“Yeah, a witch.”
“And does Damon have the witch?”
Baldy’s face split into an evil grin. “Yes,” he hissed.
Well, that was all Winter needed to know. There was no doubt he could learn more about Damon’s witch and the prophecy—either at the Ministry leader’s manor or possibly at Paavo’s. It was enough of a starting point.
Winter watched the other vampire for a moment as his eyes still desperately searched for some escape.
“Last chance. Are you going to walk away from this? Leave Christopher and Damon?”
“Never!” Baldy snarled.
“Yeah, I thought so.” There was a weariness to his tone he didn’t much care for. While Marcus had become the family’s advocate and negotiator, Winter had become its executioner. He was becoming very tired of that role.
But he was also very good at it.
Palming the knife from his side, Winter surged while the vampire’s attention was on the ghost, plunging the wicked blade deep into the vampire’s chest, straight through his heart. Baldy gasped and stared at the knife in shock while the ghost woman screamed and ran from the store. Even in death, she couldn’t escape the ugliness of the living.
The violent stab wound wouldn’t be enough to end the vampire’s existence. With time and fresh blood, he would be able to heal from it.
Winter pulled the knife from Baldy’s chest, a great sucking sound accompanying it. The vampire cried out and made a feeble grab for him, but Winter dodged the hand and slashed across his throat, opening up critical arteries. Blood gushed from the vampire. He stumbled, knocking into the shelves as he tried to get away from Winter. But he was weaker, and nothing moved. Blood poured down his chest and onto the floor, but it wouldn’t leak into the living world until Winter released him from this one.
Winter tucked the blade away and methodically pulled the rope from his shoulder, loosening it from its loop. God, he was getting tired. He needed to work faster. Baldy collapsed to his knees, choking on the blood. His skin was already turning pale; he didn’t have much time left.
Pausing, Winter looked around the store. He needed just the perfect spot. Something dramatic. Something that would leave a proper impression. Remind the other vampires exactly who they were attempting to fuck with.
Winter’s eyes fell on exactly what he needed, bringing a smile to his lips. He strode over to Baldy, grabbed the vampire by the back of the shirt, and dragged him across the floor. Working quickly, he wrapped the rope around him and then tied him to the railing. The vampire fought him for only a moment, hatred and fear burning in his brown eyes.
Once Baldy was secured, Winter slashed him again across the throat, severing arteries he missed with the first cut. The last of the life flowed from the vampire’s eyes, and a wet gasp left his parted lips. He was nearly gone.
Winter opened the veil between worlds around the vampire and reached through to hit a couple of buttons on the scissor lift, sending it up toward the ceiling. A sigh of relief tumbled from Winter’s lips as the added weight of Baldy entered the living world, leaving Winter feeling more balanced.
Stepping back, he watched from the dead world as Baldy rose into the air, his arms tied to the railing of the lift and his feet dangling toward the ground. Blood rained down onto the linoleum in a steady patter. It was a terrible, gruesome sight, but as screams of horror started to echo through the store, he was sure it was leaving the proper impression.
It was a shame the humans had to find it. They’d briefly be left with a mystery they’d never be able to solve. They’d never find the murder weapon or where the man had been initially attacked. And after the vampire cleaners were done, they’d even lose the body.
But the important thing was that his world would see the warning. He watched as the two other vampires caught sight of their dead friend. They paled and huddled close, swearing at the Variks and even Damon. They complained they should never have chased Winter Varik. Should never have listened to Christopher.
With any luck, they’d leave the area and stay out of the coming war.
“You killed me,” Baldy said in a kind of disbelieving wonder.
Winter turned his head to look at the new ghost standing beside him, looking up at the fresh corpse. He could see the confusion turning to anger.
“You fucking killed me!”
Winter shrugged. “You planned to kill me.” Turning, he headed toward the front of the store. He needed to get home, make plans, contact Aiden about this prophecy nonsense. His family needed to be protected.
“You fucking killed me!” Baldy screamed. He swung at Winter, but his meaty fist went completely through Winter’s shoulder. There was a cool, tingling sensation. Otherwise, he felt nothing. He swung again and again as he jogged to keep up with Winter, but he never truly made contact.