Voodoo and Vampires
Author: Theophilus Monroe
Date: 2022-06-29 04:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Paranormal; Urban Fantasy; Vampires; Young Adult; Teen; Fantasy
Description: When one of the world's most gifted witches becomes a vampire, you'd be wise to heed this advice: Don't f*** with her. I’m supposed to seduce and assassinate the vampire king… He’s defied the new vampire council. The Voodoo Queen has evoked Erzulie, the Loa of Love, to render him susceptible to my allure Once I’ve enthralled the king my orders are to stake him and cast a spell to harness the power that lingers in his blood. But there’s one problem… He has enthralled me instead. MEET THE BLOOD WITCH I'm Hailey Bradbury: Hedge Witch and Vampire. My sire was staked moments after I was turned. As
Rights: Copyright &#x00A9;2022 byanonymous

Copyright

Copyright © 2022 by Theophilus Monroe.

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Cover Design by Deranged Doctor Design

Proofreading/Editing by Mel: https://getproofreader.co.uk/

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Special Thanks to the BETA team:

Lisa Hunt, Charles Small, James Moody, Thia Viljoen, Jerri Estep, and Jennifer Delgado

For information:

www.theophilusmonroe.com

Chapter 1

Seduce and spy on the vampire king. That was the next day’s mission. Depending on what I found out, seduce and assassinate was on the table. Provided that seduce and win-him-over wasn’t going to happen. I wasn't really the "seduce and assassinate" type. I was more of the kick your ass and torture the truth out of you kind of girl.

I was the kind that every mother hopes her son never brings home on the weekend. I was a man-eater. Literally.

Speaking of eating, I had to feed before I approached the vampire king. I needed to be at full strength. My step-sire, Mercy Brown, insisted I feed the regular way while Corbin was in town. She didn’t want me performing any spells at all.

Corbin didn’t know about my abilities. He thought I was little more than a young and impressionable orphan vampire. According to Mercy, I was his “type,” whatever that meant. The more he believed he could play me, the better chance I had to turn the tables and manipulate him.

Not with my vampirism. I was only seven years a vampire. Corbin had as many centuries under the vampiric curse as I had years. He was over three times Mercy’s age. As a vampire, there was nothing I could do to him. As a witch, there was nothing he could do to stop me.

“What’s wrong with that boy?” Mercy elbowed me in the ribs while we sat side-by-side in a small booth at one of the bars in the French Quarter.

I snorted. “He’s too hairy.”

Mercy stared at me dumbly. “Who cares, Hailey? Hair doesn’t grow in blood.”

“But it grows on necks. I hate biting men with beards. If I wanted to floss, I’d get some damn floss.”

Mercy sighed and shook her head. “All you have to do is bite behind the beard-line. This is basic shit, Hailey.”

“But look at him! Yeah, his beard doesn’t wrap around his entire neck, but he’s got it on the front and the back. If I bite him, no matter if I take him from behind or head-on, I’ll have hair in my nose and eyes. Then, I’ll sneeze. Have you ever had to sneeze with a full mouth?”

Mercy laughed. “Yeah, that sucks.”

I sighed. “I wish shaving came back in style. It seems like nine out of ten dudes all have facial hair these days.”

“Then feed on a woman.”

“I don’t like the taste of women, Mercy. The flavor is too gamey.”

“No, it isn’t. Women are delicious.”

I sighed. “I know you’re a witch, too, but you’re not a blood witch, Mercy. I can taste everything in the blood. This is something I have explained before. Testosterone stimulates more red blood cell production. Women also lose blood more regularly than men. Men and women taste different. I prefer the male flavor. If you want to go both ways, that’s your thing. I won’t judge. But I’m entitled to eat whoever the hell I want to eat!”

Mercy raised an eyebrow. “Entitled? You really are a millennial vampire.”

I shrugged. “Not technically. Millennials are supposed to be those who were coming of age at the turn of the millennium. I was just a baby. Not to mention, I didn’t even become a vampire until more than a decade after that. No matter how you look at it, I’m not a millennial.”

Mercy rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Hailey. The point is you aren’t entitled to feed on anyone. It’s a privilege. When you find a good opportunity, someone young and virile who won’t be harmed by the process, and they’re sufficiently intoxicated so as not to recall what happened the next day, you need to take it.”

I bit my lip. “My way is easier.”

“No magic, Hailey. Corbin has bloodsuckers all over the city. You’d better believe he’s watching us, too. He can’t know what you can do. Until he leaves, or we kill his ancient, pompous ass, you’ll feed like the rest of us.”

I grunted and folded my arms in front of my chest. “Fine. But I’m not feeding on him.”

Mercy shrugged. "If you won't, I will."

Mercy stood up from the table. Her black gown flowed around her toned body. She was a knockout. She looked like she came from another era. Probably because she did. There was something about her "look" and her vampiric allure that most people—men and women alike—found irresistible. She approached sasquatch-neck and traced her finger around his jaw-line. He bought her a drink. Mercy got off on the entire process of the hunt. She enjoyed watching her potential meals squirm as they sunk deeper into her thrall. Mercy liked to play with her food.

I didn’t hunt like Mercy. I didn't hunt like any other vampire I knew. Before I became a vampire, I was a witch. I had ways to lure in my meals, take what I needed, and make them forget. It simplified my hunts. A lot of vampires dined in. They found their meals out in public and found a dark corner to feed. Others preferred carry-out. They located a target, used their allure to bring them home, and fed in relative comfort. I called in my meals on delivery. All I needed was a little DNA, and I could cast a spell that would draw my victim in.

It wasn’t always that way. It took me a while after I was turned to tap into the mystical quality of human blood. Once I did, though, feedings were much more convenient. I had my regulars, the people whose DNA I’d stored in miniature jars on a shelf in my room at Casa do Diabo. That was Mercy's house, by the way. It means "The Devil's House." The place was passed along to Mercy after Nico (the first-ever vampire and Mercy’s sire) and the house’s original vampiric inhabitant, Ramon De Leonne, moved on to a “better place.” There was plenty of room. I had a spacious bedroom to myself.

Most of the prospective meals I’d collected samples for came from someone’s hair. It wasn’t as potent as pure blood, but it was easier to collect and didn’t spoil. Barber shops have to do something with all those clippings that fall on their floors. All I needed it for was to attune my spell to the target’s actual DNA. The blood in his veins drew him to me, provided he was within a reasonable distance.

Most vampires enjoyed feeding on tourists in the French Quarter. I fed almost exclusively on the locals. Tourists were more likely to be inebriated, which made them ideal targets for most vampires. I needed meals who lived within a ten-mile radius, give or take, of Casa do Diabo. It wasn’t a problem. There were plenty of men to choose from and more than a few barber shops I could raid for clippings.

In human-years I was twenty-three. I became a vampire at sixteen. That meant I looked sixteen. Thankfully, I still had identification to prove my age. Yeah, my driver’s license expired, but when entering a club or ordering a drink, most bartenders and bouncers didn’t care about expiration dates as much as birthdays. Eventually, too much time would pass. I’d have to get a fake ID. For now, though, my original license sufficed.

My plaid skirt, black flats, tall socks, red sweater and loose tie did little to confirm that I was old enough to be in a bar. It was the same uniform I used to wear in school. It attracted a lot of attention. Not just from younger boys, who I hoped to feed on, but from an unhealthy share of older men.

The way I saw it, it was a win-win. If some grown-ass man made advances on a schoolgirl, he’d get what was coming to him. I’d still get to feed. I’d make sure his was a terrifying experience. The human body secreted hormones in a state of terror that gave the blood a pleasing, savory flavor. If I attracted younger men, men who weren’t so far removed from my actual age, then I’d enjoy the feed. We both would. I’d make him forget about it, of course. Still, it would be a pleasurable experience for the both of us. Their blood would be sweet and satisfying.

I stood up from the booth and approached the bar, catching stares along the way. I always knew when boys were eyeing me. Even before I was a vampire, or studied witchcraft, I had a sixth sense about that kind of thing. You know, the psychic ability to recognize when men are craning their necks to stalk you with their eyes. When they’d look at you with a little smirk and nod, as if they were trying to make themselves look cooler than they really were. Men were easy to read. When they looked at me, they weren’t wondering if I had career aspirations, or if I was smart and worthy of long conversations. They had one desire in mind. I had different plans. That didn’t mean I couldn’t use their lusts to my advantage.

Apart from the man Mercy had in her thrall—the guy looked like a damned lawyer—I had my pick of the litter. I found a couple of baby-faced guys shooting pool. If they hadn’t used fake IDs to get their drinks, they were barely twenty-one. They were cute. One had shaggy blond hair and blue eyes. He was thin, but lean. The other was broader shouldered with short, dark hair. Neither boy had a beard.

I like to eat. I also regularly floss. I’d rather not do both at the same time. Clean shaven, younger men. That was my preference and these two fit the profile.

Which one would I select? I chuckled. Why choose? My family took a cruise when I was about twelve. On the cruise, if you wanted more than one entrée, you could order two or more. It was all covered and paid for in advance. Can’t choose between the steak dinner and the lobster tail? Order both. Eat as much of each as you could. That was my plan for the night. The darker-haired meatier one was my steak. The blond boy was my lobster tail.

“Hey boys,” I leaned over the edge of their pool table. The blond boy was already aiming at his cue ball. My bosom caught his eyes, and he missed the ball completely.

The dark-haired boy chuckled. “Excuse Rory, he gets nervous around beautiful women.”

“I do not!” Rory objected. “She just took me off guard. I didn’t expect…”

I chuckled. These boys were going to be easy enough to manage. All I had to do was string them along until my allure arrested their wills. Then, they’d do anything I wanted. I could make them rub my feet, clean my room, or do whatever else I desired before I fed on them. They’d thank me for it. I wouldn’t be a bitch about it. Not like I’d make the two boys make out with each other or anything. Though, I had to admit, I’d find that amusing. Still, by the time I was done with them, they wouldn’t be competing with each other. They’d feel honored to share. So long as they had a few drinks in their systems, when I bit them, my bite would filter the alcohol out of the blood. I’d get pure blood to drink. Their blood alcohol level would increase. They’d black out. When they woke up, I’d be nothing to them but a wet dream or a nightmare. Most likely, the former rather than the latter.

Chapter 2

Nine Years Ago

I was probably the only fourteen-year-old on the planet to spend every spare waking moment digging through dusty family heirlooms. It all started a few weeks ago with a school project. We were supposed to create our own family tree. How far back could we go? What would we find? Share with the class whatever you've learned.

Some students found old civil war letters their ancestors had sent or received. Trinkets from great-grandfathers who'd served during the Second World War. One boy even showed a bullet that he claimed some ancestor of his had been shot by at the hands of Wild Bill Hickok.

I found a grimoire. A witch's spell book, passed down in our family for generations. I couldn’t take the book to school. I attended St. Charles Parish Christian Academy. Don't be confused by the "saint" part. In Louisiana they called counties "parishes." French Catholics settled the place back in the day. They named a lot of shit for saints.

Our school was pan-denominational. My parents didn't want me to be corrupted by those “darn liberals” who taught at the public schools. They thought public schools brainwashed their students. So, obviously, a religious school was the only option. No one ever tried to brainwash kids with religion, you know.

Neither my parents nor the school principal would react well if I showed up with one of my ancestor's spell books. They'd think I was fraternizing with the devil! They liked to blame the devil for a lot of things they didn’t understand. I suppose he made a great scapegoat.

Don’t bother trying to understand or study it. Just say it’s “of the devil” and forbid it. I had to wonder, if God really was so powerful and loved us so much, why would some dusty old book pose such a threat? Let God burn the book himself if he doesn’t want us to read it. My parents said God gave us the opportunity to sin out of free will. That made little sense to me. If a little kid is playing with a scorpion, any good parent would pull the kid away from it and toss the thing outside. What kind of mom or dad would let their kid mess with a snake, or a scorpion, or play in a vat of arsenic, all in the name of free will?

How dangerous could this book really be? Convincing my parents, and even less the school principal, otherwise was out of the question. I mean, my school banned the Harry Potter books from our library. If those books were dangerous, a proper witch’s spell book that probably included hexes more complex than tickling magic, or recipes more intriguing than booger-flavored jelly beans, wouldn’t have a place.

My parents knew nothing about the grimoire. They'd barely looked through these old chests at all. They'd belonged to my grandmother. My mom told us her mother had forbidden her from ever looking inside these chests when she was a girl. The first time my mom looked through them was about two years ago when my grandmother died and we inherited all her crap.

Most of the grimoire was written by hand. After the first hundred pages or so, the handwriting changed. In the book's front, the penmanship was ornate. The script was pretty. An art unto itself. Whoever started the book agonized over every letter. The back-half of the book was also written in a cursive that suggested a bygone era, but it wasn’t as carefully done. Some sections looked as if someone had scribbled them down in a hurry. The spacing between lines was inconsistent. I couldn’t read most of it. It wasn’t only because some pages were in Latin or various forms of archaic English. I think some of it was in French, maybe German.

I might have been more bookish than most of my peers, but I was no linguist. Come on. I was barely in High School. This stuff was way over my head.

Still, Google Translate helped me sort out some of it. Unfortunately, the Internet tool wasn’t sophisticated enough to deal with the strange ways people used to spell words. Believe it or not, there was no such thing as a misspelling in the sixteenth century. People followed local conventions. Reading the book was slow going. I could translate just enough to figure out that it was, in fact, a grimoire, and many of the pages featured spells, complicated diagrams, weird symbols, and pretty little pictures of various winged creatures.

A creak in the floorboards startled my attention. My parents didn't care if I looked through all this stuff. They weren't so superstitious as my grandmother was. Still, whenever I looked through the old grimoire, I had a strange sense that someone was watching me.

There was a raised section, about a half-sheet's size, just behind the paper on the inside of the front cover. I traced the outline with my finger.

I scurried over to another corner of the attic. It was where we stored our rarely used craft supplies. We had a razor-blade utility knife in there somewhere. I suppose I should have taken some pause before slicing into a priceless family heirloom. I'd spent nearly a week's worth of evenings poring over this book. If there was something hidden in the cover, perhaps it would help me make sense of it all.

I didn't know Latin. Olde English was hard to figure out. While I had a general idea of what a few spells might do, and even knew the ingredients needed, I didn’t know how to combine them. I didn't know how to cast the magic the spells described. I needed something else to fill in the gaps.

I carefully traced the outline of the raised portion of the inside cover with my knife. I peeled away the protective paper. I pulled out a folded sheet of yellowed parchment and unfolded it. The paper crackled and popped like a bowl of Rice Krispies as I spread it open on the dry wood attic floor. Finally, something I could read that made sense.

Dearest child,

If you're reading this letter, you are undoubtedly the one for whom this book is intended. The Horned God told me that one day someone of my lineage would find it. She'd be strong. More powerful than any witch born in three centuries. These words, too, were enchanted by my blood. If you are reading them, then you are her.

Do you doubt me? Show this letter to anyone. If they confirm it is nothing but a blank page, then you'll know my words are true. Do not be afraid. When I was your age, not yet fifteen, and I first discovered my abilities, I was terrified. I had many spells, collected over the centuries by my ancestors. I've assembled them together in this grimoire. You need not concern yourself with the other spells in this book. I will guide you in the path. You must only perform a single spell and it will make all plain.

You must secure a cauldron. Any pot will do, provided it is large enough to accommodate the volume of a human body. Set it over an open flame. Add to it a fresh corpse of any mammal. Fill it to the brim with living water. Tend the flame for three days. Bring the cauldron to a simmer, but it must not boil over. After three days’ time, add to the cauldron a drop of your blood.

Take heart, my child. The knowledge you seek will soon be yours.

The Grandmother of your Grandmother,

Moll Dyer

I closed the chest and took the grimoire along with the letter back to my room. My parents were asleep. I had school in the morning. Ugh. At least, there, I could show the letter to a few friends and see if what I read was true. If no one else could truly read the words Moll wrote, it would prove that this was more than just an old book filled with my ancestors’ superstitions. If that worked out, I knew what I had to find: an enormous cauldron, a dead mammal, and a good excuse to disappear for three days to tend the flame.

Chapter 3

Present Day

Corbin, the self-proclaimed vampire king, was from Romania. He came to New Orleans to negotiate a truce with Mercy, who was also the new prime chancellor of the Vampire Council.

He’d only been in New Orleans for a few days. Mercy put him up in an old mansion in the Garden District. The Vampire Council had properties all over the city. When Nico ran the council, he wisely invested in real estate. Given the susceptibility of vampires to daylight, vampires couldn’t afford to go homeless. The more houses a vampire owned, the more power and influence he had over other vampires. That was the theory, at least. It only went so far.

Corbin was wealthy enough he could have found his own luxurious quarters for the visit. He could have bought a house, had it renovated on the fly, and ready for his arrival. This trip had been in the works for months. Instead, he accepted Mercy’s offer.

She wasn’t spying on him directly. There were no hidden cameras. Corbin’s senses were too acute. The slightest change in focus on even the smallest camera was enough for him to notice. Still, if your enemy is coming to town, Mercy believed it better to play the gracious host while secretly remaining his enemy than it was to act as an enemy when you hoped to be friends.

I suspected Corbin was playing the same game. He accepted Mercy’s invitation and accommodations if for no other reason than to gain an inch of trust that he might later exploit it into a mile.

I was dressed to kill. I incorporated some of my usual school-girl get up but added some womanly flare to it that Mercy insisted would catch Corbin’s eye. I still wore the plaid skirt. I had the low-cut white blouse and loose tie. I added six-inch red heels to my ensemble. I applied a little more makeup than I was used to, though my cheeks were already rouged from my previous night’s feeding.

Those boys were delicious. I wouldn’t need to feed again for several days. I could if I wanted to. If Corbin insisted on it, I most certainly would. I almost forgot the extra flavor that’s added to the thrill of the hunt when I put in the time to win over my meals with my allure. I’ll say this much. I took them both home. I had them all worked up, their hormones marinading their blood with sensations that eclipsed anything they’d ever experienced. I knew they were ready when they begged me to sink my teeth into their necks. It was fun. They were satisfied. I was, too. It was too bad, for them, that they wouldn’t remember much if any of the encounter.

I was what you’d call a hedge witch. I’d had my opportunities to join covens. Every chance I had, I turned it down. Covens are necessary for most witches. Few are equipped to dabble in so many crafts and blend them together without screwing something up. They told us in science class back when I attended a human school, you should never mix acids and bases. Most witches believed the same principle applied to the Craft. Witches weren’t pompous, or exclusive, about their beliefs like a lot of religious people might be. They respected every form of mystic arts. A coven gave lesser witches the accountability they required to stay on their path and the guidance to progress.

I learned my skill with a single mentor and the help of a grimoire that had been in my family for centuries. During the two years that I was growing in power before I became a vampire, several covens hoped I’d join them. Those requests stopped coming after my change. No skin off my back. I preferred to work in the hedge. The only rules I had to follow were the ones I created for myself.

All this political crap between the vampires only confirmed my desire to fly solo as a witch. In the human world, politics was never a bloodless sport. It was even truer with vampires—for obvious reasons.

Mercy and Corbin had very different visions for the future of our kind.

The way Mercy explained it, Corbin was committed to the old ways. Humans are prey. Vampires are predators. We hunt from the shadows and preserve this arrangement by limiting our numbers and operating in complete secrecy. Mercy believed that vampires did better to remember that they were once humans, too. In the age of the Internet, we could no longer operate in the shadows. Inevitably, humans would discover the truth sooner rather than later. While she'd lived most of her existence according to the old ways, her now-deceased sire and the father of all vampires foresaw a day when those methods would no longer remain viable. We still had to hunt and feed, but we needed to exercise caution. Feed only as much as required and never kill our meals.

Corbin wasn't ignorant. He knew we couldn’t keep our kind a secret forever. When that time came, though, he believed that war with humankind was necessary. We'd have to rise up, defy human institutions, and rule through fear. Mercy favored co-existence as a more desirable vision for our future.

We didn’t know when that time might come. Still, how we lived and behaved now would set the stage for how vampire-kind would react when it did.

Mercy didn't believe Corbin was here in good faith. She knew him better than I did. Hell, I'd only been a vampire for less than a decade. I was a baby by comparison. Mercy was nearly two hundred years old. Corbin was somewhere around seven hundred.

There was also the whole sibling rivalry thing. Both Corbin and Mercy shared a sire. Mercy inherited the Vampire Council when Niccolo died because she was his favored progeny. Corbin was his oldest.

I took one last look in the mirror before I left. I took a deep breath. I trusted that Mercy knew what she was doing.

Chapter 4

Nine Years Ago

I showed the letter to a few friends at school. They thought I was nuts. What's so interesting about a blank piece of old paper? I wasn't sure if I was more excited or terrified by the prospect that I was the one, the supposedly powerful witch Moll wrote about. I mean, seriously? Me? A witch? I was a normal girl. I played softball. I liked boys—especially Connor McPherson. He had dimples, blue eyes, and a nice butt. His personality was tolerable, which, for the more brutish sex, was about all I could ask for.

I wasn't sure if he liked me. He noticed me. That was obvious. He was a leg guy. I often teased him in class, wearing my plaid uniform skirt, crossing my legs and dangling my flats from the tip of my red-painted toes. He sat two rows back. I caught him staring more than once. Of course, he'd always look away. He'd scratch the side of his face, or brush one of his stray brown curls out of his eyes.

Boys suck at subtlety.

Not that I wanted to encourage that attitude. I wanted him to corner me in the hall, pin me against the locker, and do whatever he could to get us both suspended. Not likely to happen. He was a preacher's kid. He had to keep all his naughtiness behind closed doors.

If my parents thought I was going to have a date with the preacher's boy, though? Oh, they'd be proud. Thrilled even. I could hear my mom already telling my dad, "I told you, our little Hailey's gonna be a preacher's wife!"

Fat chance of that. Connor would not be a preacher, either. He wasn't the type. He had expectations to live up to. Translation: Connor kept all his misbehaviors under wraps when in public, but let loose more recklessly than anyone when the adults weren’t watching. He had a reputation. Especially among the girls. I’m pretty sure he’d been with at least two girls that I knew about.

Why was he so damn nervous around me?

Because he liked me. If all he wanted was to make out, he'd be collected and cool. That's how he was with most girls. He felt differently about me. He liked me and he found me, little old me, intimidating.

I wasn't the typical cheerleader type he was into. I tried cheerleading once. I found it dull and trite. I was more of the bookish sort. I'd read just about anything girls my age weren't supposed to like. No sappy vampire romances for me. Give me an Anne Rice novel and I'd devour it over a weekend. I liked books that made me think. If it had a dark edge to it, all the better.

Maybe that's why the few times Connor tried to talk to me, he could barely get two sensible words out of his mouth. He had a lot of pretty girls wrapped around his pinky finger. I had him wrapped around my pinky toe.

As much as I liked him, until he mustered up the courage to talk to me, I couldn't give him the time of day. I had my boy-crushes like most girls. I knew better than to obsess over boys who couldn’t get over their nerves enough to have a simple conversation. Boys like that weren’t worth it, no matter how cute they were.

As a preacher's kid with a closeted devious side, though, he was exactly what I needed. Not for a boyfriend. I needed to get away for a while to work this spell left in my ancestors’ grimoire. If anyone knew how to come up with a good excuse to get out from under your parents' thumbs for a few days, it was Connor.

Class was over. It was the last period of the day. I found Connor at his locker. I leaned into the locker next to his. "Hey Connor."

"Um. Hi, Hailey."

"I don't bite, you know."

Conner chuckled nervously. "Yeah, I know that."

"You can talk to me. I won't hurt you. I promise."

"It's just that..."

"I'm pretty?"

"Well no. I mean, yes. You are. It's that you're so smart."

I laughed so hard I snorted. "You won't talk to me because I'm smarter than you?"

"I didn't say that! I'm smart too, you know."

I grinned. "I didn't say you weren't. But how would I know if you don't talk to me, Connor?"

Connor's lip twitched. "It's just that..."

"That you like me?"

Conner nodded. "I know it's dumb. If I like you, why can't I talk to you? If I can't talk to you, how can I ever expect you to like me back?"

I smiled widely. "Exactly! And look at you. You're talking to me now."

Connor chuckled. "I guess I am."

"We have a three-day weekend coming up. Teacher work day."

"Yeah, I know."

I shrugged. "Sounds like a good time to get away and get to know each other better."

Connor scratched his head. "What are you thinking?"

"Come on, Connor. You might have the grown-ups fooled. I know you have something planned already. What is it, a party?"

Connor's eyes darted back and forth. "Sort of. Some of us are going camping, but I was going to take Ginny Larson."

I raised an eyebrow. "Ginny Larson? Do you like her?"

Connor snorted. "She's hot."

"But do you like her?"

Connor shrugged. "Not really."

"Then take me instead! Or take both of us. I don't care. I can handle a little competition."

"Fine, but you can't tell anyone."

"What are you telling your parents?"

Connor shrugged. "Mission trip. They think we're going to the Choctaw reservation."

I snorted. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. We have fake permission slips and everything. I can get you one."

I smiled and kissed Connor on the cheek. "I'm looking forward to it."

Connor blushed. "Me too!"

"One more thing. Who is driving?"

Connor shrugged. "A couple of juniors and a senior."

"Any of them drive trucks?"

"Sure, why?"

"I have a big pot. Great for making stew. Or mixing punch."

Connor smirked. "Punch. Right. I like how you're thinking. Do we really need a pot that big?"

I nodded. "Trust me. I have a special recipe. It'll be a weekend you'll never forget."

Tracking down a cauldron large enough was harder than I expected. I checked eBay. There were cauldrons, stock pots, and kettles. None of them near large enough to accommodate the volume of a human body. Even if I found one, I'd have to use my dad's credit card. How would I explain the need for a cauldron? Making stew for the homeless? I didn't even know how to make stew.

If I tried, I'd probably screw it up and make a soup. Not like I knew the difference between stew and soup—but that was sort of the point. The only soup I knew how to make had letters in it. If I added meat chunks, would that make it a stew? It didn't matter. My parents would never buy the lie. If they got so much as a hint that I was dabbling in witchcraft, they’d have a regular parent-grade conniption fit. They’d purge me of my devilish interests by taking away my phone and Internet for a month.

I’d probably die from withdrawal.

One problem at a time. I had to find a cauldron before I could even think about how I’d go about taking one on Connor’s “mission trip” and casting a three-day spell.

Surely I wasn't the only witch—or potential witch—in the New Orleans area. I did a few Internet searches for witches in New Orleans. There were articles about Voodoo. A few pages about Marie Laveau. There were a lot of ghost tours around the city. I tried a dozen queries. I checked the first five or six pages of results for each one. Eventually, I found a Meetup group for the Southern Louisiana Witches and Pagans.

It wasn't far. I had enough in savings for the cab fare to get there. They were meeting in an hour. I called a cab and had them meet me a couple of blocks away. I tossed the grimoire in my backpack.

"See you later, Mom!"

"Where are you going, Hailey?"

I bit my lip. "Cheerleader try-outs."

"I thought you hated cheerleading."

I shrugged. "Well, you know. I figured I'd give it another go."

“Let me guess, there’s a boy and you’re trying to get his attention.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please, mom! I wouldn’t do something I don’t want for a silly boy. If a boy likes me, he’s the one who is going to have to go the extra mile to get my attention!”

My mom laughed. "You’re more like your mother than you know. It’s good to hear, dear. Cheerleading is a fine activity. Besides, it's good to get your nose out of those books now and then and make some friends."

I chuckled. "My thoughts exactly!"

"Don't you need a ride to the school?"

"I have a ride. Gotta run. Bye!"

I only had to wait a couple of minutes before the taxi arrived. The driver took me to a house that looked like a common house with white vinyl siding. I knew it would be a small group. The Meetup only showed four confirmed attendees before I signed up. Hopefully, one of them would have a cauldron I could borrow or know where I could get one.

I paid the cabbie, stepped out of the car, and followed a narrow walkway leading to the door. Planters surrounded the house, all of them growing a variety of exotic herbs. It made sense. These were witches, right? They probably used these things for their spells. I imagined they probably had an aquarium inside full of newts and toads. Hopefully, they'd have a mammal I could use, too. Any mammal would do. I wasn't exactly looking forward to killing anything. Still, trapping a mouse couldn't be too hard. I'd much rather kill a mouse than a cat. Besides, witches love cats. Black cats. Don't they?

Maybe that was a myth. Hopefully, the broom obsession was, too. I hated cleaning. Flying on one, though? How cool would that be? Maybe modern witches flew on vacuum cleaners. Much more efficient.

Why didn’t they have a doorbell? Everyone had doorbells. When I knocked on the door, I didn't know what to expect. I knocked on it anyway. I've done a lot of trick-or-treating in my time and every house I visited had one. This one didn't. Very weird.

The door swung open. A woman stood there. She was slight of build, but probably six inches taller than me. She had a pretty face with tanned and unblemished skin. Her hair was black but pulled into a bun on top of her head.

"Can I help you?"

I nodded. "I'm here for the Meetup."

The woman tilted her head. "I didn’t see you on the list."

I shrugged. "When did you check it last? I signed up about an hour ago."

The woman grinned. "You realize this is for a gathering of witches and pagans, I presume?"

I nodded. "Damn! I thought it was a bible study! I was totally looking forward to going deep into the book of Numbers tonight.”

The woman tilted her head. “Now I know you’re not telling the truth. No one your age has the attention span at all to deal with the book of Numbers.”

I laughed. “You caught me. I was joking. I know you are witches. Why would I sign up otherwise? The description was pretty clear. "

"Are you a witch?" the woman asked.

"I think so. Well, I mean, I will be. My great, great, great, I don't know how many greats grandmother believed I would be, anyway. She left me a spell and I need a cauldron. I figured, you know, who better to find a cauldron big enough to fit a person than a coven of witches?"

"Well, you came to the right place, sweetie! I'm Selene. What's your name?"

"Hailey! Hailey Bradbury."

"And this great grandmother of yours? Did she have a name?"

I nodded. "Moll Dyer. That's what her note said, anyway."

Selene narrowed her eyes. "Why don't you come inside? We don't just hand over cauldrons to strangers, you know."

"Of course. I didn't expect that. I'm just not sure where to get one. Walmart was fresh out on witches’ cauldrons. They’d sold their last crystal ball before I got there and their wands were on back-order."

Selene grinned. "But they do have broomsticks!"

I snorted. "Witches actually use broomsticks?"

"Of course we do!" Selene led me through the foyer into her kitchen. She grabbed a broom from her closet along with a dustpan. She bent over and swept up a few crumbs from the floor. Selene looked up at me, smirking. "For cleaning. Most people do."

"Damn! The whole flying on broomsticks thing sounded pretty cool."

"That's not something we usually do. Also, none of us wear pointy hats or have crooked noses. Eudora has a wart or two, but it has nothing to do with the craft."

"Those aren't warts!" a woman shouted from another room. From the sound of her voice, she was an older lady. "They're just skin tags. Wait until you're my age and you'll have to deal with them, too."

Selene chuckled. "This way, Hailey."

Selene gestured to another hallway that extended off the back of her kitchen. It led to a small dining area. Three women sat around an oval-shaped table.

"Everyone meet Hailey," Selene said. "Hailey, this is Eudora, Janice, and Alexandra."

"Nice to meet you all!"

"Hailey needs a cauldron," Selene said. "One large enough to fit a person."

Eudora cocked her head. "A person, you say?"

Selene pulled out a chair for me. I sat down. Selene sat beside me. "Hailey is a descendent of Moll Dyer."

The other three witches looked at each other with wide eyes. "It is a pleasure to meet you," Alexandra said. She was the youngest of the group, though still a good five or six years older than me. She had pale skin, freckles, and red hair that fell to her shoulders.

I narrowed my eyes. "So you know about Moll Dyer?"

"You don't?" Janice asked, pressing her finger to the bridge on her glasses to put them back into place. She was probably forty, heavyset, but had a kind face.

"Of course I do! I know she's my ancestor. I have her grimoire."

"Do you have it with you?" Alexandra asked.

I unzipped my backpack and pulled it out. I set it on the table. "Sure do!"

I was about to push it across the table so the other witches could look at it when Selene put her hand over mine. "This was intended for your eyes alone, Hailey. It would not be proper for us to examine it were we not of the same coven."

I shrugged. "What's a coven? Is it a club of some kind?"

"More like a sisterhood. Spells like these, if you truly are Moll Dyer's descendent, should not be attempted by a witch who is not of the requisite bloodline."

"Hogwash!" Eudora blurted out. "You don't know that, Selene!"

Selene narrowed her eyes. "You know as well as I do, Eudora, that Moll Dyer incanted many of her spells in her blood."

"So the story goes," Eudora said. "Taking a peek certainly couldn't hurt anyone."

I pulled Moll's grimoire back and held it to my chest. "I'm sorry. If there's any chance this could hurt any of you, I can't allow you to see it. I'd never be able to live with myself."

Janice tilted her head. "If you require a cauldron, we have plenty to spare. It is yours. However, you must promise that once you've used it, you’ll consider joining us."

"Join you?" I asked.

Selene placed her hand on mine. "It is not a requirement, dear. I will not make you swear it. However, there is much we could learn from you."

"Learn from me? I just figured out a second ago that witches don't really fly on brooms. I don't know how much I could teach any of you."

The four witches laughed. "All you need to know is already in your blood," Alexandra said. "When you complete the spell you intend to cast, all will become plain."

I tilted my head. "How do you know what spell I'm going to cast? No one can even read the spell besides me. The ink won't even show on the page to anyone else."

"If that is true," Eudora said, "then the spell you intend to cast is exactly what we expect it to be."

"When do you need the cauldron, dear?" Selene asked.

"That's the thing. I took a cab here. I think I have a chance to get away to try this in a few weeks. I'll have a truck."

"How old are you, dear?" Selene asked.

I shrugged. "I'm fourteen."

"And you have a truck?"

"A friend of mine knows someone with a truck."

Selene took my hand in hers again. "Be very careful, child. Friends or not, you cannot allow anyone else to know what you're doing. The spell will take some time to cast, will it not?"

I nodded. "It has to brew for three days."

Selene nodded. "That sounds right. During that time, no one else can touch the brew. Do not even allow them to breathe in its fumes."

"What would happen if they did?" I asked.

Eudora cleared her throat. "It would be best if you never find out."

"Would it kill them?" I asked.

Alexandra widened her eyes. "As Eudora said, it would be best not to find out."

"The truth is," Janice said. "We don't know what would happen. All we know is that if someone touches the potion, or worse, consumes even a drop of it, it will change them."

"Change them how?" I asked.

Selene sighed. "That we cannot say. There are legends involving Moll Dyer, dear. I'm sure you figured that much out already. What of them is true, and what is not, we cannot say. Some of it is surely hogwash, as false as the notions that you had before regarding witches and broomsticks. Other components of the tales we've heard, those passed along to us by our own ancestors, are likely true."

"And none of these stories reveal exactly what might happen if someone comes into contact with the potion?"

Alexandra sighed. "That the legends are silent on the specifics, but contain certain warnings of the same, suggest that there is a reason the results of such an event are unmentionable."

"So it would kill someone?"

"Again, we cannot say. However, Moll worked with a kind of magic that few of our kind ever dare to wield. Our potions are not nearly so potent or dangerous, though mistakes can happen."

"What kind of magic are you talking about?" I asked.

Janice opened her mouth to speak. Selene raised her hand to stop her. "We should not speak of it. If your spell succeeds, Hailey, you'll find out soon enough."

"Three weeks then?" I asked.

Selene nodded. "I'll leave the cauldron you require beneath a tarp out back. You may need help to move it. It would take two or three people to lift it into the back of a truck."

"Understood. Thank you, ladies. I really appreciate the help. What else do you guys do at these meetings?"

Something dinged in the kitchen. "We share baked goods, child. Would you like a piece of banana bread?"

I smiled. "Do you have any butter to spread across it?"

"Of course!" Salene exclaimed.

"I'd love a piece! Presuming it's just normal banana bread. It's not hexed or anything, is it?"

The witches all laughed. "It's just banana bread. Though if you eat too much of it, you might experience a profound change."

"Oh, stop it, Alexandra!" Selene waved her hand through the air.

"What is she talking about?" I asked.

Selene shook her head. I looked back at Alexandra. "What were you talking about?"

"It will give you a bigger butt, that's what!"

The other witches all laughed. I rolled my eyes as I laughed along with them. "Just one piece, then."

The cauldron was nearly ready. The first day of my camping excursion with Connor and his friends was fun enough. I caught a field mouse and set the cauldron over a fire. I filled the cauldron with water from a nearby creek. It was a simple spell. It was simmering water with a mouse inside. I knew little about making a stew; I was pretty sure this wasn't it. I didn't know why it had to simmer this way for three days. My blood was the catalyst for whatever the spell was supposed to do.

Was there really so much power in my blood to turn simmering mouse water into something magical? I'd find out soon enough.

Connor had been drinking since we arrived. It loosened him up, but he didn't take it too far the first couple of days. We had long conversations. It was nice. I checked on the cauldron every hour to tend to the flame and make sure it was proceeding according to the instructions in Moll's letter.

I held Connor's attention at first. The more we talked, the more confident he was. We sat by his campfire and he held my hand. He didn't know what I was brewing. He'd asked more than once. All I could tell him was that it was a surprise. In the end, he'd be disappointed. He assumed it was some kind of moonshine. I didn't think they made moonshine this way, but he didn't know any better.

The second night, he tried to kiss me. I turned my face away. I liked him, but I wasn't ready for that. Not yet. Until that moment, Connor ignored Ginny Larson. Yeah, she came along. He’d already invited her. He was too chicken to rescind the invitation.

Ginny was drinking heavily, hanging out with some of the older boys. The third day, Connor started drinking before breakfast. When I went to check the cauldron and returned, I found him flirting with Ginny. They weren't kissing. He had his arm around her. They were laughing. He looked at me for a moment after I saw him, then turned away. Was he trying to make me jealous? It wouldn’t work. If Connor was going to get drunk and throw himself at Ginny Larson, that was his choice.

I had other priorities. We left when school got out on Friday. Now it was Monday. I just needed a couple more hours to ensure the cauldron had simmered a full three days. We weren't due to arrive home until later that night. Given Connor's state of intoxication, though, there was no way his parents would believe we were on a mission trip. Whatever. That wasn't my concern. Connor made his bed. He'd have to lie in it.

Something howled in the distance. It wasn't the first time I'd heard it. The two nights previously they'd made their presence known. I knew we had a sparse population of wolves in Louisiana. So far, though, they hadn't ventured close to my camp or the clearing where I was tending to my cauldron. This time, though, the howls came from somewhere in the woods, a lot closer than the previous nights.

There was a razor blade wrapped in cardboard in my pocket. I retrieved it, discarded the cardboard, and pressed it to my palm. I winced before it even touched my skin in anticipation of the pain. I clenched my teeth as I sliced the blade across my skin. I squeezed my hand into a fist over the cauldron as a thin stream of blood poured from my wound and into the simmering water.

A pillar of steam formed over the cauldron.

"Hailey, what the hell! Is this shit ever going to be ready?"

I turned, and Connor was there, clinging to a tree as if it were an oversized crutch.

"Connor, you need to get back to camp!"

"Not until you tell me what the hell you're cooking out here..."

I glanced back at the cauldron. The steam grew. A red energy coursed through it. The steam turned into something like a tornado that churned over the cauldron. The scalding water blasted around us.

I dropped into a huddle on the ground, covering my face. "Connor! Get down!"

Connor screamed as some of the hot water struck him.

Something growled and snarled. The wolf jumped out of the tree line and made a beeline toward Connor.

Ginny and several of the older boys who'd come with us ran into the clearing. They screamed as my potion churned through the air, assaulting them all with scalding water.

"Get out of here!" I shouted.

A blast of red magic struck the wolf just as it was about to bite Connor. The wolf's body exploded, showering everyone with blood. Everyone but me.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned. An old woman stood there smiling down at me.

"You did well, child."

"Moll?"

The witch nodded. "Your blood is even stronger than I expected. You have great promise."

"What did you do? My friends, they're..."

"They will be fine, dear. Take my hand."

I reached out and grabbed Moll's hand. Another tornado of red magic churned around us. The next thing I knew, we stood in another clearing. Connor wasn't there. None of them were.

I stood up and looked at Moll with a curious gaze. "Where are we?"

"I moved us elsewhere. I'm proud of you, child. Tell me, what century is it?"

I cocked my head. "It's the twenty-first century..."

Moll chuckled and shook her head. "It's been a long time. Do you have my grimoire?"

"I did. It was in my backpack back at the camp."

Moll nodded. She raised her hand over her head. A small funnel of red magic appeared in her palm. When the magic faded, my backpack was hanging from her grip.

I stared at Moll with wide eyes. "How did you do that?"

Moll laughed. "This was nothing, dear. When I've taught you all I know, you'll be able to do these things and so much more."

I raised my eyebrows. "Seriously?"

Moll grinned at me, a hundred wrinkles on her face enhanced by her smile. "First, dear, we must make you a wand."

I tilted my head. "You don't have one."

"I've had many years of practice, dear. A good wand will help you focus your magic."

I shook my head. "What magic? I don't feel a thing."

"You will, child. Soon, you will."

Chapter 5

Present Day

I was the youngest member of the Vampire Council. By all rights, I didn't belong. I was far too young. Mercy, however, believed that younger vampires needed a voice on the council. Not just because of equal representation, but because very few older vampires understood new technologies, social media, or much of anything digital. If the Vampire Council was going to make decisions about how to navigate the future world, they needed at least one member who was in touch with things.

Officially, I was meeting Corbin to discuss the council's position on innovation and technology. Unofficially? Seduction, espionage, and, depending on how things went, assassination.

It was five in the morning when I arrived. On account of that pesky allergy we vampires have for sunlight, no matter how things went, I was stuck at Corbin's for the day.

Corbin had quite the entourage that joined him in the States. All of them looked a lot like me. Female, young, and blond. No wonder Mercy thought I was Corbin's "type." Since vampires appear as the age they were when turned, I couldn't say how old these vampires really were. They could have been several centuries or just a few days old. I'd get a better sense of that when I talked to them.

One of Corbin's harem nodded at me. "This way, Miss Bradbury."

She had a thick Eastern European accent. I bit my tongue to prevent myself from giggling. This girl, whatever her name was, sounded exactly like a vampire was supposed to talk. She was like a female version of The Count on Sesame Street. One! Ha. Ha. Ha. Two! Ha. ha. ha. She was hotter than the puppet. But if she greeted her meals by saying, "I vant to suck your blood!" I'd lose it.

"What's your name, anyway?" I asked.

"Bianca."

"I like that! Bianca!"

Bianca nodded. I was repeating her name back to her just so I'd remember it. I'm pretty bad at recalling names. Saying someone's name back to them when I met them helped. Then again, I might get her mixed up with one of the other girls. We all looked so much alike!

If I came up with another feature, something unique to her, that I could associate with her name I'd remember it even better. She had penciled in eyebrows. Bianca Brows worked. It was a handy little trick. I even used it with some of my regular meals. There was Prettymouth Paul, Freddy Fatface, Nicholas Needledick, and Brandon Butt Stuff. Just to name a few of my regulars.

I followed Bianca down a narrow hallway. The whole place radiated serious Imperial vibes. A painting featuring nothing but grapes. They built false columns into the doorframes. We entered what I assumed was supposed to be the living room, now throne room. Corbin was reclining across his golden throne, his legs crossed over one armrest. One of his many blondes was feeding him grapes. Three remarkably tame wolves sat around him.

Cliché Corbin, it was. It was just a matter of time, I suspected, before a few more scantily clad blond vampires showed up to fan him with palm leaves.

The wolves were common red wolves but with red irises that matched those of vampires. I'd never seen wolves like these. Older vampires have several abilities, powers extracted from the many human souls they'd tasted through the years. Was this some kind of thrall, a compulsion he used to tame and command the wolves? I didn't know. Maybe so. I'd find out soon enough.

When I'd asked Mercy to describe Corbin, she told me his appearance was "tolerable." She must've been looking at him through shit colored glasses. Corbin's chiseled, shirtless torso, his deep-set mysterious red eyes, broad jaw, and his long dark hair gave him a distinct romance novel cover-model vibe. He was what most women would call a specimen of a man. Some doctors use the same term, but usually their specimens are gross. Have fertility problems? Well, fella, the doc is going to need your "specimen" to check it out.

Corbin's lips parted a quarter of an inch when he saw me. He tucked his long curls behind his ears, uncrossed his legs and placed his feet to the floor. His hands on his thighs, he stood up.

"Hailey Bradbury. What an honor that the youngest member of the girls’ club would come to visit."

I raised an eyebrow. "It's the Vampire Council, Corbin.

Corbin stepped down from the make-shift elevated platform where he'd set his throne. Having an entire platform added to a room just to make sure your chair is a little higher than everyone else? That's next-level pretentious.

Don't get me wrong. Corbin was hot. That was even clearer as he stepped toward me, his eyes fixed on mine. If I drooled on the guy, it might turn to steam on contact.

The Vampire King was also an asshole. Maybe even a prick. I wasn't sure which. He was certainly no pussy. His reputation made that clear. What's the difference between an asshole and a prick, you ask? One of them shits all over everyone they know. The other might piss on them, but he'll also screw them. Sometimes, depending on his mood, a prick will even screw an asshole. If you're a pussy, it's a guarantee the prick will try to screw you, eventually. The way to get the better of a prick was to pretend to be a pussy. Let him think you're vulnerable, then at the last minute, surprise him and let him know you're a prick, too! He'd probably be a real asshole about it when he learned the truth. In that case, the advantage goes to me.

Not only will that make his day one he'll never forget, chances are he'll be too embarrassed to even tell his friends about it.

I nodded my head slightly and prepared myself for the gag reflex that was likely to accompany my words. "Your Highness."

Corbin grinned ear-to-ear. "You don't have to pretend, Hailey. You come representing Mercy and her interests. She'd never call me that. Such salutations are meaningless if not accompanied by the reverence deserved."

I raised an eyebrow. "Reverence?"

"Get on your knees if you wish to acknowledge my Lordship."

I raised both my eyebrows. "We just met. Sorry, buddy. You need to take me to dinner first before you expect anything like that. Besides, you realize I am a vampire too, right?"

"No guy likes it when teeth are involved," Corbin said.

One wolf huffed as if to laugh along with his master. I turned and looked at the wolf. He stared back at me with wide eyes.

"Look, Corbin. There's no sense pretending, here. I'm not kneeling in reverence, or to entertain any other proclivity you might hope to indulge in. Mercy sent me here for a reason."

Corbin raised an eyebrow. "Does my sister truly believe I'm so shallow as to be taken by a youngling purely on account of her appearance?"

I shrugged. "Yeah. Pretty much."

"Your beauty appeals to me." Corbin reached out his hand and tucked a stray strand of my blond hair behind my ear.

I snorted. "Yeah. Well, considering your entourage, I'm not surprised about that."

Corbin grinned. "For a youngling, you have a remarkable confidence. There's something different about you, isn't there?"

I shrugged. "My momma always said I was unique. We’re all a little different, aren’t we?"

"What is it that you think I've discerned?" Corbin raised an eyebrow.

"How could you possibly know that I have six toes on my left foot? I didn't even take off my shoes when I entered the house!"

Corbin chuckled. "You don’t have six toes on your left foot."

I grinned. "Right, I don't. Would it intrigue you if I did? You never know. Some dudes are into freaky."

Corbin narrowed his eyes. "You have potential. I'll grant you that. I find your boldness oddly attractive."

I bit my lip. "You must suck at poker. You're basically telling me what I need to know to have my way with you."

Corbin raised one eyebrow. "At poker, there's no need to bluff when you hold a Royal Flush."

I huffed. "You thought I was the one who was overconfident?"

"I've walked the earth for over seven centuries. Few vampires survive their first year. Of those who do, well, most find themselves on the sharp end of a stake before they've even eclipsed the age of an average human life. The hunger gets the best of them. They tip their hand to the slayers. I'll simply say this much, Hailey. I might appear arrogant. There is a difference between arrogance and confidence. Arrogance is displeasing. It's everything confidence might be except that it is misplaced and inflated. True confidence, however, the kind warranted by power, is undeniably alluring. It's why you desire me, even now."

I cocked my head. "Look, buddy. I'm trying to play hard to get here! Don't mess with my game!"

Corbin laughed. "You differ from most younglings, I'll give you that. I'm still not sure why. I have to admit, I'm intrigued."

"Intrigued? Well, that's something!"

"Tell me, Hailey. Do you not feel the same attraction?"

I rubbed my brow. "I'm not sure yet. The oiled chest and Abs routine looks good. Your accent is sexy. I don’t really know, though."

"Surely, after only a few years, you haven't yet lost the allure of carnal pleasures that escapes vampires in middle age."

I bit my lip. "In middle age?"

"When you are young, much of your humanity remains. You are not immune to your former desires. You still might experience lust and passion. After a time, as your original humanity wanes, so do such desires. However, when you've lived as long as I have, when you've consumed so many souls, each one leaving something behind within you, certain vestiges of humanity return."

I bit my lip. "Making vampires horny, again. You really should run for president!"

"I'm a king. I don't require votes, only acclaim."

Corbin placed his hands around my waist. "There is a reason the most ancient of us sometimes surround ourselves with much younger vampires."

I shrugged. "It's not because you're just creepy old men?"

Corbin laughed. "It's because we share similar desires. Your sensuality has yet to fade. Mine has returned with vigor."

I smiled widely. "With vigor, eh?"

"I'd be happy to demonstrate, if you'd like."

I scratched my head. "You know, I might be young, but I'm a traditional girl. You can't just take me to bed. I need a little romance."

Corbin nodded. "If you expected any less, I'd lose interest."

"Would you, really?"

"What thrill would there be if you just threw yourself at me? Most young vampires do. I can't say I blame them. It's fun. But it isn't thrilling. I suspected from the start that if you intended to win me over, as your sire wishes, I'd at least have to share a meal with you first."

"First, Mercy is more like an adopted sire. They staked my actual sire before I ever knew him."

Corbin smiled. "Pardon me for my lack of clarity in speech. I am aware. I know all about you, Hailey Bradbury."

Corbin snapped his fingers in the air. The three wolves and Bianca gathered around us. "Is dinner prepared?"

"Yes, my Lord," Bianca bowed her head as she spoke.

"You'll find, Hailey, that I always know what I'm getting into before I bite. No pun intended, of course. I've been told you have certain preferences for your meals. I like to ensure my guests are well pleased."

Bianca led a young, handsome boy in by a leash. Two of the three wolves flanked the boy on either side, and one followed behind.

"I've been told you like your meals medium-rare. Young, but coming of age. Does this please you?"

I salivated. "It does, Corbin. I'm afraid I ate before I came, however."

Corbin grinned. "There's nothing wrong with a little dessert."

Chapter 6

Seven Years Ago

"Can you explain to me again what this spell is supposed to do?" I asked.

Moll stirred the cauldron with her ladle. It was a complicated spell. It involved a lot of blood. Blood from a virgin. Blood from an adulterer. Blood from a virtuous man of means. Blood from a thief. A half-pint of each. I wasn't sure how Moll got the blood. She insisted she harmed no one, that all donors consented to whatever lie she told them about what purpose their blood would serve. Presumably, it wasn't so much a lie as a half-truth. She wouldn't say outright she needed their blood for magical experiments. She might say that it would go to research purposes, or for someone in need. Then again, I was half-convinced the whole consent nonsense was a lie she told me just to pacify my modern-day moral sensibilities. She lived at least two hundred years before and, from the way she talked, I suspected this wasn't the first time she'd escaped the grave or extended her life. No matter how many times I asked her how old she really was, she never gave me a straight answer.

"What is age, dear, but an illusion?" That was one of her favorites.

"One loses track after so long, child."

Or, "It's not polite to ask an aging woman her age, dear."

Still better, "Well, child, that depends how you reckon the number? Are you speaking in human years or witches years?"

"What's the difference?" I asked.

"Humanity figures their days beginning to end, along a straight line. Birth to death. Witches, dear, draw their power from a union with nature and the spirits of the earth. For us, time has no beginning or end. Like the seasons, our winter gives only the appearance of death, but it is the season that prepares us for life anew."

"Like reincarnation?"

Moll raised an eyebrow. "Not exactly, dear. As you can see, I returned to you not as baby but as an old woman. No matter how many times I’ve revived this body, the fountain of youth escapes me. Still, what you call reincarnation may be possible once I've taken from this body all it can give. That is why I have another path in mind for you, dear."

"Another path? I'm not sure I get what you're saying."

"I was once quite beautiful. I know it's hard to believe looking at me now."

I chuckled. "Not at all. I can see a certain beauty in your eyes."

"I appreciate you saying so, dear, but these are tired eyes. If I knew all the wonders I know now, I might have pursued a different path when I was your age. I’m speaking of the closest thing yet discovered to the fountain of youth. Only if you embrace this manner of existence, you must remain forever the age you are when you accept the gift. No one wants to live forever as an old hag. It is too late for me. The gift remains open to you."

"I assume this has something to do with the blood magic you've been teaching me?"

Moll placed her hands on my cheeks. I looked around at the forest that surrounded us. A sweet odor rose from the pot she was brewing ahead of us. It didn't smell like blood at all. It vaguely reminded me of lilies, the kind they always crowded the church with on Easter morning.

"There is more to the path I'd choose for you than the preservation of your beauty, dearest Hailey. The power you wield is more than your body can endure. To realize your full potential, you must grow, evolve, and change."

I cocked my head. "What are you talking about?"

"Are you fully committed to this path, child?"

"Of course I am! Why would you doubt it?"

"Enough so that if it were necessary to leave behind all you knew, your family, your friends, your school, you could do so?"

I pinched my chin. "Why would I have to do that?"

"It is a simple question, dear. Only the confines of your humanity limit your power. It is your humanity that must grow and expand to suit your power. To realize your truth, to become the one the gods foretold when I wrote you that letter, now demands you make a choice."

"You're telling me that if I stay with my family and live my life, I'll never become the witch I'm supposed to be?"

"Precisely, dear."

I shook my head. "They don't even know about us, Moll. For two years, I've come up with excuses to meet at night. My friends have covered for me more times than I can count. If they knew the truth, my parents would think I was working with the devil or something."

Moll grinned widely. "Do I look like the devil to you, dear?"

"Of course not!"

"Do you trust me, child?"

I took a deep breath. "I do. You realize you're asking a sixteen-year-old girl to walk away from the only life she's ever known. That's a lot."

"Still more, dear. When this is done, I will have to leave you for a season."

My jaw dropped. "Moll! you can’t go! I need your help. I still have a lot to learn, and if I have to leave my family, I’ll be alone!"

"There will be others who will take you in. Powerful people in their own right. You must learn from them what I cannot teach. In the meantime, if I am to return to you at all, I must commune with the old gods. I must regain my full strength. Sometime soon after your change, when you've completed the instructions I've set before you, one will approach you with an offer, a bargain. You must accept his terms."

"What sort of terms?"

"Whatever they shall be, trust me when I tell you they will be acceptable. It will give me the strength to return to you, only this time with more power than before."

I tilted my head. "You're pretty strong already."

Molly grinned widely. "Not nearly so powerful as you, dear. Imagine a world where magic was free, where we could embrace our power and be revered for it rather than feared. What if I were to tell you that when I return, we will together set forth a chain of events that will both save humanity from itself and will give witches like us a place of honor?"

"Save humanity from itself? What are you talking about?"

Moll shook her head. "The destruction of mankind is an inevitability. Will it be their technology that destroys them? Their violence and war? Perhaps their destruction of the planet will mark their doom. I maybe be able to tell the future in some respects. I foresaw your birth! But I cannot see the end. What I know is that if humanity has any hope at all, what you might become could be their salvation."

I stared back at Moll a second, pondering the implications of her words. "I'm still unsure what this means. What are you telling me I'll become?"

"You will still appear as you do. Even more beautiful, perhaps. I will not say that your new nature will not come without new limitations. You will adjust to those in time. I believe, if all goes as hoped, there will be those who can help you with that."

I titled my head. "I'll be limited?"

"Everyone is limited, dear. Some of us in ways different from others. Limitations are a gift, child. Without boundaries, how can we know where we're supposed to be? Without limits, we cannot know our true purpose. Only by knowing what we cannot be, who we cannot become, might we come to see the greater truth of a real potential. Limitations prevent us from living our lives in pursuit of lesser fantasies. When we embrace what we are not, we shall find who we are."

I nodded. "Alright. I'll do it. Can I at least have a moment to see my family for the last time?"

"I fear the spell is ready, child. You will see your family again. At first, you must not. Give it some time. And you should never permit them to see you. There was another promising witch, many years ago, who followed this path that I'm setting you upon. She made the crucial error of returning to her family too soon. Her father, like your parents, was a zealous man. He feared her. Her indiscretion led not only to the death of her brother, but it left her running from those who'd discovered her ever since. Even today, I suspect, there are those hunting her all on account of her mistake in seeking her family after she changed."

I tilted my head. "This other witch you're talking about is still alive?"

"Of course, dear. You will meet her soon. You mustn't speak my name to her. Promise me as much. Not until I've returned and can show myself to the two of you."

"You're saying I won't be alone? I won't be the only witch like this?"

Moll shook her head. "You will not. Do not allow the one who is called Mercy to fool you, however. Remember, she made a grave mistake early on and it has diverted her from her purpose. Perhaps you will be the one to set her path straight. Together, you might free her of her pursuers and join with me again soon that we may resume our work."

I glanced at the cauldron; it was at a rolling boil. "What is it we're brewing here, exactly? I suppose it's about ready for an incantation?"

"We are not going to incant your wand with this potion, dear. It's less a potion and more of a stew."

"Blood stew? Gross!"

Moll laughed. "I've selected the donors carefully. They will give you more control and power than others who've pursued this path. I must send some with you."

"You're packing me a lunch?"

"Something like that," Moll chuckled. She retrieved a small vial from her cloak. She took a dropper, extracted some of the potion from the cauldron, and set three drops into the vial. "Consume this the moment you awaken and you feel your first hunger. It will tame your desires and sharpen your mind. Still more, it will finally open you up to the full power that coheres in blood. In your new shape, you will know unimaginable power. Tread carefully, dear, for those who have great power..."

"Must also exercise great responsibility. I know. I've seen Spiderman."

Moll chuckled. "Not unwise sentiments, Hailey. What I was going to say is that for those who have great power, it is essential that none of it goes to waste."

"Speaking of waste, that's an enormous cauldron, if you're only giving me three drops."

Moll grinned widely, flashing her crooked and yellowed teeth. "The rest will but put to use, dear. Never mind that. Remember what I told you before. I will not see you again for some time. I will return to you when all is ready."

I nodded. "And don't tell anyone I know you. Especially not the one you called Grace."

"Mercy, dear. Her name is Mercy."

I extended my index finger. "Right. Mercy. Got it. Now, what do I do?"

"You must go to the French Market. When you do, what happens is what must. Much of this conversation you may forget for a time. Your mind will be as a fog. This potion will help clear it."

"So I might not even remember who Mercy is when I meet her?"

"Not at first," Moll said. "You may desire to return to your human life. As I said, once you consume this vial, your memory will return."

"If I don’t have any memory, how will I know I'm supposed to drink it? It looks nasty. Drinking this shit is probably the last thing I'd consider."

"When you're changed, dear, it will be the only thing you can imagine doing once you see it. Now, take the vial and keep it close to your body. A pocket will not do. We cannot risk someone else discovering it."

I nodded, took the vial, and stuffed it into my bra. "This will have to do."

The French Market was, as you might have guessed, in the French Quarter of New Orleans. It spanned six blocks. From what I understood, it was older than the city itself. Originally, some kind of Native American trading post where early French immigrants exchanged goods and wares with the Choctaw. At some point later, though, the French folk redecorated the joint. There was very little about the place that retained the cultural flavor of the market's original founders. I wasn't sure if you could even purchase Choctaw spices there anywhere. You could certainly get yourself a bubble tea which, come to think of it, wasn't Native American or French. No matter. It was delicious. At least until you clogged your straw with too many pearls and blew a brain vessel trying to suck it through.

Moll didn't tell me much. I was supposed to go to the French Market. Whoever was supposed to find me, I was assured, would. At least we were in a public place. And I had my bubble tea to keep me company.

It was a minor comfort. Was this really the right choice? I was only sixteen, and I was leaving my friends and family behind. What would they think happened to me? What was going to happen to me? Moll had an annoying habit of holding her cards close to the chest, only telling me the least I needed to know to do whatever she was planning.

Not that strange. At my age, I was used to the whole "it's for your own good" routine that grown-ups used to excuse crap that made little sense. You'd think, though, seeing as though I literally resurrected Moll from the dead, she'd be a little more straightforward with me. Not that I wasn't grateful for all she'd taught me. I couldn't believe how powerful I was.

She was right. In just two years, I'd learned dozens of spells. I'd barely scratched the surface of what the grimoire contained. To use those spells, Moll insisted, I needed more fortitude. A body capable of harnessing the magic that I already possessed. That's why I was at the French Market. I didn't see any bodies for sale. So, that must not've been the plan. Something was bound to happen, eventually.

It was a chilly December day. At least I had a good jacket. The sun was setting. The French Market was only open for another hour. I'd wasted at least three wandering around the place. When the French Market closed, the rest of the French Quarter sprung to life. I'd never been there so late. My parents always saw to it we left before sunset. Now, though, they thought I was at some school debate tournament. Those things ran late. At least the one I actually bothered to attend did. The rest, well, the team had tournaments almost every weekend. All I had to do was snag a permission slip from my teacher's desk each time, have my parents sign it, and they assumed that's what I was doing.

It was all so trite. The whole keeping secrets from my parents routine. I was so afraid they'd punish me, ground me, or worse—take away my iPhone! If they knew what I was really doing, you'd better believe they'd do that and more. They wouldn't just take away my iPhone, they'd replace it with a flip-phone! If I had one of those, It would reduce me to pariah status on the school's social hierarchy.

Now, none of that mattered any more than a nipple on a man. Still, while I had my issues with my parents (most girls do at sixteen) they were my family. It wasn't just leaving home that had me on edge. That was a part of it. Moreso, though, it was what this would do to them. My parents, for all their over-protectiveness and their occasional closed-mindedness about things that didn't line up with their narrow worldview, were good people. They loved me. I loved them. Was I making a mistake?

No sooner did I question it and I heard a scream. I turned to see people flying to either side of the path I was following in the middle of the French Market. Something was charging through the people like a bull. I took a few steps back.

Then, a figure emerged right in front of me. People all around us screamed. He was wearing jeans and a black hoodie. The hood obscured most of his face. All I saw was from the tip of his nose down.

"Where is it?" the boy hissed, exposing a set of fangs that glistened in the light.

I gasped. "I don't know what you mean."

"The blood! I can smell it!"

The boy started tearing at my shirt. I kneed him in the groin but it didn't so much as slow him down. I reached into my pocket and grabbed my wand. The first defensive spell that came to mind was the one I jammed into the boy's gut.

The boy gasped. He lowered his hood and stared at me with wide eyes. He wasn't natural. His eyes were more than bloodshot. His irises were red. He either had some freaky contact lenses or he was something freaky himself. He had fangs. He was looking for a vial of blood.

Surely not. Vampires aren't real. Then again, was this what Moll had planned all along? Did she know the vial would attract one? Is that how she intended to extend my life and strengthen my body so I could handle my... blood magic? No sooner did the thoughts in my mind come together and the boy had his fangs in my neck.

I gasped for air. My knees weakened as the world around me went black.

The last thing I remember was a scream. It wasn't mine. It came from the vampire boy.

Those were my old memories. It wasn't until I consumed the vial Moll gave me I put all that together. The first thing I saw after the vampire bit me was a green glow.

It was warm. It touched every part of my body. When I opened my eyes, a pretty brunette stared back at me. Her eyes were as green as the glow that had consumed my mind before.

"My name is Annabelle. You're safe now."

Annabelle took me to visit someone else. Someone she said could help. She explained I was, in fact, a vampire.

It didn't strike me as odd at the time. I had almost no memory at all when I first awoke. The horror of what I was settled in as a few memories of my human life returned. Still, I didn't know how I got there or how I ended up getting bitten. At least not yet.

Annabelle wore colorful clothes. The green glow in her eyes, and her occasional odd remark, was somehow on account of some other spirit she spoke to from within her own mind. Weird, right? Who was I to judge given I could barely remember my name at the moment?

Annabelle took me to meet another vampire, someone she insisted could help. Mercy Brown was stunning. She wore a long black dress that suggested she was either into cosplay or came from another era.

Mercy barely paid me any attention at all. She was too busy arguing with Annabelle about why she didn't let me die when the vampire bit me. Annabelle insisted I was too young. She couldn't let me die. Mercy thought it would be for the best. A new vampire without a sire was a recipe for disaster.

Mercy pulled me aside. She thought she could convince me that ending my life was the way to go. Fat chance of that. She told me I couldn't see my family again. I was just beginning to remember them again. She was especially insistent on that point. She said that I'd have cravings I couldn't control. I might kill a few people before I tamed my urges.

I told her I didn't want to die. I'd do whatever it took to live. She and Annabelle resumed arguing. They decided I was Annabelle's responsibility. Mercy would help later, but she had too much on her plate. I imagined her plate probably consisted of a few human organs, though I couldn't be sure. I was pretty sure it wasn't a salad.

While they argued, something drew my attention. Something close to my body. I reached into my shirt and found a small glass vial. Was that blood inside? I wanted it. I had to have it. I wasn't about to share, either. I turned away from Annabelle and Mercy, uncorked the top of the vial and downed it.

No sooner did the blood touch my lips, and I remembered everything. I was a blood witch. Now, I was a vampire. This was the "gift" Moll gave me. Everything came together in my mind. I needed a body resilient enough to accommodate my power.

As a vampire, well, now I could consume blood myself. It was like I'd become a cauldron of my own, able to extract many powers from the human souls that cohere in human blood. Yes, I remembered who I was. The only challenge now was to continue to play the fool, to act the part of a blood-thirsty newbie vamp. If that meant tasting blood, extracting more power from it, then so be it.

Moll said she'd return, eventually. Until then, Annabelle was an accomplished witch herself. She didn't practice the form of the craft that Moll taught me. She was a young mambo, and her power exceeded that of most. I could sense it. Perhaps, if I played this right, she'd share a few of her secrets.

Witchcraft, plus voodoo, plus vampirism? Call it bloodwitchery if you'd like. I wasn't the first witch to dabble with the power latent in blood. How much power was Mercy, herself, able to extract? I was a stronger witch than she ever was. Maybe she'd be a friend. Perhaps she'd become a rival. Whatever the case, I had to be careful. For now, Mercy wanted nothing to do with me. I might have been a greater witch than she was, but I could sense the power she wielded as a vampire. It would serve me well to get on her good side. Presuming she had a good side.

Chapter 7

Present Day

Corbin and I each took one of the young man's wrists. He didn’t resist. He was in a daze, enthralled by the allure of whichever of Corbin's progeny had hunted him and brought him to us.

"Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are with blood on your lips?"

I rolled my eyes. "I suppose you use that line on all the girls?"

Corbin grinned and shrugged. "Is it working?"

"Maybe," I smirked, adding a wink for good measure.

"Do with him as you wish." Corbin threw his cloak over his shoulders. "I have a few matters I simply must attend to. When I'm done, you will have my full attention."

From what I knew about Corbin, he was as likely to kill our meal as he was to set him free. The poor guy wasn't intoxicated. I'd have noticed when we fed if he was. That meant he wasn't likely to forget the incident. How traumatic would that be? How many years of therapy would he require to even begin to process what happened? He couldn’t tell anyone the truth without sounding crazy. If he didn’t tell someone about it, the truth would drive him crazy. I had to do something.

I could have turned him, too, of course. Aside from robbing the man of his human life, and the fact that turning humans without their consent was against the Vampire Council’s precepts, there were pragmatic, immediate problems with that idea.

Corbin's three wolves were still in the room. They were watching me. This whole thing was a test. If I killed the man, I'd be violating the Vampire Council's laws.

The council forbade killing humans for various reasons. Morality wasn't as high on that list of reasons as you'd suspect. That missing persons draw a lot of attention to the vampire community was at the top of the list. I knew about that. I was once one such "missing person." After I was turned, my parents looked for me for over two years with the cooperation of the authorities before the police finally insisted that no further resources could be dedicated to the investigation.

Since I was a vampire, and my body temperature ran a good twenty or thirty degrees less than most humans, the irony of being a "cold case" wasn't lost on me. After that, my parents hired a private investigator. The guy was good. He'd nearly found me a couple of times since. More than once I'd used a well-timed hex to confuse him, alter his memory, and send him down a dead-end evidence trail. Truth was, it was better my parents thought I was dead. They'd sleep better off thinking I'd died and gone to heaven than to learn I'd been a witch and a vampire. At least if I was dead, in their minds, I wouldn't be damned.

Killing the meal Corbin left me wasn't an option. The only way I could make him forget was to cast a spell to do the job. If I did, these wolves would surely tell Corbin what happened. If he knew I was a witch, I'd lose the only advantage I had against him.

Then, of course, I could turn the guy. That was risky for the same reasons. If I drained him, which I needed to do if I was going to make a vampire out of him, he'd die. The only way to avoid that was to heal him. Again, I'd have to use magic. Some older vampires naturally possessed the ability to do it. Annabelle Mulledy had access to a different magic she used when she healed me, completing my transition. Mercy used magic like mine—spells she'd learned from Moll long before I was born—on the rare occasion she hoped to complete a vampire's metamorphosis.

There was one other option. I could call Corbin's bluff. I could let the guy go, his memories intact. If the guy told anyone what happened, any information the guy had would lead to Corbin and his coven of blond vampire nymphets.

The safest thing to do for the sake of my mission was to kill the guy. Drain him and leave him. It wouldn't be the first time I'd killed someone since becoming a vampire. It would be the first time I'd done it on purpose.

The guy passed out from blood loss. I had to make a choice. I sat there and crossed my legs. I made eye contact with each of the wolves. Two of them diverted their gazes. The one who sat in the middle, the smallest of the three, looked at me with wide eyes and a tilted head.

"You guys are watching me, huh? Waiting to see what I'll do so you can tell your master."

The wolf looking at me huffed.

I smiled. "Where are you guys from, anyway? How long have you served Corbin? A hundred years? Longer than that? Maybe you're just local mercenaries. He hired you after he came to the United States. I imagine traveling overseas with a wolf pack isn't easy to do."

I pulled out my phone from my purse. I hammered out a quick text. One wolf growled.

"Tell your master his old tricks won't work in the twenty-first century. Whatever dilemma he hoped to force me to face is now resolved by modern technology."

I hoped Mercy would receive the text. Half the time she had her ringer off, accidentally deleted the message, or just forgot to check. Now, though, she was expecting to hear from me soon.

The three wolves all stared at me now with curious gazes.

I tossed my former meal's arm over my shoulder. "Tell your master I'm setting him free. He doesn't have to worry about the word getting out. He knows Mercy is a witch. She'll make him forget everything that happened."

The small wolf, the one who was watching me the closest, huffed. I took it as an acknowledgment of what I'd said. I was beaming with pride as I helped the man out of the house. He would regain his strength soon enough. Mercy would be there soon, provided she got my message, to pick him up and deal with the situation.

I'd avoided Corbin's test. All I'd shown him was what he already knew—I was loyal to Mercy.

Corbin and I were engaged in a chess battle. We both pretended to seduce the other. We both knew it, but we continued to keep up the ruse. Still, we were only a couple of moves into the game. We had a long way to go before either of us prevailed over the other. That's the thing about games. What good are they if you don't have a little fun playing? Corbin was as vile a vampire as I'd ever met. He was probably the worst. That didn't mean I couldn't extract a little pleasure from him before I moved from the "seduce and spy" phase of my plan to "seduce and assassinate." After all, no matter the phase, seduction remained a part of it.

Chapter 8

Six Years Ago

My first year as a vampire went about as horribly as one could expect. I made some major blunders. Moll told me someone was going to approach me with a “bargain.” I expected a Godfather type. The self-assured, overly confident guy-in-charge who was involved in a lot of dark shit under a pretense of sophistication.

I wasn’t wrong. He approached me with an offer that I couldn’t refuse. Of course, he wasn’t a man. He was a demigod, a nasty Loa named Kalfu, who hoped to use me to take over the crossroads, a gateway that governed the flow of supernatural entities between earth and the otherworld.

I should have seen through it all. He promised me power, an ability to use my gifts for something world-changing. I was naïve. I trusted Moll, and she told me to accept the deal. If it hadn't been for Annabelle, the new Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, I'd have unwittingly helped the nasty bugger unleash a horde of bloodthirsty demigods on the earth.

Mercy came around soon enough. She slowly embraced me. We became friends, and she took up the slack that Annabelle couldn’t. Certain things about being a vampire can’t be taught by anyone other than a vampire. In that respect, Mercy was a solid mentor.

I was a fairly easy study, too. Most younglings had issues with craving, but I didn't. I think it had to do with the vial I consumed early, and that on account of my bloodwitchery I could extract a little more juice out the souls I consumed through blood than your average vampire.

Annabelle always played more of the step-mother role. Mercy was more like an older sister. She guided me in the ways of vampirism but led me into a fair share of trouble at the same time. She never left me high and dry. We faced it together.

Then there was Julie Brown. We first encountered her as a spirit, guarding an infernal flambeau in Manchac Swamp. Julie was Mercy's half-sister, the product of a forbidden union between Mercy's father and a freed slave. Yes, Mercy's dad was a religious zealot. He was also a hypocrite.

A demon plague was spreading throughout the vampire community. Typically, if demons possess anyone, it's the weak. Humans who are desperate, who invite possession to assuage the pangs of life. This plague was different. These demons possessed vampires.

Some combinations work well, enhancing the pair. Think Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. Kobe and Shaq. Maccaroni and cheese. All great on their own, together they become a force. Then, there are things that should never go together. They might be good on their own, but when combined, become something horrible. Acids and bases. Hulk Hogan and movies. Chocolate cake and grapefruit juice.

When demons started possessing vampires, it was like the worst of both worlds. Both were already evil enough on their own. At best, vampires could be morally ambiguous. At our core, though, we've always known we have unsavory desires and the power to realize most of them. The only thing that holds most vampires back is whatever remains within them of their humanity or, in the case of older vampires, whatever humanity they've recovered over time. Demons crave the kinds of horror that would make most vampires blush. They have no humanity within them to hold them back. They only lack the ability to carry out their plans most of the time. Unless they possess someone. When they figured out how to possess vampires, well, it was one hell of a situation for all involved—no pun intended.

That was when Moll returned. I had mixed emotions about it. She'd told me to agree to Kalfu's bargain. Following her directive nearly brought demons of a sort to earth before. Could it really be the fact that she returned just as demons started possessing vampires?

Moll helped us defeat Asmodeus, who was possessing Ramon, Mercy's frequently staked boyfriend. Ramon didn't survive the incident, but Moll's plan helped us exorcise the demon from his body. If she was on the demons' side, why would she help us do that?

We managed to defeat the demon only after Mercy absorbed infernal power from Julie's flambeau. It prevented Mercy from doing any spells that weren't infernally charged. It also soured her nature. She became more violent, more bloodthirsty, than before. I was still an impressionable youngling.

Mercy, Julie, and I referred to ourselves as the "Weird Sisters." If you've read Stoker's Dracula, or even Shakespeare's Macbeth, you might be familiar with the "Weird Sisters." During those few weeks, I fed more than I have in all my other years as a vampire combined.

We weren't hunting out of necessity. We were hunting out of pleasure. The more we did, the stronger Mercy's infernal power became.

We thought that was a good thing. We justified our behavior on account of the fact that our villainy made us stronger. It gave us a chance to stop the other demons—especially Legion, who could replicate himself and possess a seemingly unlimited number of vampires at once.

That's when Moll turned on us. She attacked. She extracted the infernal power incubated in Mercy and used it to summon Lucifer.

It took everything we had to stop Moll and Lucifer. We turned to the old gods, the Morrigan specifically, and in an epic battle between the gods of our ancestors and the devil, we and our gods prevailed. Barely.

To this day I don’t know if Moll had planned all of that from the start or if after I became a vampire something changed in her. Perhaps she'd already grown well acquainted with Lucifer during all the decades she was dead and in hell. Maybe they'd brewed up this plan together while sitting over fires of burning human limbs, roasting eyeballs and testicles on skewers and listening to eighties music. At least that's what my personal hell would be. If someone ever staked me, I'd get a chance to see what it was like. I hoped to avoid that. From what Mercy said, any time spent in hell can warp someone's mind. Very few vampires come back the same if they're staked for any amount of time. Ramon, she said, was remarkable in that respect. As many times as he was staked, he never changed. In the end, the Morrigan saved him and made him human again.

Mercy tried her hand at love a couple of times after that. She dated a suave vampire named Frederick for a while. It didn't work out. They went their separate ways. Until all that happened, though, she thought it was impossible for vampires to love. Now she knew that love was within reach, even for our kind. That meant it was possible that I might find love, too.

I wasn't in a hurry. I had all the time in the world, literally, to fall in love. In the meantime, well, I might as well enjoy myself. Unless real love found me and interrupted my fun.

I didn’t know when Moll turned to the dark side. Regardless, she taught me a lot. I still think she loved me at some level, even if she was using me to get the devil in the sack. Or maybe they were trying to destroy the world. In Moll's case, the two goals were probably the same. They'd screw the entire world out of existence. Then, they'd have a good brimstone smoke afterwards while reminiscing about the good 'ole days of humanity’s existence.

Good thing we kicked Moll's ass and exorcised the devil back down to Georgia. Or maybe it was hell. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Little known fact. During that time, Annabelle offered me a sponsorship at the Voodoo Academy. I had my choice. College Samedi, which everyone recommended since I was a vampire and Baron Samedi was the Loa who'd created the first vampire, Niccolo the Damned. Or, College Erzulie. She was the Loa of Love. Sounds sappy, right? It could be. Manipulating people's affections, though, can be pretty dark when you think about it.

I declined the invitation. I was a witch. I was a vampire. That was enough for me. I appreciated voodoo, but I didn't need some other Loa's power rattling around in my head. I had access to more magic as it was than any vampire should. Unlike Moll, I wasn't really a power junkie. It wasn't the amount of power I could wield that interested me. I was more fascinated by the various ways I could manipulate even the slightest spell to accomplish a variety of seemingly magnificent tasks.

That didn't mean I didn't learn a little voodoo here and there. Annabelle taught me how to make voodoo dolls. I learned several tricks from the practice of enchanting candles and oils that were helpful when I started crafting my own spells out of my cauldron.

Speaking of my cauldron. I paid the coven that gave it to me a visit. There weren't many people from my old life I could see. I'd changed my hair. Annabelle helped me dye it blond. We kept it up religiously until I learned a transmutation spell that made me a permanent Goldilocks.

It was an uninspiring visit. I cast a few low-grade spells to show them what I could do, they freaked out, warned me about the magic I was dabbling with, yadda, yadda. Many who belonged to covens looked down upon hedge witchery. They believed it was dangerous. When one witch accumulates power without accountability to a coven, without the wisdom of the group to pull one back when she crosses a line, she puts everyone at risk. She could upset the spirits of the earth, the source of all witches' power.

When I dabbled in earth magic—stuff that was pretty much level-one when Moll taught me—I didn't play around much. Cosmic orders matter. Best not to screw with them. With blood magic, though, I was diving into mostly uncharted territory. Even if there were covens of blood witches out there, they weren't vampires. The things they could do would seem like child's play. I wasn't opposed to taking a stray hedge blood witch under my wing from time to time, but I wouldn't submit to a coven. I knew better than any coven what I could do, when I might cross a line, whether crossing the line was worth it, and how to fix any of my own fuck ups.

The little I dabbled with voodoo was different. I knew enough from my experience with Kalfu that it was a different kind of art. It wasn't about incanting a wand or brewing spells. It was about channeling the influence of demigods, or Loa. Evoking such power wasn't about brewing ingredients in a cauldron, but required the requisite offerings and sacrifices. If I screwed up a spell, it could be devastating. There was a young witch who'd dabbled in blood witchery at the Vilokan Asylum of the Magically and Mentally Deranged who'd learned that the hard way and ended up in a catatonic state. Even as bad as it was, it was a single spell that had a single effect. Mess with voodoo, evoke the wrong Loa, or the right one the wrong way, you’d have bigger problems than a spell misfiring. You brought forth a presence that may or may not be displeased with you, who could unleash a series of assaults that could make your life a living hell.

As a vampire, I was, in some sense, the fruit of all that. The very first vampire, Niccolo the Damned, wasn't born centuries ago. He was once a classmate of Annabelle's at the voodoo academy. In their first fight with Kalfu, the same Loa who'd deceived me, they summoned Baron Samedi, Nico ended up getting stuck with him in the otherworld and escaped only after striking a bargain with the Loa. He'd become a hybrid of the Baron's essence, a vampire, and in exchange, the Baron sent him home. Nico didn't think to specify that he be sent home to the twenty-first century. Instead, the Baron returned Nico to earth several thousand years earlier. Thus, vampirism was born. According to Mercy, the Baron could see through the eyes of every vampire. We were his eyes and ears in the material world.

If I truly wanted to understand the full extent of my power as both a vampire and a witch, I needed to learn more about voodoo. I wanted to absorb as much information as I could short of becoming a mambo and working with the Loa directly.

My concern had less to do with maximizing my power as both a blood witch and a vampire than it was to understand my limits. If my vampirism was still connected to Baron Samedi, and my bloodwitchery put me in touch with a part of my vampiric essence that no other vampire before had accessed, there was a danger that I might awaken something of the Baron that could have unforeseen and unimaginable consequences.

"Baron Samedi is a Ghede Loa," Annabelle explained. "While you might wield the power of life latent in blood, the Ghede are lords of death."

I kicked my feet across the top of Annabelle's desk. Since she became Voodoo Queen, she'd taken up residence in the old headmaster's office at the Voodoo Academy. "So, you're saying that the powers I tap into as a blood witch, combined with my vampiric nature, is like yin and yang?"

Annabelle shrugged. "That's not a poor analogy. Vodouisants value balance."

I nodded. "So do witches."

"Among the vodouisants, there are different theories about how balance is best maintained. The bokors and caplatas believe that one can only achieve true balance and embrace the fullness of what voodoo offers by practicing with both hands."

I raised an eyebrow. "Both hands?"

"It is a metaphor. Of course, we all use both our literal hands. The bokors, however, believe that one must embrace the darker side of our art as much as the light in order to achieve balance."

"Let me guess. You disagree."

Annabelle nodded. "Light and dark are never balanced. Light overwhelms darkness. Darkness, however, thrives in the absence of light. To put it more plainly, in the effort to achieve balance by embracing darkness, the bokors must give the darkness a greater hold than light. What they achieve is not balance, but a gross imbalance that favors darkness."

I twirled my wand between my fingers. "Vampires are creatures of darkness. They consume blood, which contains human souls, the power of life, but in a way that conceals that power under the veil of their darker nature."

Annabelle steepled her fingers. "Even Baron Samedi, though he is a Loa of death, has dual natures. Those who seek him out in fear evoke his darker, red nature. Those who pursue him in hope, without a shred of darkness in their core, evoke the Baron's life-giving or green aspect."

I rubbed my brow with my right hand. "So if I tap into my vampirism with my bloodwitchery, I'm at risk of unleashing the Baron's darker power if I don't do it with the right frame of mind?"

Annabelle nodded. "That's my theory. We're in uncharted territory here, Hailey. That's why we must test your abilities in a controlled environment. If you're going to access your power, we need to know that you're not inadvertently giving the red baron control over a power he was never meant to touch."

"The power of life, the power latent in human souls."

"We know that some vampires who've fed for centuries become more humanlike than before. It's why Nico eventually wanted to die. Human life is not meant to endure forever. In his wisdom, Nico knew he could not remain balanced unless he gave up his life."

I pressed my lips together. "The only way to preserve his life, his humanity, was to embrace death. Isn't that ironic?"

"It most certainly is. Unfortunately, so far as I can tell, Nico only knew this intuitively. He did not tell Mercy or anyone else what he might become if he'd chosen instead to live. He might not have known it himself."

"He was the oldest vampire. No other vampire had reached that point before. There's no way he could know."

"I'm working with a theory here. When Baron Samedi sent Nico back to earth thousands of years before the present day, I don't think it was purely random."

"You think that Baron Samedi knew roughly how long it would take before Nico reached that point?"

Annabelle nodded. "I believe Baron Samedi hoped to use Nico as a vessel. Nico once offered his body to the Baron, in fact, for that very purpose."

"Such a vampire wouldn't merely serve as the Baron's eyes in the world. The Baron could take over the vampire."

Annabelle nodded. "It would be as though Baron Samedi assumed human form permanently, but not in the way he might if he took a human host. Through vampires, over time, I believe the Baron believed he could multiply his essence. He could use the vampires to tip the balance of power in the universe in his favor."

"According to Mercy, there aren't any vampires left who are even close to Nico's age when he died."

"This is true. What if, however, there was one who could engage the power of blood more thoroughly than any vampire before? What if a blood witch became a vampire?"

My eyes widened. "You think this was a part of Moll's plan? She arranged for me to become a vampire so that I could become what Nico was supposed to be before he ended his life?"

"That's my fear," Annabelle said. "Then again, we mustn't approach this matter in fear. We must engage the Baron within you in hope."

I shook my head. "I might be a vampire, but I have all the emotions any human might. How can I possibly live my entire existence with pure hope, without giving into fear even once?"

"You can't," Annabelle said. "That's why we must devise a way to bind Baron Samedi's influence within you."

"What if we can't do that?" I asked.

Annabelle sighed. "Then you will face the same choice Nico made. You must decide if you're willing to unleash the Baron through you, or if you'd rather die."

"That's like telling me I have a menu and my only two choices are shit burgers or shit tacos. I think I'd rather starve."

"There’s another option. Don't feed. Then again, you know what happens to vampires who don't feed."

I shook my head. "Mercy said if I ever went too long without feeding, I'd lose all control. My cravings would take over. Eventually, I'd lose my mind entirely. I might never recover. I'd become a monster driven to feed with concern for nothing at all."

Annabelle nodded. "You'd become feral."

I sighed. "Well, you just added shit spaghetti to the menu. The flavor is a little different. In the end, it's still not a choice."

"I hope that it will not come to that. There is a way that we might limit the ability of the Baron to manifest within you."

"Something on the menu without shit in it. I think I'll order that."

"There is a catch, Hailey. Not only will this be excruciatingly painful. I must carve Baron Samedi's veve into your flesh with my soul blade."

"A tattoo?"

"Of a sort. The veve will be limited in scope. I cannot use the full power of my soul blade without killing you. If you tap into too much power at once, if you harness too powerful of a spell drawn from the blood you acquire as a vampire, the veve will not hold. You may give Baron Samedi a foothold."

"How big of a spell are we talking about here? You know, so I know how close to the fire I can play without getting burned."

"There's no way to know for sure. To be safe, I'd recommend you use none of the power you gain as a vampire as a source of your magic."

"You're saying don't use bloodwitchery at all?"

"That’s not what I’m saying. Rather, you must limit your use of bloodwitchery to the power you can draw into your wand from other sources."

I nodded. "I can do that. Before Moll arranged for me to become a vampire, I was still one of the most powerful witches to wield such power in centuries. Moll used to say, herself, that limitation shows us our true path. When she said that, she was alluding to the fact that as a vampire I couldn't walk in sunlight."

"The wisdom she spoke is true, even if her intention at the time was misguided."

"I say let's do it. I can still use my bloodwitchery. I can still use my vampiric abilities. I just can't combine those powers."

Annabelle stood up. She gestured to a room behind her desk. I followed her there. She had a set of chains and shackles mounted on the wall.

I raised an eyebrow. "You have a sex dungeon in your office?"

Annabelle laughed. "That's not what this is. One of the former headmasters at the Voodoo Academy had a darker side that he had to restrain from time to time."

"That's creepy."

Annabelle chuckled. "It's a long story. As I said, this is going to be painful. We'll need to restrain you to complete the veve."

"Alright. I'll do it. But if you tickle me while I’m chained up, I will kick your ass."

Annabelle grinned. She extended her hand and spoke the name of her soul blade, Beli. Green magic glowed from the Voodoo Queen’s eyes. "No tickling, got it."

Annabelle locked my wrists and ankles into the shackles. She pulled up my shirt and started to carve. I clenched my teeth. She wasn't joking. It hurt like hell. I also clenched my fists. Sweat gathered on my brow as Annabelle's blade burned against my skin. When she was done, I looked down. A large sigil glowed in green magic on my chest. Then it faded.

I took several deep breaths as the pain subsided. Annabelle released my shackles. My knees weakened, but I didn't fall.

"It's done," Annabelle said. "Now all we have is hope."

"Could we ever ask for anything more than hope?"

Annabelle smiled and touched my face. “Let’s pray that hope is enough.”

Chapter 9

Corbin stepped back into the room. "Apologies. When you're king of an entire species, duty sometimes calls."

I bit my lip and tried my best not to betray my lack of respect for his Highness's supposed vampire royalty. I knew why he'd left. He didn't have shit to do. Nothing important. He wanted to see how I'd deal with the body he'd left behind after we fed. The smirk on Corbin's face communicated volumes. He'd set up a clever predicament, one that had it been thirty or forty years earlier I'd have had difficulty navigating. I resolved the problem with a simple text message. Only a vampire as old as Corbin would overlook such an obvious solution.

They say you can't teach old dogs new tricks. In my experience, the older the vampire, the more stubborn he was likely to be.

There's a joke among vampires. How many ancient vampires does it take to change a lightbulb? Punchline: Change?

I took the opportunity to gloat. "Thanks for the meal. Mercy graciously agreed to deal with him."

Corbin chuckled and nodded. "I appreciate the gesture."

"So, what's the story with the wolves?" I asked.

Corbin raised his hand in the air and snapped his fingers. Two of the wolves got the message and left the room. The third one, the smaller one who'd been eyeing me more than the others, stayed put and growled.

Corbin turned to the wolf and narrowed his eyes. "Leave."

The wolf huffed, turned, and glanced at me over his shoulder as he walked out of the room. "Apologies. They're loyal beasts, insofar as I continue to pay them handsomely."

I snorted. "You pay wolves? What do you give them, fish and kibble?"

Corbin laughed. "No, I pay them in gold. Surely your mistress has a few wolves of her own, does she not?"

I shook my head. "She doesn't. I assumed you had an ability of some sort that allowed you to tame and control animals."

Corbin grinned. "I have several abilities, Hailey. Forgive me if I don't catalogue all of them for you. Speaking to animals, however, is not one of them."

"I don't understand. These wolves understand you."

"They aren't common wolves," Corbin said. "They're shifters."

I raised an eyebrow. "Wolf shifters? Where'd you find them?"

"There's a pack here in New Orleans. You've never engaged them before?"

I shook my head. "Not once."

"Vampires have a long history of enslaving shifters such as these."

I narrowed my eyes. "I never met Nico. From what I understand from Mercy, however, he had little taste for slavery of any sort."

Corbin laughed. "Yes, my sire had his own ways. He chastised me more than once for the practice. Niccolo was an idealogue, a dreamer. Still, over the course of the last few centuries, his focus was on the vampire community he established in the Americas. Travel between the continents was difficult, especially for our kind. Even today, it is simpler for us to travel by ship than by plane."

"Hard to find trans-continental flights that don't expose us to sunlight, I suppose."

Corbin nodded. "Precisely. Because of Niccolo's interests here, and his clear preference for Mercy and his younger American vampires, we developed our own ways and traditions. On the rare occasion Niccolo came to visit and impose his authority on the rest of us, there was little he could do to change our ways. He might have been stronger than any of us individually, but he was still a single vampire. His influence on our ways was minimal."

I sighed. "Now that Mercy's in charge of the Vampire Council, I suppose you and the other European vamps are even less inclined to bend to her dictates."

Corbin grinned widely and shrugged his shoulders. "Why should we?"

I scratched my head. "If you're not worried about the Vampire Council, why are you here? Why not continue to defy the council and do your own thing?"

Corbin narrowed his eyes and sat down on the edge of the bed, crossing his legs and folding his hands in his lap. "Niccolo was right about one thing. Our existence cannot remain secret forever. In a sense, the world is just as large as it ever was. Even if Mercy wanted to, short of starting a war between our factions, she could never impose her will on us. At the same time, the world is smaller than ever before. Hiding ourselves from the world is more challenging than in centuries past."

"Mercy agrees," I said. "That's why we believe that it's important we not present ourselves to the world as monsters. When people discover our existence, it would be far better if the world did not see us as a threat."

"We drink human blood, Hailey. It does not matter if we only feed on the willing, or we feed sparingly. Humans will fear us and seek to destroy us no matter what we do to soften our image."

I cocked my head. "What would you propose?"

"We must embrace our nature! We must be the monsters humanity fears. Tell me, why do you suppose no nation has dared to assault the American mainland in so many centuries, but wars regularly break out between the lesser nations of the world?"

I shrugged. "Maybe it's because the Americans have a powerful army. We have Nukes."

Corbin grinned widely. "Precisely. No matter how many nations despise the United States, no one attacks you directly with a military assault because they fear your military might."

I furrowed my brow. "You want humans to be so afraid of us?"

"More than ever before, we must embrace our identity as monsters. Let mankind fear us too much to dare move against us. Only then will we be truly free to stalk our prey at will. I do not seek to undermine Mercy's authority here in the Americas. Let a democratic council govern our kind here however she wishes. I am under no delusions. No more than the Vampire Council can impose its will on us, can I impose my authority on vampires here. Unity in philosophy, however, remains necessary."

I bit my lip. "You're proposing that we recognize each other's autonomy?"

"Of course," Corbin nodded. "But we must embrace a common vision. I am here to convince Mercy and the rest of you that a policy focused on assuaging humanity's fears of our kind is dangerous. We must set aside our difference in governance and embrace a common path forward. Rather than convincing the world that we are no threat at all, we must do the opposite."

I shook my head. "Our ideas are ideologically opposed to one another. Still more, you're hoping to convince Mercy to acknowledge your authority in Europe and embrace your views at the same time?"

Corbin nodded. "That's my intention."

I snorted. "You realize, in a negotiation, you have to give something if you want to get something, right?"

Corbin extended his index finger. "To concede her authority over the Vampire Council is no small thing. You forget, I am the oldest of Niccolo's surviving progeny. Do you think, for a moment, that if I were to challenge Mercy for the authority of the council that there are not vampires even here in North America who would support my cause? I'm offering them the chance to feed freely without concern for the council's chastisement. I am presenting a message that vampires should not fear humans, but the opposite. Tell me, Hailey, can you be certain that if the question of lordship of the council were to come to a vote that Mercy would prevail?"

I narrowed my eyes. "I don't know. Vampires here respect Mercy."

"Respect can only take someone so far, Hailey. No matter, I've said it before. I have no desire to take over the council. If my position is rejected, if we cannot come to an agreement on the future of vampirism, I'm afraid I will have no other choice. It is necessary we be united under a singular vision."

I shook my head. "I still don't know how you'll be able to convince her."

"Perhaps I don't have to. Maybe all I need to do is win you over."

I laughed. "I'm the youngest vampire on the council. I don't think I have that much influence."

Corbin took my right hand in his. Then, he brushed my cheek with the back of his left hand's fingers. "You shouldn't sell yourself short, Hailey. There is something different about you. I've yet to put my finger on it. If you can affect her half as much as you do me, it might surprise you how much influence you have."

I grinned. "I doubt Mercy is as taken with young blonds as you are."

Corbin laughed. "You appeal to me, Hailey. Still, there's something more about you than that. Something irresistible."

If I wasn't a vampire, I might've blushed. I was the one who was supposed to be seducing the Vampire King. I shouldn't have found his advances so alluring. When he placed his lips on mine, I didn't push him away. I kissed him back. I bit his lip and tasted his vampiric blood. He grabbed me by the back of my hair and bit my neck.

We couldn't feed on each other. Our blood wouldn't satiate our hunger. Still, there was something about biting each other that brought out desires I'd yet to experience as a vampire. I ripped his shirt from his body and pushed him onto the bed.

Seduce him and... what was the other part? I'd get around to it. Yeah, I might have to assassinate the bastard later. That didn't mean I couldn't have my fun with him first.

Chapter 10

Some point mid-tryst I blacked out. The world started spinning around me. Then, I started to see double which, when I removed Corbin's pants, was startling for obvious reasons.

Vampiric intimacy was different than human intimacy. In truth, though, I didn't have much to compare it to. I was only sixteen, and a virgin, when I became a vampire. In those days, it took all the courage I could muster to work up the nerve to hold a boy's hand in a movie theater.

Before Corbin, as a vampire, I'd had a few one-night stands with the occasional vampire. Biting one another and consuming one another's blood was exceedingly intimate. When humans engage in intercourse, there's a long tradition of describing it as a union, becoming one in flesh. When vampires exchange the blood of a recent feed, we become one in blood.

I woke up alone in my bed. The three wolves were back, the smallest of the three curled up beside me while the other two stood guard at the door.

When I'd engaged in similar trysts with other vampires, exchanging blood gave me a rush, a thrill, a momentary surge of pleasure. After we climaxed, the sensation subsided, leaving little more than a slight tingle in my fingertips and toes. This was different. Maybe it was because I'd never been with a vampire so old.

I did what I was supposed to do. It was the mission. Seduce, first. Assassinate next. If necessary, of course.

The sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway outside. I pushed myself into a seated position.

Bianca appeared at the doorway. She gestured to the two guard-wolves at the door and they left.

Bianca hurried over to the bed and took my hand. "Can you walk?"

I wiggled my toes. "I think so."

"Good. You're strong. You have to leave."

"I can't until sunset."

"It's ten o'clock at night. You've been out for hours."

I tilted my head. "Hours?"

"It usually takes longer. You're different, aren't you?"

I bit my lip. "I don't know what you mean."

Bianca took a deep breath. "Trust me, Hailey. You need to get as far away from Corbin as possible."

I snorted. "Why?"

Bianca sighed. "Corbin is resting. He's cycling the power he's absorbed from your spirit."

"Cycling? What does that mean?"

"It’s like a kind of meditation. It’s how he absorbs new power gained from a feed into his spirit. There's a reason Corbin brought so many vampires here."

I shrugged. "He's a king. At least he calls himself that. I figured he needed a posse."

Bianca cocked her head. "A posse?"

I smirked. "Maybe a harem?"

"It's not what you think. Corbin isn't some kind of insatiable fiend. At least not for the reasons you're assuming. When we commune together as you did with Corbin, the pleasure we experience results from the human soul that lingers in the blood magnified a dozen times over."

I scratched my head. "Why have I never heard about this before?"

"Corbin only discovered it about a year ago. Since then, he's been gathering young vampires like us. He's using us to accelerate his maturation."

I shook my head. "You realize, when a vampire ages and acquires enough humanity, he becomes a vessel for Baron Samedi. It's why the Baron turned Niccolo into a vampire to begin with."

Bianca nodded. "I'm aware. Corbin is as well. That's exactly what Corbin intends to do."

"If he does that, the Baron will take over his body completely."

"That's why he took such an interest in you, Hailey. He believes you contain a power, an ability, that he can use to entrap the Baron. He hopes to use the Baron's abilities without giving him control."

"How does he know that about me? And why are you telling me this?"

Bianca took my hand. "In my many trysts with Corbin, I have also gained a greater portion of human souls than one might acquire through a typical feed. One such soul gave me the ability to read minds."

"If you gained this ability, wouldn't Corbin have it, too?"

Bianca shook her head. "He has so many abilities, I suspect this one didn't get a foothold in his spirit. No matter, I must confess that I'm the one who told him about you. I recognized that there was something within you that prevents the Baron from gaining control over you."

I snorted. "There's a problem with that. If you read my mind, you should know as much."

"It doesn't work that way. Reading a person's mind is like examining a volume of encyclopedias. I can’t absorb all you know in an instant. It's a wonder I discovered this at all."

"Why did you tell him? If you intended to betray him, why not just keep your yap shut?"

"It wasn't until I told him this that he formulated his plan. He intends to wield the Baron's power to wreak devastation on humanity."

I clenched my fists. "Baron Samedi is a Ghede Loa. He has power over death itself. Corbin's plan is to give humanity reason to fear us. If he could simply will people to die with a single thought..."

Bianca placed her hand on the wolf, who was on my bed. "Get her out of here. Corbin will awaken soon."

The wolf grunted and jumped off the bed.

"Follow the wolf. Corbin has most of the exits sealed, but the wolf knows a way out."

I nodded. "One more thing. Corbin's plan won't work. I don't have an ability that prevents the Baron from seizing control. It's more like a ward. No matter what he thinks he took from me, it won't hold the Baron."

Bianca placed her hand on my shoulder. "I'll do what I can from here to slow him down. I fear, however, it's only a matter of time before Corbin completes his maturation and the Baron takes hold."

"Thank you, Bianca."

The wolf led me out of the room and up two flights of stairs. He pawed at a door. He couldn't reach the knob and with his paws, probably couldn't turn it. I opened the door. There was a window. The wolf whimpered and pointed at the window with his snout.

I opened the window. It was a long drop to the ground below. I didn't have my wand with me but I wouldn't need it. Levitation spells were child's play.

I climbed through the window. I released a small amount of magic and lowered myself to the ground. I turned and looked up in time to see the wolf dive out the window himself.

I cast the same spell on him to cushion his landing.

"You're coming with me?"

The wolf huffed and pointed his nose to a tree line straight ahead. I took off running into the trees. As a vampire, I could move fast, but I would not leave my canine friend behind. Thankfully, wolves can run pretty damn fast, too. We made our way through the trees into a marsh. I found a small patch of dry ground and sat down to rest.

The wolf nuzzled against my hand. Then he expanded his body. His fur fell away. A naked man stood in front of me. He had dark, shaggy hair. His body was impressive. Not hairy at all. His muscles glistened in the moonlight that penetrated the canopy above us. I recognized his face. I hadn't seen him in years. How was this possible?

I tilted my head. "Connor McPherson?"

Connor grinned. "Hello, Hailey. I have to say, the blond hair suits you."

Chapter 11

Connor and I made our way through the marsh.

"You know, before we get to the city, we'll have to find you some clothes."

Connor chuckled. "It's not a problem. I'll shift back again."

I grinned. "Yeah, almost forgot about that."

"So, now that you've seen me naked, any chance..."

I almost choked on my tongue. "Not happening."

Connor laughed. "You know, at our graduation, they gave you a nice tribute."

I raised an eyebrow. "Did they?"

"A PowerPoint slide with your picture and your years of life underneath it. They left it on screen for a whole ten seconds."

I grinned. "That's more than I expected. Do you mind me asking you, how did you become whatever you are?"

"A wolf shifter?"

I nodded. "Yeah, that."

"It was your spell that did it, Hailey. When that woman emerged from your cauldron, some of the potion struck me and several of our friends. A wolf nearby was also hit. I don't know how it happened, but this was the result."

"I didn't disappear for nearly two years after that, Connor."

"You didn't go missing, Hailey. You became a vampire."

"Who went missing."

"Fair enough. Look, Hailey. I didn't know what was happening to me. We were only fourteen, for Christ's sake. I would have told you, but I was scared."

"Of what you became?"

"Of you, Hailey. I was drunk at the time, but you were the one who took that cauldron with us into the woods. You told us you were brewing something special. Instead, an old woman emerged, and I became what I am. I thought you'd explain it to me, but you never did."

"We barely spoke again after that. I'm sorry, Connor. I didn't know. I assumed you were too drunk to remember what happened."

"It was a long time ago. I'm not angry about it. Honestly, this is pretty cool. You wouldn't believe the crap I could get away with in those days. I put my parents through all kinds of hell."

I shrugged. "At least you didn't become a witch, then a vampire, and fake your own death."

Connor chuckled. "Yeah, there's that. Honestly, I didn't know what had happened to you. I assumed you'd gotten in over your head with whatever kind of sorcery you were into. I had no clue you'd become a vampire. Not until you showed up yesterday."

"What were you doing there, anyway? Corbin's an old vampire from Romania. He's dangerous, Connor."

Connor raised an eyebrow. "This from the girl who was screwing him?"

"We didn't screw! Not exactly. It wasn't like that. Besides, I was on a mission."

"A mission?"

"Never mind. You heard what Bianca said. I need to report back to the Vampire Council. We have to stop him."

Connor nodded. "We did it for the money."

"For money? Are you serious?"

"Don't judge me. There aren't a lot of jobs out there for wolf shifters and when there are, they rarely come from upstanding citizens."

"I didn't even know wolf shifters were a thing."

"There aren't many of us. Just six of us in total. We're basically glorified guard dogs, but we can follow directions. Not to mention, people talk freely around us. Since most people around here, even those in the supernatural community, don't even know our kind exists, much less that there's a small pack here in New Orleans, once folks realize we're tame it never occurs to them to watch what they say when we're around."

I sighed. "Unfortunately, that skill won't help me stop Corbin."

"Bianca is going to tell him you escaped, and I went after you. That's another thing we can do. We're skilled trackers. You wouldn't believe the shit I can smell in wolf form."

I chuckled. "What kind of shit?"

Connor chuckled. "Well, there's literal shit. In a swamp like this, it's everywhere. A lot of animals means a lot of poop. Still, we can sniff out pretty much anything. If I get someone's scent, I can track them down. If someone's missing, we can usually find their bodies."

I bit my lip. "When I went missing, did you look for me?"

Connor shrugged. "We weren't exactly friends, Hailey. But, yes. I did. If I knew you'd become a vampire, I might have found you."

"You can sniff out vampires?"

"Sure. I mean, I'll have to stick my nose up your ass first to get your odor."

"Seriously?" I scrunched my brow.

"No. I'm joking. Contrary to popular belief, I don't sniff butts or hump legs. I won't scoot my ass on your carpet, either."

I tucked a few strands of my blond hair behind my ears. "Can you tell the difference between different vampires? By scent, I mean."

"Yes, and no. There are a lot of vampires in New Orleans. Usually if I'm in the city, there's a stench of vampire that covers everything. It's hard to tell where it's coming from since it's all around. The exception, of course, is an older vampire like Corbin. It's sort of like discerning the difference between grape juice and a fine aged Merlot."

I chuckled. "So I'm the grape juice in this scenario?"

Connor chuckled. "You're a little older than that. You're like a cheap Mogen David."

I grinned. "I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult."

"I'm not much of a wine drinker. I certainly don't get into the pricier varieties. If I was going to take a sip of wine, you'd be right in my budget."

I laughed. "I'm still not sure if that's a good thing. You're saying I'm cheap?"

Conner shook his head. "I'm saying you're sweet and intoxicating."

I smiled ear-to-ear. "You're not so bad yourself. I wouldn't mind a taste if you're ever up for it."

Connor's eyes went wide. "You'd feed from me?"

I laughed. "I'd never bite you without your consent. Still, I'd be lying not to admit I'm curious as to your flavor."

"We taste like chicken. That's what people say."

I rolled my eyes. "People say that?"

"Not very many people," Connor chuckled. "You caught me. No one says that, mostly because no one has ever eaten me before."

"And no vampire has ever bitten you?"

Connor shook his head. "Not yet. I've avoided that to this point. Don't worry, though. If I was ever going to experience a vampire bite, I'd hope it was you."

I giggled. "I'm flattered!"

Connor shook his head. "I used to have the biggest crush on you."

I raised an eyebrow. "Used to?"

Connor grinned. "We were young. You know how awkward things were back then."

"I liked you, too."

Connor nodded. "I know. It's funny. We both knew we liked each other, but the closest we ever got to making anything of it I ruined by getting wasted."

"I also ditched you for a spell and then infected you with some kind of shifting curse."

Connor snickered. "Yeah, there was that. Worst first-date ever."

I shook my head. "Not the worst. You've never tried dating a vampire before."

Connor shrugged. "I'm not opposed to it."

I laughed. "We're walking through a swamp. You're naked. Are you suggesting you'd like a do-over for our date when we were fourteen?"

Conner winked at me. "I didn't say that. But, maybe. My Tinder profile says I'm looking for a confident bloodsucking woman who enjoys long naked walks through the swamp."

I snorted. "No, it doesn't. You're making that up!"

"You're right. It doesn't say that. To be completely honest, I don't have a Tinder account."

"You don't say," I chuckled. "Could have fooled me!"

Connor laughed. "A lot of women are afraid that the men they meet on those sites will end up being dogs in person."

I smiled. "There's a difference between being a wolf and a dog. Trust me, you're no dog."

"Now, who is the one using lame metaphors to sneak in a compliment?"

"Guilty," I said. "I'll tell you what, Connor. I know it's unconventional. But if you can help me and my friends track down and stop Corbin, maybe I'll take you up on that do-over for our date."

Connor smiled and blushed a little. "I'd like that."

I nodded. "You have a nice ass. In this form, anyway. Not so much in your other form."

Connor raised an eyebrow. "Thanks, I think."

I glanced down. "Besides, I already know what you're working with."

"Now I'm not sure if that's an insult or a compliment!"

I grinned. "It's a compliment. But don't worry. If I'm interested in you, it will be entirely on account of your sparkling personality."

Chapter 12

I sent Mercy a text. She wasn't home. I didn't expect she would be. It was after dark. When you're a species confined in-doors all day, every day, you make the most of your chances to get out.

Mercy had a new youngling. A vampire named Mel. Mel was a cute little red-head who Mercy had turned out of compassion. The poor girl was bound to a wheelchair before she met Mercy. She'd suffered from fibromyalgia. She wasn't paralyzed, but it was too painful for her to walk. Literally, overnight, Mel went from a quiet bookish girl—a lot like I used to be—to quite the socialite. While the youngling had most of her cravings under control, Mercy spent a lot of nights chaperoning her French Quarter exploits. Mel still required regular feeds. She wasn't reckless about it so much as she was a little sloppy covering her tracks.

Mel had one advantage I didn't. She wasn't from New Orleans. She was from somewhere in England. I suppose I was your typical American-born vampire. I knew the Beatles came from Liverpool. The royal family lived in London. I knew Sussex was a place. Show me a map of England, though, and I couldn't tell you where any of those cities were. Mel was from some place in the north, about half an hour from Scotland. When she talked, her accent made me giggle.

Mercy said she'd meet me at the Tropical Isle's Bayou Club on Bourbon Street. The place was a tourist magnet and a ripe feeding ground for vampires.

Connor was coming along. He had the intel that Mercy needed to hear. The problem? You can't bring pets into the club, and Connor wasn't a certified service wolf. He had a small apartment close to the French Quarter and we made a stop there first.

"Why does your apartment smell like pizza?" I asked as we stepped inside.

Connor shrugged. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting any visitors."

I scanned Connor's apartment as he scurried his naked self into his bedroom to get dressed. The place screamed bachelor pad.

There was a half-eaten pizza in a box on his table. A few flies buzzed around it. Take that away, along with the dirty socks on the floor, the couch with stuffing coming out of the cushions, and the neon Budweiser sign that hung crooked on Connor's wall, and the place was quite charming.

Connor emerged from his room with a tight-fitting t-shirt, form-fitting jeans, and Converse sneakers.

I grinned. "I'd say you look even better in clothes, but that would be a lie."

Connor chuckled. "I'm so embarrassed. I swear, I usually keep the place a lot cleaner. The gig with Corbin came suddenly, and I had little time to straighten up before I left."

I shook my head, chuckling. "You're a single dude. You don't have to give me excuses for being a slob."

"I'm not a slob! I swear!"

I smirked. "Sure you aren't."

Connor grabbed the pizza box and stuffed it into an already overflowing trash can that sat beneath his countertop. At least his sink was empty. Judging from the stack of paper plates sitting on the counter next to his refrigerator, I ascertained that his strategy for avoiding the need to do dishes was to not use any. "Next time I have you over, I promise I'll clean up."

I bit my lip. "If there is a next time."

Connor stared at me blankly. "Hailey, I promise you..."

"Yeah, yeah, you aren't a slob. What do your parents think about all of this?"

Connor shrugged. "My dad's still preaching. My little brother went to Bible college. I guess I'm the black sheep."

I giggled. "A wolf in black sheep's clothing?"

Connor laughed. "I know, right?"

"This place really needs a woman's touch."

"Hailey, we just met again. I think it's too soon to talk about moving in with me."

I rolled my eyes. "You're dreaming, buddy. Besides, I have to spend a lot of time at home. Comes with the territory. I need a bigger place. There is one thing I have to say, though."

"What's that?"

"Where are all the empty beer cans?"

Connor grinned. "I drank enough before I turned twenty-one that I lost the taste for it by the time I could drink legally."

I smiled. "That's nice. You don't drink at all anymore?"

Connor shook his head. "Haven't had more than a drink here or there for almost three years now."

I hooked my arm in Connor's. "Let's get out of here. Mercy is waiting for us."

Connor bit his lip. "I'm going to meet Mercy Brown?"

I shrugged. "Of course."

Connor laughed nervously. "She has quite the reputation, you know."

I smirked. "Don't worry. She won't bite. At least I don't think she will. You never know for sure when vampires are involved."

Connor raised an eyebrow. "You included?"

I nodded. "Damn straight. Don't worry, though. I already told you I won't bite you unless you want me to."

"What if I want you to?"

"In that case, you'll have to earn it. What kind of girl do you think I am? I don't just bite every cute guy I run into."

"Tell that to the Vampire King."

"Hey, now. That was different. I was on a mission."

"A mission to screw?"

"We didn't screw! We fed! There's a difference."

"Is there, really?" Connor smirked.

I nodded. "There really is. At least for me. It depends on the vampire, you know."

Connor snorted. "How so?"

"For some vampires, feeding is always intimate. They can't feed without making something sensual out of it. They often make love to their victims while they feed. For others, feeding is about indulging their inner monster. It's an inherently violent activity. Still for others, who like to combine pain and pleasure, it's both. And, of course, there are those who get nothing out of feeding except nourishment. It's enjoyable no more than eating a hamburger might be for a human. It's good. It's nice. But feeding is nothing more than a necessary function of their existence."

"Which kind of vampire are you?"

I shrugged. "That depends."

"Depends on what?"

"Several factors. My connection to the human I'm feeding upon, my general mood, the time of the month that it is…"

Connor's eyes widened. "Oh!"

I giggled. "Not that. Vampires don't experience the same reproductive functions that humans do. I meant that something so subtle as the weather, or the gravitational pull of the moon, can make a difference in my mood."

Connor raised one eyebrow incredulously. "The moon can impact your mood?"

"I'm a moody bitch. What can I say?"

"You don't strike me as the violent feeding type."

I smirked. "Do you really want to test my mood to find out?"

Connor gulped.

I patted him on the shoulder. "Relax, Wolfie. So far, seeing you has put me in a fantastic mood. Which, given what I just learned about Corbin, is really saying something."

Connor grinned a little. "Into one of your sensual feeding moods, by chance?"

I snorted. "I'm not hungry. Mind if I give you a little advice, though?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"If you're interested in me that way, Connor, you need to convince me to desire you as something more than a meal before we talk about how I may or may not choose to feed from you."

Connor cleared his throat. "Right. Sorry. I meant nothing by it. I was just, well, you know."

"Flirting?"

Connor shrugged. "I guess. How am I doing?"

"Do you really want me to answer that question?"

"Yes. Please."

"Don't play the meal. If you were hitting on a human girl, would you compare yourself to a steak?"

Connor snickered. "That depends on how much she wants my beef."

"Point of advice number two. If you're trying to impress a girl, don't refer to any part of your anatomy as beef."

"I wasn't. I cook a great steak. I was talking about cooking for a girl."

I chuckled. "Right. Sure you were."

Chapter 13

I didn't have a car of my own. Annabelle let me drive her Camaro when I needed to. If it wasn't available, I took Mercy's hearse. Yeah, Mercy drove a hearse. Hilarious, right? It was more than ironic. She kept a coffin in the back. If we were out and about and couldn't get home before sunrise, we embraced the vampire stereotype and took a nap in the coffin. It was cozy, but not altogether pleasant. Coffins aren't usually built with comfort in mind. Those who have need of a coffin aren't that concerned about waking up with a sore back.

We could either walk to the club, which was certainly doable, or take Connor's car. If his car was anything comparable to his apartment in terms of cleanliness, I wasn't interested. Connor, however, insisted. We'd done enough walking for one night.

He took me to a brand new Cadillac Escalade. He pressed his key fob and unlocked the doors.

"This is your car?"

Connor laughed. "Sure enough. I'll just say I put a little more TLC into my ride than my crib."

I opened the passenger door. The vehicle was immaculate. No burger wrappers on the floor. There wasn't even any dust on the dashboard. "This is certainly a surprise, Connor."

Connor shrugged. "We wolves might be mercenaries, but we only work for the highest bidder."

"Like the Vampire King?"

"His money is good. We didn't have any clue what he was planning."

I bit my lip. "I know the most powerful vampires in New Orleans. I'm also very close to the Voodoo Queen. None of them have ever mentioned wolf shifters in the city. Corbin has only been in town a few days. Who else do you guys work for?"

"We've worked with a local coven a few times. We've also done some tracking for some hunters."

I raised an eyebrow. "Vampire hunters?"

Connor sighed. "Yeah, sorry. I didn't know you were a vampire, Hailey. I didn't even know you were still alive. You might want to click in."

"Seat belts? I'm a vampire, Connor. I'm not really at much risk from an accident."

Connor winced. "Yeah, but if you don't buckle up, the car will sound an annoying alarm the whole time we're driving."

I put on my seat belt. "Alright. There. Again, you were saying you worked with hunters?"

Connor nodded. "Not recently. But, yes. Don't worry. They aren't around anymore."

I snorted. "They aren't?"

Connor started driving toward the club. "We always take payment in advance. The last group of hunters we were working for were tracking Mercy Brown."

I laughed. "Well, that was a mistake."

"She eliminated all of them. She didn't tell you about it?"

I shook my head. "It wouldn't be the first time over-zealous hunters came after her. It happens frequently enough that she probably didn't even think to mention it."

Connor glanced at me briefly before returning his eyes to the road. "You're telling me that a group of hunters is so minimal a threat that Mercy wouldn't even mention the incident?"

I nodded. "You'd be surprised. When you said they hadn't been here recently, how long ago was that exactly?"

"Maybe a month, give or take. Why?"

"When did you buy this car?"

Connor smirked. "Shortly after the hunters paid us."

I shook my head. "Most hunters are rogues. They hunt vampires for sport. Few have the means to pay you so well. Most of them don't have a clue who Mercy is. They're just looking for any vampire to stake."

"What are you saying? These hunters were something more than that?"

I nodded. "There's an organization that's been hunting Mercy her entire vampiric life. A year or so ago Mercy eliminated their seminal chapter in Rhode Island. Another chapter in Missouri fell recently as well. Until now, we'd assumed that if there were any other chapters, they lacked the leadership and organization to pose a genuine threat. At least for a while."

"You think these hunters were connected to this organization?"

"Tell me, Connor. How did the hunters know about you in the first place? Why did they come to you for help?"

Connor shook his head. "I don’t have a clue."

I sighed. "The organization is called the Order of the Morning Dawn. They're dedicated to the elimination of all vampires and witches. It's a pseudo-religious organization. Their operatives are highly connected through several churches and denominations across the country. Are you certain, Connor, that your father doesn't know about what you are?"

Connor scratched his head. "I don't know. Think about it, Hailey. I started shifting when I was barely a teenager. For the next four years, I lived at home. I tried to hide this from my parents, but if I'm being honest, this isn't the sort of thing you can keep from people you live with forever."

"We all attended a religious school. Several of you saw the spell that night in the woods. You knew witchcraft was involved."

"Of course. But we swore each other to secrecy, Hailey."

I shook my head. "We were just kids, Connor. You were scared. All of you were. What do kids do when they're frightened about something that they've seen or if they think they're in danger."

Connor sighed. "They tell their parents."

"All it would take is one of you to break your secrecy oath. It wasn't like they were telling the world about what happened. Someone must've told their parents. Your parents probably knew about this the whole time."

"Then why wouldn't they say something to me about it. If my parents knew, surely they'd question me about it."

I shook my head. "They thought you were under a spell. If your father turned to the church for help, for some way to reverse the spell they thought was cast on you, someone within your dad's denomination could have been connected to the Order of the Morning Dawn."

Connor pulled up next to a car on the side of the road. Hit a button and his oversized Cadillac started parallel parking itself. "I don't know, Hailey. That sounds like some next-level conspiracy theory bullshit."

"Maybe. But think about it, Connor. If a vampire as well-connected to the supernatural community, and the Voodoo Queen who keeps tabs on the entire supernatural community in New Orleans didn't know about you, why do you suppose that is?"

Connor shrugged. "I don't know. I can't really say. Dumb luck, I guess? I just don't understand why my dad or this organization that he may have unwittingly alerted to our existence would also put us to work for vampires and witches if they wanted to kill vampires and witches."

I bit my lip. "Espionage. As wolves, you have a heightened sense of smell. I'm guessing the same applies to your hearing."

Connor nodded. "It does."

"You'd make fantastic spies. You've worked for covens in the past. Do you know what's happened to the witches you worked with before?"

"I don't know. We've taken contracts from covens before. Several jobs in a row. Then, the clients stopped contacting us. We figured they'd moved on, broke up, or whatever."

"Perhaps the intelligence someone within your pack provided the Order of the Morning Dawn was used to eliminate the witches you worked for later."

Connor turned off his vehicle and pocketed his keys. He sat there a moment, gripping his steering wheel. "If this organization hates witches and vampires, how would they ever convince the covens to hire us?"

"I don't know how far their influence goes in the witchcraft community. When it comes to vampires, though, the Order of the Morning Dawn has an army of vampires they call nightwalkers."

Connor raised one eyebrow. "They hate vampires, but also work with them?"

I nodded. "I'm not saying they aren't hypocrites. In fact, there are several nightwalkers who've turned against the Order in the past. That doesn't mean they don't have others still loyal to their cause. Most of the nightwalkers hate what they are. They believe that the only way to save their souls as vampires is to work with the Order to eliminate other vampires and witches. They've been sold a bullshit path of redemption, and the Order exploits their desperation."

"You think that this job with Corbin was set up by this anti-vampire, anti-witch hate group?"

I nodded. "It makes sense. Why would Corbin know about you and your pack if even Mercy, who has lived in New Orleans for the better part of the last two centuries, doesn't?"

Connor shook his head. "It makes little sense, Hailey. If the Order of the Morning Dawn really has vampires working for them, why not use them to spy on Corbin?"

I snorted. "I can think of at least two reasons. First, Corbin already expects that the Vampire Council might send spies. He wouldn't have allowed me in if he didn't think he could get more out of me than he was risking by letting me in. The only reason we thought he was willing to welcome me to begin with was because I was closely connected to Mercy and, as a younger vampire, he figured I was susceptible to persuasion."

"There's a second reason he probably welcomed you."

"What is that?" I asked.

"You're a hot blond. Duh."

I chuckled. "Yeah, there's that."

"Still, if your theory is right, someone must've told Corbin about us."

"A nightwalker who is keeping his or her identity a secret could blend in to the vampire community. Corbin wouldn't think twice if a vampire or two who don't buy into the Vampire Council's philosophy reached out to him. He'd relish in it. Even so, Corbin wouldn't trust a vampire merely because he says the right things. For the Order to get someone on the inside, they'd have to go outside the box. And more than that, if the Order knows that Corbin has Bianca, who can read minds, sending in an agent of the Order would be risky."

Connor grunted. "Sending us in, even if a wolf in my pack is reporting to the Order of the Morning Dawn, would be just as risky."

I shook my head. "There were only three of you at Corbin's, right?"

Connor nodded. "That's what he paid for."

"You still communicate with the whole pack, though, don't you?"

"Of course. We report in just in case anything goes south."

"Of the three wolves who were not with you at Corbin's, did any of them seem especially interested in more details than usual?"

Connor scratched the back of his neck. "Not more than usual. Ginny is always asking a million questions, though. That's just her."

I raised an eyebrow. "Ginny Larson?"

Conner nodded. "She was there when your spell in the forest went kablooey, remember?"

"Are you two still..."

Connor rolled his eyes. "Hell no! Not that she's not interested. She's still hot, don't get me wrong. But I've had better conversations with my left foot than I've had with Ginny."

"Maybe she's the one who is feeding intel to the Order."

Connor chuckled. "I'm not sure she's smart enough to pull off the double-agent routine."

I shook my head. "Or she's smarter than you think. A good double-agent would want you to think that, wouldn't she?"

Connor sighed. "I don't know."

"All of you saw what happened with the cauldron in the woods. You spent the first day on that camping trip paying all your attention to me and ignoring Ginny completely. Then, after I didn't kiss you..."

"I'm sorry. I was trying to make you jealous."

"No shit. I've had a harder time seeing through a few windows than I did your little charade."

Connor chuckled. "We were fourteen. It was immature, I understand that."

"Ginny was fourteen, too. If anyone had reason to tell anyone that I was doing witchcraft in the woods, it was Ginny."

Conner sighed. "You think she told your parents?"

I shook my head. "She didn't. She told yours. Think about it, Connor. She didn't want to make an enemy of me outright. She thought I was a witch, you know. I guess she was right. But if she didn't want you to see me again, well, who better to tell than your parents?"

Connor narrowed his eyes. "I'm still trying to put myself back into the mindset of a fourteen-year-old. I guess that would make sense. She knew my dad was a minister. If he thought for a second that I was dating a witch, he'd freak."

"But it didn't come to that. We stopped talking to each other after the incident."

Connor snorted. "And when Ginny told my dad what happened to us, I imagine he turned to the church for help. Someone connected him to the Order of the Morning Dawn. If this Order hates witches so much, though, why didn't they go after you straight away?"

I shook my head. "When Moll died years ago, back after Mercy became a vampire, it was the Order of the Morning Dawn that murdered her. She wasn't about to let them hurt either of us. Maybe the Order tried to come after me and Moll stopped them. When I went missing, I'm guessing the Order never suspected I'd become a vampire. They probably thought I'd offed myself with a foolish spell or something. They wrote me off."

Connor narrowed his eyes. "They won't anymore. Hailey, if Ginny really is reporting back to the Order, she knows you're alive."

I bit my lip. "We need to talk to Mercy. I have to tell her what's going on with Corbin. Right now, that's the bigger threat. I'm sure the Order wants to kill Corbin and me. They don't care about vampire politics. They just hate vampires. Now, if the Order thinks they have a shot at both a seven hundred-year-old Vampire King, and a vampire who is also a witch, you'd better believe they'll try something."

"But you aren't concerned about that?" Connor asked.

"Right now, it's just a theory. It makes sense, but until we question Ginny or find some kind of evidence to prove it, that's all it is. It's good we know they might be involved. If they try something, at least we won't be taken by surprise. Still, we know for certain what Corbin is planning and if he pulls it off, it won't matter if the Order is involved or not. If Corbin harnesses the power of Baron Samedi, he'll be able to eliminate the Order of the Morning Dawn with little more than a thought."

Chapter 14

It had been a while since I went to the Tropical Isle's Bayou Club. They had a lot of neon colored drinks. Many people were walking around with a drink in a special cup with the words "Hand Grenade" printed on it. It was bright yellow, the bottom of the cup looked like a grenade with a sinister face on it. Atop the head rose a long neck. I didn't have a clue what was in it. Named after a grenade, though, I imagined it either had a lot of kick, or it was just a cheap marketing gimmick to deceive consumers into thinking they were getting a lot of bang for their ten bucks.

A reggae band was playing up front. They weren't familiar to me. As a general rule, Mercy taught me it's best not to frequent the same hunting grounds too often. We took precautions. Our meals never remembered our bites. Still, if people see the same girls in a bar leaving with different men regularly, false reputations develop and people pay us more attention than we’d like—for all the wrong reasons. Mercy turned heads wherever she went. I had my fair share of gawkers as well. Most of the people in the club were tourists. The bouncers, bartenders, and waitresses weren't. They were the ones whose attentions we were most worried about. Most tourists think the supernatural component of New Orleans comprises intriguing, but made up, myth and legend. The locals weren't so naïve. Live in the area long enough, you're bound to see a few things. Maybe not a vampire. It could just as easily be a mambo or hougan conducting a summoning ritual, a rougarou howling at a full moon, or even a wandering spirit. Ghosts need energy to manifest. In most parts of the world, they are limited to common forms of power. They draw on heat, maybe even draining your phone battery, to manifest. Even then, appearing in a way that people might recognize is rare. In New Orleans, though, mystical energies abound. That means that hauntings, oppressive spirits, and other spiritual manifestations were more common than in most places.

The locals knew it. The people who worked the clubs were locals. If they knew about vampires, and I couldn't guarantee they didn't, it was best we not tip them off. The best way to avoid that was to visit the same place not more than once every six months or so. It wasn't a problem for older vampires like Mercy, who could go weeks between feeds. It was a little tougher for younger vampires like me. Still, we didn't have to limit our hunts to bars and clubs. More, I didn't hunt in the usual way. I had my regulars that I lured in through my other abilities.

Walking into the club, it didn't take long to spot Mel. She was grinding on some guy, sipping on a "Hand Grenade" on a dance floor in front of the house band.

I looked around and eventually found Mercy standing along the perimeter of the room. She was in her usual long black dress and army boots. Her red lipstick really popped in contrast to her pale skin. In the thirty seconds it took Connor and me to make our way across the room, I saw two different men approach her. Each of them, she dismissed with a casual back-handed wave of her hand.

Mercy wasn't on a hunt. She fed the night before. She was there to chaperone Mel. If she wanted to feed, she had her opportunities. When humans throw themselves at you, though, when you're full, it's no different than if you put a full dinner plate in front of a human after an enormous meal. While the plate might be delicious, for someone already full, it's little more than a nuisance and a waste.

New Orleans was known for jazz. There was plenty of that around the French Quarter. This club, though, drew more from the proximity of New Orleans to the gulf and the islands than from the city itself. At least it did on this particular night. The tourists probably didn't know the difference. Anything "exotic," including over-priced fruity cocktails, satisfied their expectations.

I leaned against the wall next to Mercy. She glanced at Connor, then looked at me. "Is this the shifter you texted me about?"

I nodded. "That's him."

"The name's Connor." Connor extended his hand. "It's an honor to meet you."

Mercy tilted her head and looked Connor in the eye. Then she looked at me. "You could do better, Hailey."

Connor's jaw almost hit the floor. I started laughing. On Twitter, there are trolls. People who post things to trigger others. Mercy was the closest thing—unless trolls really existed—to a troll in the flesh. She thrived on saying things, doing things, or even looking at people in such a way as to make them feel uncomfortable. For most people, saying something like that right in front of a guy would make things awkward. Mercy found other people's temporary and harmless discomfort amusing.

Mercy nudged me in the ribs. "Let me know what he tastes like. If he's tasty, leave me a bite or two before you finish him off."

Connor gulped.

I grinned at him. "She's screwing with you. Mercy doesn't kill people regularly."

Connor snorted. "Well, since you only kill people occasionally, I feel a lot better."

Mercy smirked. "Why slaughter a milking cow for meat while it's still producing?"

I smiled. I figured I might as well play along. I had to admit, watching Connor squirm was mildly entertaining.

"You can't milk me!" Connor protested.

I reached up and pinched Connor's nipples. He jumped back and crossed his arms over his chest. "Stop it! My nipples are sensitive!"

I shrugged. "He's right. His man-wolf teats don't produce."

Connor grunted. "Look, do you want to know what I can tell you about Corbin or not?"

I bit my lip. "We think the Order of the Morning Dawn is also involved."

Mercy rolled her eyes. "Of course they are. They're real dicks. Just when you think you've finished them off it's not long before they rise up and screw you all over again."

I smirked. "Maybe that's because you haven't tried castration."

Mercy grinned. "Any advice on that? I don't know anyone who has castrated more men than you."

Connor gulped. I giggled. "She's messing with you. I haven't castrated anyone yet this month."

"This month?" Connor’s eyes widened. "It's only the fourth day of the month."

Mercy snickered. "You'd best get started then, Hailey. I'd hate to see you miss your quota."

Connor took a couple of steps back, squeezing his thighs together. "I really hope you're still messing with me."

"What do you think?" I batted my eyes.

"I wish I had a straightforward answer. I'm coming up short."

Mercy snorted. "You will come up short after tonight, buddy."

Connor laughed nervously. "Right. About that, I think..."

I grabbed Connor's arm just as he was about to walk away. "We're still messing with you, dude. Chill. I mean, never say never. But I don't intend to cut your dick off any time soon."

Connor bit his lip. "That's good to hear."

I grinned widely and flashed my fangs. "I'm going to bite it off!"

Connor gasped. Now Mercy was the one laughing. Her laughter, this time, gave it away.

"You're still messing with me, right?"

Mercy rolled her eyes. "Of course we are, honey. That's what we do. However, I hope you'll understand. We can't let you go back to Corbin. Not alone, anyway."

"I understand that."

"And probably not to the rest of your pack. Not until this is done and we're sure who within the pack might be reporting to the Order of the Morning Dawn."

Mercy raised an eyebrow. "We really need to get out of here. Mel is taking forever."

"Hey Mel!" I shouted across the dance floor. She looked at me with wide eyes while she hung onto some poor man's shoulders. "Hurry it up. This is a club, not a royal banquet. Fast food!"

Mel rolled her eyes and whispered something in her dance partner's ear. She grabbed his hand and led him past us toward the exit. She waved at me as she walked past with her soon-to-become meal in tow.

"Cheers, love!"

I nudged Mercy. "Make sure she hurries. With what Corbin has planned, we'll need to act fast."

Mercy nodded and grabbed Mel by the back collar of her shirt. "Your meal is coming with us."

"Brilliant. Right. How do we get there?"

Mercy bit her lip. "He can ride in the coffin in the back."

The man standing next to Mel furrowed his brow. Mel's allure enthralled him, but his mind wasn't completely numb.

I chuckled. "Connor has seats to spare."

Connor nodded. "That's fine. But no eating in the car. It's a rule."

Mel sighed. "Not even a little nibble? Everyone snacks on bag fries on the ride home."

I rolled my eyes. "You can wait ten minutes, Mel."

Mel folded her arms in front of her chest. "Fine."

Mercy smiled at me. "Good luck with that. I'll meet you back at the house."

Chapter 15

As soon as I mentioned that Baron Samedi was involved, Mercy insisted we call Annabelle. I was a bit surprised. I thought of them as my two moms. They bickered, though, more than any divorced couple I'd ever known. When Annabelle was just a student at the Voodoo Academy, she played a part in trapping Nico in the otherworld. After he agreed to a miscalculated bargain with Baron Samedi and went to earth as the first ever vampire before a single European had ever set foot on the North American continent, he stewed for centuries about how he might get revenge on Annabelle. As his favored progeny, Mercy naturally took up his mantle of resentment. However, circumstances placed Annabelle and Mercy on the same side against a number of threats that eclipsed their dislike of each other.

You don't always get to choose your enemies. They say you get to choose your friends. Sometimes, though, fate makes the case for friendship too convincing to ignore. It might be an overstatement to suggest that Mercy and Annabelle were genuine friends, but they'd developed a mutual respect over the years and worked through their issues well enough to get along.

Annabelle met us at Casa do Diabo. By the time she arrived, Mel had finished feeding. Usually, given his blood loss and intoxication, the guy would need time to recover. I used a simple spell to help him recover while also ensuring his memory loss. It wasn't the usual way that a vampire like Mel would feed since she wasn't a witch, but it freed up Mercy so we could plan our next move.

First, we brought Annabelle up to speed. The facts were straightforward. Corbin believed vampires must be feared. The best way to ensure that happened was to launch a preemptive assault on humanity. He found a way to accelerate his maturation so that he could bring Baron Samedi to life in his body. He also believed that he'd discovered something within me he could draw from when we fed together to prevent the Baron from taking full control.

Annabelle pursed her lips. "The one advantage we have right now is that Corbin doesn't know we're aware of his plan."

"I agree," Mercy added. "He believes you took off, and Connor went after you to track you down."

I nodded. "That's right. You can't seriously be suggesting I go back."

"I think you have to," Annabelle said. "Corbin doesn't know about the veve I placed on you. That's not an ability he can siphon out of you when you feed together. That means he's going to try again."

"When he does, you need to stake him."

I snorted. "Is that wise? We don't know how many abilities Corbin has. I tried to get him to tell me and he wouldn't. He's too smart to show his hand. He also knows that I'm a part of the council and loyal to Mercy. I don't think he's going to leave himself vulnerable to getting staked by a young vampire."

"I agree," Mercy said. "You're more than a young vampire."

I snorted. "You told me when I went there before not to cast any spells. We didn't want Corbin to know what I could do."

"He's an extremely powerful vampire, Hailey. We expected he'd underestimate you because you're a young vampire. That could work to our advantage, but only if he doesn't consider your abilities as a blood witch."

Annabelle shook her head. "We still don't know all that Corbin can do. We know he sensed something in Hailey he thought he could use. Maybe it was the veve, and he was mistaken. Maybe it wasn't. They fed together. They communed in the same blood. Is there any way that he might already know about Hailey's powers because of that?"

Mercy scratched the back of her head. "It's possible. If this Bianca can read minds, and she acquired that while communing with Corbin, I don't believe for a second that he doesn't have a similar ability."

"You're telling me that Bianca lied about that?" I asked.

Mercy shook her head. "I don't think she lied. I'm just not sure she knows for certain. Like Bianca told you, mind reading isn't so straightforward as being able to discern everything someone knows in an instant. If Corbin can read minds, like Bianca can, he would also know when she's probing his thoughts. He might cloud his mind with other thoughts to prevent her from noticing his ability."

I sighed. "If he can read minds, he very well may know exactly what I'm planning to do before I do it. He probably knows I'm a blood witch. He'll be prepared."

Annabelle grinned. "Then we have to give you an additional advantage. Something he doesn't know about. Something you can use before he figures it out."

I bit my lip. "What are you thinking?"

"Reading one's mind is one thing. Manipulating someone's affections is another."

Mercy huffed. "You can't seriously be suggesting what I think you're suggesting."

I bit my lip. "What are you suggesting, Annabelle?"

"Erzulie. The Loa of Love."

"You want me to accept the aspect of a Loa?" I asked.

Mercy grunted. "Vampires are already like miniature long-term incubators for Baron Samedi. You want to allow the Loa of Love to gain a foothold in Hailey's spirit?"

Annabelle shook her head. "The aspect of a Loa is more like a connection to the Loa's power. It gives the vodouisant the ability to function as an independent arm of the Loa. The one who wields a Loa's aspect, however, keeps his or her own volition. Erzulie could withdraw her power from Hailey if she disapproved of the way Hailey used it. She wouldn't possess her, though. Erzulie couldn't force Hailey to do anything she didn't want to do."

"I say we do it. All I need to do is manipulate his affections long enough to draw him close to me, to trust me enough to give me a window of opportunity."

Mercy nodded. "Get him close. Put a stake in his heart."

I nodded. "And after that, I work my magic."

"What are you suggesting?" Annabelle asked.

"If he's close to accumulating enough souls to give the Baron a foothold, and souls dwell in the blood, I believe I can extract them and remove the souls he's acquired."

"Holy crap," Mercy said. "He'd lose his powers, whatever those powers are. If that happened, it would only be a matter of time before his influence over other vampires waned."

I nodded. "You still have the ability of compulsion, Mercy. I know you don't like to use it."

Mercy shook her head. "I don't. I never considered attempting it on Corbin. It wouldn't work on a vampire older than me. If, however, he lost his souls, I think it will. He'll be no different from a youngling."

I grinned. "Why kill him when we can use him and his influence to spread a different message? This may be the best chance we have not only to stop Corbin from executing his plan, but to convince the European vampires to follow the Vampire Council's lead. To do this, though, I'll have to act fast. To extract the souls out of Corbin I'll need an in. A soul that I can tap into with a spell. We'll have to feed again and I'll have to do the spell before the new soul he gains can fully combine with the rest. I'll need to bring my wand."

Chapter 16

We had little time. Nights really fly by when you're busy. Annabelle took Connor and me to Vilokan.

Vilokan was a voodoo underworld. An entire city beneath St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. It extended as far north, east, and west as the rest of the French Quarter.

Basements aren't common in New Orleans. In a city below sea level, you can't have basements. Even the dead were buried in above-ground tombs. The notion of an entire underground city was so unfathomable that it was genius. The voodoo community built the place as a refuge for slaves centuries ago. It was a place where they could practice their religion, receive an education, and enjoy life without interference. It didn't flood because a magical firmament protected the place. The entire city glowed in a blue hue.

The Voodoo Academy was in Vilokan. So was Erzulie. She'd taken a series of human hosts through the years and taught students who had her aspect. Annabelle said the process to receive a Loa’s aspect was quick and painless. Erzulie would lock her eyes into mine. She'd give me her aspect, and I'd feel nothing other than a sense of abject failure. For losing a staring contest.

Then, Erzulie would have to teach me how to use her aspect in a matter of maybe thirty minutes, what most students who belong to her college perfect over several years.

I recognized the look on Connor's face as we reached the last of what was somewhere in the neighborhood of a thousand steps down into Vilokan and he saw the city for the first time.

The buildings were practically on top of each other. In an underground city, especially one built before the era of modern transportation, the roads were more like sidewalks. The original designers of Vilokan crammed as many buildings into the city that they could.

The magic, though, that coursed through the firmament was what really drew the eye. From what I understood, it was the magic of the Fomorian merfolk. Holding off the water table was small beans compared to the power they wielded in the depths of the ocean.

Technically, the Voodoo Academy was now Voodoo University. Old habits die hard, though. People still called it by its original name. The change represented the status of the place under Annabelle's leadership as a place of lifelong learning. You might graduate from your program, but you'd always have a place to grow and learn.

Annabelle had other reasons, too. She explained it to me while I was fiddling with a spell I was trying to master. I was only half-listening. Still, while I never graduated from school, I'd never stopped learning. What's a certificate on a wall, or more likely, in a faux-leather folder that would sit in storage for years, anyway? As a hedge witch, I never needed the validation of a school or a coven to tell me I'd arrived. I didn't want to arrive. I didn't want to graduate. As a blood witch, especially with Moll gone, I was on my own, regardless. I didn't have a predetermined path to follow, no designated program of study to complete. I was creating my path, my personal program of study, and growing more powerful every day.

Would accepting a Loa's aspect change that? Given the powers I already wielded, we didn't know how my abilities might interact with Erzulie's aspect. Annabelle had powers before she studied Voodoo, too. She wielded the power of life, a power she'd gained on account of her union with Isabelle. What resulted was something infinitely greater than anyone expected. That's why, despite only studying voodoo for a few years, Marie Laveau appointed Annabelle her successor.

Annabelle didn't just help me adapt to vampirism. She inspired me to pursue my craft without artificial limits. She gave me hope that despite the dogmas and rules that governed each craft, when combined, new possibilities might emerge. Annabelle could wield the magic produced by the Tree of Life. The magic I tapped into in blood wasn't that different.

In the school I used to attend, we studied the Bible constantly. Leviticus says that life is in blood. The word for "life," though, could just as easily be translated as "soul."

Maybe that's why we vampires craved blood. It wasn't the blood itself, but the life within blood, that we required. It's also why Corbin couldn't win. Fear and life don't go hand in hand. What's the meaning of life without hope? Life isn't something one can steal without violating life itself. Life can, however, be shared.

Corbin was right about one thing, though. Once the world knew about vampires, people would fear us. The choice was whether we'd confirm those fears or assuage them. It's also why Corbin was the worst host possible for Baron Samedi to possess. The Red Baron, the darker side of the Loa, fed on fear. Baron Samedi wasn't evil. The Green Baron thrived when hope prevailed.

Annabelle led me to Erzulie's quarters. The body Erzulie inhabited wasn't her own. Mambos and hougans near death offered their bodies as vessels to the Loa who wished to dwell in the flesh. Erzulie's host was remarkably young and attractive. Her skin was dark and her hair flowed across her shoulders like two rivers of chocolate. I'd seen the girl before in passing. From what I understood, Erzulie had only been in this host for a few weeks. I didn't know what condition the girl was suffering from, but it was common for younger people with terminal conditions within the voodoo world to choose possession. They could stay in their bodies if they wanted to. Most stayed for a time, then changed their mind and took the invitation to move on later. Some did in just a few days. Others hung on for months or years. Nearly all of them eventually grew weary of always seeing through their body's eyes, never in control. Grateful for the use of their body, the Loa in charge ensured that the souls who owned their bodies were well taken care of by the Ghede.

The human soul who owned the body Erzulie inhabited hadn't left yet. Annabelle warned me to expect a few odd behaviors. The human soul inside couldn't use her body, but she could talk to her possessing Loa. Apparently, the girl who used to hold the body was a student in College Erzulie and was quite the chatterbox.

When Annabelle finished, Erzulie narrowed her eyes. "Your plan may not work as you hope."

"Why not?" I asked.

Erzulie placed her hand on my chest. "Love is not a force one can simply turn off. Once my magic plants the seeds of affection, the heart remains conditioned."

Annabelle cleared her throat. "You're saying that Corbin would love Hailey indefinitely?"

Erzulie nodded. "My power does not direct one's love in any way. I cannot predict how one might express love for another. Even worse, if he is made to love you, Hailey, and you do not love him in return, he could resort to desperate measures."

I snorted. "What kind of desperate measures?"

Erzulie shook her head. "Unrequited love is a powerful force that can lead even the noblest of men to act out of character. Given that you do not know this vampire's full scope of abilities, you cannot possibly anticipate what he will do."

"Are you saying he might harm me?"

"It is unlikely, though not impossible."

Annabelle sighed. "If Corbin truly believes his vision is for the betterment of the future of all vampires, if he loves you, he'll certainly want you to be a part of his plans."

I shook my head. "He already wants us to join him. How would this be different?"

"Again," Erzulie added. "It's impossible to know."

I shrugged. "Do you have any other ideas?"

Erzulie grunted. "There is an idea, but it is not mine."

"Your host has something to say?" Annabelle asked.

"She believes I should still grant you my aspect, but you should not use it."

"Why wouldn't I use it?"

"As a student in my college, my host knows how difficult it can be to use my abilities as intended. If you unleash my power, it may not impact your intended target alone. Focusing such power is difficult. It might affect others in the same way."

"So anyone nearby might decide they're in love with me?" I raised one eyebrow.

"And if others love you, and Corbin knows it, he might find it necessary to eliminate his competition."

Connor cleared his throat. "If that's the case, you may have to do this alone."

Erzulie nodded. "That is a possibility. However, my aspect may have other benefits that could aid you, with fewer potential unintended consequences."

"Are you suggesting that it would allow Hailey to access the full scope of her abilities without giving Baron Samedi a foothold?" Annabelle asked.

Erzulie scratched the back of her head. "Not exactly. However, if my aspect is present, it would influence the Baron's emergence. Only the Green Baron could manifest."

I raised an eyebrow. "Would he take control of me?"

Erzulie shook her head. "That is not his way. However, with his help, you can remove the souls from Corbin that have sped up his maturation."

My eyes widened. "That's brilliant. It might just work."

"I agree," Annabelle nodded. "I say we do it. However, will the Green Baron leave Hailey when he's done?"

Erzulie shrugged. "I presume he would. Though, I cannot speak for the Green Baron any more than I would for any Loa other than myself."

I took a deep breath. "Alright. I've never asked another girl to mount me before. I'm not even sure how that would work. But I'm ready."

Erzulie looked at me and smiled. "It's done."

I tilted my head. "It's done?"

Annabelle chuckled. "I told you, it's a subtle process."

Chapter 17

Connor had to lose his clothes again. I wasn't complaining, mind you. He wasn't hard on the eyes. Though, admittedly, I was much more attracted to him in his human form. As a wolf, he was just too hairy for my tastes. Plus, I limit romantic interests to bipedal mammals. Excluding primates, of course.

We ran back through the swamp as before. Corbin wouldn't buy the notion that a single wolf shifter could force me back. So, instead, the plan was to play it coy. I wasn't running away. Why would I? I'd come to Corbin on my own accord to start. I needed a little fresh air. Not many vampires choose to stay in at night. I was no exception. For all I knew, Corbin was sleeping when I left. Technically, he was cycling soul-power, but he didn't know I knew that.

We arrived at the house Corbin was using. The doorjamb on the front door was broken. Someone had kicked it open. We stepped inside. Splattered blood covered the walls and furniture.

Connor sniffed the air.

"Picking up anything?"

Connor shifted back into human form. "My wolves are here, somewhere."

"Any vampires?"

Connor nodded. "There might be one. The scent isn’t as pungent as it would be if there were several vampires in the house."

"Corbin?"

Connor shrugged. "I don't think so. The scent is consistent with a much younger vampire."

I shook my head. "Find the wolves. Point me in the right direction. I'll find the vampire."

"Unnecessary," Connor said. "They're together. There's a safe room off the master bedroom. I think that's where they're hiding."

I followed Connor to the bedroom. He grabbed what must've been one of Corbin's cloaks from the closet and threw it over his body. It was red velvet with golden tassels. Gaudy, but functional. I wasn't sure if I was glad or disappointed that Connor covered himself up.

Connor didn't leave the closet. He stepped to the back of it and pressed on one of the shelves. The shelves and the wall behind them swung open like a door.

Bianca was sitting on the floor, her knees pulled into her chest. Curled up beside her were the other two wolves.

"Hailey? What are you doing here?"

"We have a plan to stop Corbin. What happened?"

Bianca shook her head. "Hunters."

I looked at Connor. He sighed. "I don't think they were ordinary hunters."

"You're right." Bianca leaned on the back wall of the safe room and stood up. "They were working with vampires. I assumed the Vampire Council employed them."

I shook my head. "It wasn't us. It was the Order of the Morning Dawn."

Bianca narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. "I did not realize they had so many agents still active. The reports disseminated by the Vampire Council indicated that their two largest cells were destroyed."

"It's my fault," Connor sighed. "Our pack has been fulfilling contracts for months now. We didn’t know that the Order was hiring us, but we think they've been using us as mercenaries to gather intelligence."

The other two wolves shifted back into their human forms. They were two males. I recognized them. I'd seen them before, but that was years ago. They'd grown up. They had facial hair. Each of them slipped past us and grabbed another couple of robes from the closet. One was purple, the other was golden silk.

"Are you sure about this, Connor?" one of the wolf shifters asked.

Connor nodded. "As sure as I can be. Someone in our pack is working with the Order."

"Who is this order?" the other wolf shifter asked.

"Long story," Connor said. "Hailey, this is Will and that's Anthony."

I nodded. "I forgot your names, but I remember you."

Anthony snorted and looked away. "Yeah, we remember you, too."

Will chuckled. "When you showed up, we thought we'd seen a ghost."

I shrugged. "Not a ghost. Not dead, either. Undead, maybe. But you know. We'll get reacquainted later. Bianca, what happened to Corbin?"

Bianca rubbed her brow. "They came just as he finished cycling. Corbin was already changing. His eyes glowed. Something was taking him over."

"Baron Samedi?" I asked.

Bianca nodded. "He couldn't move. Whatever he was doing, if the Baron was taking him over, it left him paralyzed. Temporarily, most likely."

I sighed. "He couldn't fight the attackers off."

"They staked him along with my sisters. The hunters took them away."

"If they're planning to kill Corbin, that might work to our advantage. It would certainly solve the problem."

Bianca shook her head. "If they were going to burn out Corbin's heart, they would have done it here."

I bit my lip. "The Order of the Morning Dawn conducts a ceremony for eliminating vampires. They believe their rite can save vampire souls."

Bianca nodded. "Such is the practice of the Order's counterpart in Europe. I fear, however, they won't complete it in time."

I narrowed my eyes. "In time for what?"

"I do not know if Corbin gained the means he needed to keep Baron Samedi under his control. Now, though, it doesn't matter. Corbin's metamorphosis will continue even under the stake. When Baron Samedi takes full control of Corbin's body, he'll leave Corbin's spirit in vampire hell. Baron Samedi might be the father of all vampires, but he isn't a vampire. He's a Loa. A stake in the heart won't stop him."

I shook my head. "If that happens, Baron Samedi can see through our eyes. He'll know we're coming. He'll anticipate our every move."

Bianca nodded. "We have to find him and remove the stake before the Baron gains control."

I shook my head. "We don't have any idea where they took him. We didn't even know the Order was this active, much less where their headquarters is located."

Connor grunted. "You might not know. Someone in my pack does."

"Ginny," Anthony grunted. "It has to be Ginny."

"I agree," Will added. "She's the one who secures our contracts."

Connor took a deep breath and exhaled. "God, I hope not. If she is, she doesn’t realize what she’s doing. Ginny still might not know where the Order's base of operations is located. If she's been feeding them information from our operations, she must have a contact in the Order who can tell us where they took Corbin and the other vampires."

"Then we must go," Bianca said. "We may already be too late."

I nodded. "Do you know where we can find Ginny? Even if she's working with the Order of the Morning Dawn, and her contact isn't inclined to work with vampires or witches, if they know what danger they're truly facing, they'll have to tell us where to find Corbin. At the very least, maybe they'll burn out his heart before Baron Samedi gains control."

Chapter 18

You can only get so much done in one night. We had maybe an hour until sunrise. That was a problem. We didn't have time to wait until nightfall to go after Corbin. We also didn't have a clue where he was.

I was the only one who could stop Corbin, or Baron Samedi, depending on who was in the driver's seat of his body by the time we found him. Even if we got the location where the Order of the Morning Dawn took Corbin, the chances of us getting there before sunrise were slim.

I'd only been a vampire for seven years. I couldn't last more than a few minutes in the sun before it would char my flesh and leave me scarred for a century. It would also weaken me to the point that I'd need to feed two or three times a day for a week or more to walk more than a few steps at a time, much less fight. Even Mercy, with nearly two centuries under her belt, couldn't endure the sunlight for more than a few minutes before it burned her flesh and not much longer than that before she was too weak to walk. Sunlight didn't kill vampires directly. Left to bake under the sun for a day, though, we would be too weak to even find cover after nightfall. That meant we'd keep baking until someone found us and staked us. Usually, if something like that happened, other vampires did the deed. It was an act of mercy—if not Mercy, herself.

From what Mercy told me about Nico, he could make it in the sun in a pinch for more than an hour without ill effect. He'd be hungry and need to feed afterwards, certainly before making another trek into the sun, but he could do it.

Erzulie said her ability would ensure that if I used my blood magic, if I tapped into the power of the souls I fed upon, only the Green Baron would emerge. It would make me like an ancient vampire. More than that, the Green Baron would know where Corbin was. Sure, they staked Corbin. The Baron couldn't see through his eyes at the moment. However, the Order's nightwalkers were still vampires. The Green Baron wouldn't only know where they were, he'd know what they were up to and how we could find Corbin.

He'd also know if Corbin's transformation was complete and, more than that, how much time we had to get to him to prevent it from happening.

"We don't have time to go question Ginny," I said. "She may be working with the Order. Maybe she isn't. Either way, I don't have the time to get to her, interrogate her, and get to Corbin."

"I agree," Bianca added. "The sunrise is eminent."

"What do you suggest?" Connor asked.

I sighed. "I hate to ask this of you, but I need blood."

Connor's eyes widened. "Why?"

"I need to advance as Corbin has. It's the only way I can make it through the daylight to get to him."

"You cannot!" Bianca protested. "Unless Corbin was right and you truly have a way to hold the Baron at bay."

I shook my head. "He wasn't right. I didn’t have that ability, then. Not what he was thinking, at least. But I do have an ability to do so now. More than that, I'll be able to communicate with the Green Baron, his more benevolent side, and get all the information we need to find Corbin and stop him and the Order before it's too late."

Connor extended his wrist. "Do it. Use my blood."

I took Connor's hand. "Are you sure? When we were joking before about what it might be like if I fed on you..."

"When we were flirting, you mean?"

I chuckled. "Right. Either way, this wasn't what I had in mind."

Connor smirked. "It's also not what I had in mind when I fantasized about a part of me being inside of you for the first time."

I grinned and laughed. "I suppose not. You certainly aren't the shy guy I knew when we were teenagers."

Connor smiled widely. "I'm not a boy anymore, Hailey. You're not the cute girl with killer legs who used to tease me in class, either."

I chuckled. "You're right about that. I still have great legs, though."

Connor chuckled and nodded. "You certainly do. Take my blood, Hailey. If you could, though, try not to drink too much."

I smiled, exposing my fangs. "All I need is a sip."

I bit Connor's wrist. His blood flowed into my mouth. One swallow was all I needed. I released my bite.

I focused my will, connecting to the power of Connor's blood the same way I would if it was a sample I was using for any spell. Moll taught me how to do that.

A surge of energy washed over me. I looked all around, but all I saw was a mix of red, pink, and green magic.

The red magic was mine. I knew it. I could control it and direct it. The pink magic was something new. So was the green. The pink and green magic merged and a tall figure appeared. He was dressed in what looked like an old tuxedo with tails. He had a top-hat and an emaciated face. His eyes glowed green.

"Hello, Hailey."

I tilted my head. "Baron Samedi?"

The Baron laughed. "Were you expecting anyone else?"

"Not really. If it's you, then you know why I'm here."

"Of course I do. I've seen what you see. And so much more."

"Then you can tell me where to find Corbin?"

"I can. Though, I must warn you, this arrangement is temporary. The change you've affected in yourself will fade as the blood you've consumed from your shifter friend is absorbed into your body."

"Is it enough time to get us to wherever they're holding Corbin?"

"Getting there will not be a problem. However, I fear I will be of little use to you after you arrive."

"Can't I just feed again and draw on my power all over again?"

Baron Samedi shook his head. "Not soon enough to help. You are strong, but your body will draw on your power to protect you from the sun. It will take time before you can draw enough power to invite me into your mind a second time."

"But I'll still be able to wield my magic, right?"

Baron Samedi tilted his head, his green eyes fixed on mine. "Your magic is beyond my understanding."

I snorted. "I thought you were a god or something."

"I am not omniscient. I can see what my children see."

"Vampires, you mean?"

Baron Samedi nodded. "And I know only what you can do based on my observations through you. You do not yet know the extent of your power. Therefore, I cannot tell you what you might accomplish."

I bit my lip. "Well, from what I understand, you've got a dark side. Can you give me any pointers for how to deal with your moody side?"

Baron Samedi tilted his head. He retrieved a cigarette from a small box around his waist. He placed it to his lips. "Each of these contains a soul."

I narrowed my eyes. "You store people's souls in cigarettes?"

Baron Samedi grinned. "Gives new meaning to the surgeon general's warning on the package."

I furrowed my brow. "Did you just tell a joke?"

"What? You think because I govern the realm of the dead that I can't have a sense of humor?"

"Not really. I mean, I certainly didn't expect you would."

"My other side isn't so jovial. In this form, let's just say I do my best to keep the fun in funeral."

I chuckled. "Where are we anyway? I see nothing here."

"We're in your mind, of course."

I looked all around. "I didn't realize my mind was such a dark place."

Baron Samedi shrugged. "It's your head. I'm new here. I figured you'd be the one giving me the tour."

"I'm not really sure what I can show you."

"Is there a bathroom here somewhere?"

I chuckled. "Yeah, down the hall to the right."

"I have no intention of relieving myself in your head."

"Well, that's a relief. For me, anyway. You'll have to hold it."

Baron Samedi held out his cigarette. "This is for you."

I winced. "I'll pass. I don't smoke."

"I've held this soul for nearly seven centuries."

"Are you telling me that this cigarette contains Corbin's soul?"

The Baron nodded. "You need to give this to him before his transformation is complete."

I shook my head. "If he takes this, will he become human again? He'd never agree to that."

"This is only one half of Corbin's original soul. My red aspect holds the other half."

"Then what good would it do?"

"It should turn Corbin human only temporarily. It will prevent his transformation. Eventually, his vampirism will take over. When that happens, he'll keep all his memory and natural skill, but he'll be like a youngling."

"So all his powers will be gone?"

"Only if you get it to him before his transformation is complete."

"What if we're too late?" I asked.

The Baron shook his head. "Then I hope it will be enough to unseat the souls within him and still have the desired effect of expelling my other half from his body."

"You hope?" I raised one eyebrow.

"We are dealing with contingencies that were never foreseen when my other half first made your kind. No matter, I am confident that given your unique skills, you are the only one who can accomplish this task."

"Why do you say that?"

"I sense the aspect of another within you."

I nodded. "That would be Erzulie."

The Baron narrowed his eyes. "When you awaken, you will not hold this cigarette. This is simply a visual representation of Corbin's human soul. It is within you. Only another Loa's aspect can activate it. Only with your bloodwitchery will you be able to infuse it into Corbin's bloodstream."

I nodded. "A simple transference spell."

"It is among the first Moll taught you if my memory serves."

"It's a simple spell. How I can use Erzulie's aspect to isolate this component of Corbin's soul is another matter."

"Take it and inhale. Your mind is not dark, Hailey. On the contrary, it is a beautiful place. I've created this as a shelter within your mind. Rather, I should say, Erzulie's aspect established this cavern in your mind to ensure that I would appear in my green aspect. By the time you reach Corbin, my power will wane, but this place will remain. Draw on it, use it to focus your spell and cast Corbin's soul into his body."

I nodded. "I'll do my best."

"It will not be as difficult as you imagine. You'll sense this part of you clearly when you awaken."

"In that case, there's only one thing I need to learn from you."

The Baron nodded. "There's an old church in the Lower Ninth Ward. It is no longer in operation. It closed two years ago. However, that is the base of operations for the Order of the Morning Dawn in New Orleans. It's also where they've taken Corbin."

I nodded. "That's helpful. Do you have an address?"

The Baron smiled widely. "Of course I do. I’ll give it to you. First, you must inhale on the cigarette for the spell to work."

I took the cigarette and placed it to my lips. “Have a light?”

The Baron extended his finger. A small flame appeared at the tip. I placed the cigarette between my lips and lowered it to the flame. I inhaled. I coughed.

“Damn. That shit is strong!”

“It’s the soul of a seven-hundred-year-old vampire, Hailey. What did you expect?”

I awoke to find Connor cradling my head in his arms, looking at me with wide, concerned eyes.

"She's awake!"

Bianca grabbed one of my arms and, along with Connor, helped me to my feet.

"It worked! I have an address and a way to stop Corbin's transformation. We'll have to move fast."

"Where are we going?" Connor asked.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and entered the address into my GPS. I showed Connor my phone.

Connor tilted his head. "I know this place."

I narrowed my eyes. "You do?"

Connor sighed. "It's an old Methodist Church. My dad's church purchased the place about two years ago as a mission outpost."

"It's the base of operations for the Order of the Morning Dawn."

Connor shook his head. "Are you saying that my father is a part of the Order?"

"I don't know if he's a member or if he's simply lending them the space. Either way, he's definitely connected."

"I understand this might strike you as a surprise," Bianca said. "It might also give you an advantage. If you can reach him and tell him what is happening, he may convince the Order to allow you entry without resistance."

I shook my head. "We can't count on that. We don't have the time to convince the Order of anything. Baron Samedi made it clear. Our best course of action is to complete the spell he's given me before Corbin's transformation is complete. If the Red Baron takes over before then, things will get a lot more complicated."

“More complicated?” Bianca asked.

I nodded. “If we get to him soon enough, I can restore Corbin’s humanity temporarily. His vampirism will spread again, but once it does, he’ll be more like a youngling than the ancient vampire he truly is.”

"That gives me hope," Bianca said. "Still, I must confess my doubts. I cannot go with you. The army of nightwalkers they used to assault this place was formidable. You're only one vampire. You can't possibly hope to fight your way into their compound with just a few wolf shifters as backup."

I reached into a long pocket sewn into the leg of my pants and pulled out my wand. I twirled it in my fingers. "The nightwalkers won't be a problem."

Bianca grabbed my arm. "I have one request. It may be too much to ask."

"What is it?"

"I do not approve of Corbin's plans. You must stop him. But if you can save him, I would be personally grateful. I love him, Hailey."

I pressed my lips together and nodded. It wasn’t shocking. A sire’s allure over his progeny isn’t the same in every instance. I never knew my sire. For Mercy, her relationship with Nico was completely platonic. He was her mentor. She was his prized pupil. That wasn’t the case for everyone. It was common for younger vampires to develop something of a crush on their sires. The youngling still has human-like feelings.

Bianca, though, wasn’t exactly a youngling. I wasn’t sure how old she was. She had at least a few decades under her belt. She had to know that Corbin’s feelings for her weren’t the same. Perhaps she’d unwittingly supported his plan to acquire human souls, hoping he’d develop the capacity to love her back. It wasn’t until things went too far, when she realized what he truly intended to do, that she knew she couldn’t embrace his plan. When she undermined Corbin and helped me escape, she wasn’t only betraying her sire; she was betraying her heart. Still, if I could complete Baron Samedi’s plan, make him temporarily human again, he’d return as a youngling. He’d have human-like emotions, but without the sort that would give the Red Baron a foothold in his spirit.

I grabbed Bianca’s hand and met her desperate gaze with the kindest smile I could muster. "I'll do what I can."

Chapter 19

Will and Anthony hopped in the back of Connor's overpriced SUV. I took the passenger seat. We didn't need GPS. Connor knew exactly where to go. He tried to call his father on the drive over. I wasn't sure what Connor would say if his dad actually picked up.

"Hey, pops! Remember that dead chick from school? Well, she's a vampire. Also, a witch. Cool, right? I know you are secretly working with a hate group that wants to kill all vampires and witches, but she needs your help. How about you exercise some of that 'love your enemies’ stuff you've been preaching all my life and help her out?"

Unfortunately, or fortunately, Connor's dad never picked up. He didn't bother leaving that message, or anything at all like it, on his voicemail, either.

I knew enough about the Order of the Morning Dawn that I could expect what I'd face when we arrived. I'd encountered them a handful of times during my short vampiric life. Admittedly, though, it had been a while. There was a good chance they'd changed a few tactics since then. Getting your self-righteous assess handed to you by a couple of vampires tends to inspire self-examination. Still, I knew that the Order had recently limited the lifespan of their nightwalkers to just a few years. Over the years, they'd found that older vampires were harder to manipulate. Only those who still felt like they had a soul to save ever bought into their false promise of redemption through service to their cause. Most of their nightwalkers were also Order members before they were turned. Many of them were trained hunters who were bitten on a hunt. Rather than let them die, the Order devised a spell—what they called a "miracle" lest they admit they were witches themselves—to heal those bitten and complete their transformation into nightwalkers.

The nightwalkers who attacked the Garden District mansion where Corbin and Bianca were staying weren’t formidable because they were vampires. They proved difficult to thwart because before they were vampires they'd trained since childhood to kill vampires. The speed and heightened senses they gained after becoming nightwalkers only enhanced their previously attained skills.

Hand-to-hand combat wasn't my strength as either a vampire or a witch. I couldn't beat a single nightwalker, much less an entire army of them, by fighting fair. Sure, aided by my vampiric speed and strength, I could land a pretty devastating punch. Then again, so could the nightwalkers.

Connor's tinted windows filtered some of the sunlight that passed through onto my skin. I blocked the windows as best I could, but for the time being, the way I'd artificially and temporarily aged myself as a vampire was having the desired effect. It also was diminishing the Green Baron's presence within me. He'd warned me that would happen. Thankfully, the plan didn't require his ongoing habitation in my mind. I had everything I needed.

The thing about being a blood witch is that when you can tap into the power in someone's blood, you have them by the balls. I didn't have to feed to draw the blood out of someone. It didn't matter if you were a human or a vampire. It took a lot of energy, but I could pull the blood out through someone’s pores. I didn't do it often. Killing people is crappy behavior, even for a vampire. When I used the spell on vampires, it weakened them, sure, but it also drove them mad with bloodlust.

Preventing the emergence of ferals was one of the Vampire Council's highest priorities. Most vampires, even the freshly turned, have enough control to use some discretion when they feed. A feral doesn't care if he's seen or not. He'll bite whatever he can find and drain them completely. It's sort of like how oxygen deprivation might lead to brain damage in a human. Even if you give them oxygen, again, the damage is done. Very few vampires who turn feral ever come back completely. The only way to stop them is to stake them and burn out their hearts.

If Mercy realized I was even considering using that spell against nightwalkers, she'd slap me six ways to Sunday.

It would only be an issue if any ferals escaped the Order's compound. Presumably, the Order had several human operatives on location. They were trained hunters. If I could turn a few nightwalkers feral, the Order's hunters and any non-feral nightwalkers would have to deal with them. I hoped that it would give me an opportunity to sneak past and get to Corbin.

After I took care of that problem, I'd deal with the mess. If the hunters took down the ferals, no harm, no foul. I'd take out however many hunters I needed to so we could escape. If they didn't, well, I'd have a few ferals to eliminate. The best way to do that? Fire magic.

Bloodwitchery wasn't my only skill set, after all. Fire magic was simple. I could do that shit in my sleep. If I had to burn down the whole compound, that's what I'd do. There's no need to stake a vampire before you burn out their heart if you can engulf its entire body in flames.

The plan was risky. It was also a fantastic opportunity to handle two problems at once. If I played this right, I could thwart Corbin, save him from the Red Baron, and also deal a serious blow to the Order of the Morning Dawn.

Connor drove past the church. Weeds and tall grass grew all around the building. There were a few cars in the parking lot, but I knew better than to assume that meant there were only a handful of operatives or nightwalkers inside.

Connor parked on the street about a block away. I grabbed his hand. "Stay here. Until we know what we're dealing with, I don't want to put any of you in danger."

Connor sighed. "Are you sure you can handle this?"

I leaned over and kissed Connor on the cheek. "It's cute that you worry about me."

Connor blushed. "I'm serious, Hailey. If my pack is at all responsible for what's happened, we should do something to help."

I nodded. "We're dealing with nightwalkers. If they think you're interfering with their plan to eliminate Corbin, don't think for a second they'll spare you."

"She's right," Will said. "Anthony and I saw what these monsters can do when they attacked us at the mansion."

Connor shook his head. "That doesn't mean we can't help. At least let us patrol the perimeter of the place. I can sniff out the premises and get an idea about how many vampires you might face once you get inside."

I bit my lip. "I don't know."

"He's right," Anthony piped up. "At the very least, we can confirm that Corbin is still inside."

"The Baron already told me he was."

Connor sighed. "The Baron knew he was in here thirty minutes ago. What if they moved him? You might walk into a trap."

"The nightwalkers are as vulnerable to sunlight as any vampire. I don't think they'd go out in public to move him."

"If Corbin still has a stake in his heart, they wouldn't need to," Will added. "Anyone could move Corbin's body if necessary. At the very least, if they sense you're coming and try to make a run for it, we can let you know."

I took a deep breath. "Alright. Text me if you need to get ahold of me to warn me about anything going on."

Connor smiled widely. "Will do!"

"Just promise me you'll keep your distance. Don't let anyone see you."

Connor nodded. "I promise. Have you thought about how you're going to get inside?"

I shook my head. "I'll try the door."

Connor raised one eyebrow. "You seriously think they'll have the doors unlocked?"

I shrugged. "Probably not. I'll find another way in if I have to."

"There are small offices and classrooms around the back. You can probably get through a window."

"Are you sure that's wise?" Will asked. "If you have to break glass, you'll probably alert someone to your presence."

I scratched the back of my head. Then, I saw another car pull into the parking lot at the church. "I have another idea. Gotta go!"

I jumped out of the car. Sunlight radiated off my skin. It was warm. It had been years since I'd felt the heat of the sun. So far, it wasn't at all painful. My plan was working. I ran using my enhanced vampiric speed up to the church just in time to see a man, dressed in a suit and tie, step out of his car. He pulled a set of keys out of his pocket.

Jackpot, I thought.

I snuck up behind the man about half-way across the parking lot and sank my teeth into his neck. I drank just enough blood that he passed out. I dragged the man back to his car, tossed him in the back seat, and took his keys.

Based on the direction he was walking, I ascertained he was heading for a small door around the back of the church. Thankfully, most of his keys were labeled. All except for one. That had to be key I needed.

I pushed the key into the lock. It turned. I pressed the door open slowly and peeked inside.

The hallway was clear. I moved quickly, dodging into random offices and classrooms as I made my way through the old church.

Most churches have a pretty predictable structure. From the shape of the building, I knew where the sanctuary was located. Based on my experience with the Order of the Morning Dawn, that's where they'd take Corbin for their ritual. The church might've had two stories of classrooms, but there wasn't a basement. I was on the same level as the sanctuary. All I needed to do was make my way there.

I heard footsteps approaching. Thank the Baron for my enhanced vampiric hearing. I ducked into an empty room. It looked like a nursery. I waited for the footsteps to pass. Whoever was walking by was heading outside. Clearly not a nightwalker. I could only hope they wouldn't check on the car and see the man I bit on my way in.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a text from Connor.

Abort! They know you're here!

Who knows I'm here? I texted back.

No response. I couldn’t sit around and find out. I wasn't about to retreat, either. Connor's intentions were good. He didn't know the full extent of my plan. He didn't know what I could do, how I intended to turn the nightwalkers feral. If operatives from the Order were on their way in, so be it. I'd surely find a few nightwalkers before all was said and done to keep them busy.

I ducked out of the nursery and jogged down the hall. I found a small staircase leading up near the back of the sanctuary. A small sign over the stairwell indicated it was a balcony. The perfect place to hide so I could do a little reconnaissance on the sanctuary.

I hurried up the stairs, skipping every second step until I made it to the top. There was an old dusty pipe organ and a few rows of padded pews, presumably for what used to be the church choir. No one else was up there.

I crawled as low to the ground as I could and made my way to the balcony rail. I peeked over the top. They had Corbin tied to a giant cross in the chancel area of the sanctuary. Three red-eyed nightwalkers in long white gowns stood around him, guarding his staked corpse.

More than a dozen humans sat in the pews. The men were in black suits and ties. The women wore long dresses and bonnets. These were old school folk.

The good news was that Corbin hadn't completely transformed into the Baron. If he had, the stake wouldn't hold him on that crucifix. The bad news was that I had to unstake him before I could complete the transference spell.

I expected as much. If the Red Baron was already under control, it wouldn't matter if he had a stake in his heart. I'd have to do whatever it took to hit him with my spell. I was a crack shot with my wand. I could hit him from anywhere in the room. If the Red Baron had emerged, though, chances were the sanctuary would be littered in corpses and Corbin would be long gone.

I aimed my wand. I had to hit them one at a time, but I could fire fast enough that I hoped I could get each of the nightwalkers before they realized what was happening.

I hit the first. Blood exploded from his pores. I quickly aimed and took out the second and third.

All three of the nightwalkers turned feral. The crowd screamed as they charged them. Some of the men had stakes in their hands and went after them. Two women did, too. The rest turned and ran down the aisle.

I cast the same levitation spell I'd used when I'd escaped Corbin's mansion before and lowered myself to the floor. With all the chaos, even if they saw me, it was all the people could do to fend off the feral nightwalkers that they didn't bother with me. I couldn’t waste time, regardless.

I ran to the chancel. I reached up to grab the stake from Corbin's chest. His hand snapped free from one of his bindings and stopped my hand before I could grab the stake.

Corbin's eyes snapped open. They emanated a bright red glow. The Red Baron was in control.

Before he could grab my other hand, I jammed my wand into Corbin's gut. I focused on the space in my mind, the place formed by Erzulie's aspect containing Corbin's human spirit.

I unleashed the spell on Corbin's body. The red glow faded from his eyes. I quickly removed the stake from his chest and released his other hand and feet from the bindings.

"Hailey?" Corbin asked. "What did you do?"

"I saved your ancient ass. Come on. Let's get out of here."

Corbin grabbed my arm. "They don't stand a chance against those ferals."

I shrugged. "That's their problem."

Corbin shook his head. "I still want humanity to fear us, but this won't be enough. We have to take them out."

"Are you sure you can? The spell I used might have stripped you of your powers."

Corbin grinned and shook his head. "Everything is here. Well, most everything. I've lost a few abilities, but I'm still formidable enough to handle them."

I nodded. "Alright. Deal with the ferals. I'll do what I can about the rest of the Order members. If you haven't guessed already, yeah, I'm a witch."

Corbin laughed. "I already knew about you, Hailey."

Corbin grabbed me and kissed me on the lips.

I pulled away. "What was that!"

Corbin tilted his head. "I'm not sure. I think I love you."

I snorted. Erzulie's aspect. It affected his affections when it enveloped his soul within me. I'd deal with that later.

The ferals were already out the door, pursuing what remained of the humans who'd gathered in the sanctuary.

"The sun is out. Be careful."

Corbin grinned. "I can handle myself."

"Connor and the wolf shifters are in an Escalade about a block to the east. If you need cover, go there."

Corbin nodded. "Can you make it there yourself?"

I shook my head. "I can't handle the sunlight. I had a little extra power from the Green Baron that helped me get here, but it’s all used up. I can’t make it back to the car."

"I'll handle the ferals. Watch your back. I might not make it back to help you with any other nightwalkers or hunters in the church."

I nodded. "I'm stuck here until nightfall. One way or the other, this chapter of the Order of the Morning Dawn is going down."

Corbin nodded. "Do what you have to do. Don't hesitate. If they get a chance to take you out, they will."

"I've got this. Go! Hurry, before the ferals get too far."

Corbin took off through the front doors of the church. The ferals wouldn't be dissuaded by sunlight. I'd drained them of blood. That's what made them feral. Based on the number of bodies scattered across the pews, though, they were well fed. They'd get pretty far before the sunlight overwhelmed them. I could only hope Corbin could kill them before too many innocent people were harmed.

I needed to search the rest of the church. If I had to hide there before nightfall, the sooner I could deal with any other nightwalkers or hunters who might be in the building, the better.

I glanced back at the balcony. I didn't see anyone up there. I took off through a door that led out of the chancel. It led into a long hallway. I turned a corner.

A sharp pain struck me in the center of my chest.

I gasped. A man stood there in a suit and tie, a crossbow in hand.

"No! Hailey!" My vision blurred, but I recognized Connor's voice.

Before I lost consciousness, I saw Will and Anthony holding him back. They had shit-eating grins on their faces. Connor looked pissed. Will and Anthony betrayed us. They were helping the Order!

Connor shook free and ran to me, catching me as I fell to the ground.

"Leave her, son," the man said. "She was a witch before she was a vampire. The girl is damned."

The last thing I remembered was the sensation of someone taking my wand out of my hand. Then everything went dark.

Chapter 20

I stood in a vast expanse of darkness. I couldn't see anything except for a subtle pink glow emanating from my body. If this was my body. The last thing I remembered was Connor's dad staking me with a crossbow bolt.

I knew where vampires went when staked. I was in vampire hell. A smoky figure blew past me with an ear-piercing screech. I covered my ears. Two more ghouls blew past me, knocking me off my feet.

I squeezed my eyes shut and screamed.

Someone grabbed my hand. I opened my eyes.

"You must stand, dear."

I narrowed my eyes. The only light I had to see radiated from my body, but I knew the voice. I recognized the silhouetted shape of her face. "Moll?"

"Yes, child. It is me. Come, you mustn't allow them to overwhelm you."

"Those are wraiths?" I asked.

Moll nodded. "The spirits of dead vampires. Their hearts were burned and they have no hope of returning."

"So, my heart hasn't been burned yet?"

Moll shook her head. "Not yet. You mustn't lose hope."

I stood up and pulled my hand out of Moll's grip. "You betrayed us."

"This is not the first time I've been here, child. The last time, I'm afraid, it affected me more than I'd expected. I am sorry. However, it is important you not make the same mistakes I did. Should you be fortunate enough to return, you must first ensure that this place does not strip you of what remains of your humanity."

I clenched my fists. "It's the middle of the day. Mercy can't rescue me. Corbin is already gone. He went after a few ferals. I'm in the hands of the Order of the Morning Dawn."

"That is great news, child."

I snorted. "It is?"

"For all their faults, they will not eliminate you without giving you the chance to repent. They believe they can save your soul."

"So I will get out of here, eventually?"

"For a time, dear. It is necessary you make the most of the opportunity you're given."

I shook my head. "Before I lost consciousness, they took my wand."

"You don't need a wand. It only focuses the abilities you already possess."

I shook my head. "They know I'm a witch. They'll be ready for anything I might try."

Moll shrugged. "Perhaps. What is essential is that you be ready as well. The Horned God once told me you were destined for great things, child. My greatest mistake was abandoning him for the council of Lucifer. Had I clung to his guidance, perhaps things could have been different between us."

"The Horned God is here?" I asked.

Moll shrugged. "I haven't seen him. I do not imagine he is."

"Then how can I expect him to help?"

"I did not say he would rescue you, dear. I said he foretold your future. This cannot be the end of your story."

"So you're here to help me get out of here?"

Moll waved her hand through the air. "I cannot help you escape. All I can do is help you endure the torments of this hell."

I snorted. "Well, thanks for that. How are you going to do that?"

"Follow me, dear."

Moll led the way as we moved through the darkness. I walked behind her. Wraiths darted at us. Moll waved her hand through the air, wafting them aside like flies. She brought me to a single door that stood in the middle of nothingness.

"What is this?" I leaned around the back side of the door but saw nothing there.

"There is only one way to prevail over hell, child. You must face fear itself."

"So what's on the other side of the door is what I'm most afraid of?"

Moll placed her hand on my shoulder. "I cannot tell you what awaits you. If, however, you can prevail, you will leave this place untainted. If you cannot, well, you will not escape hell untouched."

I grunted. "I suppose this is where you failed."

Moll nodded. "It was."

"What did you face on the other side of the door?"

"It was where I first encountered Lucifer. The only thing I ever feared was one whose power I could not overcome."

"So when you betrayed us, the devil literally made you do it?"

"I will not cast blame on anyone other than myself for my actions. My condemnation here is just. You, however, are pure of spirit. You are stronger than I ever was. You have what I lacked. When you face your fear, you must find the answer within your heart."

I bit my lip. "I'm not even sure what it is I fear the most. I'm not a fan of heights. I’m terrified of snakes. I've always feared that boy bands might make a comeback."

Moll grinned, exposing her crooked teeth. "I highly doubt the Backstreet Boys will be waiting for you on the other side."

I chuckled. "I'm surprised you even know who they are."

"I've spent a lot of time here, dear. I've witnessed many people who've had to endure their own versions of hell."

I smiled. "Whatever's on the other side of that door, I'll handle it."

Moll hugged me. "I believe you will."

I reached for the doorknob. I turned back and looked at my former mentor. "Thank you, Moll."

Moll nodded at me, grinned widely, and disappeared.

I stepped through the door. I stood in my old house where I grew up. My mother was washing dishes. My father sat at the kitchen table reading a newspaper. I hadn't seen either of them in seven years. Could going home really be my worst fear?

"Hi Mom. Dad."

My parents didn't react. They didn't see me. They couldn't hear me. A timer on the stove dinged. My mom dried off her hands, grabbed a couple hot pads from a drawer, and pulled out a casserole. It was one of my favorite meals growing up. Maccaroni, tuna, cream of mushroom, and lots of cheese. My stomach growled in response to the aroma.

"Hailey," my mom raised her voice. "Dinner is ready."

I turned and saw myself descending the stairs. My eyes were glowing red, just as Corbin's were when the Red Baron took him over. Right before I zapped him with my spell.

"Yes. It is time to eat!" my other self said, running down the stairs and seizing my mom by her hair.

"Stop!" I screamed.

My other self turned and looked at me, flashing her fangs.

My father stood up from the table, dropping his newspaper. "What are you doing, Hailey?"

"Don't worry, daddy. Mom’s just the appetizer. You’re my main course."

"Like hell he is," I shouted and charged my other self.

She smirked at me and tossed my mother to the ground. She extended a hand and grabbed me by the neck, lifting me off my feet. "It is only a matter of time before I take control."

I kicked my feet. "You're the Red Baron!"

My other self laughed. "Maybe I am. Or, perhaps, I'm just you!"

I shook my head. "Not going to happen, fucker!"

I expanded my pink energies. It was Erzulie's gift. I enveloped my parents with my power. My other self's eyes turned green. Then she merged with me as my feet returned to the ground.

The pink glow exploded from my body, blinding my eyes. I turned and saw my parents standing there, their arms open.

"Come home to us, Hailey."

I nodded as tears fell from my eyes.

The next thing I knew, I found myself back in the church. My arms and feet were bound to the same cross that Corbin had hung from before.

Connor's dad stood there holding a crucifix. He held the bolt from the crossbow he'd staked me with in his other hand. Two wolves growled on either side of him. It was Will and Anthony. I didn’t know where Connor was, but he wasn’t there. Connor’s dad glared at me. "You've seen the hell that awaits you if you do not repent."

Chapter 21

"Will you repent?"

I clenched my fists. "Repent of what?"

"You're a witch!"

I tilted my head. "Your point?"

"Witchcraft is forbidden! An abomination!"

I rolled my eyes. "That crucifix you're holding. It radiates sunlight. I suppose you intend to burn out my heart with it?"

"The celestial power might redeem you in death, but only if you repent!"

"How is my magic any different? Your celestial power is just another kind of witchcraft."

"It's a gift! It's miraculous!"

I snorted. "It doesn't matter what you call it. The celestial power of the Order of the Morning Dawn came from a witch's grimoire."

"The Grimoire of the Nazarene! It is divine power placed in the hands of God's faithful."

"Please. The Nazarene didn't write that grimoire. It's magic, just like mine."

"Blasphemy!"

"Tell me, Mister McPherson. You're using magic to justify your hatred. How does that make you holier than any witch or vampire?"

"You cursed my son!"

I shook my head. "Does he think it's a curse?"

"That doesn't matter. My son is misguided. It was your witchcraft that made him a monster."

The two wolves turned toward Connor's dad and tilted their heads.

"Monsters, huh?"

"What they are is not their fault. They are victims of your sorcery!"

I laughed. "Whatever, dude."

"Dude?"

I snorted. "Pastor Dude?"

McPherson raised his crucifix again. "If you will not repent, I will burn out your heart!"

I heard a loud howl. Two other wolves burst through the back door. One of them, I presumed, was Connor.

Will and Anthony turned and growled. Connor and the other wolf roared as they ran forward. McPherson fixed his gaze back on me. He blasted my chest with sunlight.

The green power I'd absorbed in hell formed a shell around me. I struggled against my bindings. If the Red Baron gave Corbin the ability to tear through these restraints, perhaps the Green Baron's power could do the same for me.

It took all his power to protect me from the celestial blast. I could sense the shield weakening. That meant even less strength to free myself. I fixed my eyes on McPherson. I didn’t have my wand. My blood magic was still there. I didn't want to do it, but it was him or me.

I was about to boil McPherson's blood. It would cook him from the inside out. Before I got off my spell, Connor dove at his own father, snarling and ripping the crucifix out of his hand.

The two hit the floor. The Green Baron's power welled up in me again. I kicked my legs free first. Then I ripped my wrists from the bindings and fell to the floor.

I charged McPherson and grabbed my wand from his back pocket. I took a step back and aimed it at his chest.

Connor returned to human shape and stood between us. "Hailey, don't!"

"He tried to kill me!"

"He's my dad, Hailey. Please!"

I gripped my wand tightly. My hand shook. Two wolves, Will and Anthony, were bleeding on the floor. "I'm a witch. I'm a vampire. But it is not my place to condemn you."

McPherson struggled to his feet and took two steps back.

"Dad, get out of here."

"Connor, please, son! I was doing this for you."

Connor winced. "You did this for you! You don't know Hailey. You don't even know me. Get the hell out of here and never speak to me again!"

McPherson turned and ran out of the sanctuary. I placed my hand on Connor's shoulder. "Thank you. I know that must've been hard for you."

Connor wrapped his arms around me, weeping. "I'm so sorry! I had no idea..."

I hugged Connor back. "I know. The person who should be sorry is me. I almost killed your father."

Connor shook his head. "But you didn't."

"He thought he was protecting you."

Connor rubbed his eyes. "I don't need his protection."

I nodded. "You're right. Though you need some clothes. I'm stuck here until nightfall. Would you stay here with me?"

Connor took a deep breath. He glared at Will and Anthony, who were still in wolf form. "Get out of here. Both of you. Before I kill the both of you myself."

The two wolves hobbled out the door. The third wolf, the one who'd helped Connor, resumed human form. She was a beautiful girl with long auburn hair and a button nose.

I narrowed my eyes. "Ginny Larson?"

Ginny nodded at me. "Hello, Hailey."

"I don't know what to say. You came to help Connor save me?"

Ginny approached Connor and put her arm around his naked waist. "I'd do anything for Connor. He said you were a friend."

I nodded. "I guess we are. Something like that, anyway."

Ginny chuckled. "To think you were alive all this time. And a vampire, at that."

I smiled. "We aren't all as evil as you might think."

Ginny smirked. "Well, maybe not. Just keep your fangs off my man."

I snorted. "It's a little late for that."

Connor grabbed his wrist. The bite wounds had already healed over. "It's okay, Ginny. I let her use my blood before. It was my choice."

Ginny narrowed her eyes. "Just don't do it again. Don't make me regret coming to save you, Hailey."

I sighed. "Again, I'm grateful for your help."

If Ginny wasn't there, I might've grabbed Connor and kissed him on the lips. I didn't care that he was naked. Hell, that would've only made it more fun. Making out with Connor in a church? The idea was so taboo, it was mildly thrilling. Now, though, I couldn't act on those urges. Connor had a girlfriend. Ginny Larson, of all people. From the look on Connor's face, he sensed the same awkwardness in the room that I did. He'd clearly flirted with me before. If Ginny only knew, well, she'd never have helped save me.

"We'll stay with you until nightfall," Connor said. "Just to make sure no one else from the Order comes back."

I smiled. "I'd appreciate that."

"I'll go get us a change of clothes." Ginny shifted into wolf form and ran out the door.

Connor took my hands. "I should have told you about Ginny before."

I snorted. "You think?"

"I like you, Hailey. But Ginny and I have been together for a long time. Besides, do you really think it would ever work between a human and a vampire?"

I shrugged. "Well, you aren't completely human, Connor."

"You know what I mean."

I sighed. "Yeah, I do. Tell me something, though. I promise I won't ask again."

"What is it?"

"Does she make you happy?"

Connor stared at me for a few seconds. "I don't know."

"You don't know? Connor, if you really loved her, you wouldn't have to think about it. Especially not if you've been together all these years."

Connor sighed. "You're right. Still, it would break her heart if I ever..."

Before Connor could finish, Ginny pushed back through the front doors of the church with a duffel bag in her mouth. She dropped it on the floor and shifted back into human form.

"Alright, babe. Let's get some clothes on."

Connor nodded and reached into the duffel bag. He slipped into his boxer briefs, a pair of jeans, and a t-shirt. Ginny had a pair of yoga pants and a tight fitting tank-top.

I sat down on a front-row pew. "What are you going to do about Will and Anthony?"

Connor shook his head. "I don't know. We'll need to talk to them about what happened."

"I'm not the one who told them about you," Ginny said. "After that night in the woods, I was upset like the rest. But I kept your secret."

I nodded. "I guess I owe you another thanks for that as well."

Ginny looked at Connor. "How long do you think Will and Anthony have been working with your dad?"

Connor shook his head. "I don't know. But I think they've been planning this for a long time."

Ginny ran her fingers through her hair. "It's infuriating. All this time, we've run as one pack. To think they've been going behind our back for years."

I shook my head. "I'm sure they thought they were doing the right thing."

"You don't understand." Connor sat down beside me. "The bond we share as wolves is intense. We don't keep secrets."

Ginny sighed and sat next to Connor, taking his hand in hers. "I thought we didn't. Maybe our bond wasn't as strong as we thought."

I took a deep breath and looked at the makeshift cross McPherson hung me on before. For many, the cross was a symbol of love and forgiveness. It meant sacrifice for the greater good. For McPherson and the Order of the Morning Dawn, it was nothing more than what it had once been for the Romans. A tool of torture and execution. I grew up in a Christian home and attended a Christian school. I might have been a witch, but I knew enough about the religion to understand that at the heart of their message was hope and unwavering love. How could the Order of the Morning Dawn twist all of that into something so hateful and perverse?

The Order of the Morning Dawn wasn't a movement inspired by radical acceptance and grace. I'd known about them for years. This was the first time they'd come after me. Fear of what they didn't understand motivated them. They judged and condemned what didn't fit their narrow worldview and were so blinded by their hatred that they didn't realize they'd become everything their Christ preached against.

Corbin was still out there. He had most of his powers. He thought he loved me. Even so, I had no reason to believe he'd given up his original plan. How many more feedings would it take before he'd regained his strength? If he succeeded, if he somehow harnessed the power of the Red Baron as he'd planned, he'd confirm everything about vampires and witches that the Order of the Morning Dawn believed. He wanted the world to fear us as monsters.

Corbin didn't have Erzulie's aspect. Still, her power affected him. It made him think he loved me. Could I use that to change his mind? Could I convince him to abandon his plan after all that had happened? I didn't know. I wouldn't have a chance to try until the sun set. Until then, I was stuck in the church with a boy I liked, his girlfriend, and an awkward tension so thick I couldn't have cut it with a knife.

I wasn’t sure what was more torturous: hell or this.

Chapter 22

We spent most of the day talking about all that had happened since that night in the woods—when I resurrected Moll and Connor, Ginny, and the rest became wolf shifters.

Ginny took every opportunity to emphasize her relationship with Connor. I heard about how they fell in love after that camping trip. How they were the only two people in the world who could really understand what the other was going through.

"You two have been together for nine years?" I asked.

"Working on our first decade!" Ginny took Connor's hand in hers.

I looked at Connor with narrowed eyes. "And you still haven't put a ring on her finger?"

Connor shrugged. "I, um..."

Ginny stared at Connor. "No, he hasn't!"

I winced, feigning regret at asking the question. I was being a bitch, and I knew it. Connor realized what I was doing, too. All those years ago, Connor tried to make me jealous when I rejected his kiss. When I came back from tending the cauldron, he had an arm around Ginny and flirted with her right in front of me. At fourteen, I refused to take the bait. I wouldn't get jealous. Why was I acting so damn petty now?

No one knows who they really are when they're fourteen. In school, kids form cliques. Usually based on the music they listen to, of all things. If you listened to country music, you hung out with other kids who did, too. You wore boots and a lot of plaid. If you were into hip-hop or rap, you also had certain social conventions you conformed to. Even the punks and goths who prided themselves as being non-conformists still conformed to non-conformity. It was all a little silly looking back on it. Still, at that age, all anyone is trying to do is find themselves. They're discovering their identity. In the grown-up world, while it's certainly nice to share a taste in music with those you associate with, it's pretty far down the list in terms of what constitutes real friendship and what you might look for when pursuing romance.

Despite all of that, we'd fallen into new cliques of a sort. I was a vampire. Connor and Ginny were both shifters.

Connor was with Ginny because she was the only possibility. I didn't have to ask him why he hadn't proposed to her yet. It was obvious. He knew deep down that their relationship was built on something no more meaningful in terms of romance than sharing a taste in music. Maybe I was different. Mercy played a pivotal role in helping me adjust to vampirism. Annabelle was the one who really helped me find myself again after I had to leave my whole life behind. It didn't matter that she wasn't a vampire. She didn't think of herself as a witch, either, but as a mambo she was a kind of witch. Even that, though, wasn't why we were close. It wasn't because Mercy was a vampire that she trusted me enough to make me a junior member of the Vampire Council.

I couldn't say that I was any better for Connor than Ginny. We barely knew each other. Still, he'd risked a lot to save me from his father. He'd told his dad never to speak to him again. He'd made a serious sacrifice for my sake. There was also an undeniable attraction between us. Our flirtation before was evidence enough of that. All I wanted was a chance to find out if there might be more between us that we could build on. That's why I was jealous of Ginny now when I wasn't nine years before. If I allowed those feelings to force the issue, if I pressed it, I'd risk scaring Connor away. I had to let this situation play out. If he stayed with Ginny, that had to be his choice. He couldn't make that choice until he was ready. I also couldn't be the reason he made that choice. Especially since I didn't even know if the casual interest I had in Connor would ever grow into anything more than temporary intrigue.

I shrugged my shoulders. "It's none of my business. If you two are happy together, things will happen when they're supposed to happen."

Ginny smiled and nodded. "We aren't in any hurry. We don't age, you know."

I raised an eyebrow. "You don't?"

Connor shook his head. "We don't know that. It's too soon to know for sure."

Ginny sighed. "We don't look a day older than we did when we graduated."

"That's only been five years, Ginny. We're still young."

Ginny grunted. "Hailey, check this out."

Ginny grabbed a small knife from her pocket. She placed it to her palm.

"Ginny, you don't have to do this," Connor objected.

Ginny smirked and cut a two-inch gash into her hand. She raised her hand, showing me the wound. Ginny stood up. She removed her clothes. Shifted into wolf form, then shifted back again. She grinned widely as she showed me her hand.

"You healed!" I exclaimed. "That's incredible!"

Ginny put her clothes back on. "My theory is that the shift restores us to our ideal condition. If it heals wounds, I think it also keeps us young."

"You're saying that shifting heals aging?"

Connor sighed. "It's just a theory. We don't know for sure."

"My point is this," Ginny said. "We might not live as long as vampires. Maybe we will, maybe we won't. If we have forever, then there's no rush to marry or even have children."

Connor cleared his throat. "Again, just a theory."

Ginny rested her hand on Connor's shoulder. "My theory, and our love, will prove themselves eventually."

I tried to smile as kindly as I could. “I get it. You’d think the prospect of living together would make love easier. Making a ‘til-death-do-us-part' commitment is a lot more intimidating, though, when death isn’t there as a likely way-out.”

Ginny raised an eyebrow and huffed. “That’s awfully cynical of you, Hailey.”

“Not cynical. It’s just realistic. Humans don’t live that long. Telling someone you want to be together forever is a lot easier when your forever isn’t that long.”

Connor nodded in agreement. Ginny snapped her head in his direction and narrowed her eyes.

“What?” Connor asked. “It makes sense. A ring is supposed to symbolize eternity, right? A ring is a circle. It never ends. Why make a promise like that until you’re totally sure?”

“Aren’t you sure about us, Connor?”

I coughed in my hand, hoping to spare Connor the need to answer a question I was pretty sure he didn’t want to. I checked the time on my phone. "As enlightening as this conversation has been, it's nearly night. I have other matters to attend to."

"We'll come with you," Connor said.

I shook my head. "You've played your part. Thank you for saving me, Connor. Thank you, too, Ginny. I may need your help again. First, I have to figure out what Corbin's next step will be. He hasn't given up his plans but, now, I might have more influence over him than before. I saved his life, after all. He owes me, even as I owe you."

Connor stepped toward me. I thought for a second he was going to kiss me. He didn't. "When you need us, call or text. We'll be there."

Ginny cleared her throat. "She has your number?"

I grinned. "Is there a problem with that? We're old friends, after all."

Chapter 23

Mercy and Annabelle planned to meet me in Annabelle's office before I went after Corbin. I'd texted Mercy after everything went down at the church. Obviously, she couldn't help at the time. Annabelle didn't get the message until later. She had a voicemail system in her office, but she couldn't get cell phone service in Vilokan. It was several hours before she responded. All I knew was that she'd gone to Casa do Diabo to talk to Mercy. They agreed to meet in Vilokan—for whatever reason, I wasn't sure.

As an underground city, it was a great place for vampires. We were welcome so long as we refrained from feasting on the population. Considering the fact that Annabelle wielded a soul-blade with the power to send any vampire who so much as touched the blade directly to hell, there weren't too many of my fellow bloodsuckers who challenged the rule. Her blade wasn't like a common stake. She only offered one-way trips to the nasty place.

Connor was gracious enough to give me a ride to Jackson Square. Now that Ginny was with him, they relegated me to the back seat.

"See you around," Ginny said, as I hopped out of Connor's Escalade.

I waved back. Connor looked at me and smiled. I met his smile with a nod.

The entrance to Vilokan was through a mystical door on the side of St. Louis Cathedral in Pere Antoine Alley. Not everyone could enter. There were only three ways possible. You had to have the aspect of a Voodoo Loa. You could have an access totem, courtesy of the Voodoo Queen. Or, you could shout at the hidden camera above the entrance and hope Annabelle was both near the monitors and willing to let you through. I didn't need to do that. I had the totem and now I also had Erzulie's aspect. I pushed my hand against the wall. The doorway formed in front of me. Once I stepped through, it was the world's longest and darkest staircase. As a vampire, I used my enhanced speed to get down the steps as fast as possible.

An elevator in the foyer of the Voodoo Academy led to Annabelle's office. I entered it, pressed the up button, and waited for her to open the doors on the opposite side once I reached her floor.

Usually, I expected Annabelle reclining at her desk, her feet kicked up, when she let me in. This time, she met me with an enormous hug.

I squeezed back.

"I'm so glad you're alright!"

I chuckled. "Me too. Hell sucks."

I glanced past Annabelle. Mercy was sitting at the desk and it was her black-leather army boots crossed atop it. "I wasn't worried."

I raised an eyebrow. "You weren't?"

"An up-start chapter of the Order of the Morning Dawn attempts to eliminate a seven-hundred-year-old vampire king and a blood witch at the same time? They were biting off more than they could chew. I knew you'd prevail."

I winced. "You'd be surprised. I'm not sure I would have pulled it off if it wasn't for a couple of wolf shifters. The ones I texted you guys about."

Annabelle nodded. "I'd heard rumors of such creatures in the area. I hadn't encountered them until now."

"Wolf shifters are fairly common in the old world," Mercy said. "Vampires like Corbin often use shifters as slaves."

Annabelle snorted. "Why would they do that?"

"Vampires are vulnerable during the daytime. It's immensely helpful to have those who can stand watch. With their enhanced senses, more than twice as acute as a vampire's, they make great guard dogs."

I tilted my head. "Wouldn't daylight give the wolves a chance to escape?"

Mercy shook her head. "Yes, but they'd never run. A vampire bite releases several enzymes into the victim’s bloodstream. It's what helps purify the blood when we ingest it. It also heals our bite wounds quickly. With just a single bite, a shifter develops an addiction to the chemicals."

My eyes widened. "I bit Connor. I needed his blood."

Annabelle cleared her throat. "What will happen if the shifter goes too long without a bite?"

Mercy shrugged. "It will take a while. After a single bite, Connor might endure a week or more. With each subsequent bite, though, his dependency will grow. Eventually he'll need a dose, a good bite, more regularly."

"How regularly?" I asked.

"He'll need a hit every day or two. If he doesn't get his fix, he'll die."

I bit my lip. "That's why Will and Anthony betrayed the pack?"

Annabelle furrowed her brow. "Will and who?"

I sighed. "I didn't get that part into the texts. There were two wolves from Connor's pack working with the Order of the Morning Dawn. It shocked Connor and Ginny that they'd turned on the pack. They said their bond was so profound it was unimaginable."

Mercy nodded. "Unless the nightwalkers bit them. The Order was using them as slaves, just as the old world vampires do."

"There's a damn good chance that's the case. We have to find them."

Annabelle shook her head. "Let Mercy deal with that. We need you focused on Corbin."

Mercy narrowed her eyes. "Let Mercy deal with that?"

Annabelle snorted. "If you won't do it out of the goodness of your heart, we could use them. If the wolves find another source, other vampires willing to give them their occasional bite, they might turn against the Order."

Mercy shrugged. "Presuming there's anything of the Order to worry about."

"They established a chapter here without our knowledge. You've dealt with them more than I have, Mercy. Do you really believe we've seen the last of them?"

Mercy uncrossed her legs and stood up. "You're probably right."

"I'll give you Connor's number. If you can meet up with him and explain the situation and give him a little bite while you're at it, he can help you find the other two wolves."

Mercy nodded. "I'll do what I can."

I sent Connor's contact card to Mercy's phone. She left to deal with the issue. Annabelle took my hand. "Come on. I have a plan. You said Erzulie's aspect impacted Corbin, correct?"

I chuckled. "He thinks he's in love with me."

Annabelle reached into her desk. She pulled out a small doll and handed it to me.

"A Voodoo Doll?" I asked.

"It's not complete. It will need something of Corbin's DNA. If he's in love with you, you should be able to get close enough to him to get what you need. It can be anything. A tuft of his hair, nail clippings, even a little saliva or any other fluids he might spill."

"Other fluids? Yuck!"

Annabelle laughed. "Like I said, anything that contains his DNA will do. You just need to insert it into the open seam on the doll's back and you'll be able to control him."

"Will that work if Corbin gets the Baron's presence inside of him again?"

Annabelle nodded. "It should. Even if the Baron possessed Corbin entirely, he'll still have to work through Corbin's body."

I shook my head. "If he regains the Baron's powers, he might not need to move in any specific way to complete his plan. A doll can't manipulate thoughts, can it?"

Annabelle shook her head. "It cannot. But if you can control his body, you can paralyze him. Staking him won't suffice if the Baron takes over. You can still wield fire magic, I presume?"

"Of course."

"Then you can burn out his heart. When that happens, not even Baron Samedi will be able to revive him."

Chapter 24

The doll was small. I stuffed it into one of my pockets. I had my wand in another pocket sewn into the leg of my pants. Annabelle let me borrow her Camaro. It had a unique paint job. A glittery purple. I knew little about cars. Somehow, though, she'd modified the engine. It was faster than the average stock model and it roared like a lion when I accelerated. Annabelle also had the windows tinted far darker than was technically street-legal. It wasn't only a style choice. She did it for my sake. If I ever had to drive it during the daytime, it would mostly shield me from the sunlight's damaging effects. I didn't need that now. It was still early in the night.

I had two possible methods to stop Corbin. When I encountered the Red Baron in hell and absorbed him, I also acquired the other half of Corbin's soul. The problem was I wasn't sure how to access it. The first time, when the Green Baron gave me the first half, it was contained in a recess of my mind I could sense. If I tried to do the same thing again, there was a good chance I'd pass along the Baron's entire essence along with his soul. I'd turned the Red Baron green when I confronted him in the vision of my parents' house. If I passed him to Corbin, though, he'd likely become red again. If I carried out that plan, I could give Corbin exactly what he needed. Perhaps that's what the Red Baron intended all along.

If I tried to infuse whatever power the Baron gave me into Corbin, it wouldn't likely be Corbin's soul alone I passed along with the Baron. I might give him enough souls to accommodate the Baron who I'd give him at the same time.

Annabelle's plan was safer. Using the doll was my Plan A. Infusing Corbin with the Baron along with his other half was a distant Plan B. I'd only do it if Corbin completed the transformation already, if the risk of infusing him with other souls and the Baron's spirit was a lost cause and the only hope left was to turn him human and kill him.

Seduce and assassinate was back on the table.

I drove to the Garden District mansion, stepped out of Annabelle's car and locked it. The security system chirped at me. If anyone so much as bumped the car, it would sound the alarm and wake the neighborhood.

I approached the front door of the mansion. There was no need to ring the doorbell or knock. Someone left the door cracked. I pressed it open the rest of the way.

Three human bodies were on the floor. They were covered in blood. The bite marks on their necks didn't heal, despite the enzymes secreted by a vampire's bite. They were drained dead before the vampire who'd drained them released his bite. It must've been Corbin.

He was feeding on souls. He must've been using Bianca to commune together and accelerate his maturation. I'd set him back before. Now, he was making up for lost time.

I ran through the house. Bodies were everywhere. All of them were in the same condition. "Corbin!" I shouted.

In a blur, Corbin showed up in front of me. "Hello, Hailey."

"What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm doing this for you, my love."

"For me? You've got to be fucking kidding me. How many people have you killed?"

Corbin shrugged. "I've lost count."

"What about the ferals?"

Corbin chuckled. "Ripped their hearts out. Did you know if you remove a vampire's heart and place it in direct sunlight, it does the job?"

I grunted. "Corbin, I'm glad you handled that. What are you doing here? If you really love me, surely you understand that I'd never be able to love you back if you murder people in cold blood."

Corbin smirked. "Their blood was the usual temperature."

"You know what I mean."

"I need you to trust me, my love. When this is done, you and I can rule the world together. I will be king. You can be my queen."

I bit my lip. I needed to get something of Corbin's DNA to put into the doll. He basically proposed to me. If I rejected him outright, I didn't know how he'd react. I had to take a different approach.

I tilted my head and flashed the most flirtations smile I could muster. "I like the goal. The idea of being together, you and me..."

Corbin grinned, then narrowed his eyes. "But you don't approve of my methods."

I took Corbin's hands. "I've only been a vampire for seven years. All the people you knew as a human died centuries ago. My parents are still alive. They think I'm dead, but that doesn't mean I don't care about them."

"I would never harm your parents, Hailey."

I nodded. "I'm not saying you would. Still, what you're talking about would change the world. It might make things better for us, but not for everyone."

Corbin shook his head. "Perhaps you're right."

I tilted my head. "I am? I mean, yes. Of course, I am!"

Corbin chuckled. "You gave me a gift. You restored a part of my humanity. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that a part of all this affects me more than it did before."

"You're saying I gave you a conscience."

Corbin nodded. "There is a part of me that abhors this violence. I love you, Hailey. It might hurt to do what I must, but it would kill me if I didn't do everything I could to build the world for you that you deserve."

"You didn't think to ask me if this was the world I wanted?"

"You're young. If you lived another few centuries, you'd see it my way. If the world discovers us before that happens, and they surely will, I'd hate for you to fail to live long enough to regret this opportunity we have now."

"Corbin, I..."

Corbin placed a finger to my lips. "You don't need to speak. A conscience isn't the only gift you gave me. I also have desires. Passions I haven't entertained in centuries."

I smirked. "What passions?"

"Allow me to show you."

Corbin kissed me on the lips. He didn't bite. I didn't bite back. Not yet, anyway. If I was going to do this, I wanted it to feel natural. I didn't want to arouse any suspicions. I couldn't be the passive girl who allowed a powerful man to ravage her. I needed to take control.

I grabbed Corbin's hand and led him back to the bedroom. It was the same room where we'd fed together before. I pushed him onto the bed.

I stood over him, straddling his legs, and removed my shirt. Then, I took off my pants. I had to remove them myself. I couldn't risk him finding the doll.

I climbed on top of him, ripped open his shirt, and dug my nails into his chest. Would a little skin under my nails be enough? Probably. But, you know, I couldn't be sure. I had to see this through. The more DNA I could gather, the better. Why not have a little fun in the process?

Chapter 25

Two vampires, with all our enhanced strength and every bit of human passion we could muster, nearly broke the bed. We laid there when we were done, nearly out of breath.

"I should go clean up."

Corbin nodded. "Bianca will be back soon."

"Where is she, anyway?" I climbed out of bed and grabbed my clothes.

"She's fulfilling my plan."

I nodded. She was probably gathering more humans to feed from. "You realize she loves you, right?"

Corbin sat up and looked at me with a furrowed brow. "I don't think she's capable of love. Not anymore."

"What do you mean? When I left to save you from the Order of the Morning Dawn, she told me she loved you."

Corbin nodded. "That was then."

"What's changed?" I asked.

"You'd better hurry and get dressed. She'll be back soon."

I nodded and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I retrieved the doll from my pants pocket. I had plenty of Corbin's DNA, in all kinds of unmentionable places. I retrieved it and added it to the doll. I grabbed a small sewing kit from my pocket and finished the last stitch before dressing myself again.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, Bianca was there. She had two human men beside her. Their blank stares and drool showed they were fully in her thrall.

"Hey, Bianca!"

Bianca raised her hand. "What are you doing?"

I tilted my head. "I came to check on Corbin."

"To screw him, you mean?"

I shook my head. "That's not what I'm doing."

Bianca smirked. "Don't forget, Hailey. I can read your mind."

I snorted. "Of course you can."

Bianca fixed her eyes on mine. If she learned about the doll, what my plans were, all would be lost. However, she'd told me before that reading a mind is complicated. Unless the thoughts she was looking for were front and center in my mind she'd have to do a lot of digging to find what she was looking for. So, instead, I gave her more of what she already knew. I thought about my encounter with the Order of the Morning Dawn and how I rescued Corbin. It was hard to reveal that without giving away Erzulie's part in all of it. That wasn't all bad. If Bianca knew that Corbin's feelings for me were the product of a Loa's power, it might soften her vengeance. Insofar as she directed it toward him, anyway. She'd still be pretty pissed that I slept with the vampire she loved. If she still loved him. Corbin wasn't so sure.

After that, I clouded my mind with random thoughts. I thought about the time my parents surprised me with an iPad for Christmas. I recalled a time when two of the neighbor dogs were doing the nasty in our driveway and as a girl of ten, I couldn't stop giggling for an hour. The last episode of Game of Thrones was disappointing. Then, there was the time I accidentally super-glued my fingers together. It was almost as uncomfortable as the time I'd put on my socks too soon after painting my toes. None of these thoughts meant anything, but if I flooded my mind with random memories, I hoped I'd frustrate Bianca's attempt to discover my plan. She'd helped me before. I thought she was on my side. She told me she didn't approve of Corbin's plan. Why, then, was she bringing him new hosts and helping him with his plan? Something had changed. I couldn't trust her.

Bianca narrowed her gaze. "You're hiding something."

I shrugged. "Am not."

"Why then are you thinking such nonsense?"

"I have a hard time focusing. The doctors called it an attention deficit something or other. I don't know for sure. I wasn't really listening when they told me."

"You don't need to hide your thoughts from me, Hailey. I helped you, remember?"

I bit my lip. "If you've been feeding together, why does Corbin still have human feelings? If he was maturing, and you were communing together on the souls you've exterminated, he'd lose his conscience."

"I'd lose more than that," Corbin said. "I'd also lose my passions."

"Wait, if you're not maturing, then..."

"I'm taking these souls myself," Bianca said. "I will control the Baron when he emerges."

"But you need someone to commune with. That's the only way you could possibly mature so quickly."

"Indeed." Bianca sat on Corbin's lap and brought one of her enthralled victims to their side. "Something is blocking Corbin's ability to absorb souls. I imagine it has something to do with that spell you zapped him with."

"She's right," Corbin said. "We confirmed this truth our first feed together after I returned. However, Bianca is much further along the maturation process than I am now given my revised condition. We knew we'd have to kill many people to make it happen, but it was the only way to finish what I started."

I threw my hands over my head. "You can't do this! If you finish it, you won't be in control of Baron Samedi. He'll be able to take you over completely."

Bianca took a step toward me. "That's why I haven't killed you yet. Corbin knew you'd come. All he had to do was keep you busy until I arrived. It appears he did exactly that, albeit not in the way I'd have preferred. No matter, when Corbin was transforming before, you said you could perform a spell that would allow him to suppress the Baron's control."

I shook my head. "That's only because the Green Baron gave me a half of Corbin's soul. I can't do that spell for you."

"You most certainly can," Corbin added. "When I was staked before, I went to hell just as you did moments later. I presume you encountered the Baron when you were there."

I cocked my head. "How did you know?"

Corbin laughed. "Your former mentor and I go way back."

I sighed. "Moll?"

Corbin grinned. "She was much younger and quite attractive the first time we met. How do you suppose she ever learned how to access the power in blood? I never turned her. I offered, of course, but she declined. Later, she regretted that choice. No matter, we spent a lot of time together."

I clenched my fists. "And here I thought she'd reformed her ways. That she was actually sorry about how she'd betrayed me."

"She wasn't lying if she expressed her remorse, Hailey. Moll, however, knows as I do that what's best for you is for our kind to ascend to dominance over humanity. She agreed to introduce you to the Baron before you left hell, not merely as a favor to me, but for your own good."

I rolled my eyes. "For my own good? Please."

"When she took me to the Baron, he and I came to an agreement. I hoped he'd simply allow me to wield his aspect, but he drives a hard bargain."

"When he merged with me, he gave me what you'd need to control his essence."

Corbin paced in front of me. "Baron Samedi warned I might not be able to do it myself, so he suggested he grant you a collection of souls. Mine was there, of course, just in case. He also granted you Bianca's soul."

"So he's not inside of me himself?"

"The Baron does not agree to any bargain unless he gets something out of it. He simply wished for another host."

My eyes widened. "He's going to manifest in me?"

Corbin grinned. "Not permanently, provided you comply with my wishes. Only long enough to complete a single task."

"What task is that?"

Corbin shrugged. "He didn't say."

"You agreed to this, and he didn't tell you what he's going to do with me?"

"He promised he wouldn’t harm you. He’d return you to me as you were before. That's all I cared about."

I turned my back to Corbin and clenched my fists. "When is this supposed to happen?"

"The moment you cast your spell on Bianca and she gains control of the Baron's power."

I snapped back around. "That's not exactly motivation."

"If you do not do as agreed before sunrise, the Baron will assume complete control over your body indefinitely."

I pushed Corbin back onto the bed.

"Whoa. Now, I had fun before, but this isn't the time."

"How did you even know I'd get staked? This makes no sense, Corbin. How could you make a bargain with Baron Samedi in hell if I didn't even go there until you got out?"

Corbin sat us and took a deep breath. "The wolf shifters you think betrayed their pack weren't only working with the Order of the Morning Dawn."

"What are you saying?"

Corbin’s body changed. His hair shortened and grayed. His musculature was atrophied. McPherson sat there, looking back at me.

"You're Connor's dad?"

Corbin shook his head. "I merely appeared as his father. When the Order attacked, I bit him. They subdued me soon after. I have an ability that allows me to take the shape of anyone I've fed upon. I can't do it forever, mind you. It only works so long as my victim's blood is in my system. In this instance, it served me well."

My jaw nearly hit the floor. "You're the bastard who staked me? And you said you loved me?"

Bianca laughed. "Love isn't rational, is it?"

Corbin retook his natural form. "As I told you before, Hailey, I'm doing all of this to secure a better future for you. A better future for all of us."

I scratched my head. “All that talk back and forth when I thought I was talking to Connor’s dad, when he was trying to convince me to repent. That was you? I find that hard to believe.”

“The brain is as much a part of the body as any other part, Hailey. When I take the form of someone I’ve fed upon, I gain all their thoughts. Everything I said, I’m sure, is exactly what the reverend himself would have said to you if he had the chance. I was playing a part and, dare I say, I deserve an Oscar for it.”

I narrowed my eyes. "If you loved me, you'd never put me at risk like this."

Bianca snorted. "Maybe that's because he doesn't love you. You only made him think he does."

Corbin shook his head. "My feelings are genuine!"

"Sure they are," Bianca rolled her eyes. "Now, are we going to feed and finish this or not? Hailey, here, doesn't have much time."

Corbin and Bianca seized one of the men and sank their teeth into either side of his neck. Then, they bit each other.

Chapter 26

I agreed to the plan on the condition that they didn't kill the three men they were feeding from and allowed me to cast the mind-wiping spells to ensure they forgot what happened. There were already so many bodies in the place, though, that it was sure to arouse unwanted attention already.

Corbin and Bianca weren't worried about it. It would take some time before the people they killed were even reported missing. The human authorities certainly wouldn't suspect vampires were involved. By the time McPherson and whatever remained of the Order of the Morning Dawn learned what happened, and suspected Corbin's involvement, Bianca would already have the Baron's power.

I didn't want to stay and watch Corbin and Bianca feed. I couldn't leave, either. If I didn't cast that spell, the Baron would take over my body for as long as he wished. I didn't like the idea of the Baron using me for even a single task, but it was better than the alternative.

With each feed and exchange, Bianca's expression changed. She sensed it coming. She was close. The third time was the charm. Not that blood-swapping was remotely charming.

When Bianca removed her mouth from Corbin's neck, her eyes glowed red.

I dug deep and tried to connect to what the Baron gave me. Aiming my wand at Bianca, I cast the spell into her. Convulsions overtook her body, and she fell to the floor.

My eyes throbbed. Corbin leapt to his feet and took my hands.

"Your eyes. One is green. The other is red."

I tried to respond but I couldn't speak. Green and red. The Baron was trying to take over, but the Green Baron must've been resisting the Red Baron's arrangement.

I ran to the bathroom. I could still move. I didn't know how long that would last. Sure enough. My eyes were radiating both colors. I needed to tip the balance in favor of the Green Baron, but I couldn't shake the fear. I needed hope.

It was a long shot. Who would ever think that you could find hope by sending yourself to hell? All I knew was that I had to do it before the Red Baron took control. Vampires rarely keep stakes sitting around. That would be dumb. A lot of things could do the same job. There was a plunger next to the toilet. I could try to break the wooden handle and hope it gave me a sharp end. That might've been literally the shittiest idea I'd ever had.

Then I realized my wand was sharp enough on one end that it could work, presuming I didn't break it. I had to make sure I didn't hit a rib. I pressed it under my rib cage, angled it toward my heart, and forced it into my body.

I moved with vigor through the darkness as wraiths blasted past me with their high-pitched screams. I didn't know how to find the Baron's door, or how I'd get to him at all. One way or another, I'd find him.

I found Moll first. She was standing in front of me, her brow furrowed and head tilted.

"Hailey, dear. What are you doing here?"

I grabbed Moll by one hand. "Take me to the Baron."

"Hailey, why have you returned? Did not all go according to plan?"

I snapped back at Moll. I wanted to rip her head right off her shoulders, but I was pretty sure decapitation was but a minor inconvenience when you were already in hell. "You knew what Corbin was planning, and you helped him. You also deceived me again. How many times are you going to betray me before I learn my fucking lesson?"

"Hailey, it was for your--"

"Right, for my own good. Fuck you."

Moll gasped. Sticks and stones might not break bones in hell, but words are still a bitch.

I poked Moll in the chest. "Do you know the bargain Corbin exacted with the Baron?"

"I do not, dear. I only brought Corbin to see him, even as I did the same for you."

"First, I'm not your dear. Second, he made a deal that forced me to cast a spell on another vampire who will probably use it to kill thousands, if not millions, of people."

"How could he force your hand with a bargain? It doesn't work that way."

"It does when he planned all along to stake me after he revived so that the Baron could fulfill his end of the deal in me."

"What did he do to you?” Moll looked at me with wide, concerned eyes. It was a ruse. I wasn't about to fall for her grandmothering routine again—not in hell, not anywhere.

"If I cast the spell, Baron Samedi agreed to possess me only long enough to complete a single act. If I didn't, well, he would consider his deal with Corbin null and stay inside of me as long as he wished."

"I presume you cast the spell already?"

I sighed. "I did."

"The Baron might control you, Hailey. But which Baron claims your body is up to you."

I shook my head. "I have Erzulie's aspect. It was supposed to prevent the Red Baron from gaining a foothold at all."

"If he entered you through the body, it most surely would. Though I must admit, voodoo is not my craft. If he entered you here in hell, you fall under his domain. Technically, dear, while you're here, you're dead. Even if only temporarily."

"Just take me to him. I don't have time to discuss it with you any further. If the Red Baron seizes control before I can confront him here, I won’t have a choice and the wand in my chest won't prevent him from emerging."

Moll raised an eyebrow. "You used your wand as a stake?"

"It was that or the handle of a plunger. I went for the more sanitary option of the two."

"Clever, dear. That means no one can steal your wand without unstaking you at the same time. You'll certainly have it when you revive."

"An unintended benefit. I was acting fast and didn't think that far ahead."

"It may have bought you some time, dear. Your wand can channel your magic and it may prevent the Baron from taking control as quickly as he might if you'd staked yourself with something common."

I raised an eyebrow. "Like a plunger?"

"I'm not sure that's common. I can’t say if a vampire has ever been staked with one of those." Moll chuckled.

I took a deep breath and exhaled. "I'm here for one reason. I didn't have an ounce of hope on earth. If I came here, well, I hoped I'd be able to tip the balance in favor of the Green Baron. Both my eyes were glowing, one green, the other red."

Moll tilted her head. "There's something else different about you this time."

"Different?" I asked.

Moll placed her hands on either side of my head. She gasped. "Your magic!"

I snorted. "Say what?"

"It must be your wand. As witches, we're powerless in hell. You still have all our powers."

I tilted my head. "Can I use them?"

Moll grabbed my wrist. "Give me some of your blood!"

I furrowed my brow. "I'm not in my body, Moll. And I know better than that. You're trying to convince me to resurrect you again."

"Do it! Please!"

"Fool me thrice? I don't think so."

Moll looked at me with tears in her eyes. I don't know if I'd ever seen her cry. Going to hell, though, can give you cause to reassess some of your past decisions. "I'll tell you what, Moll. Take me back to the Baron. Help me defeat the Red Baron and ensure the Green Baron assumes control. Maybe I'll consider it."

"Yes. Of course! I swear it, I won't make the same mistakes again!"

I grunted. "I don't believe you. Still, no matter what you try, I'm more powerful now than you ever were. You will not take me for a fool. I won't be your puppet."

Moll nodded and placed her hand on my cheek. "All I ask for is a chance at redemption."

I turned my face away from Moll's touch. "Let's go."

Moll led me back to the same door she took me to before. Moll reached for the knob. I grabbed her hand. "I'm opening the door. This is my fight, not yours. You're only here to help."

Moll pulled her hand back. "Of course."

I opened the door. Moll placed her hand on my shoulder and followed me inside.

We were back in the house where I grew up. My parents weren't there this time. Instead, two versions of the Baron stood facing each other, each of them glowing with their green and red aspects. They were locked in some kind of staring contest.

"They're still battling over the control of your mind," Moll said. "Both are within you. It is up to you who prevails."

I had my magic. I wasn't sure what I could do with it. This wasn't the natural world. All my common spells were useless. They depended on the earthen spirits and elements. All I had was my blood witchery.

I looked at my hands. I had a pink glow about me. It must've been Erzulie's aspect. If I could envelop the both of them, it might give the Green Baron the advantage.

"Cast him into me! Along with your blood! I will bear the burden of the Red Baron so the Green Baron is free to manifest in you!"

I tilted my head. If the Red Baron took over, my body would revive with or without my wand still acting as a stake in my chest. If the Green Baron took over, well, he'd only emerge if I revived. I needed someone to remove my wand from my heart. "I have a better idea."

This room was a part of me. It was the place in my body where the two aspects of the Baron were fighting for control. I expanded Erzulie's aspect to form a space like the one where I met the Green Baron before. Then I pulled some of my blood through my wand out of the physical world into my form in hell. I enveloped all of it and blasted it all—both Barons, enveloped in Erzulie's aspect, into Moll.

The old witch gasped as she and the entire room where we were standing before disappeared. I was left standing again in the darkness of hell. If this worked as I hoped, I wouldn't be there for long.

After all, only a Loa can bestow his or her own aspect. What I gave Moll was Erzulie's influence. I manipulated her affections. Whether Moll was telling the truth or trying to trick me again was no longer material. When she revived, Erzulie's aspect would ensure she loved me. Hopefully not romantically. That would be weird. But if she loved me the way a great-great grandmother should, I had to believe that the Green Baron would emerge through her. She'd remain in control and out of love—manipulated by Erzulie's aspect or not—the first thing she'd do is remove my wand from my heart and get me the hell out of hell.

Chapter 27

I gasped for air. The first thing I saw was Moll's face, a green glow radiating through her eyes. It worked.

I sat up. Bianca stood in the middle of the room, her entire body enveloped in a bright red aura. Her hand was extended.

Mercy was standing in front of her. So was Connor, in wolf form. They were both frozen in place, surrounded by red chains of magic coursing from Bianca’s hand. They'd come to help.

Moll simply sat there, enveloped in the Green Baron's power, doing nothing at all. I nudged her. She didn't move. I snapped my fingers in front of her face. She didn't blink. At least she removed my wand from my chest before she froze.

Bianca focused on Mercy and Connor. She didn't notice me. I had to do something fast. I might stake her, myself. Then again, she would notice the second I stood up and who knows what she'd do. I reached into my pocket. I still had the doll, now infused with Corbin's DNA. I grabbed it and lay back down. I manipulated the doll.

Corbin stood up. I needed a stake. When things are all going to shit, there's only one tool that can solve the problem. A plunger.

I placed one finger over the doll's mouth. Annabelle taught me how to use these dolls a long time ago. I'd had no use for that skill until now. I was grateful that the few lessons she'd given me were finally paying off. Some day, High School trigonometry might pay off, too. Not likely.

The trick with doll manipulation was to make someone walk without making them hobble like a zombie. There was a technique to it. Corbin's steps were still awkward, but not so much that I thought Bianca would notice anything was awry.

I directed him into the bathroom. I used the doll to force Corbin to snap the plunger handle in two. While laying down, I craned my neck to make sure everything was going according to plan.

The handle didn't break clean. The broken end was jagged, sharp enough to do the job. I moved Corbin back into the room and forced him to leap over me, the plunger in his hand. Bianca turned and extended her hand. The doll in my hand burst into flames. She was too late. Corbin was already flying at her with the make-shift stake in his hand. He collided with Bianca and thrust the plunger handle through her back and into her heart.

I jumped to my feet as Bianca's body fell to the ground. I directed my wand at Bianca and cast a torrent of flames into her chest, consuming her heart.

She was gone.

"No!" Corbin shouted as he charged after me.

Connor caught Corbin by his pant-leg. Mercy grabbed him from behind and pulled him to the ground. I aimed my wand at Corbin, but he was fast.

He jumped to his feet, grabbed Mercy, and held her in front of him digging his fingernails into her chest. "You can't hit me with your spell without harming her! Try to, and I’ll rip her heart out and crush it."

"Let her go!" I screamed.

Corbin smirked. "You were too late, Hailey. Bianca did what she needed to do already. It's done!"

"What did you do?" I lowered my wand.

"Don't worry. Bianca didn't kill anyone. Not exactly. But an entire city, now turned into vampires, is quite the start to evoke the fear required, is it not?"

Mercy winced. "You turned all of New Orleans into vampires?"

Corbin laughed. "Brilliant, if I do say so myself."

"It's perverse!" I screamed. "Who are they even going to feed on?"

Corbin grinned. "Half a million new vampires! They'll have to spread out from here. So many younglings, so hungry, there aren't enough hunters on earth to stop them!"

Mercy struggled against Corbin's grip. "You fucking bastard! You don't know what you've done!"

Corbin laughed, tossed Mercy to the side, and took off out the door.

"I'm going after him," Mercy said. "He's a lot faster than I am. I don't know if I'll be able to catch him."

"Wait!" Moll said.

Mercy fixed her eyes on our former mentor. “What is she doing here?”

I waved my hand through the air. "I'll explain later. Moll, you have the Green Baron's power. Can you change this?"

Moll nodded. "My body cannot endure the power it will take. Mercy, Hailey, I sincerely hope you will forgive me. Consider this proof of my remorse for what I've done to the both of you in the past."

"Moll! What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to fix what's been done."

The green glow from Moll's eyes expanded and enveloped her body. Then it exploded with such a force that it threw me into Corbin's bed. Mercy and Connor flew into the wall.

Moll was gone.

Mercy stood up. Connor shifted back into human form and wrapped himself up with a blanket from the bed.

"What did she do?" Mercy asked.

I tilted my head. "She sacrificed herself. She undid Bianca's spell."

"So, the entire city’s population didn't become vampires?" Connor asked.

I shook my head. "They did. For a few minutes, at least. They should be back to normal now."

Mercy chuckled. "Since everyone in New Orleans became vampires, that means they couldn't feed. If no one died, it seems our secret will remain safe."

I sighed. "Maybe, maybe not. If everyone was changed, even for just a few moments, they must've sensed it."

Mercy shrugged. "They won't know what happened. There will be theories. In the end, they’ll dismiss it as an inexplicable mystery."

"That's not entirely true," Connor said. "My dad will know. The entire Order of the Morning Dawn will know exactly what occurred."

I nodded. "We'll deal with them later. About your father, Connor, there's something you should know."

Connor tilted his head. "What's that?"

"It wasn't him at the church earlier. That was Corbin. He'd fed on your father moments before. Corbin can take the form of anyone he's recently fed from."

Connor's eyes widened. "Did he kill him?"

I put my hand on Connor's back. "I don't know. Knowing Corbin, there's a chance he did."

Mercy snorted. "If McPherson is a member of the Order of the Morning Dawn, he won't be dead. He carries a talisman. Any of the Order's hunters who are drained by a vampire will turn."

Corbin's eyes widened. "So my dad is now a nightwalker?"

Mercy nodded. "It is likely, though I cannot say for certain."

I took a deep breath. "Back at the church, the entire congregation was bitten by ferals. When I was unstaked, they were gone. I figured McPherson removed their bodies. Now that I know it was Corbin, though, posing as McPherson, I doubt that was the case."

Mercy grunted. "They are likely all nightwalkers as well. I fear we haven't seen the last of them."

Chapter 28

Corbin was out there somewhere. So were the new nightwalkers. They'd move against us at some point. For now, though, they were younglings. They were too weak to pose a serious challenge to Mercy, me, and the Vampire Council.

Mercy stayed behind to clean up the mess at the Garden District mansion. She owned the place, after all. Connor tried to pick up Corbin's scent and track him, but a seven-hundred-year-old vampire has a lot of tricks. That was true even if some of his humanity was now restored. Even if Corbin still believed he loved me, he was too smart to let us find him until he was ready to make his next move.

Connor and I took Annabelle's car. I inadvertently bumped the door before unlocking it and set off the damn alarm.

Connor chuckled. "Oops."

I smirked. "Yeah, stupid alarm systems."

"Nice car. Is this yours?"

I laughed. "I wish it was. It belongs to the Voodoo Queen."

Connor tilted his head. "The Voodoo Queen drives a Camaro?"

I grinned. "She's basically my mom away from home. She's pretty cool. I'll have to introduce you to her. First, we should probably get you home."

Connor shook his head. "I don't really want to go home."

"Where's Ginny?" I asked as I climbed into the driver's seat and inserted the key into the ignition.

Connor got in the passenger seat. "She's the only one of us who hasn't been bitten by a vampire. She went to find Will and Anthony. When Mercy told us what happened, it made sense. She's hoping to make amends and to let them know they don't have to depend on the nightwalkers to get their bites anymore."

"You don't want to go help her with that?"

Connor shrugged. "She can handle it. I'd rather spend the night with you."

I smiled. "We can’t spend the night together, Connor.”

Connor chuckled nervously. “Not like that. I just meant, you know, hang out. Maybe get a drink.

“I'd like that."

We headed for Bourbon Street. It was still early enough in the night that we had a few hours to ourselves before the bars started shutting down.

We went to a bar I hadn't been to in a while. Since I rarely hunted for meals at bars, and had only been to a couple recently, there were plenty to choose from.

I ordered a gin and tonic. Connor ordered the same, minus the gin plus a squirt of lime.

Given what was happening, everyone was acting normal. All they would have experienced was a case of red-eye and a strange and unfulfillable craving for a few minutes before they returned to normal. I was sure some people noticed what happened, but by the time we made it to the bar, everyone in the French Quarter was back to their usual routine of drinking and debauchery.

"What do you think Ginny would say if she knew we were having a drink together?"

Connor took a sip. "Don't know. Don't care."

I raised an eyebrow while taking a sip of my own. "Are you sure about that?"

Connor set his drink on the bar. "We've been together for so long that it's all routine now. I care about her, don't get me wrong."

"But you don't love her?"

Connor shrugged. "Love is strange, you know? There are a lot of different ways to love someone."

"But you aren't in love with her."

Connor rested his elbows on the bar and stared at his reflection in the mirror behind all the bottles. "No, I'm not."

"You should tell her that."

Connor snorted. "Easier said than done, Hailey. So far as I know, outside of our pack, there's no one else like us around here. If I broke up with her, I'd have to leave the pack."

I bit my lip. "Why do you say that? Eventually, things would settle down. She'd get over it. You could go on with your lives."

"That's just the thing, Hailey. Ginny is in love with me. I don't think she'd ever be able to move on if I was still in the picture."

"Let me get this straight. You can't break up with her because you're afraid you'd have to leave the pack if you did. So you stay with her, trapping her in a relationship where all the love is going in one direction?"

Connor shrugged. "What choice do I have? I don’t have anyone outside of my pack. My dad is apparently a religious bigot who wants to kill vampires and witches. I'm not going back to my family. Besides, if he really is a nightwalker now, things are about to get really weird back at home."

I chuckled. "Preaching on Sunday mornings won't happen again, either."

"I don't know what he'll do, presuming he is a nightwalker. I don't even know for sure if he's still alive."

"What about your mom?"

Connor rolled his eyes. "I love my mom. I guess I love both my parents, but especially my mom. She follows my dad's lead on pretty much everything though. If my dad believes I'm some kind of monster, she'll agree with him."

"You're their own son! How could they think that way?"

Connor shook his head. "They love me in a way. They love the image of their son that fits what they want me to be."

"Maybe you just need to give them a chance to get to know you for who you are. Show them you're not a monster. Maybe you can change their minds."

Connor took another sip from his drink, then he turned on his bar stool and looked straight at me. "This from a girl whose parents think she's been dead for seven years?"

I sighed. "That's different. I'm a vampire."

"But are you a monster?"

"Of course not!"

Connor grinned. "I'll tell you what. I'll go home and confront my parents about it as soon as you do the same."

I winced. "I don't know if I can."

"So far as I'm concerned, if we make this pact, you have the easier job."

"How do you figure? My parents think I'm dead."

"At least they aren't members of a secret organization that murders witches and vampires."

I grinned. "Good point."

"Besides, they'll probably be so overjoyed to find out that you're still alive they'll overlook everything else. From what I remember, your parents might be conservative, but they aren't anything near what my parents are. My parents are zealots."

I extended my hand. "Alright, it's a deal."

Connor shook my hand. His hands were soft. I supposed that whole healing thing when a shifter swaps forms also removed callouses. "You're seriously going to go see your parents?"

I nodded. "I think I will."

Connor chuckled. "You really are something, Hailey Bradbury."

I almost blushed. "Yeah, you're not so bad yourself."

Connor leaned in to kiss me. I turned my face away. "Seriously? You'd think we were fourteen all over again."

I shook my head. "This time, I want to kiss you, Connor. But I won't kiss another girl's boyfriend."

Connor nodded. "I suppose that's fair."

"Sort out your issues with your family. Decide where everyone stands. Then, decide about what you're going to do with Ginny. Until you do, my lips won't touch you."

Connor tilted his head. "Not even for a bite?"

I grinned, exposing my fangs. "Well, that's different. You need a good bite every now and again. Kisses, though, will have to wait."

Chapter 29

Every light in my childhood home was off. It wasn't unexpected. It was getting late. If my parents hadn't changed their routine much in the last seven years, they'd probably fallen asleep watching television and moseyed off to bed half-asleep a little later. If they were lucky, they'd slept through the entire transformation to vampire and back again.

My parents used to keep a spare key under a flowerpot on the porch. I checked it. The damn key was still there. I held the key in my hand and stared at the front door for what felt like an hour.

It was probably only a few minutes, but when you're facing your fears, time slows down. I knew a thing or two about that. I'd faced some pretty serious fears as of late. This one was the biggest. It was so big, in fact, that the fear I encountered in hell was a version of me returning home and trying to kill my parents.

That would not happen. Fears aren't always rational. That doesn't mean they aren't paralyzing.

I didn't have a plan. What was I going to say to them? I couldn't tell them the truth. That would be too much to swallow. At least I could tell them I was still alive. That was a start.

A bead of sweat gathered on my brow. I didn't sweat often, but a combination of the humid New Orleans air and nerves did the trick. I wiped it away with the sleeve of my shirt. A shirt I realized at that moment had a wand-sized hole right in the middle.

I thought for a moment about heading back to Casa do Diabo and changing clothes. I dismissed the idea straight away. If I left this doorstep now, I'd never come back. Even in hell, when I faced the doorway to my fears, I never would have dared approach it a second time if I hadn't faced my fear the first time.

I had to walk through the door.

I inserted the key into the lock.

I turned the knob and pushed the door open.

A security alarm started beeping from a keypad next to the door. "Damn it! That's new."

I tried a few combinations. My birthday. My parents' birthdays. I was about to try their anniversary when a light turned on in the room.

"Hailey? Oh, my God! Is that you?"

I turned and saw my dad standing there with a baseball bat over his shoulder.

I nodded as tears welled up in my eyes. "It's me, Dad."

"Linda! Come quick! It's our baby girl!"

My dad dropped the bat and wrapped his arms around me. My mom joined our group hug a few seconds later.

"You're alive! Thank you, God!" my mom cried.

"You might want to turn that thing off," I said.

My dad laughed and released me from his embrace. He entered a code into the panel on the wall and the beeping stopped.

"Honey," my mom took my hands in hers. "Where have you been? Are you okay?"

I nodded. "I'm fine. I've been fine."

My dad tilted his head. "Did you run away?"

I sighed. "Not exactly. I can't explain. Not now. Not yet. But I wanted you to know I'm good."

"Did someone hurt you, Hailey?" my dad asked.

I shook my head. "Not in the way you're thinking, Dad."

"Come in!" my mom pleaded. "I have tea in the fridge. I want to hear all about it."

I shook my head. "I can't stay."

"Your room is just as you left it," my dad said. "Why don't you come home?"

I sighed. "I wish I could. I really do. It's too dangerous."

"Dangerous?" my mom asked. "What do you mean?"

I placed my hands on my mom's shoulders. "I can't tell you that. You need to trust me. I'm not a little girl anymore."

My dad placed his hand on my cheek. "You look exactly how I remember you. All except for your eyes."

I nodded. "That's another thing I can't explain. I want you to know, though, that I'm happy. And that I love you both."

"We love you too, Hailey!" My mom cried.

"Both of us do," my dad added.

I smiled. "I know you do. Right now, there are a lot of people depending on me. More than you could imagine. If I stayed with you, I'd put you at risk and other people would get hurt."

"You have to tell us more than that!" my dad said.

"I'm sorry. I just can't."

"When will you come back?" my mom asked.

I pressed my lips together and looked around the room. A lot had changed. New furniture. A larger television. The walls were a different color. "Soon. I promise I'll come back soon. Until then, I need you to trust me. You can't tell anyone I'm alive."

"No one?" my mom asked. "Why not?"

I turned and opened the front door. I stepped outside and looked back in at my parents. "Take care of each other. I'll see you soon."

I closed the door and returned to Annabelle's car. I couldn't stop the tears. It was like a ton of bricks were lifted off my chest. For the first time in seven years, I felt like I was the same curious girl who found that grimoire in the attic.

The feeling wouldn't last. It couldn't. I wasn't the same girl anymore. I'd changed in more ways than one. Becoming a vampire was, in some ways, the least significant of all the things that were different about me now.

When I was fourteen, I didn't have a clue who I was. Like most kids my age, I was looking for a place where I fit in. I discovered a few things about myself with Moll's help over the next two years. Then I became a vampire. I learned a lot more about myself in the years that followed.

I'd like to say I figured everything out. Self-discovery is a lifelong pursuit. I had a lot longer than most to follow my path. Then, again, do we really have a single path? Is there an idealized version of ourselves we spend our lives getting to know? Or do we get to know ourselves as we become the person we choose to be? Maybe life isn't about self-discovery, but self-formation. I chose to cast the spell that resurrected Moll. I decided to leave my family behind when I became a vampire. I embraced my bloodwitchery and used it for good, rather than to hurt people.

Moll's letter and her words since told me I was destined to be something that a god I'd never met told her I'd become. Maybe he was right. Still, prophecies are open to interpretation. I had a lot of choices still to make. At every fork in the road of life I'd changed, in some ways small and in other ways grand, but I was the one who made the choice. The only thing I couldn't change was change itself. My body might look the same as it did when I was sixteen, my eye-color notwithstanding. But I was still growing and so long as I faced the future with hope, not fear, I'd never stop. I didn’t know what the future might hold—my relationship with my parents, with Connor, even with Corbin. Come what may. I was looking forward to it.

The End of Book 1

Continued in Witches and Wolves

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Theophilus Monroe is a fantasy author with a knack for real-life characters whose supernatural experiences speak to the pangs of ordinary life. After earning his Ph.D. in Theology, he decided that academic treatises that no one will read (beyond other academics) was a dull way to spend his life. So, he began using his background in religious studies to create new worlds and forms of magic–informed by religious myths, ancient and modern–that would intrigue readers, inspire imaginations, and speak to real-world problems in fantastical ways.

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Table of Contents

- 1. Chapter 1
- 2. Chapter 2
- 3. Chapter 3
- 4. Chapter 4
- 5. Chapter 5
- 6. Chapter 6
- 7. Chapter 7
- 8. Chapter 8
- 9. Chapter 9
- 10. Chapter 10
- 11. Chapter 11
- 12. Chapter 12
- 13. Chapter 13
- 14. Chapter 14
- 15. Chapter 15
- 16. Chapter 16
- 17. Chapter 17
- 18. Chapter 18
- 19. Chapter 19
- 20. Chapter 20
- 21. Chapter 21
- 22. Chapter 22
- 23. Chapter 23
- 24. Chapter 24
- 25. Chapter 25
- 26. Chapter 26
- 27. Chapter 27
- 28. Chapter 28
- 29. Chapter 29
- Also By Theophilus Monroe
- About the Author