Finn nodded at Hunter’s suggestion. “More than probable. They were searching for someone. Maybe they noticed Violet following them and decided to remove the threat and do some testing at the same time.”
Violet swallowed hard. “And has the same thing happened to Layla? She came looking for me. Could she have been seen and taken as well?”
Maybe it was the distress in her voice or a simple act of comforting her, but Finn circled her body with his strong arms. “Or maybe she went on another mission. You know how she is, always wandering off to find new spells and unique artifacts.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I know Layla was cursed and became a cat. It’s not as if she can easily be detected and no one would suspect her of being more than she is.”
Hunter had a point. Humans dabbled in magic as much as they could with their abilities, but unless they were more than they appeared, their reach was limited.
“Until Layla returns, I’d rather keep in mind that she may be in danger.”
Both men nodded as gloom descended over them. Cold insinuated itself into her veins, and she could feel an increased twinge of pain in her side where the mark grew. Another reminder that if she wanted to see this through and get her answers before it was too late, she had to move.
“Well, I think I should try to find Bohn and Weir. Again. Not a pleasant thought, but I guess I need a repeat.”
Finn kept a hand on her as he gazed into her eyes. “Not alone you’re not. I’m not leaving your side.”
Hunter came closer. “And count me in. If humans are kidnapping people, I want them off the streets.”
She looked at her newfound white knights. The old Violet would have pushed them away, but now she knew better than deny help from allies, from friends and people she trusted, while time was of the essence.
“Well, let’s go take care of those two apprentice necromancers.”
Chapter 19
Coming from the dark, being reborn from it, Finn knew when he’d encountered one of the same kind. It was a shift in the air, or maybe a faint scent that remained. A sense of recognition. A powerful vampire had been there.
As one himself, Finn was of the most powerful kind around, more so as he was one of the oldest who existed. For that reason, he didn’t experience fear for himself, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t careful.
Violet and the human cop led the way by returning to the address she’d found in her earlier investigation, but the apartment was empty. Hunter made a few calls and found another address, this time on the opposite side of town.
The moment they stepped out of the car Finn knew. “Blood. There’s blood and lots of it nearby.”
Hunter’s hand went to his weapon, but it was no use. Nothing living or undead was inside.
Violet went to take the lead, but Finn wouldn’t have it, nor would Hunter.
Her voice shivered. “Blood?”
Hunter took the lead as he approached the door and looked back at him. “Anybody in there?”
“Nobody breathing. And nobody’s been alive in there for some time.”
After checking and finding the door was locked, Hunter started hammering the door. “Police! Open up!”
Finn rolled his eyes. “I just told you there’s nobody there, human.”
“And I believe you. But I need to follow procedure if I want to keep my damn job at the end of all this.”
Before Finn could say another word, the human kicked the door open. The apartment was quiet and dark, with the curtains drawn. He noticed Violet hesitate at the threshold. Hunter must have sensed it too because instead of going deeper into the apartment, he waited for her.
“Are you all right, Vi?” The witch, his witch, was hesitant. “Do you feel something?”
She nodded, and a curl of red hair caught onto her cheek, drawing attention to how pale she was. Paler with each passing minute, which bothered Finn.
“I have the same feeling I had when… when I fled the chapel. I couldn’t run fast or far enough. I sense the same in there.”
Her hand was glacial when he took it in his already cool one. “You don’t have to go inside.”
He should have known her proud soul wouldn’t consider taking the easy way out, even if it was the right thing to do.
Letting go of him, Violet took one step, then another, passing Hunter who switched the light on.
Even if the stench of blood was undeniable, there was nothing to be seen. The place was immaculate. The apartment didn’t have a lot of furniture and was clean apart from a few pieces of luggage in the corner and clothing strewn about.
Hunter examined every inch of the apartment, checking inside every door. “It looks like he got the place but probably didn’t intend to stay long. The rest of the apartment is empty apart from sheets on the bed and take-out food in the fridge. And I don’t see a speck of blood anywhere. Is your nose still functional, vampire? Sure you’re not coming down with the flu?”
Finn would have responded, but Violet’s mouth quirked up by an inch, so he decided to let him live. “The scent is still here, that’s one thing I’m sure of, but I don’t know why we can’t see anything.”
“There’s a spell in here, a basic one from what I sense. Maybe…”
Her breath hitched when she closed her eyes. Hunter frowned and looked at him, but Finn didn’t move. Was she trying her magic? Had it come back to her? He worried seeing the expression of pain on her face.
As magic flowed around them, Finn sensed something different, but before he could analyze it further, the living room shimmered, and what he had been smelling started to make sense. A crimson stain spread over the floor as if it once more pooled from its source. More
