Vengeance of the Demons (22 page)

They pulled into the first gas station and William stirred in the back seat.

“Where are we?” he croaked.

“Still a ways to go. Just getting gas.” Tommy put his gun in his waistband and stepped out of the car.

Evan looked at William, whose shirt was drenched in blood. “I should go inside and see if I can find you something clean to wear.”

“Why bother?” He chuckled. “I’m going to ruin that one too.”

Irritation poked at her and she swallowed hard to keep it at bay. “Because I’m sure you don’t want to see Danika looking like a mess.”

Something sparked inside him and his eyes lit up. For a flash of a moment, she saw the old William. Dignified and kind.

“No,” he said. “I don’t.”

She squeezed his hand. “I’ll be back in a minute.” She had to get out of the vehicle. The smell of blood and the cold, dead look in William’s eyes ate at her soul.

He held onto her hand as she started to get out, preventing her from leaving. She looked back.

“One minute,” she said. “Tommy’s right there. You’ll be fine.”

She could see the fear and anguish racing through his mind. It was daylight; he was trapped in a car and not in charge.

His hand slipped away and she got out. She rounded the hood of the car sucking in the dry, warm air. The fresh air invigorated her and made her smile.

Tommy pumped gas without even having to turn the pumps on. He glanced over his shoulder at her.

“How’s he doing?” he asked in a low voice.

She shook her head. “Not good.”

He nodded. “You really think they’ll be able to cure him?”

She wanted to say yes. To tell him she had no doubt at all that Danika would save William. But the truth was… She had no idea.

“I’m going to see if there are any shirts inside and maybe some paper towels so he can clean up a bit.”

“See if they have any Funyuns.”

She laughed. “No way, you’ll make the entire car smell. I’ll see if they have something less pungent.”

She’d headed for the store when the sound of a car engine stopped her in her tracks. She whipped around. Tommy was already looking the same direction.

She raced back. “Let’s go!”

“No time.” He pulled the nozzle from the tank.

A large black van rolled down the road toward them.

“Could be slavers,” said Tommy.

“Not likely,” she countered. “It’s the middle of the day. It’s either vamps or humans.”

She pulled her gun from her waistband and her hand flexed around the grip.

“Let me handle this,” Tommy said.

William knocked on the tinted window behind her. She turned to it but couldn’t see him. “Stay inside,” she said.

The van slowed as it neared the station and then stopped in the middle of the street yards away.

Butterflies whirled in Evan’s stomach. They didn’t have time for distractions and if anything happened to them, William was dead.

Tommy raised his hand and waved at the van.

“What are you doing?” she hissed.

“Well they’re obviously not slavers or they’d have been on us already. They have to be humans.”

The logic made sense. The van sat for another minute before rolling forward to the edge of the gas station and stopping. The driver’s side door opened and a burly man stepped out. A thin, haggard-looking woman exited the other side.

“Howdy,” the man called.

“Afternoon,” Tommy replied.

The groups stared at each other until Evan’s hands grew slick with sweat and she had to run them on her pants.

“Where you headed?” Tommy asked.

“Not sure,” said the man. “Been traveling so long we don’t right know where to lay our head anymore. How ’bout ya’ll?”

“We’re headed east,” Tommy said.

The man shook his head. “Not too good goin’ east. Vampers everywhere that direction.”

“We’ll try to keep our heads down.”

“Where you comin’ from?”

Tommy stayed silent for a minute too long.

“California,” Evan said. “There’s an enclave out there in Palm Springs. It’s nice. Maybe you should check it out.”

The man nodded. “Why’d ya leave?”

“Family dispute.”

The man chuckled. “Seems silly to even have those nowadays, don’t it? Family’s just about all any of us have left.”

“Very true,” said Tommy.

“Well, we best be movin’ on. If we make it to California, we’ll be sure to try and look up your people. Thanks for the tip.”

Tommy waved and Evan held on to her gun tight as the van backed out onto the road and headed for the highway.

When the van could no longer be seen or heard, she leaned back on the car. The world really was in the crapper. So much so that even just seeing other humans made them jumpy as rabbits and ready to shoot at the drop of a hat. She wondered if things would ever be civilized again.

“Come on,” she said. “It’s my turn to drive.”

“What about the new clothes?” Tommy asked.

“It can wait. I want to get the hell out of here.”

As Evan drove the car off the 94 to Chicago, she slowed and stared at the horizon.

“Where are we?” William croaked.

It was nine PM and he’d done little on their drive besides sleep. His skin no longer even carried the ashy tone. He was so smeared in blood he looked like something out of a horror movie. Only his bright blue eyes shone beneath the mess.

“We’re coming into Chicago,” she said. “Do you remember how to get to the coven house?”

“Northeast of the Navy Pier.”

She headed toward the signs pointing the way to the pier. The closer they got to the city the more anxiety mingled with the hope inside her and caused her to shake.

For the past day and a half, she’d banked on the fact that if they could make it back to Chicago William would be healed. It was that thought that kept her going. That thought that kept spirits high and focused. But now that they’d made it she was forced to face the fact that there was a very real possibility he wouldn’t be cured.

She pushed down the gas pedal and followed the signs.

“Wow! I didn’t realize there was this much destruction in Chicago.” Tommy stared out the windows as they passed the business district.

“There wasn’t,” said William. “Things must be much worse on the demon front.”

“Great. We run from a secure front right into the fray.”

“That’s not helpful, Tommy.” Evan glared at him.

“Sorry.” He continued to stare out the window.

She turned north and headed past buildings she recognized and then into a more residential area.

“Turn right at the next street,” said William.

Evan followed his instructions. Soon they were in the coven house’s neighborhood.

“Wow! You live here?” asked Tommy.

“The coven house is ahead on the left,” said William.

Evan’s gut clenched tight at the sight of the house. She’d brought William back to save him, but if he died… Not only would she be right back where she’d started, but Tommy would be in the same barred boat. She hadn’t thought of that when she’d let him come along. Now more than ever she wished she’d smashed him over the head and left him behind. Not that living with Pop would have been much better for him.

“What are we waiting for?” Tommy asked.

She blew out a breath. “Nothing.”

She drove to the entrance and stopped. The black wrought iron gates loomed over her. She rolled down her window and pressed the buzzer for the house.

A male voice crackled on the line. “Coven House.”

“Hi. It’s Evan. I have William with me.” She tried to keep the quaver out of her voice.

“We have no time for games. Leave the grounds immediately or we will have to use force,” said the voice.

“No games. I have William and he needs help. Please tell Danika we are back from California.”

Silence emanated from the other side of the intercom.

“I’ll talk to him.” William sat up and coughed violently. Blood gushed from his mouth.

“William!” Evan turned to face him, but he’d stopped coughing. His eyes bulged out and he started to gag.

* * * *

He tried in vain to suck air into his lungs as blood stuck in his throat.

“You must leave immediately,” said someone over the intercom.

His gaze connected with Evan’s and she jumped from the car. He coughed and nothing but blood came up. He tried to swallow but his throat was stuck tight.

Dogs barked in the distance, growing steadily louder. Through the windshield, he spotted the house guards running for the gate. He tried to breathe through his nose but got no more than a swallow full of air before coughing again.

Evan yanked his side door open. “William, look at me. Breathe, baby. Come on.”

“Evan, they’re pointing machine guns at us,” said Tommy.

“Leave now. You have thirty seconds,” said the voice over the intercom.

“Evan!” shouted Tommy.

William gurgled and spit blood on the floor. He coughed and choked. Pressure built inside his chest and behind his eyes until his head felt like it was being slammed by a wrecking ball.

Evan smacked him on the back hard between the shoulder blades. His gut clenched as his lungs tightened down like an elephant sat on him. Evan whacked him harder and harder till he threw up all the Savor he’d had in the last two hours. The red liquid spewed across his legs and down to the floor. He coughed again and then sucked in a large breath.

“Ten seconds,” said the voice.

“Evan! Come on!”

“I’m okay,” William whispered, throat burning, lungs like a volcano.

Evan stared at him for another minute, biting her lower lip. Then she slammed the side door and hopped into the driver’s seat. She threw the car in reverse and backed out of the drive. The guards at the gate kept their guns trained on her.

“Do you know anywhere else we can go?” she asked. “Any way to get a message to Danika?”

William shook his head, unable to think straight.

Evan looked at Tommy. “We’re all in now. We came here to do a job.”

Tommy nodded and put on his seatbelt. “Like Pop always says, if you start a job—”

“You finish it.” Evan threw the car in drive and revved the gas. She punched the accelerator and headed for the gate. All three of them ducked as gunfire ripped holes through the windshield. The car slammed the gate and William flew into the back of Tommy’s seat, smashing his face.

He slammed backward and hit his head on the side window, cracking the glass.

In an instant, the doors of the car were ripped open and Evan was flung to the ground along with Tommy.

William’s door opened but at the sight of him, the guard backed up. He stepped out, his head foggy from the lack of oxygen and the hit to the window. His skull pounded worse than ever.

“Get off me!” Evan cried.

William snapped into action. He rounded the car to where three guards pinned her down.

“Don’t touch her,” he shouted.

William ran at the closest guard and flung him away. The other guards caught one look at him and backed up, raising their weapons.

William pulled Evan to his chest and she clung to him. He leaned against the side of the wrecked car, his legs like lead weights. He breathed hard trying to regain the lost oxygen but it only made his head pound harder and his vision blur further.

“You need to lie down,” she said.

“I’m fine.” William kept his gaze firmly on the guards. “Where’s Danika? Where’s Mason?”

“You are in no position to demand to see the coven lord and her mate,” said a guard William didn’t recognize.

“You get on the com and you tell Siad that William is here and I’m looking for Danika and Mason.” Fury and agitation had him almost ripping the guard’s throat out. Only holding Evan and feeling her warm body pressed against his kept him from completely losing it on every one of them.

The guards exchanged a look. “Siad is dead.”

Damn. “Then who’s in charge of house security?” he croaked.

“I am.” A figure strode down the driveway and the guards parted.

“Roth.” William filled with relief.

Roth stared at him for a minute. “William?”

William’s legs buckled and he fell to the ground.

“William.” Evan followed him down and turned to Roth. “Please, he needs help. He’s dying.”

Roth strode forward and stared at William. “What the hell happened to you?”

William’s vision grew fuzzy and his sight clouded. “Humans.”

* * * *

“William!” Evan looked on as his eyes closed and his head slumped forward.

“Let’s get him inside.” Roth motioned to several of the guards. They came to pick him up but Evan was conflicted.

“Where are you taking him?” she asked.

Roth ignored her. “Get him inside. Call Doc.”

“Wait.” She grabbed Roth’s sleeve. He turned his steely gaze upon her.

“Bring the girl and the guy. Get this car off the drive and shore up the gate,” Roth barked.

A guard grabbed Evan by the arm and dragged her forward. She met Tommy at the hood of the car.

“Don’t struggle,” she said. “We need to get inside.”

The guards marched into action, carrying out the orders set forth. Evan walked up the long drive. She looked behind and found the car being reversed out of the drive and onto the street. The gate was bent but still functioning.

She stumbled when they hit the steps to the front of the house. She caught herself on one of the white pillars when a scream rang out. Evan’s head whipped forward. Inside on the floor Danika bent over William with Mason standing close beside. The old physician Doc trudged across the entryway and knelt down beside William and Danika.

Evan stepped through the front door and waited.

“What’s wrong with him?” Danika screeched.

Doc laid a hand on Danika’s shoulder. “I don’t know yet.” His voice was calm and soothing.

“Come on.” Mason lifted Danika to her feet, and she clung to him as Doc pulled open his case and started to examine William. Danika pressed her face into Mason’s shoulder and then turned and spotted her.

Her eyes blazed like fire as she crossed to Evan. “What happened? What’s wrong with him?”

The slightly shorter Vampire lord made Evan feel like a toddler in time out.