Page 75 of Night of the Vampire
"I think I can help her."
All eyes turned to him.
"Alex," the little one whispered. She shook her head.
"I can help her," he told her. "This magic, I know it."
"What are you saying, Alex?" Judy asked him.
He looked down at Kenya, meeting her eyes. To my knowledge, they'd never really met before other than to see each other in the rare times when vampires and witches met to discuss the terms or something or another. And yet something passed between them in that moment. Something true.
Something I didn't like.
I frowned. But now was not the time or the place for confrontations.
"I know this magic," Alex told her, his eyes never leaving Kenya. "I recognize it. I think I can help her." He turned to me. "I need a sacrifice. An animal. Mammal, preferable. Can you handle that for me?"
I smiled. "I'll be right back."
Fifteen minutes later, I was helping the male witch, Alex, pull out the guts of a rabbit. The rest of the witches watched with mixed emotions on their faces as he dumped the carcass over Kenya's stomach, then pressed his hands into the smelly mess.
"Alex, what in the hell are you doing?" Judy asked him.
"Healing her," he responded. He glanced at her over his shoulder. "I'll explain later, but please trust me. I can heal her."
Judy shook her head. "I don't like this. You're messing with things that should be left alone."
"It's the only way," he said. "Would you rather see her die?"
Kenya reached for me and I took her hand. "Please, Judy." I met her stare with my own. "Please. I'm begging you."
Lizzy spoke up. "Aunt Jude, you promised."
The high priestess looked at us, then the others, before she sighed. "I don't like this."
Sensing his win, Alex told her, "I'll need your help."
Once again, the witches formed a circle around the bed. This time, Judy laid a hand on Alex's back as he bent over Kenya, his fingers buried in the dead rabbit.
They linked hands, and Kenya closed her eyes.
I don't know what happened in that room that night, but whatever it was, it was evil.
Once the witches were linked together again, including my Lizzy, Alex began to chant strange words, ancient words. The others stayed quiet. Heads down, holding hands, their power channeled one to the other until I felt it tingle my palm where I held Kenya's hand.
The magic Alex brought forth was not something I ever wanted to experience this up close and personal again.
As he chanted, his body began to vibrate from the force of what he was calling forth. His hands on Kenya's stomach, he channeled it into her until she shook on the bed like something possessed, her back arching into his hands until I feared her spine would break. His eyes still closed, he pressed against whatever force was inside of her.
Bolts of light streaked with blood from the rabbit shot up through his fingers, so bright I could barely watch. They coiled around each other, beautiful and ugly at the same time. I bared my fangs, hissing at the menace I felt within this spell.
Alex's voice rose, grew more insistent, more powerful, until suddenly, he lifted one hand and grabbed hold of the writhing lights. Twisting around, he threw it at the window. It smashed through the glass as though it were made of solid steel.
The room went dark, and the witches collapsed as one around the bed.
Releasing Kenya's hand, I pulled Lizzy up and into my arms, frantically pushing her hair back so I could see her face. "Lizzy? Lizzy, talk to me."
Her eyes fluttered open. "What the hell was that?"
