Hope and Vengeance (Saa Thalarr, book 1): Saa Thalarr, book 1 by Connie Suttle

Author:Connie Suttle [Suttle, Connie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Connie Suttle
Published: 2014-02-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

"I have safeguards in place," Merrill said, tapping a key on his cell phone. We stood in the entry, leading into his spacious suite. The elevator lobby in the six-story building was right outside the heavy, double doors we faced. Merrill's suite took up the entire floor, and I was surprised the elevators didn't open directly into his suite.

"Put as many walls between you and the enemy as possible," Kiarra said. She'd stepped to my side while I considered what we might face. I watched as hidden steel doors emerged from camouflaged alcoves to cover the thick, carved wood already there.

A video screen lowered from the ceiling, revealing images of the lobby and elevator outside the doors. "Like it?" Joey breathed. He'd taken a position on my other side. "I designed it," he explained.

"You did good," Kiarra offered him a tight smile.

"What's coming?" I asked. Could spawn get past steel? Dragon's blades were strapped on, but he didn't appear overly concerned.

"Vampires," Griffin said.

Our eyes were glued to the monitor as we watched eight vampires emerge from the elevator. "Ready?" Merrill asked Griffin.

"Now," Griffin muttered.

Merrill tapped another button on his cell phone. What happened next I might not have imagined, but it made sense. For now, I was happy the technology existed.

The elevator lobby became an inferno.

Flames shot from numerous gas jets hidden between carefully placed marble tiles lining the small lobby. I wanted to cringe at the screams—vampires burn easily, but I'd never seen it happen like this. It took perhaps a minute. Maybe less.

It felt so much longer than that.

The jets shut off, the smoke cleared on the monitor and I gazed upon the blackened ash littering the floor outside the elevator. Blinking to clear my vision, I marveled that there wasn't more damage to the walls outside.

"Designed for that purpose," Lion sighed.

"What now?" I thought to ask. I stood, immobile, still too stunned to move.

"More are coming, in case these were unsuccessful," Dragon growled. "We're going to them, first."

* * *

New York City was a place I'd been many times. Had killed many rogues, there. Had even killed a few in New Jersey. I was hunting vampires again, only for a different reason. I'd become a target.

I still couldn't determine the reason for that, which meant Lion's words tumbled through my brain like coins in a dryer, pinging regularly and irritating me in ways I couldn't eliminate or ignore.

"Adam, we'll explain later," Kiarra sighed as we squeezed into the back seat of Merrill's Escalade with Lion. She sat between us; I placed a proprietary arm about her as Merrill started the engine and drove out of the underground parking garage swiftly.

Dragon sat in the passenger seat; Griffin had elected to stay with Franklin and Joey in Merrill's suite. The tires squealed as Merrill pulled onto the street—we were in a hurry, it seemed. I had no idea where we were going.

I noticed that DeKalb Avenue was in need of repairs as we drove down it, past Fort Greene Park.

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