Chapter 17 #2
Shaking his head, Quentin straightened his spine and took a careful step away from the vampire who was becoming his world. “Sorry.” He shook his head. “I’m ready to continue.”
The rude vampire, Quentin, didn’t recognize snorted, then wandered off to join the others.
“I don’t think he likes me,” he whispered to Jaks.
“He doesn’t like many, but he’s faithful.”
He didn’t mention that that was what Jaks had said about Braed. Instead, he nodded while making a mental note to investigate the entire clan and make sure there weren’t any more dissenters. The vampire didn’t have to be pleasant if he supported Jaks’s rule.
After shaking his hands to clear out the staticky tips, he continued his walk.
“Q!” Glenn’s voice echoed through the trees—an eerie sound in the mist.
Where did the mist come from? This was taking the haunted forest theme to the next level. He hoped none of the patients from the nearby hospital decided to go on a nature walk.
He didn’t answer the call. That may or may not be his friend’s voice, but it wasn’t as if the vampire who nested here was unaware that Quentin was coming. He wouldn’t leave a friend behind.
They kept walking. If Glenn wanted him, he knew where he was.
Ten minutes later, darkness swarmed around them like a living cloak, blocking out the stars.
Quentin swallowed the little moisture that remained in his mouth.
Shivers were having a knockout battle with his spine, and it took all his resolve and dedication to saving his mother to keep him on the path.
He sent orbs of light to float through the forest, not staying near any particular person, but illuminating the area.
The darkness was no competition for Quentin’s magic.
At least something was working out. It must be the contact with the enchanted forest that jump-started Quentin’s own magical core.
It usually would’ve taken longer to recharge.
The orbs continued forward until they circled an unexpected sight.
Although the twins had mentioned a house, Quentin had foolishly imagined Nikko was desperate and hunkering down until his plans came to fruition. This blew away that preconception.
A manor crowded the trees around it. Whether it was painted black or merely absorbed the darkness around them could be debated after they made it back to the safety of Jaks’s mansion.
Right at this moment, Quentin knew two things.
The building before them had been there for a very long time, and they had underestimated their opponent.
This wasn’t a weak but wily vampire who had accidentally turned Glenn.
This was a creature of age and power operating under its own agenda.
“Hello!” Jaks shouted.
Quentin poked him in the shoulder. “What are you doing?”
Jaks shrugged. “We have to open communication somehow, and I don’t want to enter that house of death if I don’t have to.”
He had a good point, even if Quentin would never tell him. Jaks was cocky enough.
The front door creaked open.
Nothing came out.
“Oh, hell no!”
Quentin didn’t know which vampire said those words, but he couldn’t agree more.
“Come on out!” Jaks shouted. “We just want to talk.”
Nothing.
“Are you afraid!”
Nothing.
“I don’t think he’s coming out,” Quentin whispered.
“We aren’t going inside. It’s obviously a trap.”
He couldn’t find it in himself to disagree. It was obviously a trap. He was willing to wait there forever until he heard his mother scream.
A high-pitched, heart-wrenching sound poured from the house.
Jaks’s grip on his shoulder tightened. “Don’t do it.”
“He’s torturing her.”
“He will be torturing you next.”
Quentin couldn’t argue with his logic, but he also wasn’t going to abandon his mother.
Another scream.
Quentin clenched his teeth so hard he was sure he’d need to visit the dentist soon.
“Quentin, stay outside!” Trina Heart’s voice pierced the air like a warning siren.
“I’ll go first,” Glenn offered. “He’s less likely to kill one of his own.”
“Is that true?” he asked Jaks.
Jaks nodded. “Probably.”
Glenn’s jaw tightened, and he stood straighter. “I’m going.”
“Good luck.” What else could he say?
“Report back soon,” Jaks ordered.
He received a nod before Glenn raced to the building. His speed rendered him invisible to human sight. He paused at the door, nudged it farther open while standing to one side. That was what saved him. A large claw swiped the empty spot where he’d stood.
“What the fuck is that?” Quentin’s jaw dropped open. There was no animal with a paw that large.
Glenn rushed back to them.
“Did you see what it was?’ Jaks asked, his voice calm as if discussing the local fauna.
“Demon. What do you want me to do?” He twitched impatiently as he waited for his leader to give him an order.
“Grevin. Do you think that’s the one that escaped from your circle?”
“Probably.” Grevin looked almost as gray as the mist. “I can’t imagine there are that many living outside their realm. We would’ve noticed the weather patterns.”
“True.” A multitude of demons always brought the coldness of their realm and the scent of brimstone. If there were more than one or two in the area, outside forces would’ve contacted them. “What should we do?”
“Do you have any balls left?”
“Only the ones between my legs,” he quipped.
Grevin’s lips quirked. “I think only Jaks finds those magical. Anything else?”
Quentin felt around in his bag. “I also have one fire orb, but I’m not going to set my mother on fire.”
Before they could come up with a plan, a petite woman emerged.
“Dean Mearson?” The words were out before he remembered Hafrey’s claim. This was the woman who was probably controlling the demon.
Jaks’s hand clamped down on his shoulder, holding him in place. “Steady.”
“Quentin, dear, so nice to see you.”
“Is it? What are you doing here?” How much would she admit to?
“I have some business with Nikko.” As she came closer, Quentin saw that her eyes were glowing white.
“And who do you have inside you?” Grevin asked, stepping forward to block her access to Quentin.
“Just a friend,” her voice took on a deeper cadence. “I’d be willing to trade her for you, fae born.”
“No, thank you.” Quentin remained behind Grevin.
“What is your name?” Grevin asked.
The possessed dean threw back her head and laughed, a deep, eerie sound that never should’ve come out of the petite woman. “You think I will fall for that, necromancer. I am not young brimstone dust willing to fall for your ploys. Your people thought to enslave me; I am willing to do the same.”
Terror had a new name. If only Quentin knew what it was, so they could banish it.
His mother’s voice screamed from the house. “Adremelech!”
Grevin’s spine relaxed. If he could see his face, Quentin was sure his friend had a maniacal grin on his face.
Grevin reached into his pocket and tossed a stone at the demon, who instinctively caught it. “I banish you, Adremelech, back to whence you came.”
The flash of white light blinded Quentin. When he finally got his vision, Dean Mearson was unconscious on the floor. ”What should we do with her?”
“Send her to the bounty hunter cages. I’ll call them to follow up with the cops,” Jaks said.
“I don’t have any more orbs.”
“Check your pocket.”
Quentin pulled out the fire orb and another transportation orb from his pocket. “How did you know?”
Jaks smiled. “I’ve noticed you’ve taken to shoving a spare one in your pocket for emergencies.”
“Huh.” He thought over the past few weeks and nodded. “I guess you’re right.”
“I notice everything about you,” Jaks said smugly.
Quentin threw the orb at the dean and watched as she vanished beneath his direction. “Damn, I bet that makes Rendell in charge of the department now. He’s going to be even more insufferable.”
“Better a brown-nosing asshat than a demon-possessed soul,” Jaks commented.
“That’s because you’ve never met Rendell,” Quentin countered.
“Quentin!”
He’d barely registered the sound of his name before a body slammed into him.
“I need to breathe,” he gasped.
“You’re safe, you’re safe,” his mother chanted.
Quentin gently pushed her back enough that he could see her face. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but her wide smile reassured him she wasn’t injured. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
She swiped at the tears on her cheeks with her palms. “She kept saying that her creatures would rip you apart and that your vampire wouldn’t be able to save you.”
“Shows what an idiot she was,” Jaks said. “Quentin can save himself.”
“I know.” She offered a watery smile. “But it’s a mother’s job to worry.”
“Where’s Nikko?” With the confrontation with the demon, he had forgotten about the vampire.
“Right here,” Glenn had a firm grip on Nikko’s arm.
The vampire didn’t look like he was working too hard to get away.
Jaks glared at the other vampire. “Nikko, I am bringing you to the vampire council to answer for your crimes.”
“What crimes?” Nikko affected a surprised expression.
“Braed was the one who kidnapped Ms. Heart. The demon was the one who took over the dean and forced me to pressure Quentin to sell his house so it could control the ley lines. I was a victim and prisoner in my own home.” He waved a hand toward the probably haunted mansion.
“Are you victim-blaming? I’d be happy to tell the council all about it. ”
“What about Brenton?”
“He’s in my kitchen finishing a sandwich,” Nikko said smugly.
He was going to get out of it. Quentin could tell by the sly smile on Nikko’s face.
Pulling out his fire orb, he levitated it over the palm of his hand and ignited it.
Nikko froze.
“You might get away with it this time, but if you ever threaten my mother or any of my vampires again, I will show you what my invention can do. Do we understand each other?”
Nikko’s smirk vanished, and his face was convincingly sincere. “I promise not to get in your way, Quentin Heart.”
“Good.”