*CHAPTER 61*

*CHAPTER 61*
Leaving no time for us to react, Laurent's long-nailed hands gripped onto my hair and Malcolm's clothes, dragging us the few feet through the doorway we'd been crouched beside. Pain lanced through my skull as he dragged us, tossing us roughly into the room. Pain lanced through me as I landed hard on the cement. Malcolm landing beside me. Through the bond, I could feel venom rushing through his veins, a sedative-like fog overtaking him. The space was dimly lit with a circle of candles. There was a slick of blood along the concrete floor, creating a circle of symbols like the one we'd found in the desert.

At the center of the symbol was Caleb's slumped form. And crouched over him was a hooded figure. Morpheus.

Caleb's face jerked in our direction, his eyes widening in shock at the sight of us now slumped on the floor beside him.

"Well, this is unexpected." Morpheus stood from his crouched position to take a single measured step in our direction as looked us over.

"They were right outside," the vampire said, tongue flicking out again, as if scenting the air, "What do you want with them?"

Morpheus, cocked his hooded head, considering us.

Beside me, I could feel Malcolm struggling against the pull of the venom.

"I'm sure we'll find some use for them—" he paused for a moment as if surprised, then he flicked the hood back from his head. The sight of him was a surprise in the fact that he looked so normal. Light brown hair. Brown eyes. Average face. Stocky build. Like someone I'd walk past in the grocery store. Those average brown eyes locked on me.

"I recognize you." He said, "The ashy remains of the Father's vampire were found in your house. I didn't think you'd survived the explosion I left for you."

I suddenly found my voice, "That was you?"

The man shrugged, "Vampires are very rare, very expensive investments you see. The Father couldn't let it stand having his investments decimated that way. So you understand why he had me leave a little surprise at your house. We have to set a precedent, you see. He wanted me to send a message about the destruction of his property."

The way he talked so casually about it, so nonchalantly about the death of my uncle had something spark inside of me. The fear that held my muscles locked down at the appearance of the vampire faded to nothing as a rage I'd never felt before burned through me.

"We don't have time for any more conversation though, I hope you'll understand. I'm on a bit of a time crunch. If you've managed to find me, I'm sure others won't be far behind. It's time for me to finish this."

He moved back to his spot beside Caleb, crouching down beside him. A long knife appeared in his hand. Caleb's eyes widened, as faster than I could track, the knife sliced across his chest in a shallow gash. His shout of pain was muffled against the gag wrapped around his mouth. The vampire kicked Malcolm back down to the ground with a kick to his chest that crunched.

"It's working!" Morpheus laughed, "I can feel it! The rush of power."

With a flick of Morpheus's hand, Caleb raised from the ground. The movements jerky and unnatural.

I watched on with horror, Caleb's expression matching my own.

I shifted on the concrete, and as I did, I felt the sting of metal pinch my skin. With the flick of my eyes, I looked down in surprise at the small rectangle still clutched in my fist. In the shock of it all, I'd forgotten I still had the stun gun Malcolm had handed me back in his truck.

If there was a time to use it, it was now. The vampire's back was to me as it stood over Malcolm. Malcolm had said to just push the button. Let's hope it really was that simple.

I scrambled to my feet and in a single movement, I shoved the stun gun to the pale exposed skin of the vampire's neck. There was a crackling vibration from the gun and the vampire hissed in a collapsed heap on the ground. I continued to shove the button down on the stun gun till it lost its spark and was useless, the vampire a motionless heap.

There was a muffled shout from Caleb in warning before a blast of fire was unleashed in my direction from Morpheus. Malcolm pulled himself to his feet beside me in a single motion and with a swing of his arm, he sent a burst of Magic that blocked the incoming wave of flames with his own. Malcolm shook out his shoulders, motions still a little slow, but at least he was up and moving, the bite already wearing off. He shot out another bust of flame that barely missed Caleb as Morpheus moved Caleb's body in front of him like a human a shield.

"Careful now," Morpheus taunted, "Wouldn't want to hurt your friend now, would you?"

Whatever Magic he had performed with his Blood sacrifice from Caleb, he now moved him around like a puppet as easily has he controlled flames. The sensation of Blood Magic wound through the room, so strong now it was overpowering.

Caleb's eyes turned wild. Feral.