Survive the Dawn (18 page)

“Well then,” Corky said and cleared his throat. “The long or short version?”

“Let’s make it quick,” Sebastian said.

“Right then. We found out that Grayson’s lineage could be traced back as far as ancient times, when gods and goddesses roamed Ireland as mortals.
Figol
was a sorcerer, bound to protect all the power of Ireland, along with two others. Each had a section of the sacred stone. They were to guard and protect until the true descendant was revealed. The stones would be reunited and the glory of the gods and goddesses would be under the protection of this descendant.
Figol
saw it differently. He wanted it all and sent his son, Phelan, into the mortal world to find the stones and reunite them so that he might have all the power.”

Sebastian nodded. “It is not unlike my world, Grayson.”

“We are the chosen ones, Sebastian,” Grayson said and looked up.

Sebastian frowned. “To do what?”

“From this letter, Tatiana chose you to save the mortals from extinction from this
Nicholae
fellow,” Grayson said.

“And what have you been chosen to do?” Sebastian asked.

Grayson chuckled. “To fight for truth, justice, and the
Americ
—”

“Gray,” Corky said with a warning scowl. Grayson stopped and bowed slightly in apology.

Sebastian felt a smile cross her lips. “Are you able to leap tall buildings in a single bound?” she asked, oozing with sarcasm.

Grayson shrugged. “I’m not sure. I haven’t tried that yet. Can you?”

Sebastian heard the challenging tone in this immortal’s voice and glared. “Yes.”

“Hmm.” Grayson nodded. “Then I’ll have to work on that.”

“The truth is, we don’t know the extent of Grayson’s power,” Corky said.

Sebastian regarded Grayson. “You don’t seem happy about these newfound abilities, whatever they are.”

Grayson looked up and smiled sadly. “It was not of my choosing.”

“That I can readily understand,” Sebastian said.

Neither immortal spoke until Corky cleared his throat. “Well then, back to your dilemma, Sebastian. What does this box have to do with the ritual?”

“What ritual?” Sebastian asked.

Corky sported a confused look. “The one that Kendra asked about when she was here about the glamour I gave her. She needed a little magic to keep unwanted visitors away. I gave her a couple ditties. Ya know, spells.” He looked back from Sebastian to Grayson, who shrugged.

“How did you know she was a vampire?” Sebastian asked, her anger mounting.

“I could tell, I suppose. As much as I’ve read about vampires, shape-shifters, and the gods, I must admit I have never run across a vampire. I just knew,” Corky said. “She is, isn’t she?”

“Yes, she is,” Sebastian said and loomed over Corky. “What ritual did Kendra ask you about?” She was getting tired of this banter. “Answer me, mortal.”

Corky, in a terrified move, leaned away from her and put his arm up in front of him as if in defense.

Grayson stepped up then. “Hey, relax, Dracula.”

Sebastian whirled around to her and snarled, “Don’t test your powers with me, Superman.”

“Oh, why don’t you morph into a bat and fly the fuck—”

“Gray, Sebastian, please,” Corky said.

Sebastian was seething, her body trembling with anger as she glared at this arrogant woman, immortal, whatever she was. She felt her fangs begin to protrude.

“Now, Corky, look what you’ve done. She’s
startin
’ to fang,” Grayson said and looked Sebastian in the eye.

Corky groaned and stood in between them. “Ladies, please. Can we dispense with the
pissin
’ contest for now?”

Sebastian clenched her fists in an effort to calm her anger, which wasn’t easy as she watched the grin spread across Grayson’s handsome face. Her violet eyes sparkled as she let out a laugh. “Truce?”

Scowling, Sebastian nodded, then turned her attention to Corky. “Now—”

“You were
startin
’ to fang, though,” Grayson whispered.

Corky gave Grayson a pleading look before continuing. “What about this box that contains Tatiana’s power? She has been destroyed, but you can still have the ritual and assume your place in the hierarchy.”

“It won’t be that simple.”

“Why is that?” Corky asked.

“I don’t have the box. It—”

“You lost the box?” Grayson asked and shook her head.

“It was entrusted to another, Nina, who I believe is in league with
Nicholae
,” Sebastian said, ignoring Grayson.

“I don’t have any information on this, Sebastian,” Corky said.

Sebastian heard the resignation in his voice. Grayson stood by Corky then and tapped her finger on the old book. “Maybe it all has to do with this ritual that Kendra asked about. I have no idea what goes on in your world,
Seb
, but in my limited experience, I’ve found that everything is connected. Maybe this Nina chick handed your box of powers to
Nicholae
already.”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
Seb
? Nina chick? “The fact that this
Figol
sorcerer fellow is in your past, as well as mine, is proof that we are indeed connected on some insane level. Can you tell me about this ritual?” Sebastian asked. “When did Kendra come to you?”

Corky nodded and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “The first time—”

“She’s been here on more than one occasion?”

“Yes, as I said, she was here initially, oh, perhaps a year ago. That’s when she came to me for the spell, or glamour as it were, to ward off any unwanted visitors. It’s almost the same as in the old days, here in Ireland, when farmers would ask for a spell for a good year of crops and such. Grayson’s grandmother was one such person who would be asked. She had potions and spells for such things.”

“A year ago,” Sebastian said thoughtfully. “That has nothing to do with Tatiana. When did she come about this ritual, which you will explain?”

Corky nodded and put on his glasses. “Of course I’ll explain it to ya. She came by just a few weeks ago. I was surprised to see her. She asked me if I had anything in my book about—” He stopped and carefully leafed through the old weathered pages. “Here ’tis.” He looked up and grinned. “I love this. Have a seat and I’ll read it to ya first, then explain.”

Sebastian nodded and she and Grayson moved for the same chair. Grayson bowed slightly and offered the chair to Sebastian. “Vampires first.”

Corky stifled a laugh while Sebastian gritted her fangs. “I’ll stand.”

Chapter 15

Kendra looked into the microscope and shook her head. “I can’t believe this damned mortal found what I’ve been searching for, for over two hundred years.” She walked over to the refrigerator and opened it. She took out several vials and read the label. She chose one and closed the door. “Fucking mortals. I tire of them.”

She placed an amount from the vial onto the slide and added one drop of the serum she took from Dr. Taylor’s vial. It would never be missed, she thought. She placed the slide under the microscope and peered into the lens.

If her calculations were correct, this new strain of steroid she discovered would enhance the strength of vampires; they would be stronger and faster. She wondered what would happen when Dr. Taylor’s serum mixed with her discovery.

She looked through the lens to find out and saw the chemical bonds coagulate, but as the smile spread across her face, the bonds dissipated; she let out an irritated growl and pushed the microscope away.

“Still having problems, Kendra?”

She looked up to see Virgil leaning against the wall of the catacomb. His spiky black hair was a dark contrast from his alabaster skin and dark eyes. He smiled a toothy grin as he walked up to her. “Can I see?”

“No.” Kendra pulled the microscope away.

Virgil laughed and jumped up on the counter. He crossed his leather-clad legs and swung them back and forth. “You must learn to play nice. We’re all on the same side.”

Kendra regarded this young, very young vampire. Recently sired, Virgil, along with his cohorts
Arkham
and Dante, were the young breed of vampires. They had much to learn, but as with youth—be it mortal or the undead—you couldn’t tell them anything.

As if on cue,
Arkham
appeared in the lab.

“Goody, your pal is here, must be recess.”

Virgil laughed and swung his legs. “I adore your sense of humor, Kendra.”

Arkham
laughed along as she stood by Virgil. She was tall and willowy, her white hair cut incredible short, as Kendra’s. Her white skin and deep-set eyes gave her a menacing appearance, as did her outfit. What is it with the youth of today? Kendra thought. Baggy trousers, clothes that don’t fit, leather, buckles, and chains. Ah, she missed Leigh, who knew how to dress well.

“Come on, Kendra. Lighten up,”
Arkham
said. “What are you working on?” She peered over Kendra’s shoulder to have a look.

“Something that will make you youngsters stronger and faster. Not that you’ll know how to use it.”

“Really?” Virgil asked as Kendra pushed him away. “Stronger? I’m strong now.”

Kendra’s eyes bugged out her head. “You? Strong? Virgil, my dear, you haven’t seen strong.”

“She’s talking about Sebastian,”
Arkham
said and rolled her eyes.

“Not only Sebastian, kids, but Leigh,” Kendra said in a wistful voice.

“Who has been destroyed,” Virgil added.

“By Sebastian,”
Arkham
said.

“Who will be—” Kendra stopped herself and turned to the two young vampires. “One day, when you’re all grownup vampires, you’ll remember this day. Even your buddy Dante has more—”

“What do I have, Kendra?”

All three turned to see Dante standing in the archway of the catacomb wall. Kendra had to admit he was a sexy sight. He was older than Virgil and
Arkham
, having been a vampire for nearly sixty years. He was tall, very lean, and extremely handsome. His jet black hair was cut short; the diamond earring in his left ear gave him a sexy appearance. His dark eyes sparkled, as he appeared to be constantly thinking and Kendra didn’t know if this young vamp should be taken seriously or not. He reminded her of Sebastian, which was a dangerous thing.

Virgil and
Arkham
were unlike Dante. They were vampires through and through. They truly enjoyed their new existence, and they couldn’t wait to meet
Nicholae
; Virgil would have adored Leigh.

“You have the sense these two youngsters lack,” Kendra said as Dante walked up to her.

He bent down to the microscope, then looked up at Kendra. “May I?”

“Yes,” Kendra said and laughed at the glares she received from Virgil and
Arkham
. “Being polite never hurts.”

She heard Dante chuckle as he peered into the lens. “No go?”

Kendra shook her head. “No, but I am undaunted. I know somehow they’re compatible. This mortal that Sebastian is keeping has the missing enzyme in her bloodstream. Marcus Windham had been working on the serum without any luck for decades and his family for decades before, then in comes Dr. Alex Taylor and now—”