Shiela Stewart - [Darkness 02] Read online

By Trinity and Basil.

  ***

  Trinity watched as Basil hooked up a spotlight to the front entrance. It was a temporary remedy that would work until they could come up with something better. She was thinking a motion sensitive light would work best for the entrances. It would give the intruders the illusion of darkness but the instant they stepped within a few feet from the door, the light would come on. Maybe that alone would be enough to deter them from attempting to break in.

  “There, that should do it.” He stepped off the step ladder looking up at his handy work. “Bright enough, don’t you think?”

  “We’re being watched.” She was still trying to get used to all her new abilities, and she particularly had to watch her temper. When she was angry, her powers were uncontrollable. The tingling inside her mind warned her of a presence, and they weren’t friendly

  “Maybe they’re admiring my handiwork?” Folding up the ladder, he glanced through the darkness and into the distance. “You want to go to them or have them come to us?”

  “Might be a perfect time to try the alarm system.”

  “Zapping Dante wasn’t enough for you?” He grinned.

  “He’s human. We don’t know what it will do to a vamp. I think now would be a perfect time to see if it works.” She opened the front door, holding it for him.”

  “I should put the ladder away first.”

  “I highly doubt they’re here to steal your ladder. It’ll be fine.” She held her hand out to the open doorway.

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  “Do you want me to kick your ass?”

  He stopped directly in front of her and smiled. “Darling, now might not be a good time for foreplay.” He kissed her quickly, then avoided the slap. “Engage the alarm.”

  With a narrowed look at Basil, she shut the door and keyed in the code. “Now we just wait.”

  “What do you suggest we do to pass the time?”

  “I thought you said now wasn’t the time.” But she went into his arms anyway.

  “It could take a while for them to attempt a break in.” He kissed her gently, simply lingering on her lips, making her moan. She so loved when he took his time.

  “We have house guests, remember.” Still, she found no reason to stop his hand from wandering under her shirt.

  “They’re occupied.” He nibbled on her ear while his hand cupped her breast.

  They both jumped when the alarm sounded in a loud shrill screech. “Jesus, what happened to the beeping?” Trinity covered her ears as she asked.

  “Beats me. Jonah must have changed it. Damn that’s loud.”

  “It needs to be to wake us all up,” Jonah shouted, entering the room. “We have visitors.”

  “Really, what was your first clue?” Trinity snarled at him. “Can we tone that down a few notches?”

  “I’ll work on it later.” He went to the window and glanced outside. “I see four. Wait…one of them is going to the door. Ah, you put out a spotlight. Brightens it up a lot.”

  “I thought so,” Basil said proudly. They heard a click as the taser was engaged, then a thud which could only have been a body dropping outside the door. “We got one.”

  “And the rest are running like yellow bellied cowards. Man, can they move. You’re clear,” Jonah advised, leaving the window.

  Trinity keyed in the code then stepped aside when Basil opened the door. She was ready if anyone had the notion of jumping out at them.

  “He’s not out cold but he’s subdued,” Basil explained as he carried the twitching vampire inside. “Help me drag him downstairs, love. You, get on the trackers,” he ordered at Jonah.

  “The guy has no patience.” Basil snarled at him. “I’m going.”

  ***

  Chaos heard the familiar sound of footsteps leading towards his door and as he stood, Daniel entered the room. He could feel the frustration wavering off of him like steam and the look on his face was not one of joy. “You bring me bad news?”

  “I have both, actually.”

  “Start with the worst then.” Chaos motioned with his hand.

  Daniel ran a hand through his hair as he spoke, a sure sign of his nervousness. “Some of our men attempted another invasion at Basil’s home. They’ve set up some sort of alarm system. One of our men was shocked and captured.”

  Chaos frowned. “What do you mean, shocked?”

  “Like an electrical shock, I’m told. He touched the door and dropped to the ground, convulsing.”

  “Damn it! Why are they always one step ahead of us? I should be in control now, I should be reigning as king, yet I am stuck here like a jailed rat while Basil and Trinity take out more and more of my people.”

  “Um…that’s part of the good news, sir,” Daniel said sheepishly.

  “Do explain.”

  “I’ve found a secured place for you. It’s a small farm house just outside the city. It has an underground bunker complete with a lock down mechanism. I’ve instructed two of my men to patrol it and one will remain with you at all times as well as a servant. We can have you moved today.”

  Chaos smiled, feeling joy for the first time in far too long. “You do me well, Daniel.”

  “Thank you, sir. I can take you there now if you like.”

  “I would like that very much. But first, let’s discuss what to do about our problem. Set up a surveillance team down the road from Basil’s property. It’s time we started taking them out. If capture is possible, then bring them in. A little leverage is always nice.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Now, get me the hell out of here.”

  ***

  “What’s with the grin?” Dante asked. Jonah had been sporting a sloppy grin all day and it was driving him nuts.

  “I’m just a happy man, Dante. A very happy man.”

  “Yeah, and why is that?”

  Jonah lifted his head and pulled off the magnifying goggles he wore and looked up at Dante, that sloppy grin still on his face. “Because life is good.”

  Dante’s brow lifted. “Are you on crack, man?”

  Jonah laughed as he placed the goggles back over his eyes. “I don’t need drugs to make me happy.”

  “Okay, now you’re freaking me out.” And his quick bolt of laughter didn’t make it any better.

  “Ariel thinks she might be pregnant.”

  “What?” Dante grabbed the nearest chair and sat down beside Jonah. “For real?”

  “Yeah.” Jonah looked up, still grinning like a fool. “But we kinda want to do the test before we tell everyone, so keep it to yourself, okay.”

  “You bet. Man, this is wild. We need some good news.”

  “What good news?” Ariel asked as she entered the study.

  “That you’re preggers. Congrats,” Dante said in a low voice, standing up to give her a hug.

  “You told him?” She hugged Dante back. “I thought we agreed to keep it to ourselves until we knew for sure?”

  “He made me tell him,” Jonah confessed.

  “I only wanted to know why he was grinning like a fool. He gave up the info pretty fast. He can’t be trusted with a secret.” Dante laughed, ruffling Jonah’s hair.

  “You should see him at Christmastime. He always gives away what he bought me.”

  “You tortured it out of me. Damn it!” Jonah lifted from his crouched position and ripped off his goggles. “I need my laser scope.”

  “That’s the second time he’s said that but I have no idea what it is. He said something about it being a high tech device for precision something or other that went right over my head. He really is a geek.”

  “Yeah, and he’s my geek.” Ariel kissed the top of his head. “That’s back at the shop dear.”

  “I know where
it is. And I need it for these trackers.” Jonah stood. “I have to go get it.”

  “Not alone,” Ariel stated firmly.

  “I’ll go along. Watch his back,” Dante supplied.

  “Go along where?” Gypsy asked entering the room and walking up to Dante to plant a firm kiss on his lips.

  “Jonah needs some sort of tool from his shop. We were just heading out to get it.”

  “Can I come along? I’m bored out of my mind here. I need some fresh air.”

  Dante shrugged, wrapping his arm around her waist. Since he’d been zapped, she’d been sweet with him, gentle and he found himself rather liking it. “I don’t see why not.”

  “Maybe you’d like to come along too, babe?” Jonah hooked his arms around his wife’s waist and drew her to him. “Get some fresh air.”

  “I would love that. It’s been far too long since I’ve been out of the house.”

  “Then it’s set. Let’s rock and roll,” Jonah cheered, arms in the air.

  “I’m driving,” Dante informed them.

  Jonah nodded. “I’ll let Trinity know we’re heading out.”

  ***

  “It’s three in the afternoon yet it looks like midnight,” Ariel proclaimed as they drove along the lane from the house.

  “Is it really?” Gypsy angled in her seat to look back at Ariel. “I don’t remember the last time I looked at a clock. What day is it?”

  “I lost track.”

  “Tuesday,” Dante informed them, turning on his signal light to head onto the highway. “May seventh.”

  “It’s May already?” Gypsy gasped. “Hey, my birthday is in four days.”

  “Oh, really?” Ariel leaned forward as she spoke. “ I should bake you a cake and make a big meal.”

  “I’ve been dying for spaghetti. I haven’t had that in forever. What does garlic do to vampires?” Gypsy asked Dante.

  “You’re asking the wrong guy. I’m still learning about vamps and what makes them tick. Jonah?”

  “Trinity eats pizza so I’m guessing garlic isn’t a no no.”

  “Perfect. I’ll make a cake and spaghetti and we’ll have a celebration. We need something to liven us all up.” Ariel leaned back in her seat.

  Headlights flashed in the rearview mirror, blinding Dante right before the car was rammed from behind. The women screamed but Dante kept his cool as he tried to keep the car steady.

  “What the hell is going on?” Jonah asked, undoing his seat belt to swivel in his seat and look out the back window.

  They were rammed again and this time Dante had a little trouble correcting it. “Hold on!” he ordered as he swerved to the side of the road and back.

  “I’m scared.”

  Jonah took his wife in his arms. “I’ve got you, babe.”

  “Here they come again,” Dante called out just as they were hit. He swerved to the right and before he could correct, they were hit from the side.

  The screech of metal, the broken glass, and the screams all melded inside his mind as they headed into the ditch. He tried to correct the car but lost control. It was all a blur of flashing lights and darkness as they tumbled head over bottom into the ditch.

  He hit his head on the window, felt his knee burning after it smashed into the steering wheel. And then everything stopped.

  ***

  “Dante! Dante wake up!” Gypsy gave him a hard shake but he still didn’t wake up. “Come on. I know you’re alive. I can feel your heart beating. Wake up. Jonah, Ariel, are you guys okay?” When all she heard was moaning she looked behind her. She could see the two of them crumpled together but couldn’t make out who was on top. “Shit.”

  Dante’s door was yanked open, and in her shock, Gypsy watched as Dante was ripped from the car. “Leave him alone.” She tore off her seat belt, shredding it, then crawled out the driver’s side. She saw three creatures, one of which had Dante in his grasp. Her heart leading her, she ran at the man, ready for a fight.

  “There’s two more in the back,” someone called out.

  “Let him go!” Gypsy screamed as she lunged at the vamp holding Dante. She jabbed him in the face with her fingers, clawing at skin with her nails. She’d rip his eyes out of their socket before she let him do anything to Dante.

  “The woman’s dead, but the man’s alive.”

  “Drag him out.”

  The conversation was a blur in her mind. All she could think about was saving Dante. “Let him go.” Lifting her foot, she kicked the vamp in the side, knocking him over still holding Dante.

  “Ariel.”

  “This one’s coming to.”

  “Take him to the car.”

  “Ariel! Let me go.”

  “She’s dead, man, but she’ll make a nice snack.”

  “No! Ariel!”

  “Jonah…” Dante mumbled, fighting to keep his eyes open. “What’s…what’s happening?”

  “Leave him alone.” Gypsy tore into the vamp’s throat that had Dante and ripped it open. She heard the squeal of tires and saw the car speed off. Looking over, she saw Dante stagger to his feet. She jumped up and caught him right before his knees gave out.

  “What…” He crumbled in her arms.

  She sunk to the dry grass, cradling him in her arms. “Don’t leave me, please don’t leave me. I can’t live without you. Please, Dante, don’t leave me.” She cried, her tears falling onto his face.

  “Call…for…back-up,” he mumbled.

  She sniffled back her tears and searched his jeans for the cell phone. “Just hang on, okay, just hang on.” Relieved to find it, she pulled it out and flipped it open. “Shit, what’s the number? I don’t know the number.”

  “Speed two,” he groaned.

  Sniffling again, she dialed and waited nervously as it rang. “Just hang on to me, baby, just hang on. We need help,” she ordered when the line was answered. “We were attacked. On the highway just outside the driveway. Hurry. Dante’s hurt bad.” She clicked it off then pressed her lips to his head. “Please don’t leave me, Dante. I’m begging you, don’t leave me. Everyone always leaves me, please, not you too.”

  Chapter Twelve

  It took no more than a few seconds before both Trinity and Basil appeared before her in the ditch. Gypsy was damn glad they both had special abilities, because she was scared shitless sitting alone with Dante.

  “What happened?” Trinity asked, rushing to her side, instantly checking Dante’s pulse.

  “We were rammed and knocked off the road. Dante’s been in and out. They took Jonah, and I think Ariel is dead.” Gypsy sniffled, still clinging to Dante. “We need to get him to a hospital.”

  “The local hospital shut down days ago. Cooper can look after him.”

  “What do you mean, they took Jonah?” Trinity asked, racing to the car.

  “They took him. One of them said Ariel was dead and then they took Jonah. I didn’t see it all. I was trying to save Dante.”

  “You do that?” Basil thumbed towards the pile of dust off to the side.

  “He was going to hurt Dante. Is Ariel okay?” Gypsy asked when Trinity came back.

  “No. She’s gone. Which way did they go, Gypsy?”

  “That way.” She pointed east then continued stroking Dante’s face.

  “Gypsy?”

  “Yes, yes, it’s me, Dante. Stay awake now, okay?” she pleaded, caressing his hair.

  “What happened? Why am I out here?” He tried to sit up but she kept him down.

  “Just relax. We were in an accident, remember?”

  “Right. They hit us. Is everyone okay?”

  She shook her head. “Ariel is dead and they took Jonah.”

  “What?” He sat up faster than she could react. “Are you sure she’s gone
?”

  “Trust me, she’s gone.” Trinity sighed. “I might be able to track Jonah. I have to try. Get them home,” she ordered, then vanished.

  “Cooper’s on his way with the car. Was it Chaos’ men?” Basil asked.

  “Yeah. I don’t remember anything after we rolled. I tried to correct the car but…fuck…I should have turned us around.”

  “It’s not your fault, baby. Don’t get upset, okay? Your head is bleeding and you have blood on your left knee. Do you feel anything inside?” She placed a hand on his ribs and pressed.

  He hissed. “A little sore. Nothing more than a bruise I would say. Are you sure Ariel’s dead?”

  Basil nodded as he stood. “One of them snacked on her. I shouldn’t have let you go off on your own.” He waved in the air as the car approached.

  “I can’t believe she’s gone. Jonah’s next, you know.”

  “Don’t think that way. Maybe he’ll break free.” Gypsy wanted to believe that, had to believe that. She liked Jonah, he was cute and he was a nice guy and she didn’t want him to die, too. Ariel was her friend and had been nice to her. She was going to bake a cake and make her a birthday meal. Now she was gone and all she felt was a pain in her chest like nothing she’d ever felt before.

  “There are only two reasons why he would have been taken. Blood and information. Can you stand on your own?” Basil asked Dante.

  “I’ve got him.” Getting to her feet, Gypsy lifted him up and hooked her arm under and around his waist. He wobbled, but she was strong enough for both of them and carried him to Cooper’s car. “What do we do about Ariel? We can’t just leave her there.”

  “I’ll wait here with her. Cooper, bring something to wrap her in when you come back.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Sitting in the back seat, Gypsy clung to Dante. She was not going to lose him. She had already lost enough.

  ***

  She couldn’t find him. Everything in the air smelled of rotten garbage and dead animals. She’d been sure she could sense him or smell him at least. Yet she came up with nothing. There was no way in hell she was going to lose him.

  Standing in the middle of the street, Trinity didn’t give a damn about being an open target. Jonah was all that mattered now. She was not going to lose him. Closing her eyes, she shut everything off around her and focused only on Jonah. If she couldn’t sense him, maybe she could call out to him and find him through her mind. What good were all these damn powers if she couldn’t help her best friend?