What would they think of her choices? Would her mother understand?
“This way.” Alistair nodded to the right, toward a small alcove. She stepped through and into a large elevator which they rode down in silence.
She knew they’d have one shot at getting to the vault. One shot at getting the elixir for Seth. Tucked into her boots lay the magick ball Declan had given her in Hell. It had the power to peel back layers of reality. Ana hoped it was enough to peel back a huge iron vault.
If not, both she and Ransome were fucked. She cleared everything from her mind. When the elevator halted and the door opened, her fangs slid out.
She heard Ransome growl. It was low, full of menace, a promise of things to come. Ana snarled, turned, and attacked.
“So what’s the plan, sorcerer?” Samael eyed the property closely, his arms crossed, legs spread wide.
“I don’t have one.” Declan studied the ten-foot walls. They were charmed, the wards impressive. “Was thinking we could ring the bell but something tells me that ain’t gonna work.”
Nico joined the two of them. “I scouted the properties on both sides. They’re occupied by humans. Bet they’d shit their pants if they knew what lived next door.”
Samael cracked his neck and removed his aviators. “Boys, I think it’s time for a little chaos, don’t you?”
Declan glanced at the demon. “What do you have in mind?”
“Watch and learn, sorcerer.”
Samael slipped his aviators back in place and walked toward the gate. Declan glanced at Nico. “You ready?”
The warrior smiled harshly and held his dagger loose, while slinging an impressive-looking rifle across his back. “Let’s do this.”
Samael smashed the console near the entrance and immediately alarms sounded. He whipped out a cell phone, dialed 911, while behind him several vehicles, including the one they’d arrived in, exploded.
Two vampires appeared on the other side of the gate. They were livid, their fangs fully engaged, eyes aflame with crimson lust. Declan reached Samael and nodded. He was impressed. “This should do.”
The vampire closest to them snarled and rushed forward, leaping over the gate with no problem. Nico intercepted and the two went down hard. In the distance sirens sounded, signaling that police were on their way.
“Go!” Samael shouted. “We’ll meet you inside”—he flashed a grin and eyed the second vampire—“in a bit.”
Declan’s body thrummed with adrenaline. The energy in the air was sharp, dark, and powerful. He ran forward and jumped the fence easily, landing nearly ten feet away.
The vampire mojo had kicked in and he grunted, welcoming the rush.
Declan called the shadows to him and wove a protection spell that would hopefully be strong enough to cloak his body from the vampires within.
He sensed several vamps running toward the gate, their preternatural speed propelling them forward so quickly he barely had time to duck behind one of the large oak trees that lined the driveway.
Once they passed he made his way toward the main house, slipping through the shadows with ease. Ana’s scent was strong, as was Ransome’s—they’d trod this path recently.
He crept up the front steps and opened the door, drawing out a
charmed dagger as he did so. No one was around and he figured the incessant alarms had pretty much called all available bodies to the breach near the front gate.
Declan didn’t hesitate. Ana’s scent was like a trail of bread crumbs he had no problem following. It was dark, pitch black, and the sirens sounded loudly. He strode across the large foyer and slipped inside a small alcove. An elevator door was all it housed. He gritted his teeth and pressed the button.
Less than five seconds later the doors slid open and he snarled, his fangs erupting painfully. It looked as if a bucket of crimson had exploded inside. A body was sprawled awkwardly. Its head had been severed. It was vampire.
Declan jumped inside, ignored the carnage at his feet, and pressed the only option available, which was down.
The alarm still sounded but it was muted here below the main house, and though it was dark, his eyes had no problem adjusting as he moved forward.
Another body lay ahead. It stirred as he approached, moaning softly as it rolled over. The large male vampire opened his eyes and hissed, but Declan rendered him useless with one deadly swipe of his dagger.
The smell of fear, violence, and pain lingered madly and he panted as his focus faltered and thoughts of Ana infiltrated his mind. Up ahead a small glow cut through the darkness. He knew Ana was there, just beyond his sight.