Cross the Line: A Gabriella Cross Paranormal Romance Book 2 (16 page)

Gabby walked to the end of the tunnel while the others waited at the basement threshold. She extended her innate senses, feeling for the enchantments with her mind. She stood just outside of the vast chamber, which was dimly lit by glowing orbs set atop pillars that ran every ten feet along the walls. The room was long, if only forty feet wide, but Gabby could see the aura of magical energy extending from the main hall to rooms yet unseen. Magical energy was everywhere, and Gabby tried hard to keep her power under wraps.

Gold and silver bars were stacked neatly to the right. To the left stood a variety of old suits of armor. Gabby recognized the medieval plate armor and intricate Japanese suits as well. Weapons hung on the wall behind them—swords, axes, spears, and lances, along with bows, maces, and other such weaponry. The walls were adorned with dozens of paintings encased in glass. Crates and intricate boxes cluttered the room, and many of them glowed with mysterious power. A staircase followed the wall on the left side up to a door many stories above, likely leading into Steele Tower.

The vault reminded Gabby of Victor’s collection far below the castle in California, although his had been much larger. She wondered if any of those relics had made their way down here, and if so, was that what Lilith was after?

Gabby focused on the magical energy hanging in front of her like a cobweb and reached out her hand, sending a small pulse through the air and into the web. In her vision, it crackled and hissed before burning out with a fizzle. She took a step into the room and noticed another enchantment, this one covering each of the lined-up suits of armor. A magical trip line of sorts extended from the feet of each suit and snaked around the floor, ready to catch unsuspecting burglars and…Gabby could just imagine those suits coming alive and charging her. She focused on the nearest trip line and sent a nullifying pulse into it, which looked like the thin beam of a flashlight to her enhanced vision. The line disappeared, taking with it the glow of the suit that it was attached to.

Carefully, she nullified all the trip lines and delved deeper into the room, which she soon learned spread out into other chambers off to the left and right of the main room. There were glowing enchantments there as well, but Gabby didn’t bother with them just yet, not knowing which way Egglefinkin would lead them.

She moved back to the tunnel and summoned the others. Lilith led them through, grinning at Gabby all the while. When she entered the chamber, her eyes swept over it. To Gabby, there was a question in those eyes, one that asked if indeed she had lowered all the enchantments.

“There were magical trip lines attached to the armor. They are gone now. Farther ahead the chamber branches off to others. Once Egg tells us the way, I will continue as needed.”

Lilith nodded and turned to the leprechaun. Beady black eyes ignored her, and the nostrils of his long nose flared as he sniffed at the air. He held out a hand and closed his eyes as his black lips peeled back in a kind of grimace.

“The treasure that you seek is this way,” said Egg, pointing them forward.

Gabby followed Lilith, with Quip and Valentine not far behind. Veegor trailed them all, towering over them like the Hulk. That is, if the Hulk carried an elephant gun.

Under the effects of the vampire blood, Gabby knew that she could pull her silver stake and stab it through Lilith’s back before she knew what had happened. She almost did it, but stopped herself, knowing that if anything happened to Lilith, her father would surely die.

Instead she kept her eyes sharp and her senses perked. The chamber was eerily quiet. It reminded Gabby of a tomb, which in some ways, it was. Mysterious relics of ages past were contained in the hundreds of metal crates lining both walls beyond the gold and armor. Gabby could feel great magic within some of them.

Suddenly realizing something, she tapped Lilith’s arm and gestured toward the wooden crates to the right. “There is magical energy coming from all of them.”

“We’re not here for those.”

“That’s not what I’m saying. I can’t distinguish between artifacts and booby traps. And we’re surrounded.”

Just then, one of the crates on the top row to the left began to bounce and shake.

“Be ready to nullify whatever comes out,” said Valentine, pointing a big pistol at it.

“Any chance it’s just a magical vibrator?” said Quip.

Only Veegor laughed.

“Keep moving,” said Lilith, but whatever it was that was inside the crate decided it was time to come out.

The crate suddenly exploded open, all sides flopping down and the lid blowing off, and out came a six-foot cobra. Valentine fired her pistol but missed, while Quip shot a spell at it with one of his wands that froze it in mid-air above their heads.

“Hold your fire!” Lilith hissed.

Valentine visibly shook as she regarded the snake, and again Veegor laughed. Gabby let out a pent-up breath and began to relax, but too soon. The snake suddenly doubled, then tripled in size. In the blink of an eye it became a twenty-foot monster. By the time Gabby raised a hand to nullify the creature, it was falling down on them, as thick as an oil pipeline. Everyone scrambled out of the way as the snake coiled its massive body to crush them. Gabby was struck by the sweeping tail, and she flew across the room to crash into the stacked crates. She pulled herself up swiftly, ignoring the pain, and lashed out with a beam of nullifying energy that hit the snake between the eyes.

Nothing happened.

Gabby struck out again, and still nothing.

By now Veegor had taken ahold of the cobra’s head and was wrestling with it even as the body coiled around his giant frame.

“Nullify the damn thing!” Quip yelled from somewhere on the other side of the two.

“I did. Its magic was exhausted once it grew!”

Not knowing what else to do, Gabby pulled a gun and tried to get a clear shot at its head, but Veegor was in the way. She glanced around, looking for Valentine and the others. She spotted Egglefinkin standing farther down the chamber, waggling his fingers, but whatever spell he was preparing proved unnecessary. What looked like a crimson-skinned demon landed on the snake’s head, pinned it to the ground, snapped off one of the long dripping fangs, and buried it in the beast’s eye. The snake reeled back and swooned as the demon pushed off and beat its wings, rising high above. Veegor gave a grunt and heaved, whipping the snake’s head against the floor and bashing it against the stone until it was mush.

Gabby watched in awe as the demon landed before her. She was struck by the terrible beauty of the creature, whose sleek skin held tight to a muscled and curvy body.

The wings folded into themselves, and the body shrunk by two feet as it changed. Soon Lilith was standing before her, naked.

“Veegor, my cloak please.”

Veegor threw off the dead snake, lumbered over to the discarded cloak, and draped it over her shoulders.

“Shall we continue?” said Lilith.

Gabby meant to answer, but numerous crates on both sides of them began to shake.

“Please, take care of those, Miss Cross,” said Lilith as she nonchalantly walked farther into the chamber toward Egglefinkin.

Quip and Valentine hurried past, not wanting to be anywhere near Gabby when she released her power.

Gabby nullified everything in the crates with two wide blasts. She waited, watching to see if even a spark of magic was left in them. When she was satisfied, she joined the others, who waited for her to the right of the chamber. They were looking down a long corridor leading to a distant doorway.

“What do you see?” Lilith asked.

Magical trip lines littered the hallway, and webs upon webs of enchantments were scattered throughout.

“There are a lot of spells. But they shouldn’t be a problem,” said Gabby.

“Good. We’ll be needing another electronic hex, if you don’t mind, Quip.”

Quip stepped forward and reached out a hand. He drew a glowing blue spell in the air and then pushed it forward, sending it down the hall. Sparks flew as the electronics popped and fizzled in the corridor.

Gabby stepped forward next and focused her nullifying power into a ball between her hands. She released it and watched as the intricate spells and hexes burned out like the dying embers of a fire.

“Clear,” she said.

“Wait,” said Lilith, cocking her head and listening.

Gabby listened as well, focusing on the sounds back in the chamber and ignoring those of the group around her. She heard footsteps, many of them. They were cautious footsteps, methodical.

“We’ve got company,” she told Quip and Valentine.

“Werewolves,” said Lilith, sniffing the air. “Three of them. We’ll be bottlenecked in here. Get to the door. Veegor, take care of our guests.”

“I said nobody gets hurt,” said Gabby, daring to stand before the giant.

Veegor furled his thick brow and looked to Lilith for guidance.

“I’ve got this,” said Valentine. She began strutting toward the entrance to the corridor. “Oh boys,” she called out in a purring, seductive voice.

“Come on, she can handle herself,” said Quip, following the others toward the door.

Gabby watched Valentine disappear around the corner and reluctantly followed Quip. She continued to listen, however, and as she stopped before the door while they puzzled over it, she heard Valentine again call to the men.

“Stop right there,” said one.

“Hands up,” said the other.

Valentine took in a shocked breath, and Gabby could just imagine the succubus fanning herself when she said, “My, what big weapons you have.”

Gabby listened in as Valentine convinced the men to let her have their guns, and also to handcuff themselves together, saying that she wanted to have some
fun.

She returned just as Veegor was pulling the door from its casing.

“Did you take care of them?” Lilith asked as Valentine approached.

“Oh, yeah, they’ll be busy for a while. I told them that whoever could stay quiet the longest could have my hand in marriage. They were all quite sweet.”

Lilith nodded and regarded Gabby. “Do you see anything inside?”

She did. Just inside the door was another trip line. For a fleeting moment Gabby considered saying no, wondering what would happen if she let Lilith walk right into it.

“Yes, there are more booby traps. Stand back.”

Everyone got behind her, and she raised a hand into the air. Focusing on the magical thread, she hit it with a pulse of nullifying power. It fizzled out like the fuse of a bomb, traveling up the walls and out of sight into the ceiling.

“That isn’t good,” said Gabby.

“What? What happened?” Lilith asked.

“Well, I think that one led up into Steele Tower. Possibly a sensor of some kind.”

“It doesn’t matter,” said Lilith. “They already know we’re down here. Is the room clear?”

Gabby nodded.

“Then let’s move. After you, Veegor,” said Lilith.

He stepped through the threshold, and Gabby waited expectantly. She had taken care of the enchantments, and Quip had shorted out the electrical, but there could still be good old fashioned traps lying in wait. When nothing immediately happened, Lilith followed Veegor and Egglefinkin inside. Gabby went next, quickly scanning the cylindrical room. There was nothing inside but a raised dais at the center, upon which sat a silver box.

“This is the treasure that you seek,” said Egglefinkin.

Lilith moved slowly toward the dais and reached out a hand, taking hold of the long silver box with a look of pure reverie. She opened it slowly, eyes gleaming with anticipation. Then a darkness crossed her face, and angry eyes turned to the leprechaun.

Egg stood with his fat cigar sticking out the side of his mouth, beady eyes unblinking. In his right hand he held a long dark spear tip adorned with a sleeve of gold about its center.

“Holy shit,” Quip whispered reverently. “Is that what I think it is?”

“The Lance of Longinus,” said Lilith, nearly breathless. She reached out to Egg. “Give it to me.”

“First you hold up your end of the bargain. I found the treasure, my work is done. Pay up.”

Lilith set the box down and turned slowly to regard the diminutive leprechaun. “You will be paid once we are safely out.”

“Getting out isn’t my problem, that’s Veegor’s problem. I was hired to help you find the spear, I have found it, now you pay. Release me from my contract.”

Veegor looked to Lilith, who glared at Egg. The tension in the room thickened, and Gabby tensed. She glanced at Quip and Valentine, who both wore the same look, one that seemed to say, “Is this our chance?”

Gabby stared at the spear tip, mind racing. She knew enough about the spear—which had supposedly pierced Christ’s side as he hung from the cross—to know that she could not let Lilith get her hands on it. Legend told that whoever possessed the Holy Lance would rule the world, and if Michael’s wealth was any indication, it seemed like there was merit to the myth. Gabby realized that she had made a huge mistake. Her father wouldn’t want this, not for his sake.

“You will hand me the blade and you will be paid,” said Lilith with a dangerous gleam in her eye.

Quip and Valentine both looked to Gabby; their eyes told her that they were ready.

“You do not have the upper hand here,” said Egg. He tapped the fat ash from his cigar and popped it back in his mouth, looking quite pleased with himself. “With a thought I can send this far, far away. If anything happens to me, it will bounce around the end of a thousand rainbows all over the world until the end of time. You will never find it if I do that. Release me from my contract first, then I hand it over.”

“Veegor,” said Lilith.

The behemoth leveled his huge elephant gun on him. Egg looked unimpressed.

Gabby pulled her pistols and pointed them at Lilith and Veegor. A moment later Quip did the same. Valentine drew as well, but Gabby was shocked to be looking down the barrel of Valentine’s gun. Another was pointed at Quip.

“Val?”

Gabby looked to Valentine, whose eyes wavered in shame.

“I’m sorry, Gabby, but I didn’t have a choice,” said Valentine. “She’s got my kids.”

Egg laughed and withdrew a short pistol with a wide barrel and aimed it at Valentine. “Looks like we’ve got ourselves a Mexican standoff. I’ve always wanted to do this.”

“You have made a foolish mistake,” Lilith told Gabby. “You know that your weapons cannot kill me.”

“Maybe not, but they’ll sting like a motherfucker,” said Quip, looking down the barrels between Lilith and Veegor.

Gabby let her power gather at her core and let out a small pulse to remind Valentine and Lilith that she could unleash it at any moment.

Everyone eyed each other slowly, waiting for someone to make the first move.

“You are mistaken,” said Gabby. “Valentine won’t shoot me, and she won’t shoot Quip.”

“Just give her what she wants,” said Valentine to Egg.

He ignored her, continuing to eyeball Lilith sideways. “Release me from my contract!”

“Very well,” said Lilith. “Give me the contract.”

“Don’t move,” said Gabby, turning the gun she had on Veegor at Egg instead.

“I’ll nullify the entire damn room and the spear as well,” Gabby warned.

Lilith gave a delighted laugh. “Silly child, the Holy Lance is not magic. It possesses holy power.”

“Chicago PD!” came a voice, and everyone turned to see the man standing in the doorway, aiming a gun at them. “Drop your weapons, all of you.”

Gabby gasped. “Riggs?”

When no one complied, he slowly stepped through the threshold, settling his weapon on Valentine, who still had guns aimed at Gabby and Quip. “Drop ‘em.”

She glanced over her shoulder with a mischievous grin. “You don’t want to shoot me.”

He looked her over and stared into her beautiful blue eyes. Slowly, his gun began to lower. But just when Gabby thought that Valentine had him in her clutches, he shook his head as if from a trance and raised his weapon once more. “I said drop your weapons!”

“You are immune,” said Valentine, glancing from Riggs to Gabby. “You must have recently fallen.”

“Fallen?” said Gabby.

“In love,” Valentine said, her eyes accusing.

“What’s going on here, Gabby?” Riggs asked, his eyes moving over the group and pausing on Egg and Veegor for a moment before settling on Lilith, the only one not armed.

“She’s a vampire, he’s a leprechaun. That is the Spear of Destiny. She wants it, he wants payment.”

He looked at her like she was crazy. “What do
you
want?” he asked, still aiming at Valentine.

“Consider your words wisely, Gabriella,” said Lilith. “You’ve still a chance to redeem yourself and save your father.”

“I want what I came here for,” said Gabby.

“Very well. You are not needed anymore anyway.” Lilith reached into her pocket and held out a vial of green liquid.

The cure.

“It is one of a kind. Be careful with it,” she said, and then tossed it high into the air in the center of the group.

“No!” Gabby cried, holstering her guns and rushing to catch it.

As she did so, all hell broke loose. Veegor blew Egglefinkin away with his big elephant gun, sending him flying back against the far wall. Simultaneously, Quip opened fire on the big lug and, to Gabby’s right, Lilith threw off her robes and changed into her winged form.

The vial seemed to float in mid-air as Gabby desperately leapt and reached for it. She realized her mistake, however, when Veegor’s meaty fist backhanded her in the shoulder and sent her flailing and screaming into the wall.

Riggs came rushing over to her and held her face gently. “Gabby, Gabby, are you alright?” he said, but she hardly heard him through the gunfire. Behind him she could see Valentine and Quip fighting Veegor. Their bullets were useless, and the spells that Quip threw at him didn’t even seem to faze him.

Lilith, however, was nowhere to be found.

“We’re getting you out of here,” said Riggs. He began to pick her up, but Veegor got ahold of him and tossed him across the room.

Gabby instinctively hit him with a blast of nullifying power, but it did nothing to stop the behemoth. He reached for her with a giant gnarled hand and Gabby scrambled for her gun. She finally pulled it out and put two slugs in his head. He staggered back and glanced around as though he had forgotten where he was. But then after a moment, he leveled his gleaming eyes on her once more.

“Hey big boy!” Valentine called behind him.

Veegor turned around, and Gabby caught a glimpse of Valentine holding the big elephant gun. She pulled the trigger, and Veegor’s head exploded in a mess of gore and rained down on Gabby. She scrambled out of the way as the body of the giant fell where she had been.

“You alright?” Quip asked, limping over to her.

“Where’s Lilith?” Gabby asked, frantically searching the room and hoping beyond hope that someone had killed her.

“She bounced once she got her hands on the spear.”

Gabby remembered the vial with her father’s cure and whipped her head to look at the spot where it would have fallen. She expected to see the precious liquid seeping into the stone amongst shards of broken glass, but the vial was not there.

“Looking for this?” Valentine asked from behind her.

Gabby turned around and nearly cried out with joy. In her hand Valentine held the vial of green liquid.

“Give it to me,” said Gabby, reaching out her hand.

“Well that is a fine way to thank someone,” said Valentine. She handed Gabby the vial nevertheless, and when she did so, Gabby ripped it out of her hand.

“You sold me out,” said Gabby, eyeing the vial and stashing it in her pocket.

“I told you I didn’t have a choice. Lilith has my kids. Do you know what she would have done to them?”

“What do you mean, would have?”

“I fulfilled my end of the bargain, I helped her get her hands on the spear. They will be released as is dictated by the spell pact we made.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that she had your children?” said Gabby. “You didn’t even tell me you
had
children, Valentine. We could have thought of something.”