Page 9 of Undying
After decades of mistreatment and being locked in a cage, his wolf slowly turned feral.
The vampire was one Charles Dafoe.
Though it was centuries ago, their hatred of Dafoe still lives strong. Whatever they suffered under his rule bound them together tighter than any blood.
I’m tempted to kill Dafoe myself if we come across him.
As I survey the mansion, I can detect no movement. I glance at the men over my shoulder, giving them one last warning glare. “No bloodshed.”
Tobias doesn’t say a word, just shoves open his door and launches himself out of the vehicle. Castle isn’t much better, grunting and escaping as well. Both of them are so used to my lectures, they barely pay me any mind.
“I’ll keep watch over them,” Milo promises, groping for the door handle before he manages to wrestle it open, and it’s all I can do to not order him to remain in the vehicle.
I follow the others slowly, circling around to the back of the SUV.
Tobias glares at the mansion, his fists clenched at his sides like he’s waiting for a signal to demolish the place, brick by brick. Ignoring him, I pop open the hatch and hand him a shotgun loaded with silver coated buckshot and silver dust. The wolf is more of a blunt instrument and accepts the shotgun without protest. Castle doesn’t wait for me, just reaches inside the vehicle like an addict claiming his drug and picks up his double-headed axe, the silver edge gleaming in the fading sunlight.
While silver is a weakness for shifters, it’s also one of the few weapons that can harm vampires as well. I don’t say anything as I strip out of my jacket and reach for my machete, slipping it into the holster along my spine, then strap a dozen throwing knives along my person. While I prefer to tear my opponents apart with my bare hands, I never go into a situation unprepared.
I grab two of the guns, check that they’re fully loaded, before handing them off to Milo. When he reaches for them, I tighten my grip. “Stay behind us.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He rolls his eyes at my warning, then grabs the weapons and tucks them into the holsters under his arms. While we might treat him as a kid, the man is a lethal shot. Although silver bullets won’t kill a vampire, if you shoot them enough, it can slow them down enough to make them vulnerable.
Slamming the hatch closed, I stride toward the mansion, conscious of the others falling into step behind me. “Let’s get this over with.”
I glance around the property as we approach, my steps slowing at the absolute stillness in the air. Even the insects are gone, afraid of whatever happened here.
“The internal security system has been offline for weeks,” Milo mutters as he flips through the screens on his tablets. “No movement has been seen outside for just as long. We’re going in blind.”
Castle tips his head back, sniffing the air, then reaches for the axe hanging over his shoulder. “Blood.”
While the smell of blood at a vampire’s house isn’t uncommon, the eerie silence puts me on alert. I signal to the wolves to spread out, the two of them practically vibrating as we press forward.
I figured being sent here was a wild-goose chase, a trick to lure us out of headquarters, but now I’m not so sure. While the exterior looks pristine—not even the gardens appear disturbed—something is off. “Whatever happened here, the house is still locked down tight. No signs of forced entry.”
“I’ll breach.” Tobias doesn’t wait for confirmation, his blue eyes glowing as his beast takes over. He grabs the shotgun hanging from a strap over his shoulder, racks it back, then pulls the trigger twice, blowing the hinges off the door.
Gritting my teeth at the impatient asshole, I storm forward as the door thumps to the ground. Slivers of metal and wood pepper the room from the destruction, and I close my eyes as I pray for patience.
Rot and decay pollute the air, the force slamming into me with a strength that makes my eyes water. Milo gags, pulling his guns from his holsters. A rumble comes from Tobias, his beast obviously on edge, but Castle just narrows his eyes and strokes the handle of his axe like a psychopath.
We go back-to-back, surveying the house—only to see the place is absolutely destroyed. The stair railings are splintered. Blood liberally decorates the walls until it looks like a macabre version of a Jackson Pollock painting. Streaks coat the floor, a large pool staining the light marble black like a tar pit.
The absolute silence is loaded with tension, almost like the world is holding its breath.
What’s really unnerving is the complete lack of bodies.
“Where is everyone?” Milo whispers, as if afraid speaking louder might disturb the dead.
“What the fuck?” Tobias’ cockiness is gone, the scene clearly freaking him out. He sniffs the stale air, then grimaces, his teeth and claws on full display. He prowls along the foyer, an aggressive rumble filling his chest. If he were in wolf form, his ruff would be standing on end.
Vampires aren’t known for their discretion. They strike hard and fast, brutal in their vengeance. If this were a simple vampire dispute, they would’ve hung the dead and dying from the rooftops as a form of bragging rights.
Blood that has long since gone sour permeates the room. Our boots thump heavily on the granite tiles, and I cock my head, using my enhanced senses to search for anything that might still be alive…and hear absolutely nothing.
Not good.
“Let’s split up,” I order, pointing down the hall. “I don’t want to be here when true darkness falls. Castle and I will clear the second floor. You two, finish checking the main floor.”
