Savannah Sacrifice Read online

  “She and her crew killed one of us before those meetings could take place. You and your kind,” she said, glaring at Starling, the gun trembling higher, “started this war.”

  Jasper stepped forward and gently laid his hand on the gun, pressing it downward. “Virginia, we can figure this out. We can work out something where both groups get what they need. But you can’t keep flagging us with that gun. Let me have it.” He stared into her eyes; in the shadows of the room they looked almost completely black.

  She let him pull the gun free of her hand. Jasper took the gun and slipped it in the back of his waistband and away from Virginia.

  “I didn’t start this,” she pleaded. “I just want to have a baby. I promised my sister. We were going to do this together. And then … and then you killed her.” Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him. “You … you are the reason you’re here. You deserve to die.”

  “She attacked a nymph. I was only doing my job. Dr. Redbird would have killed Harper.” He stepped between Starling and Virginia.

  She shot a look of hatred at Starling. “I know you would be willing to kill to get something you wanted. So was my sister. And so am I.” Virginia lunged toward Starling, reaching for her hair.

  Jasper jumped after her, grabbing her by the back of her cloak before she could reach Starling’s sacred locks. He threw her to the concrete floor at Starling’s feet. “You. Will. Not. Touch. Her,” he said between breaths.

  A speckle of blood dotted Virginia’s lip as she glared at him with a look of hatred and disgust. “I just want to have a baby … ”

  Jasper grabbed her by her wrists and lifted her back up to her feet. “Let’s go. Let’s talk to the council. Maybe we can make someone see some sense. We don’t have to continue like this, killing each other over old blood.”

  “It’s only old because it wasn’t someone you loved. You’d feel differently if it was her,” Virginia said, with a soft sob as she motioned toward Starling with her chin. “But you … you killed my sister.”

  “And your sister killed my mother.” Starling gave him a pitying look, probably her way of trying to absolve him of any of residual guilt.

  “I … ” He opened his mouth to speak, but he didn’t know what to say. “Let’s go, Virginia.” He pushed her forward, past Starling.

  “Should we really do this?” Starling asked.

  “What else are we going to do, sweetheart?” He paused mid-stride. “I don’t have a clue how to get out of here, and they already know we’re here. I think our best bet is to go in there, make a case for trade, and get the hell out of here.”

  “It seems too easy,” she said.

  The knot in his stomach told him what she said was probably right. It was too easy. Something about it seemed off. The council must have had some kind of role in Virginia’s plan—if nothing else, they turned a blind eye to some of her behavior. She had perpetuated an attack on a nymph in Crete.

  “Virginia, you need to tell me the truth,” Jasper said, still clenching her hands behind her back. “The council must have known what you were planning. Why didn’t they stop you sooner?”

  “They want the drugs, too; they just didn’t want me to bring you or the nymph here.” Virginia tried to pull her hands from his grip, forcing him to hold strong. “They had been working with Walter. He had a man tracking Starling, and when we found out she was coming here, we took a vote. The council decided against making a move and getting their hands dirty. They didn’t want to escalate the conflict with the nymphs. Obviously, I didn’t want to bring you into the headquarters either, but then Little Miss Snoop was in that mausoleum. Why do you think I let her listen in on us taking the White? It was too easy, laying a trap for her.”

  Starling drew her face menacingly close to Virginia’s. “Where is it? Where are the books?” she asked in a dangerous voice.

  “Get me out of here. Then make sure Harper gives me all the drugs and the formula. If you do that, I can convince Steve … er, President Kitchings that he and I can get pregnant. And maybe he will take me back.” Virginia stared off into space. “He and I can rule indefinitely and our lineage will take over the council when they come of age.”

  “What happens if we go around you?” Starling challenged.

  “I don’t know, but it probably won’t end with you both alive.”

  “I doubt that our chances of staying alive are any better staying with you. Why would I give you anything—all you’ve done is threaten Jasper. In case you missed it, I lo—” She stopped mid-word. “I care about him. And no one threatens the man I care about.”

  Jasper’s heart stopped in his chest as she said the words. She had to know that to love him was dangerous. Her love was cursed—it would only end in his death. He would gladly die to be loved by her, without question. But he couldn’t accept the heartbreak it would cause her.

  “Let’s go, Starling. We can’t trust Virginia. She’ll say anything she can to get out of this mess.” He opened the door and led Virginia into the hall.

  Voices bubbled out from underneath a set of double wooden doors at the end of the corridor. “Is that the sanctuary?” he asked, motioning toward the door.

  Virginia’s gaze remained pinned to the floor.

  “I’ll take that as a yes.” Jasper pushed her down the hall.

  “Are you sure, Jasper?” Starling looked at him with panic.

  “It’s okay, Starling. I will protect you. And there’s only one thing I’m sure of—Virginia’s word isn’t worth the air it takes to speak it.”

  Some of the panic disappeared from her eyes. “If you think this is the right move, I’ve got your back. And no matter what happens, I know you did this for the right reasons.”

  “I … ” He wanted to tell her that he loved her, that he wanted to hold her in his arms forever, but it he couldn’t make himself say the words. He had to protect her.

  “I know,” Starling said, her voice quiet.

  “Oh my God,” Virginia grumbled. “Are you serious? Why don’t you just fuck and get it over with?”

  His cheeks burned.

  Virginia laughed as she looked at him. “You already did … And you still can’t tell her that you love her?” She motioned to Starling. “He says I’m not the one to be trusted, but come on. He’s the one who is pathetic.”

  “Shut up, Virginia.” She strode toward the sanctuary and threw open the doors.

  Standing in the middle of the room, her arms behind her back, was Harper.

  Blood dripped from Harper’s chin, but she smiled and her face brightened as she saw them. “I thought you guys were dead.”

  President Kitchings walked toward them. “So glad you could join us. You’re just in time to see your little friend die.” He stepped beside Harper and raised a knife to her throat.

  The man’s words echoed through Jasper, drawing on his memories of Dr. Redbird and the night he’d killed her when protecting Starling. He shouldn’t have quit killing there. He should have wiped out this entire species of death mongers.

  Chapter Twenty

  Starling’s hands slipped from the door handle as she stared at the room full of black-cloaked vultures. Some of the birds were seated around a long, rectangular table in the center of the room, while others were gathered in small groups. All their eyes were on her.

  “She’s come,” one of the vultures whispered to another.

  She looked away from the mass of black birds to Harper, who had tears in her eyes. What had the vultures done?

  “Are you okay?” Starling asked, moving past the table.

  “Stop right there, girl,” the president ordered.

  Starling froze as the president’s furious gaze pinned her.

  “You should have left, Starling. You shouldn’t still be here.” The tears streamed down Harper’s face, mixing with the blood on her chin, and dripped to the floor. “You have to let her go. She doesn’t have anything you want.” Harper tried to struggle, but Kitchings stopped her with a pu
sh of his blade. “You made me a deal.”

  “Be quiet, Harper.” The president’s silver knife cut into Harper’s throat and dark red blood dotted the edge of the blade.

  Jasper shoved Virginia in the room, making her sit in a chair at the table. A bird was etched in the black surface, matching the one Starling had seen in the mausoleum.

  “You kill her, I kill Virginia.” He reached behind him and pulled the gun from his waistband. “You should have heard her in there, talking to us. She told us all about her scheme and your involvement.”

  Starling stepped beside him, following his lead.

  “Virginia … ” A flicker of pain moved through the president’s face, but he quickly took control over his tell. “Put down the gun, Jasper. And let go of Virginia.”

  “Only if you let Harper go. Do we have a deal?”

  President Kitchings moved the knife back from Harper’s throat, leaving behind a thin bead of blood. “Let her go.”

  Jasper let go of Virginia’s hands. “It doesn’t have to be like this. We just want to negotiate.”

  “Negotiate?” President Kitchings glanced around the roomful of council members. Most of the group nodded, but a few shook their heads in refusal. After a long moment, he turned back to Jasper. “Put down your gun. There,” he ordered, pointing toward the middle of the table, near the feet of the vulture carving.

  “Harper, get behind me,” Jasper said, motioning for her to stand beside Starling.

  “You guys should have left,” Harper said in a whisper. “I had everything under control.”

  Starling pointed at the thin line of blood on Harper’s throat. “Looks like it.”

  “Okay, so not everything was going to plan,” she murmured.

  “Gun. Now.” President Kitchings motioned for one of his guards. Moving forward, the man grabbed Virginia by the arm, led her to a chair behind the president, and sat her down.

  “I want us all to get along here. No need for anyone else to get hurt.” Jasper raised the gun above his head as he moved through the crowd. Starling rested her hand on his back as she followed him. His body radiated nervous heat and sweat built under her touch, but she couldn’t be sure if it was him, her, or the combination of both their fear.

  He stopped at the designated spot and sat the gun down on the end of the table. This vulture had the same crimson-red color as the bird in the mausoleum, the eye that had been an elevator button. Was it possible this table was an elevator as well?

  Just to the right of the carving was a thin seam. To the left of Jasper’s gun and the carving’s feet was another.

  Some of her fear dissipated. There was a way out. Maybe.

  “Shall we sit?” the president motioned to the seats. “Let us start again.” He walked to the head of the table, his bodyguards flanking him, and sat down. His men stayed standing at each of his sides.

  She, Harper, and Jasper moved to the front of the table where the president motioned. Starling couldn’t take her eyes off the gun they were leaving farther behind with every step. No one got near it as they all made their way to the seats around the rectangle.

  “Now, I want to extend to you my sincerest apologies about my wife’s behavior.” He looked to his right where Virginia sat. “She has a habit of interfering—even after there has been a vote.” He eyed her dangerously. “I assure you that she will be dealt with accordingly. And so will Harper for infiltrating our den.”

  “I was told to come here. I infiltrated nothing!” Harper challenged.

  “Be that as it may, the council and I were not expecting a nymph to walk into our chambers spewing hatred.”

  “Your wife is threatening my step-daughter. My spewing hatred is the least of what I plan to do to Virginia,” Harper spat.

  Jasper leaned toward her in his chair. “Stop,” he warned.

  Harper glared at him. “Fine, you handle this.” After a moment she leaned back in her chair, arms crossed over her chest.

  Jasper nodded and turned back to the president. “President Kitchings, we—”

  “We offer no apologies,” Starling interrupted. “We did exactly what we needed to do. Your people have done nothing but try to steal my things, kidnap me, and hurt me since I arrived in Savannah.”

  Jasper’s mouth was still open and his eyes were wide with surprise at her taking the lead. She laid her hand on his, in an attempt to reassure him that she didn’t need him to do her dirty work.

  “I know the Catharterians broke into Jenna’s safe deposit and stole the Libros Umbrarum. Those were intended for me.”

  The president shifted in his seat. “I will not give you—”

  “Stop.” Starling raised her hand, putting a halt to the president’s possible refusal. “After all I’ve been through to get the books, you are going to give me all three. Without the books, there’s no way you will be getting the GX 149 or its formula.”

  The president laughed. “We had to take down a bank to get those books. Do you really think we are going to give them to you just so we can get some silly drugs? Drugs that we already have?” He pointed to a woman sitting three chairs down, on his right. She reached into a bag at her side and pulled out a familiar orange bottle.

  “You and I both know that there aren’t enough pills in there for your kind to get what they need.”

  “But there are enough pills to study and find out what makes them effective in fertility,” the president challenged.

  “And that could take years of research,” Harper retorted.

  “Do you have years to waste on research?” Starling continued. “We have the formula. But first, I need the books.”

  “We’re aware. But you aren’t getting those books.” The president’s face tightened as he tried to handle his emotions. He glared at Harper. “And it just so happens that you, Harper, and your friends are prisoners—and if you want everyone to make it out of this room alive, you will do as we wish.” He sat forward as he tried to control the situation. “If you’re smart, which I think you must be, you will take one of my teams back to your lab and we can keep you under watch while you make us a supply large enough to help with our population issues.”

  “And then what?” Harper retorted. “Then you will let us go? I doubt it.”

  “Why would we need to continue a relationship once we get our drugs?”

  “Because your women will still be unable to become pregnant,” Harper said.

  “What are you talking about? We are demigods just like you. And if they work for your kind, why wouldn’t they work for us?”

  “Give Starling what she wants, and then I will give you the formula and our secret. Agreed?” Harper asked.

  The president put his elbows on the table and tented his fingers in front of his face. “How do we know that we need something else besides the pills?”

  “Hasn’t it occurred to you that Carey, Starling’s mother, had been taking the drugs for almost twenty years? She had one pregnancy. Now I’m sure she had more partners than just one in those years. Yet she never had another pregnancy.” Harper paused for a moment.

  “Starling, had your mother seen other men?” the president asked.

  “She had boyfriends on and off when I was growing up.” Starling cringed as she realized that her mother’s sex life was being called into question.

  “Do you think she had relations with these men?”

  “She probably did. I didn’t try to keep tabs on my mother’s sex life.”

  “Right, right.” President Kitchings laughed. “Did she ever have another pregnancy?”

  “Not that I know of,” Starling said.

  “Do you know why that was?”

  Starling shook her head. She’d never given thought to why she didn’t have siblings. She’d always assumed it was because Mom hadn’t wanted another child, not that there had been some secret to why she’d been an only child.

  Harper patted her arm. “There were other nymphs who were taking the same medication; however, most neve
r got pregnant. I’m more than happy to show you the number of women who successfully mated.” She raised two fingers.

  “I get your point, but we can’t make a deal if we lose access to the Libros.” The president paused. “We need them. It’s how we’ve gotten control over the souls like Edward and Molly who work for us. If we lose those books, we will likely have an army of ghosts after us.”

  “I know the feeling,” Starling retorted.

  They were at an impasse. They could not live without the books, but neither could she.

  “There has to be a way we can come to an agreement.”

  “Instead of fighting, maybe we could become allies.” President Kitchings tapped his fingers against his chin as he thought. “We could give you the books if we have continued access to their contents. In return for this, you give us the drugs, formula, and secret. In addition, you all can walk out of here with the knowledge that the war is over.”

  “What about Virginia and her men? They must be punished. Strip them of their feathers,” Starling urged.

  “I know you are angry, but she is still my wife. She has done wrong. She kidnapped you and your friend and in doing so, went against the council. In the process of her mutiny, she also committed a mortal sin of erasing a soul. If other supernatural beings hear of what she has done, it will our be our asses on the line.” Kitchings shook his head in disgust. “She will be dealt with, but stripping her of her feathers is too harsh a punishment for her crime. She will lose everything.”

  “She deserves to be punished,” Starling urged.

  “You have to let them handle this, Starling,” Jasper whispered. “We will have to forgive them for what they have done so we can make this deal.”

  Could she forgive them in order to make peace? If Jasper could move past Edward’s possession, she could move past her kidnapping, but there was still the issue of her mother’s death.

  Her mother used to smile and wrap her arms around her when she had a tough day. Without a doubt her mother would have done that to her today. For once, Starling wished she could talk to the spirits down here. She would love to ask her mother what to do, whether it was okay to forgive the group for her death. But Starling did know where her responsibilities lay for a friend. “You have to free Molly B. from the mausoleum and let her safely cross to the other side. In exchange, you will give us the books and this war between us will be over.”