Raven Mask (Camren) Book 2

Chapter 34

The main part of the church looked like Christianity's idea of the apocalypse. Vampire bodies were strewn across the pews, children and older vampires alike. Their blood created pools in the white carpet. I walked down the aisle and toward the scene at the altar.

The Count of Counts stood by his throne in an old-fashioned suit of blue crushed velvet. Black lace blossomed at his neck and wrists. Vanessa knelt in front of the small stage. A blood-soaked sword lay idly on the floor, like she'd dropped it. The muscles in her arms twitched as if she braced herself against some unseen force.

"You think you can defeat me?" The Count's laugh unnerved me because it was not the laugh of someone in his right mind.

I started to ask Maddox why Vanessa was kneeling, but then I looked past my shields. I didn't see anything, but I sensed it. The energy and power in the air was unmistakable.

The Count of Counts wasn't just any old vampire. He was a psychic vampire and he was feeding off Vanessa.

Without thinking I strolled forward. "You're fucking pathetic," I said loudly, forcing my voice to carry across the entire church. His power wavered, interrupted. Good, I wanted to spoil his party. The Count of Counts gazed at me with clear blue eyes. Most of his face was hidden behind thick black brows and a lush black goatee.

"Look at that," he said joyously. "Another toy to play with. I must thank you, Lauren, for bringing your most powerful assets to my party."

Maddox stepped up beside me, drawing the Count's attention to himself. The Count's eyes widened a fraction. "You traitorous—"

The Count staggered, bringing a hand up to his cheek. His fingers came away with blood.

He turned like a raging lion on Lauren. "You will pay for that!"

Lauren did not give the Count the satisfaction of a reply.

"Traitor?" Maddox's voice was thick with scorn. "You call me traitor? You murdered my Countess. You unsettled our people and placed your puppet to rule in her stead. You came here thinking to do the same and there would be no consequences. You are the traitor."

I drew the Pro.40, sighting down the barrel at the bridge between the Count's eyes. His attention shifted back to me.

"You would not da—"

Yeah, actually, I would. I pulled the trigger and chaos erupted.

Maddox rushed the Count, hitting him like a battering ram, sending both of their bodies to the stage floor.

The Count sprang to his feet, blood flowing from the bullet wound. "I'd kill her again just to hear her sweet pleading."

Maddox threw a right hook that sent the Count's head whipping back at an awkward angle.

The two began fighting in earnest. The Count blocked Maddox's next punch, using his forearm to sweep it aside. He dealt a blow to Maddox's midsection, hard enough I heard something crack.

I cursed, trying to get a good shot, but the fight was speeding up. The sound of blows fell faster, heavier. Maddox and the Count moved across the stage like angry blurs. Fucking vampires, they moved too Goddess-damned fast.

Lauren helped Vanessa to her feet and they turned, focusing on the fight in front of them with expressions of utter calm. The Count stumbled dramatically as Maddox landed another blow on the side of his face.

The Count's entourage had probably been the only thing that had kept Maddox from kicking his ass sooner. Watching Maddox fight like some pissed-off vampiric elephant, I was happy I wasn't the Count.