Created Darkly by Gena D. Lutz

my mouth shut was the only option.
    “What’s wrong, Kristina? Cat got your tongue?” Wolf went silent, and then let out a huff. “Did you really think I wouldn’t find out about your little entourage? Foolish woman, I know everything. Like I said before, my only rule was no one from the Center. Those two men are insignificant.”
    Apparently, he didn’t know everything . He didn’t know Rush’s true identity. Wolf’s ignorance was a good thing.
    There was no one else in the building, and the door had locked automatically behind us, so I wondered how Wolf’s messenger was supposed to get to us.
    “When should I be expecting your friend?”
    “He should be arriving any second. Do whatever he says, and Kristina…” There was a short pause, one that sent chills all the way down to my toes. “I will be seeing you soon.” After a click, the line went dead.
    “When this is all said and done, I’m going to need a stiff drink…or ten,” I said, putting the phone away.
    “What did he say?” Jude asked.
    Rush looked me square in the eyes. “He knows about me?”
    He must’ve caught some of the conversation. I nodded.
    “Did I screw things up?”
    Both men stared me down, waiting for me to answer one or both of their questions. I was getting pretty tired of all those questions.
    “We’re about to have company.”
    As if I summoned a demon with those words, the air in the room dropped about twenty degrees in an instant. Rush’s eyes glowed a muted red, and mine immediately changed, as well. The only time a necromancer’s eyes glowed that way was in the supernatural presence of a vampire.
    The air surrounding me began to bow and ripple, distorting my perception of reality, giving the room a warped image. I dropped to my knees, the effects making me dizzy; I cupped my forehead into my palms and shook my head, trying to clear my mind.
    “Who the hell are you?” I heard Jude demand. To whom, I didn’t know, because I couldn’t see a thing.
    The heavy sound of boots slamming against stone reverberated in my ears, and then a set of firm hands came down on my shoulders. I took in a clearing breath and stood, gun in one hand and the beginnings of my building power in the other. The vampire had somehow thrown me off guard. I’d never seen one of them use the power of teleportation before in my battles with them. The shock quickly wore off, however, and I was ready for him, loaded for bear.
    “Throw that ball of power at me, Creator, and your sister is as good as dead,” the monster warned.
    I was tired of people threatening my sister. As soon as I found Torra, I was going to lock her up and hide her from the world, so no one could ever hurt her or use her against me again. Convincing the stubborn blond to stay hidden, however, would be next to impossible. Free will was overrated, in my opinion.
    “How did you pop in here like that?” I demanded.
    The man’s smooth face twisted into a cocky grin. His eyelashes were so long, they fanned out around a pair of deceivingly innocent-looking, child-like eyes. They were a baby blue. Strands of blond, greasy hair poked out and stuck against the youth’s skull. It was as if he hadn’t washed it in weeks. To add to his untidiness, stains littered his grey t-shirt, the dirt and grime spreading down to tint his snug-fitting blue jeans. To put it simply, he was a mess.
    “Wolf sent me to supervise you,” the vampire said. He looked around, considering the room, and walked to the overfilled shelves. 
    “I hate vampires,” I thought out loud. I calmed myself and then extinguished the power I had churning in my palm. If it took not killing the leech to further the night’s goal, then I’d have to wait.
    I’d forgotten about the hand still resting on my shoulder until I felt a gentle squeeze. I looked behind me and saw Rush. His face had gone pale, not a very flattering look for him, and his eyes bulged out round.
    “That’s not a vampire, Kris.”
    I frowned and