The Order Boxed Set (21 page)

A roaring filled her head, and threatened to erupt in a scream of denial. Chloe was dead and before she died, she had suffered days of unthinkable torment. And it should have been her. It should have been Tara lying there.

She wanted to cry, but she was way past tears. She wanted to crawl into Christian’s lap, hide herself in his hard embrace, but nothing could ever comfort her for this. She would have to live with it forever. The pain would eventually fade, and she would be able to live again, but Chloe’s death would always be part of her, and would change her forever.

She would find out who did this and make them pay.

She opened her eyes and stared straight into Christian’s. Usually he was so careful to hide what he felt, but now he allowed his outrage to show, and beneath the outrage, she recognized fear. He was afraid for her. That’s what caring for people did.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Tara shook her head. She wasn’t sure she would ever be okay again. Easing his hand away, she sat up and forced herself to look at Chloe. Someone had covered the body with a white sheet.

She pushed herself off the bed. Her legs trembled, but she steadied herself and stumbled across to Chloe.

She stood over her for a minute then drew back the sheet. Chloe’s face was almost unmarked; her eyes closed as if she were sleeping. Tara forced herself to lower the sheet further. Christian moved up behind her but she ignored him. She needed to do this.

She touched one of the wounds on Chloe’s breasts, tracing a finger over the charred writing—Christian Roth. She turned and buried her face in his chest, wrapped her arms around him, and held on tight as if he could keep her safe in this terrible new world she found herself in. “This was my fault,” she said. “She would be alive if she hadn’t been my friend. It’s because of what I am, isn’t it? It’s somehow tied to what you told me in Yorkshire.”

“Actually, I don’t think it’s anything to do with what you are, and it’s not your fault. It’s mine. Someone is coming after me, killing the people I care about. I think they came for you because I care about you, and Chloe was taken by mistake.”

“Who would even know about me? Why would they think my death would cause you pain?”

“Perhaps because it’s true.”

The words filtered through the fog of pain clouding her mind, warming her frozen emotions.

Christian frowned. “The question is, who would have passed on that information to my enemies?” He stared down into her eyes, his own cold and predatory. “I will find out and they will pay for this. Come on, let’s get out of this place.”

Tara cast one last look at the body on the bed. “What will happen to her?”

Christian shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. This,” he gestured at the body, “isn’t your friend. She’s gone.”

“Gone where? I never used to believe in heaven and hell. Aunt Kathy called all religions fairy stories, but I believe in hell now. So is there also a heaven? Do people have souls? What happens after they die?”

“People have souls.”

“Yes,” she said, “I remember now, you told me you gave yours up when you became a vampire.”

“And there’s a heaven, though I’ve never been. It’s rumored that the higher demons came from there. Fallen angels banished from God’s sight.”

“I can’t believe that. Nothing that was once good could have done this.”

“It’s not that simple. This was an act of true evil, but not all demons would do this, and many would speak against it. All races have their share of psychopaths and killers. Humans are no different. You want a job done and they’re there for the hiring. My guess is the people that took Chloe were no more than hired hands.”

“Hired by whom?”

“We’ll find out, but until we do you stay by my side.”

She could do nothing more for Chloe here and she let Christian lead her out of the room.

Piers waited for them outside the door, his face expressionless.

“Where’s Ella?” Christian asked.

“There’s a problem.”

“She doesn’t have the information?”

“That’s not the problem.”

“Then what is? Stop being cryptic, Piers, I’m not in the mood.”

“I told her you were here to see her. She seemed surprised. Especially when I mentioned Tara was with you. And not nice surprised either. I didn’t think too much about it, but she was stopped a few minutes ago trying to leave the building.”

Christian appeared calm but beneath she sensed a raw, savage fury.

“How come they stopped her?” he asked.

“They wouldn’t have normally, but I’ve upped to emergency status. From now on, no one leaves or enters the building without my authorization.”

Tara put her hand on Christian’s arm and he glanced down at her. “What’s happening?” she asked softly.

“I think we may have found our traitor.”

“Ella?”

He nodded. Tara thought back to her meeting with the witch, that last glimpse of her as they left the building and the malicious hatred on the other woman’s face. That someone she hardly knew would hate her so much sent a ripple of shock through her. The shock was followed by a wave of rage so strong she almost staggered under the force.

“Where is she?” she snarled, and Piers glanced at her, amazement on his face. He raised an eyebrow at Christian, who shrugged.

“I’ve got her in the holding cells. She’s ranting that she hasn’t done anything, and that she didn’t know about the lockdown.”

“Maybe she needs to believe that’s the only reason she’s being held. I need the information she has first. Let me talk to her.”

“I’m going with you,” Tara said. “This is about me, and Chloe was
my
friend. I promise I’ll be good, stay quiet.”

She held her breath, waiting for his reply. After a moment, he nodded. “Okay.”

Piers led them into a lower area where the walls were bare concrete with fluorescent strip lighting. He stopped in front of a door and asked the guard, “Has she been quiet?”

“No, she’s been screaming to let her out. But there’s not much she can do about it—these cells are warded.”

Piers unlocked the door and Tara followed Christian into the room. Piers closed the cell door behind them and leaned against it.

They were in a rectangular room, empty but for a table and two chairs. Ella stood in the corner of the room. She was dressed in tight black leather pants and a black T-shirt and her skin appeared white against the darkness. Her eyes fixed on Christian briefly, then flicked to her, and Tara saw again that same malevolent hatred. But mixed with the hatred was shock. It was obvious Ella was surprised to see her.

Tara knew the witch was guilty—responsible for Chloe’s death.

Hatred welled up inside her. Her vision narrowed so all she saw was the other woman. She took a step forward, but Christian halted her with a warning hand on her arm.

It took a force of will to stop. Blood thundered in her veins and her breath came in quick, sharp pants. She calmed and stepped back to stand beside Piers, who took her hand in his and pulled her against his side. He stroked the skin of her palm with his thumb, which calmed her. Christian sank onto one of the wooden chairs. “Sit,” he ordered Ella.

She hesitated for a moment then sat in the second chair.

“So,” Christian said, his voice devoid of emotion, “do you have the information I asked for?”

Ella frowned as though it wasn’t the question she had been expecting. “The information?”

“The name of the warlock who made Tara’s talisman.”

Her face cleared, and she nodded. “I think so.”

“Think so?” Now his voice sounded deadly.

“I have it. I just can’t think straight in here.” Her eyes darted back to Piers. “Why am I in here? I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Don’t worry,” Christian said and now his voice was soothing. “I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding. You didn’t know about the lockdown. You won’t be here for long.”

Ella relaxed and it occurred to Tara that Christian was using his vampire powers on the other woman. It obviously occurred to Ella as well because she jerked herself upright and panic entered her eyes.

“The warlock, Ella, give me a name.”

She fought the compulsion hard. Closing her eyes, she shook her head. When she opened them, except for the nervous twisting of her hands on the tabletop, she appeared back in control. “You’ll let me go if I tell you?”

“You know that’s not up to me, but if you’ve done nothing wrong there’s no reason for Piers to keep you here.”

She seemed to come to a decision. “Jonas Callaghan,” she said. “The warlock who made the talisman was Jonas Callaghan.”

“You’re sure?”

She nodded, the movement jerky. “We have a file on him. He lives in London. There, I’ve told you. Now can I go back to work?”

Christian sat back in his chair. The mask dropped from his face, taking with it all signs of civilization.

“Hey,” Piers muttered, and Tara realized she’d gripped his hand tight, her nails digging into his flesh. She dropped his hand, and he shook it. “You know you have quite a grip for a human.”

“Now,” Christian said, “perhaps we can get to the other matter.”

“What other matter?” Ella sounded shaken.

“The matter of betrayal.”

She looked around wildly. “I haven’t betrayed anyone.”

“I don’t believe you. Why were you running?”

“I wasn’t running. I just had something I needed to do. I forgot about the lockdown.”

Christian slammed his fist onto the wooded table. “Tell me,” he growled.

Ella licked her lips. “If I tell everything, will you let me go?”

“No. But I will make you an oath. We have just left the body of a young woman. She’d been tortured, raped, and mutilated. That woman’s last few days will seem like a party compared to yours if you don’t talk.”

“And what happens if I do talk?”

He shrugged. “You’re not my responsibility. Piers must decide.”

Tara frowned. Would they allow the witch to go free after what she had done? She made to step forward, but Piers shook his head. Tara remained where she was but vowed that the witch would die for Chloe if Tara had to do the killing herself. The thought surprised her. She’d always hated violence. Now the need for this woman’s death was like a living thing.

“Talk.”

Ella stood up. She wrapped her arms around her middle and paced the room, coming to a halt in front of the table.

“They approached me six months ago. All they wanted was names, names of people close to you. I didn’t know what they wanted them for.”

“Did you care?”

Hatred flashed across her face. “No, I didn’t care. They paid me well.”

“So it wasn’t only Tara. You’re responsible for Gabriel and Stefan’s deaths as well. Who else was on your list?”

“Your little red-headed boyfriend.”

“Graham?”

Christian pulled out his cell phone; he flicked it open and pressed in a number. “Graham, don’t leave the building until I get back.” As he closed his phone, Ella watched him through narrowed eyes.

“So at the time they approached you, you knew nothing of Tara?” Christian asked.

Ella shook her head. “I went to them with that one. I saw the way you watched her that night. I told them if they really wanted to hurt you, she was the one.”

“Why?” Tara asked.

Ella glanced at her and shrugged. “Why not?”

“Who were they, Ella? Who did you sell this information to?”

“I told you that night at the bar. If you’d been listening.”

“Asmodai?”

She nodded. “He hates you. He’ll not stop this until everyone you care about is taken from you.”

“Why?”

“The demons I spoke to weren’t very forthcoming, but from what they did say, I gather you’d cost him something he wanted very badly. Something he lost when you banished him to the Abyss after the last wars.”

“I remember he asked for a meeting. I ignored his request, but what could he have lost?”

“How should I know? That’s all I know.” She looked warily at Christian. He stared back.

Piers stepped up beside him and put a hand on Christian’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I should have listened to you and gotten rid of her years ago.” He stepped back. “Tara?”

“Yes?”

“You’re the one most harmed by this. Her life is yours to take.”

She didn’t see the knife held loosely in his hand until he held it out to her. For a moment, she stared at the gleaming silver, wicked and razor sharp. She imagined running that blade into Ella, thrusting it through flesh and bone, feeling the life leave her. Then she shook her head. “Just do it.”

Ella’s gaze darted around the room, frantically hunting for a way out. She halted in front of Christian. “Christian, remember what we once had.”

He rose to his feet and turned away. Ella stared after him. She didn’t seem to notice Piers come up beside her until he put a hand on her shoulder, and she jumped. She tried to turn but he held her effortlessly in place. Tara watched in fascination as his other hand fisted in the long dark hair. He jerked her head to the side, baring the long line of her throat. Ella fought, her hands scrabbling for release, then the fight oozed out of her, her arms fell to her sides and she stood docile. Her eyes caught Tara’s. She held her gaze and for a second they flashed the old hatred.

Piers lunged. This was no gentle feeding. His fangs tore open the flesh of her neck, sank deep into the vein until the blood pulsed from the open wound, and he swallowed convulsively. He raised his eyes and there was nothing human in them.

Tara took a step toward Christian. He must have felt her regard because he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her tight against his side.

She saw the instant the life left Ella. A moment later, Piers released her and she crumpled to the floor. He stared at Tara then wiped his hand across his mouth. Licked his lips.

Tara looked from him to the body on the floor. She’d expected to feel some sort of satisfaction, but she felt numb. Nothing would bring Chloe back.

“Can we go home?” she asked.

Chapter Twenty-One

In the car, Tara gave in and released the tight hold on her feelings. A wave of icy cold washed over her, and she shivered. She hugged her arms around her but nothing seemed to warm her—she was cold from the inside. Behind her closed eyes, all she could see was Chloe’s tortured body.