Wicked Destiny (18 page)

Chapter 21

Sloane

Sitting there at my table
, I began to get impatient. I was finishing my new cup of juice and reading the paper. Why the paper? I honestly didn’t know. I never read the paper. I needed something to do. I looked down at the floor and saw Simon still there and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. I thought he’d actually be fun for a little while. Looking at the clock, I figured Viktor would be back soon and I knew Declan would have something witty to say. OK, it’s time for Simon to wake up.

“
Simon!” I snapped at him with no remorse at all. “Simon, get your old ass up now!” He started to move around and saw some signs of…life.

“What did yo
u do to me?” He sounded groggy.

“Get off my floor
, you are not a rug.” I got up to dispose of my glass, and considering it was afternoon now, I’d have a glass of wine. I poured myself a glass and Simon one too. “Don’t make me zap you, Simon. Get up and sit down, now. We need to talk.”

“Maybe you should have thought about
that before you sucked me dry!” He took another tone as he saw my eyebrows rise. “That didn’t come out right. I apologize.”

“Ah
, now we have manners?” I smiled as I took a sip.

I
didn’t think Simon liked me very much anymore. I smiled and brought him his glass of wine while slipping the bottle under my arm. I sat the glass in front of him and the bottle in the middle. He downed the glass and reached for the bottle for a refill.

“I figured we’re even.”
I looked at him from across the table. “You took advantage of me in a moment of weakness, so I just returned the favor. No hard feelings, I hope.”

Simon
said nothing at all. I smiled inside because I knew I got to him. This was fun and it was going to be a blast. Then a sudden feeling washed over me. Something was close. I jumped up, not prepared for what was about to come through the door. As soon as the door opened, I backed myself up against the farthest wall. It was Viktor. He and Simon eyed me suspiciously. I tried to play it off, but the very presence of Viktor was overwhelming at the moment and I wasn’t sure what that meant. But I liked it.

“What is wrong with you?”
Viktor asked.

“I don’t know.
When you entered the building, I started feeling weird.” I tried to shake the feeling, but I felt scared.

“I talked with Declan.”
Viktor started.

“And?”

“Well, he wasn’t happy about your message if that’s what you are asking.” I started walking along the wall in my loft, keeping my distance, but looking as if I was pondering over what Viktor was saying. Simon kept an eye on me too. I smiled so they would think that I was devising a devious plan. “Simon, you look better.” Viktor Smiled. “I warned you to stay away from her.” This time I gazed at Viktor, as he knew something I didn’t.

“What do you m
ean you told him to stay away?” I started walking toward Viktor now.

“I knew once he saw you that day he would try to steal you away so he could corrupt you with
…this.” Viktor lifted his arm out. “It’s a high, I know, but you need to make sure this is what you want, Sloane. There is no going back.”

“I don’t think
I have a choice in the matter. Everything has already been preplanned.” Was I second guessing myself? “I thought this is the team you played for, Viktor? I’m here now. I’m your secret weapon.”

“Yea
h, you are.”

“Then why are yo
u trying to talk me out of it.” I could feel the fire burning in my eyes.

“Careful
, Viktor. You might not want to upset her while we are on the bottom floor of this building,” Simon said, as he unfolded the newspaper again and acted as if he had no concern whatsoever.

I
began to shake and the fire built brighter in my eyes. What was it about rage that was so intense? And why did it burn? I cursed under my breath. If I ever wanted to hold a poker-face, I was going to have to get my feelings under control, because my eyes would forever tell the truth.

“
You are either having second thoughts about your loyalties or you doubt me. Either way, you can sit and watch from the sidelines or you can be there beside me.” I walked to Viktor with every hair on my body standing on edge. There was something terribly different, but whatever it was it was drawing me to him.

It was like power radiated off
of him—something I craved. I had to be careful, though.  Something different had changed in the time he’d left to see Declan. I touched his shoulder and sparks shot through me. I kept my hand there.

“Can I count on yo
u to be by my side?” I asked as the electric current still stung. He needed to answer quickly, because I wasn’t sure I could keep my hand there any longer. He must have known because he smiled at me devilishly.

“I’
ll always be there as long as you ask it of me.” He took my hand and kissed it and his eyes never left mine. 

I turned to walk away and for a
minute Viktor wouldn’t let go. There was a message he had in his eyes that I would ask him about later, but Simon was here. Even though he posed no threat at the moment, I refused to let him get me by surprise.

“Later,” w
as all I whispered, and he released my hand.

“Wel
l, since I’m no longer running things, I am going to take my leave. Viktor knows how to get in touch with me and, then again, Sloane, so do you now if you just try hard enough.” I rolled my eyes at Simon and stared outside the window.

“
Simon, I doubt I will need you for anything, but then again, stay close should I get hungry again.” His smile disappeared just as quickly as his presence did.

I stood there trying to figure out what
I was going to do. I needed to gather more strength, which meant I would have to hang around more people like Simon. I wouldn’t take any from Viktor, because in the end, I was hoping Viktor and Declan would be the ones to save me from myself. And they’d need every bit of their powers to do so.

“Sloane
, what’s going on?” Viktor stood next to me looking out the same window. He was careful not to touch me. 

“How much can I really trust you
, Viktor? And where is your true loyalty?” I turned to look at him.

“Look
, Sloane, I know I screwed up—” I didn’t let him finish.

“I’m not talking about us.
” I bowed my head because the pain was still fresh. “I mean to your boss.” Viktor looked confused.

“I’m his second.
What else can I say?” He shrugged his shoulders. “We didn’t get our employment from being honest.” He smiled.

“So if I ask something of you and you disobeyed him
, it wouldn’t be out of character?” 

“There is always a power struggle down under
, Sloane. Before you go up against him, I suggest you sleep on it.” He never looked at me.

“I have no desire to lead
whatsoever, Viktor.” Now I had his attention. I looked down at my hands as I subconsciously fidgeted. Suddenly I couldn’t stand still. 

“Then what the hell are you doing?”
 

“I’m ending this. Every damn bit of it.
When I said I didn’t want this, I meant it.” He grabbed my hands to steady me. I looked into his eyes just so he could get a clearer understanding. 

“Then why all th
e charades?” He was confused. “Let’s just leave.”

“I’m not running and living the rest of my l
ife looking over my shoulder.” I pulled my hands free from his. “I’m going to make this right. So I need your help.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“I need you to take me to places where I can gather more strength.”

“Absolutely not!”
He looked like a two year-old throwing a tantrum. “You want me to take you places where you can steal other minion’s darkness?”

“I
t would look and fit the part. Word will travel and the followers will come and bare witness.” I tried to explain.

“Witness to what
, exactly, Sloane? If you think for one minute that you’ll be able to control it, you’re wrong. Gathering so much in a little time, only to turn your back on it, will guarantee your demise. It will destroy you in the end.” He was mad and scared, but for whom I couldn’t tell.

“You don’t think I know that?
Right now I feel like a junkie. You have no idea how hard it is for me not to feed from you right now, because you just reek of it.” Here it came. “It feels so good when you let it in. It fills the void that’s within you and makes you think you’re whole again. I never knew there was so much missing in my life until the feeling hit me. It’s intoxicating and I crave it like my life depends on it.” I paced the floors now. “I don’t know if I can control it forever, but I’m only worried about getting that so-called unholy army together and destroying it. I only have to control it until then.”

“Explain what happens after you complet
e your task and you spiral out of control.” He was asking something he already knew the answer to.

“
Do whatever it is you have to.” My voice was a whisper now. “You can’t tell Declan any of this because he would never go through with it.”

“What makes you so sure I will?” 

“I don’t. I’m just wishing on a prayer,” I said.

“Well
, get ready. We have work to do. Are you changing?”

“No, I figured the more dramatic the better.” 

“It’s more than fire you’re playing with, Sloane. The fire is just an added bonus.” He ran his hand through his hair and then he looked up at me. “Well, let’s go.” He took my hand and just as I was about to grab for the door knob, we were gone.

Chapter 22

We were standing in front of an old mansion. We were still in town because I remember driving past it a couple of times on my bike. I missed my bike. I felt a little drained from the constant jumping from one place to another. Viktor pulled me to follow and I did. As we approached the front door, Viktor just walked right on in like he owned the place. I wondered if he really did when everyone in the house began to stumble over themselves, trying to look busy. I was laughing on the inside, but I couldn’t let anything slip at the moment. 

He led me from the foyer to the enormous living room with antique decor where people lounged everywhere
, and they weren’t too discreet. There were people making out, groping each other, and some even looked as if they were in more intimate positions. Even though I felt so embarrassed, I wouldn’t let them know. Viktor cleared his throat and everyone in the room just stopped.

“I’m sure everyone knows who this is by now, so while I go handle something in my office
, make her feel at home.” Viktor had a sly smile on his face. He turned to kiss my cheek, but before he kissed me, he whispered into my ear, “Bon Appétit, Sloane.” Then with a kiss on the cheek, he walked away.

I looked at all the people there just staring at
me. What was I going to do? I wasn’t going to join in, that was for sure. A man and a woman each took one of my hands and led me to the crowded couch. I almost started to hyperventilate, but I continued to take deep breaths. I sat down and then the woman began to play and braid my hair. There was another pair of hands on my shoulders and they began a steady massage. It felt so good and relaxing. I couldn’t help but close my eyes and let them take over. The hands rubbed my shoulders, and then they rubbed their way down the back of my arms where their fingers brushed against my sides. Hands now massaged the rest of my body. I was so tempted to go to sleep. I couldn’t understand why Viktor would bring me here instead of somewhere else. I guess he figured I needed to be loosened up before I began. And then it dawned on me.  I was supposed to join in, but only to an extent.

I opened m
y eyes to see my surroundings. There were still people across the room that watched me as they were intimate. They glared as if they were waiting on me. The man massaging my shoulders was beautiful. He was strong, had dark skin, and he wore no shirt. I rubbed my hand up his arm, beckoning him to come closer. He came to me on command and leaned in for a kiss. It was full of sweetness and lust. I ran my hand to the back of his neck to deepen the kiss, which also brought a wave of darkness. Even though he had his talent, his darkness is what I craved. I felt someone pulling on my arm and I broke the kiss. The woman who led me to the couch was now beckoning me. High off the sudden wave of power I just received, I smiled and leaned in for a kiss. Our moment was broken off by the man I had just kissed, who wanted his turn with her. In that moment, I knew what it was Viktor was doing. Why he didn’t stick around, I didn’t know.

I was being pulled in every dire
ction of everyone’s affection. The high and the euphoric feeling was so consuming that I lost track of time, and given the state I was in, I would’ve probably done more had it not been for Dale. I felt someone grabbing me and carrying me off and I didn’t care at all. I was on the brink of welcoming anything at this point. Eyes still closed and still smiling, I reached up and cupped Dale’s cheek. Although I had no idea it was Dale until he forced me to snap out of my dazed confusion.

“Sloane, look at me now.
Open your eyes and look at me.” I did what I was told.  “Sloane, listen to me. I need you to focus and tell me how you got here.” I couldn’t help but laugh.

“I beamed here, duh.”  I was drunk off the power I had been secretly stealing.

“Seriously, Sloane, stop and tell me. Mindy and Shay are out looking for you everywhere.” He was serious, but I wasn’t ready to give in.

I was starti
ng to crave more. I reached up to caress Dale’s face again, but he quickly snatched my hand away. I started to feel the rage of being denied what I craved. I could feel the tantrum of a two year-old slowly building when someone else was in the room.

“What’
s going on?” Viktor stood there in the doorway with his arms crossed.   

“She’s not right.
Why did you bring her here?”  Dale sounded pissed, but so was I.

“That’s none of your business
, servant. Tell me when the chain of comman started with you. Last I checked you were at the bottom of the pay scale.” He now moved into the room to fix him a shot of something brown.

Dal
e sat me upright on the couch. When he was certain I wouldn’t fall over, he got up to stand in front of Viktor. Dale towered over Viktor and in the real world I wouldn’t doubt that Dale could take Viktor. Honestly, I found Dale a little more intimidating than Viktor. 

“Wh
at the hell is going on, Viktor? You know what this place is. She has no right to be here.” Dale stood there with his arms folded across his chest.

“It was just a pit stop.
I didn’t think she would get carried away.” Viktor took another swig of his drink. He never met Dale’s eyes. 

Viktor moved o
ut of arm’s distance from Dale. My guess was he did it to try to keep the peace. I could see the both of them just about ready to lose it. I asked Viktor to keep this a secret and he was doing a great job about it too. Playing the part of the villain was something Viktor was good at, probably because that’s what he was.

“
Does Declan know?” Dale asked.

“Again, explain to me
how that’s any of his business. Dale, why don’t you go play security guard somewhere else, or better yet, find some young woman to ease that tension. It looks like it’s been a while since the last time you replenished your energy. You wouldn’t want to start something when you’re not at your best.” Viktor now sat next to me on the couch, pulling me in a half embrace.

“Sloane
, tell me what to do.” I could see the genuine concern in Dale’s eyes.

“I’m a big girl
, Dale. Haven’t you heard? I’m destined to lead an army.” I held a straight face. My poker face. “Tell Mindy I’m fine and tell her to convince Shay to visit her parents. I don’t care how you do it, but make sure she leaves. I will be calling on you and Mindy soon.”

“We might work for the dark side
, but we don’t get involved in politics.” Dale was shaking his head now.

“You will
be this time whether or not you want to. So I suggest you prepare.” My tone held a warning, but it was actually a plea. I figured if I was going to continue this way, it wouldn’t be long until self-control became harder and harder to hold onto. So the more help the better. I hated being so snappy at him, but I would make it up to him and Mindy. 

In that moment my head cleared and I was able to
see things for what they were. I rounded on Viktor and had him by his throat. Even though the power high had worn off, I could feel the change in strength.

“What the hell was that? Why did you leave?”
I hadn’t let go, but I was certain he could get loose if he wanted.

“You nee
ded as much power as possible. What better way?” He still didn’t move.

“You jus
t served them up like cattle?” I was astonished.

“Not to sound like an asshole
, but do you really care, Sloane? I mean, think about it. You’ve demonstrated that you’re one of us.” He was out of my grip and now I was in his. He maneuvered us to the furthest corner away from everyone. It looked as if we were in an intimate embrace to someone who might’ve walked in. “Was it not you that asked for my help, and did I not deliver? Yes, you might be the chosen one in this damned prophecy, but I too have to maintain my position and you challenging me that way in front of them might raise questions prematurely. Now that we have settled this conversation, I think it’s time we leave.” What else could I say after that?

We were gone.

Dale

I couldn’t believe what just happened. Sloane had completely flipped her lid and the worst part was that she had Viktor besides her, instigating her every move. I needed to find Mindy because I knew Shay would be with her. She could help me find Declan. I had a feeling I was going to need some help. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone to text Mindy.

Me: Meet me at the club in ten minutes. Bring everyone. Have Shay get in contact with Declan. He needs to be there too. 

Mindy:
Did you find her?

Me:
Tell you then. Be careful. If you see her, don’t approach her. She’s not herself.

I stuck my phone back into my pocket, not looking to see if Mindy texted back. I jumped on my bike and headed straight to the club. I knew I’d get there before them, but I needed to figure out how I was going to explain what I saw. Pulling up to the club, Declan was already pacing outside.

“What is so wrong?” h
e asked me as I was unlocking the front door.

“Where are the girls?” I asked.

“They’re on the way. They’re leaving the farm house now, so they should be here soon.” Declan looked worried and with good reason.

“Good, we have a problem and I think you better
hear it first before they do.” I pushed him in while carefully looking over my shoulder.

I walked over to
the bar and poured us a drink. I figured he was going to need it. Declan just stared at me. He already knew, I figured, but wanted confirmation. Declan was a good guy, too. He was the ideal man for Sloane. What was his deal? Why couldn’t they get it right? I was tired of see her waste her time with assholes that just wanted to use her for something.

“Just tell me
, Dale.” He pushed the shot I poured to the side.

“Declan
, she’s gone. She’s fallen right off her rocker.” I dove in quickly before the girls got there. I wasn’t sure what he wanted me to tell Shay. I’d offer whatever explanation Declan wanted while Shay was present, but as soon as she was gone Mindy would know the truth.

He didn’t move
, and for a minute he looked as if he had stopped breathing. He eventually took that shot and signaled for another. Time was growing short and we needed to get Shay out of town and figure out a good story. I hated to lie, but if it ensured someone’s safety, it wasn’t exactly that bad. Or was it?

“We
need a vampire to compel her.” Declan ran his hand through his hair. “Do you know one or does one work here?”

“Yeah
, I can call Crystal. She should be getting up about now.” I poured another shot. Mindy was going to kill me, but we’d fight about it later. Succubus and Vampires don’t mix too well around here. 

I pulled out my phone again and called Crystal.
Although she was up, she was having a little snack at the moment. I gave her the rundown of what I needed and she agreed to come in once she was done. All we had to do now was wait. As I ended the call, Declan poured himself another shot.

“It’s my fault,” he said as he downed another shot.

“What is?” I took the bottle away.

“I never should have left.
This would’ve never happened if I stayed.” He now raked both hands through his hair.

“You can’
t beat yourself up like this. Just…fix it,” I said, as I slammed the bottle back into its place.

“What if she won’t stop?”
Declan was ready to admit defeat.

“Then
you make her
see.
” I couldn’t stress it any clearer than that.

Mindy and Shay walked
into the club. I sat a Coke on the bar and told Shay to sit while I spoke with Mindy. She didn’t like that too much. She was with Declan and I wasn’t worried about what he’d tell her, because soon she wouldn’t even remember. Just as I made it to the back to the club, I heard the door close and in walked Crystal, the vampire. A hiss escaped Mindy’s mouth and her protective instincts kicked in for Shay’s sake.

“No!
She’s here because I called her.”Oh, yeah, this wasn’t going too well. Although my intentions were for the greater good, the fact that I called a vampire wasn’t good. And not just any vampire—she was my ex.

Before I met Mindy sixty years ago
, I was with Crystal and we were living in Las Vegas. The scene was less hectic and there was easy prey for me and for Crystal. Unlike Crystal, I grew tired of the chase and began looking for reasons to end my total existence. That’s when I met Mindy. She was like an angel, just a little darker. In fact, she was so beautiful I thought she was one. I knew then that I would follow her anywhere. She taught me that there were ways to live with what we were. We were still damned souls, but just maybe our souls were a little more grey than black.