Blood Debt (The Blood Sisters Book 2) (10 page)

R
enovations
were going well, but it was the tears coming from beside him that pleased
Vaughn the most. The round bed in the room was dressed in a crushed red velvet
comforter. Beneath it, Vaughn laid naked with a guest.

A round
bed covered in a red crushed velvet comforter, Vaughn lay naked beneath it. The
muscles on his chest slick with sweat flexed from a vigorous workout. The young
woman he broke in like a young
filly
cuddled
on her side. Her body rocked with sobs of torment, as if being with him was so
bad.

Vaughn
wished he could see her face. He brushed back her messy braids and she quivered
in fright. Her sobs turned louder as her eyes squeezed tight.
 
“It’ll get easier,” Vaughn’s voice was rich
with disappointment. When that day came, when she was ready to submit to his
wishes, he’d give her up and move onto the next young woman. If the drugs
didn’t kill her first, sending her soul to the underworld.

He stood
from the bed and slipped his leather pants back on. “Something will be here
soon to take the edge off. It’ll help you, sweet Hannah.”

“No,”
Hannah’s voice shook, “please.”

“Would
you rather go back to your cage, or lay here? Don’t answer now, think
on
it.” Vaughn fastened his cape before pushing
past the black curtains that gave him cover, privacy, but it barely did that.
From the way the demons gave him sideways glances, it was clear they heard
every word of it.

“Something
to say?” Vaughn sneered.

“No,
Master.” One demon licked his lips. “Just wondering when we’ll get our chance
with her, that’s all.”

“I don’t
share my prizes.” Vaughn strolled through the room toward the other woman
curled up in their cages. It was hard to appreciate their form like that.
“Let’s get some poles installed in here. Music. If we’re going to be holed up
in this shit hole, let’s make sure we have some quality entertainment.”

His eyes
fell
on
the now empty cage. “And find me
a new girl. We have a vacancy.”

*****

Vaughn
wasn’t much for technology.
Phones
weren’t
his thing, but when Vain called, he made an exception. “You’re sure about
this?”

Vain’s
voice was sultry at the same time it was domineering. It was one of the reasons
he employed her. “Trust me; this is the way to get the Bloods and Jasper right
where you want them. This demon who has Gwen is powerful, but simple minded.
She won’t see my betrayal coming.”

He wasn’t
too sure about that. “I’ve disobeyed the queen more times than I can keep track
of. I’ve consolidated business, gotten rid of low-levels that were loyal to
her.”

“But you
send her so many souls.
Surely
she won’t
care about that.”

“Perhaps.”
Vaughn took a deep breath and gazed across the warehouse as a fresh supply of drugs,
in brown crates, were brought in. “Tread lightly and if you have any sense of a
double cross, you dispatch the Bitch. Seize control of her demons. One look at
you, they’ll know who is really in charge.”

Vain
purred. “I love it when you think you’re in charge of me, Vaughn.”

He
dismissed her comment as he peered inside a crate of drugs. Vials of green
liquid cast a shimmering light against dozens of needles. Nodding his head at
his men, he continued his conversation. “Lourdes cannot be allowed to gain her
freedom. The shift in the underworld is great, I can feel it. She’s closer than
she’s ever been.”

“But
heaven, isn’t that what you’ve always wanted? To watch the great angels fall?”

“I would
rather Lourdes not walk among us more. Do your job. I hope to see you and your
prisoners soon.”

“Oh,
Vaughn? Do you have a gift I can pick up for Duncan? A young, ripe one, maybe?”

He
laughed through gritted teeth as a woman with short brown hair, not unlike Meg
Jasper, was forced into the warehouse. A demon kicked her in the back. With her
hands tied behind her, she
face
-planted
and cried as he hoisted her up.

“Let me
go, Please!”

“I have
one in just the right size.”

T
he mark
Jessica left on her arm was still there.

Like a
lingering doubt etched upon her body, the skin itched. Amanda casually
scratched at it until her skin became red, irritated. She attempted to put it
out of her mind; pulled down her sleeve and stared out the window as they
entered the city limits of Meadow’s Creek, Vermont. It had been a long time
since Amanda had been this far east.

A long
time indeed.

The
mountains seemed to groan as the car drove through their streets. Through the
valley the small town nestled, and the place smelled of honeysuckle. Just the
type of place, Amanda thought, where a family would set down their roots with
their newly adopted daughter.
A new
family, a new life. It was perfect.

Minus the
mayhem and blood, it was the things that dreams were made of.

Amanda’s
stomach growled with hunger, but there wasn’t time to stop yet. They needed to
get to the church and stake out their claim before Jessica drew close. It’d be
horrible if the church was filled with people for service, or worst yet….

“Bingo?”
Amanda scrunched up her nose as she read the outside sign that was staked into
the lawn surrounding the church.

“Tonight
at six. You gotta love the timing of it all,” Duncan said with his hands
hitched into his pockets.

Or maybe
not so much.

Amanda
and Duncan found Mike on the steps. He had his bible in hand and was talking to
the
parish
pastor. Mike could be very
convincing, being they were cut from the same cloth. Confident and speaking
with authority, it was a sure thing that he’d have luck, but a dark cloud hung
over Pastor Andrews. He didn’t like the look of Mike or Duncan and he barely
gave Amanda a second glance. He didn’t like them. Didn’t trust them.

Were they
worthy of the church?

He
doubted it.

Pastor
Andrew shook his head. “I’m afraid I can’t help you.
The soup
kitchen is across the way if your friends find they need
something to eat.” Pastor Andrew went back inside without so much as a word of
goodbye
.

Did she
look like she needed a free meal? Amanda might not have an actual home, but she
wasn’t a vagabond.

Mike
sighed and trotted down the stairs. “
This time,
my best wasn’t enough.”

Duncan
whistled. “Hell must really be freezing over.”

Amanda
wished such a thing was true, but what were they left with? Taking the church
by force? That would only complicate their problems, she was sure.

Laying
hands on her shoulder’s, Mike spoke calmly. “He’s going to need a push only you
can make.”

Amanda’s
eye twitched. Was he implying what she thought he was? That she should just
convince him with her mind? It wasn’t right, even if Amanda could do it on
purpose. “I don’t know…”

“Like you
did at the hospital. You convinced that guard with a simple touch to let us in
to see Ron.”

As she
thought about that, Amanda’s heart stuttered. “Maybe, I did. Maybe I didn’t,
but I can’t do it on command. It just happened.”

Mike’s
thin lips drew into a cynical smirk. “You said you were going to work on being
in control. Seems like a good start, if this thing is really going to work.”

Amanda
glanced at Duncan for help, but aside from him sliding a new toothpick into the
corner of his mouth, he was little help. In fact, he agreed with Mike. Well,
wasn’t that helpful. For a brief second, Amanda considered scowling at
him—actually scowling.
 
“That toothpick
makes you look nothing like your grandfather, I’ll have you know.”

Duncan
coughed and nearly
choked
on his
toothpick as Amanda stomped up the stairs. Behind her, she felt Mike’s thoughts
as if he shouted them directly into her ear— “Is it me, or is she becoming more
like Jessica?”

Maybe he
was right. Maybe she was changing.

The idea
of that made Amanda shudder, but at the same time maybe this was supposed to
happen. With Jessica gone, someone had to lead. Someone had to get her back and
Amanda was a Blood.

Maybe now
she was a leader.

Inside,
Amanda found Father Andrew inside the church. He was stocking bulletins by the
door. On instinct, Amanda dipped her finger into the holy water to make the
sign of the cross and her skin tingled. Rubbing her fingertips together, Amanda
stared at the red mark on her fingertip.

Well,
that couldn’t be good.

Father
Andrew cleared his throat. “Can I help you, Miss?”

Amanda
jumped at the sound of his voice. Nervous laughter helped her heart settle back
into a gentle rhythm. “I’m sorry to disturb you, Father Andrews….”

The
graying priest took in the sight of her from the top of her messy curls to her
dirty toes gripping into his carpet. Something about her set him on edge. His
breath was sharp and his eyes narrowed to a fine point. “It can’t be you. The
Drackett girl?”

He had
been in town when her would-be-parents were murdered? She didn’t remember him,
but as she raised her hand to touch him, Father Andrew backed away. He raised
his hand. “Don’t you touch me, child.”

Afraid of
her, like she was the beast? Like somehow she had been responsible for tearing
those nice people to shreds? “I didn’t hurt them,” Amanda implored him. “And I
won’t hurt you. You just have to listen, for a brief moment, please. You work
here so you must know its secrets. The advantages this place has over the
darkness in the world?”

“Of evil?
The likes of you?”

Evil. No
one had ever accused her of being anything of the sort. Amanda sucked in her
breath and her hand came down on his shoulder. “We need this church tonight and
I’m afraid I can’t take no for an answer, Father. Please, you must cancel your
Bingo night this week. One way or another, they’re coming for me. Don’t let
innocent life get caught in the crosshairs.”

A wave of
calm washed over Amanda. She closed her eyes and saw visions of white doves, a
sandy beach, and then a pulse of energy flowed from her arm into the priest.
What were the images she saw? Why were they important?

She
didn’t know, but Father Andrews was calm with eyes shut. He swayed slightly and
murmured, as if the warmth of the sun cast down upon his face. “Yes, of course.
Bingo for tonight will be canceled. I’ve been meaning to get away for a while.
I think it’s best if I take a short vacation. A long weekend.”

Amanda
removed her hand and nodded her thanks. She hadn’t meant to go that far and
drive him from the church, but as long as he canceled bingo, that was all
Amanda could ask for. It was more than she could have hoped for.

“Thank
you, Father.”

He nodded
and rushed toward the altar. Somewhere in the back was his office, Amanda was
sure of it.
 
The altar itself was
beautiful. Filled with hope. That’s what Amanda felt here. How
must it
be to create such beauty? Amanda wished
she could’ve done something like that. Something other than dealing
with
demons. Life and art. What a beautiful
thing.

Amanda’s
soul creaked and sighed with exhaustion like an old staircase. She needed
rest,
but first wanted to light a candle for
Jessica. They were in a church so maybe if Amanda did, maybe Jessica would feel
it. Maybe she wouldn’t give up hope…

Over by
the front door were the prayer candles. Their flames dancing in perfect harmony
of remembrance. Amanda lifted one of the long sticks with a shaking hand and
she lit it in another candle’s flame. It passed like sorrow, from one person to
another. As she lit a candle, she glanced up at the statue of the weeping Mary.

Let there
be hope in the distance. A simple
gesture,
but Amanda hoped it was enough as she pushed the front door open. Mike and
Duncan waited just outside. Duncan pretended to examine the bushes while Mike
stood with his arms crossed at the wrists; both were anxious as all get out.
Amanda
gave
them a welcoming smile, “You
can come in, bingos been canceled.”

“See,”
Duncan said. “I told you she could do it.”

Mike gave
light chortle into his fist. “This plan might work after all. And just look at
this church.” He spread his arms as they walked into the parish. It was
beautiful, Amanda couldn’t argue with that. The stained glass windows were so
intricate, so bright in color. It was almost like a picture rainbow.

As far as
magically
warded
churches went, it was
something special.

Amanda
stepped into the prism that the windows cast and her body splintered with pain.
Her cheeks felt as if they had spent a full day in the sun in an instant. From
the sheer force of agony, Amanda stumbled
backward
and her hands cupped her smoldering cheeks.

“I’m
okay,” Amanda quickly said as Duncan and Mike rushed toward her. But she felt
the air of their emotion. This with a bad sign. If the church mistook her for
evil what did that mean about the quality of her soul and purity of her spirit?
Would the plan ever come together?

“You’re
far from fine,” Mike said in a gruff voice, but on his sleeve, instead of anger
he wore heartfelt concern.

Duncan’s
worry was spelled out in the crinkled lines around his eyes and the slight
pinch of his lips. Hands on his hips, he watched silently as Amanda raised her
hands and healed the burns on her cheeks.

At least,
that still worked, relief flooded her.

“I can
still do this”, Amanda tried sincerity to win them over. “I can avoid the
windows. I can stand up by the altar.
There're
a million ways we could play this. We can't just give up.”

Distrust.
Disbelief. It festered between the two gentlemen and Amanda had to convince
them to trust her. She just had to.

Mike’s
eyes narrowed. “You suspected this might happen. Guess the
empath
isn’t above keeping her own secrets.
It’s just the rest of us who can’t have them.”

That was
a little harsh, wasn’t it? Amanda rubbed her burned fingertips together.
Suddenly her heart ached for Jessica, more than ever.

The
father rubbed his forehead with his thumbs. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m worried
about
you. For what this means. Few people have
ever come off demon drugs and put their normal lives back together. And you…
your
normal…”

Was most
people’s strange. She opened her mouth to say as
much
but was interrupted by a booming drum of an old woman’s voice.

Scathing
and judgmental. “There is evil in that one. The windows have confirmed it.”
Amanda turned to see an elderly, cross looking nun standing behind them. Her
lips angled down and her eyes cast condemnation, while her face was a sea of
worn lines, gathering at a saggy chin. “The church will never allow you to
stay.”

“Then
what would you have us do,” asked Mike.

“Her soul
must be clarified. If she survives the ritual of purity, then she can stay. If
she cannot, the church will claim more than just her life. It’ll take her body.”
The old woman turned and walked away toward the altar as if her word was
law.

If
someone could help her, Amanda had to embrace it, but the idea of it circled
anxiety in her stomach. What if she couldn’t survive such a ritual? She was
never the strong one, but she had to be now.

Had to.

Anger
swarmed from Duncan. “You won’t touch
her,
”
he called out defensively, feeling protective of Amanda. “If there is to be
ritual, we will perform it. You’ll keep your distance.”

The nun
raised her
hand
but didn’t turn back
around. “So be it.”

Duncan’s
eyes flicked back and forth. “Who the hell are these people?”

“Warriors.”
Mike’s voice was a mumble. “Warriors of the cloth, the spirit, like all demon
hunters. These just rely more on the spiritual side than you. I’ll get from her
what we need. She might be crotchety, but she won’t be able to resist my
charm.” He flashed them an awkward toothy smile and Amanda’s hopes dashed
further.

If Mike
was forcing smiles, maybe it was hopeless.

Duncan
was studying her, and Amanda hadn’t noticed. Talk about off her game. She
rubbed her arms as if she was cold and Duncan placed his hands on top of hers.
He squeezed her fingers with compassion. “How
you
doing with all this?”

“Scared.
Feeling hopeless.” It was true and it was something she hadn’t felt in a long
time. Sure, as a kid after her parents’ murder, that was all Amanda felt. But
Jessica learned to carry it for her. Leaving Amanda the optimist; a great gift
that she had taken for granted until now. The hole in her heart were Jessica
used to be, was growing bigger.