My Dark Knight (Kings of Hell MC 2)

The dead man howled, only to proceed with manic laughter, but before Elliot could make up his mind as to what was going on, a bright beam of light hit him square in the face.

Knight flinched alongside him, and it was only when they both heard a frantic tapping of claws against the floor it occurred to Elliot who’d caught them red-handed.

A low growl echoed throughout the hall, and when Elliot blinked against the light, he spotted Beast’s massive dog sprinting toward him from the source of light.

“Fuck!” Knight pushed Elliot back, but as Elliot stumbled against the statue, a drop of freezing cold liquid trailed down his neck.

“A little favor, friend. You seem like a good boy,” the unknown ghost said. “I need that dog to bleed. A single drop would do.”

Elliot scooted down and wrapped his arms over his head in panic. It was all too much. His heart beat like mad, making him sweaty even in this cold corridor. So he’d be seeing more ghosts? And they’d want things from him? How could this have happened to him?

The dog’s barking got so ferocious he closed his eyes tightly, but it didn’t make the voices go away.

“Just one drop,” whispered the impaled ghost pleadingly. “That fucker is neutered. I will never be free of this hell if I don’t—”

“Who cares?” William interrupted him and stroked Elliot’s head. “Elliot isn’t here to do your bidding. Right, my sweet? The only thing that matters in the world now is you and I.”

Beast’s booming voice froze Elliot’s blood. “Hound, down,” he said, approaching with the high-beam flashlight that licked the dog’s form as it lay on the floor, growling loudly. Even with shadow obscuring its muzzle, the animal’s eyes seemed to burn through the dusky air to settle on Elliot.

Knight raised both his arms. “Beast, what the actual fuck?”

“I see you found your lost boy,” Beast said in a voice dripping with vinegar.

“Just one drop, boy. Don’t be a bitch. Be a man,” continued the biker ghost, whom Elliot tried to ignore with all his brainpower.

Despite his master coming closer, Hound retreated slightly, flattening his ears as he looked Elliot’s way.

“I’ve always hated those bloody animals,” William said, leaning his weight against Elliot. “I see the feeling’s mutual.”

“Hound went mad. What time is it even? Five in the morning? I thought that maybe he’d sensed an intruder, but he brought me all the way here.” Beast kept his spotlight on Elliot with a frown.

“I didn’t do anything,” Elliot whined, getting up on shaky legs.

“He’s on shrooms,” Knight offered. “Said he took sleeping pills and doesn’t know the date.”

Beast cocked his head to the side, but then pointed to the open door to the basement. “Is that where he’s been? You said you checked there.”

Knight exhaled, and his shoulders hunched. “It was locked. I didn’t think he had the key.”

“Was he… living there?” Beast raised the light straight to Elliot’s face, making him squint as if this was an interrogation. “This is messed up.”

Elliot was afraid anything he’d say could be taken against him, so he stayed silent, taking solace in William’s soothing touch.

Knight shook his head. “I know, but he slept through the entire time. That’s why we couldn’t find him. I— uh. There’s one more thing while we’re at it. And you know, standing by the cellar.”

Beast frowned, and the deep shadows cast by the flashlight deepened the burn grooves on his face.

Knight proceeded to briefly sum up their secret dig, and it seemed that each subsequent word contributed to Beast’s agitation.

“So you found hidden rooms, with dead bodies inside, and didn’t bother to tell me about it? Are you my VP or are you trying to fucking undermine my authority in this club at every fucking turn?”

The biker ghost roared with laughter only William and Elliot could hear. “He doesn’t have it in him. I always said that. Pathetic creature. Lost his soul for a boy. If it was me, Knight would be nursing two broken arms!”

Knight and Beast continued to argue, but Elliot was too overwhelmed to listen on, focused instead on Hound, who crawled toward him conspicuously. William’s lip curled in antipathy, but he put his arm over Elliot’s shoulders and distracted him from the dog by pointing out an empty niche in the wall.

“I cannot believe my precious home has been savaged this way. There used to be a glorious statue of Neptune stabbing his trident through Hercules down there. You would have liked it.”

“I would,” Elliot whispered with a little smile, relieved that William’s anger with him had passed and that he was adjusting to the way things were. “I imagine myself fitting into this household very well.”

“What is he mumbling?” Beast groaned and stepped closer.

“Told you he’s tripping,” Knight said, stepping forward to meet Beast halfway. They stared at one another for the tensest ten seconds Elliot had ever witnessed, and in the end Knight shook his head. “Do you want me to step down? Didn’t think you’d care. You have more important shit on your mind than the history of the building. Wanted to tell you once I can sum up all the findings.”