The Witch Hunter (30 page)

"What do you propose we do once we get there?" Sam asked, breaking the silence, his eyes on the road.

"There would have to be witches and vampires there," Gabby said. "I think we should just grab her and go."

Sam glanced to Zac, who sat in the passenger seat beside him. He hadn't said anything since they got into the car. "What do you think, Zac?"

He was looking out into the dark night as it flashed past, seemingly deep in thought. Sighing he said, "First we case the joint, buildings, entrances, exits. Gabby should sense out any witches and vampires who might be hidden by their magic and what their locations are. Keep an eye out for any traps, magical or otherwise. Determine where Aya is being held. Only then can we devise a plan."

"Well, there you have it," Sam laughed, wryly.

"What if they find us out?" Gabby sounded worried.

"If there's anything hostile, kill it," Zac said, looking back out the window. There wasn't much they could do until they got there and he settled down for the long haul. 

Gabby had been awake for a long time, having been through a great deal since leaving the manor the day before. When she fell asleep, the brothers left her, content to wake her once they arrived.

It was past midnight before they reached the site of the factory. They left the car off the side of the main road, hidden behind some trees and walked the rest of the way, keeping off the service lane. The chain link fence that had once surrounded the property had half fallen down, so they had no issue trying to get Gabby in. 

Once they reached the edges of the yard, the surrounding plant life began to thin, exposing them more than Zac liked. Circling round the property they found a rise close to the main entrance and he made them crawl on their stomachs so they could peer over the edge. From here they had a good view of the factory, which turned out to be the site of an abandoned silo and storage yards. Train tracks still ran through the remains of buildings that would have, at one time, stored a great deal of grain for export.

In the centre was a large yard, clear except for a few old shipping containers to the left side, flanking a half fallen down warehouse. The roof was badly rusted, most of the sheet metal fallen down or missing completely. To the right, on the opposite side of the yard, was the silo, it's roof linked to the warehouse by some kind of walkway and chutes that once fed grain into waiting trucks and train cars. Old foundations of other buildings remained around the rear of the property, having been knocked down haphazardly. It was like someone had run out of money before they could complete the job.

At the outside edge of the warehouse was another service lane, where two black jeeps were parked side by side. Someone had left them there in preparation for a quick getaway if needed.

Because the warehouse was only partially standing, Zac could see through to the rear inside wall, where a room still appeared to be intact, a green metal door closed over its entrance. There was no other exit other than gaps where windows once were. He assumed there was another exit through the room and this was inhabited. 

Zac passed this information to Sam and Gabby. "There's movement somewhere, but I can't tell who or what it is."

"There are witches," Gabby whispered. "Two or three, I think. The silo is spelled. It's a good bet that that's where Aya is being held."

"Can you disable the spell?" Sam whispered back.

She was silent for a moment. "No," she shook her head. "We have to either render the witches unconscious or kill them to break it."

"Then we kill them," Zac snorted.

"I can't kill another witch, Zac," Gabby protested.

"What do you think Aya would do? They're obviously corrupted and well past saving. Do the world a favor," he said sharply.

"Are there any vampires?" asked Sam, pulling her attention off his brother.

"One," Gabby said. "In the warehouse."

"Where are the witches?" Zac asked.

"Behind the silo."

"Let's go," he grabbed Gabby's arm and pulled her down the rise and into the yard and as if on cue, three female witches came out into the open to meet them. 

The light breeze around them began to pick up and Zac glanced to Gabby who said, "They're controlling the wind."

The three witches were advancing on them, the wind swirling fast, the dust from the yard creating a miniature tornado around them. Gabby had to take control of the wind from them or they would be overwhelmed. 

Zac and Sam flanked her as she let her earth sense wash over the yard. They wouldn't be able to do much to help her, but their presence reassured her; at least a little. Immediately, she felt the power of the three witches combined into two spells. The one controlling the wind and the other sealing the silo. She could easily overpower them and wrest control over the wind from their grasp. It would be simpler than when she had called the grimore back to her, even without her Grams' help.

The tornado that whipped around them was designed to detain. For what or who, Gabby wasn't sure. There was only one vampire here. Unless... The vampire was as old as Aya or Katrin was being summoned. Either way, she had to overpower the witches and fast.

Gabby felt the power flow from her, even before she meant to release it. As the tornado sped up, she knew it was too much, but could do nothing to stop it. Her intent had been unleashed and it had to run its course. The witches fear echoed through her open earth sense, making her bones ache. They were afraid of her.

Crying out in pain, she felt their life forces ripped away into the tornado, whipping around her. Suddenly, the wind dropped, the trash and plant life that had been picked up, dropping abruptly. They were left standing in a clearing, surrounded by a barrier of chaos. The brothers glanced at her nervously, having seen what had become of the witches, their bodies disintegrating before their eyes.

She knew that the pain that had ripped through her was her power tearing them apart. There was nothing left of them to say that they had ever been there in the first place. Gabby was numb with shock and fell to her knees. She was more powerful than the three of them combined and it terrified her.

The moment the witches disintegrated, the vampire was revealed.

Cursing, Zac swung around to find a male vampire directly behind him. Ducking just in time to miss being punched in the face, he kicked the vampires legs from under him, pulling out a stake he had hidden in the back of his jeans. 

Sam pulled Gabby out of harms way and ran forward to help his brother, who had been knocked across the yard, the stake falling harmlessly to the side. The vampire turned on Sam as he advanced slowly, sizing up his opponent, who hadn't said a word since he'd appeared. He knew they had to end this quickly; otherwise it would end very badly. He made a grab for the stake, aiming it directly at the sweet spot. The heart.

Fortunately, Zac had the same idea and came up from behind, grasping the vampire around the neck, disorienting him for a split second. It was more than enough time.

Sam drove the stake into the vampire's heart at the same moment Zac snapped his neck. 

"Can't be too careful," he shrugged when Sam raised his eyebrows. He let the corpse fall to the ground as they moved off towards the silo.

"That was way too easy," Sam said, looking around the now silent yard.

"Gabby," Zac called, frowning.

Gabby came up behind them and pointed to the door. "The spell is gone. Aya is in there. I can sense her."

"I don't like it," Zac said, agreeing with Sam's observation. "Let's get her and get the hell out of here."

Before they could try the door, a loud gasp drew their attention back to the yard behind. Looking back, Sam cursed as the vampire he had just killed stirred, sitting up and wrenching the stake from his chest. Muscled arms reached up and twisted his head to the side, correcting the haphazardly fused bones with an audible crack. "That feels better," he snarled, looking up at the three of them. "Who wants to die first?"

"How the hell did he come back to life?" Sam said in shock, pulling Gabby behind him.

"I'm one of the first," the vampire spat, advancing on them. "I can't be killed by the likes of
you
."

Sam balked and held his arm out to keep Gabby behind him. A founding vampire? They had to do something to distract him long enough so they could find Aya and get the hell out of there. There was no way to kill this vampire. He was a true immortal.

Gabby pushed past Sam in a moment of bravery and stood in front of them, her eyes narrowed in challenge. The vampire laughed at her as if she was nothing but an annoyance. The smile wiped right off his face when he fell to the ground clutching his head, roaring in pain. "Go!" Gabby yelled at them wildly. "I can't hold him long."

Zac grabbed Sam's arm, realizing she was restraining the vampire, and pulled him towards the silo. They had to free Aya before it was too late.

Aya didn't know how long she had been hanging in the silo, her blood slowly draining from the wounds in her wrists and ankles. She felt it trickling down her arms, staining her clothes, sticking her shirt to her skin. She had become used to the smell hours ago when she had lost track of time. If she lost enough blood, she would desiccate and then she could sleep. Sleep seemed like bliss compared to the delirium that was setting in.

She was vaguely aware of a dark form standing in front of her. Sluggishly, she lifted her head an inch and blinked, trying to clear her vision. Everything was blurred, nothing was making sense, she wasn't sure if anyone was there. She drew a ragged breath as she heard her name. But, no one alive knew her true name. Not even... She forgot who. Wasn't she helping someone?

The figure was still hovering in front of her, whispering her name, calling out to her through the darkness. Then she saw his face, shimmering skin and blue eyes. Her brother! How she had longed to see her brother again.

"I couldn't save you," she muttered through the haze, a tear sliding down her cheek. "I'm sorry, brother..." 

He hesitated when she spoke and she didn't understand. Her brother was dead, wasn't he? The figure reached up and wiped her tears away with a stroke of a thumb. Suddenly, she was dropping to the ground, the chains that held her giving way. The figure grasped her around the waist, supporting her limp body as she slumped over their shoulder.