Night Light. Amy Blankenship

they had an emergency? She was less afraid of this shifter than she was of her gun toting fiancé and until she heard fire alarms or saw a fang face, she wasn’t going anywhere.

      â€œNot this time,” Jewel informed him crossing her arms over her chest.

      â€œI can’t just leave the church unattended,” the old man started but Steven quickly cut him off.

      He took deliberate strides closer to the desk as he spoke, “Have you made a deal with the devil and decided to feed your parish to the vampires? Is it you burning their bodies in your boiler room?” When the priest just opened his mouth but didn’t say anything Steven continued, “Or is it the sinners you preach to that have committed mass murder in your basement and dug a tunnel to escape through?”

      â€œOh my,” the old man gave Steven a grim look. “If I leave the church, how long will it be until I can return?”

      â€œGive me your cell number. I’ll call you within a couple hours. Do not come back until we give the all clear.” He sighed knowing he’d won the argument when the old man started rifling through his drawers getting things he deemed important enough to take with him.

      Jewel tried to remain perfectly calm while edging her way toward the still open door. Freedom… why was it she always found herself running from mad men?

      â€œDon’t make me chase you,” Steven gritted out as he jerked his head to the side and locked his gaze on her. “I said he could go home… not you.”

      Jewel’s lips parted as she froze in mid motion. How dare he give her an order? She gritted her teeth realizing she’d obeyed him anyway. She raised her chin up a notch in defiance as she came to a conclusion. The moment she got away, she would keep running… from all of them, including her father.

      â€œWhat are you going to do with her?” the priest demanded indignantly.

      â€œI’m going to do what you can’t do… keep her safe,” Steven yelled not wanting to fight about this. The bruise on Jewel’s face had quite literally shattered his nerves and he’d be damned if he was going to send her back to the man that did it.

      â€œI don’t need another protector,” Jewel turned to leave but stopped short seeing two dangerous-looking men blocking the doorway.

      Dean had felt Steven’s distress all the way down the stairs and now that he was looking at the girl who was causing it, he could see why. Reading her soul, he caught a fleeting glance of the elusive angel of death.

      â€œYou’re wrong.” He moved so fast, even the two shifters in the room missed it. “You do need a protector.”

      Jewel stifled a scream when the man’s palm pressed against her sore cheek and his eyes turned the color of mercury. The cold hand that had been clinched around her heart with icy fingers for so long melted. Suddenly, she was reminded of feelings she had forgotten existed… warmth, safety… love.

      The priest leaned back against his desk when the shadow of wings sprung out from the man’s back, flickered brilliantly, then disappeared.

      â€œI’ll be downstairs,” Dean stated as the wind rushed in to fill up the space he vanished from.

      Steven didn’t know why Dean had chosen that moment to reveal his power but he was glad the fallen had done it. Jewel’s cheek was healed and the priest looked like he’d just seen the light.

      â€œWe need to leave… now,” Nick said from the doorway.

      Steven grabbed Jewel’s hand and started for the door, glad the shock had taken the fight right out of her for the moment.

      â€œWait,” the priest called, making Steven and Nick stop to look back at him. “Was that…?” he faltered, pointing at the spot where Dean had stood moments before.

      Steven smiled genuinely at the excitement in the old priest’s eyes. “Yeah… it was.”

      The priest smiled when Steven and Nick left the room with Jewel in tow. He nodded once and began gathering the tools he would need. In his mind, God was preparing the earth for His return.

      Steven and Nick stepped out of the church but Steven pulled Jewel to a stop so he could glance up at the office window. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the office light go out.

      â€œLooks like the old geezer is taking your advice,” Nick said.

      Steven shook his head, “More like he saw Dean for what he was and is having some kind of religious experience. He gave me his phone number, I’ll call him when the coast is clear.”

      â€œI don’t think a couple hours will be enough time,” Nick informed him.

      â€œIt is what it is.” Steven responded. “Right now, let’s get back to the club so we can give the news to Warren and Quinn.”

      Dean sat on the roof of the cathedral and smiled down at the trio as they left the church behind. He’d given Steven all the help he could but the calming spell he had put on the girl wouldn’t last forever. He could feel the darkness under the building starting to mount as the vampires began emerging from their tunnel.

      Unlike those from the other night, these were being influenced by something even darker, more sinister, than Dean had ever encountered.

      Dean frowned wondering why he hadn’t sensed it when they cleaned out the first group that had taken residence here. This influence was very old and very powerful. As suddenly as he sensed it, the darkness was gone and only the vampire presence could be felt.

      The fallen gained access back into the church to check up on the old man and make sure he got out alive.

      Chapter 4

      Trevor and Kat had tracked the vampire they’d discovered halfway across the city.

      â€œWhat the hell is he doing?” Kat whispered, starting to get suspicious.

      â€œLooks like he’s going shopping,” Trevor answered when the vampire stopped in front of a shop window and looked at the darkened display.

      This vampire was young, barely eighteen from the looks of him. He had straight black hair and wore round-rimmed eyeglasses. With his hair pulled back, he would have looked almost presentable except for his pale skin.

      The two picked up their pace when the vampire abruptly turned away from the window and started walking down the street again. Even with the shops closed, the sidewalks were busy this time of night.

      They’d discovered the body of the vampire’s latest victim sprawled out on a well-manicured lawn. With their sense of smell, they’d been able to catch up with the bloodsucker just as the vampire reached Rodeo Drive. From there, Trevor had to hold Kat back a bit explaining that there were too many people around for them to just run in blindly.

      Now, here they were, following a vampire on foot and neither one in the mood for conversation. Next thing they knew, they were on a city bus not really paying attention to its destination. Finally, the vampire reached up and pulled the cord to get off. Kat and Trevor rode down to the next stop and got off themselves before resuming their pursuit. The vampire continued walking and Kat growled in frustration.

      â€œI’m starting to think this vampire is on drugs. We’ve almost made a complete circle.” She complained. “We’re only a few blocks away from the club.”

      â€œThere he goes!” Trevor exclaimed and ran toward an alley where the vampire abruptly vanished.

      Trevor’s sneakers made a skidding noise when he reached the mouth of the alley and peered into it. Kat stood beside him, ducked down a bit so they could both peek around the corner.

      â€œDamn,”