Page 5 of The Blood Widow

Once the chair was placed, I got on it, reaching for my yellow swirling magic. My portal may be a dick to me, but I know wherever it was placed on the other side, it was hidden. I slowly poked my head through. Great, I was behind a tall toolbox. My heart did cartwheels in my chest.

I quickly moved through into enemy territory and chugged the enhancing potion. It was too chunky and tasted like monkey’s ass. I scrunched my nose as I threw the bottle back into my house. Energy buzzed in me harder and faster, waking me up better than any cup of coffee could.

The stale air itched my nose. My eyes darted around, taking in my surroundings. The adrenaline coursing through my veins was euphoric. One of my favorite highs.

It was a typical dungeon with stone walls and several cells lined with bars. Aside from a single chair where a guy sat, there was nothing else in the room. The gray toolbox I hid behind was tucked in the corner, so I could see everything. Two small heaps were in the closest cell. Their small bodies shook from their weeping. The guy on the chair didn’t even bat an eye. He absently flipped a small axe around, daydreaming while still appearing to glare at the kids. His eyes had to refocus on them every time they moved.

A banging on the door followed by screeching from the kids made me shrink into a tighter ball to not be seen. This could be an easy job… if I didn’t get caught.

The new man that walked in was covered in blood.

“Let’s switch.” He wiped his crimson mouth. “If you need to feed, there’s some humans out there.”

Where was Beaut? We were running out of time. I glanced at the nonexistent watch on my wrist out of habit.

An explosion in the distance shook the ground slightly. There she was. I smiled and waited for my opening. When both men glanced out the door, shouting out questions, I called on my portal again. If I was all lucky, it would appear underneath the kids.

I held my breath and waited. Sweat coated my palms as time slowed. If the portal fucked me over, I would have to fight, and the chances my identity not being found out were low. With a whoosh of air, the kids screamed and fell through my magic into safety. My smile was wide as I threw the masking potion to the ground, so nothing in this room or that I did could be traced. I watched the potion dissolve and the glass vanish. I loved magic.

The two men stammered.

“What the fuck was that?”

“Are we under attack?”

“Where are the kids?”

“They were just there.” A commotion followed those words.

I put my leg through my portal ready to leave.

One of the men’s shouts caught my attention. “Son of a bitch! Kill the parents!”

“Where are the parents?” the other guy asked. I couldn’t see him, but the fear in his tone was easy to hear.

“You’re a bloody idiot. They’re in the dungeon below this one. Go. I’ll trace the fucking magic and get the kids back.”

Good luck with that, Asshole.

His words had me perking up, though. I didn’t know the vamps had two levels to their dungeons, and since I took a power booster, I could save the parents too. Hope fluttered in my chest as I closed one portal and called on another.

The swirling circle appeared right under my feet. Good thing I was already thinking about my destination because I fell through and crashed to the floor below. My hip took the brunt. I groaned.

The dirty men and women in the cages screamed, alerting whoever was stomping down the hall. A muffled, “Get the key,” had me scrambling to my feet.

These cages weren’t the same as the children’s. They were human trafficking pens. Well, fuck.

The smell of feces and urine stung my eyes, which was probably for the best because the scene in front of me was a hard sight to see. Grime covered the men and women like a second skin. They wore nothing but blankets over their mistreated bodies.

The magic swirled like an eager twister inside me, begging me to call upon it. So, I did. I had never tried to use more than one pocket portal at a time, but tonight I was going to.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the waves of magic inside me and pressed the metaphorical button to my pocket portal ability, guiding it to each cage. I couldn't help all these people or make sure they weren't dangerous, so I thought of the only place I could drop them off: Bell's Haven Center.

She had people who could help them and figure out what they needed. Hopefully, she would find the kid's parents among the twenty adults here.

One by one, a circle appeared in each cage. Even with the power-boosting potion, I could only make four portals at a time.

"Hurry," I told the people when they hesitated. With my harsh tone, several jumped but followed my command.

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