Supernatural Enforcement Bureau, Book 1, The Dragon and The Vampire: Book 1 (5 page)

“I know, so you lot, remember what Esther’s saying. If you spot the girl try talking to her, tell her we’re not hunters and we want to help.” Ronan saw each of the three men nod their heads in agreement before he settled down for the remainder of the journey, wondering if they would even see the girl tonight.

Ronan’s mind was going over and over their mission and he still had some questions for Esther. Turning his head slightly he caught her eye. “Esther, is it okay if I ask you some questions?” He waited for her nod before going on. “First, I don’t know an awful lot about magic of any kind, far less dark magic, so can you enlighten me on that?”

Esther frowned as she seemed to take her time to answer, finally she replied. “Ronan, dark magic was borne out of necessity a very, very long time ago, when Dragons roamed the earth freely. As usual, mankind’s fear brought about hordes of people trying to eliminate them. At that time, Dragons had friends within the magical community, who hid their powers for fear of being ostracized, or worse, because of their abilities. Unfortunately, no Witch was strong enough to aid the Dragons. The beasts, however, were well aware that their blood held properties that would enhance magic, so they offered it to a select few to make them stronger, and then able to aid in their protection. Between them, spells were created and cast to hide Dragons from detection and even so much that a hunting party could pass within feet of one and never see it. This relationship carried on for centuries until one Witch started to use the power for his own ends. Soon, far too soon, more and more Witches joined the first one and then the Dragons had to flee from not only humans but Witches also.”

Esther stopped for a moment, her face pained as she caught her breath. “I am disgusted to say that this has been the case ever since. There is a very small faction of Witches who hunt the Dragons for their own selfish needs. It is only a small number, as far as I’m aware, but the damage that’s been done is beyond words. I’m pretty sure that this Dragon we are trying to find may be the last of her kind.”

Everyone in the vehicle listened avidly as the old woman spoke, Ronan frowning and scowling. “Esther, what about you? You use dark magic at times, don’t you?”

Esther’s face lit up in a smile as she locked eyes with Ronan. “Yes, I do. I was friends with a Dragon many many years ago and he gave me a supply, though that is almost gone now. I also have managed to utilize dark magic using several other means; however, I’m not at liberty to give you more information on that. If it fell into the wrong hands then I would never forgive myself. However, it is only with Dragon blood that I’m strongest in dark magic and I use it only in rare situations when I have no other choice. I have my vial with me tonight, if I feel a dark magic-wielding Witch in the area, then I’ll partake of a tiny amount to ensure everyone is safe.”

Ronan turned back around to stare out the windshield. “That’s fine with me and thanks for the background, Esther. Seems as if Dragons have had a tough ride for a very long time.”

Sam quipped, “Hell yeah, even more than us Vamps and that’s gotta suck.”

Esther chuckled as Sam looked at her. “What?” he asked, wondering why she was laughing. Didn’t seem funny to him that the Dragons had been hunted almost to extinction.

Esther took another moment or two before she managed to reply. “Gotta suck? Vamps? You don’t even know when you say something funny, Sam.”

Ronan smiled as Sam groaned before the vehicle was once again filled with silence.

Chapter 5

The journey seemed to take longer than the previous day, Ronan getting more and more uptight, as they drew nearer to where they had parked previously. Drake turned off the lights and coasted to a stop, in the same spot as the previous day.

Everyone exited the vehicle and started to walk on, towards where they had seen the girl. Walking only for a few minutes, at a slow pace to accommodate Esther, she stopped her head to the side. Ronan sent his own senses out and felt it too...dark magic and Vampires.

“
There’s two Vampires and a Witch, I’ll deal with the Witch if you strong men will take care of the Vampires.” Esther smiled around at all four of them as she spoke and each one nodded back at her.

“
I think they’re near that same building, Sam, take Serge and go right. Drake, you come with me, we’ll take the left, Esther, you can carry on and take out the Witch.”

Ronan didn’t wait on any kind of acknowledgment from anyone, taking off at a speed that Drake could keep up with. As they reached the building he could hear the sounds of several pairs of running feet and he burst through the door, catching a glimpse of a Vampire hightailing it out the back...right behind the girl.

He could feel her fear, her panic, as she moved with incredible speed, trying to escape the Vampire. There was no sign of the Witch as Ronan picked up his pace and left Drake standing as he took off after them.

As he burst through the door at the back Ronan saw two things, the Vampire still running on but his own feet stilled at the other sight. An enormous, black Dragon stood in front of the Vampire, taking off into the air with a speed that belied it’s size. Its colossal wings beating madly as it gained height, causing a downdraft that knocked the Vampire chasing it completely off his feet, up into the air and then falling to the ground.

Ronan lifted his head and did the only thing he could think of. “Stop! I want to help! My Sire helped a family of Dragons centuries ago––please––I don’t want to hurt you!”

He roared at the top of his voice and saw the large, long, scaly, neck whip around...those violet eyes locking with his. “Please,” he murmured as it gained even more height and flew away with such speed he could barely keep his eyes on it.

Ronan pulled his phone out, hitting speed dial as he tried to see where the Dragon went, it rang for a moment, then he heard his Sire’s voice.

“
Hello Ronan, I hope you are well?”

“
Oh dear fucking God! I just saw it––I just saw it!”

Ronan was breathing hard down the phone as he spoke, now moving towards the Vampire hunting the Dragon.

“What? What did you just see?”

“
A Dragon! That’s what! A freaking Dragon! Josef, it was magnificent. I was chasing those hunters I told you about and we’re on the very edge of the city, shit no, we’re quite a ways out at an abandoned warehouse and I saw them chasing it, anyway, I went after them and as I ran through the building and out the other side I saw it! It was huge and the speed it took off was totally unbelievable! I’ve got to find it. I’ve got to help it.”

Ronan’s voice tapered off so that at the end he was talking to himself.

“Yes, you do my boy, you need to find it and protect it, that Dragon may very well be the last of its kind, and you need to help it.”

“
What? Oh yeah, that’s what I’m planning on. I’m gonna find it...no matter what. Gotta go, I’ve still got one of those hunters in my sights.”

Ronan hung up and took off after the Vampire who was now on his feet and moving away fast.

*****

Starr jerked awake, having fallen asleep after she had eaten the last of her supplies...a measly granola bar and her last bottle of water. She was so tired, having stayed awake since that huge Vampire and his men had found her. She was terrified they would come back, but exhaustion had finally overcome her as she lay on the dirty mattress in the corner.

Her sensitive ears picked up footfalls, close, as she jumped up, now fully awake. She tried to figure out how many and what direction they were coming, but that was a moot point, as a Vampire ran into the building she was hiding in.

This one, this Vampire...she knew. He was with the Witch that had nearly caught her more than once. She stayed perfectly still, not wanting to give him even a second’s notice of where she was. This one was fast, very fast, and he had nearly caught her before. She knew she had to get out of the building and transform.

If the Witch was far enough behind she could get away, but only if she turned Dragon.

She heard other footfalls, coming fast, as she turned and sprinted for the opening in the rear of the broken down building. Using every last bit of speed she had, she tore quickly through the doorway, already harnessing her inner Dragon.

Her feet flew over the ground as she felt the Vampire at her back. Now! She screamed in her head, visualizing her beast, as her body started to change. It happened so fast that one moment the body of a girl was flying over the hard packed dirt...then the huge, clawed, feet of a dragon took one step, two, then left the ground behind as the huge, black, wings beat furiously.

Her long, strong tail, swished back and forth behind her, making sure if the Vampire was close enough...she would knock him for six. With the sharp spikes that ran along the middle of her tail from her rump to the tip...it could be deadly. Her tail met no resistance, so the Vampire must have dodged out of the way, escaping the violent whipping. Her wings beat again, knowing the downdraft caused by them would propel anything near, up and away with force.

Her acute hearing heard the sound of a body hitting hard against something, and her scaly lips peeled back in a feral smile. Her razor sharp teeth visible to anyone close enough to see her. She wished she could take the time to end that Vampire, but she had no idea where the Witch was. If he was close he could enspell her and she just couldn’t take the chance. As her Dragon rose higher and higher she reveled in her strength and freedom.

Relief swept through her as she realized she had escaped...again. The Witch, unless he was very close to her, couldn’t disable her while she was in her Dragon form, so she knew she was safe…for the moment. Her immense body rose into the air, the air displacement her wings caused dust and rubble swirl about, as if a mini tornado had hit the area...then she heard it.

The voice of the large Vampire from the previous day, roaring up into the sky.

“
Stop! I want to help! My Sire helped a family of Dragons centuries ago–please–I don’t want to hurt you!”

Her long scaly neck whipped around, her bright violet eyes locking on his, as long buried memories made their way to the surface. Stories her brother told, of an ancient Vampire, helping her family to escape hunters in Ireland...more than four centuries ago.

She watched him for a second more, wondering if it was true. Did he want to help her? Or was it a ruse to catch her?

She couldn’t take the chance so she dragged her eyes from his and flew higher, to safety.

*****

Esther found the Witch within moments of Ronan and his men leaving her. He was standing just inside the doorway of a nearby building, she didn’t see him until he moved forward...but she sensed him. The dark magic cloying in the air around her, sticking in her throat, as he moved towards her.

“Who are you?” the Witch asked, still moving in her direction, “What do you want? Are you after the Dragon too?”

Esther stared into eyes that had no compassion left, no humanity, no feeling...the outcome of using dark magic far too often. She had known that she may come up against one such as this tonight, so she had taken the vital step to ensure her safety and the safety of the men she was with...sipping some of her dwindling supply of Dragon blood.

She felt the power inside her that fought for freedom, as she contemplated her course of action with the Witch in front of her. He could possibly be redeemed, if they captured him, denied him access to dark magic, however, looking into those eyes...she doubted it.

“
Why do you hunt the Dragon?” She returned his questions with one of her own.

“
For its blood, of course.” He smirked at her, a wild look on his face.

“
I see, well, you leave me no choice.” Esther sighed, never liking what she was about to do.

“
I think you may be mistaken, old woman, you appear to be under the impression I give you a choice in what happens here...I don’t.” The man stared at Esther as if she as an oddity, something to just sweep away.

Esther didn’t bother answering, knowing her words would fall on deaf ears. This Witch had used dark magic for a very long time, he was confident in his abilities against another Witch. His confidence was in everything about him, from the smug look on his face, to the way he held his body. Arrogance seeped from his pores, as he brought his hands in front of him to start a spell.

Esther sighed again, just an instant before she harnessed her own power...including the dark magic, that was now invading her system, due to the Dragon blood. Her hands moved so fast that no human eye could possibly follow them, her mouth muttering as she did the only thing open to her. Her hands flew out, a second before the man unleashed his own spell. She watched as her magic flew forwards unspeakably fast, engulfing the Witch before her.

The look of shock on his features, was the last thing she saw, before he literally exploded. She took several quick steps back, not wishing the blood and gore to cover her. However, she didn’t escape unscathed; blood, and what looked like brain matter, spattering the front of her coat. Her nose wrinkled as the smell assaulted her nostrils.

Her heart was heavy, as it always was, when she had to destroy another Witch. It was such a waste of talent. She knew she had no choice though, this particular Witch being too far gone for redemption. Esther shook her head then turned and walked onwards, trying to find the rest of their party.

She had only taken a few steps when she heard a noise that she hadn’t heard in a very long time. The unmistakable sound of Dragon wings, beating fiercely, as it took to the air.

Her head shot upwards, her eyes scouring the sky...there...she saw the magnificent beast taking off into the night sky. The moon was behind it, the silhouette of the enormous creature searing itself into her vision. The Dragon was very dark, black in color, so she was certain if not for the moon she would have seen nothing. Only being able to hear the sound of its flapping wings as it took flight.

Esther smiled as she saw the Dragon rise higher and higher into the blackness...knowing it was safe...for the moment.

*****

Ronan watched as the Dragon disappeared from view, melding into the blackness of the night. He realized he felt sadness at seeing it go. He had been so close, but not close enough. He cursed under his breath, if they had been even a moment sooner he may have been able to get the Dragon under their protection. His anger took hold as he looked to where the Vampire that had been hunting the Dragon had fallen, noting he was no longer there. He took off after him, hoping to get some information about the girl out of him. If not, then he would just end him, his anger at the unknown Vampire for hunting this glorious creature was growing by the second.

Ronan used every single ounce of his enhanced abilities to run down the Vamp. Finally cornering him in a run down, small, outbuilding. The man backed up, his hands out in front of him as Ronan drew closer.

“
Hey, I’m just doing a job.” The man tried to wheedle his way out of the situation.

“
So am I.” Ronan snapped as he moved ever nearer. “Who exactly are you working for?”

“
The Witch, we work for the Witch, he’s around here somewhere.” The Vampire’s head moved from side to side, as if he expected the Witch to come to his aid.

Ronan all but snarled his response. “I’m pretty sure he’s been taken care of. So, Vampire, you got any good intel I can use?” Ronan was now only a few feet away. “Think before you answer, because if you don’t, have any information that is, then you are no good to me.”

The man’s eyes were now darting all around, looking for an escape. “What kind of information do you need? I mean, I’m sure I can get it for you. Just tell me what you’re after and I’ll get it.”

“
Where are they based? These ‘Witches’?” Ronan slid forward another step and was now within striking distance of the man in front of him.

“
Well, I’m not sure, not exactly. I know it’s somewhere deep in the Rockies, but I don’t have GPS coordinates or anything. I’ve only been there once and that wasn’t a pleasant experience. We didn’t exactly travel in the normal manner.” The Vamp’s body was tensing, as if readying to flee.

“
Don’t try it,” Ronan growled. “You won’t make it and I’d have to take you in for questioning. Trust me when I say you won’t like it.

Ronan picked up on something the Vamp had said. “Hey, wait up, how do you know it was the Rockies? I mean, if the Witch just spelled you there and back...how do you know?”

The man gave a lopsided grin, “Heck, he told me. Said ‘We’re going on a small trip, to one of my favorite places.’ And I said ‘Where?’ And he answered, ‘Why the Rockies, of course.’ As if I shoulda known. Freak. How was I supposed to know that? Huh?”