Page 26 of Blood Illusions

Justice gave him a hard stare. “I sincerely hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Yeah, I do. It’s called justice,” he replied without taking his gaze from the destroyed mine.

The air was thick with dust, the smell of explosives hanging heavy. I coughed and I shielded my eyes. Dust descended on us like a light rain. Yet there was also a sense of finality, a feeling that whatever had lurked in those mines wouldn’t be troubling anyone again.

Damon turned to us, his expression a mix of satisfaction and relief, but his features hardened as he focused on Justice. “Now, take us to our dad or else.” His voice was low and laced with an unspoken warning that if Justice lied, he wouldn’t walk away unscathed

Justice held his gaze without flinching. “I promised I’d take you to him, and I will.”

Damon flicked his arm. “Then do it.”

Justice opened his mouth, and a melodious whistle pierced the air. Something moved through the trees. Suddenly, the brown-and-white pegasus galloped toward Justice, his wings flapping gracefully and his magnificent mane flowing like silk.

When the pegasus reached him, Justice turned to Damon. “Like your sister, I’m allowing you to see him. Otherwise, you’d never be able to follow us.” Justice stepped forward and patted his neck before climbing onto the saddle on his back.

Damon’s eyes widened as he took in the sight of the magnificent pegasus. After a beat, he looked up at Justice, his expression a mix of disbelief and wry amusement. “Are you kidding me? A flying horse? What’s next, unicorns handing out free wishes?” His words lightened the mood.

I couldn’t help but smile and chuckle.

Damon stepped closer, still eyeing Equinox warily. He headed to the driver’s side of the car and glanced at me. “I’ve seen a lot of crazy stuff, but this? This is like a fairy tale on steroids. And here I thought our lives couldn’t get any weirder.”

I slipped into the passenger seat. “I think he’s beautiful.”

Damon gave me a sharp glance. “You still think that thing is beautiful?”

I sighed and hung my head. Damon had a one-track mind. “I do.”

“I still think that vampire is using glamour on you, making you believe in the movie Clash of the Titans. Underneath, I bet there’s something that would scare your socks off.” He revved up the engine.

“I think you’re wrong, Damon. You’ve got to stop thinking anything supernatural is evil.”

“That’s not true. I would only kill it if that thing hurt a human.”

I leaned back onto the seat. “I don’t think pegasi are dangerous.”

“That we know of,” he insisted. “If it starts eating people’s faces off, I kill it.”

He was dead serious. If that beautiful creature hurt anyone, he would hunt it down.

Equinox pushed off the ground with powerful strokes of his wings, rising into the air with a surreal grace. His mane rippled in the wind as he soared above the treetops.

I was too tired to argue with Damon as I stared out the window. All I wanted was to find Dad, take a shower, and sleep for a week.

Justice and Equinox led us on a twenty-mile journey, winding up curvy roads that snaked between rocky mountains. Every so often, the trees would break to reveal views of distant peaks against a backdrop of soft blue sky.

I had a hard time keeping my eyes open with the soft hum of the motor and the warm heater, but I refused to doze. This was no time to take a nap. Justice could be leading us into a trap, and we needed to be on red alert.

Eventually, Damon turned onto a sharp switchback with a welcome sign that announced our arrival at the subdivision of Winding Pines. Not that I had any idea where this subdivision was. The sun was setting, casting shadows across the picturesque houses speckled along the mountain side. Justice sat astride Equinox, waiting for us. It was strange that no one could see the pegasus unless the vampire allowed it.

We finally pulled up in front of the most impressive house yet, two stories high and dressed in white-washed wood panels and wooden window shutters, reminding me of a luxury cabin in the Swiss Alps. A wrap-around porch hugged the outside of the building like an embrace while a line of aspen trees swayed gently in the wind, their golden leaves just beginning to turn. It was breathtaking.

“Guess the PMC has deep pockets,” Damon muttered as he parked the Ford Fairlane in the driveway. “Be ready for anything.”

I nodded and pulled my dagger from its sheath. Damon turned and got his sword from the back seat.

We exited the car, and I took in the deep smell of pines that erased the horrible stench back at the mines but not the memory or the dust and blood encasing me like a second skin. I didn’t think I would ever forget what we had to do or the horror we left behind.

Damon tilted his head. “Let’s find Dad.”

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