guardian,” Nzinga answered.

Dolly looked her over. She wore black sweatpants and a black tank top, no bra. Bruises marred her arms, face, and neck, ghastly even in the shadowy night. Nzinga walked in a stiff manner as she dropped before the women a duffle bag.

“Don’t come any closer, Nzinga,” Charmaine warned.

“Who is she?” Dolly asked.

“I just… I came… to…” Nzinga stumbled and nearly fell. Charmaine caught her in time.

“How did you find me? How did you know?” Charmaine asked. She helped Nzinga sit on the edge of the car.

“The air tag. Remember? It’s in your pocket. I have one on Sonya too,” Nzinga replied. “I had to get this to you. I sensed you would need it.”

“What is wrong with her?” Dolly asked. Darlene was at the car now, looking inside.

Charmaine examined Nzinga. She wasn’t getting better. With a simple touch, Charmaine understood Nzinga had internal injuries—if untreated, they would be fatal.

“You can’t go on like this, Nzinga. I must heal you,” Charmaine said, after a nagging foreboding warning washed over her. If she didn’t heal Nzinga, she would die. But if she did, could they trust her? Her mission had already been compromised by the failed attempt to heal the consiglieri. Now mated with Tristan, she carried a piece of darkness with her that she could not escape. She couldn’t risk Dolly's or Darlene’s lives again . Oh, how she needed her sister, Kaida.

“It’s okay, Guardian. Please. You must save your strength. There is so much dark energy on the prowl tonight. I had to leave Circus Circus. Someone in our organization broke the seal of protection because of the death of our sisters at the hands of the Guardians. The place is teaming with supernatural’s, turning feral and on the hunt for you. They all know you are here, and here is not safe.”

“Stand still,” Charmaine ordered.

“But Guardian… you need to conserve your strength,” Nzinga protested.

“Do as I say,” Charmaine commanded.

Darlene emerged from the car. She stopped next to Charmaine and watched her healing practices with Nzinga very closely, with her arms folded.

There was no need for further explanation. Dolly witnessed Charmaine’s first miracle. The young woman, once slumped, now stood upright. The bruises around her eyes, mouth, and throat healed. Her skin looked cleansed, as if bathed in light. Charmaine healed Nzinga’s soul and her life.

Dolly gut burned with distrust. She couldn’t shake the feeling. Nzinga wasn’t worthy as she said. Dolly just didn’t know why.

Who is she? Dolly asked Darlene

She’s of the First People bloodline. I think she’s the reason Charmaine is now a Guardian, replied Darlene.

Oh? Really? Dolly answered. First People make Guardians?

No. They do not. You should not trust Charmaine and Nzinga. Did you forget how badly Charmaine fought Tristan? Good grief, she was horrible. And then she got mated. She sucks! Darlene said.

Stop. It was her first conflict. Do you remember yours? Dolly asked.

Sure do. I kicked Lucio’s ass! Darlene laughed.

Doesn’t matter. Whatever. She was great. Where were you? If you had helped me, we could have prevented Tristan from taking her, Dolly said.

I’m not helping her. I can’t stand Charmaine and her goodie-goodie Guardian inside of her. We didn’t summon Guardians. Why accept them if we didn’t send for them? And where is mine? Darlene replied.

Charmaine glanced back at Dolly and Darlene. “This is Nzinga. She’s a descendant of the First People. She belonged to a cult that worshiped the old teachings of the origins of the universe. The First People's descendants used magic to bring Liora and Kaida from the sacred realm without your consent. That’s how Sonya and I became Guardians. They sacrificed our souls and were punished for it. All her people are dead. Nzinga was spared to serve us.”

The First People are gone. This bitch is lying. She’s a daughter of a daughter, of a daughter, of a hundred daughters. Her blood isn’t pure. Vittorio killed them all off. We should leave, said Darlene.

I agree, said Dolly. Enough of this. Something is wrong. Do you feel it? I can’t hear Lucio anymore.

Forget him. What about Russell? Darlene asked.

Dolly looked at Darlene, and then at the other women. She had hoped that Lucio was protecting her brother, but he was not responding. No matter what, she could not turn her back on Russell. Darlene was right. They needed to go back.

“Charmaine, we’re leaving, now,” Dolly said.

“Wait! Please.” Nzinga said. “There’s something you should know.”