Timothy stood, tucking his tablet under his arm. “I’m on this. I’ll take the car back to Sinopolis, then send the driver back to pick you up to give you some more time to…investigate.” He gave us a nod, but his eyes lingered first on me, then shot Grim a look before making his exit.
“So,” I said, blowing out a breath. “I guess my name isn’t Vivien.”
Grim didn’t say a word.
I swung my arms back and forth, trying to loosen the tight knot that had formed in my chest. “I’m a Jane. A plain Jane.” Then I muttered, “Serves me right.”
“I think Vivien suits you,” he said, turning to look at me. “You should keep it.”
I bit my lower lip.
“Truly,” he went on. “You died and have been reborn, for all intents and purposes. And I’m not so sure Jane could face off with Vivien.” One side of his lips lifted.
“Ya think?” I asked, releasing my lower lip. “Well, Vivien has had enough of memory lane for today. So it’s back to my prestigious job as worm on a hook.” Then with a laugh, I said, “Maybe I should wriggle right here. See if the master or his minions show up at my pad.”
The windows to our right exploded as a figure launched through them. I closed my eyes against the assault of glass. More windows smashed, and I heard numerous pairs of boots hit the ground. When I opened my eyes again, I found ten people in my apartment. No, not people. Sekhors.
“I would hate if a million dollars and a bazooka would appear in my hands,” I announced loudly.
Unfortunately, my magic trick only worked with the first thing I said. Damn.
27
My hands elongated into claws so I could rip the sekhors apart. Vivien was next to me, kicking, punching, and smashing through our assailants. Sharp incisors cut through my arms, my legs, my back and chest as they threw themselves at me. Those who sunk their teeth into my flesh had to die first. They could not be allowed to drink the blood of a god.
No matter how many vampires I decapitated or shredded, more kept coming. The smell of their blood hung heavy in the air and splattered the walls. When they first came smashing through the windows, I pushed Vivien behind me, intending to fight all of them off. But in no time, they overwhelmed me, engaged her and drew her out. Slowly but surely, she was forced to move farther away from me. They were intentionally separating us.
“Vivien,” I yelled.
Her eyes met mine, just before a bag was thrown over her head. Three sekhors tied her in rope and carried her away.
I fought to follow, but there were six sekhors on me. One bit into my leg, tasting my blood, then another on my arm. I could not allow a single one of them to drink my blood and live, which prevented me from getting to Vivien. I was losing time as distance expanded between us.
Rage screamed through me in a fiery blaze, and the thick black smoke of my power filled the room. Violence overtook me as the look on Vivien’s face before she was taken burned in my mind. Then I let it out in a piercing howl as my body exploded into monstrous muscle and sinew, my skin turning as black as the sand of the Nile. My sharp fangs sunk into the head of a sekhor before I ripped it off. Blood fountained from his decapitated neck.
I’d kill them all and find Vivien if it was the last thing I did.
* * *
When I returned to Sinopolis,Timothy was there to meet me at the private entrance. I was covered in blood, naked, and bite marks abounded. Despite my appearance, he didn’t stop to comment. He followed me to the elevator, tablet up.
“I tried to keep Ms. West out of it, but she insisted. With her help, and a chat with our reapers, Acissej, Llij, and Ekoorb, we were able to find out who Landon Crane actually is. The man may have been arrested for unpaid parking tickets, but he is guilty of far worse.” Without waiting for me to prompt him, he barreled on. “Mr. Crane has been stalking and murdering women for the past twenty years. There have been seven in total, so far. I’m sure if we interviewed with more of our reapers we will dig up even more.” He followed me into the penthouse and into my room. I pulled a black tee-shirt over my head, pulling it down, not bothering to clean up the blood on me. Then I tugged on a pair of sweatpants. I didn’t know if I’d have to change back into my god-likeness again and sweats were more forgiving.
I had judged the souls of stalkers and murderers. Often, parts of their souls were missing, or turning rancid. Hate and evil was a cancer that rotted their souls. I knew their kind all too well.
“How did he choose his victims?” I asked.
Timothy pulled up a gallery of photos. Young, blonde, blue-eyed, fair-skinned women. I remembered the gymnasts I’d fought at Wolf Town. They matched Crane’s tastes. If Landon Crane was the master vampire, that still didn’t explain why he wanted Vivien. She had auburn hair, emerald eyes, and was made of fire.
Timothy’s lips had all but disappeared. “What do you think his plan is?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know, but he has Vivien. I have to find her. I need to get her back.”
“You mean, you have to find the master, so you can kill him?”
A snarl emitted from my throat as I jerked my head up to meet Timothy’s eye.
Instead of responding to my aggression, he maintained a cool, calm demeanor. “Sire, the sekhor. You know none of the others would permit Vivien to live, especially nothim.”
