Eddie Lancaster Box Set 2, page 36
part #4 of Eddie Lancaster Series
We jogged to the door, he made sure that I didn’t overtake him, ever the diligent bodyguard. We bounded up the stairs and found ourselves in a long corridor that was glowing red with flashing lights, the sound of shrill alarm rang out even louder up here. There were no people and we ran on unimpeded.
‘Where are we going?’ I shouted when I realised we were not heading for the doors.
‘Front doors are blocked. We need to go out through the back,’ he shouted back.
We made it through the building without issue but when we got to the back door we found that it was not unguarded. Only one man stood sentry, and in any normal situation it wouldn’t be a problem. This was no normal situation. Without magic I was effectively human, and he was full of power.
‘You shouldn’t be up here,’ he said as he raised his hands. Then he screamed as Gabe shot across the space and sunk his fangs deep into his neck. Gabe made the most savage noises as he feasted on the man’s jugular. The guard’s body slackened and as Gabe released him he tumbled to the floor. Gabe turned to me, his mouth now caked in dark blood, his eyes the same colour. His fangs hung down menacingly, also dripping with blood.
‘Sorry you had to see that,’ he said as he wiped his mouth on his cuff.
‘I’ve seen far worse,’ I replied as we burst out of the door. As soon as I was free of the building I felt my power rush back into me. I quickly healed the wounds on my knuckles and the throbbing pain subdued. I looked backed at the evil building and silently vowed never to go back inside it again. Somehow, I was going to bring that wretched construction crashing down in a shower of glass. It currently looked more sinister than ever because the red pulsing lights were shining through the glass, lighting up the surrounding area like fire.
‘This way,’ Gabe said, gently tugging on my arm. He led me across the vast car park and onto the grass beyond. From there we walked up a hill to where a small woodland lay. On the edge of the trees were Alison and Sharon.
‘Good to see you,’ Alison said with a hint of a smile.
‘Where are the others?’ I asked, looking for them in the trees.
‘I left them back in Maidstone in case our absence ignited any rebellions,’ Gabe informed me.
‘Clever. So how did you three pull this off?’ I asked.
Sharon nodded back towards the building. I turned and saw that I now had a perfect view of the front of the building and the battle that was taking place before it. There looked to be about fifty vampires fighting relentlessly against a host of sorcerers at least triple their number. I watched as the pale blood-suckers whooshed around maiming sorcerers. The sorcerers weren’t taking it lying down. Spells were bouncing around dropping vampires like flies. For each sorcerer that died three vampires fell. ‘They don’t stand a chance,’ I said.
‘That’s what I thought. Keep watching,’ said Alison.
I watched and what I saw I had a hard time digesting. Each vampire that fell down dead simply got back up, snapped any broken bones back into place and continued fighting. I saw one vampire survive having his entire chest burned through. It wasn’t possible and yet he stood up, the gaping hole in his midsection already healing. ‘What is this?’ I asked in wonder. Gabe nodded towards the woods.
I walked in the direction he’d nodded and there he was. Nick was standing among the trees; his head was bowed, and his eyes closed. He was concentrating on the vampires below, casting some sort of spell that went beyond everything I’d believed possible. He was literally stopping death from taking effect. I looked back at the battle. Clara was on the scene now, pushing her way to the front, some of the dynasts were with her. They’d likely figure out how to undo the spell soon. I needed to leave.
‘Who are those vampires?’ I asked Gabe. Did they belong to the Fant faction? They couldn’t be from Tovil, they wouldn’t help after I killed their leader.
‘Aldric’s enemies. I made a deal with them in exchange for their help.’
My blood ran cold. He made a deal with Aldric’s enemies. That likely meant he’d positioned himself and therefore me as one of Aldric’s enemies. ‘What deal?’ my voice was hoarse. I had enough battles to fight without throwing Aldric in.
‘They wanted one stake to use against Aldric. I promised them you’d make one if they helped get you out unharmed.
‘Oh, Gabe,’ I said, shaking my head in disappointment. ‘You should’ve known better.’
‘Nick would only help if we provided the manpower,’ Gabe protested.
‘So, use the factions.’
‘They would never have helped. I’d only just got them to agree to stop fighting each other there was no way they were going to fight Clara. I would have had to offer them autonomy. Is that better?’
‘No,’ I admitted. ‘I guess not. But why would Nick insist on us providing the manpower when he has his own army.’
‘I wouldn’t say I have an army,’ Nick said as he joined us. ‘And I don’t want Clara to know the extent of my power just yet. I’ve given her a taste of what I can do already. I wish to give her no more than that. And my people are reluctant to risk their own lives for somebody who hasn’t committed to our cause yet.’
‘Their lives would hardly be at risk,’ I said, indicating the spell that kept the vampires alive.
‘That spell only works on the undead,’ Nick replied.
I suddenly realised that if he was here and not concentrating then the spell must be broken. Looking down I saw that the vampires were all huddled together surrounded by the sorcerers. Nobody was trying to attack. I looked at Nick in confusion.
‘I’m shielding them. The shield won’t last if all those sorcerers choose to attack at once, but in their confusion, they are hesitant to act,’ he said smiling at his work. ‘Now is the time for you to go down there and address your enemies.’
‘You want me to go down there, where all the sorcerers are?’ I must have misunderstood him. He wouldn’t really suggest that I walk into certain death.
‘You’ll be shielded by me and Clara won’t risk hurting you. Not yet. She still hopes she can win you to her side. Go on. Show her that you will not be trifled with,’ he said. He didn’t wait for me to reply. He waved his hand before me and then I was gone, teleporting through space against my will. I materialised in the midst of the battle ground with all the vampires who were fighting for me. Clara stood before me, an invisible shield separating us. There were bodies strewn about me. Mainly sorcerers, but some vampires had perished too.
‘Eddie,’ Clara said, taken aback.
‘Surprised to see me?’ I said, my anger was returning to me now. I tried to control it. My position down here was precarious. Nick had already told me that his shield would not stand if all of them attacked.
‘How did you do this?’ she asked, her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
‘You have no idea what I’m capable of,’ I replied viciously.
‘We can still fix this, Eddie. Come inside and—’
I cut her off with a sharp laugh. ‘Oh, no. I’m never going in there again.’ I pointed up at the angry red building. ‘And I will never trust you again. I am going home and I’m taking my friends with me.’ I indicated the foreign vampires whom I’d never before seen in my life. ‘I strongly advise you not to try and stop me.’
Clara looked at me despairingly but made no move to intersect my departure. The sorcerers cleared a path as I led the vampires back up the hill to where the others were waiting. Nick was gone by the time I returned.
‘He’ll find you later,’ Gabe explained. I hadn’t gotten the chance to address the claim that he was my grandfather. It didn’t matter, he was going to find me later, so I could bring it up then. ‘Come on,’ Gabe said softly and then led me down to where the cars waited.
Chapter Twenty-Two
We got back to the vampire house and Alison saw our guests through to the main room at the back. I headed to the bathroom to relieve myself. Whilst in there I cleaned myself up. There was still blood all over my hands and my clothes were a bit of a mess. I washed myself and straightened out my attire. I wouldn’t normally be that bothered by my appearance, but I needed to stall. I needed to find a way out of the deal Gabe had made. I couldn’t give them a stake with which they could kill Aldric. My relationship with him was shaky at best, this would tip him over the edge and I could hardly blame him. Did I really need to honour Gabe’s promise? It wasn’t my promise. But if I refused then it would be telling everyone that Gabe did not represent me which would cause problems with the factions who Gabe mediated. Fuck. I was going to have to give them the stake. Maybe I could give them a fake stake. Aldric would probably kill them before they got close enough to use it anyway. He was going to be so heavily guarded they didn’t stand a chance. He’d kill them before they ever found out it was a fake. But what if he didn’t? What if they came up with a flawless plan. If they planned meticulously enough they could pull it off. They could even have an inside man. And if word got out that I went back on a deal made by my representative it would ruin my reputation. The factions would never trust me and I’d lose all control of my town. I was going to have to make the stake. I would just have to hope they did kill Aldric. That would stop him from seeking revenge. But then word would get out that I’d betrayed someone I had a truce with. There was no way of winning.
I slammed my fist into the mirror and the glass broke sending cracks cobwebbing out across the surface. Fresh cuts opened up on my knuckles. I left them for a moment, letting the pain pulse before I healed myself. I would make the stake, but I would also warn Aldric. Maybe I could make him understand that I had no choice. It was the best I could do with the situation I’d inherited.
I opened the bathroom door and stepped into the hallway. Gabe was waiting. He’d tidied himself up too and was now looking far more like himself. He looked at me apologetically.
‘Don’t worry about it. You did what you thought was best and you got me out. I appreciate it,’ I said, giving him a thank you nod. He gave me a small smile.
‘You all ready to go in?’ he asked.
‘Yes. Oh, where’s Sabrina?’ I said as I remembered that she was Clara’s mole. She needed to be dealt with as soon as.
‘Inside I think.’ He gestured to the back room. ‘Why?’
‘She was leaking information to Clara. I’m going to need you to detain her as soon as I finish up with the other vampires.’
Gabe was shaking his head in disagreement. Was he actually going to refuse an instruction? ‘Eddie, I know her. She wouldn’t do this. I think you’re mistaken.’
‘Clara told me herself. Sabrina was the one guarding me when I was taken. She was the only one who knew that I was going to try and contact Nick. It’s the only way Clara could have found out,’ I told him. I’d had plenty of time to think it over whilst I was locked up and there was no doubt in my mind that Clara was telling the truth.
Gabe’s face twisted in discomfort as he tried to find a defence for his friend, but clearly he couldn’t come up with one. ‘Okay,’ he nodded. ‘I’ll tell the others.’ He pulled out his phone and starting typing a text. I waited impatiently. I wanted this evening over with. Too much had happened and I just wanted to go to bed where I could forget it all for a few hours before having to deal with it all over again in the morning.
‘All done,’ Gabe said with another nod. I led the way into the room.
Only three of Aldric’s detractors had come back to the house. Two men and an exceptionally tall woman stood in the centre of the room. They were coated in dried blood but it didn’t seem to bother them. The shorter of the two men wore clothes that were so tattered he might as well not be wearing them. Actually, scrap that, I don’t want a naked bloody man in front of me. My own vampires were standing around the edges of the room. Charlene and Marty were on the doors. Sharon and Alison were each at one of the other three walls. Nick had joined us and was standing in the corner at the head of the room, leaning on the wall nonchalantly as if he was just here for the lols. His presence made me more alert, more nervous. I looked away from him, trying to forget that he was there.
‘We’ve got a bit of business to attend to,’ I said, as the doors closed behind me. I noticed Gabe by my shoulder. He probably wasn’t going to drift too far away from me for a while after tonight.
‘We have fulfilled our end. Now you provide one stake,’ the woman said in a heavy Russian accent.
‘Yes, Gabe explained the deal to me,’ I said regretfully. ‘I’m not happy about it. I don’t suppose there’s any room for renegotiation?’
I heard Nick snort from the corner and threw a quick glance his way. I wondered what he would do if he were in my place. Judging from the stories he’d probably just kill them all.
‘There is not,’ the woman said sternly.
‘Alright then. Gabe, do we have a stake?’ I asked.
‘We brought our own,’ the taller man said. He was English and had a slight Cockney accent. He pulled an ash wood stake out of his back pocket and handed it to me. ‘No offence.’
‘None taken,’ I replied as I took the stake. I pumped my magic into the wood and everyone watched as green light flowed throw the cracks. When I handed it back the man snatched it greedily and clutched it in both hands like I’d just handed him solid gold.
The three of them nodded almost in unison and then they all left without so much as a goodbye. Rude. Once the doors closed I looked at Gabe. He blinked and a dejected looked took his face for just a second. ‘Go on,’ he told the others. Nick straightened up with intrigue, knowing he was about to witness some bonus content. Sabrina realised she’d been rumbled too late. As Sharon and Alison walked towards her she darted for the door, but Gabe intercepted her. She almost got by him, but his slender fingers entwined in her dark hair and he hauled her onto her arse. She landed like a Saturday night drunk and screamed.
‘What are you doing? I haven’t done anything wrong!’ she yelled.
‘Methinks the lady doth protest too much,’ said Charlene.
‘Why run?’ I asked, looking down at her resentfully. Right then she knew that she was done.
‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry, okay? I just… I was scared!’ she said, looking around for some help. ‘Gabe, please. Please. Help me. Clara said she’d look after me.’
‘Look after you from what?’ Gabe asked. It upset me to see how hurt he was by her betrayal. She hadn’t just betrayed me, she’d betrayed us all.
‘Aldric,’ she said as if it was obvious.
‘Eddie protects us from Aldric,’ Gabe argued. ‘You sold Clara our secrets and helped her kidnap him for something he already gave you?’
‘Oh, please,’ she scoffed. ‘He can’t protect us from anything. Clara can.’
‘Clara didn’t fare too well tonight and yet here I stand victorious,’ I said, my nastier tone breaking through.
‘Dumb luck,’ she said derisively. Nick laughed.
‘Stand her up,’ I ordered. Alison and Sharon hauled her to her feet. ‘What oh what to do with you,’ I pondered.
‘I know that what she has done is heinous, but may I request banishment for her?’ Gabe said. Even now he was trying to protect his people. I considered it. Banishment seemed fair enough. She hadn’t cost me much, only a few hours of my time. She hadn’t acted maliciously, just stupidly. She was scared and didn’t realise that she was already safe. Stripping her of that safety was a fitting punishment.
‘May I speak?’ Nick said, stepping out of the corner. Gabe looked over apprehensively.
‘Sure. You are the guest of honour,’ I said and invited him to take the floor.
‘Thank you,’ he replied courteously as he walked over to Sabrina. As he spoke he walked around her slowly, like a predator circling his prey. ‘Banishment may seem fitting enough at first glance. However, her plan was to leave Maidstone anyway. She was going to go to Cedarstone to join Clara. Should you banish her, you would only be enabling her plan. You would be giving her exactly what she wants. You might even give her the chance to feed Clara further secrets about how you operate. No, for a betrayal of this magnitude — a betrayal which almost resulted in you spending the rest of your life in a cage — only death will provide justice.’ He stopped and stood right behind her. She looked at me pleadingly, too afraid to turn to look at Nick.
‘That is not justice,’ said Gabe. ‘That’s revenge.’
I thought about what both men advised. I found myself wanting to impress Nick, my grandfather. I wanted his approval. And I wanted revenge. ‘Revenge is fitting,’ I said quietly. ‘Execute her.’
‘Might I make another suggestion?’ Nick said before anyone else could argue.
I nodded.
‘Yes, please do,’ Gabe said sarcastically.
‘It was you she wronged. It should be you to carry out the sentence,’ said Nick. ‘A betrayal is a crime against the heart. Personally, I would tear hers out.’
That seemed a little extreme to me. Thankfully, it wasn’t something I could do anyway. ‘Not being a vampire, I can’t go around tearing out hearts,’ I replied.
‘Nonsense. Channel your magic to increase your strength and then punch through her ribcage. I’ve done it hundreds of times,’ he said. He touched his finger to her heart and she froze on the spot. Her face slackened as his paralysis spell took hold. ‘I’ll hold her for you. Go on, grandson, take your revenge.’
And there it was. The admission that I hadn’t yet asked for. I was his descendant. He was family. Hearing him call me grandson sent a buzz through me. I stepped forwards, trying to avoid Gabe’s look of disapproval. I called up my magic and increased my strength. The other vampires backed away. Sharon even turned away. Maybe I wanted to feel kingly, maybe I wanted to impress Nick, but I decided to pronounce the sentence like a king of old. ‘Sabrina Denvers, for your crime of treason I sentence you to death.’
Then my fist smashed through her ribs. I felt them crack as my hand shoved the bones roughly aside. The bones tore at my flesh but I barely noticed. My fingers moved through mush and as they enclosed around her firm yet squidgy heart she let out a tiny gasp. Right in that moment my anger subsided and I felt only pity. But I could not relent. That would show weakness. Her heart beat rapidly in my palm and I felt bilious. I snatched my hand back, tearing her heart free. Blood splattered over my shoes and the floor. As her dead body greyed and rotted I let the heart drop to the floor. My eyes met Nick’s and in his gaze I saw pride.
