Once Bitten (Netherworld Series Book 1) Read online

  When Carey flipped on the light and smiled, Lila was finally able to relax again. No one said anything and no one immediately moved from their positions at the table. Lila met Andrea’s wide eyes first, a reaction that she could only guess mirrored her own.

  Beth’s voice broke through the stony silence before anyone else could even think of anything to say. “Fuck this. I need another drink.”

  Miles and miles away, a lone figure walked through the darkness shrouded in a black cloak. His body still hummed from the power stolen from the little witch bitch. He could feel her strength pulsing through his veins, still hear the pleading screams she had let loose from her heart shaped lips.

  She had begged for her life before he had stripped her of her power. His knife had found that tender spot below her breast and he had buried the blade to the hilt, one slow inch at a time. He had kept her power firmly locked within him as he extinguished the light from her warm brown eyes.

  He had wanted her body in the haze of raping the power from her. His cock was still stiff thinking about it, but he had known he couldn’t risk spoiling her. She had what was left of the coven’s power within her and he couldn’t risk tainting it, no matter how much his body demanded it of him. He wished now that he hadn’t saved her for last. He could have at least played with her a little bit then.

  Only a handful more, he thought, then he would have enough power and strength so he could continue with his plan. Of course now that so many had already been killed and drained, it was becoming increasingly difficult to find more of them, but he didn’t let that slow him down. The world would be a better place without their naiveté. Magic was a powerful gift they could never master or comprehend like he could.

  This is what Fate had showed him. This was his destiny. He would take his place as leader when the time was right. He would have enough power to truly be a force to be reckoned with. He would be the one to bring the world to its knees.

  He debated where to look next as he walked back to the manor house from the crypt. It was nearly impossible to wipe out the witches without bringing attention to himself, but so far he had been successful. The most powerful covens of Louisiana and Virginia were gone. Unfortunately, he couldn’t touch the most powerful coven in Massachusetts without the notice of the Netherworld council, but one day that would change. For now he needed somewhere else to search.

  He was running out of places to look as the majority of the witches had gone underground after the disappearance of so many of their sisters and brothers. They knew. They knew he was coming for them. He may be able to deny it to the rest of the Netherworld, but the witches always knew when another light was extinguished.

  He would call upon the Warriors of Locke in the morning and they could resume their endless searching. Until then he would crawl into his bed with the little solitary witch whom his warriors had delivered to him earlier that afternoon. He would use her to help ease the ache created by the now slaughtered witch’s luscious curves and red, pouting lips.

  When the trees rustled in a nonexistent breeze and that familiar sense of warmth slithered up the back of his neck, a slow smile unfurled beneath his hawk-like nose. This was turning into a good night indeed.

  The ripples in the atmosphere from the magic that was currently being created filled him with excitement as he walked through the brown blades of grass. Any magic that was created called out to him like a beacon in the cold night. And this particular beacon burned brighter than any he’d seen in a long, long time.

  The distance between himself and the Ultimate Power was growing shorter by the second but it could wait for one more night. Tomorrow would be different. Tomorrow the warriors would go hunting.

  1

  “Gabriel!” Once again the big bulky bartender whom Lila had been fantasizing about for the past hour walked right by her, ignoring her empty bottle and her frantic waving.

  “I’m thinking one is going to be your limit tonight,” Carey said as she drained the last of her bottle and slouched back on the rickety wooden stool.

  The two of them had decided to go for beers after a busy day at work. The Wolf’s Den was the only place in town for that and the rest of the small town of Cantor seemed to have had the same idea as Carey and Lila. The noise level wasn’t too bad inside the tiny dive for now, but in the next hour the sound of the jukebox and the drunken voices would be overwhelming.

  “Maybe you’re right. I could take this as a sign that neither drunkenness nor hot sweaty sex with that man are in the cards. At least for tonight.”

  “With who? Gabriel?” Carey asked, nodding her head in the direction of the bartender. “You’re delusional.”

  Lila frowned and picked at the label on her empty beer bottle. There was no point denying her attraction to the bartender. Carey would see right through it. “I don’t get it. He was nice earlier.”

  “In all the years we’ve been coming here has he ever once given you the indication that he was interested?”

  “No.”

  “Then why are you disappointed now?”

  “I don’t know. He’s almost never working when we come in so I never get the chance. It’s always Kaleb.” The sound of Gabriel’s deep laughter tickled her ears. He was standing at the end of the bar talking to a tall redhead who was at least twenty pounds lighter than Lila’s athletic frame.

  “Maybe he’s not into blondes.”

  “Perhaps. I was just hoping to start my vacation off with a bang.”

  Carey laughed. “I can see that.”

  “Can you blame me? I haven’t had a boyfriend since Bryan and that was years ago. All I ever do anymore is work. This is the first vacation I’ve taken in almost two years.”

  “I wouldn’t call sitting on your couch for a week eating Cheetos a vacation.”

  “I would.”

  Carey flipped her long brown hair over her shoulder and stretched in her seat. “Let’s take your vacation celebration somewhere else. This place is dampening your mood.”

  “Yes, it is. Besides, I’m hungry.”

  “Then let’s go get something to eat.” Carey’s piercing whistle made Lila jump in her seat. She waved her hand at Gabriel who held up his finger indicating that he would be over in a second.

  Just after he was finished talking to the redhead.

  “Shit, I’ve had a headache since last weekend,” Carey muttered as she opened her purse and began digging through it.

  “A week long hangover?”

  “No, otherwise this beer would’ve helped.” She found a bottle of Tylenol and popped two, chasing them down with the remainder of her beer. “I’m betting its stress related. After all, not everyone can have a vacation. I still have to work tomorrow night.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “This switching back and forth between night shift and day shift is kicking my butt. You think they’d be able to hire some more nurses and give us a little relief.”

  “The overtime is nice though.”

  “Being paid double time is why I continue to work eighty hours a week, but I don’t know how much longer I can handle it.”

  “You need a break before you wear yourself into the ground.”

  Carey pulled out her wallet and left it open on the bar top. “I’m working on it.”

  Gabriel’s massive form shadowed over them. “Going home?”

  “Yes,” Lila said, picking her own purse up from the dusty floor.

  “Two dollars each.”

  Carey handed Gabriel a twenty. “I’ll pay for both.”

  He took the money from her before Lila could stop him. She scowled at Carey when Gabriel turned his back to them to get their change from the register.

  “If you’re so stressed with work why don’t you just cut back? Or cast a spell for better hours and higher pay?”

  “Very funny. Don’t think that I’ll ever involve you or the rest of them in any other spell I do.”

  Lila wouldn’t complain if that were the case. “Why not?”
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  “Because the lot of you didn’t take it seriously. You can doubt all you want to, tease or whatever, but give it a couple weeks. You’ll be seeing things differently.”

  Lila adjusted her navy blue scrub top. “Maybe.”

  The sound of a throat clearing made Lila jerk her head. Gabriel was standing in front of them, holding money out to Carey. “Your change.”

  His dark brown eyes darted between the two of them after Carey took the money from his hands. He looked like he wanted to say something, but refrained from it.

  Gabriel was a nice guy and of course Lila was attracted to him. How could she not be? He was tall, well over six feet, and built. His arms were bigger around than her thighs. She couldn’t hide her disappointment that her attempt at flirting with him hadn’t gone any farther.

  “Good night,” she told him as she hopped off her stool and pulled on her jacket.

  “Have a good night ladies. Stay safe.” The ominous tone of his voice sent chills down Lila’s spine.

  She could feel him staring after them as they walked toward the door of the crowded bar, wading through the throng of people. Stealing another glance in his direction and meeting his eyes through the crowd, she pushed open the door.

  The cold night air hit her as soon as they were outside. The waning moon was bright as they made their way to Lila’s Jeep, their shoes crunching on the gravel.

  “We should go off-roading in this bad boy and really see what it can do,” Carey commented as they climbed into the Jeep.

  Lila had taken the doors off of it a few days before in hopes that spring would be here soon. Instead, she found that she just drove around freezing her tail off.

  “When it gets warmer we will.”

  “Eventually Andrea’s going to realize she made a mistake selling this to you.”

  Lila had always loved Andrea’s Jeep and when Andrea had decided the week before that she was going to trade it in for a more fuel efficient vehicle, Lila had jumped at the chance to buy it from her and ended up paying twice what the dealership was offering her.

  “When she figures it out it’ll be too late.”

  “It’s not too late already? You have the keys.” They climbed in the vehicle and Carey immediately began fiddling with the radio dial as soon as Lila cranked over the engine.

  “I don’t have the title yet. She’s been busy at work and so have I.”

  “I need you to get on that,” Carey commented as they pulled onto the road and headed to Waverly’s, the twenty-four hour diner.

  “We’ll go to the DMV sometime next week probably.”

  “You’re lucky that Andrea isn’t the type to change her mind once she decides on something. If she were, I’d be worried. Hell, if I had known she was going to sell this beauty, I would’ve bought it from her. I’m tired of sharing my car with Grandma Ruby.”

  “Grandma Ruby would probably take the Jeep and give you her Oldsmobile.”

  It was after two in the morning by the time they finally left the diner. Lila was stuffed and exhausted by the time they got back to the hospital where she dropped off Carey at her car.

  She waited to make sure Carey was safely inside her vehicle before waving and pulling out of the parking lot to head home. There was nothing she wanted more than her bed at that moment.

  Lila was driving past The Wolf’s Den on her way home when her gas light clicked on. Groaning, she wanted to ignore it and continue to the house, but something wouldn’t let her. She was already in town and passing the station so she decided to stop.

  The place was dark and deserted, the convenience store having closed hours before. The owner had made the decision a few years back to keep the pumps running and available for credit card customers throughout the night which was useful on the nights Lila left work late and was running on fumes.

  She pulled the Jeep up to the pump, turned off the car and got out, leaving the keys in the ignition. The security lights gave off just enough light to see by as she swiped her card and put the nozzle into the tank. The numbers rolled on the pump as she waited impatiently for the tank to fill. She tied her hair back and zipped up her jacket while she waited.

  She was just closing up the tank when a loud boom rattled her ears. Jumping, she glanced around the back of the Jeep toward the side of the convenience store where the dumpsters were located. Squinting her eyes, she made out the shapes of four large men.

  She didn’t know them or at least she didn’t think she did until she heard muffled cursing that sounded vaguely familiar. The dark shaggy hair gave him away. Gabriel.

  Two men had him pinned against the side of the dumpster. They restrained him as a third man, a tall man with long blond hair, struck him in the stomach with his fists. Two hits and the blond stepped back and reached for his waistband. There was a glint of metal and Lila’s eyes widened.

  Reaching into the back of the Jeep, she pulled out the old tire iron and gripped the cold metal in her hands.

  Her feet were quiet on the pavement as she raced toward them, coming up behind the blond. Swinging the iron, she whacked him in the back of the head and sent him flying forward into Gabriel. He bounced off Gabriel’s massive chest and landed on his back on the pavement at her feet.

  Gabriel and the other two men stared at her, their eyes unbelieving as she stood back, holding the tire iron as a bat. She glared at the two men who still held Gabriel, silently begging them to charge her.

  A deep growl radiated from Gabriel’s chest and he pulled himself free from the men who held him with a quick jerking motion. Lila charged forward, targeting the bald man who was struggling to reclaim his grip on Gabriel’s arm.

  She didn’t get more than two feet before a large hand gripped her ankle and sent her sprawling forward. The tire iron flew from her hands and she landed on her face on the unforgiving pavement. The impact knocked the air from her lungs.

  Gasping, she struggled to push herself to her feet. Before she was able to climb to her knees, someone gripped the back of her sweatshirt and jerked her up. She spun before he had the chance to throw her, her fists flying. The blond staggered back, blood erupting from his nose from where she had struck him.

  She charged him again. This time he was ready for her attack. He stepped to the side and his hand came up, knocking her away from him.

  An animalistic growl came from her side and she glanced over to see Gabriel throw a punch. His teeth elongated before her eyes and his nails grew into sharp points. The punches turned into deep slashes, blood covered the bald man’s chest.

  “Kill the dog!” The blond barked the orders as he descended on her.

  She screamed as he grabbed her and pulled her back against his chest. The silver blade, which had been laying on the ground where it had fallen when she first hit him, flew through the air as if being pulled by an invisible string. He grasped the handle when it landed in his hand and the blade bit into her neck as he restrained her.

  “Little witch, you think you can fight your way out now?” His voice was a whisper against her ear. There was no doubt in her mind that he would kill her if she struggled against him.

  “Kill the dog and let’s go,” he barked the orders to his men who were jumping to avoid Gabriel’s sharp teeth and claws.

  “You’re going to get the chance to watch your dog die, witch.” He laughed softly against her ear and a wave of nausea hit her.

  Lila wasn’t going to let Gabriel die. Everything she had done up to this point would have been for nothing. Her captor would either kill her here or take her somewhere else to do the job. Even she knew she had already seen too much. If she wasn’t going to get out of this alive either way, she had nothing left to lose.

  Her face red, her body shaking with adrenaline, she jerked in his arms. Her elbow buried into his gut with as much force as she could muster. Her other hand dug into his wrist. She struggled to keep the lethal blade away from her neck.

  A deep growl erupted from a few feet away and Lila only saw a flash before
the blond pulled the knife away from her, holding it out in front of him. Turning her head, her teeth sunk into the man’s bicep.

  He yelped and jumped back. Gabriel lunged for him and the two of them fell into a tangled heap onto the pavement. She turned, ready to run back to the safety of her Jeep when a hand buried itself in her hair, ripping strands from her scalp.

  The bald man threw her to the ground, his heavy boot landed on her chest. Rage painted his face as he glared. He pressed down on her chest, over her heart.

  “Stupid witch,” he spat.

  Frantically, Lila tried to push him off of her. Pain was shooting through her chest as she gasped for breath. She slammed her fists into his calf and ankle with no effect. Her ribs groaned, having no more room to give. Just when she thought they would crack from the pressure, he was gone and a rush of cold air filled her lungs.

  She rolled onto her stomach but before she could push herself to her feet, a hand grasped the back of her scrub pants and pulled her up. Gabriel was moving with her clutched to his side before she could even get her feet on the ground.

  He kept a firm grip on her, otherwise she would have landed on her face. His long strides would have been impossible for her to keep up with. He was faster than she could ever hope to be. They were at the Jeep within seconds.

  Lila sprung for the passenger seat at the same time that Gabriel tossed her toward it. The momentum sent her sprawling across both seats. She managed to move just in time for Gabriel’s large body to land in the driver’s seat.

  “Go, go, go!” She held onto her seat as she saw the three men running for them. The sound of the engine roared and the Jeep leapt forward.

  They jumped the curb to get onto the road, the Jeep’s tires squealing in their wake. The smell of burning rubber filled her nose, but they left the smell behind as they took off down the street. Looking behind them, she could see three figures chasing them but soon they were nothing more than specks on the dark horizon.