Page 126 of How to Entice a Fiend

Abel hesitates and looks down at his arm with a confused expression as Mads hurries up behind me and whispers, “Whatever you do, don’t let him go back inside.”

“What?” I ask, but before I can ask more, I see Abel start to back toward the building, almost like Mads predicted he would… but why?

Rushing him, I slam into him, driving him away from the door as he begins clawing at me desperately. His actions have turned from calculating to sporadic. I manage to pull him back as he screams out and turns to attack me. He hits me hard but when Marcus shoves him back, Alexei throws something our way. I snatch up the blade as I see that Abel’s skin is bubbling up, rippling and turning red. He jerks back, aware that we’re not going to let him in the building where the others are blocking the entrance, keeping his people inside. Without hesitation, heturns to run. He finds a tree as I realize that the sun is burning him. The sunlight is eating through his skin like it would a new vampire freshly turned.

Abel doesn’t see me until I slam into him, blade driving into his chest as he’s thrown out of the shade and into the sunlight. He screams and thrashes while his skin burns off him and as he staggers back, I swing the blade, cutting his head clean off.

His blistered head hits the ground as I look up to see where his “children” are. They’ve broken through the barrier created by Alexei, Claude, Brooks, Orin, and DeGray, but I’m ready for them.

When they see their maker’s body on the ground, many stop moving. And when I start toward them, most draw back. They know that without Abel to keep me preoccupied, they’re no match for me. Some think in numbers they still have a chance, but when Alexei kills one who tries to make their way toward me, more pull back. And this time, they flee. The VRC get a few down, but while they’re busy, most take the opportunity to run. I tear a few down in an attempt to help but still, so many get away.

As soon as it’s clear, I hear someone coming up behind me, but I recognize Mads’s footsteps.

“Oh fuck…” Mads whispers as he wraps his arms around me from behind. “Oh fuck. Oh fuck.” His arms tighten. I want to turn to him, but I can’t allow my attention to wander from the vampires we have down and submitting. “Sorry. I don’t mean to distract you, but oh fuck.”

Thankfully, there is little they can do, and most allow the VRC to handcuff them with minimal fighting. It’s this or death and they’re aware of it.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

I reach to where he’s gripping me, and with my free hand, I cup his. My hand is coated in blood, and I’m sure I’m dirtying him, but at this moment, I don’t even care.

“What was that?” I ask. “What did you inject him with?”

“Uh… well… you know how I created something that allows me to walk in the sun? Long story short, instead of using a drug to remove the reason why young vampires can’t walk in the sun but old ones can, I simply reversed it. I injected his body full of that shit and really fucking hoped it’d work. I hoped so desperately that it would work.”

“I would say it worked,” I say as I eye the body.

He lets out a laugh, showing how relieved he is. “Quite well. Thank you for saving so many lives.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

MADS

I anxiously wait for Ender to return from helping the VRC. Just because Abel is gone doesn’t mean all of the danger is gone as well. But of course I shouldn’t have worried because anyone who doesn’t immediately listen to Ender gets whacked across the head and threatened with beheading. It seems to work quite well as they’re loaded into transport vehicles.

“This is a fucking mess,” Brooks comments, surveying the scene. “But at least Abel is dead. The problem will be trying to find every area he was involved in.”

“And keeping someone from taking his place,” Finn says.

“That will be the true issue,” Brooks agrees. “You know some will try, but we need to regain control of the council and VRC and show them that we are not to be taken lightly. We have footage of everyone involved. We will send out police to arrest them, we will drive them from their homes, and we will do whatever we can to make this end.”

“Hopefully, we will also be able to find any remaining ammunition and drugs that Abel had, and we will keep Mads safe so that no one ever learns of it again,” Finn says.

“Right.”

Ender makes his way over to us, as does Marcus who is no longer needed now that most of the vampires have been taken away.

“Abel is dead… so… what does that mean for me?” Ender asks, seeming almost hesitant.

“It means that we need to keep an eye on your whereabouts as you are likely the only person who might be able to give us more information on who interacted with Abel in the past,” Finn replies.

“Can you guys keep Rylee safe?” he asks.

“Youcan keep Rylee safe,” Marcus says. “Finn is saying that you are not permitted to leave, but we don’t yet know who we can rely on or who might still be dedicated to Abel’s cause. I will not deny that you are stronger than I am, and we need strength right now when the VRC is in shambles and the council has officially lost its final member. We are requesting you stay in the area not only because you might have information to assist us but because we need someone to keep watch over Mads, who should not be alone at any point. If you can’t, we will find a safe space for him to be under observation. If you do want to, Orin has already agreed that you can stay at the house we stayed at last night. Once things have calmed down, both of you can leave, but not before then.”

“You’re going to excuse what I’ve done?” Ender asks.

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