Chapter Twenty
Krystal didn’t understand what was going on. Why was Shanna with two very unbalanced people? Ash was…weird. And why was he running around without a shirt on? And the other chick seemed crazy and completely unstable. Where were Natalia and Amelia? Where were Steven and Eric?
She frowned. With her necromancy powers, Krystal could tell that the woman had dead things digesting in her stomach. And they weren’t animals. Something human was in there. At least, something that used to be human.
“We can’t just barge in there, Lupe,” Shanna protested loudly, crossing her arms as she talked to the two strangers.
Krystal’s head jerked up. “Lupe?” Wasn’t that the name of the monster who’d beaten the crap out of Brett? Or was it a coincidence? Shanna certainly wouldn’t associate with someone like that.
A low moan drew her attention from the threesome, and Krystal turned to see Serene sitting up groggily, finally recovering from the sedative. She put a hand to the back of her neck and suddenly stood up straight and alert. Her eyes met Krystal’s, questioningly.
Krystal swallowed once, wondering what she would do. Would she turn on them, allow her siren instincts to kick in, killing them all in a frenzy? Why was Shanna being so reckless? The situation wasn’t that dire, was it? She nodded to Serene once and the siren, while obviously very startled to find herself free all of a sudden, seemed to take it in stride. She picked herself up and walked over to Shanna, Lupe and Ash.
Shanna watched her approach warily, but when the siren stopped and nodded to her, then proceeded to listen to the debate, Shanna seemed to relax, as if she’d confirmed that her decision had been the correct one.
But was it? Krystal frowned. Okay, she could see Ash, and even freeing Serene, if Shanna thought they needed the manpower, but she was still confused about Lupe.
“I tell you, we can do this,” Lupe said, eyes blazing. “Aren’t you fucking listening to me?”
Shanna sent her a look. “No offense, Lupe, but I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you. I’m happy for your help, but your loyalties seem…blurred, at best.”
Lupe considered. “Fair enough.”
And somehow, this comforted Krystal. At least Shanna wasn’t completely off her rocker. For a time, she thought that the hunter was perhaps suicidal, following the betrayal of Cameron, but she seemed to be weighing her options. And while she was choosing some rather…unconventional methods to solve their current crisis, Krystal was confident that she was doing her best to resolve this. It seemed that Lupe had insider information, at the very least.
“We don’t have time to search for your friends from the witches’ circle,” Ash said, watching Shanna. “I’ve seen how this works. If they are not at The Goblin Market already, they will be soon. We need to head them off before they bring your other friends, the ones captured by the zombies, into enemy territory. You can’t just rush into The Goblin Market, guns blazing, and demand your friends back. The place will be full of monsters. You will be outnumbered thousands to one.”
Shanna shook her head in disbelief. “What will they do with them at The Goblin Market?”
“Sell them into slavery,” Lupe shrugged. “That is, if they’re lucky.”
“It’s worse than that,” Ash said. “I’ve been watching Crenshaw’s activities. He has tinted their blood with the loa to make them more valuable. More than likely, they will sell their souls to the highest bidder, then drain them of their new, improved blood for more profit.”
Shanna sat down, looking pale. “I can’t believe this is happening. My friends in New York.-“
“Will not get here in time,” Ash insisted. “We must act now.”
“Well, I don’t know about that,” a voice preceded a dark figure into the room.
Shanna’s head snapped up and she suddenly leapt from the couch.
Krystal’s eyes narrowed at the vampire, Damien, who appeared in the doorway, frowned as Shanna threw her arms around his neck in greeting. “I’m so happy to see you,” Shanna told him. “How did you get here so quickly? And Scarlet Fever…”
“Her ashes are there,” Damien said, smiling down at her. “I had Noel meet your friends to verify this, so that I could seek a teleporter and come to your aid.” He looked up at Ash and Lupe, and frowned. “It seems that I am needed.”
Krystal approached the group, feeling the tendrils of her power prod Damien’s dead flesh, aching to sink into him and take control. She could do it so easily. But she resisted the urge. Damien was an ally. At least currently. Not that she completely trusted him either. His interest in Shanna was too…intense. She knew that underneath his façade, he had some ulterior motive. She just didn’t know what it was. But until the time when he showed his true colors, she would trust him to keep her safe.
Damien noticed her and tensed, recalling how she’d taken control of his body in Greece. He nodded to her before turning his attention to the others. “Lupe, I hardly expected to see you here.”
“I’m helping,” Lupe smiled. “I can be useful.”
“When it suits you.”
Krystal held back a chuckle, but couldn’t help a smile from breaking through.
Damien glanced to his left. “And Ash. How have the years been treating you, friend?”
“You two know each other?” Shanna asked, looking between the two of them.
“We do,” Ash confirmed. “Damien helped me clear out a nest of harpies that were terrorizing a village in Russia. What was that, fifty years ago?”
Damien shrugged. “Give or take.”
“Well, what a happy little reunion,” Lupe sneered. “But how about we get this show on the road? Or do you want to see your friends’ souls ripped from them in The Goblin Market?”
Shanna looked up at Damien. “You’re right that we could use your help. We’re going to free the others from Roma.”
“Roma? Indigo Roma?” Damien looked taken aback. “She’s behind this?”
Shanna nodded, a frown crawling over her face. “You know of her?”
“Do I,” Damien murmured, then shook his head. “She is a powerful necromancer.”
“Necromancer?” Krystal perked up, then frowned. “Oh. That’s bad.”
Shanna nodded. “So I’ve heard.”
“I won’t be of much use against her,” he admitted.
“But we have our own necromancer,” Shanna told him, nodding toward Krystal. “She could protect you.”
Damien let his gaze drift to Krystal, and she shifted uncomfortably. “She will be no match for an experienced necromancer at the height of her dark power, but any help will be welcome against such a formidable opponent. I only pray that we are not too late.”
“So, where is the entrance to The Goblin Market around here?” Ash asked.
They all looked to Lupe, who brightened. “An old plantation on the outskirts of town. There are tunnels in the hills behind it, with a portal.” She paused. “Oh.”
“Oh?” Shanna raised an eyebrow.
“But it’s right next to Roma’s place. She probably has it well-guarded.”
“That’s to be expected,” Ash said. “And we have little choice here. But be forewarned, loup-garous, I did not come here to merely destroy her minion, Crenshaw. I am here to put an end to Indigo Roma. And if you get in my way, I will end you as well.”
Lupe tilted her head. “Well then, I’d better not get in your way.”