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  Then the spell moved on, reaching Josef. The Vampire she was more wary of. He had at times seemed very cold and hard. Scared her, in fact.

  As the spell landed on him, she jerked. The feelings coming from him shocked her. Protect and lust. Both in the same amount. Oh dear, both wanted her for ‘that,’ but both also wanted to protect her.

  The power from the Vampire that her spell uncovered was immense. She had never known anything like it. How could he be so powerful? It stole her breath away, and she gasped to get air into her lungs.

  At least she knew she was in no danger from them, thank the goddess. It meant she could rest. Remain here for a little while. With that Peri got up and found a long baggy t-shirt, undressed, pulled it on, brushed her teeth, and crawled into the bed.

  The softness of the pillows and the warmth from the comforter soon had her falling into a deep, deep sleep.

  The dreams came late that night and Josef felt them first. He jerked upright, his senses straining to detect what was amiss.

  Peri. She was thrashing about on the bed. What was wrong? He moved quickly and silently opened the door. The sight of her in the midst of an obviously terrifying nightmare chipped at the ice around his heart.

  He realized Gabe was at his back. “Nightmare, I think,” Josef said quietly and Gabe agreed. The Wolf moved passed Josef and towards the bed.

  Peri’s red hair was flying around, as she whipped her head from side to side and moans of fear escaped her throat.

  Gabe wanted to make her feel better and wished she were moving like that because he was buried deep inside her.

  Selfish pig! He thought to himself. Help the girl.

  Gabe moved onto the bed and closer to Peri, who was now becoming more vocal. Fear was so strong from her, Josef felt he could taste it in the air around them.

  Gabe placed a hand on her shoulder. “Shhhh, Peri, you’re okay, baby, you’re safe. We won’t let anything hurt you. Come on, wake up now.”

  Peri’s eyes flew open, as a terrible scream tore from her lips, and she looked around frantically! Gabe spoke again. “It’s okay, Peri, you’re safe.”

  Peri’s eyes found his and the torment that was in hers tore at his stomach. She flew into his arms and clung to him for dear life.

  “Oh no, I’m not safe. I won’t ever be safe.” Peri was now crying, and Gabe held her tighter all the while telling her she was going to be okay.

  Josef clenched his teeth and went to check his emails. It had been hours, surely there was some news.

  Peri slowly calmed down. It had been a few nights since she had a nightmare, but she had known they would come back. They always did.

  Her face was flush against Gabe’s chest, and she could feel the muscles underneath, his hand rubbing gently on her back. Once again, she had feelings she didn’t quite understand and had no idea on how to handle.

  She pulled away. “Sorry. I’m fine now.” Her face flushed, not from the nightmare but from the feelings roiling inside her.

  “Hey, it’s okay. We won’t let anyone hurt you. Trust me? Peri, tell me you trust me?” Gabe’s throat was closing, he felt for this young woman like nothing before, and he was finding it hard to understand.

  “Yes, Gabe, I do. I know you won’t hurt me, but I also know you probably can’t help me either.” Peri sighed and tried to get a hold of herself. Between the fear and the feelings inside her, she was a bit of a mess, and it angered her.

  She was strong. She had escaped. She had looked after herself since she was fifteen for Christ’s sake. Her eyes met the Wolf’s and her stomach clenched. Why did he make her feel like this and just what exactly was ‘this?’ She had no idea and that scared her, a lot.

  Gabe’s hand moved and stroked hair from her forehead and pushed it back behind an ear. His smile was small but sensual. He wanted this woman, young woman, yeah, but woman all the same. He was drawn to her like a moth to a flame, and he was scared he was going to get burnt.

  Peri moved her face into his hand unconsciously, and his fingers made her skin tingle. She started to tingle in another part of her body, and she took a sharp breath in. Dear lord, what was that?

  Gabe took a deep breath in, he could scent her arousal, but the look of confusion on her face told him a lot. He was pretty sure she was a virgin.

  A virgin at twenty-one, nearly twenty-two, in this day and age, rare. Gabe found it made her all the more appealing to him and gently moved his thumb along her jawline. The small gasp that Peri made proved she liked his touch.

  Peri shook her head and pulled away. What was she doing?

  “I’m fine now. I would like to go for a shower.” She tried to sound casual, but her heart was beating thirteen to the dozen.

  “I could wash your back?” Gabe said cheekily and Peri blushed.

  “I don’t think so, Wolf. I’ll see you in a bit.” Peri quickly moved from the bed and went into the bathroom, once again locking the door.

  Gabe gave a small chuckle and left the room, finding Josef with a stern look on his face.

  “What’s up?” Gabe asked while lifting the phone and placing an order for breakfast with lots of coffee and orange juice.

  “Liam – I emailed him last night, wanted him on this. He IS the best, after all. Anyway, he just emailed me back and he only has the bare bones, but what he’s got is not good.” Josef sat down, his back straight, and a cold look in his eyes.

  “So, don’t keep me in suspense, Josef. What did he find out?” Gabe was hungry and hoped room service would be quick.

  “Persephone. He found a rare sect, mainly made up of Witches that drink the blood of a virgin child called Persephone to gain the powers of the Queen of the Damned. I assume that’s what all those scars are, don’t you?” Josef looked pointedly at Gabe.

  Gabe’s eyes went wide. “Shit – no – you’re not saying they fucking cut her like that to get blood from her?”

  “Yes, that’s exactly what he’s saying,” Peri cut in, having been standing at the bedroom door following their conversation.

  “Why are you trying to find out about me?” Peri’s voice was accusatory and scared.

  Josef looked at her with a new found sense of astonishment of the strength this young woman had. “I need to know what we’re up against, Peri. I can’t fight what I don’t know and trust me, I intend to fight.”

  Josef’s voice was calm, even if he felt turmoil inside. This female was under his skin, and he didn’t like the feelings he was having. He preferred when he only took his own and gave pleasure, not the feelings that came with any kind of relationship.

  He had tried that, once, a long time ago and that was why he had encased his heart in ice. No, he didn’t want to feel that again.

  Peri moved closer. “Why? How? You have no idea what you’re up against!” Her voice had a slight quiver that she fought to control. Her mantra rang loud in her head. Don’t show weakness, don’t show weakness.

  “The ‘how’ is easy. I am very powerful and I have many who I can call on. I have strong Witches, too, Peri, very strong. The ‘why?’ That’s more difficult, but let’s just say, little Peri, I do not take kindly to any kind of torture and what you’ve went through is plain and simple. Torture of a child. I won’t stand for that!” Josef’s look was almost feral as he spoke, even Gabe was surprised, his friend never showed any kind of emotion – ever.

  “Look, I appreciate it and all, but you don’t know what you’re doing! The leader, shit, he is the most powerful Witch there is. He’ll make mincemeat of me, if he gets his hands on me. What I went through before, it will pale in comparison. Don’t you understand that?! I’ll just keep running. It’s worked for six years, it’ll keep on working.” Peri didn’t want to run, she was fed up of being scared, but she saw no other option.

  “NO!” Both Gabe and Josef shouted, and the Wolf jumped up. He moved to her quickly and grabbed hold of her. “You’re not going
anywhere, Peri. You’re staying here ‘till we sort this out, that’s not a request, by the way.”

  “Exactly,” Josef exclaimed, and Peri looked between the two. Both ready to fight for her? She didn’t know why, but for once in her life, she felt a small shred of hope.

  “Look, I can’t allow myself this! To hope. If you change your minds, I’m going to be fucked! I can’t take this, I don’t take chances!” Peri desperately wanted to, though. Deep down she wanted to, but she was so scared it hurt.

  “Peri, we will not turn away, we will help. You will stay here. I’ve already got extra security, and now I know it’s magic we’re dealing with, I’ll get others. I’ll get wards in place, it will hide you, nobody will find you here. For once Peri, let someone else do the worrying.” Josef had spoken with feeling in his voice and it surprised him. He couldn’t let this little Witch go.

  “Promise?” Peri whispered, and Gabe pulled her into his large frame.

  “We promise, Peri. Stay?” Gabe wasn’t letting her go, no matter what she answered.

  “Okay...so I take it you want to talk?” Peri half-smiled, thinking she would be in a bed that night, too.

  “Yes. Come and sit down at the table. Breakfast will be here soon.” Josef moved to his seat at the head of the table and sat down.

  Peri looked to where he was and where she and Gabe had sat last night. She didn’t like the distance, so moved to sit down in the chair to the right of Josef, who raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

  There was a knock on the door and Peri jumped, her eyes seeking another way out. Josef placed a hand on her arm and held her in place. “It’s okay, it’ll be room service. Gabe, check before you open the door, please.”

  Gabe moved with his lithe grace and pressed a button on a keypad at the side of the door with a little screen above it. A picture appeared and it showed someone dressed in white with a trolley. Peri could see it herself and relaxed. Gabe opened the door and took the trolley. “It’s okay, I’ll do it,” he said to the surprised man.

  The Wolf brought the trolley laden with food to the table. Peri got up to help him place it in the middle before sitting down again.

  Once both Gabe and Peri had plates in front of them, Josef poured himself a coffee. “So Peri, do you want to start from the beginning?” Josef asked.

  Peri sighed. “Okay, here goes...you’re right about the blood thing. Apparently, when I was conceived, a spell was done over my mother to ensure I had this powerful blood. The lettings must’ve started, when I was a baby, because I can always remember them. It was my first and only memory of being really small. I would be held down, when I was smaller. As I got older, they tied me down and my back would be cut...”

  Josef cut in. “I’m sorry, but I don’t quite get the back cutting thing? Being an expert in blood drinking, would it not have been easier for them to cut, say, a wrist and pour the blood into a receptacle of some kind?”

  Peri grimaced. “You don’t get it. There were always a lot of people, all of the sect, and they were told they had to drink directly from me. No cups or anything was ever used. I would be cut and then going by seniority, they would lap at my blood from my back, as I lay there, usually screaming my head off!”

  Gabe cursed and Josef hissed in anger. “They tied you down and drank from your body? While you were awake?” Josef was horrified. He might be a Vampire, but this was horrendous.

  “Yeah, isn’t that a wonderful thing for a parent to do! My mother was seemingly pregnant before me, but at the birth it was a boy, so they killed him.” Peri’s eyes now had more than a few tears, but she refused to let them fall.

  Josef’s hand snaked out all on its own accord and held her shaking hand. Peri looked at it, then her eyes looked into his. He was really quite handsome, when he wasn’t scowling.

  A small smile came over his face and Peri’s eyebrow raised.

  “Yes, I can,” Josef said, and Peri blushed completely and utterly scarlet.

  “You should’ve said something. That’s not fair!” Peri was mortified. He would’ve heard her thoughts on how handsome he looked and, oh my God, her thoughts on Gabe’s ass.

  “Your secret’s safe with me.” Josef almost but didn’t quite laugh.

  Peri gathered her thoughts before going on. “Okay, so as I said, they drank from me each month, and the cuts got worse and worse. I think because of the scar tissue of other cuts, they had to cut deeper, and I just didn’t know how much more I could take. Then at fourteen my powers came, I must take after Daddy...”

  Gabe cut in. “Daddy?”

  Peri smiled ruefully. “Yeah, that head Witch I was telling you about...he’s my father.”

  “Fuck!”

  “Yeah, I know. Anyway, my powers came, but I tried to hide them. I didn’t want him to know, at the time I didn’t know why, but I guess I knew I was going to have to try and escape.” Peri took a drink of orange juice, her hand shaking a bit at the memories. Memories that she had spent the past six years trying to forget.

  Once more Josef’s hand caught hers and this time he held on. Peri found comfort in the touch, and he wasn’t nearly as cold as she had thought his body would be.

  As that thought entered her head, she blushed again and Josef smirked. God, this was embarrassing.

  “Right, so at fourteen I got powers and started to practice, when I was on my own, which was almost all the time. I was kept in my room, I was pulled out of school at thirteen when my…uhm, shit this is embarrassing...when my woman’s monthlies started. My father didn’t want me to lose my virginity, said it would detract from the power of my blood. So after that I was kept in my room...”

  Gabe chuckled. “I could help you with that – you know – the virginity thing?”

  Peri blushed and felt that feeling down below again, wondering once more just what it was.

  Josef frowned. “Gabe, behave.”

  Peri smiled at Josef, and he found he lifted one side of his mouth in return.

  “So I would practice and practice, and then I realized I had to do something. It was after another letting, they had taken a lot and I had passed out. I came to and heard them talking. My sixteenth birthday was the following month, and they were going to sacrifice me. So I thought ‘oh shit, I need to get out’!”

  Peri’s whole body was shaking now, and Gabe moved to stand behind her, his strong arms holding her. His arms made her feel safe and secure. Something she had never, not once, felt in her entire life.

  “So…I waited till my father was out. I knew I wouldn’t stand a chance against him. I used a knife I had managed to get from months ago on the screws of the door, you know the ones at the hinges? Anyway, I got them out and the door just sort of collapsed to the side. My mother came running to see what the noise was and I sent her flying. I grabbed her purse and my backpack with some clothes and ran. I’ve been running ever since.” Peri realized this was the first time she had told another living being of her hell.

  “Shit, Peri, how did you survive at fifteen?” Gabe couldn’t even begin to understand how Peri had survived all of this.

  “Well, I’m not proud of it, but to begin with I used my magic to steal food. Even money sometimes, but I soon found out that if I use a lot of magic they can track me. That’s why I didn’t use it the other night.” Peri looked up and saw Gabe laughing.

  “You’re amazing, if I had magic I would’ve used it, too, when I was young. So what’s the plan, Josef?” Gabe asked, still with a smile on his face.

  “Liam’s on it. When I find them, I’m not sure I want Peri to know my plans.” Josef’s tone had turned cold and Peri didn’t like it. She preferred the little smile he did, he looked so nice, when he did that. The twitch of his lips proved to Peri that he could indeed read her.

  Yet another blush crossed her features and Josef wanted to lean forward and...kiss her lips? A frown came across his features immediately, not wanting his thoug
hts to go in that direction.

  “So guys, I’d like to go and buy some new things. I can use my money I got for the bounty. If I’m not buying food, I’ve got a little I can spend.” Peri felt a bit excited. She hadn’t bought herself anything in so long, and even then it had been from a second-hand shop.

  Josef shook his head. “I tell you what, I’ll get one of the girls from the shops downstairs to come and bring some things. You choose whatever you want, it’s on me. After all, you’ve been working for me indirectly, and you’ve never been paid properly.”

  Peri wasn’t sure about that, she had been inside these big hotels, it was all designer gear. One item of clothing would feed her for six months.

  “Peri, you don’t have to worry about anything, really.”

  This time Gabe chimed in. “Peri, he’s stinking rich, let the old miser spend some on you. I’ll help you, if you want that is?”

  Peri looked from Josef to Gabe, both looking at her intently, their looks completely different. Gabe’s was full of fun with a hint of want. Josef’s was more hidden, what was he trying to hide from her?

  Josef raised an eyebrow. “You do know I’m a Witch, Josef? I can just do a spell, trust me, I’m strong!” Peri smiled, as she spoke and saw Josef look away, hiding what was in his face.

  Gabe was still standing behind her, and she felt his hand on her shoulder, her bare shoulder, and once again her skin tingled. God, what was going on with her body?

  Josef looked to Gabe. “Why don’t you go down and get a couple of the girls. Get them to bring a lot, so Peri has plenty to choose from. I also want a gown and shoes, the whole ensemble. I’m going to take you both out tonight. Hell, I’m feeling generous, get yourself a decent suit, too, Gabe.”

  Gabe moved quickly. “Okay, you heard that right, Peri. He said I could get a suit! You heard him, he can’t take it back now.”

  With that, Gabe moved out the door and Peri was smiling. A huge smile. Like none she had had before.

  Chapter 5

  Peri was still smiling as Josef spoke. “Peri, can I talk with you?” His voice was soft and low, and she nodded her head.