Vengeance of the Demons Read online

  She breathed hard and fast. After a minute, she nodded. “Okay.”

  Every muscle in his body screamed at him of his stupidity. He’d waited for this girl, and now that he had her, he was pushing her away.

  * * * *

  Evan wasn’t sure what had come over her. Seeing William so beat up had caused a surge of protective energy inside her that she hadn’t felt since holding her baby. In that moment, a piece of her armor had chipped away, and she’d given in to the budding feelings he caused in her.

  “Let’s get you cleaned up,” she said.

  He nodded.

  She wiped his face clean and then brushed his hair. He still couldn’t get his arms over his head, so she slid his shirt off and helped him with the hoodie. As her fingers traced over the faint bruised muscles, she tried to keep her mind on the task at hand, but it wasn’t easy. It’d been a long time since she’d been with a man. And though that had never bothered her before, she suddenly craved the release of feeling a man inside her. Strangely, not just anyone, but William.

  “Will you sit with me a while?” he asked.

  “I need to talk to you anyway,” she said. “They believe you finally. About the demons.” She sat on the floor, and he sat opposite her. “Problem is your story conflicts.”

  “How so?”

  “You have Mason’s blood. Now they think you’re in league with the demons.”

  He snorted and shook his head. “So what do you want me to say?”

  “Tell them the truth,” she said. “Tell them about Mason and Danika and what’s happened with the three kings and everything. They’re coming to question you tomorrow.”

  “I’d be happy to, but do you think it will make a difference?”

  “It might.”

  He searched her face.

  “I don’t know,” she said. “I really don’t. But seeing what you look like right now, not telling them is going to be worse for you.”

  “Tell me something about you.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “I just want to know about you. Anything you want to tell me.”

  She swallowed hard, and her dream floated back to her along with the feel of holding, feeding, and playing with Petie.

  “I have a daughter.” She’d never told anyone.

  His brow furrowed. “A daughter? Is she here?”

  “No.” Her voice came out barely a whisper. “She was taken from me.”

  His hand gripped hers and she looked down at it. Dirty yet pale, he rubbed his thumb over the pad between her thumb and forefinger.

  “Was it the awakening?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “Nothing like that.” She took a deep breath. “I was bought from the slave auctions by a Vampire named Travis. At first I was a blood slave for him and his wife. I was terrified, but they were nice enough. I was taken care of and treated like a member of the family.”

  The memory of Travis’ aftershave filled her senses, and she had to gulp in air trying to clear her thoughts.

  “After about six months Travis and I started spending more time together. His wife was almost non-existent. He confided in me that they’d been trying to have children for years and had been unable. It had caused a rift in their relationship. The more time we spent together, the more I fell for him. Soon we ended up in bed. When I got pregnant, he was elated. He told me that he was going to leave his wife and we would be together.”

  A tear slid down her cheek as the pain of loss tidal waved upon her threatening to consume her.

  “His wife left about a month before the baby was due. I birthed at his home, and we spent several days together after. It was beautiful. Then one day I woke up, and I remember feeling the warmth of the sun on my face and for a split second feeling utter peace. Then I looked over at the bassinette. Chéri wasn’t in it. I raced from the room and found only the butler. He said that Travis and his wife had taken an extended vacation with their daughter and that they wouldn’t be returning for some time. I fled that very day.”

  “Evan—”

  “I tried to search for them, but I’m human so it was mere days before I was picked up again. That’s how I made it to Chicago and into the blood club.”

  He opened his mouth to speak again but instead she leaned in and kissed him. She didn’t want him to talk. Didn’t want to hear him say he was sorry. Didn’t want him to show her pity. She didn’t need it. If he said one kind thing to her, she might break into a million pieces.

  His fingers tangled into her hair, and their kiss deepened. Her thighs tingled, and she wanted to feel his weight on hers.

  She broke away and stared at him. “We need to find a room soon.”

  “I’d love to, thank you.”

  She laughed.

  “You should probably go,” he said.

  “Yeah, I probably should.” She reached over and gathered up the things she’d brought in. “Oh. I forgot. It’s not blood but I thought maybe you could use a little something to eat anyway.” She handed him a piece of ham on a roll. “It’s not much but I’ll be able to bring you more tomorrow. I had to snag this without anyone seeing.”

  “It’s great. Thank you.” He gave her a genuine smile.

  “I’ll come back in the morning. Is there anything I can get you?”

  “Just stay safe.”

  “Are you going to tell me who did this to you?” She touched his eye.

  “No. But they were asking if I knew you. You need to be careful.”

  “I’ll make sure I’m here when you’re questioned again. Depending on how it goes, we may need to figure out another way to get help with the demons.”

  He pushed her hair behind her ear. “What do you mean we’ll need to find another way?”

  “I have a feeling that we aren’t going to get the help we want here.”

  “If we don’t get help here, where do we go then? This is the biggest enclave we’ve ever heard of,” said William.

  “They certainly have more weapons than I’ve ever seen. And that doctor is doing more work on vaccines than I knew were possible. He’s trying to find a virus right now from Mason’s blood. One to kill demons.”

  William’s eyes widened. “Well that’s frightening and ambitious.”

  “If it works though, it could give you the edge you need.”

  “I doubt he’d give it to us.”

  She gave him a tight smile. “Then we’ll have to take it.”

  Chapter 13

  Evan hurried to see William the next morning after breakfast. She’d held back an egg, piece of toast, and some juice to give him. She’d had a mostly sleepless night trying to figure out what the hell to do next. Her best chance of getting Lou to listen was to get Tommy on her side and Peter out of the way. With Peter leaving to pick up vamps, she’d decided that was when she’d make her move.

  She headed down the hallway to the prison area and stepped up to where Seth stood watch. He moved in front of the door, barring her entrance.

  “Get out of the way,” she said.

  “Sorry. Not this morning.” His voice held no remorse. Nothing but the anger of a man beaten.

  The thought of apologizing to him for laying him out and taking his keys crossed her mind, but she’d actually rather do it again than apologize.

  “Lou said I was to be given access to this area.”

  “And I was given orders that this area is on lockdown for everyone but Lou and Peter until further notice.” The smirk on his face told her everything she needed to know. Lou had found out about her late night visit.

  “Listen, ass—”

  “Evan!”

  She turned to find Tommy jogging down the hallway toward her. “What the hell is going on?” she asked. “This bozo won’t let me in.”

  Tommy’s gaze flicked to Seth and then back to her. “Come on. Let’s take a walk.”

  A pit grew in her stomach and goosebumps pebbled her skin. “I don’t want to walk. I want to be let in.”

  T
ommy leaned in close and his gaze traveled to the ceiling. “Not here.”

  She glanced up and noticed the newly installed security camera, then nodded.

  Tommy smiled and waved to Seth, and then the two headed back down the hall toward the row of storage rooms. They turned a corner, and he pulled her into a side room and shut the door.

  “What’s going on?” she demanded.

  “Seth told Pop about what happened with you and the vampyr last night.”

  “So? I was nice to him because he saved my life, big deal.” She shrugged.

  Tommy leveled his gaze at her. “You and I both know that’s not all there is to that story.”

  She swallowed hard. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “I’m not stupid, Evan. I may be a nice guy, but I’m not dumb. Yesterday you said at dinner that you ended up in Chicago. That vampyr said he was from Chicago.”

  Damn! Evan blew out a harsh breath and dropped her gaze to her toes. “Okay. I know him. I was in the coven house where he lives. His name is William. I’ve known him for about a year.”

  “Do you love him?”

  “What? No…” she sputtered. “No. I don’t love him, but he is a good person. And he’s telling the truth about everything.”

  “What about the demons? Is he in league with them?”

  “No. Not really. There’s a demon in Chicago. He’s married to the coven lord Danika, but Mason and his sister are the only things that have kept the rest of the demons at bay.”

  “So you’re friends with demons too?” His voice held tinges of doubt and fear.

  “I’m not exactly friends with any of them. I know who they are and they know me. William and Mason are friends. Mason lived in an enclave with William and others until he got caught and sold to Danika. He gave William a vial of his blood for protection.”

  “What kind of protection?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know. To drink probably if there was a problem. Mason’s huge. I mean seriously huge. I can only imagine what his blood would do to a Vampire if they drank it.”

  Tommy backed against the wall and hung his head in his hands. She let him have a moment to process before he looked up at her again.

  “What am I supposed to do here, sis? You’re different. Pop’s different. Peter’s different. And each of you want me to do something that goes against the other. I feel like an over-stretched toy.”

  Evan set down her bundle of food and walked to Tommy. “I don’t want you to do anything but follow your heart.”

  “Is that what you’re doing?”

  “I’m trying to do what’s right.”

  “Right for who? For us or for them?”

  “See, that’s the problem right there,” she said. “There can’t be an ‘us’ and ‘them’ anymore. Not with what’s coming. There can only be a ‘we’, meaning all of us together, if we want to survive.”

  She sucked in a breath, surprised by the fact that she was spouting William’s own words.

  The silence hung between them thick as clam chowder.

  “Pop won’t change his mind,” he finally said.

  “Then I’ll have to make him change it.”

  Tommy sighed.

  “What’s going on in the prison area? Why am I not being let in?” she asked.

  “Peter’s in there.”

  Fear scratched up her spine. “With William?”

  Tommy nodded.

  The wheels spun in her head. “It was Peter. Peter’s been beating William, hasn’t he?”

  Tommy stayed silent.

  “Hasn’t he?” she yelled. “Have you been in on it too?”

  He licked his lips and looked away.

  She had to get in there. Tommy stepped in the way.

  “You can’t. Not this time. Pop was livid after he found out what you did last night. If you burst in there now, Peter will kill William for sure.”

  “What’s his problem with William?”

  “Peter’s been different ever since you left. It’s like it’s been his own private mission to kill all Vampires or at least make them suffer. Every one we had in here for the last two years he’d ask them if they knew where you were. When we go out on raids, he goes out of his way to kill anyone he comes across. He blames them for everything.”

  “And yet Nicholas is in the attic doing his mad scientist experiments.”

  “Trust me, that’s not been a pill easy for Peter to swallow. But when it comes to Nicholas, no one interferes or they have to deal with Pop.”

  “Who is that guy anyway?”

  “No idea. Norman found him about eight years ago and was going to kill him, but Nicholas begged for his life and told Norman he could cure the vamps. He was kept down here for years trying to work on the cure without any of us knowing. It wasn’t till Pop took over that he was given the big lab up top and all the resources he needs.”

  “Is Pop doing this for your mom?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe. I don’t even think he knows why he’s doing it anymore.”

  “Peter could be in there right now killing him.”

  Tommy licked his lips. “He won’t kill William. He’s not allowed.”

  “But this is?” she demanded.

  “I didn’t say it was right.”

  “I have to get William out of here. He came here to ask for help. He doesn’t deserve this.”

  Tommy stared at her for a minute.

  “What?”

  He chuckled and shook his head. “You say you don’t love him, but the only people I’ve ever seen you fight this hard for are Pop and me.”

  She didn’t want to admit she had any feelings for William, but she knew the truth. She did care for him. More than she wanted to.

  * * * *

  William spit blood onto the floor. Every cell in his body wanted to fight back. The thirst that now pounded in his chest and burned his throat like icy flames had him on the verge of ripping Peter’s throat out. Never before had he been so tested. Rage flowed freely through him clouding his thoughts and teasing him into madness.

  Peter kicked him again in the ribs, and William crumpled to the ground.

  “You aren’t even chained, you worthless bloodsucker. Fight back already,” Peter taunted.

  If Peter hadn’t been Evan’s cousin, he would have fought back. He would have drained the man, gotten back his strength, grabbed Evan, and run.

  Peter hadn’t even asked any questions today. He’d just come in and started whaling without provocation. William could only assume it was because of what had happened the night before with Evan and the guards. But who knew. Men like Lou and Peter tended to think more with their fists than their heads.

  Peter pulled something from his pocket and tossed it at William. The metal object clattered to a stop under William’s nose.

  “Which of the numbers on that phone will get you through to your demon buddies?” asked Peter. “I’m assuming it’s the one that has called every two hours for the last three days.”

  “That would probably be Lord Danika actually,” William said.

  “And what are you to her? Minion? Lover?”

  “Family.”

  Peter chuckled and crouched beside William. “To have a family you have to be human.”

  “You think so?” William looked up at Peter. “So the people in this enclave, are they your family?”

  “You better believe it. I’d die protecting all of them.”

  “But you aren’t even related to most of them.”

  “Blood doesn’t make a family,” Peter replied.

  “Exactly,” said William. “I bleed, you can see that. Only my blood is different than yours now. Doesn’t make me any less of a being. I love, I laugh, I cry. I do everything you do. So do my family. So why is it that my family is insignificant, and yours is not? Can you tell me the names of every person in this enclave? These people who are your family, can you tell me the names of a hundred of them? I know the names of every single person in my cove
n family. Every human, every vampyr, every Vampire. I know them by name. I know them by scent. I know them by sight. So tell me. How is it that I can’t have a family?”

  Peter stared at William for a long minute before snatching the phone away, and walking to the door. He sniffed and banged on the door. It opened and Peter looked back.

  “I want you to think about all those family members. Because our first attack will be on them.”

  Peter walked out with a slam and William crumpled into a heap. He didn’t know how much longer he’d be able to take the abuse without lashing out. He’d been wrong to come. Humans were just as cruel as before. Danika had been right. The Vampires had been right. Nothing had changed. Humans really weren’t anything more than animals.

  * * * *

  Evan walked through the lobby of the hotel in an effort to keep her mind off her problem at hand. It’d been over an hour since she’d talked to Tommy, and he’d promised to let her know when she could go in and see William.

  She traveled past the security desk to the hallway opposite the restaurant. The first ballroom held rows of tables with children sitting and writing. A woman stood at the front of the room speaking. Evan continued to the nursery and found a group of small children and babies, playing with toys and running around. She spotted Petie being held by a worker. The worker waved her in but Evan shook her head. Playing with Petie had been a beautiful but painful experience the day before. If she got any closer to her nephew, she doubted that all the beatings in the world could make her take William and leave. It broke her heart to have to choose someone over family, but what had her family become?

  She turned reluctantly from the nursery and stopped at the next room. Inside, small bookshelves full of books lined the walls. A library.

  Evan stepped inside. The smell of old paper and mildew made her wrinkle her nose.

  “Hello.” An older woman wearing oversized glasses and a gray cardigan smiled at her.

  “Hi,” Evan replied.

  “Can I help you find something?”

  “Nope. Just browsing.”

  “Okay. Well, if you want to check anything out, you have to see me, and I’ll write it down for you.”

  “I’ll do that.” Evan headed to the first stack of books and ran her fingers over them. It had been almost a decade since she’d seen that many books.