Chapter 9

“Yes!" Vinna gave a small shout. "I am so happy I didn’t kill you now.” She exclaimed.

Deja rolled her eyes and moved towards the door. Neculai peek out but didn't see anyone. Deja brushed past him and beckoned for them to follow her out into the hallway. She knew the coast would be clear.

She never did understand how she knew the things she knew, but was thankful at times like this, it came in handy. They made their way down the hall of La Roulette Noire past the service elevators to the stairs.

"We could take the elevators but we would have to wait." She explained, while pushing open the door that led to the stairwell. Deja rushed ahead down the stairs leaving Vinna and Neculai to take up the rear. They could hear the screams coming from down the long corridors as they passed each floor. When they passed the eighty floor, Deja had begun to tire out. Vinna frowned casting a glare at the slower human woman ahead of her.

"Come on can't you go any faster?" Vinna exclaimed. Moving passed the slower woman. Deja glared at the ancient vampiress. She was about to respond. When she was lifted off her feet and slung over a strong shoulder.

"Wait. What are you doing?" She called from over Neculai's shoulder.

Neculai didn’t answer as he sped down the stairs just behind Vinna. It took them seconds to get to the garage of the hotel. Once at the garage door, Neculai set her down quickly and turned to cracke open the door and peered out. Deja was glad to be on solid ground. She didn't like the woozy feeling she got as they sped down the stairs.

The door led to an underground parking garage. Deja couldn't understand why he needed to look out considering that he could hear if anyone approached, perfectly fine. Maybe nerves, she finally came to the conclusion while looking over at him. Vinna, who was standing by him reached over and took his hand. Deja observed the intimate act before looking away.

Looking around Neculai didn't see a sign of the vampire hunters. He open the door to allow the two women a chance to enter first. The women froze ahead of him. Neculai’s car was not far away, but they spotted two guards standing up ahead.

"What?" He mouth from behind the two women, frowing.

Deja put a finger to her lips to silence him before pointing to a spot around the corner. He glanced around the corner. He could see two well dressed men standing up ahead. They were large, their eyes catching everything . He knew exactly who and what they were. They were whispering together but Neculai could hear every word crystal clear. To his shock they were discussing him.

“It was Aasir's plan don’t you know.” One of the guards explained.

“No, I didn’t know that. So, this was all a pretext to get Jovian here in the same location as Neculai?” The other guard who was several inches taller than his partner asked. The shorter guard only nodded, as two people walked by, without noticing the two men.

“Yep." He replied before continuing. " Well" the shorter guard leaned in closer to to whisper "Jason, between you and me, there was something Jovian discovered of great importance to The Order. However he was smart enough not to share it with them unless he became a member.” The guard replied with a small chuckle.

“Leave it to the ancients to play those type of dirty tricks." Jason, the taller guard on the right said in disgust.

"So, that is why they were so quick to have a ceremony welcoming Jovian as a new Order member?” Jason continued.

“Yes, they need his information and they need a reason to go after Neculai." Neculai saw the shorter guard who was speaking shrug.

"There is something about Neculai that they fear." He affirmed, before adding.

"This way they could kill two birds with one stone.” The man explained. Jason nodded in understanding.

“How do you know so much? I’m sure they are not sharing this information with you because they like you.” Jason asked while he casually looked around the area.

“No, but I told you already there are perks to being a guard for Roven. I hear things. I heard what he was talking about with Vulcan and Quintus.” He replied.

“Really. So, they are going to kill Neculai, but to get him they will murder everyone else at the party?” Jason asked looking around the lot carefully. No one was around.

“Bingo. Now you are getting it my friend.” He finished.

“Wow, The Order is really messed up.” Jason declared, shaking his head in disgust...

Neculai wanted to hear more, but knew they had to get out of the garage and away from the hotel. Besides apparently he was being hunted by The Order. Neculai turned and put a finger to his lips once again as he did earlier up stairs. He pointed to another exit. They turned to head in the opposite direction when the attack came out of nowhere.

Neculai turned and was lifted and flung into the concrete wall across from the door they just existed. The vampire,fangs bared, drool dripping from rotten teeth, pinned Neculai to the wall with one hand. So this is the guard's true identity. Neculai observed. Just then another vampire slide into view in front of the two women. He had a sinister smile on his face as he leered at the women. Vinna stepped in front of Deja. The vampire gave a shrill laugh and reached out to grab Vinna, but she easily side step his knolled grasping hands.

She gripped the vampire around the throat and lifted him off his feet before slinging him several feet away from her as if he weighed no more than paper mache. He stood up with prenatural speed and started walking towards Vinna but froze in the process. He paused and begin to move after several minutes as if he was a puppet.

He glared and hissed at her before attempting to stiffly walk over towards her and Deja. His movements jerky, he appeared to be struggling with some unknown force. Vinna froze and looked around, her eyes falling on the younger woman.

"Please tell me you are doing this?" Vinna asked skeptical.

Deja didn’t reply. She moved closer to the vampire as she forced him to remain in place. Deja looked back at Vinna and moved her head wildly in his direction.

"Kill it!" She yelled out, as Vinna took in the weird girl. After several minutes, Vinna grinned and moved towards the creature.

When she was an arm length away from him, Vinna plunge her hand into his chest and pulled out his heart in one swift movement. Deja didn't give Vinna and the dead vampire a second thought. Instead she quickly scanned for Neculai. She found him still battling what appeared to be a skilled enemy.

Neculai, was gaining in his battle with the experience vampire. Deja called out to him, distracting the vampire, who shot a glance at the mortal woman who appeared to be coming towards them at a dead run. Neculai took the chance and immediately snatched out the vampires heart and tossed it several feet away.

The vampire collapse but didn’t die. Neculai approached the still beating organ and pulled heat in from around him before expelling it through his hands and incinerating the heart.

"Hurry up you two we will have company soon!" Deja bellowed out. Both vampires turned to her.

"We can't take my car. They know what it looks like and they will be on us in no time." He explained. Deja looks around carefully before turning back to Neculai and Vinna.

"Wait here." She stated and took off before Neculai could respond. Several tense minutes passed by before a silver sedan pulled up beside them. The window rolled down and a beaming Deja called out 'Get in.'

A smile soften the harsh lines that had creeped up into Necula's forehead as he peered into the car and sees Deja. He strolls to the Sedan opening the door to allow Vinna to enter first. She beamed at Neculai running a hand along his upper arm, just before climbing into the car. They sped off from the highrise hotel...