Page 49 of Psycho

I looked at my witch supplies and wondered which one I could use. I pulled out the sleeping powder and wondered if it would work on a vampire. I knew my time was limited but I slid out my phone and called Agatha from the witch shop.

“Psychic Shop,” she answered.

“Hey, Agatha, it’s Nera. I was just in there earlier?”

“Oh, hi. What can I do for you?” she asked.

“Does the sleeping powder work on vampires?”

She paused for a moment. “It should, but it won’t knock them out for as long as it would a human. You’ll have maybe thirty seconds?”

“Okay, great. Thanks!”

“Be careful,” she warned.

I ended the call, put the car in drive, and headed toward the bastards. I wanted to throw up. Could this really work? I didn’t see any needles in their hands, but that didn’t mean they didn’t have them in a pocket, ready to use their damn super speed to jab me. I had to be careful and stay a good distance away.

I parked the Audi about twenty feet away. I looked in the van and even though the windows were dark, I didn’t see any other bastards in the front seats. I’d really only seen four of them during my time in captivity, and I figured the fourth was probably at their new place, babysitting.

The main bastard narrowed his eyes at me. I got out of the car with my hands up in surrender. Poppy’s eyes widened. I stared into her blue eyes and nodded slightly that everything was okay.

As soon as I saw one vampire make a slight move, I issued the three of them a brain sting. “Dolor!” Their eyes widened and then they yelled, falling to their knees. Then I pulled the powder from my pocket, rushed over, and dusted it in their faces. “Somnum!”

They gripped their heads, then two of them dropped unconscious while the third had his hands braced on his head, as the powder had missed him. He let go of Poppy and she rushed toward me. I dragged her by the hand as we ran toward the car. I put her in the passenger seat and rushed around to the driver’s side when I heard her scream.

One of the bastards who hadn’t been outside the van grabbed me by the waist and dragged me back toward it.

“Dolor!” I yelled, and he let go of me and dropped to his feet. I kicked him for good measure, wishing I had more powder, and opened the driver’s side door.

I was stopped by the main bastard, a cruel look in his eyes. “Where do you think you’re going, little girl?”

I kicked out at him to get him to move but he didn’t budge. “Dolor!”

“Fuck!” he yelled but he didn’t fall this time. He dragged me out by the arm as I kicked and screamed.

Then, he jabbed me in the neck with a needle as I continued to fight.

“Go!” I screamed at Poppy. “Take the car and…”

Then, there was nothing but blackness.

My mouth was dry and my throat even drier. I groaned at the pounding in my head and looked around. I was in the same bed as before, different room. I sat up too quickly, fearing the asshole would come in and violate me, and moaned at the pain.

But, I couldn’t go through that.

Not again.

I have to get the hell out of here.

I wasn’t tied up. I tried the door but it of course was locked. I kicked at it, but I was weak. I racked my brain for a spell I could use—any spell. I’d spent a couple of hours studying that book Agatha sold me. The first thing I looked up was how to counteract pharmaceutical drugs that affected cognitive ability. I knew enough about drugs from being a nurse that they were probably injecting me with propofol, a powerful drug used to keep patients asleep during surgery. It could sometimes last days, patients complaining of feeling loopy, memory loss, and just a general fatigue. That was exactly how I felt now and would feel for a couple of days until the bastards would inject us again.

I’m not getting injected again. I refuse.

Just then, the door opened and the blond one walked in with a water bottle. He tossed it at me. “I see someone’s awake.” He grinned, and it was creepy.

I opened the bottle and downed the contents. I was so thirsty.

“Where’s Poppy?” I slurred.

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