Influential_Magic

chapter 29





I slid the car catawampus into a tight space about a block from Eadric’s club, The Red Door. The key was barely out of the ignition before I jumped out onto the sidewalk. In my haste, I fluttered my wings to fly, but the instant pain kept my feet on the ground. Ouch! Talisen had done what he could to help speed the healing, but I wouldn’t be flying for quite a while. I broke into a run, ignoring the throb in my shoulder blade.

The crowd waiting to get in cast me aggravated glances as I pushed past them.

“What’s the hurry, honey?” The bouncer looked me up and down and motioned to the back of the line. “You’ll have to wait your turn.”

I lifted my chin and cocked a hip. “Tell Davidson Laveaux Willow’s here.”

The bouncer blinked.

Raising my eyebrows, I took a step closer. “You heard me, right?”

A dark shadow crossed over his features as his eyes narrowed.

Phoebe finally caught up, breathing heavily. “Jesus, Willow, you could’ve parked so the ass of the car wasn’t blocking half the street. I had to do a spell to set a caution flare.” She glanced between me and the brooding bouncer. “What’s going on?”

I fought to keep from barreling past the a*shole. Getting clocked by the doorman wouldn’t get me inside any faster. “Mr. Power Trip won’t let me in. Nor will he take half a second to call David.”

Phoebe pulled her phone out of her pocket. I frowned, wondering when I’d last seen mine. Cripes. It was still in my purse on the floor in Maude’s office. She held a finger over the screen. “You have two seconds before I press call.”

The man straightened his back, towering over us. “You’ll need to leave the premises now. Mr. Allcot has specifically asked for his family to not be disturbed.”

Phoebe sighed. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I glared at the jackass bouncer in front of me. Clenching my fists, I dug my nails into my palms. What I wouldn’t give to take a swing right then. Phoebe spoke low into her phone. I couldn’t hear her over the growing buzz of the crowd.

A girl behind me whined. “Jeez. What makes you so special? Just because you have wings doesn’t make you better than the rest of us. Go to the back of the line or get the hell out of the way.”

I spun, anger streaming off me in waves. “F*ck off.”

The girl huffed out a laugh and glanced at the two men beside her. “Hear that, boys. The faery wants a piece of this.” She ran her hands over her chest, cupping her breasts, and blew me a suggestive kiss. “But I’m not into skinny, entitled bitches.”

I took a step forward, all the stress of the last few days churning inside me, straining to explode. The fury on my face must have been a warning because the smirk disappeared from the curvaceous blonde, and she took a few steps back.

“That’s enough.” The bouncer grabbed my arm.

“Let go!” I tried to shake him, but his iron grip held me firmly in place.

“You’re causing a scene,” the bouncer said quietly. He leaned down, his breath rancid with onions. His harsh tone sent an angry shiver down my spine. “Either leave under your own power, or I’ll force you to.”

The thick sensation of vampire energy coated my skin. I stilled.

“Lucas,” a silky female voice said from behind us. “What are you doing?”

The bouncer straightened and glanced back. “Ms. Pandora. My apologies. This faery”—he said faery as if we fae were toxic waste—“was just leaving.”

Pandora’s elegant face flashed from breathtakingly gorgeous to vicious terror. Her fangs popped out and her eyes turned red. “Let go of Ms. Rhoswen.”

The bouncer froze, his eyes going wide with fear.

“Now,” she growled.

In slow motion, he let go and stepped back. The blood pulsed through my bruised arm. Phoebe pushed me forward into the club while Pandora waited for us to pass.

“Next time,” the vampire hissed, “you’ll not only let her in, but you’ll alert the residence we have a guest. Or else Eadric will void your contract for eternal life. Understood?”

I peered over her shoulder. Good Goddess, he was on the list to be turned? He’d be terrifying as a vampire. I swallowed the ball of unease rising in my throat. There was absolutely no time to be worrying about future vampires when a present one was torturing my aunt.

Without waiting for Pandora, I took off, Phoebe close at my heels. We headed straight for the back stairs. It wasn’t long before I felt Pandora catch up to us. I increased my pace, taking two stairs at a time.

The big double doors loomed in front of me. I came to an abrupt halt. Maude. What had David done to her? No time to be a chickenshit. Maude needed me.

I flung the doors open. A blast of vamp energy hit me full force. I let out a muffled groan and pushed my way through the thick, invisible mass.

Allcot leaned back in his chair and nodded in Pandora’s direction. “Davidson’s expecting you.”

Pandora nodded once and disappeared.

I glanced around the empty room and then stalked to his desk. “Where is she?”

He raised his eyebrows in exaggerated calm. “Nicola is recuperating. On behalf of Pandora and myself, we extend our appreciation for the role you played in her recovery.”

I planted my palms on the desk and leaned in. “Not Nicola. My aunt, Maude. Where. Is. She?”

He brought his hands together, holding his index fingers and thumbs in a triangle. “Davidson is handling her interview. As soon as he’s satisfied, you’ll have a chance to speak with her before she’s terminated.”

Horrified rage exploded from deep in my gut. “Terminated!” I shrieked and ran to the nearest door, trying but failing to yank it open. It was locked.

“Willow,” Phoebe demanded in her don’t-f*ck-with-me voice. “Stop. You’ll never leave this room unless Allcot decides he wants you to.” She huffed in disgust and turned to glare at the vampire. “Isn’t that right?”

“I’d say that’s accurate,” he agreed.

“That’s what I thought.” She jerked her head, indicating I should join her. “Agent Rhoswen has reason to believe Maude was under the Influence, and now she isn’t. Your tactics are highly inappropriate.”

“Where is she?” I asked again, this time my voice low and barely controlled.

He ignored me and studied Phoebe with interest. “My tactics?”

She held up the tiny silver beetle and flicked a switch. David’s voice boomed, filling the room. “Your lies are only prolonging our time together.” He paused and there was a moment of silence before a low, tortured moan turned my heart to stone.

Phoebe flicked the switch and tossed it on Allcot’s desk. “David has an identical one. I’ve heard his demands. Her pleas. Every scream, every protest, and every f*cked up vamp-biting moment.” She pulled out her sun agate and aimed it at him.

I stifled a gasp. Though I was all for her using it if it meant we could get to Maude faster.

He stood, deliberately slow. I knew there was no chance of Phoebe having enough time to activate the agate should he decide to move. A vampire his age could only be caught off guard. All it would take is one flinch, and he’d disappear before our eyes.

“Do not threaten me, Agent Kilsen. The result will not benefit you.”

Phoebe didn’t move, but she didn’t back down, either. “Take us to Maude and there will be no need to threaten you.”

Allcot crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not pleased you planted a bug on one of my people.”

It was my turn to huff. “She didn’t bug him, you arrogant fool. David offered to take one so she could trace him if need be. How do you think she knew where David and I were?” I spit the lie out before I could stop myself. Phoebe had given me one, but I’d crushed it. She must have planted another one on David just in case.

Phoebe lifted her chin, agreeing with my statement.

Allcot loomed over us. No emotion passed over his unreadable face. Just when I was ready to scratch his clear blue eyes out, he snapped his fingers and one door slid open, vanishing inside the wall. “This is your one pass. Test me again, and you’ll be the ones in chains.” He turned and disappeared into thin air.

“Huh,” Phoebe said, sounding surprised. “That went surprisingly well.”

“Really?” I choked out, not believing I’d verbally challenged Allcot. I’d bet not many mortals survived such altercations. “Threatened to be chained up isn’t my idea of going well.”

She waved a dismissive hand. “He had to say something to maintain his almighty persona.”

We took slow, deliberate steps into the adjoining room. I paused, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness. “They couldn’t turn a light on?”

“Why? Vampires have super sight.” She swept past me, giving my arm a slight reassuring squeeze. “David, get your skinny ass out here.”

“Phoebs,” I scolded in a loud whisper.

She ignored me and moved deeper into the room. I could barely make out her form in the darkness. “Where are you, you useless, cold-blooded—?”

“That’s enough.” The warning in David’s quiet tone came through loud and clear.

“Lights would be good here,” Phoebe said, totally unfazed.

I cleared my throat. “David?”

A flash of air made me shiver, and I jumped when David appeared beside me. His chiseled arms came around me, pulling me in close for a hug. “You’re okay?” he asked into my hair.

My pulse raced, but not from excitement. Irritation. I pushed him back. “Where’s Maude?”

He stared down at me with puzzled eyes. “You don’t want to know what happened after we were separated?”

I squinted, studying him in his unwrinkled gray silk shirt, black jeans, and perfectly groomed hair. Not a scratch on him. He didn’t look like he’d suffered a great deal. “Later. Right now, I want you to take me to Maude.”

He shook his head. “Pandora’s with her now. When she gets what she needs, we’ll go in.”

“Now!” I demanded.

He crossed his arms, his expression going carefully blank, the way it always did when he hid his thoughts. “No.”

Phoebe laughed. “Dude, get your head out of your ass and take us to Maude. Otherwise you’re likely to never see this one again.” She pointed at me. “And we both know you don’t want that.”

I mimicked his stance, arms crossed and a careful emotionless expression. At least I hoped so. I was so pissed my eyes should’ve been crossing. “David, Maude was manipulated. Under the Influence. Whatever you’ve done to her is unacceptable. Stop whatever’s happening to her or I swear to God, I’ll make it my mission to bring you all down.”

He glanced between the two of us, wariness flashing in his eyes. “She told us that, too. But it isn’t true.” He turned. “I’ll show you.”

Another door across the room swooshed open.

I ran, barreling into the room, ready to pry Pandora off Maude with my bare hands. But what I saw made me skid to a stop. Nicola was curled up in a ball on a velvet settee, tears streaming down her face. Where the hell was Maude? And what happened to Pandora’s sister?

I turned abruptly, coming face-to-face with David. “What did you do to her?”

That muscle in his jaw pulsed again. “Not long after Pandora brought her home, she woke up like this. I was going to ask you the same thing.”

“Nothing. I…” The poor girl was shaking with what seemed to be fear. Was she terrified Allcot would punish her for first accusing him, or even getting caught in the spell in the first place? My stomach churned. Had my potion caused this? An internal battle raged as I tried to decide what to do next. Maude needed me, but so did Nicola. I couldn’t leave the poor girl now. I moved forward and placed a gentle hand on her forehead. “Nicola, what is it?”

She shook her head slightly, but her big brown eyes pleaded with me. For what, I didn’t know.

“Are you sick? Was it the potion I gave you?”

She squeezed her eyes shut and then popped them open, keeping her intense gaze locked on mine. Shaking her head, the trembling intensified.

“Talisen’s healing spell?”

She shrank back, trying to curl into herself.

“That’s it.” I got to my feet, turning to tell Phoebe to call Tal, but Nicola grabbed my arm and pulled me back down.

The effort left her winded as she huffed out, “The witch.” Her eyes rolled and she passed out again. But this time she woke almost instantly, gasping for breath.

I glanced once at Phoebe and David, then crouched back down. “Nicola, I need to ask you a few things. The last thing I want to do is hurt you further, so just hold up a finger if you can’t answer. Is that all right?”

She clutched the side of the settee and bobbed her head.

She couldn’t mean Phoebe; she hadn’t done anything to her other than fight physically. It had to be the one who gave her Influence. Hadn’t I broken that spell? “I’m going to ask some things that might not make sense. I’d appreciate it if you could answer as honestly as possible. If you can’t, it’s okay.”

She didn’t respond, only kept staring with her giant brown eyes. I took that as consent.

“Did David force you to eat Influence?”

He shifted behind me as if he’d taken a step forward in protest. I chose to ignore him.

“No,” she said, her voice feeble. Her eyes stayed big and round, unchanged.

“Did Phoebe?”

My partner gave a small huff, and I held back a smile. I knew damn well she hadn’t done any such thing.

“No.”

“Pandora?”

“No!” Nicola’s voice was stronger.

Good, that’s what I was hoping for.

“Allcot?”

Her mouth worked and her pupils dilated, but no words came out.

“Yes or no?” I said gently.

“N…yes.” The light brown line of her irises disappeared for a fraction of a second as her pupils took over. She blinked and her regular color returned. If I hadn’t been watching for it, I never would’ve seen it.

“One more. Did someone spell you to keep their secrets, even if the Influence wore off?”

She stopped rocking and stared at me, her eyes filling with tears. She seemed frozen, unable to move or speak.

“It’s all right, Nicola. I’ve already figured it out. You don’t need to answer.”

One fat tear spilled down her temple. “Hurts…”

I nodded and wiped it away. “I know. We’re going to fix that right now.” I kept a hold of her hand. “Phoebs?”

“Yeah?”

“You got a spell-breaking curse handy?”

David stepped between us. “You can’t use anything like that here.”

I shoved him with one hand. “Go tell Pandora we need her. And tell everyone to keep their hands off Maude until we work out what’s going on with Nicola.”

He cast me a dark look and did his vampire disappearing act. It was obvious they wouldn’t believe anything I said until I broke the hold over Nicola. One of their own had been hurt, and the only suspect they had was my aunt.

“Wil,” Phoebe whispered into my ear. “I don’t have anything like that. They didn’t let me bring my spell case.”

“Shit!” I stood and glanced around the plush room. The door swung open and Pandora rushed in. “What’s going on? Is she worse?” Pandora dropped gracefully beside Nicola, cradling her hand. “We’ll fix this, I promise.”

David came back into the room, and the first thing I noticed was blood on his shirt. I poked a finger into his hard chest. “Where did this come from? Maude? Or a feeder? Huh?”

He stood, stoic and unmoving.

I scrutinized Pandora for bloodstains. There weren’t any. “Where’s my aunt?” I demanded again. I knew how to fix Nicola’s aliment, but I didn’t have the tools.

“Take her to the director,” Pandora ordered, her voice thick with emotion. “Do it, David. Maude’s been useless for the last six hours anyway.”

Pandora’s long sheet of blond hair covered her and her sister’s faces, giving them an illusion of privacy.

David huffed out a long-suffering sigh. “This way. Try to remember the measures we take are necessary.”

Heat burned my skin from the inside out. Necessary measures my ass. Another door whooshed open, but this time bright fluorescent lights filled the stark white chamber.

I stepped through the opening and shielded my eyes. Then I spotted her. Maude sat slumped over, her black wings crumpled and pinned to the wall. Blood trailed from her neck to her thighs, bite marks everywhere. Nathan stood to the side, blood dripping from his fangs.

My heart stopped. It took a moment to start breathing again, but when I did, I turned cold, hard eyes on David.

“Wil,” he said, reaching for me.

I stepped back, my muscles trembling with the effort to stay in control. Every fiber of my being screamed to stake him. If only I had one and the strength to execute such an act.

The only weapon I had was some small piece of his heart. “Don’t ever touch me again. I’m not your Wil, and never will be. Got it?”

He stared at me for a long time, then took a step back.

I ran to Maude’s side. Her head listed to the left. “Aunt Maude,” I soothed. “I’m here. Everything’s going to be okay now. Hear me?”

A soft moan came from the back of her throat.

I glanced up, finding Allcot standing beside his son.

“Unchain her.” I wrapped an arm around my aunt, pressing her head to my shoulder. She winced with the effort. “She risked herself to save me. She isn’t the mastermind behind this…” I waved a hand in the air. “…crazy situation.”

Allcot studied us curiously, almost amused.

Sick bastard.

“Come up with a solution to cure Nicola of her condition and I’ll free her.”

I started to argue but Maude lifted her heavy head, and her eyes focused. “Willow’s Influence. It’ll break the hold.” She collapsed back on my shoulder, her body limp.

“Maude?” I cried, shaking her a little. “Damn it, Maude, wake up!”

“It’s the pain killers,” Allcot said and took out his phone. A second later he commanded, “Bring it up.”

I stood. “You gave her painkillers?”

“Yes, young Willow. It became clear a while ago either she was telling the truth or she was too delirious to tell the difference. There was no need to keep her suffering. Pandora administered the drug ten minutes ago.”

I gaped. He was a total enigma.

The door swung open and a cart was wheeled in. Did every vampire move at warp speed? It was enough to give a girl vertigo. He thanked his servant and waved a hand. “A fresh dose of your Influence. Administer it to my sister-in-law.”

“Oh shit,” Phoebe mumbled and took a step closer. “This cannot end well.”