Page 39 of Craving Darkness

I jerked on the handle to open the door before the vehicle came to a complete stop and jumped out. I was ready to head to the door to kick it in when Crispin placed a hand on my arm.

“Why don’t I get you a weapon?”

I didn’t need a weapon, but I nodded anyway, not wanting to waste a single more minute arguing. When he placed a sword in my hand, I couldn’t stop the grin from spreading. It had been far too long since I’d held one. Swords used to be a part of life before the world changed. Swords and horses. Now, it was guns and motorcycles. I wasn’t sure which one I preferred.

Together, we strode up the front walk, past the overgrown weeds, and up to the wooden door. I raised a boot and kicked, causing the door to crash open in a spray of splintered wood.

“Knock, knock, motherfuckers,” I growled as I stalked forward into the open concept living area. Immediately, vampires swarmed, teeth bared and hissing. With just a few swings of our swords, Crispin and I were surrounded by headless bodies.

I kicked the head of a dark haired vampire who looked like he’d been about twenty-five and a meth addict when he’d been Turned. “Where to now?” I mused as I walked past the carnage and peered into what turned out to be a coat closet. I slammed the door shut. “If I were an asshole keeping human women, where would I store them?”

I looked back at Crispin, who shrugged. “Probably the basement.” I nodded in agreement.

“Let’s find it then.”

Crispin pointed at his men. “You go check upstairs, just in case. You go that way. Valen and I will check for the basement door in the kitchen area.” He turned to me. “Shall we go?”

“We shall,” I growled and moved in that direction. We both opened the doors as we went, finding nothing of importance. When I came across a door next to the kitchen pantry, I opened it to reveal steps leading down into a well-lit basement. We descended the steps with me in the lead. I stopped at the bottom, seeing a large open space with another door leading to another room. There was nothing inside except what appeared to be a metal coffin sitting in the middle of the floor.

I called out to Crispin. “I didn’t think you vamps actually slept in coffins.”

He stepped around me and grunted. “We don’t.”

“Isn’t it strange that one is here?”

“Maybe the asshole has a kink?”

A man suddenly appeared, stepping into the space from the door to the second room. He looked smug, grinning deviously, and I immediately grew suspicious.

Without saying a word, he lifted his hands, palms forward, facing them toward me. I raised an eyebrow. “What is this, a magic show? Are you going to whip a rabbit out of your ass hole next?”

Then, I felt a strange sensation that caused me to become lightheaded. I swayed on my feet, feeling as if I could pass out at any moment. He was doing something to me, though I had no idea what it was. Crispin snarled from beside me.

“You idiot. I’d ask if you know who the hell I am, but I honestly don’t give a fuck. You can’t suppress abilities from more than one person at a time, can you?”

His words caused the man to falter as he looked toward Crispin as if he hadn’t even noticed him standing there. His expression immediately turned to one of shock and then trepidation as he took a hasty step back while dropping his arms to his sides.

“S-sir. I’m sorry. I was just paid to do a job. I had no idea you would be here.”

Crispin snorted as my head started clearing rapidly. I looked back at the coffin, and the situation began to make more sense. “You were going to weaken me by stealing my ability.” I pointed at the coffin. “Was that supposed to be for me?”

The vampire swallowed loud enough to be heard across the room. “It wasn’t my plan. I swear I had nothing to do with it!” He looked back at Crispin before sinking to his knees. “Please, don’t kill me, Councilman, sir. I have a mate.”

“Does your mate know that you are a mercenary for hire? How many others have you helped destroy?” It was then that I felt it. Crispin had unleashed his Power against the vampire, effortlessly forcing him to submit.

The man couldn’t answer without implicating himself, which was all the answers needed. Crispin sighed as he stared at the vampire without pity.

“You’ve left me no choice but to send you to the Citadel for punishment.” The vampire began to cry then as footsteps descended the stairs. “Cuff him. He has some crimes to answer for.” Jared stepped around us and headed straight to the man while pulling a pair of iron cuffs from his pocket. The man continued to sob as he was dragged to his feet and up the stairs.

“What a pathetic piece of shit,” Crispin growled and turned to me, studying my appearance from head to toe. “Are you alright?”

All the residual effects from having my abilities removed had already dissipated, so I grunted. “I’m guessing that was someone the Master hired in order to capture me. I’m a little insulted. Even without my ability, I wouldn’t have been that easy to take.” I took another long look at the coffin, saw metal clamps along the base of the lid, and shuddered. I could protest all I wanted, but just the thought of what could have happened to me had ice flowing through my veins. Who knows how long I would have been trapped inside that metal box?

“I’m guessing the Master is behind that door.” I indicated the door with my chin. I eyed Crispin with a glare. “I want him,” I growled.

He just gave me a look of understanding. “I won’t stand in your way.” I gave a short nod and headed toward the door, the borrowed sword held tightly in my grasp. I had no plans of taking his head, though.

The sight wasn’t altogether unexpected, though it still turned my stomach to see the multiple women huddled together for safety. They looked malnourished, and all of them looked as if they had been abused, with bruises and blood staining their rumpled clothing.

---