Dark Solace by Tara Fox Hall Page B

one knew where we were.
No help would come in time to save Devlin.
    “— but you aren’t getting off that
easy,” Ulysses said hatefully. “I’ve heard there are more than a
few ways for you to die. Fire, decapitation, a stake, an explosive
bullet, or pretty much anything that destroys your heart. But it’s
universally agreed that the most painful way is burning by
sunlight.” Ulysses leaned closer, his soft words ringing out in the
stillness of the night. “You and I have a date with Mr. Sun at ten
a.m., Dalcon. I want you to think about that tonight—”
    “Fuck you, and fuck your sister!” Devlin spat
with cold malice. “She was just a whore anyway—”
    Ulysses shot him four more times. When the
smoke and echoes cleared, Devlin was keening softly. I shuddered,
knowing how badly he had to be hurt.
    Ulysses got to his feet. “Bring them to the
vans and let’s go.”
    “I want my money,” Catherine said to Ulysses,
flashing her fangs. “I told you I could get that tracking device
onto his bike—”
    “You’ll get it when he’s dust, vampire,”
Ulysses said, not looking at her.
    “You sold me out for money?” Devlin hissed
with effort and agony, his eyes glowing faintly red. “You fucking
bitch! I should’ve carved out your mercenary heart—”
    “Why not?” she said back hatefully. “You’ve
treated me like dirt ever since you turned me. I was fine to fuck
every few decades when you were bored.” She glared over at me, then
back at him. “This was about me hurting you. The money’s just a
bonus.”
    Devlin and I were shoved into separate vans,
the majority of men, Ulysses, and Catherine with Devlin, and two
men with me. They clearly feared his power, even wounded. I’d
glimpsed the bloodstained pavement where he had been lying. Even if
he’d healed his wounds, Dev had to be very weak, losing that much
blood. But maybe I could use their fear to my advantage.
    * * * *
    We drove for what seemed like a long time.
The dark night was suddenly no longer magical, it was terrifying,
and I couldn’t think of anything except what they might be doing to
Devlin. But my mind shortly moved on to thinking frantically of
what they might do to me after they finished with him.
    Finally, we were taken out of the vans and
ushered into a large, shadowy building. As we entered the stained
glass doors, I realized it was an old church. Titus wouldn’t be
teleporting in to save us. He couldn’t walk on hallowed ground, nor
could Terian. Desperately, I tried to teleport myself over and over
as they dragged me inside, to no avail.
    I was thrown into a room, the door locked
behind me. At once I huddled and began sobbing my heart out,
letting my terror and fear break free. Ten minutes later, I dried
my eyes on an old sash and began getting myself together. If Lash
didn’t come, I’d better find some way to get out of here myself.
There was no hope for Devlin unless I got help in time.
    I got up and searched the room, than sat
there for a long time, thinking of different scenarios and options.
I was in the small, cramped room that brides had once used to get
ready for their wedding. There was a phone, but it was
disconnected. I couldn’t use any lock picking skills, as there was
most likely a guard at the door. Besides, I didn’t have my tools,
and there was no tool of any kind in this room. The only possible
weapon was a metal cross on a stand. While helpful against demons,
it wasn’t heavy enough to knock a hole in the wall, especially not
knowing what was on the other side. Besides, the guard would hear
the noise.
    I considered seduction, then bravely
attempted it, calling sweetly to the guard that I was scared and
lonely. There was no reply. Stymied, I sat down with my back to the
wall and tried again to teleport, with no success.
    Finally at about two a.m., footsteps walked
up to the door, and then Ulysses came in. He shut the door behind
him, then turned to me, green eyes staring into mine.
    I curled