Bad Memories: The Hellborn Series, #5

By Sammantha Saffell

It has been four months since Duncan's horrific murder and nothing has been the same for Savannah and Santiago.  While desperately trying to help Meri to recover from the death of her mate and dealing with their own grief, Savannah must try and find Cissy who has been kidnapped.  Santiago finds himself  at a crossroads in his life with Savannah as they race to find Cissy.  If they fail, it could mean more than one life lost.  Santiago must battle demons from his past and the present. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sammantha Anderson
• Release date: Oct 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201695040

Sammantha Saffell

Sammantha Saffell is the writer of The Hellborn Series.  Most of her days, she spends working with Savannah to create the hellborn world.  When she is not busy talking to her characters, you can find Sammantha with her spending her days having fun with the love of her life and her kids.  

Book preview

Prologue

Santiago

Ochale, Spain 1736

The tavern is full of patrons, as it is most other nights.  The noise, chatter, laughter, and drinking, loud in my head as I sit watching them.  I hate every one of these people for what they have done.  They smile at me every day as they pass me, as if they have nothing to be ashamed of. They act as if they did nothing.  As if they were innocent babes who did not understand the consequence of their actions.  They had killed my wife, just as she killed herself. 

The day my life fell apart was the day I stopped being a part of this village.  It was early morning.  The sun had brightened the sky with orange and pink stripes.  I had been working, creating a new piece I had been commissioned only the day before when the sound of horses could be heard as they ran down the dirt road.  I stepped away from my craft looking down the road that led to our home seeing as the horse kicked up dust behind them.  Men clad in red uniforms rode towards us.  I knew what was about to befall us.  I had heard from travellers about the Church arresting those who were not following the laws set by the Church.  They had watched as soldiers had pulled women and men from their homes to stand trial.  They had watched as these poor souls were forced to admit to crimes they had not committed or suffer the consequence publicly.  I had not witnessed these acts, not until that day. 

As soon as the soldiers arrived they wasted no time in acting.  Men rushed into our home, two locked hands on my beautiful Ana’s arms.  Her dark wavy hair hung loose as she pulled against their strong hands.  I scream for them to release her, she was my wife and had done nothing to warrant this treatment.  I tried to step in front of them.  I tried to reason with them.  I demanded to know why they were in our home.  One of the church soldiers hit me in the face and threw me back away from the chaos.  Dizziness filled my vision as her screams filled the air.  I tried to stand and I was hit again and again as her voice died away.  I felt as their boots came down on my body over and over again.  Blood began to pour from my face.  I felt as muscles in my body began to swell.  Yet all I could hear were the sounds of my Ana as she fought these men.  Finally the violence stopped, I listened to the sound of their boots as they left our home.  Ana’s voice dying as she was driven away from our home. 

It took me two days to find my Ana and learn she is being tried for blasphemy against the Church.  From what I learned days later all that is required is for her to plead guilty and point the finger at another.  The jail which she was held in was more than a day's ride.  It takes me half a day to find a horse.  No one in our village wants to speak to me.  They are all aware as to what has transpired in our home.  I beg and plead with those who I have called my friend and yet they all turn their back on me.  When I realize none will help me I begin to walk.  My body is battered and I find it is difficult move but I am determined to reach my Ana.  My body aches for me to stop what I am doing.  It needs rest, a healer and yet I continue to push on.  I stumble down the cobble street of our town until I am on the main road heading towards where my Ana is being held.  I am forced to stop the pain becoming too much to bear.  I wait on the side of the road until the pain lessens and my muscles are no longer tight before I continue my travels.  Eventually a traveller with a wagon offers me a ride.  I am so grateful to the elder man.  I do not hesitate in accepting his offer.  A day later, I arrived battered, bruised, and dirty.  My clothes, stained with my own blood. 

It takes another day for me to convince one of the soldiers to let me see my wife.  A priest eventually shows his face.  His black rob is in pristine condition.  There is no dirt or blood on them.  His face is pitiless as I try to explain who I am and why I am outside his church.  I watch as his eyes glance down at my appearance.  I can see the judgement in his eyes.

It takes another day for the church to grant me passage into the jail to see my Ana.  I am given little time to speak with her before she stands before the church council.  Her dress is torn and dirty.  Her silky brown waves are a tangled mess.  Dirt cakes her olive skin.  I tell her to say she is guilty, to ask for forgiveness even though I know she is not.  Ana is horrified at my request.  She shakes her head as she begins to move around the small cell.  She refuses my request.  I beg her to listen to reason and yet she stands in a dirty iron cage, her eyes defiant of my request.  The more I beg for her to do as they ask the more she becomes resolved in her decision.  Two soldiers came to retrieve me.  I refuse to leave.  I demand to see the priest.  My demands fall on deaf ears.  Three soldiers move towards me.  I will not lose my wife to such a travesty.  I fight, my arms swinging, hitting at the men.  I hear one of them grunt as I make contact with his body.  They again began to beat me as they had done in my home.  I can hear as Ana begs me to stop but I do not.  I continue my assault until another officer arrives.  I feel as his arm locks around my throat.  One of the soldiers catches my wrist twisting my arm behind me.  I am dragged from her cell, still pleading with her. 

It takes only a matter of minutes for the church to condemn my wife.  She stands with her head raised proudly towards the crowd and refuses to say she is guilty.  They sentence her to a lifetime of imprisonment.  There is a loud uproar as the crowd begins their condemnations.  It happened so fast as a stone is thrown.  It strikes her in the shoulder.  She staggers back a step from the impact.  I push forward trying to reach her as another stone is thrown at her and another is heaved at her.  The priests watch as the crowd take their anger out on my wife.  I scream and demand for them to stop.  She has done nothing, she is innocent.  I try to grab a stone from a man, when I am pushed to the ground.  I can hear Ana cry out as she is hit repeatedly.  The crowd begins to move forward.  I struggle to regain my feet as they rush towards her.  The sound of the crowd’s cries rise to an ear piercing level.  Just as fast as it started it ends.  I can hear as the crowd cheers.  I regain my footing but I am too late.  I try to push through the crowd but no quarter is given until the people begin to leave, slowly trickling away.  It takes what seems like hours to reach the platform.  I look up seeing my Ana lying in a pool of her own blood, dead.  I move slowly to her as tears run down my face.  My wails piercing the silence around me. 

Two months have passed since her death.  I sit in this tavern, watching these people as they laugh and drink, hating all of them.  I have never been a man to enjoy a strong drink but it is the only thing that dulls the pain and hatred I feel everyday.  None of them take notice as I sit in a darkened corner.  Why would they?  They live with no guilt for their crime. 

As I watch them in disgust, a man in fine breeches and a silk shirt and brocade approaches me.  His brown hair is pulled back, flowing down his back.  I have seen this man before but I do not know his name.  He takes a seat in front of me with a drink in his hand. 

Hello, friend, he says, staring at me. 

Leave me alone, I demand, my words slur slightly.

I think I will not.  You look as if you could use a friend,  His smile is wide on thin lips. 

I ignore him and continue to drink. 

You are Santiago, are you not?  His accent is heavy and not from this town.  I eye the man once more suspiciously. 

Yes.

I have heard of the work you do.

I don’t work anymore.

And why is that friend? he asks with that knowing smile.  One that says he knows more than he pretends to.

I am not your friend, I stand, tired of his incessant need to talk.  I leave the tavern without a backwards glance at the gentleman.  The streets are quiet as I make my way home on the cobblestone road.  I can feel my steps weaving from right to left.  The night air is cool with a black sky overhead.  The moon is nothing more than a sliver in the darkness.  The next thing I know an arm is wrapped around my shoulder, snaking down my body.  I fight as I feel my body being pressed close to another.  I hit and kick until a sharp, stabbing pain enters my neck.  I feel as my blood begins to flow.  I continue my fight with no chance of breaking the hold on me.  I am too weak with intoxication.  Another thought enters my head as I fight, I could be released from the hell I am living in if I just allow my death to come.  I can see my Ana again.  I can find peace away from this town and its people.  I stop fighting as my vision becomes darker with every second that passes.  I welcome death with open arms as I slip away into darkness. 

The next moment I recall is when I awake to the sweetest tasting of wine on my lips.  I can feel the bouncing of a carriage as I am being driven away.  I try to open my eyes, finding it too difficult.  I have no clear thought of what is happening. 

Yes Santiago, drink my friend, I hear a voice purr.  There is a cold that is spreading through my body.  It begins in my mouth and flows down my body until I am shaking uncontrollably.  The wine is taken from my lips as I tremble.  My heart is pounding loudly in my ears.  Fear begins to grip me as every muscle in my body tightens.  I try to speak and find I cannot.  There is no sound, just the feel of my body tightening like a rope being wrapped around my body.  I feel as the cold begins to fade and heat rises within me.  It is as if my body is on fire.  I plead for it to stop.  Let me die.  Let me see my Ana again.  Until there is nothing but darkness once more.

I awake on a soft bed.  I slowly sit up looking for any indication of where I am.  My body is no longer weak.  It feels strong, stronger than it has in months. My throat burns as I see the fine silk on the bed under me.  There is a fire that is burning in a hearth across the room.  I look at my body, seeing my skin intact.  No bruises or damage of any sort.  I reach for my neck, running a frantic hand around it.  There is no wound there.  Did I dream of death coming for me. I hear footsteps approach as the heavy wood door is pushed open to my right.  The man that enters is the same from the tavern.  I am stunned at the sight of him, a smile on his lips.  His thin face alight. 

Welcome to your new life Santiago, he purrs. 

Chapter One

Savannah

Two a.m. was becoming my normal bed time.  It had been four months since Duncan had been murdered.  Meri was living, if that was what you wanted to call it, in a room down from my and Santiago’s bedroom in our home.  Truthfully she wasn’t living.  She was a zombie and had been since Duncan was killed.  She lay in the bed not speaking, moving, or feeding.  She was just there, her hazel eyes staring off into the distance.  Meri’s once shiny red hair was a tangled mess and dull in color turning to a more copper shade of red.  Her skin was beginning to sag on her bones and a smell of death was starting to make its presence known.  I didn’t know what happened when vampires stopped feeding but I was confident that I was seeing it as the female I considered my sister lay slowly dying before my eyes.  I would sit with her for an hour a day talking to her about what was happening outside of that room.  None of it seemed to make a difference. 

With Meri out of commission, I had been working night and day taking care of our business.  I was doing the job of two hunters and so was Watts.  The two of us had anywhere from fifteen to twenty-five cases at a time we were working.  Crime rates within the city had begun to climb.  We had had a lull for a number of months and then all of a sudden it was like we had gotten an influx of criminals moving into our city.  It left little time for anything outside of hunting. 

Watts was almost fully licensed, so that helped a great deal.  Even with Watts working full time, our caseload was becoming more than either of us could handle.  Watts was getting as much down time as I was, which was none.  Ainsley and Siohban seemed understanding about the situation but I could see how much it was affecting Watts.  He missed spending time with his female and their young.  When Watts had joined our company, Meri and I had made sure he had a day off to spend with them.  If we were lucky he had two days.  The current situation didn’t allow for him or I to have that luxury. 

Kabel still had another couple years before he was fully licensed and his license would make little difference with our work load.  On top of being a hunter, Kabel was also my personal guard.  He and the wolf, Terry, of the Falls pack were my guards.  As my guards, the two went everywhere with me.  At first I hated it.  I hated that I had to sit in the back of my car while Kabel drove.  I hated that I got very little alone time.  I had bitched, complained, and fought everyone, including my mate, about having guards.  Then life taught me a lesson.  Four months ago when Meri was taken by Ethan, I learned my lesson as to why everyone was so insistent on me having protection.  I almost lost my fight against the vampire, which meant I had almost lost my entire family.  Any bitching I had done four months ago about the males in my life and the protection I was requiring, stopped.  My rescue mission and fight against Ethan had left me with multiple bruises, a concussion, and almost allowing Ethan to have his way with me.  Meri had suffered injuries as well.  Ethan had beaten her, cut her, and had been on the verge of raping her when I got there.  If it hadn’t been for my mate and the other males I would have been taken or killed that day.  Meri would have more than likely been killed in front of my very eyes.  When the three had entered the warehouse I had had the upper hand but if they had been two minutes later, everything could have been different. 

Watts, Kabel and I were working long hours with few breaks.  When we were home we took turns with Meri and sleeping, not that she seemed to notice our presence.  I should say we tried to take our turns with her.  Terry was the one who was home with her most days. The wolf had made it his personal mission to keep Meri safe while she lay comatose.  I could see the toll it was taking on Terry to be with Meri.  You could see the dark circles under his eyes, the fact that he was thinner than he had been when he came here and the sadness that leaked from the male.  Each of us taking our turn sitting with Meri gave Terry the break he refused to take. 

I finally found my bed with my mate fast asleep and stripped my clothes off.  I was too tired to find any pajamas so naked it was.  I curled in against Santiago who sensed my presence and wrapped his arms around me as I climbed into bed.  In the last four months, Santiago and I had little time to be with one another.  Since the day Ethan had taken Meri and Duncan had died, Santiago and I seemed to be missing each other.  I was working more hours than I had in a day and he was dealing with Dante.  We hadn’t spoken about that day but I could always sense when I was near my mate, the worry and anger he was feeling.  I wasn’t sure if his emotions were directed at me or the situation.  Yes, I was avoiding the issue in some ways.  I had little time off and the time I did have I wanted to spend laying with my mate, being in his arms, and when the opportunity allowed making love to him.  I didn’t want to spend my time arguing with Santiago or dealing with what either of us were feeling.  As worried and angry as Santiago was, so was I.  I was angry that Duncan was dead and I still had no evidence in who was involved.  Okay, I knew who was involved.  Dante had ordered Duncan’s death but I had no proof as to why or who he had ordered to do it.  I was angry at Meri because instead of fighting she had given up.  I understood she lost her mate but how could she just lay down and allow Dante to win.  She should have been raging and demanding his head, instead she was doing the exact opposite. 

Sleep took no time to find me as I breathed in the rich smell of Santiago.  I slept until the shrill sound of a ringing phone woke me.  I sat up looking around seeing it was still dark.

Hello, Santiago answered his phone.  His deep voice, heavy with sleep. 

I looked at the clock, seeing it was four a.m.  Two hours was not enough sleep.  I fell back on my pillow and groaned.  For once it wasn’t my phone ringing waking us up.  I closed my eyes expecting sleep to claim me once more. 

What do you mean? Saniago’s voice grew harsh.  I looked at my mate seeing tension in his body.  Any ideas of sleep escaped me.  No...No we are on our way, Santiago spoke into the phone, his words rushed.  I sat back up as the scent of anger and fear grew in our bedroom. 

What’s happened? I asked. 

I need you to come with me to see Hugo, Santiago said as he headed for the closet. 

Santiago was moving almost too fast for me to track, which told me the situation was serious.  The tiredness I had felt seeped away and was replaced with adrenaline.  I found my clothes I had left on the floor and threw them on along with my weapons. 

What is going on, Santiago? I asked again. 

I will explain in the car.  Call Liam and the others while I dress.  Please? 

I picked up my phone and called Liam. 

Yes, Savannah? Liam answered.  His voice was sleepy and tight.  Since the day Duncan had died Liam had been even more quiet than usual.  There was a cloud of anger around the male no matter the time of day. 

I need you to escort Santiago and I to the club, I said as I stepped back into my boots. 

I will get Kabel...

No, let him sleep and have Terry sleep over here.  I want someone with Meri just in case, I said. 

Duncan had been killed by Dante or rather Dante’s minions.  The first few days after Duncan’s death had been for mourning.  We had all been devastated by the loss and none of us were able to think due to the grief.  Santiago had taken the time off to be with me as I dealt with making funeral arrangements.  I clung to him in those first few days wanting nothing to do with Duncan’s case.  I planned Duncan’s funeral and handled his will where he left everything to Meri.  Duncan had owned three businesses and now they were Meri’s.  With Meri broken and unable to do anything it had been up to me to ensure they were taken care of.  Santiago graciously stepped in and helped me.  He had been running all of Hugo’s business for years along with a number of businesses he owned himself.  Santiago knew how to do what was needed.  He met with Duncan’s staff and set up who was to handle what.  Santiago alone was taking care of all of the finances.  I had been forging Meri’s signature to ensure he could keep everything flowing.  When Santiago had returned to the club, he had been greeted with Dante smiling as if he had won the lottery.  It was enough for me to dive head first into the case.

Duncan had been working with Meri and I to catch Ethan.  At some point, he had found something that was connected to either Ethan or Dante.  The problem was whatever Duncan had found he had never shared with Meri or I.  All we knew was that it was connected to one of the males.  Whatever Duncan had found, Dante had killed him for it.  I had been trying to find what Duncan had discovered but kept hitting a brick wall.  Duncan had more computers than one individual should have.  All of them, protected and encrypted.  He was not just Meri’s mate but also my computer guy so I was at a loss for how to access anything on his systems.  The case went cold quickly for the police.  I dug into as much of Meri’s life as I could.  It wasn’t like she and I had any secrets but I still didn’t like having to do it.  I returned to the crime scene a few times taking in the damage that had been done to their home.  I looked over the photos of Duncan’s body and read his autopsy report and still I found nothing.  I had no evidence to prove Dante was involved but I knew he was.  With Dante still very much alive and Hugo’s mate, I worried about Meri’s safety.  Losing Duncan had been bad enough, I couldn’t lose her too.  In some ways, it felt like I already had.  I still held hope she would wake from her zombie state.

We leave in five minutes, Liam answered. 

I hung up and I headed for the bathroom. Santiago was dressed in a black shirt with no tie, which was unusual for him.  Santiago didn’t go anywhere without a jacket or tie unless he was heading to his woodshop we had here on our property.  It was a red flag for me.  I ran a brush through my hair and did a quick mouth rinse as well.  Santiago did the same at his sink.  By the time we were at the front door Liam was waiting for us.  We headed to Santiago’s car.

I turned to my mate.

Now tell me what is going on, I demanded.

Cissy has been taken, Santiago’s voice was as tight as a rubber band.

It took a moment for my brain to figure out who he was talking about.  Cissy was our tailor, Ms. Radmaker’s assistant.  She was quiet, petite and a hellborn of some kind.  Exactly what kind of hellborn I was unsure of.  Her scent almost said hybrid but it was different.  There was a more earthy smell to it.  Cissy had blond hair, vibrant blue eyes and stood only four foot seven inches, if she was lucky.  She never said much, allowing Ms. Radmaker to do all of the talking when they were in our home.  I had no idea what Ms. Radmaker or Cissy were outside of being hellborns.  It also didn’t make sense why we were being called in for this?  I liked Cissy but the police should have been called, not Santiago and I. 

The confusion must have shown on my face.

Gypsies took her, Santiago added.

What...How do you know? 

Because it is what happened to Ms. Radmaker two hundred years ago.  The two females are fey, Mi Amor, he explained.

Chapter Two

As Liam drove us to the club Santiago explained why Hugo wanted me to find Cissy.  Two hundred years ago, Santiago and Hugo had been traveling through Europe.  Hugo was still a fairly young vampire.  Santiago and Hugo had been spending the spring in France when a troupe of gypsies had set up their wagons in the area creating their own fair of dancing, fortune telling, and selling amulets.  Hugo had stopped to watch the gypsies as they performed.  He had met one of the females of the troupe.  It didn’t take long for Hugo to get her into bed.  In those years, Hugo was a player.  It did not matter the city the two males stopped in, there were always lovers for Hugo to find.  Most lasted only for one night, maybe two before he moved on to the next.  Hugo was the one who discovered Ms. Radmaker.  He had smelled blood and a fey near the camp where the gypsie had taken him.  Hugo wandered around their camp until he found where the scent was coming from.  The sight of Ms. Radmaker in a cage had been horrific for him.  She was chained in steel and had multiple cuts to her arms, neck and chest.  The look of fear was more than Hugo could live with.  He returned home to Santiago where he explained what he found.  That night Santiago and Hugo returned to the gypsie camp destroying all of them, freeing Ms. Radmaker.  She has been under Hugo and Santiago’s protection for the last two hundred years. They had been a family.  I had known Santiago had a long history with Ms. Radmaker but I had never heard her story.  It was one of the few pieces of Santiago’s past he hardly spoke of. 

As Santiago told the story I knew why Hugo wanted me and not law enforcement.  I had never met a fey and knew only what folklore said about them.  They were rare creatures whose blood was of value to more than just gypsies.  Witches would want their blood for charms. Some would go to great lengths to get it.  I had no clue what a fey tasted like but I was confident vampires would love to find out.  You would have humans as well who would look at them as if they were sideshow freaks.  Then there was the media.  It would take no time at all for them to find out and that would be the nail in the coffin.  It would ruin Ms. Radmaker forever, not to mention placing her in great danger for the rest of her life. 

This was one of those moments where I had to choose which side of life I was on.  The humans or the hellborns.  The answer to that was hellborn.  The only thing I worried about was that I had a full caseload and there was no end in sight to it.  I needed to figure out how to get Ryan to give me a few days off while I searched for Cissy.  I couldn’t tell Ryan what I was doing because this was clan business.  There was also the small fact I was investigating a felony without police knowledge.  I was obligated to report to law enforcement if I found out about a crime being committed.  I was not doing that, instead I was investigating a crime with no police involvement on my own.  Ms. Radmaker was under our protection, which meant this had to be handled within our community.  Technically, if Ryan found out about what I was doing he could charge me with failure to report a crime.  I wasn’t sure he wouldn’t do exactly that at this point.  Four months ago Ryan had found out the dirty truth about my life and my stalker.  It had not gone over well.  When he learned Ethan had been stalking me and Ethan was the suspect in our murder case, he had taken the case away from me and effectively suspended me for two weeks.  Life had taken the reins on that decision from him.  Meri had been kidnapped by Ethan and I went in to rescue her followed closely by my mate.  Less than an hour later Duncan was dead.  His death changed everything and not just for us.  Ryan had known Duncan only for a short period of time but he liked the male.  Duncan had assisted me on more than one case.  The lieutenant had grown to like Duncan and had been talking to him about being a consultant on cases that involved technology.  When Duncan was murdered, Ryan had felt the loss as well.  Ryan’s earlier decision to bench me for two weeks was forgotten.  He was angry over the death and wanted the scum who had killed him.  It didn’t mean he wasn’t still pissed off at me for keeping the information on Ethan from him but finding Duncan’s killers was more important. 

Finding Cissy was my priority and I would have to call Watts in to help me.  He had been a cop for almost fifteen years when he joined my team.  Originally, Watts had planned to shadow me for only six months so he could learn about hellborns.  When his six months were up, he didn’t want to go back to the department.  I wasn’t sure if it was because of Meri and I or if it was because of Ainsley.  She and Watts had been together for over a year.  As of two months ago they were living together.  Ainsley was a vampire who could read thoughts.  She was one of our strongest vampires within the clan.  She was also different from most hellborns all together.  She was soft spoken, had a rare ability, and was a mother to a hybrid, Siobhan. 

Siobhan was a hybrid who had been sold to a medical research facility.  What it really was, was a medical facility that was trying to kill the vampire DNA in hybrids.  Meri and I had been the ones who had saved Siobhan.  She was different from most hybrids because she was like me.  She was a leyline witch and vampire who required feedings.  Her magic was more of a magenta color where mine was blue.  In terms of witches there were more earth witches than ley line witches.  Siobhan had been one of the few lucky ones of the young we had saved that day.  She had only been in the facility for a month.  The amount of abuse she endured was by far less than most of the young had endured.  I still had nightmares about what we found in that place. 

Watts had the experience as an investigator we would need to find Cissy and he was a damn good hunter.  I wasn’t sure how Hugo would feel about me bringing in a human but I would have to find a way to convince him Watts was the man for the job.  Since his mating to Dante, Hugo had become more closed off.  I noticed it in the lack of events the clan was having.  I hated clan events but Hugo loved them.  It allowed him to have a party and show off at the same time.  The fact that he had no desire to do either meant Dante was sinking his claws into him farther.  It would be only a matter of time before Francsica’s vision would come true. 

We arrived at the club within thirty minutes of getting the call from Hugo.  Normally the drive would have taken longer but it was four in the morning and most were in bed.  Liam parked the car in the alley.  He scanned the area before he allowed Santiago or myself to step out of the car.  We were inside in a matter of minutes.  Santiago was in front of me as we moved down the stairs.  The fear I had smelled as we dressed was still there with a hint of anger.  The smell of wood burning had been there for the last four months.  It was usually subtle but this morning the scent was stronger than it had been. 

Santiago did not pause as we reached Hugo’s living quarters. He walked into Hugo’s living room where the vampire stood his arms behind his back as Ms. Radmaker sat on his leather sofa.  Santiago went straight to her pulling her into an embrace. 

I am very sorry this has happened.  How are you? he spoke gently to her, keeping his hands on her biceps. 

How can this be happening, Santiago?  Tears streamed down the fey’s face as she looked at my mate, grief and fear gripping her. 

I do not know but I assure you we will find her.  I have brought my mate with me.  If there is any individual who can find Cissy it is my mate.

They both looked at me as I stood near the door. 

Are you sure she is the one to find my Cissy? she asked. 

Savannah is the best hunter this city has ever had.  I am confident she is the one to find Cissy.

She turned those steely eyes on me.  Her eyes were always shrewd whenever she was taking measurements, making adjustments to a piece of clothing, or studying colors for a new suit or dress.  This morning they were more than that.  Ms. Radmaker's eyes had a soft glow to them.  If I failed to find Cissy I wasn’t sure Ms. Radmaker would allow me to live long. 

Ms. Radmaker, I will find Cissy one way or another.  Please allow me to help you. 

There was a long pause before she spoke.

You should call me Anway.  I looked at her confused.  You are about to know my story and that of my daughter’s.  There is no reason you should not know my real name. 

I walked over to Anway as Santiago moved away from her, allowing me to take his seat.  I turned my body to face her. 

Tell me what happened Anway? I prompted her. 

Anway paused before she answered me. 

Cissy lives in a small home not far from here.  She was on the phone with me regarding our appointments for today.  We were discussing what we needed to purchase for a client when there was a loud bang on her end of the call.  There was a commotion I could hear.  I know there were a few yells and I could hear a grunt but they were not near the phone and then I heard glass as it hit the floor.  The call went dead after that.  I called Hugo immediately.  He sent two of his vampires to check on her.  They found the place a mess and Cissy was gone.

Did they say anything before the call ended?

No.

How do you know gypsies took her? I questioned. 

The chimes.

I had no clue what she was talking about. 

What chimes?

They have chimes they use for different purposes.  I could hear the chimes when Hugo’s vampires called him.  It is a sound I have never forgotten in the last two hundred years.

Anway looked to Hugo who had his back to us.  His arms were still behind him.  I could see the tightness in his shoulders.  Normally Hugo was relaxed and playful, even flirtatious with everyone.  Tonight he was none of those things.  Fear was there but anger was a much stronger emotion. 

Has anyone contacted either of you in the last few days that was suspicious? I asked. 

No.

Have you noticed anything unusual?  Maybe someone outside your shop that gave you a bad feeling?

No, she shook her head as she answered. 

Has anyone made any threats towards you?

Over the years we have had a few clients who have said they will ruin us or they will harm us but none of them have ever done so.

Anyone recently? I questioned. 

There was a male who threatened to sue us but nothing this serious.

I’ll need his name.

Our clients expect us to keep their identity private.

I understand that but I will need to talk to him to ensure he isn’t a possible threat.

I could see how uncomfortable Ms. Radmaker was at the idea of giving me the information but it didn’t matter.  Her daughter being kidnapped meant I needed to know everything.  I moved on before she could say anything more.

Any enemies?

No.

That was hard to believe.  Everyone had enemies whether they liked to admit it or not.  I moved on.

Have either of you ever told anyone you are fey? I inquired.

We have kept our secret out of fear.  The family who took me years ago are dead but there are other gypsy families.  We would never take the chance.

Would Cissy protect your identity as much as you?

Yes,  Ms. Radmaker answered with a finality in her tone. 

Is Cissy in a relationship?

No.  She knows the risk of being with anyone.

Cissy was an adult female.  There was no way she had never had a relationship with another individual.  I was willing to bet good money that Cissy had some secrets from her mother. 

I thought about what to do next.  I needed to know where the two females had been in the last two days, maybe even go back a week.  They had to cross paths with the kidnappers at some point in the last week.  I would guess probably in the last forty-eight hours.  I also needed to see where Cissy lived.  Where she was snatched from would tell us a great deal about who we were dealing with.  I needed to see if Cissy put up a fight or if it was more of a blitz attack where she didn’t have time to react.  From the sound of it we were dealing with a snatch and grab.  The crime scene would tell me.  Santiago had told me the story of how they met Anway but he hadn’t told me how she was taken or what happened to her two hundred years ago.  I needed to know in order to know what Cissy would be dealing with if Anway was correct in who took Cissy.  If this was gypsies, Anway’s story would give me an idea of what to expect from the kidnappers. 

Anway I am going to have to ask you some difficult questions.  The more you are willing to tell me, the better chance I have at finding her.

I will tell you anything you wish to know, Anway said. 

The first thing is I will need a list of places where you have been in the last week.  Who you have seen and where you have been.

My client list is confidential, Savannah.

I understand that but it can’t be any longer, at least not with me.  You crossed paths with these hellborns somewhere recently.  I need to narrow down when and where in order to put a timeline together.  Anway sighed heavily and nodded her head in resignation.

I will also need to go to Cissy’s place.

I can take you there, Anway offered. 

No! Hugo snapped.  You will stay here until we find Cissy.  Savannah is capable of travelling by herself to Cissy’s home.

Anway looked at Hugo with fear in her eyes.  I didn’t think the fear she was feeling could increase but it had. 

I will send Liam with her, Santiago added, looking at Anway. 

This is no time for you to fret over your mate.  Cissy is missing. Our focus must be on getting her back.

As her mate I will decide what is acceptable for me to be concerned over, Santiago growled. 

The two vampires stared at one another for a long moment as the temperature in the room began to drop.  Hugo cocked his head to the side as he met the hard stare of Santiago.  The two were having a power struggle in front of Anway and I. 

As you wish, old friend, Hugo bit out the words.  Santiago's eyes never left Hugo as he turned his back on Santiago. 

I ignored what had just taken place between the two males.  My focus needed to be on Cissy and not the males in the room. 

There is only one other thing I need from you Anway, I said.

Anything, she sat forward.

I need to know how they took you. 

Anway looked at me in horror.  I knew the little Santiago had shared with me but I needed more information.  The fact I was asking Anway to share her trauma with me was a lot.  It didn’t matter if the trauma happened a year ago or two hundred years ago.  Trauma was trauma.  It was an act that forever altered who you were and it was an event you carried with you no matter how long you lived. 

Mi Amor, is this necessary? Santiago asked with a hint of anger in his voice. 

Yes it is, I answered, not looking at my mate.  It will give me an insight on what to expect and a better idea of how to track them.  I have never met a gypsie nor do I know how they work.  Knowing Anway’s story will help with that.  It will also help me to confirm that this was done by gypsies.

I have told you how we found Anway,  Santiago tried to almost reason with me. 

What my mate didn’t understand was Anway would have details he nor Hugo would have.  There were always details that a victim never shared with anyone no matter how close they were.

You may have told me but I need to hear Anway’s story, not yours.

Hugo turned and began to open his mouth to argue with me when Anway spoke up.

It is quite alright, Anway said to the two males.  She looked at me as she added.  I trust your mate will not share them outside this room, Anway stopped the conversation.

Thank you.  You have my word, I will not share your story with anyone, I vowed to her. 

Anway and I sat in silence for a long while before she started to speak. 

I traveled through Europe when I was a young female.  At the time, fey rarely left Ireland in those days out of fear of what would happen to us.  There were many tales of fey being taken and killed by humans and hellborns.  We were as feared as witches were within this country, Anway explained.  She took a deep breath before she went on.  For me, I dreamed of leaving my blessing.  I loved them but I never felt as if I belonged.  I desired adventure where the others within my blessing did not.

Every hellborn had their own name for their family or their people.  For vampires it was a clan, some witches were part of covens.  Wolves had their packs.  For fey their families were called blessings. 

I had been roaming England for a month when I met them.  They were dancing, singing, and entertaining in the streets.  They were beautiful with their dark skin and hair.  The females usually had long wavy curls that hung loose down their backs.  When they danced their hair would flare out just as their brightly colored dresses did.  The males were just as beautiful, some of them more so.  Anway stopped talking for a few minutes as I sat patiently waiting for her to finish.  "I approached the gypsies with the intention of telling them how beautiful they were.  They seemed appreciative of my words.  I remember the male I spoke to was smiling at me.  He must have known what I was when I approached him.  He smiled at me and began to tell me how beautiful my eyes were.  As a young fey I had never been told I was beautiful.  It stunned me that this male who was handsome thought I was breathtaking.  After a few minutes of speaking with him, I was invited into their wagons.  Inside was amazing, it was like a small home.  There were large pillows made of bright yellow and greens.  They had blankets that were made of soft material.  A few books were strewn around the floor.  At that time I was introduced to a small elder female.  She had brown hair that was slowly turning grey.  It was pulled back into a bun on the back of her head.  Her round body was wrapped in purple and grey, a shawl draped around her shoulders.  She smiled at me offering to read my fortune.  When I said I did not have any money she assured me it was not an issue, she wished to do it for free.  I remembered her small hands looked fragile as she clasped my wrist.  Her fingers moved across my