Angel's Curse (20 page)

I wish my heart would slow down, I thought. It’s going at a hundred kilometres an hour!

Oh my god, my heart! My heart, which only raced around Danny, had found a substitute to make it beat faster. Was it Drake, or the hunger to kill angels, that made it race so? I was afraid to find out.

16.
Solstice

There were a number of new packages in my room. Most of the shoes that had been specially made had arrived. I checked the time — ten in the morning. I didn’t want my room serviced today, nor did I want any packages being dropped off. They could hold them at the front desk for me. I opened the door, slipped the
do not disturb
sign on the handle, closed it and replaced the chain, so no one could get in.

I should be tired,
I thought, but I was so pumped it would be a waste of my time to lie in bed. I’d spent almost seven hours with Drake, though it seemed a lot less.
Time flies when you’re having fun … or planning the downfall of angels!

I stood in front of the wardrobe mirror and tried on my shoes, changing my clothes numerous times to work out what mixed and matched well.

Black leather,
I thought.
That’s what I want to wear when I kill angels.

I closed my eyes, imagining what I’d wear — a skin tight black leather catsuit, zipped to reveal a black lacy bra and a good amount of cleavage, and black stilettos. A thick black belt would sit on my hips and Death would be strapped to my thigh. My good luck charm would be on its usual place — my right arm — touching the skin and hidden from view by the catsuit.

When I opened my eyes I was attired in the outfit I’d imagined. I turned this way and that, admiring the fit. I’d change my hair colour as well — blue black — and with a touch of mascara, and blood red lips, the image I wanted to portray would be complete. The stilettos may not have been practical, but it didn’t matter if I twisted or snapped an ankle — I’d heal almost instantly, and a small amount of pain was of little concern.

Now I had to turn my attention to weapons, not for myself, but for the vamps.

“I want a hundred switchblades and ninety throwing stars.”

They appeared on the coffee table with a loud clanking noise. I’d only ever seen a switchblade once, and it was this image I concentrated on. If I was going to supply the vamps with weapons that could kill angels they’d need to be careful, and I thought switchblades would be the safest weapon for most of them. The throwing stars were for the specialists. They’d obviously handled these things before and would know the dangers.

I changed out of the catsuit and into sweats, something more comfortable for the task I was going to complete. Death was sitting on the couch next to me along with a towel. I’d never tried anything like this before with Death and wondered if it would sing to me when it tasted
my
blood. I made the necessary internal changes, as it was demon blood I was after. If I could change my scent it should stand to reason that I’d be able to change the structure of my blood as well. If not, this would all be for nothing. Of course I’d need to test it first, and would ask Drake for a volunteer.

I laid out twenty-five of the throwing stars — five rows of five — and leaned over the coffee table. I exposed my left arm and clenched my fist as Death bit into my forearm, making a long and deep gash — surprisingly the blade remained silent. I turned my arm over and allowed the blood to drip onto the throwing stars. When they were liberally coated I unclenched my fist and lifted my arm away, covering it with a towel.

I blew lightly on the throwing stars to dry the blood and a few of them crystallised. I hoped that wouldn’t make a difference. I’d need to be more careful. I flipped them over and began the process again, ensuring both sides were covered.

I continued until all of the throwing stars and switchblades had been coated in blood. I sent them to the cavern in the abandoned mine for safekeeping and cleaned up the mess I’d made.

It was exactly two weeks to the solstice, the time when we would strike, though Drake didn’t know that yet. He only knew something big was going to happen. I’d go back to him sometime tomorrow. I wasn’t sure how much time he’d need to coordinate the vampires, particularly if he rallied the neighbouring clans, so the sooner I told him everything, the better. I just couldn’t go back yet, not when my heartbeat had only just calmed down.

I headed towards the bathroom. The bath was already full and bubbling away. I eased myself in and let the jets of the spa work the knots out of my tense muscles.

Danny used to do that for me, work out the knots,
I thought.
A glass of champagne would be nice about now.
One appeared on the side of the bath.

I rolled my eyes. “A pity I can’t drink it.”

I slipped into a nice thick robe and headed to the bedroom. I was starting to feel sleepy, thanks to the bath, and wanted to catch up on a few hours’ sleep. It was already dark outside. I’d spent hours changing outfits and working on blooding the blades and stars.

It was two in the morning when I woke. I’d slept for five hours and it felt like enough. I dressed as I walked to the door — jeans, sandals and a baby-doll top — to retrieve the
do not disturb
sign. I left the chain off the door so my room could be serviced later in the day.

“Shit, the catsuit — in the safe with you. I wouldn’t want to give the staff the wrong impression.”

I laughed. Wouldn’t it give them something to talk about — an S&M mistress in their very midst. Not that I wasn’t experienced in that area. I
was
a girl of many talents after all.

I’d told Drake I’d be back in a day or so, and it had been almost twenty-six hours since I’d first talked to him. Was I really that eager to see him again?
No,
I thought.
You’re eager to reveal your plan, to test your bloody blades, and to get on with your war.

I transported myself into his chambers. I figured there’d be vampires nearby to Drake’s rooms and they’d be able to tell me where to find him. I was surprised to see him lounging on the couch.

“Don’t tell me you’ve been waiting for me here all this time?” I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t really expect to find you here.”

“You said a day or so. I’ve only been waiting a short time. I knew you’d not wait much longer than a day,” he said cockily.

I sat at the other end of the couch.

“I’ve been thinking about demon’s blood,” I said.

“Demon’s blood is quite expensive.”

I smiled. “I don’t think you’ll have to worry about imposing on a demon, no matter the cost. I’ve brought something with me.”

I thought of the switchblades and throwing stars and they appeared on Drake’s coffee table, some spilling over on to the carpet. Drake leaned forward to look at the pile of weapons.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“I’m not sure if it worked, but hopefully they’re coated in demon’s blood.”

“Hopefully? You mean you don’t know?”

“I’ve never attempted anything like this before,” I said. “Perhaps you could find a volunteer we could try it on?”

“You mean a suicide vamp, as you call them.”

“That would be best, especially if it works.” I pulled a small knife out of my sleeve. “This only has one drop on it, so your volunteer might have a chance, if it works.”

“Or it will be a slow death,” Drake pointed out.

“If it comes to that I’ll quickly finish whoever it is off.”

“You’re not worried about the effect of the blood on yourself?” he asked.

“I don’t think demon’s blood can harm me anymore,” I said smugly. “I didn’t die the last time, did I, and there was seriously more blood on those three throwing stars than is on this little pen knife.”

“Very well,” Drake said, slapping his thighs. “Shall we find a volunteer?”

“Yes please,” I said eagerly. I was keen to find out if it worked.

We headed towards another chamber, where vamps lounged around — playing cards, darts or pool, listening to music, reading or simply talking.

“My friends,” Drake’s voice took on the role of a leader addressing his followers, “I need a volunteer.”

A few vampires stood up and Drake motioned for them to sit.

“Before you’re so quick to volunteer, you must know that it’s quite likely to result in your death. We need to test if this knife,” he held out his hand for me to give him the knife, “has demon’s blood on it.”

Of the vamps that had originally stood up only one stood up again.

“Good man,” Drake said and beckoned him forward. “Come over here.”

As soon as the vampire was standing in front of him Drake drove the knife into his stomach and let go of the handle. He stepped back to see what would happen.

The vampire’s face contorted in pain.

“
Fuck!
” he said. “
Fuck it burns!
”

He dropped to his knees, pulled out the blade and clutched his stomach. Drake turned to me and nodded his head. It
was
demon’s blood and it was apparent from the fact that the vamp hadn’t keeled over already, that one drop led to a slow and painful death, for vamps anyway.

I walked behind the vampire and crouched down. I brushed his shoulder length hair away from his neck.

“Thank you,” I whispered into his ear, and let my mouth rest on the side of his neck. I pulled his hands away from his stomach and placed mine on his open wound in their place.

“What’s she doing?” someone yelled.

“Giving him a quick death,” Drake replied.

“But that’s demon’s blood. We can’t drink it,” someone else said.

“Helena is different. There are many things she can do that we cannot. This is one of them.”

By the time the vampires finished discussing what I was doing the job was done. I looked at Drake.

“Should I dispose of the body?” I asked.

“Can you?”

“Of course.”

I lightly touched a finger to the body as I’d seen Danny do so many times and it was reduced to ash. Drake clicked his fingers and someone came forward to clear up the mess.

“That’s not necessary,” I said. I waved a hand over the ashes and whispered, “You know where to go.”

The gasps of astonishment were reward enough. Drake put a hand under my elbow, encouraging me to stand again. He guided me out of the room, back to his chambers, with the buzz of much conversation about what had just taken place echoing through the halls.

When we were safely in Drake’s room he asked, “Where did you send him?”

I thought of the underground cavern in the abandoned mine, the resting place of many vampires.

“I have a burial ground of sorts. I sent him there.”

“You’re a handy girl to have around,” Drake laughed.

Funny,
I thought,
I used to think the same thing of Danny.

We sat on the couch again.

“Do you know what happens at the solstice?” I asked.

Drake would know about the zombies, of course, but had he connected the dots about angel activity twice a year.

“You’re referring to the night zombies feel the urge to reproduce and create more of their kind.”

“Yes. Do you know what else is significant about the solstice?”

“No, is there something else?”

“Yes, Danny told me of it.”

“I take it you’re referring to Danizriel?”

I nodded.

“Let me make some room first. I want to show you something. I need a box,” I mumbled, and a large wooden chest appeared in one corner of the room.

I flicked my hand above the coffee table. The weapons disappeared and we heard the sound of them reappearing in the box —
clink, clink, clink.
I waved my hand over the table and the map I’d shown Kiana appeared, the areas she had touched flaring brightly.

“These are the locations of active nests, over an area covering twenty thousand square kilometres. On the solstice, when the zombies seek to create more of their kind, the angels will descend to try and wipe them off the face of the earth.”

“Ah, I see,” Drake said knowingly.

“How many can you rally?” I asked.

“Thousands.”

“We’re going to need more switchblades,” I mumbled, and sighed.

“If you can provide more blades coated in demon’s blood I can guarantee you at least five thousand vampires,” Drake said encouragingly.

“I don’t think you quite understand how this works,” I said. “I’m going to be terribly hungry if I have to produce
that
many blades.”

“Then I shall provide you with food. How many vampires will you need?”

“I don’t know. Do you have them on tap?”

“I don’t understand what you mean,” Drake said.

“Sorry, it’s the way mortals are provided with some of their beverages. Kind of like a constant flow.”