Page 10 of Fangs & Freaks
Hold tight, little unicorn. I’m coming for you.
Chapter Four
Blackwell
The Obsidian Circle.
They’re always on our radar, yet we don’t interfere in their actions. We’ve only done it once before, this new case being our second. The last time sent me off the rails. While I love all the aspects of death, inflicting pain, and listening to my victims’ pleading cries, I do have a limit.
Children.
You never kill a child. No matter how much of a spoiled pain in the ass they are. And you especially don’t mess with one of our members’ kids. The Obsidian Circle made that error. They took our brother Malcolm’s son; the last one he had before transitioning into a vampire. The stupid fuckers mistook him for being an immortal vamp and thought they’d make millions off of his blood. They killed Malcolm’s boy, and it set us on a rampage, until finally a truce was called when the witch’s council stepped in. Our war brought us close to exposing our kind to the mortal world. We agreed to the truce, but only if Malcolm was able to have justice. A life for a life.
So while we ended the battle, we lurked in the shadows, watching, knowing we’d be facing them again one day. I just didn’t expect it would be today. Each shady deal they make in the underground market, we’re there making sure they don’t make a repeat mistake.
A unicorn is a prized find for them, one that will set them up for years to come. Yet, they’ve kept their acquisition of him quiet. Barely a word has been uttered.
Something is bothering me as we stand, hidden in the shadows of the surrounding buildings in the old warehouse district. The Obsidian Circle are cocky bastards and aren’t worried about anyone walking onto their property, due to their magic wards. An error on their part. If you’re going to use witches, make sure they’re trustworthy ones. We have each and every spell used to secure the building that our victim is held within.
“Warrick, you said it was his sister that came to you about his kidnapping?” I ask, my voice hushed.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Just curious. They’re siblings, and unicorns are rare. Why didn’t they take both?”
Warrick’s eyes go wide at my question, his lips pressed together tightly. He didn’t think about it when she came to him, and my chest puffs with pride that I caught a detail he missed. Fuckers think I’m deranged, yet I pay attention.
“Good question. I’m going to have to ask her that. My only guess is she isn’t pure. If that’s the case, we’re going to have to talk to her about her payment.” He pulls out his phone and shoots off a quick message. No doubt having the blood tested for purity. If it’s not, then it looks like our poor little captive will be paying his sister's debt and more. “It’s being checked.”
We made our plan earlier in the day. We’ve watched the Obsidian Circle and this building long enough that we knew itsweak spots—the basement’s old access tunnel that hadn’t been sealed up properly, the narrow alley at the back, the skylights on the rooftop, barely visible from the street. We knew every detail of how we’d get in undetected. There was just one unknown—the unicorn’s location. There were two possibilities from the intel we gathered that had the highest probability: a small office that had been converted into a makeshift prison on the top floor, or the utility room in the basement. Each was free of windows and had the best ability to contain a prisoner and keep them away from prying eyes.
As I gaze upon the structure, I think about the prisoners inside. Every minute wasted could mean another hour of torment for them. It eats at my nerves. Why do I care whether they suffer or not? They are no one to me but a chance to take a shot at my enemy, The Obsidian Circle.
I glance at my team—my trusted comrades, the ones who understand that failure isn’t an option. We exchange silent nods before splitting into our respective positions. Our mission is clear: get in, get the hostage, and get out.
“Okay, it’s time. Let’s get in place.”
The alley is empty. Silent. The perfect cover. Once we remove the protective wards, we move swiftly, almost ghostlike, avoiding the few guards on the main street. The Obsidian Circle is a bunch of self righteous assholes who thought no one would dare to go against them. It’s their one flaw, but a check in our favor. The limited security offers us a better chance to complete our goal. The teams split into two—one to cover the outside perimeter, the other to handle the building’s interior. I lead the way through the alley followed by Warrick to the service door, a rusted steel thing, heavy but quiet. My fingers work quickly over the keypad, entering a series of numbers that will override the code currently in place.
Once the door is open, we step inside the building, and I can’t help but scrunch my nose in distaste at the stench that reeks from inside. There is no one in sight and no noise other than the faint hum of electricity, and the occasional buzz of a light fixture flickering above us. We move through the service corridors, avoiding cameras by sticking to the shadows, always listening for the sound of footsteps.
We keep moving stealthily until we reach the stairwell. There, our small group breaks in two. Warrick, Cheshire, and a prospect head to the utility room while myself and Anton head upstairs.
As we near the top floor, I peek out the door down the dark hallway and I see the office, guarded by two men. They would only be there if there was something or someone to protect. Now I know I’m headed to where the unicorn is being held.
I know we can’t risk alerting them to our presence, so our movements have to be swift. Good thing I’m a vampire, even if Anton isn’t yet.
“I’ve got the one on the right. Once I have him, you take the other. When they're down, you keep guard and I’ll get inside and rescue the mark,” I whisper, and Anton nods in understanding.
I take off swiftly as soon as their heads are turned, keeping to the shadows as I hastily creep up behind my man. The soft padding of my boots barely makes a sound on the worn carpet as I move. Anton doesn’t stay hidden in the stairwell long, moving behind me, but at a slower pace.
When I'm within reach of the guard, I wrap my arm around his neck in a swift, practiced motion, tightening with a quick twist, breaking his neck. I drop his lifeless body to the floor in a crumpled mess as Anton engages with the other guard. I pause for a moment to help him, but see he has it under control.
Bending down, I remove the keys from the corpse's belt loop and open the door, stepping inside the cold, dank room. I scanthe disgusting room, my stomach churning at the putrid smell until my eyes land on the broken heap in the corner, curled up into himself under a holey threadbare blanket. He hasn’t even moved, staring in my direction. It’s as if he’s already dead, but I can hear the faint thudding of his heart.
I move across the room, dropping to the floor beside him, my nose crinkling in disdain as my knee lands in something mushy and wet. I don’t even want to fathom what it is. I want to move, to get away from whatever is soiling me, but this isn’t the time for comfort, only made evident by the pigsty this man has been forced to live in.
“Varys.” I take hold of his shoulder, gently shaking him. “I’m here to get you out of this hellhole.”
