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Raye pushed her motorcycle into the garage and placed the cloth over it once more. She walked up the stairs and into the living room. She listened for any sounds. Luna and Artemis must have gone to bed. She sighed in relief and began to walk to her room.
"I thought you were sleeping."
Raye cursed silently and turned around to face Luna and Artemis. She walked back down the stairs and sat down on the couch.
"Am I grounded?" she asked sarcastically.
Luna scoffed. "Now is not the time for jokes Rayenna Ares."
Raye looked at her sternly. They were not in mood for games.
"You never say my full name. If you must know, I just went to talk to some people who owe me a big favor."
Artemis sat down across from Raye; his face scowling darkly.
"I don't think you know the severity of this situation. Raye, you were almost killed by a powerful vampire," he explained.
Raye crossed her arms. "Why do people keep saying that? I'm fine. That bitch was just lucky. I'm going to hunt her down and kill her."
Luna shook her head. "You're thinking too rash. Force will not simply work with her or anyone associated with her. You need to understand some things."
"Like what?" Raye asked angrily.
Artemis began to speak, but Luna placed her hand on his shoulder. She turned around and placed the object on the glass coffee table. Raye surveyed it.
"What is that?"
A lump began to form in Luna's throat. "It was your mothers."
Raye's head snapped up and she stared at Luna and Artemis
"She wanted us to give it to you when you were ready. It was left beside her the night she and your father died," Luna explained.
Raye's hand trembled when she held the box in her lap. Her finger traced the intricate designs on the lid and sides of the box. She remained quiet a few minutes before she spoke again. Her voice began to tremble.
"How did they die?"
"Your parents were murdered by a vampire lord named Vladimir Scythe. Angel is one of his lieutenants and very powerful. You must understand that your parents, Giselle and Joshua Giovanni committed a taboo when you were born. It was a miracle. You are the only one of your kind. Your mother was a vampire and your father was mortal. It's impossible for vampires and humans to reproduce. Scythe killed them with the fear that someday someone like you would be born and defeat him, but it was too late. That night Artemis and I escaped with you and left Italy. We've hid over the years making sure you were protected, but if he and his lieutenants have resurfaced it means he has finally regained his strength. Stay away from any strange looking vampires, Rayenna."
Raye looked down at her hands slowly taking the information in a little at a time. She opened the box carefully and looked inside. She picked up a stack of letters wrapped in ribbon, photographs, dried flowers, and a worn gold band with diamonds and rubies.
"That was your mother's wedding band. I had no right to hide it from you. It's yours now. Giselle was a gypsy in her human life and Joshua had it fashioned as a reminder of where she came from. She wore that as a way to keep her humanity."
"Thank you," Raye whispered.
Artemis began to speak when the phone rang loudly. He got up quickly to answer it. Raye placed the ring on a gold chain and put it around her neck when Artemis came back into the room.
"That was strange."
Luna raised an eyebrow, "What are you talking about Artemis?"
Grim lines set into his face, "I went to answer the phone and no one answered when I picked up."
"Probably just some idiot kids; Raye, I wanted to talk about the night you went to Spark's Inferno. There's one thing I'm curious about?"
"What?"
"How did they know you were coming? Either you were watched or someone warned them."
Artemis scratched his growing goatee. "Who would know so much about supernatural activity?"
"Seamus O'Reilly," they said in unison.
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Mazur and Thai walked into a large hall in the mansion. Two vampires lounged around the fireplace. An impish female with silver pixie cut hair draped over an armchair, holding a tall goblet in one hand and swirled the contents lazily. The male lay on the couch opposite the woman. His long frosted blond hair surrounded him like a halo. A black eye patch covered his left eye, his other eye was closed but it was an exotic shade of green-gold. A scream echoed through the door next to the fireplace.
"Where's Angel, Desire?" Mazur asked.
The woman swung her legs over and stood up. She wore a sheer white top with a metallic tank top underneath, black leather hot pants, fishnet tights and black stiletto boots. She gulped down the contents of her drink.
"They just took the arrow out her back," she answered.
The man on the couch spoke up; his thick Russian accent rumbled throughout the room.
"She won't stop that screaming. What the fuck kind of arrow messed her up?"
Thai chuckled, grab a glass from the shelf, and poured some dark liquid into the glass from a pitcher.
"You know how Angel acts. She needs attention."
Desire rolled her eyes. "What else is new? Anyway, did you both find that hunter?"
"Nothing that's useful," Mazur explained.
"What fucking idiots," a voice spoke up.
The vampires stood at attention, ready with anticipation to fight. Michelle walked into the room smiling mischievously. "I overheard your problem. I can give you that bitch."
Desire scoffed, "What makes you think we can trust you? And why the fuck would I listen to a Lykos?"
Michelle advanced towards the petite vampire. "Watch it fairy, I'm more that."
Desire hissed and her fangs elongated, "Who you calling a fairy, you piece of shit-"
A laugh punctured the tension. All heads turned as Scythe entered the room. "Put your fangs away Desire. You are offending my guest. Michelle is a rather unique individual. You will follow her orders."
Desire retracted her fangs. Murmurs of protest erupted immediately. Scythe's eyes flashed.
"Do I hear objections?"
The room became quiet instantly. Thai tasted the words in her mouth before speaking.
"Forgive me Master, but is it wiser to trust this thing?"
Scythe hardened his stare at her, "Thai you are walking on a thin line. I'm one lieutenant down. Michelle will accompany you back to London. She will explain your instructions when you arrive. Desire and Yuri, you will join them. You're all dismissed."
The vampires walked out the room. Michelle waited for them to leave. She bowed to the vampire lord.
"Remember our agreement Scythe," she said.
"You hold up your end and I will retain my end," he replied.
She bowed once more and went to join the lieutenants. Scythe went over to the fireplace and pressed a hidden mechanism in the painting that hung above the mantle. The fireplace rose from the ground to reveal a stairway leading down. Candles lit the stone wall. He put his hands deep into his pockets and whistled as he went down. The temperature dropped lower as he descended deeper down the path. Soon a large wooden doorway came into view. He took a key out of his pocket and opened the lock on the door. Once he walked in, candles lit the room. He gave the room a glance over. The smell of mold and age invaded his nostrils. Dark stains splattered the dull stone walls. A table in the corner was littered with instruments and weapons, but his eyes zoned in on the center of the room. A woman's body was chained to the wall. Her wrist and ankles were held in chains. She put her head up at the sound of his steps advancing toward her.
"Mistress Trista, I see you're doing well."
Her dark emerald-black hair flowed down past her back. It stuck to the dried blood on her face. She stared daggers at him with her ruby-colored eyes. The black silk-chemise tunic she wore had tears where a whip had torn into her skin and her feet were covered in blood and dirt. He chuckled and ripped the front end of her tunic. His eyes grew lustful at her body.
"You will scream."
She spit down at his feet and muttered a Greek curse. He growled and sunk his fangs into her neck. She let out a scream.
8-8-8-8-8
The sports car roared to a stop in front of a storefront. She stared at the sign in the window. The O'Reilly's Pub sign blinked dully. Raye got out the car and walked inside. The stench of rotting wood and sour beer violated her nostrils as she scanned the small dingy pub. Assorted tables and chairs were thrown around the room. A worn bar top was against far left wall with tattered bar stools lined against it. She walked over to the bar and sat down. A short burly man covered in grease and grim walked over to her while cleaning a glass with a once white towel.
"Anything you need love?"
Raye cleared her throat. "I'm looking for Seamus."
The man set the glass down on the bar. "Never heard of 'em"
Raye brought her gun into view. "We can sit here and bullshit or you can tell me where he is, your choice."
"You never watch that temper 'o yours," a voice spoke behind her.
She grabbed the man by his collar and threw him on the bar.
"Nice to see you again Seamus," she said through clenched teeth.
"Are you crazy? Let me go!" he screamed.
"You set me up!" she yelled back.
"I don't know what ya talking 'bout," he replied.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Raye
"I swear o' me mum! I got wee lads to look after," he pleaded
Raye let him go and fixed her coat. She gave him a hard stare. The man fixed his shirt. Seamus couldn't have been more than 5'5". His mossy green eyes his behind cloudy glasses and his mangled red hair hid under a cap. He sat down and ordered a beer. She sat down next to him.
"You don't have kids."
Seamus gulped the dark beer noisily and burped before responding.
"I might someday."
Raye fought a laugh, "You're a bloody wanker."
Seamus laughed drunkenly, "There's my lass. Now what's this 'bout ya bein' set up?"
Raye proceed to explain the incident at Spark's Inferno. Once she finished, Seamus scratched his stumble.
"I heard 'o them vamps. Bad news. I've been keeping clean about those sups. I'm clean," he ranted.
Raye tapped her gun at him. "Quit you're lying. Your place is the Mecca for sup activity because it's neutral. Do I have to start shooting or are you gonna give me some useful info?"
Seamus pressed his lips together, "Shhh, you want to get me killed? Alright, I'll give ya a clue, but you aint heard this from me. That Neuri clan o' wolves ya know."
Raye nodded, "What about them?"
Seamus shuddered, "One of them aint what she suppose to be."
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Amara's body hit the side of the wall; the chandelier trembled above. She felt blood trickle down from her scalp. At least five of her ribs were broken, her ankle sprained, and she had a dislocated shoulder. She spit a tooth, blood, and saliva on the floor.
"Amara, can you get up?" a pack member yelled.
Amara clenched her teeth got up. Her ankle trembled under her weight and she collapsed.
"Willow, find survivors and get the hell out of here!"
Willow nodded and ran towards the windows. Glass shattered from the windows. She watched as two more vampires jumped through. She looked in horror as a male vampire grabbed Willow by her neck and bite a chunk out of it. Growls erupted from her throat. She felt her body tense as she began to transform, but a needle was shoved into her neck. She let out a howl as her body went into paralysis and she crumbled to the ground.
"When will you ever learn baby?"
Amara's eyes grew wide. Michelle stood over her with her arms crossed. Mazur walked up behind her and smiled.
"Is this the one you've been talking about?"
Michelle gave a dark chuckle, "Amara, love, but sorry I think we are going separate ways. It's not personal, it's just business. What I injected into you is wolfsbane; interesting little plant. It will abruptly stop your transformation and put you in temporary paralysis. Don't worry; you'll be able to hear and see everything, including the extinction of your clan."
Amara moved her eyes around, screaming inside her head. Michelle looked down and laughed.
"You're in for a real treat."
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