Malevolence - Legacy Series Book Two (The Legacy Series) (30 page)

           
“What’s wrong doggie, afraid of the dark?
 
Your heart is speeding up past your regular rate of one hundred and twenty beats per minute,” Thing One said.
 

           
I gave her my cattiest disgusted look I could, and flipped her the finger.
 
The universal language.
 

           
The ladder was corroded with rust and years of dirt.
 
I was trying to get to the bottom of it without her noticing my hidden weapons.
 
I was second guessing myself at losing the shoes.
 
I hadn’t expected a private tour of the Catacombs.
 
We walked about a block and climbed up another ladder that led to yet another rotating wall.
 
I recognized the floor immediately; we were at the Vampire Museum.

Chapter 36. Missing

“And he ate and ate and threw all the bones under the table, until he had finished the whole.” The Almond Tree ~ Grimm’s Household Tales

ABEL

           
“What in the hell do you mean Pru is missing?”
 
I demanded to Oakley.

           
“Gus just texted me and said that she hasn’t come back from the bathroom and apparently he can’t talk wolf.
 
He said he’s on his way to check it out, but you guys need to be prepared.
 
Send Shaynie over, we’re going in together,” Oakley said and hung up the phone.

           
I turned to face Patrick’s pack as well as my group.
 
“Shaynie, get outside to Oakley, you and him are going in.
 
Patrick, if you have two people you can send in with them that would give them back-up, we could use it.”
 
Patrick nodded that he did and sent them off with Shaynie.
 
“Look, Pru may be missing.
 
Gus said she went to the bathroom and hasn’t come back.
 
She isn’t talking wolf, and apparently he can’t either.
 
He’s going that way to check on her.
 
We’re going to go in too.
 
These are my people, and I’m not going to sit back and let them die.
 
Dolly?
 
You in?”

           
“What is that phrase you use all of the time?
 
H to the E to the double L yeah.
 
Of course I’m going; no one takes my kid and hurts her.”
 
Dolly said as she checked her weapons.
 
“Ernie wouldn’t have sat it out either Abel, he’d be proud of you.”

           
“We’ll see how proud he is after we get back.
 
Dolly, if they kill Pru, I’ll never forgive myself.”

           
“Don’t start with the what if’s.
 
You’re letting them get in your head.
 
Trust me, Pru isn’t dead, she’s in trouble, but not dead.
 
Keep your head together and don’t lose it.
 
We’re fine; we’re werewolves and we can kick some serious ass, so let’s go prove a point.”

           
I laughed to myself thinking about her stealing my saying.
 
No one can say Pru isn’t like her mother.
 
For some unknown reason, I wasn’t afraid, I felt confident and strong.

           
 
“
Abel, I know you can hear me.
 
Abel, listen its Pru.
 
Abel?”

           
“Pru?
 
Why can’t anyone else talk to you?”

           
“I don’t know.
 
They drugged me and Gus.
 
I killed two of them, but they’ve taken me away.
 
Tell Gus to leave.
 
I’m at the Vampire Museum, in a secret room.
 
Tell him to leave, hurry.
 
One more thing, they’re planning on killing me once you get here.
 
It’s a trap, don’t come with them Abel.”

           
“Don’t you die, Pru!”
 

           
“Phelan’s listen up.
 
Pru just got through to me, she said that she is at the Vampire Museum.
 
Oakley, I’m coming in to help you get Gus out.
 
They are setting a trap to kill Pru, use caution.
 
These are vampires, not girl scouts.
 
We are trained fighters; we are the warriors and will not go down without a fight.
 
I plan on all of us living through this, so follow out the plan.”
 
I broadcasted to the pack.

           
Oakley and Shaynie met me on the side of the restaurant to go in together.
 
Without talking we walked through the doors.
 
The entire room looked up from their menus, dinner, date, whatever they were doing, to look at us.
 
I spotted my sister at a table with Pascale and two other guys, I assumed they were vampires.
 
Pascale held his wine glass up at me; I wanted nothing more than to rip it from his hands.
 
Shaynie was gathering the humans in the room and told them we were on a game show so they would need to leave.
 
She handed each couple the equivalent to a hundred dollars and told them the show would pay for whatever bill they had.

           
I tried pleading with Allie with my eyes to come over to me but she didn’t move.
 
I would have never had thought she would be seduced by someone to turn her back on her family.
 
She held my gaze without an ounce of expression at all.
 
Get her away from them; lie to her, whatever it takes.
 
I said to myself.
 
“Allie, can I talk to you for a minute?”

           
“What?”
 
Allie asked her eyes focused on mine.
 
I always knew she was pretty, but now she was amazingly so.
 
Her skin was perfectly flawless, paler, but beautiful.
 
Her lips were redder and eyes were so bright and alive.
 
A strange thought to have about a person that didn’t have a heartbeat.

           
“You and me, I’m your brother, unlike you, I’d never hurt you.”
 
I said.

           
“Darling, take your baby brother aside and explain to him that you’re fine.
 
Go on snuggle-butt, I’ll be right here waiting for you.”
 
He kissed her hand and stood to pull her chair out for her.

           
Snuggle-butt?
 
What kind of stupid pet name was that?
 
Do they get all snuggly in their coffin?
 
I fought the urge to hurl all over the floor.

           
“Come Abel; let’s get this insanity over with.”
 
Allie headed straight for the door, miracles do happen.

           
We walked around to the side of the building where I stood with Oakley a few minutes ago.
 
“Allie, come with me, I’ll protect you.”
 

           
She threw her head back and busted out laughing; not the cute laugh she used to have.
 
No, she had some evil vampire-on-crack laugh now.
 
“Abel, you’re really getting boring with the same damn thing over and over.
 
You can’t protect me, not now, not ever.
 
I’m a vampire, and you’re a wolf.
 
You’re the king of wolves, and right now I’m a pretty good queen of vamps.
 
The answer is n. o. no.”

           
“You’ve always been the one to do things the hard way, and this is no exception,” I said.
 
Those were the code words to have Parker and Patrick come secure her for transport to the museum.

           
“Have you lost your mind?
 
He will kill you all, all of you!
 
Abel Casey you have no idea what you’re up against.”
 
She growled.

           
Parker slapped handcuffs around her wrists.
 
I leaned in and said in and whispered “They’ve no idea what they’re up against.
 
I’m one big bad wolf and I’m about to blow their
freakin
house down.”
 
I grabbed her chin forcing her to look at me.
 
“And don’t
you
forget it.”

           
“Pay, you’ll pay with your stupid pathetic lives.”
 
Allie squealed at the top of her lungs, all the way to the van.

           
I was too mad to pay any attention to how cold it was.
 
I took in a deep breath and walked inside to get Shaynie and Oakley.

           
“We’re finished here,” I said and turned around to leave.

           
I felt him behind me before I heard the table fall over.
 
“Mutt, what did you do with my queen?”

           
I grinned to myself before turning around. Shaynie and Oakley pulled me behind them.
 
“My
sister
said she was tired of the blood diet and wants to go home.
 
I guess you’ll have to trade your double wide coffin in for a sleeker single.”

           
His entire body went rigid as if he was reminding himself that he wasn’t a man but a vampire sire.
 
He tilted his head side to side, stretching it out.
 
“Abel my dear, you will return my Allie or I’ll take great pleasure in telling the world of not only my secret, but yours as well.
 
How do you think your little town of Choctaw, Oklahoma will take it?
 
They’ll run and hide from your little vegetable garden.
 
You’re reputation will suffer far more than mine ever will.
 
I’m able to offer them salvation from murderers and crazed militias.
 
What can you do for them?
 
Hump them to death?”

           
“Give me Pru and Gus, you can have Allie.
 
Where is Pru?”
 
I said in a defeated sounding voice.

           
“I’ll meet you at my museum.
 
I believe you know the way.
 
You have thirty minutes, and I’m being generous.
 
I will rip her limb from limb in front of you if you are one minute late.” He turned around and was gone.

           
“Get damage control in here,” I said to Shaynie.

           
“Was that a pile of ashes by the bar?”
 
I asked Oakley.

           
“Yeah, that was the remains to a vamp that asked if I wanted a dog biscuit,” he said.
 
“I couldn’t help myself.
 
After he said that, he made a comment about Pru liking it doggie style.
 
I snapped.
 
”

           
I put my hand on his shoulder.
 
I knew it would be tough sending him in with her missing.
 
“No worries, one less vampire to deal with.
 
We better hurry.”