Vengeance in Blood (Book 2): Tribulations (23 page)

“Don’t ask me because I don’t understand,” Besseta confessed.

Reaching over, Tiffany grabbed Besseta’s arm. “He’s picking two movies tonight,” Tiffany told her. “The movies we pick stink.”

“No, he’s picking three,” Besseta clarified.

A smile filled Tiffany’s face. “Oh, that’s good. Why don’t you get lover boy to take you for a ride? I’ll take the babies home,” Tiffany offered.

“Thank you,” Besseta said, leaning over and hugging Tiffany.

“Do you get jealous of the girl cars?” Tiffany whispered.

She shook her head. “Not so far. Kenneth told me the one he gave to Mickey and the Jeep loved me.”

Totally lost, Tiffany spun around, calling Bonnie and Clyde. Laughing, Besseta walked over to Kenneth, who was leaning over the S7. “Can we go for a ride?” Besseta asked, and Kenneth grabbed her, pulling her to Eleanor.

“Thought you would never ask,” he said, opening the passenger door. “She really likes you.” Not even going to ask, Besseta started figuring out the five-point seatbelt. As Kenneth backed out, he looked down at the dock and saw Tiffany holding her puppies and playing with Bonnie and Clyde on the water.

He shivered as Tiffany ran around, and they chased after her, sending out little ripples each time their paws landed on the surface of the water. “And you wonder why Bonnie and Clyde jump in the lake so much,” Kenneth said, turning away.

That night, Kenneth and Besseta were on the couch, waiting on Tiffany before starting the movies. Besseta had her feet in his lap as Kenneth attempted painting her little toenails. Besseta held up her hands, looking at her red fingernails. Admitting she liked it, Besseta looked down as Kenneth slowly moved the tiny brush over her toe.

“That is concentration,” Besseta mumbled, reaching over to pet the dogs, who were lying beside her.

Tiffany bounced in carrying the puppies and stopped, looking at Kenneth. Seeing the determination on his face and how careful he was not to touch the skin with the red stuff, she asked Besseta, “Does it hurt if it touches you?”

“No,” she said, staring down at Kenneth. “But he pulls out this stuff that really stinks and wipes it all off and starts over.”

“That’s what that smell is?” Tiffany asked, and Besseta nodded. “Why are you doing it?”

“Kenneth said my feet and hands are pretty, and this would make them prettier,” Besseta told her. “I think he just likes it that it makes me more girly.”

“I see many women and girls wear stuff like that but different colors,” Tiffany said, looking down at her hands and feet.

Besseta huffed. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you how many colors they have for finger and toenails.”

“It does look nice,” Tiffany said. “Can he teach me to do it?”

“He’s learning. Kenneth wanted me to do it, and I wouldn’t because I’ve never even seen it done. Kenneth’s done it before for Mickey’s girls. Besides, I like him doing it.” Besseta smiled.

“So can he teach me?” Tiffany asked hopefully.

“Kenneth,” Besseta called out, and he just looked at her toe as he slowly dabbed it with the tiny brush. “Kenneth,” she called again, and still, he dabbed carefully. In her mind and using her mouth, she shouted, “Kenneth!”

Kenneth jumped a foot off the couch. “Damn it, don’t do that. I almost messed up,” he snapped, looking up at Besseta. “What?” he asked curtly.

“Will you do Tiffany’s nails?” Besseta asked.

Looking up at Tiffany, Kenneth saw her chewing on her lower lip with a hopeful expression. “Sure,” he shrugged and went back to work. “Start the movie,” he mumbled.

Tiffany jumped up beside Besseta, letting the puppies out of her arms. “What’s first?”

“The Eleanor movie,” Besseta said, lifting the remote.

“Gone in Sixty Seconds,” Kenneth corrected.

“You’re going to miss some if we start it before you’re done,” Besseta told him.

Not taking his eyes off his task, he answered, “I have it memorized.” Besseta wanted to laugh, but she knew he was telling the truth.

“You’ve seen it more times than you can count?” she asked.

“It has some really good cars,” Kenneth mumbled.

As the movie started, Kenneth proved his point and mumbled quietly along with the movie, never taking his eyes off his task. When he started on Tiffany, she wanted to pause the movie, but Besseta almost went off, so Kenneth continued as they watched it.

Kenneth was done with Tiffany just in time to see the part he loved: Eleanor. Besseta smiled, hearing his thoughts, but she never took her eyes off the TV, agreeing with Kenneth that this was a good movie.

Chapter 15

It was almost a month later that they got their first message from Maliki. Before dawn, they sat around the table, each with a page to decode. Tiffany had woken them when she found the post on the internet as she was shopping for Jack and Jill.

When they finished, they read the letter, and Kenneth shook his head. “This is not all bad,” he said, putting the letter down.

Besseta leaned back. “I don’t even know how you can say that. The European League is gone, and several thousand vampires are known to be under the cubari. Then we have confirmed reports that most werewolves are under the cubari and working with the drone vampires, capturing or killing any they come across.”

Kenneth tapped the table. “If you hadn’t gotten that warning out, all the Leagues except the Asian League would be gone as well as most vampires—either turned or dead. And now the cubari would be working on controlling the humans. This just shows we threw a big wrench in their machine and gave us a chance to fight.”

“Well, it seems Maliki is having more problems than success,” Tiffany said. “Only one League member was killed, but they have lost many of their guards.”

“That was stupid attacking the site in Arizona,” Besseta said. “I told him not to.”

“It seems Maliki felt he had no option,” Tiffany said. “Maliki has taken many of the humans in the Strong Hands.”

Besseta slapped the table. “They really aren’t a threat. We need to start wiping out the werewolves; that’s the main threat from the cubari.”

Kenneth gave a shudder, remembering the video of Besseta pummeling that massive form. He had a hard time believing it was even a real creature; it was so massive. “What’s the fastest way to kill the werewolves?” he asked.

“One at a time,” Besseta sighed. “They are stronger than us and just as fast as most vampires.”

After thinking for a minute, he announced, “No, the fastest way to end this is kill the cubari. They are the fewest in number but have all the control.”

“Yes it is, but we can’t smell them to track them,” Besseta said.

Raising a finger, Kenneth said, “But according to what we read, the cubari are not supposed to be susceptible to vampire abilities. But Tiffany was able to hold one with telekinesis, and you could read its thoughts with telepathy. Now Maliki couldn’t read its thoughts, but he controlled it, so that means what was written was wrong. We can hurt them with your abilities,” Kenneth said.

“You’re basing this on an encounter with a werewolf that was being controlled by a succubus,” Tiffany pointed out.

“Let’s just say a possessed werewolf and get it out there,” Kenneth said. “Now, the cubari think they’re gods, but we’ve proven they aren’t. They can die, we know, and we can hurt them with abilities like yours.”

Tiffany looked at him. “So me and Besseta start a war with the two of us?”

“Well, a war is already going,” Kenneth pointed out. “You two will just be more effective.”

Besseta tapped the letter. “Maliki knows there is at least one cubari in Arizona. Is that worth the effort of attacking it again?”

“Not till we learn more about the place,” Kenneth said.

Tiffany slapped the table. “Which brings me back to my proposal.”

Kenneth jumped up. “I still can’t believe you were the one who suggested it,” he said, walking to the fridge.

“Baby, she has a valid point. We need as many weapons as we can get,” Besseta said, feeling the worry in Kenneth’s mind.

Kenneth took out some orange juice. “Besseta, you have pulled a lot of abilities into that little body. I don’t care what you are; there is always a breaking point,” he said, pouring a glass. “We still don’t know how that wolf blood is going to affect you.”

“That’s over,” Tiffany said.

Kenneth drained his glass. “Tiffany, you haven’t even found a reference to an ability like Besseta’s—only a rumor. How can you be so sure?” he asked.

“I just am,” Tiffany said with confidence. “No one has studied the virus as much as I have. I spent decades just learning molecular genetics to map out the virus.” She looked over and found Kenneth just staring at Besseta. “Guys, please, use your voices,” she begged.

Taking a deep breath, he asked, “So what do you really think?”

“I think it’s worth a shot,” Besseta told him. “With it, we have two powerful telekinetic users and not one.”

“Okay, do it tomorrow,” Kenneth sighed.

“We need more snacks,” Tiffany said. “I don’t want Besseta to suddenly get hungry. When I started using my ability, it made me very thirsty very fast.”

“Well, let’s go and find some bad people,” Kenneth said, walking over to the table. “The werewolf sightings are in Montana now with a few in Florida.”

“We don’t know where the drone vampires are searching,” Besseta pointed out.

Walking out, Kenneth told them, “Get dressed; let’s go.”

“Where are we going?” Tiffany called out.

“Detroit,” Besseta told her. “He thinks that will be the safest place to grab some snacks.”

Tiffany stood. “Very well,” she said and shot out of the kitchen as Besseta disappeared.

Besseta was in the bedroom when Kenneth walked in. “Show off.” He smiled, walking into the closet with her. Giving him a weak smile, Besseta grabbed some clothes. “Don’t even start,” he said. “I’m going. You can’t carry them back, so that means driving. We’ll take the van, and I’ll drive,” he told her, hearing the argument starting in her thoughts.

“If something happens, we can leave the van,” Besseta said as Kenneth dressed.

“And you wouldn’t carry me?” he asked, hurt.

Darting over, Besseta hugged him. “To the ends of the Earth.”

“Then we have nothing to fear.”

Not convinced, Besseta let him go and got dressed.

It wasn’t long before Kenneth was driving them in the van, heading to Detroit. “I don’t like the van,” Tiffany announced behind them. “It doesn’t convey in comfort.”

Not able to help it, Kenneth laughed. “Tiffany, the van’s job is to move stuff in secret, not comfort.”

“The Jag has nice trunk space,” she told him.

He glanced over his shoulder. “I’m still amazed you fit four grown men it. In this, we can take over half a dozen.”

“Besseta was very persuasive when she pushed them into the trunk.” Tiffany smiled. “They didn’t like it, but after she broke one’s legs to make him fit, the others shut up.”

“I can only imagine.” Kenneth grinned, turning around.

It was well after sundown when Besseta asked Kenneth to pull over outside of town. It took a few minutes, but Kenneth found an abandoned house and pulled around the back. Besseta opened the door and looked back at him. “Please don’t wander off,” she more told than asked.

“I’m a big boy,” Kenneth assured her.

“Listen to her, Kenneth,” Tiffany said, moving between the seats. “If needed, I’ll stay here and hold you. Besseta can’t think straight if she’s worried about you.”

Huffing as he crossed his arms over his chest, he said, “I’ll stay in the van.”

Leaning back over and moving Tiffany back, Besseta kissed him. “We won’t be long,” she promised and jumped out with Tiffany following. When Tiffany closed the door, they both took off. Tiffany pushed with everything she had to even keep Besseta in sight.

Besseta came to a stop across from a large parking lot that was filled with people. Cars were everywhere, many blasting music into the night. Tiffany stopped beside her, gasping for air. “Besseta, you must go slower; I almost lost you twice.”

Glancing over at Tiffany as she gasped for air, Besseta said, “I was jogging.”

Getting her breathing under control, Tiffany shook her head. “I’ve never run faster in my life,” she admitted.

“Wait here, and let me see if we have some prospects,” Besseta told her and vanished.

Staring at the air where Besseta’s face was only milliseconds before, Tiffany’s eyes widened. “My word,” she gasped, never even seeing Besseta move.

Suddenly, Besseta was back with a large man over her tiny shoulder. Tiffany smiled as Besseta dropped the body to the ground. “There are a few more,” Besseta told her and vanished.

Tiffany looked down at the unconscious man, who was taller than Kenneth’s six feet and much bigger. “She makes such an excellent hunter,” Tiffany told the unconscious form. “Who would ever think such a tiny being was a vicious hunter?”

Just as Tiffany finished, Besseta appeared, dropping another man on top of the first and vanished. Placing her foot under the one Besseta just dropped off, Tiffany rolled him off the other one. Then Besseta appeared again with a man over each shoulder. “Grab them, and we’ll take them to Kenneth and find some more. There aren’t any more here.”

Grabbing one, Tiffany threw the man over her shoulder. “Couldn’t we just cheat?” Tiffany asked, picking up the second man. “I don’t like it any more than you do, but this is urgent.”

“I only do that when I have to,” Besseta told her. “Don’t get me wrong. When someone pisses me off, my values drop somewhat. The month before I met Kenneth, I killed a saleswoman who treated me unkindly.”

“I was just thinking it would be faster and safer,” Tiffany pointed out as she adjusted the bodies on her shoulders, satisfied with the weight.

“If we don’t find some more easily, we will,” Besseta promised. “You lead.”

Tiffany took off, and Besseta watched then followed. “This is as fast as you can run?” she asked, moving up behind Tiffany as the world blurred by.

“I’m sorry, but I’m going as fast as I can,” Tiffany said with her head between two unconscious bodies.

Not wanting to make Tiffany feel bad, Besseta didn’t reply and followed her back to the van, where Tiffany dropped the bodies and opened the back door to find Kenneth waiting.

Grabbing one body by the arm, Tiffany threw it in the back, showing no effort. “How fast was I moving for you?” Tiffany said, throwing the other body in.

“A slow jog,” Besseta said, walking up and throwing both bodies in.

Taking out zip ties, Kenneth started binding the four. “Problems?” he asked, moving to another body.

“No, baby,” Besseta told him, smiling. “You have them?” she asked, and Kenneth nodded, moving to another body. “We’ll be back,” she said and closed the door. “Keep up,” she told Tiffany and vanished.

Not even knowing which way Besseta ran, Tiffany spun around, sniffed the air, and took off. Catching only glimpses of Besseta ahead of her, Tiffany pushed, trying to catch up. Following Besseta as best as she could, Tiffany rounded a corner and almost collided with Besseta, who had stopped.

Locking her legs, Tiffany skidded past Besseta, leaving deep grooves in the dirt. When she came to a stop, Tiffany walked back and glared at her. “Sorry I’m slowing you down, but Besseta, you need to wait for me.”

Not responding, Besseta slowly looked around, and Tiffany noticed her tiny nose flaring as she sniffed the air. Spinning around, Tiffany dropped down in a crouch, sniffing the air and holding her hands wide in preparation for an attack. “Vampire,” she said, looking around.

“Yeah, we crossed his path twice,” Besseta told her.

Standing up from her crouch and bringing her hands down, Tiffany said, “It was several days ago.”

“They smell familiar to you?” Besseta asked, and Tiffany shook her head. Besseta looked around the neighborhood they were in. “Whoever it was, they were looking for something.”

Tiffany looked over at Besseta. “The very reason you need to stay at a pace that I can keep up with.”

“Follow me,” Besseta told her and vanished.

At least this time, Tiffany knew which way she went and took off. Following Besseta to a large building that vibrated with music, Tiffany stopped beside her. “That music is horrendous,” Tiffany said.

Not acknowledging she heard Tiffany, Besseta said, “Wait here,” and vanished. Shaking her head, Tiffany looked around at the building behind her and saw it was an office complex three stories tall. Tiffany held out her hands and floated up to the roof.

Setting down gently, Tiffany walked around the roof, sniffing the air, then stopped, staring out over the city and the towers off in the distance. Hearing a thud behind her, Tiffany didn’t turn around as Besseta walked up.

“I know where we need to go,” she said, stopping beside Tiffany. “I smelled it before we stopped. That’s why I didn’t take us downtown.”

“Werewolves don’t move through cities in their true form,” Tiffany told her.

“We need to go,” Besseta said, grabbing Tiffany’s arm. When she followed, Besseta released her arm and jumped off the building. As soon as she landed, Besseta vanished off into the night as Tiffany floated down.

When her feet touched the ground, Tiffany shot off after her. It wasn’t long before Tiffany stopped beside her, looking at a rundown house with people everywhere in and around it with music blaring. “I know; wait here,” Tiffany said as Besseta turned around.

Not saying anything once again, Besseta vanished and reappeared, carrying two men. “I’ll be right back,” she said, throwing the bodies off her shoulders. Feeling like a horse, Tiffany held out her hands, and the bodies floated up and toward her. Gently, Tiffany settled each one over her shoulders and adjusted the weight until she was satisfied.