Shadow Moon Series Book 2

The heat was unbearable. Humidity caused her hair to stick to her face and neck, her clothes drenched in sweat. And to top it all off, she was stuck in the dullest place imaginable.

For twenty years, she’d been a captive. The only thing that kept her going was the dream of freedom. The chance to travel again, and more importantly, to work.

She was a bounty hunter, tasked with tracking down the bad guys. Her targets ranged from thieves to murderers, vampires to werewolves. Nothing was off limits, and she loved her job.

Vanessa had been on a simple mission to catch a werewolf when she was captured. It was a trap, the werewolf was a ruse, and she’d walked right into it.

Fast-forward twenty years, and she was free. The torture had been hellish. Images flashed in her mind as she remembered those days.

Lucius had been cunning and knew physical torture wouldn’t break her, so he’d used his skills. To manipulate her, Lucius had shown her twisted memories of the past. She’d been forced to watch her family being slaughtered, sometimes even by her own hand. Those were the worst.

A chill ran up her spine, causing goosebumps to form on her skin. Thankfully, they were just memories. The torture was over.

A song played nearby, catching her attention. Vanessa glanced at the device, the phone, as they called it. Being imprisoned had put a gap between her and technology. She found it both fascinating and baffling.

She picked it up, a name flashing on the screen. She pressed the green button, as the store manager had shown her, and held it to her ear.

“Sarah, what can I do for you?” she asked the person on the other end.

“Just checking in on you. I haven’t heard from you yet.”

“Sorry, been busy tracking the mark,” she explained.

A heavy sigh came from the other end. “You could have called me. Times have changed; you don’t need to communicate through fire anymore.”

Vanessa rolled her eyes, growing irritated. Sometimes Sarah treated her like a child, despite being 160 years her junior.

“I apologize. This technology is confusing. I’m still getting used to it,” Vanessa explained.

“All right, all right. But remember, that excuse won’t hold up forever. I know you’re not used to checking in with people, but remember, I care about you. We care about you, so you better get used to it.”

Her heart fluttered; the idea of someone else caring for her was exhilarating. It had been years since she’d felt that, and it felt wonderful.

“Fine, Mom,” she joked, trying to mask the sadness in her voice.

“And you better believe it. How’s the hunt going? Got a lead yet?” Sarah asked.

“Yep. Gary is meeting some friends at a bar tonight. I’ll be waiting,” Vanessa replied.

“Good. Just be careful. You’re not as strong as you used to be. The blood loss has weakened your powers.” Sarah’s voice was laced with worry.

“I promise I will. I’ll call you if I need anything, promise,” Vanessa reassured her.

“Good. Now go catch that vamp so you can come back. We have a spell we want to try out.”

“Okay. Bye,” Vanessa drew out the last word. Sarah laughed on the other end before hanging up.

She put the phone back down and leaned back in her chair. She was lounging by the pool, trying to get a tan. Being locked up had made her skin pale.

Vanessa surveyed her surroundings. She was at a cheap motel in the middle of nowhere. The town had a small mall and two bars, hardly a thrilling place to be.

She glanced at her phone, the time telling her she needed to start getting ready. The best part about her job was her looks, which were useful when trying to catch the wicked. They always underestimated her, thinking she was weak and innocent.

Nothing could be further from the truth. After centuries on this earth, she’d mastered her magical skills, capable of taking down even the strongest of foes.

Reluctantly, Vanessa got up and headed to her room. It was a simple space, with just a bed and a bathroom. The TV was ancient and the signal so weak, it didn’t pick up any channels.

She undressed and stepped into the shower. Afterward, she looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was jet black, a stark contrast to her pale skin.

Her best features were her eyes. They were a clear, vibrant blue, unique like her. No other witch had the same color, a testament to her age and her uniqueness. But unique in what way, no one knew.

She finished drying her hair and body. She decided to leave her hair straight today, not bothering to put in any effort. This town wasn’t worth her beauty. She slipped into a tight red dress, the color most attractive to vampires. It fell just below her knees and paired with black pumps, she was the perfect lure.

Next, Vanessa applied some light makeup, just enough to accentuate her eyes. She checked herself out in the mirror, pleased with the result. Maybe after catching him, Vanessa could bring someone back for a little fun. She needed to get laid.

As she left, Vanessa grabbed her purse and a vial of liquid silver, a vampire’s kryptonite. It would knock him out for a few hours, enough time to drag him back.

***

The bar was small and run-down. It stood alone, no other buildings in sight. The sign out front was dirty and broken. The C in Carl’s bar hung upside down, and the inside was likely worse.

Her predictions were accurate. Inside was a simple bar with stools in front and booths along the side, worn from overuse. A pool table sat on the opposite side with a dartboard next to it.

As she approached the bar, Vanessa felt all eyes on her. The patrons weren’t used to seeing someone like her in a place like this.

The bartender looked up from cleaning a glass and smiled at her. She returned the smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes.

“What can I get ya, young lady?” he asked.

“Just a beer, please.” She had a job to do, and getting drunk would only get in the way.

He set the drink down in front of her, his hand lingering a moment too long. She shot him a glance, but his smile remained unwavering.

“What’s a pretty girl like you doing in a place like this?” he asked.

She fought the urge to roll her eyes. It was always the same tired lines from the same tired faces. She shrugged nonchalantly. “Just passing through. Needed a break from the motel room, thought I’d grab a drink.”

“Well, aren’t we the lucky ones,” he said, his smile never faltering. Vanessa felt a twinge of discomfort, but thankfully another patron called for a drink, and he had to move on.

She scanned the rest of the bar. Her target hadn’t arrived yet. She could feel the weight of the stares, but thankfully no one was brave enough to approach her.

Less than ten minutes later, a group of men walked in. Their energy was dark, and she knew instantly they were the ones. Among them was a blond man, small in stature with a smug grin plastered on his face. He thought he was untouchable, but she was about to prove him wrong.

They settled into a booth, their laughter filling the room. She needed to get their attention, so she sauntered over to the jukebox, her hips swaying to the rhythm of the music. She dropped in a quarter, selected a song, and made her way back to her seat. It worked, one of them was making his way over to her.

She could feel his presence next to her, but she kept her gaze forward.

“Come here often?” he asked, his attempt at a pickup line making her roll her eyes. She forced a smile and turned to face him.

“No, just passing through for the night. What about you?” she asked, sizing him up. He was a young vampire, his energy weak. He had brown hair, green eyes, and might have been cute if you were into obnoxious baby vamps.

“Same here,” he replied. “Would you like to join us? I can’t imagine you’re enjoying sitting here alone.”

She pretended to consider his offer. “Sure.”

Vanessa rose from her seat and followed him to the booth. She could feel their eyes on her, undressing her with their gazes. They were probably imagining draining her dry.

They reached the table, and the guy took a seat next to his friend. Conveniently, the only empty seat was next to her target, Gary.

They introduced themselves, each one giving her a name. She gave them a fake one in return.

When Gary introduced himself, she flashed him an extra wide smile, and he seemed to eat it up. They engaged in small talk, and she made sure to flirt and touch him. It would be easier to get him alone if he thought he had a chance with her.

After a few rounds of drinks and idle chatter, she knew it was time to make her move. She placed a hand on his arm, applying a gentle pressure.

“I need a smoke. You want to join me?” Vanessa asked, her voice dripping with seduction. His eyes lit up with anticipation.

“Okay.”

As they stood, his friends shot him smirking glances. They thought he was about to get lucky, but she was the only one who would be getting lucky tonight.

Vanessa led the way out of the bar, Gary trailing behind her. She continued walking until they were out of sight, tucked away on the side of the bar.

As she stopped, his hand landed on her ass, the action making her stomach churn. She despised his touch.

Vanessa spun around, grabbed his shirt, and shoved him against the wall.

“You like it rough, huh?” he chuckled.

“Something like that.” She replied, her hands trailing down his body until they rested on his chest.

His smile widened.

“You know who else likes it rough? Your former employer, Winston Holdings.”

His smile vanished, his face paling.

“Concretus,” she whispered, the magic building within her. She pushed it toward him, freezing him in place.

“You’ve been a bad boy, Gary. You should have known better than to skip town without paying your debts. Maybe next time you’ll think twice, if there is a next time,” she said, pulling a vial from her purse. She uncorked it and held it to his lips. His eyes darted around in panic, but her spell held him immobile.

She tipped the vial into his mouth, forcing him to swallow its contents. Moments later, his eyes fluttered closed and his body collapsed. He’d be out for hours, giving her plenty of time to get him where he needed to be.

Vanessa sprinted to her car and drove it up to the bar, stopping next to his limp body. She struggled to lift him, her muscles still recovering, but after a few minutes, he was in the backseat, unconscious. Sweat coated Vanessa, her makeup likely smeared.

She was about to get in the car when a noise caught her attention. She stood alert, her hands raised in a defensive stance, ready to fight. Maybe it was his friends, looking for a piece of her too. But she wasn’t that lucky.

“I told you I’d find you,” a voice said from the shadows. Goosebumps prickled her skin as his deep voice washed over her. He stepped out from the shadows, his black eyes raking over her from head to toe.

“Too bad I don’t have time,” she said, raising her hands to cast a spell, but she was interrupted.

“What the hell is going on here?”

It was Gary’s friends.