The Blood Diamond, page 4
part #1 of The Hunters Series
Damn…
“I won’t touch her as long as you don’t spill the beans about The Blood Diamond,” Henri claimed with another sly smirk. “Isn’t that fair?”
“It isn’t.”
“But you can’t refuse, can you, ma cherie?”
I bit my lip and pushed his hands off of my waist. “I can try.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Watch me.”
A laugh escaped the vampire; a cold one that chilled me to the core. “Didn’t I just threaten your sister? Antoinette.” He leaned in too close. “Aren’t you unnerved by her presence at my nightclub?”
Finally breaking eye contact with Henri, my eyes searched frantically for Liz. I knew she was still nearby. Plus, she had her friends.
Her friends…
Spinning on my heel, I glared at Henri—at his mouth, to be specific. “You…do you have something to do with Liz being here?”
“Possibly.” Never straightforward. That was Henri Sinclair.
“Damn you.”
The vamp brushed it off calmly, his face breaking into a playful smile. “Well, it’s been nice seeing you again, but I think you should leave, petite chasseur. Before your sister becomes involved.” He turned to leave, but I grabbed for the closest part of him, managing to catch his sleeve.
“Henri. I want you to compel Liz.”
“Compel her?” the vampire echoed with clear hesitation. “Are you sure?”
Biting my tongue and swallowing my pride, I nodded. “She’s not ready to know.” When Henri said nothing, I elaborated. “If she learns about the supernatural world, she’ll just try to immerse herself into it. That’s just how Liz is.” I hung my head slightly. “If I keep her from the truth…”
“You’ll be hurting her if you keep your sister in the dark,” Henri stated dryly, not looking at me for once. “You’re trying to protect her, but having me compel her won’t do any good.”
My brow instantly furrowed. “What do you mean?”
Henri sighed lightly. “Who’s to say she won’t believe what she witnessed tonight? Odds are that your sister will be rational about it. She won’t believe the supernatural. It’s all an illusion to her.” He put his hands up. “However, that’s only my speculation. I don’t know your sister, but you do.”
Shaking my head, I turned away. “Fine.” My eyes dropped to his chest. It was the only safe zone at the moment. “Take me to her.”
“Your sister?”
“No.” I contained my groan. “Nerissa, the one you supposedly turned. I need to see her to get some info.”
Henri chuckled. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. She’s a newborn vampire. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to face that.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” I let out, voice low. Before I left, I had two objectives now: 1) Get Liz out alive, and 2) See Nerissa in all of her undead glory.
Of course, neither would be simple.
Gritting my teeth, I advanced. Henri cocked a dark brow at me. “Suit yourself.” He turned to look down at me with a sideways glance. “Before you confront the newborn, you might want to reacquire your weapons.”
I gnawed my lip a bit. Wait, did Henri just…warn me? Why? He didn’t have to, obviously. Still…sighing inwardly, I turned toward the door to the feeding lounge. An obstacle blocked my sight. “Hey, Toni.”
“Yes, Liz.”
“You never explained.”
I stared at my younger sister in blatant confusion. “What?”
Liz let out a prolonged sigh. “You never told me why you came here, but now I think I understand.”
Y-you do? “Really?” I asked, hesitant. “You do?”
My sister nodded. “It’s because of him. Henri Sinclair. Geez, Sis, I had no idea you had a boyfriend.” She shook her head briefly. “How come you never told me?”
Maybe because it wasn’t true?
Frowning, I shook my head. “You’ve got it wrong, Liz—”
She laughed—more like scoffed. “Oh, come on. I saw the way he looked at you just now. And the way you two talk to each other?” She sighed comically. “That has to be something.”
“It really is nothing, Liz,” I stated dryly, but my sister wouldn’t relent. Giving up myself, I turned away from her. “Are your friends still here?”
“Yeah, why?”
My frown straightened into a grimace. “Why don’t you go home? It’s late.” No questions. Liz frowned at me, her young face contorted in confusion. My muscles relaxed. “Liz, you’re too young to be here, anyway.”
“So are you,” she shot back. Well, damn it!
Exhaling sharply, I clutched my forehead. “I’ll leave once I’m done here, but you should leave. Now.”
I turned again, but Liz caught my arm with ease. “Why? Is this place dangerous or something? Sure, there was what happened to that girl, but it was all just an illusion, right? Like what you can find at a circus or something.”
A performance, yes.
Wow. Henri had been right, after all. No compulsion needed at this point…
Clearing my mind, I concentrated. What would it take to convince Liz to leave the club? I could always finish my mission first and leave with her…
No, then she’d still be in danger. I had to keep her away from the vampires, especially Henri.
Fingers dancing with high anticipation, I took Liz’s arm. “What you saw…it wasn’t real.”
Liz cocked a single eyebrow. “Yeah, I figured. Look.” She brushed my hand away. “I’ll go if you promise me something.”
My hopes lifted a bit. “All right, Liz.”
My sister smiled again. “Tell me how you met Henri, how close you two are. Anything, really.” Her brows rose. “Oh, and can I meet him one of these days? That would be ama—”
“Okay, okay,” I groaned in exasperation. “I get it. Fine.” A sigh escaped me. “I’ll tell you everything as soon as I get home, okay?”
Liz nodded eagerly, squeezed my hand. “Deal.” She looked to the entrance. “Um…so…”
Just then, I remembered something. Ethan was more than likely still lurking outside of the club, anticipating my departure. With a sigh, I took out my cell, the sole device I still had on me that the bloodsuckers hadn’t confiscated. Punching in his number, the fellow hunter answered after the first ring.
He’d been waiting for me to call.
Figures.
“Toni?”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “I need a favor, Ethan.”
“Are you in trouble?”
I clenched my jaw. “What do you think?” I snapped in irritation. “Yes, I am.”
“Want me to come—?”
“No,” I blurted a little too loudly, then cleared my throat when multiple pairs of curious eyes shifted my way. “I mean…no, I just need you to get my sister home and keep her safe until I complete the mission.”
A pause from Ethan’s line. Then: “Wait, Liz is there? Why is she—”
“Look, it’s too long of an explanation,” I hurried on as I watched the area while we talked. I could sense the vampires nearby surveying me closely.
Great.
“Just listen, okay? I need her out of the way because Henri is well aware of her presence tonight. He threatened to use Liz against me.”
“The Henri Sinclair?”
“The very one.”
“That’s bad.” Duh.
“Yeah, no shit.”
“Send her outside, then. I’m waiting.”
I smiled into the phone. “Thanks, Ethan. Bye.” I hung up quickly. Getting Liz’s attention away from finding her friends was an easy feat, and I led her to the club’s one and only entrance. Black eyes followed as we moved.
I found Ethan and his van just outside, parked at the curb of the still-crowded street corner. He smiled gently at my sister and opened the passenger door.
Liz sighed loudly in response, glanced back at me. “Don’t stay in there too long, sis. Whatever it is you have to do, don’t take your time.”
I nodded numbly. “I’ll be fine. I just need to finish some business with Henri, and then I’ll be right home.” I met gazes with Ethan. “Ethan’s taking you back to the complex. Make sure to lock the door and—”
“I know, I know,” my sister interjected. “This isn’t the first time, Toni, so don’t worry. I know what to do.”
Oh, I’d still worry…that was inevitable. Henri would notice Liz’s absence and no doubt search for her or her unlucky friends.
Swallowing softly, I hugged Liz before she climbed into the van with Ethan. At least she’d be safe, I thought, as the vehicle moved out of sight within moments.
Unlike me.
Chapter 4
Newborn
Making my way back into The Blood Diamond was easier than I’d imagined, but I wasn’t about to let that faze me. I still had yet to find Nerissa, the teenager who’d been chosen for a new, immortal existence. If I failed now, any loved ones that girl had in her life would search and search, but it would all be pointless.
Then there were my superiors. I wasn’t allowed to interfere with the club’s customers—which included Henri’s previous spectacle. Even if a person went missing, they’d have to get involved here. Henri knew that well, I suppose, but it still hadn’t deterred him in the slightest.
Sighing inwardly, I made my way through the dwindling crowd. Most of those with a heartbeat had left the scene early. Henri had disappeared. Or so it looked, anyway.
Before I found Nerissa, however, I needed my weapons back. Which meant that I had to enter the Feeding Room once more.
I made it to the door without any issues or bloodsuckers getting in my way, but that wasn’t it. The door wasn’t locked or anything, but it made unease course through me all the same. This couldn’t be right. Why would the door be unlocked?
Unless…
“Hey, look who’s back for more,” a voice mocked from behind. I didn’t bother turning; the voice obviously belonged to Sergio.
I bit my lip as I asked. “Where’s Nerissa?”
A pause. Then: “I thought you’d want your weapons first. It isn’t smart to face a newborn vampire without the proper protection.” The vampire slid past me, opening the door to the Feeding Room.” “Go ahead. Henri told me you’d be coming to arm yourself.”
I scoffed softly. “Of course he did.” Henri was playing with me, teasing me with my own human tendencies and limitations. He was right, of course. I wasn’t about to face any vampire without my special arsenal.
Still…it didn’t feel right.
The entrance to the room was dark, but I could tell the place was deserted. I took a few steps into the dimly lit room, and that was when Sergio closed the door behind me, darkening the place even more.
Damn it.
Getting on my hands and knees, I searched slowly for my weapons. They had to still be here, most likely where they’d been left. Clenching my jaw, I continued until my fingers closed around a small, smooth object. It was the holy water!
Score!
Or not…the cap was nowhere nearby, which meant that the vial had been emptied. Goddammit!
Close to the empty vial were—apparently—my clip of silver bullets, as well as the mini-crossbow. The stake had rolled a little ways, but that too I found. The only object I struggled to find was Mom’s blessed cross necklace. How was that the only thing missing? And why?
Giving up, I got to my feet. My hand dove into the jacket pocket for my cell, which I used to illuminate the room, at least a bit. A few drops of blood here and there; nothing too unusual or surprising.
Kicking into detective mode, I shone the little light on the three walls opposite of me. Two were devoid of any doors, but one wall posed another door, one that I hadn’t seen or noticed until now. Was that where Nerissa was?
Standing before the door, I realized it was locked. Typical. Lip straightening, I took out the crossbow, firing silent shots of silver until I heard a click.
The door was open.
Dimming the screen of my phone, I took a cautious step over the threshold and into the unknown.
A vampire is always a serious risk factor to society, but a newborn? The result of an unchecked newborn vampire could be catastrophic. If Nerissa remained a secret to help cover this nightclub’s practices, then pandemonium would rain. I had to inform the Agency about this. If not, I—
A noise, soft but distinct, drove me out of my thoughts. It came from one of the far corners, though I couldn’t discern which one. The room, like the one I’d just been in, was also horribly dark, but the smell of rust was far stronger here. On the far wall, I shone light upon a crumpled figure, the limbs chained with iron. Or was that actually silver?
As I stepped closer, heart starting to pound fervently, I recognized the figure before me. It was Nerissa Shoemaker. She wasn’t the only body in the room, I soon realized. Dead, unmoving bodies—human ones—littered the floor of the dank space. The odor that radiated from them was enough to make me nauseous. I attempted to hold my nose, but the smell only formed into a revolting taste in the back of my throat. I gagged in response. The noise caused the restrained girl to stir. Her shoulder-length blonde hair was still stained with darkened blood, disgustingly matted against her skull. She seemed to be barely breathing, but that didn’t surprise me.
She wasn’t alive.
How could I tell?
Nerissa’s eyes were no longer sea-green and full of vitality. They were red, slitted…predatory. Her skin was pallid as a ghost in the light that shone on her person.
Panicking inside, I took a step back. “Nerissa. Can you hear me?” No response. “Do you remember who I am?”
The newborn jerked her head to the side, red eyes glassy. They were still unfocused.
Swallowing, I continued. “Nerissa, do you know where we are right now?”
Nerissa struggled to speak a word, her throat constricting with each effort to swallow. “Henri…said it was…the containment room…” Her face contorted slightly, as if she was remembering something terrible. “Wh-what…happened…to me?”
I bit my lip as I answered her. “Henri turned you. You’re…you’re a vampire now.”
The teen let out a harsh breath. “N-no…I can’t be…dead…” She slowly realized where she was. She glanced at the restraints, tugged on them. Nothing.
“I’m sorry,” I let out in a quiet voice, “but you are. I couldn’t stop…” My words trailed off into silence. What could I tell her that would help? She didn’t want this, I could tell that much.
Nerissa hung her head. “H-he really did…it…” She looked me in the eye. I flinched out of pure habit when faced with her now-wide ruby-colored gaze.
Her first words were: ‘Henri…said it was…the containment room…’ I clutched my crossbow, and steadily got to my knees. “Nerissa. This place…it’s where newborns go after being turned.”
“W-what?”
I shook my head. “I’ve never known a vampire-owned nightclub that featured such a closed-off room, but the intention here is clear.”
Quickly, I got to my feet. If Nerissa was still able to talk to me, she had a little time before the hunger took over for good. Newborns were able to drain countless humans on their first night. If unrestrained by their sire, it was certainly possible for them to lose control.
“Nerissa.” I turned to the undead teen. She was still safe to converse with.
For now, anyway.
“Nerissa, do you know who sired you?” She had to know that much. I knew, but I was making sure. Damn Henri…
Dimly, I saw the girl nod once in confirmation.
“Say his name,” I pressed.
“Henri Sinclair.”
There it was. The proof. The Blood Diamond had just opened, but its new dealings had been long withstanding. Henri was turning humans against their will. Why else would he need a containment room at this sort of establishment?
Terrified by this revelation, I couldn’t move from where I stood between Nerissa and my only escape.
That was when it happened.
Something changed in Nerissa’s eyes; something inhuman flared in warning. The transformation was nearly complete. Based on pure experience, all she required was human blood and that of her sire, but—
“What are you doing in here?”
I’d been so lost in my own damn thoughts that I hadn’t sensed or noticed that the single door behind me was wide open, and a tall figure now stood there, watching me intently.
I turned toward the unfamiliar voice, tense for an attack, and found a female vampire standing in the doorway. She appeared to be my age, but that wasn’t much to go on. For all I knew, she was really centuries old. Her aura sure screamed that. She had Henri’s cool black eyes, which meant she’d previously fed.
Bonus point for me.
Long brown hair—much longer than my own—trailed down her back, nearly reaching her supermodel-esque ass. There was nothing truly off-putting about her appearance or features, but a small chuckle bubbled up when her eyes narrowed in a pinched glare.
“What’s so funny, human?”
I shook my head quickly. That cold, brooding expression warned me that I’d die if I made any snarky remarks that could and would offend her.
Thankfully, I kept my mouth shut.
“Well? Answer me,” she demanded with an aggravated growl.
My jaw clenched. “You know, I’m about sick and tired of you stupid vampires telling me what to do. I’ve already had a tough night so far, so don’t you dare push me, Bony Ass.”
On the outside, I was the embodiment of confidence.
On the inside, well…
So much for keeping my mouth shut.
The female vamp flashed her fangs at me. “What did you just say?”
I restrained the snort that tried to escape me. “What, you didn’t hear me? I thought vampires had the best hearing in the supernatural community,” I shrugged. “Or was that werewolves?”
She growled at me again, louder this time. “Say that again, and I’ll—”
“-Kill me?” I guessed. “Isn’t that a bit too cliché? Can’t you be more creative?”
