Then Joseph slid into the chair next to Cole.
"You know Raven didn't know. I suspect Mikhail just said he was coming to visit a girl who had become Carpathian, she probably didn't even think he would do something like this."
"That's not what I'm angry about." She sighed. It had certainly been a factor, but what had really pushed her over the edge was that it was patently obvious none of the older Carpathians had a true respect for Joseph. That made her furious. She had almost jumped the table and strangled the man for his ignorance. Joseph's amusement curled through her mind and warmed her.
I'm glad you feel protective of me. But it is alright my warrior kitten. I like being able to surprise them.
No, they are ignorant. They have seen what you are capable of and they do not give you the proper respect even after seeing. I could understand them not trusting or showing respect to me; someone they don't know. Especially considering I was openly hostile towards your kind. Her rage was only just tempered. Joseph's mind curled around hers protectively and he poured waves of love into her mind.
It will be alright, you do need to prove yourself to anyone, least of all them. As for me, I can contend with working in the shadows while you play hero. If my lady allows me to accompany her that is.
Cole couldn't keep the smile from her lips at his smooth words. There was no place she'd rather he be than by her side. You are a dangerous man. Already she could feel desire stirring again, but now was neither the time nor this place for such things. Smug amusement radiated through her mind.
How so?
It was a blatant dare on his part, but Cole chose the better part of valor and retreated to the living room where her siblings had resumed the game. She was surprised to see Joseph's character was still moving to. Even through all the joking around he had still been able to focus on it and control the character. She knew he felt her amazement.
He blew it off. It's not that hard.
Cole could feel his pride through their bond. It made him happy that she was in awe of him.
Don't sell yourself short, ever. Her words were said through clenched teeth and the unsaid words "or else" shimmered between them.
Alright my little warrior kitten.
Cole's mind went blank and something dangerous danced in her eyes. No, she told him firmly.
No, what?
I am not little, kitten was bad enough you are not allowed to add little to it.
Joseph came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He nuzzled her neck before saying, No, my little kitten. He laughed as she bristled and growled in his ear. Then the character Joseph was playing in the video game suddenly swerved and smashed into a wall, losing him first place.
Cole glanced at the game and her cheering siblings before turning back to Joseph with a raised eyebrow.
Distracted?
Very.
It was that moment that a sliver of worry lodged in her mind. She couldn't pin it down, but it was there in the back of her mind like an itch. It was making her very nervous. Cole turned to survey her family. No, the threat wasn't to them.
What is Cole?
I'm not sure, but someone I care about is in danger.
But your family is all here.
Fear slithered through Cole. Not all of it.
She knew Joseph caught an image of dozens of faces. Her circus friends, chief among them, Anna. Cole whirled towards the door and Joseph instantly willed warm clothes around her body. Her knives and belts flew from her room and instantly attached themselves around her waist, wrists, and back.
Gale was in her mind. What is it Cole?
Cole did her best to reign in her panic that was threatening to swallow her. She could not let panic take control, that's how people died. I think another vampire is hunting the circus.
Like the ones that attacked you.
Yes.
Can you-?
I can make five separate shields. You know that. So there are five warriors which means five potential vampires total. If the other three are there I can't shield you or Joseph and hold them. You will also have to direct where the shields will go because I'll be straining as it is.
I know.
Do you want Maria to cast an illusion over you?
No, I need her to do something else. Cole reached for Maria.
Yes?
Can you let me see through your eyes so I can see past the illusion?
Yes.
Make sure you stay-.
Hidden, I know. Maria's tone was dripping with sarcasm that made Cole smile despite the situation.
Good. Cole tapped into her sister's power and continued her way to the circus grounds. Joseph was striding beside her as the trees blurred past them.
It will be alright. We won't let any harm come to our family. He deliberately included his protection and acceptance of her family. Cole gave him a weak smile. She wasn't sure if she believed it. The nagging feeling was growing stronger.
They came to the entrance of the campgrounds. It was eerily silent when they entered. Cole turned towards the animal cages. First she went to the tiger's cage. Ben was pacing restlessly in the back corner. Cole slipped through the bars and extended her hand to the large cat. He sniffed the air then made a noise that was between a moan and a whimper. Cole wrapped her mind around the tiger's whispering soothing thoughts into his mind as she gently scratched behind his ears.
Ben, I know you feel the evil that has come into our home. I need your help to find them before someone gets hurt.
Joseph was amazed when he realized Ben actually understood what Cole was saying. His spirit seemed to curl in on itself like he was trying to hide. The tiger wanted nothing to do with the monsters that had invaded their home. Joseph caught a brief memory. The smell of stale booze and popcorn permeated the memory. A harsh voice slurred commands then the hot sting of whip crack against Ben's exposed back. The man snarled commands, but the tiger was too young and afraid to understand them.
Cole's gentle voice broke into the big cat's memory. Yes, the evil ones are here to hurt people, but I will stop them if you can help me find them.
Ben's mind flashed with the image of the horses in the corral and the question, why not them, shimmered between the girl and tiger.
The horses do not have your sense and are to skittish to be able to accurately pinpoint them. If I wait much longer harm could come to our family.
The snow tiger paced and whimpered, he was afraid, he didn't want to be hurt again.
I will protect you Ben, just like I did back then, don't you remember?
Of course he remembered. The whip had been about to come down again but someone stepped in the way. The tiger watched in fear as a young human female ripped the offending weapon from the male's hands. Ben had wished he could warn the female, he could smell the male's arousal and knew the look on his face. When he came at her he moved quickly, but the female was faster. Dancing out of the way she struck at him with lethal force. She was a predator like Ben should be. Her smaller fists then made quick work of Ben's abuser. Then she knelt and retrieved the whip. She saw Ben's cringe away from the thing and Ben felt the female's anger. She turned on the male and brought the weapon down over and over again until he was littered with marks. The female had promised then to protect him, and she would not allow harm to come to him.
So Ben reached out, he knew where the other foul predators were. One was were the humans stayed and two others were in the big tent where he performed. Instantly Cole felt fear tie a hard knot in her stomach. The trailer that one of presence was coming from was Anna's. Cole thanked Ben then slipped past the bars. Her heart was in her throat as she ran through the campgrounds to Anna's car. She flung the door and nearly gagged when she stepped inside.
It looked like red paint had been splashed over the walls and across Anna's desk. Cole shoved down the emotions, but let out a strangled cry when she saw an arm on the other side of the desk. Steeling herself she stepped around the carnage to see the body. If it hadn't been for the fact she hadn't eaten Cole would have thrown up right there. All of the person's limbs lay scattered like pieces of a broken doll. The chest cavity was completely ripped open and the internal organs were spread across the floor.
Cole swallowed the lump in her throat and forced herself to study the remains. The shock of seeing all the carnage in Anna's car had made her believe it was Anna's body. But as she studied the features of the body, noting there was no head, she realized the body was male. A tattoo on the right arm confirmed that it was in fact Jason. However the vampire seemed to have left before she had gotten here. Cole shoved the memories from her attack that were rising up into a box in the back of her mind. There would be vengeance for this she swore to herself.
Ben where are they?
The big tent, all of them are there now.
Cole snarled and whirled around brushing past Joseph. She knew he was remaining firmly in her mind watching her and sending her comfort. He was also helping to hold back the memories that threatened to throw her back into the past.
What do you want to do?
Catch these bastards, and then when this is all over they are going to fry.
Joseph nodded. Cole was suppressing the anguish of her loss, because she was still worried for the rest of her circus family. Together they made their way to the big tent. They stared in horror at what they saw on the stage. Anna was striping out of her clothes on stage and rubbing her body against a man.
Cole growled and said to her brother, Stick him in the smallest box you can.
With pleasure.
Cole let her brother look through her eyes and see what she saw. A shimmering blue barrier formed a bubble around the vampire. Anna blinked and looked dazed as Cole strode up to her and flung her coat around her shoulders to cover her half naked body.
"Go stand by Joseph." Cole's voice was firm and full of compulsion. Anna did as Cole commanded and walked up past the barrier where the vampire snarled in outrage at her. His illusion was handsome, had the classic Greek god features to him. Underneath he was a rotten shell of a man.
"You can't kill me," the captured vampire hissed in triumph.
Cole nodded as if she was thinking about it then the barrier shrunk down about a foot making it so the vampire and to bend over slightly.
"True, but I can make you very uncomfortable." The barrier shrunk again so the vampire was forced to kneel. "I think that is a much better position for you to be in."
The vampire snarled, but then the barrier shrank again forcing him into a fetal position. Then Cole turned to the stands. She couldn't see the other two, but she knew they were there. Keep Anna close, I'm going to draw them out. Cole selected the knife that was in her boot. With that knife she cut a deep line across her hand. She let the blood well up into her hand before clenching her fist. Then she willed the blood that had flowed out of the wound into a fine mist and scattered it throughout the tent.
"Here kitty, kitty," Cole said to the stands. She knew the smell of blood would drive them mad. Even if they were experienced vampires the smell of her rich blood would draw them out. That coupled with the fact that she was a woman would make them feel their victory was assured. Cole smiled as the first one stepped out of the shadows to her right. He growled and lunged for Cole only to smack face first into a barrier and he was wrapped up like the first vampire.
Anna punched Joseph's jaw and bolted for the stage raising a dagger; she had kept concealed up to this point, as she charged at Cole. Cole swiftly disarmed her. Then she swept into the other woman's mind and forced her to sleep. Anna slumped to the floor forcing Cole to catch her before she could hit the floor. Gently she laid Anna down. Adrenaline was singing down her veins, urged on by her anger that someone who use sweet Anna like this.
"It is time to face justice," Joseph said to the still hidden vampire.
Cole caught a glimpse of a bloody smile before it disappeared.
"No I think it's time for a game." The voice echoed around the tent making it impossible to tell where it was coming from.
Cole stepped forward and regretted it. The vampire was behind her and went straight for Anna's defenseless body. Just as his teeth were about to sink into her throat, Cole's hook blades were in hand and wrapped around his neck. She yanked him away from her adoptive mother and flung him straight into the wall. When he started to move, Joseph was there instantly restraining him. A blue shield confined him to a small space. But he smiled up at Cole. Blood smeared his face and lips. It even stained his teeth.
"Did you like the present I left you?"
"I will enjoy watching you fry in sun."
The vampire chuckled "You lie. You are of the light, you cannot harm me."
Cole stalked towards him pulling darkness found in the Carpathian males around herself as prowled forward. She chuckled darkly at him. "If you knew to do what you did to Jason then you already know I am not like normally Carpathian women. I reveal in destroying your kind. I pull the darkness around me and I dissect your kind. But what I have in store for you three will be so much sweeter than any previous torture."
Joseph shuttered but did not intervene.
"Once I'm done making you scream, I'll show you the most beautiful thing there is. The dawn."
"You lie," the vampire replied again, but this time less sure of himself.
"Am I?" Cole moved closer to look the man in the eyes. "You harmed my family and for that all of you will pay. You shall meet the dawn. I will make sure of that." Then Cole turned her back on the three prisoners and scooped up Anna, needing her to be away from the monsters when she woke. Through her link with Joseph she asked, Call Mikhail ask him to bring Gregori to look at Anna.