Chapter 8
I gasp, and Collin is instantly next to me, looking over my shoulder at the small screen.
After a beat, he says, “Alvin, this could be staged. I can’t tell for sure at the resolution he used, but that wound doesn’t look entirely real to me.”
The muscles in my arms and legs are tight as bridge cables. I was ready to spring out of bed to do God knows what, but Collin’s words stop me.
“Are you saying it could be generated?” It’s hard to believe that a vampire would know how to use an AI app, but Rafa’s dad sure seems special.
Collin shakes his head. “No, I don’t think it’s image generation. I’m not seeing any of the telltale artifacts. That might not be his blood on the undershirt, but his other cuts and bruises look real enough. The vampires have him—I’m just saying we have a bit of time.”
“Enough time for his clan to get there, if we let them know that Rafa’s in trouble?”
“Possibly. But at this point, we’ve no idea how reliable they are, and he said you shouldn’t bring anyone.” His jaw clenches briefly and he furrows his brow. “We haven’t had a proper chance to get into this, but I should probably tell you… He’s the vampire who was torturing me for years.”
My eyes widen. “That was Rafa’s father?”
“I didn’t know that’s who he was, of course.
He’s a paranormal—I couldn’t get any questions answered about him.
” Collin clenches his hands, involuntarily.
“But I can say from experience he doesn’t make idle threats.
The dungeon room is well away from any access point, and if he even suspects you called in the cavalry, he might kill Rafa, just out of spite. ”
His own son. But look what he’s already done…
I purse my lips as I read over the message again. Then I notice something.
“He didn’t ask about the book. Just you.”
A shadow crosses Collin’s face as he nods.
“He needed my help translating it, and he was… relentless. It’s possible I already have.
Because of the book’s power over me, I only remember bits and pieces.
” His shoulders hunch protectively as his gaze turns inward.
“But what he wanted to know most recently was how to remove the magical protections keeping me in that room. That’s what I was ready to tell him when you found me. ”
“When we first met, you told me that the vampires needed you for the ritual they want to cast…”
“Based on the questions he asked, that much I’m sure of.”
I nod. So, this could go badly in lots of different ways. But still…
“I have to do something, Collin. Rafa’s only in this situation because of me.”
“I know. I know you have to.” He shifts his posture from vulnerable to resolute as his eyes find mine.
“But there’s a chance you won’t need anyone else to save him—because of what we just did.
Right now, you’re stronger and faster than any vampire.
And not just by a little—by an order of magnitude.
Since I’m not flesh and blood, it won’t last long, but you should have several minutes.
That should be more than enough time, especially with my help. ”
I immediately recall my mother’s words. If you fed, they’d be running from you.
When I used my power before, I could sprint at least as fast as a moped and bend steel.
I walked away from a high-speed car crash, burned through deadly poison, and even took on a freaking bear.
And that was just going partway with Collin.
Checking in, I feel even stronger now. Combine that with what the Avatar of Knowledge can do, it should make me pretty damn formidable.
Still, I have no combat training of my own. Collin himself has said he doesn’t have any field experience. I’d be fighting on their turf. And they’d be expecting me.
I bite my lower lip. “You really think I can do this?”
“Full incubus powers against a handful of vampires? Even with a limited amount of juice, those aren’t bad odds, Alvin.
Not by a long shot. And you’ll have the element of surprise—at least as far as them knowing what you can do right now.
All things being equal, I’d expect you to be able to take them all out before they even knew what hit them. ”
Meaning I should be able to save everyone. Even the kids.
But there’s something in his voice.
“All things being equal?”
Collin purses his lips. “Well, he might not know you’re an incubus, but he did see you become a giant fire monster.”
A cold realization washes over me. “And he’s still acting like he holds all the cards…”
“Exactly. And that’s after you already set him on fire once. He won’t be aware you can’t do it again, which means he must believe he has some way to counter it. Maybe he thinks you wouldn’t risk hurting Rafa, but I just don’t know.” He smiles wryly. “And I really don’t like not knowing things.”
For an Avatar of Knowledge, that makes sense.
And now that I think about it, this wouldn’t just be me putting my own life on the line.
Rafa’s dad tortured Collin for years, and I’d be dragging him right back into the lion’s den.
On top of that, he’s what the vampires need for their evil ritual.
I have no idea how I’d be able to do this without his help, but I might not have a choice.
I set my jaw, trying to screw up my courage. “We’ll just have to risk it, Collin. Or, at least—I’ll have to.”
Collin’s expression becomes fierce in a way I haven’t seen before. “No, Alvin. No. I won’t let you face this monster alone. And remember, he can only get his hands on me if you give me to him.”
“Which I would never do!” I blurt out, immediately feeling just as fierce.
Warmth blooms across his face. It chases away his scowl. He takes my hands. “That’s right. There are loads of good reasons to find this scary, but you’re not one of them. I know I can count on you. I believe in you, Alvin.”
God, I wish I could share that feeling, but it’s taking serious willpower not to be completely overwhelmed.
I try to think about what Sarah Stryker would do.
Maybe I should leave the watch behind—that’s probably the smart play, especially if I have no intention of handing it over.
But I don’t want to. This is hella scary, and I don’t want to be alone.
“All right,” I say, nodding. “We do this together.” I purse my lips, willing myself to be convinced. “If you think I’ve got the strength, maybe it’s time to bring the fight to them.”
Collin squeezes my fingers with silent encouragement. The bright spark has returned to his eyes. It looks like he really does believe in me. For better or worse.
I bring his knuckles up to my lips and give them a kiss (for luck, if nothing else!), before quickly forcing myself to swing my legs off the bed.
The more I think about this, the more chance I’m going to lose my nerve.
I cross the room to grab a fresh pair of underwear from my sloppily constructed particleboard dresser.
I feel it the moment Collin disappears. The watch is still in my pajama top, back on the bed, and I’m about ten feet from there. So I guess that’s the limit before he’s out of range.
I take the opportunity to give myself a once-over.
I am, in fact, totally naked, so that part was real.
(Or, at least, “happened in my world,” which now feels like a more fair description.) I also have some small crusty patches on my stomach, chest, and neck, so it looks like I actually spooged on myself, too.
I doubt a real hero like Sarah Stryker would bother to shower before facing bloodthirsty monsters, especially with the clock ticking, but paranormals have sensitive noses, and it would honestly be too distracting thinking they could know.
So, I charge into the bathroom for the quickest wash ever, and then throw on a T-shirt, sweatpants, and running sneakers.
I figure I’ll want as much mobility as possible, so I basically dress like I’m going to the gym.
(Not that I’m speaking from experience!)
On the way back to my bedroom to retrieve Collin, my eyes land on the elf’s feather that I left on the kitchen counter when I got home last night. White frost now covers the wispy pale-blue barbs.
I stop. Prince Eirian said it had to be used at a crossroads, but there are certainly more than a few intersections between my apartment and the Benevolent Society.
Even with the Avatar of Knowledge, Eirian is a full-on elf warrior, and it would be nice to have some solid backup.
And with his glamour, the vampires would never know he was with me.
But he’s still fae. Anything I ask for is likely to come at an insanely high cost, and Collin really thought I could do this on my own. Reluctantly, I leave it.
Instead, I grab my windbreaker and return to the pajama shirt on my bed so I can grab my phone and slip the watch into one of the jacket’s zippered pockets. Collin immediately appears in front of me.
“Let’s go,” I say. “I’m ready.”
And, as much as I can, I mean it.
We decide to go in through the front door.
They probably figured out how Rafa and I got in there the last time and his dad already expects me to come, so the chance of me sneaking up on him is pretty much zero.
That said, if he wants to use the watch, he won’t be able to kill me.
I have to hand it over voluntarily. And if any other vampire tries anything, they’ll be in for a very rude surprise.
Now that I’m moving, the muscles of my arms and legs are practically vibrating with badass potential.