shrugged dismissively. “She is to live or die as she sees fit. If she interferes, she will die. If she does not, she may live to see tomorrow.”
Bella stepped up to stand at Maxine’s side. “You will not take her.”
“You are surrounded and outnumbered.”
“How so? I see only one of you.” Bella scoffed.
Walter’s stoic expression twisted into a smile. But it was a sad one. “Look again.”
It was as though a curtain was suddenly pulled away. Like her bedroom had been cast in the murky darkness of morning only to have the sunlight stream in. Although perhaps the analogy was backward. For it was not life that was added into the room, but life that was taken away.
The guests in the room.
Every single one of them.
They were all monsters. Pale faces and glinting eyes watched her from faces that were only a moment ago filled with the color of life. Or were now no longer human at all, but twisted creatures of every nightmare a man could have. Horned things, scaled things, furred things. Vampires and demons. A carnival of things both living, dead, and undead surrounded them.
Maxine took a step back in shock and bumped into someone. Whirling, she saw the Vicomte Arthur Price. But as she watched, the illusion fell away, and someone else took his place.
He was beautiful, sharp and wicked features accented by lupine yellow eyes that sparkled with a deep hunger for violence. He had dark blond hair that was swept back from his face but did not fully subdue its curly nature. He would look innocent, if not for the fiendishness emblazoned on him. He took a bow with a deep flourish. “I am sorry for the trickery, my beautiful darling. I am Zadok Lafitte, at your service. They call me The Illusionist. I fear now you see why. You cannot fight. You cannot escape.”
Bella pressed up closer to her. She did not know the magnitude of the telekinetic’s power, but she did not fathom that she could take on a room full of creatures like this. “Maxine…”
They were doomed. “I know.”
“Oh, don’t be so afraid…Come with us, ma chere amie, and you will find there is nothing to fear. Come with us, and the huntress walks free,” Zadok crooned. He had a voice like velvet and quicksand—beguiling and dangerous. The promise of safety that would swallow her whole.
“I repeat—no. Go back to your Master and tell him that he shall have none of me. Tell him to leave me be.” She pointed her gun at Zadok now. She knew she didn’t stand a chance, but she was not going to go down without a fight.
“I fear Walter was right. Would that we could, my sweet dove,” Zadok purred and stepped toward her. She pointed the gun at his head, and he lifted his hands in a show that he meant her no harm. His glittering yellow eyes caught her attention…and that was her mistake.
She felt it but could not fight it.
It snared her. Something wrapped around her mind like the coils of a snake. Terrible but warm, so very warm. Each time she struggled against what invaded her, it grew a little tighter. Surrender, his eyes said to her. It will be bliss. Her fear faltered, stuttered, and gave way. He murmured to her something in French that she didn’t quite catch as the words were too quiet. But their meaning was clear. Promises and platitudes, soothing and alluring. He isn’t going to harm me. I am safe. This is how it should be.
She lowered the gun.
“I told you she would not come willingly.” Zadok stepped toward her, and she watched him, rapt, unable to look away. He reached out to touch her, and she was helpless to stop him.
“Zadok. Remember. You are not to touch her. She could destroy you.”
Zadok growled in frustration and glared a hole into the taller vampire. Still, the spell did not break. “Why am I never allowed to have any fun? I—”
The sound of a shattering window and gunfire interrupted them. Zadok gurgled in pain, lurching as blood bloomed through the front of his white shirt.
Crimson poured down his chest as he collapsed to the floor. And with that finally went whatever reverie he had placed her in. She shook her head, feeling dizzy. With a frustrated snarl, she raised her gun to Walter and fired.
He vanished as the bullet was about to hit him.
The door was kicked open by a heavy boot, sending it crashing into