Page 62 of Psycho

Chapter 23

Kill Or Be Killed

Nera

Janelle’s eyes widened as we were chatting and I looked behind me to see Deon heading my way from across the warehouse. We quickly stopped talking.

With my back to him, I snatched the decorative rock and sock from my pocket and struck the rock against the high-carbon steel of my cage, desperately trying to create a spark. I couldn’t create fire out of nothing or shoot lightning from my hands—I was sure I’d learn those eventually—but I could use my magic to enhance fire that was already present.

A spark flew up from the rock but it wasn’t enough. I slid it roughly again and again against the steel until a larger spark showed up. “Ignis,” I whispered. The sock burst into flames and I dropped it.

The girls gasped at my cunning, but I wasn’t paying attention to them. As soon as Deon came around the front of the cage, I had to think of something—fast.

“Help!” I screamed. “The cage is on fire! Get me out of here. Please!”

“Dammit,” he said, quickly unlocking the padlock holding the cage closed with a key he produced from his pocket.

As soon as it was open, I quickly kicked the sock and it landed on his foot. It ignited his clothes and he screamed, dropping his keys. I snatched them up and ran to Leticia’s cage, unlocking hers and then to the others while the smell of burning flesh permeated my nose and his screams assaulted my ears.

It took the other vampires a few long seconds to realize what was going on. One snatched a fire extinguisher off the wall next to the eye-wash station and doused Deon, whose dark skin was peeling and chunking off, leaving angry pink patches of skin.

I had only gotten three cages unlocked but I knew I had to make a run for it. I had to leave the rest there in order to come back and get help. Leticia, Janelle, and Sarah would have to get away so I could come back and rescue the rest.

I felt my hair being snatched at the scalp as I ran, my body halting as I was dragged to the floor.

“Dolor!” I yelled.

The one holding me let go and cried out, but then another snatched me. I tried the spell again and he grunted but didn’t let go.

I whirled around and saw him with a needle in his hand. I kneed him in the groin and he dropped, the syringe clattering to the ground. I stomped on it and kicked it away, then ran for the door.

One of the vampires had grabbed Janelle but I didn’t see Leticia, glad she had got away.

The one I’d kneed grabbed me around the waist, trying to drag me back to the cage. I snapped my head back and head-butted him in the nose.

Damn, that hurt.

Pain exploded in the back of my head but he loosened his grip enough for me to get away.

I was almost outside when I heard a car pull up. I ran through the doors to see a black Humvee and men spilling out of it.

“Shep!” I cried, and he ran toward me carrying a pistol.

I jumped into his arms, he kissed me, and threw me at Chaos, who tossed me into the back of the Humvee. I looked around and saw Leticia running away.

“Leticia!” I yelled through the open window.

She stopped and turned.

“Come here! Get inside!”

She doubled back and ran, darting into the backseat through the other side. We hugged and cried, then watched my man and his men go to work.

A smoking and burnt Deon snatched Janelle from the other vamp’s arms, bared his fangs, and sank them into her neck while she screamed, her arms flailing.

Oh boy, she was going to need serious therapy—and vamp hypnosis—after this.

He dropped her to the ground and Leticia and I gaped in fascinated horror as his skin began to heal. Then, he used preternatural speed to whiz out of the warehouse through what must have been a back door.

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