Savannah Sacrifice Page 11

  He glanced around the small room. The walls were made of corrugated steel, almost like he was in some kind of shed. He tried to move his limbs, but the restraints were tied around his chair, and as he struggled, the rope only cut deeper into his wrists and ankles.

  “Don’t try it,” a man said, pressing a cold, steel gun barrel into the side of his neck.

  Jasper turned his head to look at the man. He was heavyset and graying, with eyes that reminded him of an angry rat. Something about him was familiar, but Jasper didn’t recognize him.

  “What is this place?” Jasper asked, as he leaned away from the cold steel.

  The man relaxed his pressure on the gun. “You’re nowhere.”

  “Where did Edward go? Is he coming back?” The last thing Jasper remembered was being hit in the face with sand. After that, everything had gotten a little fuzzy. There had been people, blood, chanting, and then no more Eddie.

  The man laughed. “He’s been erased. But if you miss your little friend, I’m sure we could find another spirit. From what I’ve seen of ya, it would be an improvement.”

  Asshole.

  “What does erased mean?”

  “Let’s just say he won’t possess anyone or anything ever again. But that’s what you get when you go against the council.”

  The council. Jasper cringed. Being possessed was bad enough, but here he was a prisoner of the one organization he’d been trying to investigate. Well, at least his investigation was over. He could tell the Sisterhood he’d found them. That was, if he made it out of this shit alive. First things first—he needed to find Starling. He’d already failed her once by allowing himself to be taken down by a ghost. He couldn’t fail again.

  “Do you know who I am?” the man asked, a smug grin crossing his face.

  “I know you’re an asshole.”

  “Wrong.” The man drove the gun deeper into the side of Jasper’s neck. “I’m not surprised you don’t remember me, but you and I met at the bank, and then I saw you in your cab earlier today. Things like that I don’t forget, but I guess a guy like you—one so wrapped up in being Prince Charming for his little wench—wouldn’t remember an old man like me.”

  Ah, yes. The man who’d introduced them to Devon, the same man who had crossed the street in front of them when they’d first arrived at the cemetery. Why hadn’t he recognized him? Was the man right, had he been so focused on Starling that he’d missed important details? “Was the man in the black SUV with you, too?”

  “He’s one of Walter’s men. You’ll get a chance to meet some more of our faction when I take you back to headquarters.”

  Back to headquarters? A few weeks ago, Jasper would have jumped at the chance to infiltrate their offices and learn about the faction inside their organization for the Sisterhood, but now with Starling at risk, it was the last place he wanted to be. Yet, it was still better than being possessed—it was easier to escape walls than it was to escape the grips of a malevolent spirit. No wonder Starling hated them so much.

  “What’s your name?”

  The man’s phone rang and he turned away from Jasper. “Yep,” he answered.

  There was a muffled reply from the other end.

  “You got it,” the man said, clicking off the phone. “Looks like you get to see a little more of Savannah.”

  “I’ve already seen enough.”

  “That’s what your little girlfriend, Starling, said, too.”

  “You didn’t touch her. If you did, I will kill you.”

  “She is a pretty little thing, isn’t she?” The gray-haired man smirked, driving a stake into Jasper’s heart. “I’m looking forward to getting the chance to breed with her.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  “Oh, you haven’t heard?” the man asked, driving the stake deeper. “Virginia has decided if we can’t get our hands on the drugs, we will have to do the next best thing. We can’t have our kind dying off. It’s better to have little half-breeds than nothing at all.”

  Jasper tugged at his hands, trying desperately to free them. The rough rope dug deeper into his wrists and the blood wetted his skin.

  “Now, I don’t normally agree with our little commingling, but that was until I saw you two at the bank. That woman’s hotter than any watermelon queen. I haven’t seen tits like that in a long time. I bet you love them. Too bad you won’t get to see them puppies again.” The man whistled through his front teeth. “I heard if you lick a nymph’s nipple, it tastes like honey. Is it true?”

  “Shut up. Don’t you dare touch her.”

  “Haven’t you gotten a chance at it yet?” The man inspected his fingernails. He looked up, his gaze threatening. “If you’re still alive when I get done, I’ll let you know how sweet they taste.”

  “You dirty mother … You wouldn’t dare,” Jasper threatened as he tried to flail against his chest and leg restraints. “You and your kind don’t deserve to live.”

  The man’s backhand connected with his already puffy left cheek. Iron-flavored blood poured into his mouth. “You are dead.” He spit the blood onto the man’s black penny loafers.

  “I’m really afraid.” The man took a handkerchief and wiped the blood from his shoe. He wiped his fingers clean, balled up the fabric, and stuffed it into Jasper’s mouth.

  The man would have no easy death.

  • • •

  Midnight. The sounds of the voices in the conference room had started to quiet, growing so faint, it was difficult for Starling to hear from the top of the steps. She tiptoed down the stairs, careful to make no sound as she descended.

  “Did you call him?” the woman in charge asked someone.

  “He’ll meet us in the main hall.”

  “Now all we have to do is find a little more bait.” There was a whir as the elevator must have clicked to life. “Devon, are you coming?”

  Devon was a Catharterian? She should have known. He must have been the one to get into the safe deposit box and plant the feather. Had he also planted the note from Epione? Was her goddess working with the vultures? No. She wouldn’t go against her own kind.

  “Grab the book. The rest of the council will want it for the meeting. We need to get a handle on the situation with the girl. Time is against us—they killed another of our kind in Crete. The Sisterhood can’t be allowed to grow ranks. They already outnumber us. We need more scions or soon there will be none of us left to continue our quest.”

  Their voices grew quieter and someone turned off the lights in the conference room, making the thin stream of light under the door disappear. Starling made her way to the door. She listened, but there was nothing. “Molly, you here? Are they gone?” she whispered.

  “They took one of the Libros with them.” The ghost stepped through the closed door. “But I saw where they got the book. Come on, maybe the other books are in there.”

  “How many books are there?” Starling asked as she opened the door and flicked the lights back on in the conference room.

  “As far as I can tell, there are three. Each has a different cover. There’s the White—which they took—there’s the Black and the Red.” Molly drifted across the room to the far wall. “The good news is, I saw where they pushed the button to move the table. But the bad news is, there’s no way to get the book without using the elevator.”

  The woman, whoever she was, had said the entire council was waiting. For all Starling knew, there could be hundreds of Catharterians down there. Then again, this could be the last opportunity to rid herself and the Sisterhood of the fear of the vultures.

  “Where’s the switch?” Starling caught up with the ghost and bent down to get on Molly’s eye level.

  There, on the underside of the table, was a tiny black button. It blended seamlessly into the table. Molly stood up. “There’s also another one, right there,” she said pointing to the ruby-colored eye of the carved vulture.

  Starling stared at the bird’s eye. She could press the buttons and descend in
to the unknown, maybe get the books, but most likely run into more vultures than she could handle. It was risky, but she had to help Jasper. They had him. And there was no telling what they would do to him to get at her.

  Jasper had once told her that an enemy was most dangerous when he held secrets. Having heard their secrets, she had an advantage and could turn the battle in her favor. They wanted to bring her to them using Jasper, but they weren’t ready. The only time to act was now.

  “Push the buttons. We need to get down there.”

  “But what if they are just outside the doors?” Molly challenged. “There’s no way you will be able to defend yourself.”

  “I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about Jasper. If I don’t do something, they are going to kill him.”

  “If they get their hands on you, they may well kill you. Then you both die. Think it through.”

  Starling paused. Molly was right, but that didn’t mean she could stop now, when she was so close to Jasper and perhaps the books.

  “Are there any more of your kind here?”

  Molly shook her head. “It was only Edward and me.”

  “Can you talk to the ghosts in the rest of the cemetery?”

  “No. This ground carries a spell. No spirits in, no spirits out.”

  Crap. There was no getting out of this trap. The only help she would get would be from the ghost at her side.

  “Do you think you could go below?” Starling tapped the table.

  Molly sighed. “I’d love to try. Anything has to be better than staying in this place. I can’t tell you how tired I am of these two rooms and those who keep me here.”

  “I bet you are.” Starling turned to face the ghost. “By the way, thank you for not giving me up to the vultures. I know you could have bartered me for your freedom.”

  “It was nothing. It’s the first time I’ve really gotten to help anyone since I died.”

  “It wasn’t nothing. You gave up everything and I truly appreciate it. There are only a handful of people in my life who would have done something like that for me. I promise if we get those books, I will find a way to help you escape this prison they’ve created for you. You deserve so much more.”

  “ I don’t know about that … I’ve made my share of mistakes.

  “We’ve all made mistakes.” Just like she had in leaving Jasper behind in the voodoo shop. “And it seems I just keep making more.”

  “My momma always said the thing about mistakes is that we must learn from them and keep moving forward. We can’t help anyone if we are burdened by the weight of our past. I can’t say I’ve always listened, but maybe you will.”

  What a thought—to not let her mistakes be a burden. It was a wonderful thought, but how could she possibly let go of all the pain she had caused? Molly must have never gotten one person killed and another kidnapped. She couldn’t possibly understand how much guilt Starling carried. Self-forgiveness wasn’t an option.

  “Right now I have to focus on Jasper. I can’t let him get hurt more than he may already be.” Starling pressed the button on the side of the table and reaching over, pressed the vulture’s eye.

  “Here’s hoping we can get to him in time.”

  The elevator whirred to life and the table shifted under her fingers. Starling stepped back and watched as the table rose, exposing a small two-person lift. Set into the wall, next to the lift’s door, was a small cabinet nestled in the protected space between that door and the edge of the table. “Is that where Devon got the book?” Starling asked, motioning toward the box.

  Molly nodded. “I think so.”

  Starling stepped in the small elevator; Molly drifted in beside her.

  “I hope this works,” Molly said. “I’ve tried moving through the floors, but couldn’t.”

  Starling’s stomach churned at the thought of going through the Catharterians’ headquarters alone. “I need you.”

  Molly reached to pat Starling’s cheek, but Starling could feel nothing except a cold draft against her skin. “Thank you. It’s been a long time since anyone told me something so sweet. Edward wasn’t one much for company.”

  “Do you think you’d want to stay as a ghost, or would you rather completely cross?” Starling opened the cabinet where the book had rested. The box in the elevator was empty. She wasn’t surprised, but a deep disappointment crept through her. Nothing ever seemed to come easy.

  “I think I would cross over.” Molly glanced up at the earthen ceiling of the mausoleum. “It would be nice to see my family again. I would like to think they’d be happy to see me, especially my momma. The last time I saw her was the day of my services.”

  Starling shut the door and pressed the down button. “I’m sure she’ll be waiting for you. Just like mine will be waiting for me someday … ”

  “But you’re a nymph—doesn’t that mean you will never have to cross over?”

  The elevator started slowly before gradually picking up speed. “We can cross over. We are not gods, only demigods. We have a weakness that can result in death. The truth is that it is easy to forget sometimes that we are vulnerable. My mother did, but maybe if she hadn’t thought she was almost invincible, she would’ve run instead of faced her killer.”

  “It sounds like your mother was very brave …” Molly’s voice quieted as they moved deeper into the earth. Starling glanced over at her friend. Her frost-white wraith started to fade and rise in the air. “I believe that now it is your time. The mausoleum is pulling me back. I can’t go … You must be brave.”

  “Molly!” She reached out, but as she moved, Molly disappeared. “Molly!”

  Her fear grew as the elevator steadily moved downward. She was alone. But Molly had been right—now was the time to be brave.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Starling sucked in a breath as the door of the elevator opened. She gripped her purse tight as the room came into view. It wasn’t the catacombs that she had imagined; instead the walls were covered in pictures of men in the powdered wigs of days long gone; farther down were more recent pictures, some of women with beehives and others of men with bushy sideburns. Nameplates were mounted to the wall beneath each. The closest to her read: Colonel Redbird 1803-1865, Killed in Action.

  She found it hard to believe that the man in the picture—the overstuffed, bird-beaked man—would have died fighting. He was a vulture. More than likely, he would have been out in the fields making quick work of the dead while he fed on their souls. Just like his current counterparts would do if they found her gawking in their hall.

  She rushed through the room. The staccato of her footsteps filled the empty space. There was a door to her right and she stopped to listen for sound. Inside, a man was talking.

  His voice was harsh and thick. “I can’t agree to this plan. She is an innocent. What kind of message are we sending to others if we start killing and maiming those who have done us no harm?”

  “You didn’t seem to have a problem sending your man to beat Jasper.”

  Starling reached for the door handle, ready to tell the man off for hurting her friend, but she stopped. The only way she could help Jasper now was by finding him.

  “That was different and you know it. He’s been investigating us for months. He is an enemy. Starling is nothing more than a pawn.”

  “We must carry a big stick, Walter,” a woman answered, and her voice was familiar—in fact, it was the same voice from the conference room of the mausoleum. “If we show that we are weak, we will be taken down. It’s survival of the fittest. You know that as well as I do.”

  “Taking a girl and keeping her against her will isn’t strength—it’s a felony. I want no part of what you are planning. If you keep her here for any other reason than to barter for the drugs, I will leave this group—and take my men with me.”

  “You made a vow. I helped you with your troubles when you needed me, and now when our entire species is at risk, you threaten me? We don’t need your men. It is fine by me if you and
your line die off. It will guarantee that only those who have a true heart, a heart that cares about what is important, will pass on their genes.”

  Footsteps approached the door, forcing Starling to hurry down the hall, until she came to the next doorway. She paused for a moment. A new fear rose. From what she’d heard, it sounded as if they didn’t want just the drugs—they wanted her. But for what?

  The door suddenly smashed against the wall. “We are leaving, Virginia. This, and you, are crazy. Good luck fulfilling your agenda without my support. I never should have gone against the president.”

  “Stop, Walter. I’m sorry. Maybe we can figure something out.”

  “You can’t force her to carry our line. Do you understand me?”

  “Deal. But we will need her for a little while to conduct research.”

  “You can’t destroy her.”

  “Walter, we will try to keep her alive, but I can’t make that promise.”

  “Goddamn, Virginia, you made a vow when you became vice president—you promised this shit would come to a stop, but you have only cost us more lives and more heartache. You never had any intention of using your office for good; you wanted to use it only for your own ends.”

  “Go to hell.”

  “I would, but I’m afraid I would meet you there.” The door banged shut.

  Starling frantically opened the door to the room and slipped inside so the defecting man wouldn’t see her and turn her over to Virginia. She needed him to leave. One enemy was easier to fight than two.

  She sighed with relief as the sound of Walter’s angry footsteps cascaded down the hall. She clicked the door shut and turned toward the room.

  Sitting in the center of the wood-paneled room was a single chair. A man was slumped over in the seat, his hands tied to the armrests. He didn’t move as she approached. The man’s dark hair was matted with dried blood.

  “Sir?” she whispered. “Sir, are you okay?”

  The man groaned and shook as he looked up. A trail of dried blood cracked on his cheek and his eye was swollen and black. Jasper peered at her, his eyes lighting up when he recognized her. “Starling? I’m so glad you’re here.”