Normally I’d limit this power to a vampire standing directly in front of me, but Jade was dying in my arms so I expanded my powers— first to a two-block radius around the apartment building, then all of downtown before expanding my reach to a good third of the city.
I could feel the life forces of the vampires I’d captured in my net. Some were flickering—young and green, newer vampires—while others were steady and strong—older vampires with decades to centuries of experience.
Once I was certain I had command of them, so they couldn’t move due to the mental hold I had on them, I gave the command.
Get here. Now.
The order given, I kept control of them, but barely noted the sharp tang of the fear I inspired within them. I was mostly interested in making sure they followed the order and sure enough, immediately vampires—regardless of Family, origin, or power—headed in my direction.
Satisfied, I returned my attention to Jade.
“Jade? Snack. Slayer! Can you hear me?” I rocked her trying to get a reaction.
She was slumped in my arms, motionless.
Footsteps echoed down the street, and I turned to see two vampires—a petite blonde woman wearing what appeared to be a Victorian day dress she had hiked up to her shins so she could run better and a lean spider-y man with a formidable mustache, a bowler hat, and a suit—sprinting down the sidewalk.
“S-sire,” the male puffed when he reached me. “Er, your honor? Elder?” He stammered, not sure how to address me.
“Stop talking,” I snapped. “How are injured wizards treated?”
The woman dropped her skirts. “I-I beg your pardon, sir?” She asked.
“Where are injured wizards taken for medical treatment?” I snapped.
The vampires exchanged panicked looks.
“Have you ever dealt with an injured wizard?” the male whispered to the female, who shook her head.
“Maybe the hospital?” The woman glanced uneasily from her companion to Jade.
“I don’t want amaybe, I want a certain answer,” I growled.
“Wizards heal differently from humans and they can take potions, so, so perhaps the Cloisters?” the male said, his tone becoming increasingly desperate.
The woman pulled a cellphone out of her handbag—a very wrong looking image considering her hair and dress. “Our Family has a blood donor, let me call them.”
“Blood donors are humans, not wizards!” The man cried.
“Figure it out fast or call someone who will know,” I snarled.
More footsteps echoed down the street as three more vampires came sprinting in my direction, but it wasn’t until I heard the distant roar of an engine that I began to hope.
I figured at least a few of them would be dispatched to the city, but I didn’t know if they’d be in range. Please,please—
Before I dared to hope, a black SUV screeched around the corner flashing a dragon insignia that was painted on the door.
The Drakes—Killian’s Family—were here.
The driver slammed on the brakes and the car screeched to a stop in the middle of the road, next to me.
The driver door, front passenger door, and a back seat door were flung open. A tall, red-haired vampire emerged from the driver door, a broad shouldered vampire that looked more like a werewolf with his muscles than a vampire climbed out of the back, but it wasn’t until I saw the black haired, bland faced vampire that hopped out of the passenger seat that I relaxed, recognizing Killian’s Second Knight.
“Elder Maledictus.” Josh—the Second Knight—gave me a sweeping bow. “How can we help you.”
I lifted Jade. “She’s hurt. Where do I take her?”
Josh blinked as he took in Jade’s pale face and task force uniform. “Ah. Is she a wizard, or…?”
