Page 65 of Blood Illusions

Justice cocked the shotgun.

We stood in the morning fog, gazing at the silent watchers made of colored glass. The feeling of invisible eyes was unnerving, but it also steeled my resolve. What if it was Maci? I didn’t think my arrows or the phoenix feather grass shells would have any effect on her. Or maybe it was her flock of souped-up vampires. Either way was bad.

Yet whoever, or whatever, was observing us from the shadows of the abbey, we were ready to face it.

With a deep breath, I tore my gaze from the windows and nodded to Justice. It was time to uncover the secrets hidden within those walls, regardless of who or what was watching. I had to find Dad before it was too late.

Justice and I edged closer to the abbey. With each step, the blood thumped louder between my ears. Justice said he and his team found blood splattered on the floor of the abbey. It could have been Dad’s or some other innocent victims.

I tightened my grip on my bow, a silent promise of protection against the unknown threats lurking within the abbey’s walls. The fog curling like ghostly fingers around the stones seemed almost alive, as if it were a keeper of ancient secrets, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

We were steps away from the entrance when a sudden noise from within—a door slamming shut—halted us in our tracks. Instinctively, Justice and I ducked into the nearest archway, blending into the shadows. The mist swirled around us as we anxiously scanned our surroundings.

My heart raced as I searched for any signs of movement, praying Maci was not here. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I strained to hear over the thumping of my heart, but all was eerily quiet except for our own haggard breathing.

Murmurs drifted across the still water of the lake, barely loud enough to catch our attention. My heart raced as I peered into the dense fog surrounding us, trying to make out any shapes or movements. Justice’s hand tightened around mine, and we shared a wordless exchange before nodding in unspoken agreement. His strength gave me strength.

Car doors slammed, and an engine purred. Dust flew into the air as one of the SUVs pulled away from the abbey. I held my breath and closed my eyes. Crap, they were going to discover the Ford hiding in the trees. Gathering my courage, I stepped into the thick fog, ready for whatever lay ahead.

As Justice and I approached the grand entrance of St. Marinus Abbey, an uneasy silence enveloped us. The heavy, ornate door, which I had expected to be firmly shut and locked, was ajar, creaking as it swayed in the morning breeze. The sight of the open doorway in the foggy early light sent a wave of apprehension through me.

I stopped and glanced over at Justice. “Looks like they know we’re coming.”

Justice’s eyes narrowed, scanning the surroundings. “Maci’s many things, but stupid isn’t one of them.” His voice was barely more than a whisper.

As we approached the entrance of the abbey, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was waiting for us inside. The element of surprise had gone up in smoke. The hairs on my neck bristled with anticipation as we stood in the entryway.

No lights were on in the nave, and it left the vast space primarily in shadows. The only illumination came from the sunlight filtering through the stained glass windows, casting a mosaic of colors onto the stone floor and the ancient walls. The hues were muted, subdued by the fog outside, yet they danced gently across the surfaces.

The beams of light through the stained glass created an ethereal, almost otherworldly atmosphere. Reds, blues, greens, and yellows glowed in the dimness. Their colors told stories of saints and angels, of battles and blessings. The light seemed to breathe life into the figures depicted in the glass, making them appear as if they were silently watching our every move.

But it wasn’t saints or angels watching us.

I felt their eyes on us like spiders ready to pounce on a fly, and my rose tattoo throbbed.

My vision was razor-sharp. I aimed the arrow, ready to fire at the slightest movement. This wasn’t the first time I’d headed into danger, and it definitely wouldn’t be the last. Every hair on my head tightened, and I swallowed the dread rolling up the back of my throat.

As I moved toward the entryway, Justice stepped in front of me. He towered over me, his shoulders blocking my path. I clenched my jaw and wanted to argue that I was perfectly capable of taking care of myself, but the sight before me silenced any protest.

My eyes widened at the large, rust-colored stains on the hardwood floor. My heart raced as the realization hit me. It wasn’t rust, it was blood. Memories flooded back to when Justice had mentioned his team finding pools of blood in the abbey. I wondered if some of the blood belonged to my father. Fear washed over me as I realized he might really be dead.

A haze of dust particles danced in the sunlight pouring through the windows. The pews were coated in a thick layer of grime, giving off an air of neglect. As Justice and I walked down the aisle, the contrast between light and shadow intensified, adding to the eerie atmosphere. The scent of old stone and decay filled our nostrils, reminding us we were in a centuries-old building.

I wrinkled my nose. “Obviously, Maci and her vampires didn’t bother to hire a housekeeper.”

Justice didn’t answer me. Unlike Damon, who used humor to help deflect the danger we encountered.

The wooden floorboards creaked under our feet. The only other sounds were the faint echoes of our breath and the occasional flutter of a bird in the rafters. As we approached the altar, the light from the stained glass windows above became more focused, creating a dazzling display of colors on the intricately carved figures and symbols.

The atmosphere felt heavy as if some unseen presence watched us from within the shadows. As we stood before the dusty, decorated altar, the play of light and shadow, color and darkness, made the Abbey feel like a portal to another realm. A place where the veil between the natural and the supernatural was at its thinnest.

The abbey’s doors swung shut, trapping us inside.

“Stay behind me,” Justice warned. “They’re coming.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

I barely had time to process his words when the shadows around us stirred. Figures emerged from the dark corners of the abbey behind the ancient columns and the altar. Not one or two, but a swarm of them. They moved with a predatory grace, their eyes glinting in the dim, colored light.

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