Vampire Mine - Kerrelyn Sparks [91]
Corky grinned. “You will see death and carnage tomorrow, my dear friends! The mortal world will soon bow to Casimir. He will rule the world. And I will be his queen!”
Emma punched a button, and the recording ended. “We’ve studied this recording, trying to figure out the location, but there were no street signs, no signs of any kind. The land appears to be flat, but other than that, it could be a warehouse in any town.”
Angus turned to Marielle. “We’ll be counting on you to sense the deaths as quickly as possible so we can teleport in and stop their killing spree.”
Marielle nodded. “Just knowing that it’s a warehouse will help me find the right place.”
“Connor will teleport you there,” Angus continued, “and as soon as he confirms ye’re in the right place, the rest of us will follow using his tracking device.”
“I can understand why I didn’t sense their location tonight,” Marielle said. “I was searching for death and horror, and it didn’t happen there. Those people volunteered and were put into comas—” She was interrupted by loud shouting in the hallway.
On a monitor, Sean Whelan could be seen in the hallway, slamming his fists into walls.
“No’ taking the news verra well,” Angus muttered.
Emma opened the door, and the Vamps filed out into the hallway. Connor took Marielle by the hand and led her out.
“Damn you! Damn you all!” Sean bellowed at them, his face red with rage.
Marielle winced. Her prayer had gone unheeded.
“It’s not their fault,” Shanna said quietly.
“Of course it’s their damned fault!” Sean pointed a finger at Roman. “I’ll kill you for this.”
Roman’s eyes narrowed, and his fists clenched.
“No!” Shanna cried. “Roman saved me! I would have died if he hadn’t transformed me.”
“You wouldn’t have been at risk if you’d never married him!” Sean spun around, and his gaze landed on Connor. His eyes blazed with hatred. “You’re the one. You bloody bastard. You’re the one who brought the angel of death here. I’ll kill you, too.”
Marielle stepped forward to take responsibility, but Connor held her back. “Go ahead, old man. Try to kill me. I’ll be doing Shanna a favor, getting rid of you.”
“Connor, no,” Shanna whispered.
Sean pointed a finger at Connor. “I would be doing the whole world a favor by getting rid of you.”
Connor’s jaw shifted.
“It was my fault.” Marielle lifted her chin. “I’m the angel of death.”
Sean’s face grew pale.
Connor moved Marielle out in front. “Why do ye no’ greet her properly, old man? Shake hands with her.”
Sean stepped back.
Marielle pulled away from Connor’s grasp and frowned at him. “That’s not funny.” She turned to Sean. “I am deeply sorry for what happened to your daughter. I would never knowingly harm any living being.”
“That’s true,” Shanna said. “Marielle was unconscious at the time. I was the one who touched her.”
Sean glared at them all, then turned to Angus. “I hear there will be a battle tomorrow night. You will take me.”
Angus sighed. “It’s too dangerous—”
“I don’t give a damn!” Sean shouted. His hands fisted. “I have to kill some vampires. I have to avenge my daughter. If you don’t take me with you, I’ll start killing you all instead.”
Connor scoffed. “Just try it.”
Angus lifted a hand. “Enough. We will take you tomorrow night, Whelan. But be warned, the fighting will be fierce and to the death.”
Sean nodded. “I’m counting on it.”
“Come with me,” Connor whispered to Marielle, then dragged her down the hallway to a side exit.
“What’s wrong?”
“Everything,” he grumbled. He pushed open the door and led her toward a garden area. He released her and paced toward a gazebo.
He turned abruptly. “I doona want you at the battle tomorrow night.”
She stiffened. “I have to go. I’m the one who can sense death.”
“Aye, but as soon as the others arrive and the battle begins, I want you to leave. I’ll ask Emma to teleport you back here to safety.”
“But I’ve been practicing