The Ripple Effect (Rhiannon's Law #3)(80)

The pathetic bastard was running for his life.

He made it to the mirror before we could catch him. The glass captured him, holding him in place, and then pulled him through. I wanted to scream at his escape, to force him to come back with the bravado he displayed during our initial meeting. Instead I was forced to stop in front of the mirror, to face him as he sought the safe haven that was Hell. Tornados swirled around him, dust coating his torso.

“This isn’t over,” he warned, chest heaving. “Compared to the pain I have planned for you, tonight will seem like a memory of Heaven.”

“*,” I snarled, more animal than a woman. “Nothing but a pansy ass motherf*cker who ran away from a human. A servant. Word will spread through Hell. Everyone will know what a coward you are. I hope you’re ready to take it up the pooper like a big boy.”

“I’m going to dine on your heart soon, bitch.” His face changed in his fury, his forehead expanding outward as his fangs made his upper lip extend awkwardly. He flicked his wrists, as though he could shoo us away.

Then I heard a loud crack.

The glass along the entire wall shattered, breaking outward. I managed to lift my arms and hands in time to protect my face. Shards broke through my shirt and sank into my skin in numerous places along my body. The vampires and slaves in close range cried out as portions of glass struck them as well, hitting them like miniature daggers.

I lowered my arms, furious when I saw the mirror was gone, the frame the only indication it had existed in the first place. He’d escaped, but he’d be back. Of that I was certain. The question was: could I find and revive Marigold in time to protect myself? Or would he find me before I had the chance?

It doesn’t matter either way, I told myself, shoving those thoughts aside. There were other things I had to do, things that wouldn’t keep.

Turning from the destroyed mirror, I glanced at the injured slaves. Some were pretty bad, bleeding all over the place.

“Help them,” I instructed the vampires nearby. “Tend their wounds.”

They moved to do as I asked, and I turned to make my way to the ballroom. Time to face the half-demon bitch I’d killed once and was about to kill again, to bring the fanged harpy who’d turned my sister to justice. One final stop, and I could retrieve the ones I loved and leave this shithole behind.

Victoria.





Chapter Eighteen


When I arrived in the second ballroom, Victoria was still in her chair. The vampires holding her had their hands full. She squirmed and kicked, attempting to get free. Her hair was all over the place, and she was cursing under her breath.

Until she saw me.


Her struggles ceased and she lifted her chin, defying me even though I knew she had to be terrified. I’d killed Anton before her eyes, and she already knew I’d vowed to kill her after I destroyed her brother, Graham Tavish. When I glanced at the corner of the room, I saw the two teenagers were now huddled together, holding each other tight. They didn’t know what to make of me, staring in my direction with eyes like saucers, expressions grim but hopeful.

Damn it. I couldn’t leave their memories intact. The world didn’t know vampires existed, and I couldn’t allow them to return to their lives to spread the gospel. However, they deserved better than what they’d gotten tonight. In the very least, I could give them good memories to erase the horrific ones.

“Joseph,” I said softly, knowing he was still in the room, on his knees where I’d placed him. “Come here.”

I almost laughed when he came to me with Sonja at his side. She gripped his arm, as though she could keep him upright. One of the strongest of his kind in the city, reduced to hiding behind a woman. The big, bad vampire used his necromancer to protect him. Sweet, yet laughable.

“You need to clear their memories and replace them with something better.” I knew Joseph could do it, having been under his control once before. “You’ll have to think of some accident to explain their wounds, but make sure nothing with fangs or sexual games is involved. Once that’s taken care of, I want you to take them from this place and go home. Don’t speak about what’s transpired this evening to anyone.” I looked at Sonja, expecting her to do as I said although she was under no compulsion to obey the order. “Comprende?”

“We understand,” Sonja said briskly, with a hint of uneasiness, and quickly looked way.

So that was the way of it. Although I’d helped her send Baxter to the other side, any kind of friendship we’d had was coming to an end. The woman had never liked me to begin with. Now that she was terrified of me, she probably wouldn’t answer my calls. That sucked, since I needed her help finding Marigold. Maybe we could continue sharing information on a less cordial level. Only time would tell.

“Much appreciated.”

They walked to the corner, talking in low voices as they neared the kids who were staring wide-eyed at them. Perfect. The kids were already horrified. No need to make things worse. Joseph and Sonja were doing exactly what I wanted them to.

“I’ve done nothing wrong,” Victoria informed me, green eyes unblinking as I met her gaze. “You killed my brother. I was entitled to the offer I was given.”

“By changing a girl against her will who has never done anything to you?” I asked, standing before her. “You were entitled to that?”