Their Dark Hunter (Masters of Darkness) (16 page)

“Wow.” Trace raised his eyebrows. “Never seen you dressed casual
ly before. I guess it’s nice.”

Vex rolled his eyes. “It’s fine.
Now let’s go find Helix. He has to know how to locate Melody. If not, maybe he can at least tell us something about what we are.” He led the way down the stairs, and made a new Maserati appear. They got in and headed out of the driveway. “So, where are we going?”

“Gonzales.” Trace messed with the GPS, and Vex turned right
at the voice command. The miles flew by while he was lost in thought. Leon wouldn’t hurt her, would he? No. He loved her. Of that, Vex was certain. But why would he not take her to Harvey’s? Why turn on his kind?

The town rested up ahead
. He looked over at Trace. “Did Evangeline tell you why Leon zapped Harvey? I know you said it was because they had a falling out about staying where Helix was, but did she tell you more?”

“No. I have no idea why he’d do something
like that. I guess he was desperate to take Mel. That’s murder, Vex.” Trace shook his head. “I’m scared for her. I can’t get over the feeling that she’s so sad and afraid. I don’t trust him for a second with her.”

Vex turned right at the light
, and pulled into the convenience store. “I’m starting to feel more of what you’re saying. At first I wasn’t sure that he’d hurt her, but now I just don’t know. We have to find her, Trace. Leon isn’t as good as most people think he is. I’m afraid the darkness he’s harbored has finally taken him over. If that’s the case, there’s no telling what he’s capable of.”

“
I hate this. So what do we do now?” Trace looked over at him.

“We wait for as long as it takes.”

Cars pulled in and out and minutes flew by. “And if he doesn’t come?”

Vex laughed. “He will. If he rules this area, he’ll know intruders are here and he’ll come.”

Still more time went by, and after nearly an hour Vex was losing hope. A black car pulled up beside him and he glanced over. The silver eyes were unmistakable.

Vex rolled his window down.
The immediate domination Helix sent their way was like razorblades down his skin. Damn, Vex hadn’t felt that in a very long time. It looked like he had a new master, and he didn’t like it one bit. He glared at Helix. “We need to talk.”

A laugh came from the man’s mouth. It wasn’t evil like he’d have imagined.
“Didn’t think I’d ever see you again. Follow me.” The black Cadillac pulled out and Vex followed him through the town, and down a long dirt road. They pulled into a ranch and Vex and Trace got out.

“You
’re eternal.” Helix walked up to him and pulled down his shirt where the empty badge was. “I’ll be damned. Finally someone with rank.” His eyes scanned over Vex’s face and he paused. Slowly, he turned to Trace. “I feel your power too.” His hand hovered just over Trace’s chest and he smiled. “Fuck, yes. You’re both exactly what I need. I take it you’re here because you’ve changed and now you have questions?”

“
Kind of. Actually,” Vex rearranged his shirt before continuing, “I’m here about Melody.”

“Melody?” He shook his head, confused. “Who’s that?”

Trace looked over at him and Vex shifted under the eternal’s hard gaze. “She’s your daughter.” The look on Helix’s face could have split nails. A sensation like razor blades raced down his arms and Vex tightened his jaw.

“That’s impossible.”

The information from Melody’s history filtered through his mind. “Maybe not. Did you know a woman named Grace? Grace Carpenter?”

The look was enough.
Helix took a step back. “I haven’t heard that name out loud in years.”

“She had a daughter. Half human. Half demon.” Vex materialized a picture of Melody. “If you ask me
, the resemblance is striking.”

His eyes lifted to them
, slowly. “I’d say so…I didn’t know. It was only once.” The eternal lifted his hand to his heart. “Grace was a fine woman. I fell in love with her fast and hard. But she wasn’t my mate. She was leaving for college back then. Big in the Catholic church,” he laughed. “Ah, Grace. Why didn’t she ever tell me? I longed for her for years. Thought I was doing her a favor by staying away. I mean, who wants to have a demon master for a lover or husband. You know?”

Vex nodded. “Melody is our
mate, Helix. An immortal named Leon … the one you saw the other day? He’s taken her.”

“That fuc
king immortal took my daughter?” The silver in his eyes flashed. “Those do-gooders are just as evil as the rest of us. Yet they get the pampered status. Makes me fucking sick.” The silver of his eye color began to glow, and rippling pushed against Vex’s skin. He put up his guard, not sure what to expect from the master eternal.

Vex tried to calm him down. “
He was her best friend. I’m praying he remembers that and doesn’t hurt her. I need your help to get her back. She’s your blood. You can track her.”

The glowing receded a bit, but not entirely.
“What the hell was she doing mixed up with immortals in the first place? Tell me right now that you both didn’t allow this, because if you did…”

Trace stepped forward and Vex held out his arm. He wasn’t all for someone threatening him, any more than Trace was, but they needed answers, and he sure as hell wasn’t ready to take on Melody’s father without knowing what kind of power he possessed. “She was friends with him long before she knew us.”

Helix took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, you just have to understand. The war between us and the immortals is growing fast. Every week I have an encounter with one and I’ve grown very bitter about them. Hell, some are more evil than we are, and yet they’re still able to live their lives free, while we spend hundreds of years tortured and…” He waved his hand. “Okay, I’m done talking about them. The more I go on, the more pissed I get.”

A groan came from Helix’s mouth.
“You’re both her mates, so that gives you more power over Melody than I would have. Trust me, if I could summon her back, or materialize to her and bring her home, I would. You’re going to have to ask her where she is, yourselves. I hate that there’s nothing I can do.”

“How
are we supposed to ask her?” Vex asked, astonished. “It’s not like she has her phone on her or anything.”

The eternal cupped his hands
. “Watch this.” Light began to glow above his joined palms. “Janet, come here.” The light disappeared and he put his hands down. “That is your link. She will be able to hear you. Tell her how to do it, and let her reveal their location. The light connects us all, so now that we’ve met, you can reach me too.”

A woman walked out of the front door and came to stand next to Helix. She looked a tad bit older than her mate. Helix still looked in his early thirties. The woman was approaching forty or so, and was
completely human. That had surprised Vex. Would this be himself and Melody in ten years or so? He looked at Trace. Even
his
demon wouldn’t age.

“Bring my daughter back to me. I would like to meet her if she’s willing.”

Vex nodded. “I think she’d like that. A few months ago, I wouldn’t have said that. She was a demon hunter. She killed off a lot of my men. Harbored quite the anger for you, but she’s calmed down since she’s accepted our mating.”

“Does she know that I didn’t know about her? If I would have…” Helix sighed and wrapped his arm around his mate. “Tell her to come see me. I’d like to explain my side.
” He looked back at the picture. “She’s beautiful.”

“She is,” Vex agreed. “I’ll be sure to tell her you want to meet. We all have a lot to talk about when I get b
ack. I know nothing about what Trace and I have become. Hell, I wasn’t even aware eternals existed.”

The woman wrapped
her arm around Helix’s stomach, and he held her lovingly. “I wasn’t either. My change was triggered by my mate, I think. I met her a few years after you took over. Something about her.” He looked down, smiling. “She made me want to be good. Well, as good as I could be. But it’s a huge change from where I was.”

Vex looked at Trace.
”We know exactly what you mean.” He smiled at his eternal. Their link had grown since their change, and that was unbelievable since he’d already thought they’d been extremely close. “Well, we should be going. What do I do about the master position?”

“
It’s already been filled, my man. Seems some demon named Dray was picked. I heard it from intel down that way.”

“Dray! I’d only just started training him. He’s not ready.”

Helix shrugged. “Not your problem, anymore. Prezton came down from Houston and took care of it. Dray’s new powers will kick in and he’ll be fine. What you really need to do is promote your boy. You have a master eternal standing right next to you. You’ve trained him, yes?”

“Of course.”

“Change him, and his powers will increase tenfold.”

Trace shook his head. “
You’re not serious?” He looked excited, but it quickly vanished. “Wait, if he changes me, will I have to leave to take over a territory? I can’t be split up from Vex. We’re both mated to Melody. It wouldn’t work.”

“
There are no territories, only a leader, and that’s me. I choose wherever I want, and this is the place I call home. You’re free to go wherever you choose, but you remember, if I call you, you are to be here at once. Understood?”

Helix looked at both of them and Vex knew he wasn’t bullshitting. “We understand.”

Trace took off his shirt and tossed it to the ground. Vex couldn’t believe he was doing this. He never thought he’d see the day that Trace would become a master. And not because he hadn’t earned it, but because of what they shared.

Vex
placed his palm over Trace’s shoulder and summoned the demon deep within him. As he closed his eyes, he prayed his power still worked to transfer a piece of himself over to his friend.

Heat rushed through his limbs and Vex felt a surge explode from his palm. Trace groaned and jerked back. Gold began to weave
around the edges of the new badge, but no letters appeared. He smiled, wide, and looked up to Trace. The medallion looked just like his. “Nice.” Vex said, lowly. “Congratulations, master eternal.”

Trace laughed. “Wow. Definitely the adrenaline rush going on here.”

“The power will take a little getting used to,” Helix said. “For both of you, really. Although he just got a small amount of energy, you both will be growing more powerful by the day. It’ll take about two weeks before you’re complete.”

“Amazing,” Vex said, shaking his head. “I can’t believe a being can hold so much power. I see now why the immortals are shitting themselves. They have every right to be scared.”

Helix shook his head. “They’d have nothing to be scared of if they’d just leave us the hell alone. They keep pushing, trying to get us riled up. I tell you, they’re not good. You’ll see where my hate comes from, soon enough.”

“
I’m sure we will,” Vex said, watching Trace put back on his shirt. “We should really be going. I need to try to contact Melody, and see if I can figure out her location.”

Helix
nodded. “I’ll be here. And keep me updated. If you need any help whatsoever,
do not
hesitate to ask. That’s my daughter I’m entrusting you both with. If I didn’t have obligations here, I’d be getting in that car with both of you. I can’t stand knowing she’s with an immortal. Makes my damn stomach turn.”

“We’ll bring her
home. I can promise you that. We’re not going to stop until she’s safely back with us.”

“Better not.” Helix motioned his hand. “Stay safe and let me know something soon.”

Vex nodded, and he and Trace jogged to the car and jumped in. The moment Helix and his mate disappeared he brought his hands up and glanced at Trace. Within seconds the light appeared. He almost couldn’t believe it.  Vex leaned forward and spoke into his palms. “Mel, I don’t know if you can hear me or not, but your father seems to think this will work, so here it goes. This is what I need you to do.” Vex let the words spill out and prayed he heard something back soon. He wasn’t sure which direction to take, but hopefully he would find out soon.

Chapter
Thirteen

Melody almost screamed as words entered into her mind. She knew immediately that she wasn’t just hearing things. It was really Vex. She closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep as she basked in his voice. God, she never thought she’d hear it again. At least, not any time soon.

Mel, I need you to make the light appear in your palms. Talk to it, and tell me where you are. I need to know where
to go. Mel, please answer me.

She opened her eyes and turned to Leon. He was sitting there eating pizza, and watching TV.
They’d done this for two days, and now it was their third night here. She was already starting to lose her mind around him. Slowly, she sat up.

“Where are you going?”

“Bathroom.”

“Didn’t you just get out of the shower like an hour ago? Why didn’t you go then?”

She sighed. “I did, but I have to go, again. I was thirsty. I drank too much soda. Can I go, or do you need to go with me? Gosh, you act like I can escape out of an enclosed restroom.”

He motioned, and went back to watching TV. Melody crawled off the bed and closed the door, quickly. She locked it and immediately held up her hands. The glow came the moment she summoned it. “Vex,” she whispered. “God, I hope you can hear me.
How is Trace, is he okay? We’re somewhere in Louisiana. I’m not sure how far in we are. I was asleep when we arrived. Please hurry.” Knocking pounded on the door. Melody stared at the light still glowing. “Please,” she whispered.

“Mel, who are you talking to?”
Leon banged louder.

“No one. God, Leon. Can
’t a girl go to the bathroom in peace? I was humming, if you must know.”

Trace
is good. We’re on our way, love. We’ll try to get there as fast as we can. One of us would materialize, but we don’t have a dropping point. Neither of us has ever made contacts there.

“I love both of you
,” she whispered. The light disappeared and she flushed the toilet. Leon was glaring at her as she opened the door.

The sound of his foot tapping brought her eyes down. He stepped
past her and looked inside the small room. “I could have sworn you were talking to someone. It didn’t sound like any song I’ve ever heard.”

“You’re paranoid.” Melody walked back to the bed and collapsed. “Where are we at?”

“Louisiana, I already told you.”

“Yeah, but what town?” Melody grabbed her plastic cup of soda and began chugging it down.

Leon narrowed his eyes. “You don’t worry about that.”

“Then where are we going?”

“Mel,” Leon growled. “Enough questions. Be quiet or I’m going to tie you up and gag you.”

She laughed
, and finished off the Dr. Pepper. “I wouldn’t say that’s your thing at all, Leon. Are you going to bust out your paddle and spank me into submission?” Immediately, she poured another glass. At Leon’s shocked expression she almost spilled the soda.

“What do you know about that stuff? Is that
what Vex and Trace do to you?” Anger filled his face. “I bet they do, don’t they?”

Melody knew to tread very carefully. The last thing she needed was
Leon mad. If she could wheedle more answers out of him, then she needed an excuse to go back to the restroom. Now that she knew her mates were okay, and on their way, she couldn’t do anything that would screw up her only means of communication with them. “Of course not! Who do you think I am?” She downed the cup and he seemed to believe her.

“Hey.”
He twisted his mouth. “You need to slow down on the caffeine. You’re going to be up all night.”

“I’m thirsty.”

He focused back on the TV. “Well, you’re going to be lying there wide awake for hours. Bound.”

“You’re really going to tie me back up?” She pouted her lip. “Leon, come on. This is ridiculous. It’s not too late, you k
now. You can take me back to Vex and Trace. Maybe you can even join up with us. I doubt Harvey would take you back now. And I know if you handed me over, they’d be so happy that they’d gladly take you in.”

Rage took over his face and Melody
sank back into the bed. Who was this man who’d taken over her best friend? It was like she didn’t even know him. Then again, they’d only really been friends for three years. What was the reason he’d been booted to an immortal? What was he mixed up with when he almost gave himself over to her mate?

“Enough about
them. You’re not going back, Melody. You belong to me now. Get that through your head.” He reached out and grabbed her raw wrist, jerking her forward. “Do you understand me? Not another word about them.”

She nodded and bit her lip against the pain.

“Good.” He dropped his grip and turned back to the television.

“Leon?” The anger was still there as he turned to her. “Why did you lose you
r wings?”

An eerie silence settled through the room. Just when she thought he wasn’t going to answer he licked his lips and looked down to his hands. “Angels these days are
not who you think they are. They lie to keep control. Most are corrupt in their own ways. I’d had enough of the lies. I tried to kill my superior, as much as one can. You can say he didn’t appreciate the attempt.”

That was twice. First his superior, and then Harvey. To take a life took a lot. She knew. The first time she’d pulled the trigger on a demon it
literally made her sick. And that was a demon. But an angel, and his superior, no less. He wasn’t right in the head. For so long she’d held him on a pedestal, and yet, deep down he was just as bad as any demon or psychopath out there.

Trace’s voice broke through in her mind.
I know you probably can’t talk to me right now, but just know I’m thinking of you. I miss you, Mel. We’re trying to get there as fast as we can.

Tears came to her eyes at
his voice. This world she’d been born into was not as it appeared. The good guys were bad, and the bad guys were good. At least from what she’d experienced. Yeah, the majority of the demons were just that, but Vex and Trace had been the most honest, caring people she’d met. The ones starting all the trouble were Harvey, Leon, and all of the immortals.

“Why are you crying?”

She looked up at Leon. Why couldn’t he understand that she didn’t want to go? Didn’t want to be with him? “Have I ever led you to believe that I loved you? As more than a friend, I mean.”

The question seemed to catch him off-guard. “No.” He stood from the bed and walked over, turning off the television. “Who you are and what you’ve done drew me to you
.” He sat on the edge, next to her. “I watched you come home from work every day, exhausted. You’d lie there and tell me stories of the sick kids you’d taken care of and I was in awe of you. Then, when you started going out and killing demons, I couldn’t believe your bravery. You were risking your life to take out evil, regardless of what ran through your blood. The combination of what rested in your soul sucked me in until I was lost. I tried fighting it, but I just can’t anymore, Mel. We belong together. You make me want to be good. I need that.

“
Before you came along I was lost. The slippery slope of darkness I was on was sucking me down fast. I’m there again. I need you.” He came to sit by her. “Let go of your mates. I know you love me too. You do, you’re just blinded by Vex and Trace.”

Melody wasn’t sure what to say. If she told him no, then she was sure he was going to snap. But she couldn’t tell him yes. “Leon.”

“Shh.” He pressed his finger against her lips. “Just listen to my voice. Remember what brought us together to begin with. We were so happy then. Close your eyes and picture it.”

She obeyed, and flashes of their meeting, and the
ir first few months projected in her mind. They had been extremely happy. She missed that Leon.

Contact pressed against her lips, and she felt his hand come behind her head. Pulling back from his kiss was automatic, except that his hand was like stone and she couldn’t move anywhere.

“Give in to it, Mel. I know you have love in your heart for me.” His lips eased into hers again, and she was tired of this charade already. She’d told him a million times she wanted to be with her mates. Why wouldn’t he just listen to her?

“Leon.” She said his name
aloud. If he was in a moment, it was ruined now. His face only moved back a few inches, but at least it gave her some space. “You have got to stop this. Enough already. The Leon I knew would have never forced himself on a woman, no matter what. Even a kiss taken without consent is not right and you know it. Holding my head still so I can’t move takes away from my will to choose. Even if I wanted to kiss you, I wouldn’t for the mere fact that you’re acting like this.”

His head lowered and a frustrated sound came from
his mouth. “I can’t stand it. They’re in your head.” He lunged toward her and she jerked back, but his hands laced around her head, preventing her escape. “It doesn’t matter what I do. Vex and Trace? They’re ingrained in your mind. I just want to…” He was applying so much pressure to her temples that a cry came from her mouth.

“Leon,” she whimpered.

Vex’s yell broke through.
Melody! I know he’s hurting you. I can feel it. I’m going as fast as I can, baby. Hold on.

“Maybe I’ll just force him out. It’s that bond you
share with both of them. There’s a tie, and if I could just sever it...”

Her hand came up and jerked his hair back. “By what, crushing my skull
? Let go of me right now.” A scream filled the room as his finger dug into the pressure point on her cheek, between her jaw and ear.

Suddenly, Leon was all the way across the room. She’d never even seen him move,
and yet he was leaning against the far wall staring at her with a shocked expression. Her hands automatically cupped together and she called the light deep within her. It began to glow brightly in her palms.

“You
never touch me again. Ever!” She stood on the bed, glaring at him.

“Mel, I swear. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” He groaned and leaned forward, resting his head in hands. “I can’t think.”

“Vex! Trace!” She screamed their names, feeling the pull to her mates.

We’re
here. What’s happening?
The worry in Vex’s voice was evident.

What the fuck is he doing to you, Mel?
Trace quickly broke in. The back and forth made it hard for her to think.

“Who taught you to do
that? That’s for immortals only!” Leon raced forward and she knew the bad Leon was back. “You were talking to them in the restroom. I knew it!” Melody sent the light flying his way, but he swiped it with his hand. “You’re nowhere near strong enough for me, Mel.”

She jumped off the bed and let out a scream. If anything, maybe someone would call the cops
… anything to get this guy away from her.

Weight crashed into her body, and the carpet stung against her arms as she slid
across the floor. Desperation had her clawing at him with everything she had.

“Enough of this!” The back of his hand connected with the side of her face and stars covered her vision. Still, she tried her best to fight.

The belt was suddenly wrapping around her wrists and ankles and the night air hit her. They were leaving again. Tears streamed down from her face as she fought against him. He threw her into the passenger seat and buckled her in, pulling the safety belt tight. The car sped onto the main road fast and she couldn’t stop crying. Her mates would never find her now. She’d messed up by calling to them in front of Leon. Now the immortal would never leave her by herself.

***

Louisiana had come and gone. Trace and Vex had searched everywhere
for signs of Melody. It wasn’t until their second day in the state that they’d finally come across the motel the two had stayed in. With fliers of both of them, the front desk clerk had recognized Leon. It was a small victory, but one that didn’t hold much weight since they had left, and were long gone by now.

The moment they entered the state of Mississippi, Trace knew they weren’t going to find anything there, but it didn’t stop them from looking and stopping at every store and motel along the way. Melody hadn’t spoken to them in days and it was downright sickening. Trace constantly invaded her thoughts, trying to reassure her that they were trying everything they could to find her. He begged her to help them out the moment she could. Yet, nothing came.

Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina pretty much turned out much like the rest of the other states. Nothing. No signs of the two. If they’d come through, they hadn’t stopped, or at least, not with the people who were currently working. It was frustrating as hell.

The glow lighting up the interior of the Maserati was a common sight. It seem
ed like not an hour went by that he or Vex didn’t tell her something. As Trace stared into the light in his palms he pushed back the nausea. Whether it was from his body or Melody’s, he wasn’t sure. The fast food was disgusting and he couldn’t force himself to eat another bite of any of it.