Typical. The moment I got naked, shit would hit the fan.
I reached up and turned off the lever. An eerie silence descended. The lack of noise raised the hairs along my arm.
The Politia had found me once again. They still thought that antagonizing me would get them somewhere. All it did was piss me off.
The mosaic saints in Andre’s bathroom pleaded with their eyes as I toweled off. What they wanted me to do, however, was a mystery.
A set of clothing rested on Andre’s bed.
Hurriedly, I pulled on the items, sighing out my relief at the shirt and pants. Now I looked less like Elvira and more like … Buffy.
Whatever, I looked better.
I stalked out the door, passing several faded paintings of various individuals, and that saint’s relic. Vampires and their old-ass trinkets.
Andre’s coven gathered in the entryway. When they saw me striding out, one after another dropped to a knee.
My steps faltered. Even now, after I was taken, they still showed their allegiance. Or maybe it was because I was taken.
“You can’t have her. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.” I could hear the cold determination in Andre’s voice. He was already outside, facing down whatever had come for me.
I nodded to the vampires who rose. They stepped aside as I passed through, regarding me with respect—and probably wondering what, exactly, I was.
One of Andre’s men intercepted me. “Miss, you should stay inside. Andre has asked us to protect you the best we can.”
“Andre, she is no longer your soulmate. She’s the devil’s tool,” a much fainter voice drifted in.
In the distance I could hear the blades of a chopper slicing through air. Whatever was out there had brought in massive reinforcements, and Andre was taking them on alone.
“I’m not going to sit by and have him fight my battles,” I said, sidestepping the man.
“But miss—” He made a grab for my hand. A mistake. I blasted him back with my power.
Around me I heard gasps from Andre’s men and his coven, but no one else tried to stop me.
I didn’t bother picking up my pace. I knew Andre well enough to understand that out of all those supernaturals, the seven hundred year old vampire king was the most dangerous being out there.
At least, until I arrived.
The siren rose to the surface. She no longer felt like a different, dangerous being that resided under my skin, though I still referred to her as such. More like another facet of my personality, one that came to my aid when I needed help. Her presence threw a little more sway into my hips.
I passed through the entrance and got my first glimpse of the standoff outside. At least a dozen cars fanned out along the circular drive, and—
Was that a tank?
Odd to think that a supernatural police force needed something so mundane. Odder to think that the tank was meant for me.
The Politia had come to Bishopcourt armed for war. All to stop little ol’ me.
In addition to all the manpower, mounted halogen lights shined on us. God, did they burn.
As soon as I strode out the front door, the officers tensed. I could smell their mounting fear, and I drank it in.
Having over two dozen weapons trained on me should’ve been cause for worry. Instead, the siren purred, welcoming the potential bloodbath.
They can’t kill you, consort.
I turned, and for the barest of moments, the devil stood to my left.
Show them what happens to people that cross you.
His form dissipated, and he was gone once more.
I shouldn’t listen to that sick, insidious voice, but it lured me like mine did men.
“Hands behind your back!” one of the officers shouted.
Only then did my soulmate turn. His eyes flashed as they caught sight of me, clearly displeased that I had joined him.
“If you come quietly, we will leave this place without drawing blood. No one has to get hurt,” the officer continued.
He should’ve stopped talking a long time ago.
My fangs dropped, my skin glowed brighter. I was a far cry from the innocent school girl that had come to this island all those months ago.
The Politia had made a similar promise mere hours ago. They’d lied. They then chose—unwisely—to barge onto Andre’s property with all the trappings of war. Another mistake.
I was a shark that scented blood. The fight that had come to my doorstep called to the darkness in me. There’d be no stopping me now.
I flicked my gaze to each mounted halogen light, and one by one the bulbs burst. I didn’t stop there. I burned out every single bulb within range. Plastic cracked as car lights flickered out. Screams came from inside as lights popped and burned out. The chopper circling the estate went dark. Lamps that lined the drive dimmed to darkness one by one. I drove the light out until I was the brightest thing out here.