13 Tales of the Paranormal Page 18
Walking down passed the remains of Patrick Street, she felt eyes watching her. Dressed in loose fitting jeans and a black t-shirt, she looked like any normal girl. She had topped her outfit off with a pair of vans sneakers she had “borrowed” before the TJ Maxx was sucked into a hell hole.
But she knew it was not her outfit that drew attention to her. Along with her pale skin and black hair and eyes, it was her assortment of weapons that truly alerted people that the assassin was hunting. Around her waist, a 9 millimeter hung from her belt along with an arrangement of bullets, silver and wooden alike. Her standard switch blade was concealed in her ankle strap, but her sword that hung from her katana shoulder carry was a sight to be seen.
As she reached the club, Cassie skipped the queue that had formed outside the Box of Delights. The massive lycan acting as club security studied her up and down with a slight smirk on his face as he inclined his head for her to enter. Hushed murmurs echoed through the crowd, Cassie silencing them with one menacing look. Brushing her hair from her face, she smiled sweetly at the lycan, before strolling through the door he held open for her.
The floor vibrated under her feet as she stood on the balcony; her heightened vision scanning the dance floor below. Cassie closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Her senses flooded with the aromas of the creatures around her. Lemon and honey, copper and ash, orange and eucalyptus, a variety of different smells all appealing in their own way.
Turning towards the massive staircase, she cautiously took in her surroundings, well aware of the activities that occurred in the Box of Delights. Donors were widely available, raw meats for the Weres' and private chambers for a bit more sick and twisted fun. Cassie shuddered, remembering how she once had ended up in one of those rooms just after her mother had died.
Reaching the end of the stairs, Pendulum's Propane Nightmares pounded from the speakers. Itching to hit the dance floor, she brushed past a couple of females, undeniably enjoying themselves. It wasn't until one of the girls threw her head back in pleasure, did she see the blood dripping from her neck. The vamp chick locked eyes with Cassie, continuing to drink. Cassie couldn't tear her eyes away; yearning to have blood drank from her veins... her head screaming at her that she was being compelled. It was only when the scent of lavender wrapped around her that she was able to shake it off.
Cassie's gaze now met with Luka’s and she nodded her head in show of a thank you. Jealously surprisingly bubbled in her as she watched the army of beautiful immortals. They surrounded Luka, draped over his legs, straddling his lap and whispering in his ear. Luka burst out laughing smugly, and Cassie blushed, her thoughts betraying her again.
Shrugging her shoulder, she made her way to the dance floor, in the hopes of teasing Luka and sensing her prey. She positioned herself between a gorgeous shifter and a faery. She danced in the middle of them, the faery resting his hands on her waist as the shifter moved in closer behind her. She felt Luka's eyes burning through her as he watched from his private balcony.
“MINE!” The word echoed in her head, and from the look of fear in both the shifter’s and faery's eyes and how quickly they vanished, she knew that all three had heard the same command. Raising an eyebrow she could almost see the anger that radiated from Luka's skin, before turning and disappearing from view.
Cassie headed for the bar in desperate need of a drink. She smiled at the goblin behind the bar. His glamour was presenting itself as a Gerard Butler look-a-like but Cassie was able to see both of his selfs.
Cheers, Dad... she thought dryly. The goblin winked at her before passing her a shot and shaking his head when she offered cash. Guess there were some perks of the job.
It was then she caught the scent, a smell so awful it sent bile creeping up her throat. She shouted for Luka in her head, before taking off after the trail. Pushing past the crowds of dancers, she followed the smell past the back rooms, and when she reached the back entrance, she was overcome with the need to vomit, as the mixture of rotting flesh, blood and sex flared in her nostrils. Cassie flung open the door and staggered backwards as a fist met with her face.
Jumping back to her feet, she poised herself for a fight, reaching for her 9 millimeter but she couldn't move. Her eyes widened in panic as the vampire stepped out of the shadows. His eyes were red with bloodlust, and he licked his lips as he ran a finger over her scar. She tried to open her mouth, but nothing happened.
The vampire smirked and Cassie felt drowsy. She wanted to sleep.
Vicktor was waving his head like a cobra bewitching its prey. He put his finger to his lips and whispered “shhhh.”
Cassie, in one last attempt at survival, willed Luka to her side before succumbing to the darkness.
***
Drip, drip, drip.
Blinking her eyes open, it took a few minutes for Cassie's vision to focus. She groaned as pain ripped through her. Trying to raise her hand to wipe the hair from her face, she realised she was strapped to a table and she was naked. Fabulous, she thought as she turned her head. Fresh bile rose in her mouth. In the darkened room, mangled bodies were discarded like trash. Even for Cassie, the way the bodies were ripped apart was gruesome... the stuff of nightmares.
Empty, fearful eyes scorched her soul; their pitiful expressions drawing a tear from her. Headless body parts were cast aside in piles, amputated arms, legs and torsos, all covered in bite marks, all naked and all drained of blood. Anger and disgust flowed in her veins. She tried to tap into her mother's Wiccan roots, which she had suppressed ever since her mother was killed in a hunt. The scar on her cheek was a parting gift from the monster who had taken over her mother’s body, moments before a fifteen year old Cassie had chopped off her head. The magic she had not used in four years vibrated in her blood.
The smell of rotting flesh washed over Cassie as her captor materialized from the shadows. His gaze lingered over her naked body, causing her to shiver involuntarily. He sneered at her gleefully; her obvious discomfort meeting with his appreciation. The room came alight and Cassie’s eyes roamed over the blood stained walls. Various torture weapons, knives and chains hung from one of the bloodied walls.
“ Isn't all this kinky crap just a little bit too cliché, Langer,” her voice croaking sarcastically with dryness. “At least be original.”
A deep chuckle bellowed from his chest and he ran his hand roughly over her thigh. “Ah, Cassandra, I've waited a long time for you, my dear. So beautiful, so strong, so haunted... just like your mother.” Cassie snapped her head towards him, her eyes fierce. “What the fuck do you know about my mother?” She knew he was baiting her, but the words had left her mouth before her brain had a chance to think.
Cassandra? A welcomed, silky voice echoed in her thoughts, don't die on me yet, my assassin, we have unfinished business. Relief poured over her as she taunted back. “Come get me, bloodsucker. I'd hate to bleed out before we get to dance.”
Vicktor straddled her on the table, licking the dried blood from her face before whispering softly in her ear, “My Cassandra, who do you think it was that turned her? It was meant to be you, my sweet, but poor mama witch got in the way. She would have turned you, too, if you hadn't killed her first.”
“You bastard!” Cassie screamed, struggling under the weight of him. “Why me? Why her...? I'm gonna slit your freaking throat!”
He grinned down at her, his face now so close she could smell blood on his breath.
“You’re special, Cassandra, your powers are unbridled, like nothing any one has ever seen before. The ability to share both Wiccan and demonic powers all in one. If you were turned, my god what a predator you would make. You kill now for Luka without question... imagine if you were immortal. My very own personal killing machine.”
He looked away, distracted by his own visions and Cassie took her only chance. With all her Wiccan power, she commanded the restraints to open. Vicktor’s eyes widened in surprise as Cassie brought her knees to her chest and pushed with all her strength. Vicktor crashed bac
k into the wall and sprang back up to meet Cassie, who now stood in full attack mode.
They faced each other, in the crumbled ruins of the basement, and Cassie felt her skin prickle as her suppressed powers now rushed through her blood. Vicktor studied her cautiously before charging towards her, like a bull to a matador. Cassie raised her arms, levitating out of his grasp. Awesome new power, she thought. Lowering herself back to her bare feet, she waved her hand dismissively, sending Vicktor flying, and this time, he struggled to rise.
Magic bubbled in the air as the doors of the basement burst open.
Luka and a legion of vampires filed into the room and she was surprised to see that the depravity laid out in front of them had shocked them.
Cassie held her ground, Vicktor's torn body still in her sight. “It's over now, Cassandra, stand down,” Luka said reassuringly, “I will finish it.”
Cassie's own lust for vengeance had not yet been sated.
“NO! He is mine!” Cassie turned towards Vicktor. “For my mother.” She smiled sweetly and just uttered a single word, “burn.”
The monster's body engulfed in flames, sending the vampire into a panicked frenzy. Screams of pure agony ripped from his burning torso and the smell of burnt flesh overpowered the already rancid scent present in the basement.
As the other vampires watched on in amazement, Cassie's captor fell to the ground before her. She felt the energy slip from her grasp and summoned the last of her strength. She whispered “Ash.” Vicktor’s flaming body dissipated into ash.
Her legs shaking, Cassie caught sight of herself in some broken glass. The room had become silent and now she understood why. Her naked body was covered in blood, both dried and fresh alike. Her wrists and legs were red from the chains that had held her down and a stream of black and blue bruises tarnished her skin. Her hair had become a fiery red and her eyes the colour of blood. Her vision swam and her knees buckled. Her head hit the ground and the last thing she saw was Luka's face before the darkness took her.
***
Her muscles ached, as Cassie blinked her eyes open, hoping that it had not all been a dream and was going to open her eyes to the horrors once again. Running her hands over the extravagant, silk sheets, Cassie slowly sat up. The keeper of the city looked on worriedly, as he leaned against the bed frame. He moved fluidly and came to sit beside her on the bed. It was a very déjà vu moment. Cassie was grateful that someone had dressed her, and washed the blood from her face.
“You had me worried, assassin,” he smirked. “I was considering hiring a new one.”
“Can't get rid of me that easily.” Cassie coughed before gulping down a glass of water that seemed to appear next to her.
She edged to the edge of the bed, standing on not so steady legs, trying to avoid the look of pity that showed on Lukas’s perfectly chiseled face. Glancing in the mirror, she was happy to see that her eyes had returned to normal, if you could call them that. But her hair now had red streaks. She gingerly reached to touch it, the nightmares of the past twenty-four hours now becoming reality.
A comforting hand squeezed her shoulder, and Cassie tried to push haunting memories aside to deal with another day. She waited for Luka to speak but silence filled the minutes. All Cassie wanted was to return to her safe haven, her apartment, a shower and hopefully sleep away the disturbing revelations of her past. Although, she was positive that when she closed her eyes, her vision would be filled with the empty and fearful eyes of the murdered women.
Luka pulled her towards him and pressed his lips to her forehead.
She knew he had read her thoughts, and she was grateful that he respected that she had to put to rest the demons in her mind, pardon the pun, before they could move forward. She stepped away from him, smiling as she laid a hand against his chest before walking out of his bedroom door.
He studied her as she went, so alive with power, yet shrouded in such darkness. Since the heavens had opened and hell had unleashed its presence amongst the mortals, she had seen and done a lot of un-human things. Most of it was his doing. He sighed as he sensed her leave the building, knowing that while this chapter had ended, he expected to see much more from his assassin. This was only the beginning.