“It’s okay,” Kiefer said. “I’ll take care of it. I assume they’ll also have blades and other weapons on them, but I’ll do my best to relieve them of those, too, as soon as they get here.”
“‘Relieve them of those?’” Lucy asked. “How? Are you telekinetic, like Celia?”
“Nah.” Kiefer seemed disappointed. “I can use a spell to move inanimate objects around, but I won’t be able to hold off a bunch of people juiced on magic and determined to get to us.” He looked at the guys again. “Like I said, I’ll take away their stuff, but, after that, you two are going to need to help me beat these suckers back. The old-fashioned way.”
“With pleasure.” Jason held up a fist. “I can punch pretty hard now, so…can’t I just knock all these guys out and be done with it?”
“Depends on how doped up they are,” Kiefer said. “They’ll probably be protected by Dorian’s magic. Regardless, you should definitely try. I know I will. Whatever the case, we’ll need to keep beating them up and holding them back until Nathan can kill Celia. If the vampires are her get, they’ll turn normal when she gets cut down. If they aren’t hers, well…Nathan and I will just have to cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“How are we going to keep them back?” Lucy asked, wary of the answer.
“I’ve got some spell books in the truck. You and Dara will recite from them and create a magical shield around the store, to keep out the bad guys. Like any shield, though, it won’t be completely invulnerable. If it takes enough hits, it won’t hold. Which is why me, Aaron, and Jason will do our best to keep everyone from getting too close to it for too long.”
“Um,” Dara held up her hand. “Not that I’m not willing to try this, but…how can Lucy and I work magic? What makes you think we have the power to do something like that?”
“You might not,” Kiefer admitted. “But that’s why I’m going to let you borrow a little of mine. I’ll give you each an amulet I’ve charged up with some of my ability. As long as you’re wearing the necklaces, you’ll be able to draw from my magic in order to power the spell. We have to hope Nathan can work fast, though, because the amulets won’t last forever. Maybe an hour or so.”
Lucy watched in amazement as he once again jogged back to his truck, and this time yanked a duffel bag out of the bed. He ran back and distributed the amulets to her and Dara. He handed them each a small notebook, pointing out which incantations he wanted them to perform.
“I can’t read this,” Lucy protested, gaping at the scribbling on the open page. “I don’t even know what language this is!”
“I’ve transcribed it all phonetically,” Kiefer pointed out.
“Yeah, but I don’t understand it.”
“You don’t need to understand it. You just need to read it. And it doesn’t hurt if you believe it’s going to work, too. You know, have a little faith?” He winked at her and then beckoned Aaron and Jason closer, offering them each a rosary and a small plastic bottle. “This is holy water,” he explained. “You fling it at vampires. There’ll be more in the bag if you run out. Now put on the crosses.”
“Are you sure this won’t mess us up?” Aaron eyed the religious implements with suspicion.
“Cross my heart. The elixir I gave you acts as a protectant, at least for the next few days or so.”
Jason also looked skeptical, but for different reasons. “I’m not afraid it’ll hurt me,” he said, slipping the necklace on over his head. “I’m more surprised you think it’ll hurt them. Are you sure this stuff works?”
“Oh, it works,” Kiefer smiled without humor. “Vampires are all tainted by evil, so holy water and consecrated crosses will both burn them. At least for a few seconds, until they start to heal again, but sometimes, in a fight, a few seconds are all that matter.” He handed crosses to Dara and Lucy as well.
“Where’s yours?” Lucy wondered.
In response, Kiefer peeled off his t-shirt and pitched it into the duffel bag. Along with a leanly muscled torso, he’d revealed a huge, ornate cross tattooed across his chest and stomach. “Had the ink blessed by a priest buddy of mine before they put it on,” he explained, flashing his dimple, “so I’m all good. But thanks for your concern, sweetheart.” Lucy felt the blood rush to her cheeks and averted her eyes.
“So, we’re really just going to sprinkle the monsters with holy water?” Aaron asked, staring at the bottle in his hand in befuddlement.
“And try to lay them out,” Jason reminded him. “Come on, it’ll be fun.”
“Says the guy with super-strength and super-speed.” But Aaron seemed prepared to follow Jason and Kiefer into the courtyard.
“Wait.” It was Theo talking, and Lucy could see it was costing him to speak out of turn again. His face was knotted, and sweat glistened on his brow.
“Now what do you want?” Kiefer barked at him.
“I can help you. Let me go, and I can help you fight these guys.”
“Why should we trust you?” The challenge came from Aaron, but Lucy could see everyone else was entertaining the same question.
“I’m tired of this crap,” Theo replied, his dark eyes shining. “This isn’t what I signed up for.”
Kiefer squinted. “Yeah? But I thought you said Dorian paid you oh so well for licking his boots. Why the sudden change of heart?”
“I’ve had my doubts ever since he sent me and my guys to Celia’s grave, and she attacked all of us. Dorian claims he’s this amazing, high-powered magician, and usually he is, but…the protective charms he gave us for that mission didn’t work? None of them worked? I’m supposed
