Red Angel (24 page)

He struggles with the order but there’s enough from the old enhancement spell still lingering to make him do my bidding. However, I reckon that before the week is out, he’ll be a completely changed man. Good for him.

Dahlia’s nose wrinkles as Matt and Fiona leave. ‘She still had a lot of blood left in her.’

‘If he took any more from her, she’d feel weak for days. It’s better this way.’

She raises one shoulder. ‘I guess you’re the expert, you’ve been a vampire for longer than I have.’

I try to laugh. ‘Not much longer. How are you feeling? Are you alright?’

‘I’m fine. Worried about your grandfather, of course.’

‘Of course.’

She licks her lips. ‘I’m also really thirsty. It must be effect of the alcohol. Some water will help.’

I don’t want her to dilute the drugs before they even begin to work. ‘Before you do,’ I stall, ‘I wanted to see how things were going with Arzo. I care a lot about him, you know.’

‘I do.’ She nods. ‘He cares a lot about you too.’

She stands up to walk through to the tiny kitchen. I get up and bar her way, trying not be too obvious. ‘Is he really mad?’ I ask. ‘You know, because I accused you of … that stuff.’

‘He’ll get over it. He’s like that. It’s so easy to twist him round your finger. He might be Sanguine but his spine’s not any stronger than it was when he was a human.’ She blinks, as if surprised at her own words.

‘So you think he’s weak?’ I prod, my stomach tightening as it becomes obvious that the drugs are starting to work.

‘Yes.’ She slurs the word. ‘Like most men.’

‘Is Medici weak?’

There’s a flash of fear across her face. ‘No. He’s not.’ She shakes her head emphatically. ‘He’s definitely not weak at all.’ At least we agree on something. I’m about to ask her another question to test how far gone she is, when she speaks again. ‘He’s going to make me strong too. He promised.’

My body tenses. ‘Medici is going to make you strong?’ She nods. ‘Why is he going to make you strong, Dahlia?’

‘Because I’ve done everything he asked.’

‘Did he ask you to hurt my grandfather?’

‘No.’ Damn it. She’s not finished though. ‘He asked me to murder him.’

I stop breathing. Even though I’d believed it deep in my core, it still stuns me to hear her say it out loud. ‘So you poisoned him?’

‘I did.’ She looks at me anxiously. ‘He is going to die, isn’t he? Lord Medici won’t be happy if he lives.’

I launch myself at her, wrapping my hands around her throat. ‘I knew it!’ I spit. ‘I knew you’d done it all along. You’ve played every single one of us!’

Her eyes bulge and she scrabbles at my fingers and there’s a croaking sound as she gulps for air. I tighten my grip. Tears squeeze from her eyes and her legs start to thrash. I stare into her reddening face; I want to see her die.

Kimchi whines. He pads up next to me and licks my arm. It’s a tentative movement rather his usual exuberant slobber. I rip my eyes away from Dahlia to check on him. He whines again.

‘Go away, Kimchi!’ I order. He lifts one paw and places it on my knee. ‘Kimchi…’ I curse and release Dahlia.

She crawls backwards, hugging herself and staring at me in horror. ‘Why?’ she whispers, barely able to speak. ‘Why would you do that?’

I pass a hand across my forehead. ‘If you have to ask that,’ I say tiredly, ‘then you’re not as smart as I thought you were.’ I stand up. ‘Come on, Kimchi. Let’s get out of here.’ He barks, nudging me with his wet nose. ‘You’re a good dog,’ I tell him.

I leave Dahlia where she is and walk out, my shoulders slumped and my body heavy.

Kimchi and I shuffle down the street. He keeps throwing me anxious looks, as if he’s afraid I’m going to run back and finish the job. Instead I fondle his ears. There’s a faint rain falling, cooling the night even further, washing away all our sins.

When we reach the small park several streets away, I let Kimchi off the lead. For a moment he doesn’t move. He stays by my side. I give him a gentle push and his tail thumps then he takes off, racing round after invisible rabbits.

I reach into my pocket and pull out my white pebble. It’s a silly thing really. I lift it up and clutch it against my chest. Another tear leaks out, then another and another.

I sit down a nearby swing and gently rock myself. The familiar, child-like movement helps. When I finally have control of myself again, I carefully tuck the pebble away.

‘You’re alright, Bo,’ I say to myself. ‘You’re still alright.’ Just.

Kimchi lopes up, his tongue lolling in what I can only imagine is some kind of doggy relief. ‘Let’s go back,’ I say. ‘I need to get to the hospital and I’m pretty sure they’re not going to let you in.’ I stroke his coat. ‘Even if you do eat all my clothes and all my furniture, you’re pretty much the best dog in the world.’

He barks again and I hush him. ‘Normal people are sleeping. Let’s be considerate.’ I smile at him, probably the first genuine smile that I’ve given for hours. Then the pair of us leave for home.

Before we even turn the corner into our street, I know something is wrong. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s an uncomfortable prickle down my spine. Kimchi growls. I press myself against the grime-covered wall and peer round.

There are two figures standing in the middle of the street, gesticulating angrily at each other. Dahlia and her Lord. The fact that Medici has blown her cover by appearing like this can mean only one thing. I’m not going to let that happen; if I’m not going to kill her, no one else is either.

I loop Kimchi’s lead round a lamp post. He whines, his large brown eyes gazing at me. ‘Sorry, buster,’ I whisper. ‘I don’t want you to get hurt.’ I pat his head and start to stroll down the centre of the road. Dahlia continues to wave her arms but Medici twists round to watch my approach.

‘The Red Angel,’ he says, as soon as I’m close enough. ‘Have you come to rescue this poor little flower?’ He raises a thin eyebrow at me.

‘You’re not welcome here.’

He throws back his head and laughs. ‘This is a public place. You can’t stop me from walking down the street, Ms Blackman.’

‘Bo!’ Dahlia shrieks. ‘You have to do something! He’s going to hurt me!’

We both ignore her. ‘Last chance, Medici. Get your bony arse out of here.’

He runs his tongue across his gleaming white fangs. ‘Or what?’

‘Just leave.’

He steps towards me, amusement lighting his expression. ‘No.’

I rush him, head down and fists out, but he’s too fast. The only thing I manage to head butt is air.

Medici tsks. ‘You brought down a Kakos daemon. I thought you’d be faster.’

I growl and try again, using the bonnet of a car as a base to leap off. This time I have more success, scissoring my legs round his neck. He grabs my calves and turns his head, his teeth sinking into my thigh. I howl and he throws me off.

Rolling to my feet, I confront him once more. ‘Do you really think you’re going to get away with this?’ I ask. ‘With opening up recruitment? Breaking away from the other Families?’

‘My dear Bo, I already have.’

I swipe out a punch, catching the edge of his jaw. He reels back. ‘Everyone’s against you, Medici. All four Families. They’ll stop you dead in your tracks.’

He makes a show of looking up and down the street. ‘I don’t see any of them here.’

I kick at his chest. He grabs my foot and twists, making me crash down onto the hard tarmac. Leaning over me, he looks at me curiously. ‘How did you do it?’ he enquires. ‘How did you kill that daemon? You’re as weak as a kitten.’

I snarl and snatch his lapels, rising up and slamming my forehead against his. He curses and falls back, stumbling. I leap to my feet. ‘I’m just getting warmed up.’

Medici sighs and straightens up. He inspects his fingernails. ‘You must have been lucky,’ he decides. ‘Because you’re still nothing more than a wimpy little fledgling.’ A slow smile spreads across his face. ‘Imagine the look on your darling Michael’s face when he learns that I’ve ripped your head clean off your shoulders.’

‘I’d like to see you try,’ I spit.

He shrugs and drops his hand. ‘Very well then.’

Before I can blink, his punch connects with my already shattered and only just healing cheekbone. I scream in agony. Then he takes my shoulders, spins me round and pulls me back against him, holding my head in both his hands. ‘The sad thing,’ he whispers in my ear, ‘is that you won’t be around to see it.’

I gulp. ‘And here was me thinking that you rather liked me. After all, you did tell your Medici goons to leave me alone.’

He laughs. ‘That was when I thought that stupid woman was going to be of some use.’ He tilts my head up towards Dahlia who can barely stand up. She’s clutching onto a post box and staring at us wide eyed. ‘Unfortunately, she’s as much of a waste of space as you are.’

I take advantage of the moment and drop to my knees, bringing Medici down with me and forcing him onto his back. A second later, I pinion his torso with my legs and snarl, ‘Not quite so much a waste of space now, am I?’

I don’t have a lot of time. For all my fine words, there’s no denying that Medici is far stronger than I am. The only way I can win this is by surprising him. Before he can free himself, I feint with my right hand and with my left I pull out Arbuckle’s gun from the back of my waistband. I squeeze the trigger as Dahlia flings herself at me. The shot goes wide.

‘What the fuck are you doing?’ I yell. ‘He’s going to kill you! I’m trying to help!’

Her knees wobble and she collapses in a heap. Her face is white and she stares helplessly at me. I curse; she really is loyal to Medici.

He starts to laugh again as he gets to his feet. He throws his arms out. ‘You see? Everyone loves me.’

I shoot again but I’ve missed my chance. In a blur of movement, Medici launches at me, grabbing my wrist and forcing me to drop the weapon. In fluid movement he picks it up and presses the barrel against my forehead. ‘Such a shame,’ he coos.

I grit my teeth. ‘Do it.’

Medici shrugs. ‘Alright.’

I squeeze my eyes shut. There’s a deafening crack as the gun goes off again. There’s no pain, however – other than the continued throb in my cheek. Oblivion doesn’t come either. I open my eyes again. Medici grins and waves the gun over to the side and I track it with my gaze. Shit in a hell basket. Dahlia is lying flat on her stomach with her head twisted to the side. Her eyes are wide and unseeing.

‘You know,’ Medici comments, ‘most vampires can escape gun shots easily enough. You fledglings, though…’ He shakes his head. ‘You’re just not fast enough.’

‘Why?’ I gasp. ‘Why kill her?’

His eyes narrow. ‘She failed me.’ He reaches into his jacket pocket and takes out a handkerchief, methodically wiping the gun down. Then he takes my hand and places my index finger against the trigger. I try to pull it so I can shoot him but his grip is too strong. ‘I was going to kill you too,’ he says. ‘I really was. But now I think it’ll be more fun to see you try to wriggle your way out when the rest of your New Order buddies think you murdered her in cold blood.’ His lips curl into a nasty smile. ‘I need some light-hearted relief.’ He throws the gun to the side. I look at it helplessly; it’s too far away for me to reach.

‘If you let me go, you know I’ll come after you again!’ I shout, trying to goad him into making another mistake. It’s all I have left.

‘And I’ll beat you again,’ he says. ‘Because I will always be stronger than you.’

‘They won’t believe I killed her!’ I say desperately. ‘I’m not a murderer.’

‘You and I both know that’s not true.’

I stare into his eyes. For a brief moment it strikes me that Medici understands me better than anyone else in the world.

He laughs again, his eyes focusing on something in the distance. ‘It seems I’m not the only person who’s after your blood, Ms Blackman. I’d like to stick around but I have things to do. I’ll leave you to him.’

Medici moves so fast that I barely have time to gape after him. Then I slowly turn round to see who else has shown up. It’s worse than I imagined: it’s the black witch from the Black Market. And he’s not alone.

‘You really are a popular lady,’ he crows, holding Connor’s helpless body in front of him. ‘I’m glad now that I was patient when I saw you again at the market. It’s much more fun this way. First I grab your snivelling little friend running out in panic, then I watch you getting your face smashed in by another bloodguzzler.’

The puddles reflect the silver moonlight, giving off an eerie light that adds to the dangerous atmosphere. I step towards the witch. ‘Let him go,’ I call out in a clear and steady voice.

His grip on Connor’s throat tightens. ‘I don’t think I will, Ms Blackman.’

‘He’s got nothing to do with you.’

The witch laughs. There’s a manic edge to it that sends a ripple of fear through me. I’m not going to be able to reason with him. ‘And Eric Kent had nothing to do with you?’

I shake my head, confused. ‘Who?’

‘You’ve already forgotten?’ he hisses. ‘Your arrogance knows no bounds.’

I bite my lip. ‘The black witch you were threatening,’ I say, remembering the trembling witch who cowered at his feet in front of the Black Market all those nights ago. He can’t mean anyone else.

‘I wasn’t threatening him. He was part of my coven and I was showing him the discipline he required to stay in line. Then you got involved and fucked up everything. Do you realise how weak you made me look?’

‘You involved me,’ I yell. ‘You called
me
out.’

‘You were supposed to turn tail and walk away. You think you’re so special because you’re the flavour of the moment. The Red Angel,’ he scoffs. ‘The darling of the country. Our bloodguzzling saviour. Well, I’m going to give the public something else to think about.’

There’s a sickening sensation in my stomach as I realise what he’s about to do. Connor’s face turns to mine, his freckles standing out in stark relief against his pale skin, and his blues eyes filled with panic and fear. ‘I’m sorry, Bo,’ he whispers. ‘I’m so, so sorry.’

I stare at the witch. ‘If you do this, I will kill you. I will rip you from limb to limb.’

He cocks his head, a dark tattoo pulsating in his cheek. ‘Bring it on.’ Then he snaps Connor’s throat.

I let out a scream and rush forward. The witch drops Connor’s limp body and raises up his palms and a stream of dark magic flashes towards me. I drop to the ground to avoid it, rolling out of the way and springing back to my feet. I barrel towards the witch, knock into him and slam his body backwards. He lets out a harsh cackle.

I grab a tuft of his hair and pull it before thrusting down as hard as I can, knocking the back of his head against the ground. He grunts in pain but he’s still very much conscious. He jerks his forehead upwards and headbutts me. I fall back, lights dancing in front of my eyes. Another jet of magic launches from his fingertips, this time crashing into my shoulder and causing a searing pain. My arm turns to ice and falls useless and limp by my side. I can feel the cold spell spreading downwards, coursing through my veins. It won’t be long before it reaches my heart.

The look on the witch’s face is one of smug self-satisfaction. ‘You’re not all that good,’ he spits.

He’s right – I’m not. I let Dahlia die, I let Connor die, I let Medici walk away without so much as a limp. But I’m not entirely useless. I drop to my knees.

‘I’m going to end you,’ the witch tells me with a smile.

‘No,’ I say sadly, ‘you’re not.’ I reach down to the discarded gun. In one swift movement, I raise the barrel and fire. There’s no one around this time to spoil my aim.

The force of the recoil sends me flying and I sprawl on my back. I prop myself up on one elbow. The witch is on his knees, his hands clasped to his heart. He seems stupefied. A tiny bubble of blood appears on his lips. ‘You shot me,’ he gasps. ‘That’s so … human.’ His eyes roll back in his head and he collapses.

Barely able to stand up, I half stumble, half crawl over to him and check his pulse. He’s gone. I lurch towards Connor’s body and cup his face in my hands. There aren’t any words. There’s nothing that’s going to make this any better. Connor’s dead.

*

I’m not sure how long I lie there, one arm wrapped over Connor’s chest. Some instinct tells me I should keep him company; I can’t leave him like this. The ice of the witch’s spell has affected my left side, attacking my system like a stroke. I don’t care, I just stay there, uselessly clutching Connor as if I can make him return from the grave.

Somehow I’m not surprised when a shadow appears, blocking the moon from my view, and X’s face swims down towards me.

‘What kind of a world do we live in, Bo, where innocent children are slaughtered in the street?’

I don’t answer him. He gently takes my arm and hauls me upwards. I realise Kimchi is by his side, watching me anxiously.

‘Well?’ X enquires. I don’t speak. I don’t even nod. He already knows my answer. ‘You won’t regret it,’ he tells me.

I muster up enough energy to reach inside my pocket and squeeze the stone hard. I feel the pain of unshed tears build in my chest then I take it out and let it drop. It clatters to the ground and bounces a few times before resting next to the witch’s head. I don’t turn my head to look at it, I simply allow X to help me stumble away. I don’t even look back when I hear the squeal of tyres and another car pulls up. A door opens and Michael yells out my name. It’s all far too late.

At least Connor will be taken of.