Secrets In The Bones: The Curse of Blood Bay

Eighteen

With his body limp, the gruesome sound of Amos retracting his fangs and nails sent shivers down my spine. The lifeless form never reached the cold floor. Amos seized him by the scruff of his neck as the driver popped open the rear door, then flung the body aside like a rag doll. Eleven stones of wasted space were tossed with a single hand.

In that brutal moment, I glimpsed the unfathomable strength of a vampire. Though I considered myself strong, I had never tested the depths of my power. Witnessing Amos's raw might was a stark reminder of the immense danger looming over me if things went awry. And in the cases I had encountered, something had always gone awry.

The Kanaima job had seen Ellena abducted from her home, leading her and Locke to the warehouse where Michael had met a gruesome end. His throat ripped apart. Then, there was the enigmatic black widow case, in which Michael had been subjected to experiments that further pushed him down the dark path of the supernatural. That case had been peculiar, a test for me, as if someone wanted to determine if I could breach their defences.

As I contemplated these unsettling events, much remained unravelled once we escaped this cursed town. The image of that mysterious stone artefact and its purported power brought to mind the cryptic druidic riddles Ruth had shared. Could it be part of something larger? How many such places existed, shrouded in secrets and ancient power?

Amos retrieved a handkerchief from his coat pocket, dabbing his mouth clean as if he had just finished a delectable dessert. His expression hinted at profound satisfaction. The door slammed shut, leaving me with no doubt that the McNallys were aware of vampires and involved with them. Their sinister collaboration was far from over.

"You need to put your house in order, or our arrangement will be null and void," Amos declares, his smirk sending a shiver down my spine. It dawned on me that Amos could hear my thoughts if I could hear him.

I sank lower into the footwell and switched off the radio, allowing only a slender gap between the steering wheel and dashboard to maintain my watchful gaze. I prayed that the chaos unfolding at the pub would provide enough cover for my racing heartbeats.

"Well, hold on a minute," David interjected. "I didn't know that imbecile would kill his friend over greed."

"True enough," Amos responded, his voice dripping with veiled menace. "But you must understand, I now have a contingency plan. It may take longer, but no one will seek refuge because of sickness. I suggest you expedite the process."

"We struck a deal," David argued. "My wife's life depends on it. We create an entrance to your precious tomb, and you heal her while providing us with the locations of treasure troves. It's a beneficial arrangement."

Amos advanced, causing David to tense his neck muscles without moving his body—an attempt to maintain his composure before his wife and son. Yet, there was a palpable fear in David, clear in the rapid acceleration of his heart rate.

"All you have to do," Amos continues, "is to avoid drawing undue attention while you fret over trivial matters. There's more at stake here than the trinkets you play with. You can have your submerged relics. The grand prize awaits me."

"It's not mere trinkets down there," David retorts. "One ship is intact. If we could salvage it, it could be worth a small fortune."

Amos sighs dismissively. "You amuse yourself with your toys. But first, you open that tunnel. Fail in that, and you may join our dear friend here. And believe me, there will be no return."

Amos's step back was accompanied by a smile, one that countless tales of darkness and power had etched. There was an undeniable connection between David's pursuit and the potential treasures he sought. It raised whether the coordinates aligned with the ship David coveted, a secret hidden from his sons. Perhaps they had never set foot inside a library. David seemed too engrossed in his web of dealings to delve into history. Another untapped location might have awaited discovery.