Page 90 of Twilight Destiny

He glanced at the clock on the DVD player. It was 9:15 a.m. Black Magic tended to be more powerful after dark. It was the reason so many spells were cast at midnight. If they were going to strike, it was best to do it when the sun was up. And they’d better do it soon. Kincaid had been in Luca’s power for almost fifteen hours.

Saintcrow grinned as a new thought occurred to him. “I have a plan, after all,” he said. “Listen up. This is what we’re gonna do.”

Two hours later, Rosa hid behind the large bush at the end of the witch’s driveway. Saintcrow had been opposed to her coming along, but she had insisted. He had relented on her promise that she would stay outside and she had reluctantly agreed. She had no supernatural abilities but she could feel the evil that resided within the house. It crawled over her skin like some hideous infection seeping into her pores, making her stomach churn with revulsion.

Rhinehart stood on the front porch holding a thick silver chain fastened to the silver collar around Saintcrow’s throat. Shackles also bound his wrists. Saintcrow stood with his head bowed, his jaw clenched against the pain of the silver burning his skin. This had to work, she thought. She could feel Jake’s agony, sense his yearning for death.

She was beginning to think the witch would never answer the door when it swung open and he stood there, the scowl on his face quickly turning to stunned surprise.

“I have another favor to ask.” Rhinehart jerked his head in Saintcrow’s direction. “I brought you this in payment.”

The witch’s pale blue eyes narrowed. “I only wanted his head,” Luca snapped.

“You never told me why,” Rhinehart said.

“And I never will. What do you want in return?”

“Lasting wealth.”

Luca grunted. “Easy enough. Bring the bloodsucker inside.”

Rhinehart crossed the threshold and gave a sharp tug on the chain.

Saintcrow stumbled after him, as if he was too weak to move.

“Shut the door,” Luca said.

Rhinehart kicked it shut with his heel.

“This way.” Luca smiled as he led his guests down the dark, narrow stairway to the cellar. “Put him in the other cage,” he said, his gaze on Kincaid. “And leave the collar and the shackles in place.”

Rhinehart walked the short distance to the second cage and made as if to open the door.

At that moment, Saintcrow tore the collar from his throat, a collar that had not been locked, and tossed it aside. The irons on his legs followed.

The sound of the shackles hitting the concrete floor drew the necromancer’s attention. “What is this?” Lifting his hand, he spoke a few words as he snapped his fingers. Rhinehart collapsed where he stood.

For a moment, Saintcrow and the witch glared at each other.

“My Katya lies in her grave all these years because of your friend,” Luca hissed. “Now you will die. And then her murderer will die.”

The witch lifted both arms overhead as he chanted in a language Saintcrow recognized as ancient Egyptian.

Dark Magic filled the air. Saintcrow took a deep breath as it swirled around him. Damn, he hoped Kincaid’s witch knew what she was doing. He felt Luca’s power slam into him like a tornado. It stole the breath from his body and drove him to his knees, but after a brief moment, he felt it withdraw.

Luca’s eyes widened, his mouth opening in a silent scream as the Death Magic he had unleashed ricocheted off the vampire and hit him with full force. It ripped through his body like a scythe. Blood-stained bits of flesh, bone, and hair flew through the air.

Saintcrow glanced over his shoulder when he heard a horrified cry from the top of the cellar stairs. “Dammit, girl, you were supposed to wait outside.”

Rosa didn’t seem to hear him as she made her way down the stairs, eyes wide, face devoid of color. He was sure she was going to faint. When she saw Kincaid, her face turned even whiter. She stared at Jake a moment and Saintcrow felt Rosa pull herself together before she ran toward the cage.

“Jake? Oh, Lord, Jake, can you hear me?” She tugged on the door, but it was locked.

Stepping forward, Saintcrow ripped it off its hinges and tossed it across the room.

Rosa hurried inside and knelt beside Kincaid. “Jake! Jake, can you hear me?”

His eyelids fluttered open, his eyes as red as flame.