“Do not speak,” she hissed. She was on her feet and towering over them. The Oracle was a small woman, but somehow Koa felt intimidated and looked away from the dark glasses.
Koa gripped Halston’s hand. She started to feel the fear creep onto her. She wished she knew more about what was happening.
“They will keep coming after her, until you return her.” She waved a hand in the dark and Koa gasped. Mists swirled around before them. White swirls of air that danced in the dark revealed a tall gate of some sort. Koa felt her heart pound. She had seen this gate before. It was the Gate to the Netherworld, the portal that some of the nephilim had escaped from.
“You are smart, Halston. Smarter than the men of this world. Clever and resourceful. Use your skill to find a way around this bargain. Give them what they want, and get what you want.” She leaned forward. “Find an ally…outthink your enemies.”
Koa watched Halston’s face. He was on the same track as the Oracle. “An ally? Do you think, he will help us, after everything?”
The Oracle shrugged and sat back down. “One way to find out.”
The lights returned to normal and they were surprised to see that the Oracle was sleeping. Her little snores filled the room. Halston pulled Koa up put a finger to his lips.
She nodded. They quickly, and quietly, walked out of the den. They left the tiny flat, and Halston didn’t stop when they were outside. He hurried with Koa in tow until they were at the car.
He held her door open. “Get in.”
Koa did so and Halston did the same. They drove off much quicker than when they arrived. Koa looked out the window. She was already formulating a plan of her own. She couldn’t trust Halston to give her the freedom to search for answers, so she would have to do it without him.
If he wanted to keep secrets from her, then she would do the same. She knew of a nephilim clan that would definitely have answers. She just didn’t know if they’d give them to her without a fight.
Koa sighed and gave Halston a sidelong glance. She was tempted to tell him her plan, but that spark of doubt nagged at her once more. She shook her head and looked out the window at the dark streets. Soft rain began to fall.
I guess I’ll just have to find out on my own.
Chapter 7
Halston dropped Koa off at the safe house. She would be occupied with paperwork that would last her for at least a couple of hours. He hoped that was enough time for him to execute his plan. Now, he stood before Koa’s new cottage with the passenger door open…for Raven. She ran from the house, jumped over the gate and scurried into the front seat.
Halston closed the door and looked around. No one was around. The night was dark and quiet. He walked around to his side and got in.
“Where is Koa?” Raven asked.
Halston knew that would be her first question. She was a good mother to the girl. He wished she didn’t have to get cursed.
“At the safe house. I gave her enough paperwork to keep her busy for a while.”
Raven curled into the leather seat and looked at him with big, green, eyes. “Well, you know Koa…”
Halston shrugged a shoulder. “Yes, I do. I thought the same thing, but she has no idea what I have planned.”
“You better hope she doesn’t. My daughter can be more than a bit headstrong at times. I still worry about her as much as I did when she was a toddler.”
Halston smirked. “Who are you telling? I learned that the day I met her.”
“So, it’s true then, Bund is looking for Koa?”
Halston’s face turned serious. He nodded. “Yes.” He tightened his grip on the leather steering wheel.
“Do you think he means to kill her?”
“No,” Halston said. “If there is one thing can depend on is the fact that Bund will do anything for payment.” He gave Raven a look. “And Greggan pays very well.”
Raven shivered. “Too bad it’s not money Bund wants.”
Halston thought of all the children’s bodies he’d seen sprawled around London. They had been mutilated, gutted, bled, and left in artistic poses, as if to taunt Halston. Bund had a particular taste for little girls. Halston’s stomach turned at the thought of what that foul creature had done to the poor children before he killed them.
Raven sighed. “I can’t help but think we need to do what we’ve been trying to avoid these past few years. Maybe we should go ahead and send Koa back now, before it’s too late. Jax is the only one that can free me from the curse, and I need to be free so that I can help protect her. I am the only one that can get rid of Bund…for good.”
Halston thought a moment. He watched the dark road ahead as they cut through the countryside. Rolling hills passed by and he glanced at the full moon. Too many bad things happened on nights with full moons. He was glad that for once the full moon was on their side. They would need the power that it held for what they were about to attempt.
“You need me, Halston. I can only do so much in this ridiculous, tiny, body.”
Halston gave a nod. He knew how much she wanted to return to her former self. She was quite powerful, and he did need her. “I know. But the cost is much greater than the reward. Koa is not ready yet.”
Raven sat up. Her black fur mocked eyebrows and she bunched them in dismay. “How do we know if she’ll ever truly be ready? We cannot shield her from the truth forever.”
Halston knew she was right. He just cared too much for Koa to watch her suffer. He wished he could keep her past from her forever. Once she knew the truth, he feared she would never look at him the same.
“Halston?”
Raven broke him from his thoughts. He looked at her. “Yes?”
“If you refuse to speak about the Netherworld, at least tell me what happened with the Oracle?”
Halston sighed. “Jax.”
Raven inched closer, eager to hear more. “Yes…I knew it! Another sign that we need to act now! Go on...what else?”
“He’s been linking with the Oracle lately.”
Raven seemed to smile. It looked odd on her feline face. He tried to picture her smile from before the curse. It was difficult.
“But that’s good!” Raven exclaimed.
Halston shook his head. “Why is that good? He’s the enemy as far as I’m concerned.”
“But he can free me! We need him.”
“The price we pay for the things we need,” Halston said under his breath.
“Exactly. But it’s not your need, Halston…it’s mine. And I deserve to be changed back. If not for me, it needs to be done for Koa.”
Halston didn’t reply. His head was full of too many thoughts, doubts, and scenarios. There was truth to what Raven had said. He knew that soon he’d be making the journey back to the Netherworld. The Netherworld held too many of his secrets. He couldn’t admit that he wasn’t ready to face the past.
Chapter 8
Koa crept down the narrow alleyway as soft rain trickled down onto her head. She welcomed the cool shower. She needed something to calm the nervous anxiety that began to fill her belly. She knew it would take more than a sword and a straight face for those vamps to take her seriously.
The evening was late and Koa had grown tired of paperwork. She had more important things to attend to. When Halston had dropped her off she had almost blurted out what she was planning. Instead, she pursed her lips and left without a word. She couldn’t let him even suspect what she was doing.
Koa approached the lair of a secretive nephilim clan that had escaped into the human world centuries ago. They were quiet and kept to themselves, because they were smart. Not only that, but they were afraid. They were hiding…and now Koa knew who they were hiding from. A common enemy. That was all the leverage she had against them
Koa had never encountered a Netherworld vamp. They were a completely different breed from the vampires walking around in the human world. The vampires of the human world were considered new world vampires, the children that were created by The Netherworld vam
pires in ancient times.
New world vampires could not reproduce because they had once been human, and so their only way of increasing their numbers was to bite and turn other humans. They were not as powerful as the Netherworld vamps, because Netherworld vamps were born from pure blood mothers and fathers.
Koa knew that what she was doing was dangerous, but as Halston liked to always say, Koa always preferred to learn the hard way. If it was too easy, then she just wasn’t interested. This time, however, Koa could feel deep down that this was not a good idea. She almost turned back, that is, until she smelled blood.
Human blood. Her eyes nearly rolled back into her head at the overwhelming scent. It wasn’t just a hint of blood. It was a feast of it.
Spilled blood. She pushed her anxiety aside and checked to make sure her sword was intact. It was attached to her belt and in its closed state it wasn’t much bigger than a dagger in the guise of a simple baton.
Her face was set in newfound determination as she walked up to the metal door. She cracked her knuckles and drew a breath of the cool night air.
Koa needed answers. She refused to wait any longer. All she wanted in the world was to avenge her father’s death and break her mother’s curse.
Koa knocked twice and waited.
Koa expected to be immediately dismissed once they took a look at her, but when the young looking vampire opened the door, she was beheld with bewilderment. The tall, gangly lad stuttered when he laid eyes on her. His eyes looked her up and down.
Koa felt her stomach flip. He knew who she was. This is not good, she thought, but stood her ground.
“Wat you want, ey?”
Koa had practiced so many answers to this very question. Now as she stood before a real Netherworld vamp, her throat went dry.
He stared at her with the same wide eyed expression. He blinked. His eyes were a dark blue, like the sea at night, and were set under the thickest eyebrows she had ever seen. His face was thin and hollow as if he was malnourished. She could see the bones in his face.
“Your leader,” her voice cracked. She swallowed and tried again. “I wish to speak to him, or her.”
He nodded and rubbed his fists in his hand. “Right. Right. Come in then.”
Koa watched him step out of the way and hold the door open for her. She looked into a large open studio and gulped. The Netherworld vamps were everywhere. The place was set up like a lounge. The lights were dim and cast a soft orange glow on everything. Koa hated how loud her heels sounded on the gray, concrete, floor.
There were women walking around in nothing but their panties. They walked around as if in a trance. Glamour, Koa thought as she watched some of the rough looking vamps feast on the women who did nothing but sit in their laps with blank expressions on their paling faces.
There was a cloud of smoke that lingered in the air, making the room look as if a fog had settled.
Koa hesitated. She felt foolish for leaving her communication watch at the safe house. She didn’t want Halston to track her. Now, Halston would never find her if something went wrong.
Buck up, Koa, she thought to herself. You can do this without him. For a second, she almost believed it. Too late to run now.
She nodded, sucked in a long breath to motivate herself, and stepped inside. The close of the door behind her sounded so final. Every inch of her was on alert. These vamps were unlike any she’d ever encountered. The Netherworld vamps were the purest of them all, and the males looked at her as if she was a piece of meat.
Koa’s eyes scanned the room. There were four windows, barred and covered with black tent. A standard wooden bar stood in the corner of the large room. One vamp tended it, wiping it down, and pouring liquor into shot glasses. She immediately counted twelve other vamps and six dead human bodies being drained of their blood.
She was a little late for the party. The six women, that were still alive, looked as if they had been picked up from a sleazy club somewhere. All high heeled pumps and miniskirts, sheath dresses and shiny costume jewelry. Koa wanted to help the women. She hated seeing them treated so carelessly.
Koa’s jaw tightened when she saw a vamp snap the woman’s neck he’d been feeding from. Koa’s eye twitched. She resisted brandishing her sword. She was outnumbered. There was nothing she could do.
Koa felt herself become a little woozy at the scent. She should not be hungry right now, but the blood was everywhere. The sweet aroma was almost too much to handle. She closed her eyes remembered the face of the young man she had accidentally killed when she was seventeen, and immediately regrouped. She would never forget the look of fear in the poor man’s eyes.
In an alley, like an animal, she had feasted foolishly. Koa never killed a human again. The guilt would remain with her until the day she died. Koa ignored the scent of blood and eyed the other vampires in the room. They looked to be various ages ranging from early twenties, to early thirties. One could never tell how old a vampire was, especially one from the Netherworld. Because they were born vampires and not made, once they reached maturity, their bodies would remain captured in that state of youth for an eternity. These male vamps all looked young and strong.
And dirty and ugly, Koa thought. She raised an eyebrow at one who stood propped against a wall, staring at her. Except that one, she thought. He’s not too bad. He almost looked attractive in his clean suit and tie.
Koa shook her head. You’re ridiculous, she scolded herself.
The young looking vampire that had let her in settled onto the floor and rolled one of the girls over onto her belly. He slit her other wrist and held it over a bowl.
She stood there, feeling awkward, as she watched the blood trickle slowly into the bowl. Perhaps he doesn’t know who I am, she thought.
“Oh, I know ya, Koa Ryeo-won. Every Netherworld creature knows the little half-blood.”
Koa paled.
“Yeah, I read ya mind. No big deal.” He drank a gulp of the blood. He glanced over his shoulder at the vamp who leaned against the wall. “Aye Brice, our guest thinks you’re right handsome.” Everyone laughed. Brice revealed sharp, crooked teeth, as he laughed with the others.
Gross, Koa thought. Her eyes widened. She had to control what she thought about.
The young vamp grinned that he had heard her thoughts once again. He chuckled to himself. He wiped his mouth clean and came to his feet. “Hungry?” He offered her the bowl of blood.
Koa shook her head, but her chest heaved at the scent. She looked away.
“Ah, what’s it? Too good for slut blood?”
The other vamps chuckled. He motioned for four of the vamps to end their game of poker and they all got up and went to sit on one of the leather sofas placed before a large projector screen. He slid a chair out from their poker table and nodded for her to sit.
“Why these are the best sluts in town. It’s a delicacy, it is.” He licked his thin lips. His grin sickened her.
Koa held her head up high. Her heart was beating so loudly that she could hear it. She was aware of all of the eyes on her. “Your leader. I will only speak to him…or her,” she said.
He thought a minute and bit his lip. He gave her a look from under his thick dark brows. “You’re lookin at ‘em, lass.”
Koa tensed. Everyone was staring at her in silence. Is he joking? Koa thought. He looks to be about sixteen.
“One thousand and sixty two, but who’s countin anymore?” He sat in the chair and motioned for her to sit before him again.
Koa averted her gaze from the other vamps that looked at her with scrutinizing eyes and sat in the chair.
“You answer your own door?” Koa frowned at the concept. If she was the leader of a Netherworld clan, she’d have all kinds of goons doing her bidding.
He licked the blood from his teeth. “Aye.”
Koa was uncomfortable. She didn’t know why. He looked so young. Why should she fear him?
“A little short on help?”
He shook his head. “I lik
e to check out visitors me self. That way, I can kill ‘em and return to me business.”
“Who are you?”
He sat back in his chair and played with the poker chips. “Should’a been ya first question, lass.”
“My name is Koa, not ‘lass.’”
He chuckled and the others joined in. “Didn’t I already say we all know ya?” He leaned his face in close to hers and she nearly fell backwards in her chair at his speed. He was no longer smiling. “But you gotta earn the privilege of learning me name…”
There was something about him. It was like Koa could tell that he was trying to be as unintimidating as possible. Why would he do that? Why would someone want to appear weaker than they were? The possibilities made her begin to fear him even more.