Hanish: House of Storms (Dragon Guardians Book 6) Page 10

  Chapter 19

  “I strongly advise against this,” Zephyr said.

  “We’re going,” JoJo said. “We have a plan, and we will succeed.”

  “I’m in. I can only play so many video games,” Raiden said.

  JoJo smiled at him. “Thank you, Raiden. Which one of you is going to give me a ride?”

  “I will provide you with transportation,” Zephyr said.

  “Good,” JoJo said. “That settles it. Let’s get going.” She stood back and watched the dragons change shape. Then she glanced back at the house and saw Krista waving from the window. She had driven down immediately with her mates to watch Tor. The rest of the crew was going to find their captain.

  The dragons became five magnificent electric-pink beasts with the hearts and souls of warrior poets. She climbed on Zephyr’s back and held on to the scales on his neck, squeezing her legs around him. It was a terribly precarious situation, but Krista had assured her that it was safe enough to fly.

  The dragons launched into the air, one by one. JoJo watched as they flew away from the mansion. Krista had promised to spend the night in the safe room with Tor, and the external shields were set to maximum strength.

  The flight to the vampire compound would take hours. The wind whipped into JoJo’s ears and through her hair, making her wonder how she was going to hold on for so long.

  What have I gotten myself into?

  She was willing to do whatever it took to make sure that her mate was safe. She would fly to the ends of the earth to protect him.

  The moon was high and bright overhead, and JoJo marveled at the site of the world drifting by below. Riding a dragon was magnificent, and she never would have imagined such a thing was possible just a few days ago. There she was, racing stealthily in a procession of dragons in pursuit of vampires. Somehow, it all made sense.

  The puzzle pieces of her life were coming together. The bookish and organized girl with the deep, mystical powers, who had only ever wanted to prove herself, was really a Dragon Soul. She was descended from the souls of ancient dragons, seeded on the earth a million years ago. Her heart swelled with pride at the knowledge of her ancestry.

  The flight was long and tedious, and holding on to Zephyr’s back was exhausting. She laid her head against his neck as the hours wore on and slowly began to drift off to sleep, lulled by the constant hum of wind around her ears. She gasped, waking up. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted movement. At first, she thought perhaps it was geese or an airplane in the distance. Black smoke whizzed around her and coalesced into the shape of a man gliding along next to her.

  “It’s you.” She would recognize him anywhere. He hadn’t aged a day since college all those years ago. He still had the same dead eyes and the same sneering mouth.

  “JoJo, my love.” He gave her an insane grin.

  “Get away from me!”

  “It is time that we fulfill our destiny. We belong together. You are mine, and I am yours. There’s no point in denying it.”

  “I never should’ve let you get away with what you did to me.” She raised her arms and shot her magic at the vampire. But instead of being blasted out of the air, he remained. Taken off guard, JoJo gasped and began to falter.

  “You didn’t think I was really here, did you?” he asked with a maniacal laugh. He came closer to her, reaching out his hands. “Come to me, JoJo. Come to me.”

  She felt a surge of compulsion in her heart as though she were being drawn toward him. She resisted with every fiber of her being, but in doing so, she slipped backward and fell off of Zephyr. She screamed as she began to fall out of the sky, tumbling faster and faster through the air.

  The dragons broke from stealth and dove after her. She was falling so fast, she didn’t think even their speeding wings could fly fast enough for them to save her. But out of nowhere, one of the dragons swooped underneath her and caught her in his arms. She didn’t realize until she was being carried that it was no longer a dragon, but a half man, half dragon that she recognized as Raiden.

  “Where are you going so fast?” Raiden asked with a laugh.

  “He was here,” JoJo said, gasping. She was so close to tears, she could barely hold them back.

  Raiden set her down on the ground, and the other dragons landed, shifting into their human forms.

  “What happened?” Akash asked.

  “Edgar was in the sky.” She pointed at the darkness. “Beckoning me to join him.”

  “And now that I have your attention,” a familiar voice said.

  JoJo whirled and found Edgar standing in the mist of the valley. The moonlight glinted in his empty, dead eyes.

  “You’ve made a mistake,” Raiden said, drawing his daggers. The others burst into dragon and half-dragon form then charged at the vampire. But he disappeared in a wisp of smoke only to reappear again a second later.

  “Aria’s song has lost its potency,” Akash said.

  “He can’t bite a full-grown dragon,” Zephyr said. “There is nothing to fear.”

  “We should go,” Raiden said, making another attempt to attack the disappearing vampire.

  “Not with her,” he said, appearing right behind JoJo. He grabbed her in his arms and held her to him, his mouth opening over her neck. His fangs slid over the spot where he had bitten her so many years before.

  That momentary flashback made JoJo scream. She whirled in his grasp, lifted her palms, and shot every bit of her strength at the vampire. He flew backward and smashed against a tree. Raiden was the first to react, jumping on top of Edgar with both of his daggers drawn. The vampire was stunned for half a second, giving Raiden the chance to slice the vamp’s arm with his dagger.

  Edgar screamed and disappeared. “This isn’t over,” his disembodied voice said. But he didn’t appear again.

  JoJo’s heart pounded in her chest, and she panted with fear and exhilaration.

  “You can stun them with your knockback,” Zephyr observed.

  “I did it when they attacked us on the road, but I’m afraid my power isn’t quite as strong without Aria’s song.”

  “It will be dawn soon,” Yuki said. “We’re only a few hundred miles from the compound. We should go.”

  “Have you heard from Hanish?” JoJo asked.

  “No,” Zephyr said. “He’s been off the grid since he disappeared.”

  Determination rose in JoJo. “We must go and bring him home.”

  “I think I’ll carry you the rest of the way,” Raiden said. “I wouldn’t want you falling again.”

  “I was getting tired.”

  Raiden half shifted and picked her up in his arms. The rest of the flight was much more comfortable than the first part.

  The dragons landed under their stealth shields right outside the vampires’ compound. Zephyr and Yuki began to analyze the vampires’ magic wards with their wrist devices. JoJo used the wrist device Zephyr had given her to create a laser gun and a shield around herself.

  “This isn’t good,” Yuki said.

  “It’s not good at all,” Zephyr agreed.

  “What’s wrong?” JoJo asked.

  “These wards are stronger than anything we’ve ever seen. And I’m getting a reading on Hanish. He’s inside.”

  Chapter 20

  Hanish watched in stunned silence as the vampires continued to feed on their human slaves. It took every ounce of his self-control to stay under his stealth shields. No matter how much he wanted to burst out and burn them all to a crisp with his lightning, he had bigger fish to fry. He was there to confront Edgar Norton, not to take on the entire coven. He’d find a way to do it, Aria’s song or not.

  He spent several hours hiding and biding his time until one of the vampires approached, looking for their leader. “I’ve been able to use Edgar’s magic to re-cast our wards. I’ve never seen magic so strong.”

  “He is an ancient who’s bitten a powerful Dragon Soul.”

  Hanish gritted his teeth, as angry as hell that they were ta
lking about his mate like that.

  “Edgar,” Victor said. “It is so good to see you. We have anticipated your arrival with great urgency.”

  “They are on their way here,” Edgar said. “And I intend to claim her this time. Nothing will stand in my way.”

  “Why were you unable to claim her before?” Victor asked.

  “She was less than amiable about the idea,” Edgar admitted.

  “What do you think has changed now?”

  “I think she’s had time to consider it, time to grow into her role as my mate. And if she doesn’t, we will kill the dragonkin she loves. Or worst-case scenario, we drain her blood.”

  Edgar flicked his wrist, and Hanish’s shields dropped. He was completely exposed to everyone in the room. The vampires dropped their blood slaves on the ground, and they all stood, gasping and angry. Hanish shifted into his full-dragon form, ignoring the tight space that cramped his massive body. He let a deluge of lightning fly. It struck the furniture and draperies, and they burst into flames. He continued his assault on the compound, catching several of the slower vampires in his wake. They ran screaming from the room.

  Hanish charged at Edgar, but the vampire was too quick and evaporated in a puff of smoke. Victor flew away as quickly as Edgar had. Hanish was determined to destroy the man and bring peace to his mate, but the vampire was slippery, and Hanish did not have Aria’s song to make his attacks quicker. There was nothing he could do about that now. He had come there to destroy Edgar, and he would do it.

  But the vampires closed in. Their attacks were weak, but their numbers were overwhelming. He wouldn’t be able to keep back the tide for very long. They rushed at him all at once. He tried to defend against them, but there were just too many. While their teeth could barely scratch his scales, they could use ropes and chains to restrain him.

  He was trapped, unable to escape. The last thing that went through his mind before he was completely overpowered was that he had betrayed JoJo’s trust. He should not have gone off without telling her. No one knew where he was. He opened communication to the others through his mental link, but it was too late. There was something blocking communication between him and his crew.

  Chapter 21

  “Hurry,” JoJo said, clenching her fists as she watched Zephyr and Yuki work on the wards.

  “We’re moving as fast as we can,” Zephyr said. “Stay quiet.”

  JoJo began pacing back and forth as the sun began to rise. She could feel that something was wrong. Something was definitely off. She didn’t know what it was, but she had the deep sense that Hanish was in danger.

  “Aiden and Aria caught an early flight,” Yuki whispered. “Cato is picking them up at the airport now.”

  “They should come here immediately,” Akash said.

  “Cato should come too,” Yuki said. “He could help us with these wards. He’s had more time and experience with them.”

  “I’ve got it,” Zephyr said.

  “We should wait for the others,” Akash said.

  “Hanish is in trouble,” JoJo said. “I can feel it.”

  “They know we’re here,” the huge warrior, Ragnar, said. “There’s no point in waiting.”

  “Let’s go,” Raiden said. “JoJo, stay close to me.”

  They moved swiftly into the compound under their stealth shields. JoJo could feel Raiden’s hand on her arm as he guided her, following the others. Her heart slammed into her chest. She didn’t know if she would find Hanish or if they would make it out safely. All she knew was that she had to try.

  Raiden scooped her into his arms and flew to an upper balcony. He set her back on her feet a moment later. She tried to stay quiet but let out a little yelp of surprise. Someone shushed her, but she couldn’t tell where the voice came from. It didn’t sound like Raiden.

  They crept along the balcony and into the window of a room that looked like an office. No one was inside. They crossed the threshold and began walking toward the door. JoJo saw bloodstains on the floor. She gasped, and her knees went weak. Her life began to flash before her eyes. Her thoughts were of Tor and Hanish before she fell to the ground and blacked out.

  She came to a moment later. Her body was still invisible, but the sound of Zephyr’s voice was in her ear. “I’ve given you a medication to regain consciousness. It should also help you relax.”

  She didn’t know if it would be possible to relax at a time like this, but she felt a warm sense of calm wash through her.

  “Come with me,” Raiden whispered in her ear.

  She felt his hand on her arm as they crept toward the door. One of the invisible dragons opened the door an inch. She knew they could speak to each other inside their minds and use their minds like the Internet, sharing information, maps, and all sorts of things. She was completely blind to all of that and had no idea where they were, what they were saying to each other, or anything else.

  What she did know was that when she found Hanish, she was never going to let him go. Some jerk from college wasn’t going to destroy the life she could have with her mate.

  The door opened, and Raiden pulled her through. They abruptly stopped on the other side and pressed their backs flush against the wall. They were in a hallway with a balcony overlooking the landing below. She could see groups of vampires speaking with each other on the bottom floor. Some were escorting a group of humans down into the basement. They were wearing nothing but slips of clothing and underwear.

  Then she saw him—Edgar. She bit her lip, trying not to make any noise. But their eyes locked, and suddenly, all six dragons and JoJo were no longer hidden under stealth shields.

  Chaos erupted as the dragons attacked. Light streamed through the windows, weakening the vampires, but without Aria’s song, it was impossible for the dragons to make contact. JoJo lifted her arms and directed her palms at Edgar. Mustering every ounce of strength inside, she pushed her power out through her hands at the man who had taken so much from her—a man she’d wished to forget but who wouldn’t leave her alone.

  He blew backward, as did several other vampires. The Storms dropped onto him and tried to attack, but Edgar dissipated in a wisp of smoke only to reappear in front of JoJo. He reached out and grabbed her. “I’m so happy to see you, my dear.”

  “Let me go.” JoJo lifted her hand and shot her power out through her palm, forcing him away. She drew her laser gun and pushed power through her other palm. She shot at Edgar, but her aim was terrible.

  He disappeared in a cloud of smoke and reappeared behind her. She whirled and thrust her blowback power at him, but her strength was waning. With each subsequent use, it diminished, until she restored it through rest.

  Edgar flew backward from her blow, and she shot her laser gun at him. A bullet grazed his leg. He screamed and disappeared in a wisp of smoke.

  “Your bullets are powerful but not powerful enough for me,” he mocked.

  She whirled, looking for the source of the voice, but she couldn’t find him.

  “You see, my dear, I am one of the oldest vampires awake on the planet. I have been sleeping since we last met, biding my time until I could come back and claim you. I had been awake for too long when I found you, but I have rested. This time, I will not let you go.”

  “Never!” she screamed. “I would rather die.”

  “You will die to have new life,” he said, grabbing her as he reappeared.

  “Raiden! Zephyr!” JoJo screamed, but it was too late.

  Edgar pulled her into a room and locked the door. His eyes were deadly, and his smile displayed the spark of evil deep inside of him. “You and I are meant to be, JoJo. You are the most powerful Dragon Soul I have ever witnessed. You have not even begun to realize the truth of your power—the power you will never achieve if you don’t mate with me. Come, and I will give you everything.”

  “I don’t want what you have to offer. Where is Hanish? What have you done with him?”

  “I wished to dispose of the dragon, but he’s proven to b
e more difficult than we anticipated.”

  The wounds from Raiden’s knife and her gun were still open and oozing green liquid from Edgar’s limbs. Edgar wasn’t as invincible as he claimed to be. If one of them could get a direct hit at something vital, they could finish him. But she was trapped, and her strength was gone.

  She aimed her gun at his head and pulled the trigger. But he disappeared in a wisp of smoke then reappeared beside her, wrapping her in his arms.

  “Let’s not fight, JoJo,” he murmured in her ear. He licked the wound he’d created when he’d bitten her all those years ago. She shuddered in revulsion and cried out with every last ounce of the love in her soul, screaming for Hanish to come save her.

  Chapter 22

  Hanish found himself in a tiny, dark room, his arms chained above him to the wall. The last thing he remembered was being overwhelmed by vampires and shifting into half-dragon form. He blinked in the darkness and pulled at his wrists, testing the handcuffs. They were magically strong, and his strength alone would not release him.

  Taking several deep breaths, Hanish drew from his dragon core, accessing his lightning breath. He blew a bolt of lightning at the middle link in the chain securing the handcuffs. It snapped in two. He was free. With the handcuffs still on his wrists, he put his mouth to the locks and directed the slightest bolt of lightning at the weakest spot in the hinges. It fell open and clanked on the concrete floor.

  Rubbing his wrists, he began to devise a plan of escape. He hurried to the door, listening for movement on the other side. When he didn’t hear anyone beyond his prison cell, he knelt and shot the lock with his lightning. It broke, releasing the door. Smiling, Hanish opened it an inch and peeked through. The dimly lit, narrow hallway stood silent and empty.

  Hanish drew his laser sword. Stepping out into the hallway, he was confronted by two vampires in gaudy red sweat suits who looked like low-level minions. They charged at him, and he sliced them with his sword. Unable to penetrate the vampires, he shot the space around them with lightning. The walls caught fire, and the vampires began to scream and shout. Hanish didn’t wait around for more to join them. He hurried up the stairs, blasted the doorknob with lightning, and burst through.