Chapter 36
Entering the castle itself was no problem. Once inside, sounds of battles raging on in various locations could be heard. All of the special mission teams came in at the same time, and without taking time to look around the opulently decorated, though recently ransacked, interior, the leaders split off in the various directions they’d been instructed to follow.
Ward led them down a hallway that led to a steep stairway that went both up and down. They chose to follow it down, further into the depths of the castle. It was made of marble and the floor was slick, but all of their team members were sure-footed.
It was also dark, though none of them needed torches. Their highly attuned vision was able to cut through the darkness.
Once they reached the next floor, Ward looked around and then, nodding, he took them down another corridor. Here, they found a thick oak door, which Ward asked Morris to knock down, and he did so easily. This led to yet another flight of stairs. Narrower still, and made of rickety wood, Aaron hoped this might be their final descent.
At the bottom of the staircase was a wide-open space. No natural light could penetrate here, and it was quite difficult to see, even with their superior vision. Ward gave instructions for the team members to spread out, which they did, and as Aaron stepped into the center of the room, he realized there were three wooden coffins at the far end of the room.
If they contained the Vampire sirens, it would be best to attack now, before they realized they had visitors, though it was unclear as to whether or not they were still inside. They certainly didn’t appear to be anywhere else in the room.
Before Ward could even give an order, the tops of the coffins blew off, flying up into the air, shooting towards the teammates at high velocity.
One of the lids was careening directly at him, and Aaron stepped out of the way just in time. Clive wasn’t so lucky. Another lid hit him square in the chest and sent him soaring into the back wall of the room. The third fell to the ground near Ward’s feet.
The three vixens shot out of their chambers just as quickly as they had tossed off their lids. Rather than flying at their assailants, they halted just above their respective receptacles, floating three or feet in the air. The blonde woman wore only a thin red silk wrap around her waist, her hair and her skirt billowing out around her. The brunette next to her wore a similar outfit of blue, and at the far end was a redhead in purple. They all wore golden jewelry and thick makeup. The scent of their perfume filled the air, notes of jasmine, lilac, and honeysuckle becoming intoxicating.
“Who dares disturb our slumber?” the blonde asked. Though she was obviously upset, her voice was light and melodic.
“Perhaps they’ve come to join us,” offered the brunette. “Would you like to join me?” she asked Aaron, and for a moment he found himself lost in her entrancing eyes.
“No one wants to join you,” Catherine spat, stepping forward, a stake in her hand. “It’s time all three of you went to hell.”
“That’s not very polite,” the redhead demurred, looking at her sisters. “I don’t think I like her.”
“Nor do I,” the blonde agreed. “But I like him,” she added, smiling coyly at Christian, and Aaron turned to see the Guardian’s face shift, as if he were being sucked in by her siren’s song.
“Christian!” Aaron shouted. He watched as the other man shook his head, as if trying to clear it. They needed to act now before the Vampires organized. He looked to Ward, waiting for an order, but he realized Ward might be of little use. He was staring at the redheaded woman who floated near him as if he might eat her for dessert. “Ward?” Aaron called.
There was no answer, and the woman began to beckon him over. Before the entire team fell into disarray, Aaron decided there was only one thing he could do.
“Catherine, go!” he shouted. The blonde didn’t need to be told twice, and she jumped into action, flying at the brunette and knocking her to the ground. “Christian, you and Margot have got the blonde.” Checking over his shoulder, he saw that Clive was climbing from under the casket lid, which meant he was okay, but Aaron didn’t have time to check on him now.
“Morris, go help Ward,” Aaron instructed, thinking that sending two males might not be the best plan, but he was out of options, and since neither of them could be killed by the redhead, at least they could keep her busy while he helped Catherine.
She was quick, and even though the Vampire had some tricks up her sleeve, Catherine appeared to be holding her own. “I hate the flying kind!” Catherine shouted as he rushed over. Just as it appeared the Hunter had her prey pinned, the Vampire shrieked and bucked her off, sending Catherine crashing into the nearby coffin, which fell off its stand and tumbled onto the ground, shaking the entire room.
Aaron glanced back to see she was okay and then launched himself at the brunette Vampire. “Oh, you’ve come to me,” she purred. Aaron refused to look into her eyes, which helped, though he could still feel her pulling on his mind. Thinking it might work to his advantage, he smiled at her, and as she pulled him against her chest, he ran his hands up her sides. “Yes,” she whispered. “Touch me, darling. Make me yours.”
The feel of her hands running up his back, her breath on his neck, was both arousing and sickening at the same time. She was using his own memories against him, and for a moment he thought he was holding Aislyn. A nice trick, but one he was strong enough to overcome. He heard Catherine calling his name, and at the sound of her voice, he slipped his hand up to the Vampire’s neck, clutching it from behind. As he squeezed, she howled. He had used her own hoax on her, something she wasn’t ready for.
But she was strong, and her arms and legs were free. She sunk her claws into his neck and raised her legs in an attempt to kick him off. He used his knee to block her, but the force caused him to lose his balance, and they both fell to the floor.
He looked up into her grimacing face. The strain on her neck was beginning to drain her, but as strong as she was, it might take hours at this rate before he could defeat her. He heard Catherine shout, “Roll her!” and even though he wasn’t quite sure what she had in mind, he followed her instructions, flipping over rapidly so that he was now on top of the brunette Vampire.
Catherine acted quickly. As soon as he had the vixen on her back, Catherine plunged a stake into her heart. The Vampire shrieked, her eyes wide in horror and pain. But then, she began to laugh, and Aaron realized it would take more than one stake to defeat a being this powerful.
“Her head!” he shouted to Catherine. “It’s got to be her head.” He still had a grip on her neck, and he could feel that her powers were fading more rapidly since the stake had been inserted, but she still wasn’t giving up.
