Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates by Bartlett, Gerry (red white royal blue TXT) 📕

stab him in the back. He must have sensed my movement because he jerked away before I could send it deep enough to kill him. He fell forward, the knife halfway there. The scent of his blood in the air certainly didn’t tempt me. It did reek of evil.

“What did you do?” He gasped and coughed up blood. I stayed away as he slapped at his back, trying desperately to reach the knife to pull it out. He couldn’t manage it. Then he struggled to get to his feet and failed, falling face down on the dirt and leaves. He began mumbling what I feared was a spell that could end me as he clawed at the ground in agony.

“Shut up.” I jerked out the knife and jumped on top of him. I held it to his jugular. “Move and you’re dead.” I pressed my knee to his wound and he screamed. He wasn’t a big man but I was afraid he could still pull some witch’s trick that would send me flying. I couldn’t let him escape. I should go ahead and slit his throat. Why didn’t I?

“Do it, Glory.” Valdez spoke from behind me. “You’ve got him down. Take the kill.”

I looked up and blinked back tears. “I can’t.”

Janus raised his head “Weak woman.” He gasped. “I knew you couldn’t kill me. But I can kill you and everyone you love.” He laughed until coughing choked him and he dropped to his face again. He began muttering an incantation, his hands working frantically against the soil.

Everyone I loved. No! I plunged the knife into his throat and he fell silent. My hand gripping the knife felt a surge of such power that I couldn’t let go. It burned me, making my eyes sting and my head hurt. I stared at my fingers wrapped around that hilt and now covered in his blood.

“Release me.” I begged his evil spirit, already on its way to Hell. I could hear his laughter inside my head, mocking me. Oh, but he wanted to hurt me, to drag me down with him. Pain, sharp and biting, seared my fingers. He refused to let me go.

I looked up at the night sky, at the clouds gathering above me to blot out the moon. Evil could not win. I had no choice but to pray to my ancient gods, to those two sitting on their golden thrones.

“Please.” Suddenly an arrow of light came down from the moon and I was free. I leaped off of him, taking the knife with me. I stared in horror at what I’d done then finally managed to toss the knife aside. I shook my blistered fingers and they immediately began to heal.

Trees were burning around us when a gentle rain began to fall, snuffing out the flames. Was this a last demonstration of his magic or a blessing from nature, approving of his death? I held out my hand to let the rain wash his blood from it and felt an instant relief from the pain.

“Glory, are you all right?” Valdez handed me my dress. He frowned when he saw my damaged hand. “What did he do to you?”

“Evil magic. No, I’m not all right. Give me time.” I stepped into the dress, scorched where the witch had touched it, and turned my back. I doubted I could wear it again after this. Valdez quickly fastened it. I couldn’t look at that body, lying there so close, and stepped away from it.

“How did you find me, Valdez?”

“Florence and Fiona came to meet you at the bedchamber but you weren’t there. We assumed something had gone awry in your shifting. When we saw trees in flames from a tower window, it was like a signal that something important was happening here. I hurried to see if it involved you.” He picked up my knife then carefully cleaned it with damp leaves before he tried to hand it back.

“I don’t want it.” I shook my head. “He was their leader. A powerful mage. I, I need to tell Jeremiah.”

“We’ll do that. But you also need your knife, Gloriana.” Valdez touched my shoulder. “The knife isn’t tainted. It did the job it was intended for. You may have to use it again. Take it.”

My hand was shaking as I grasped it then lifted my skirt and settled it into the special scabbard in my garter. He was right. I might need it again. This war was not over. I glanced around us looking for more pirates.

“I hope you aren’t sorry that you killed that bastard, Glory. He was the enemy. You have been determined to join the battle. You have to know killing is part of that.” He took my elbow and steered me away from the clearing. As quickly as the rain had started, it stopped. I was damp but not thoroughly soaked.

Since I had no idea where we were, I was glad of his help. “Sorry? I’m not exactly sorry he’s dead. Though killing any man, um, witch, is a hard thing, this one deserved it. He was behind all of the attacks. In his mind, they were just. To help the Irish recover from something the English and Scots have done.” I shook my head. “How he decided these innocent people were the ones who had to pay the price, we’ll never know. And, and he threatened the ones I love.”

We’d reached the drawbridge. When they saw us coming, Flo and Fiona rushed out to greet us.

“Where were you? Are you all right?” Flo looked me over. “What happened? You look pale. Do you need to feed?”

“I’ll tell you the details later. Just not now.” The very idea of taking blood made my stomach heave. “I hope I just rid us of our last spy. McFee was the leader, also a powerful mage.”

“You got ‘rid of’ him?” Flo put her arm around me. “Have you had to do that before, amica?”

My eyes filled with tears. “Yes, but I hated