“I smell dead bodies,” I said low. Amazing that I could detect the slightest of odors even beneath the rain that I was sure was masking scents.
“That’s the aroma of fabricated humans.” Webb peered around the SUV.
“You mean like Rianne?” I asked.
“Yep,” he said. “Their scent is a cross between wet dog and dead dog.”
I guffawed at the disgust in his tone, although my nerves were making me want to laugh and scream at the same time. I was a vampire because of Rianne. My sister’s final act had killed me, as Abbey had predicted the very day I’d driven onto the naval base with Rianne. Abbey had never seen how Rianne would take my life, but the little seer had been right. On top of that, I’d seen myself dead in a coffin with a mangled ear. Although the coffin part hadn’t come true, Rianne had disfigured my ear.
Shivers of terror careened down my spine, turning into ice when a voice blared through a bullhorn.
“Steven Mason.” Adam’s voice pierced through the sounds of Mother Nature. “I hope you brought my brother.”
Steven walked out into an open area, faced Webb and me, then looked up toward the roof.
I peeked in that direction. Adam was standing on top of the building, bullhorn in hand and a bald dude beside him. The same guy in Adam’s video who had a machete to my uncle’s throat—Draven Murphy.
“Where’s Jack Aberdeen?” Steven asked, his arms at his sides and slightly behind him.
I knew what he was about to do. Right before Sam weaponized himself with one of the four elements, he always took on the same body posture and stance.
“Show me my brother first,” Adam said.
“Can’t do that,” Steven tossed up at him. “And why are you up there? Come down here and face me like a man. No weapons. Just you and me. If you win, I’ll hand over your brother.”
Adam’s laugh could probably be heard in the city from here. “No, you won’t. Which is why you’ve left me no choice but to kill Jack Aberdeen.”
My heart sank to the rough concrete. I popped up and joined Steven. “Hand him over, or I’ll personally give you a taste of your own medicine.”
Draven leaned in and said something to Adam, who in turn nodded.
Then Draven bent down and rose with a head dangling from his hand.
I was ready to puke. I couldn’t quite see if Draven was holding my uncle’s head or not.
Draven launched the dead man’s head at us like he was throwing a football down the field.
The severed skull splashed into a puddle behind a car near us and rolled awkwardly toward us.
Steven muttered, “It’s one of Joan’s men.”
Draven whistled, which was odd, but then Tripp’s frantic voice rang in my comm. “We need help in the container yard. Monsters heading your way.”
It took me a second to realize what was happening when twenty or more seeming clones of Rianne—men and women, short and tall, all with red eyes, long, thick canines, and talons—spilled in from around the right and left of the warehouse. Growls and howls rent the air as these creatures ran toward us.
“Try like hell not to get bitten!” Steven shouted. “Their saliva can be toxic. It won’t kill us, but it sure as fuck will knock us out.”
Dr. Vieira had an antidote for toxins. Unfortunately, not one for the specific poison he’d found in Rianne.
Steven began launching fireballs. Webb used his gun.
I dove into action, conjuring up what I’d learned from Agnes but hadn’t practiced in the field.
I flicked my wrists at one female creature who reminded me of Rianne with her hairy face and red eyes. “Strecta!” I shouted.
But nothing happened. I tried again as the woman with claws sped toward me. I failed a second time. It must be my nerves overshadowing my belief. I had the desire and will. Maybe I wasn’t visualizing.
Just as she reached me, I clutched the sides of her head and twisted, like Sam had done to Rianne. Thank fuck for vampire strength. She collapsed as a bolt of lightning cracked open the sky above. But I didn’t have time to take a breath.
