Dark Victory

Praise for New York Times bestselling author

and the Masters of Time^® series

Dark Embrace “A Perfect 10. Brenda Joyce has created a tale that is full to overflowing with emotion. Passionate, heartbreaking, hopeful, and entertaining, Dark Embrace is a novel you do not want to miss. I recommend it highly.” —Romance Reviews Today

“Known for her intensity of emotion and superlative storytelling, Joyce draws you into a new Masters of Time^® novel that will blow you away with its unforgettable alpha hero and a willful heroine who feels his pain across the centuries.” —RT Book Reviews (Top Pick)

Dark Rival “The supporting characters are excellent, the sex scenes are plentiful … and the plot thick, making this sophomore series entry a fine entertainment, sure to gratify fans of the bestselling kickoff.” —Publishers Weekly

Dark Seduction “Bestselling author Joyce kicks off her Masters of Time^® series with a master’s skill, instantly elevating her to the top ranks of the ever-growing list of paranormal romance authors … Steeped in action and sensuality, populated by sexy warriors and strong women, graced with lush details and a captivating story … superlative.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Sexual tension crackles between Claire and Malcolm as he struggles with his desire for Claire and his protective duty in this sizzling, action-packed adventure.”

—Library Journal

Also by Brenda Joyce

The Masters of Time^®

DARK EMBRACE (Rose Trilogy)

DARK RIVAL

DARK SEDUCTION

The de Warenne Dynasty

A DANGEROUS LOVE

THE PERFECT BRIDE

A LADY AT LAST

THE STOLEN BRIDE

THE MASQUERADE

THE PRIZE

Watch for Book Three of the Rose trilogy

DARK LOVER

Coming January 2014

Dark Victory
Brenda Joyce

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To Sydney Chrismon and Michelle Dykes—for twenty-five years of support, love and friendship; love you guys!

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

EPILOGUE

ALL FILES CLASSIFIED

LEVEL 5 CLEARANCE ONLY

H.C.U.

AIDAN THE WOLF OF AWE

Born 1398, Dunroch, Scotland. Six foot three, fair complexion, blue eyes, dark hair, approximately two hundred and ten pounds.

Age: unknown, presumed dead.

Father—the Earl of Moray***. He is believed to be alive despite reports of a vanquishing. Mother—sequestered or deceased. Half-brother—Malcolm of Dunroch**. Wife—deceased 1427. Son, Ian—born 1427, presumed deceased 1436.

Current status—NA. He is believed to have taken the vows of the unnamed and clandestine Brotherhood. ***His loyalty to the Brotherhood has been compromised.***

His Mission—NA

Last seen—September 8, 2008, 26 Moore Street, NYC, 8:12 pm.

Brianna (Brie) Rose

Born: 1982 in upstate NY. Five foot five inches tall, 138 pounds, dark hair, green eyes.

Age—26.

Family History: Father—Frank Billings, realtor. Mother—Anna Rose, deceased.

Personal History: Status—single. Active Relationships—the sisters Tabitha and Sam Rose*, her cousins, and a best friend Alison Monroe, MIT.

Occupation: Brianna Rose* is employed at HCU in Research and Support.

Current status—Missing. Priority Level—1.

Last seen—September 8, 2008, 26 Moore Street, NYC, at 8:15 pm.

Last Updated-September 6, 2007

Aidan

All historical evidence states that the Wolf of Awe was hanged by his political enemies in December, 1502. However, prior to his death his activities were extensive and there have been numerous Sightings of him, as recently as September 8, 2008 in New York City.

Note—Proceed with the assumption that the Wolf may reappear at any time, in any place, and that he has forsaken his vows.

Warning—The Wolf of Awe is unpredictable and extremely dangerous.

*CDA agent or employee ** a Master or otherwise affiliated with the Brotherhood ***evil in any form

Last UPDATED-SEPTEMBER 10th, 2008

Brie

Ms. Rose is believed to have been abducted by the Wolf of Awe and she could be anywhere, in anytime. She has had no PES training. Ms. Rose was recently hospitalised and may be suffering from extreme empathy to her abductor, making her extremely vulnerable. It is believed she does not have the resources to survive in a past era. Her recovery is Priority Level 1.

Tabitha Rose is a practicing witch with some powers; no criminal record. Sam Rose is a classified level 5 CDA agent. Alison Monroe is MIT (missing in time).

*CDA agent or employee **A Master or otherwise affiliated with the Brotherhood ***evil in any form

Last Updated-September 10th, 2008

GUY MACLEOD/THE BLACK MACLEOD

Born approximately in 1190 at Blayde, Scotland. Six foot two inches tall, dark complexion, blue eyes, dark hair.

Age: unknown.

Father, “William the Lion”, the Baron of Blayde, deceased. Mother—Elasaid**, presumed dead, missing since 1201. Mother was a High Priestess of the Brotherhood with great healing powers.

Current status—Unknown. He is believed to have been summoned to Iona to be inducted into the unnamed and clandestine Brotherhood. His status is uncertain.

His mission—NA.

Last seen—December 9, 2008, 4:10 pm, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, NYC.

Tabitha (Tabby) Rose

Born 1979 in upstate NY. Five foot six inches tall, 115 pounds, blond hair, hazel eyes.

Age—29.

Family History: Father—James Comines, deceased. Mother—Laura Rose, deceased. Sister, Sam Rose*, b. 1981. Cousin, Brianna Rose*, MIT, presumed alive.

Personal History: Status—divorced. Active Relationships—sister Sam Rose*, her cousin, Brianna Rose* and a best friend Alison Monroe**.

Occupation: Ms. Rose teaches first grade at PS 106.

Current status—Missing In Time. Priority Level—3.

Last seen—December 9, 2008, 4:10 pm, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, NYC.

Guy

William of Blayde was murdered at Blayde in 1201 along with dozens of his kin; contemporary sources claim political motivations (a clan war). HCU investigators believe Elasaid escaped the massacre, but her whereabouts remain unknown. One daughter survived, Alison (Allie) Monroe**, currently the earl of Morvern’s wife, and a valuable Healer.

Note—It is uncertain if Guy Macleod has taken the holy vows required of the brethren and his appearance in the city remains unexplained. HCU currently believes that Macleod is bent on revenge for the massacre of his family in 1202. +He absconded from the Met with an artefact from the exhibition The Wisdom of the Celts. HCU believes there is vast power in the artefact. Also, on December 8, witnesses claim he was present at the PS 106 hostage crisis.

*CDA agent or employee **A Master or otherwise affiliated with the Brotherhood ***evil in any form +Open investigation.

Last Updated—October 1, 2008.

Tabby

Tabitha Rose is a practicing witch with some powers, the extent of which is uncertain. Her sister, Sam Rose, is employed by CDA, and Brianna Rose was employed at HCU before her disappearance last year. Tabitha Rose is believed to have hidden Guy Macleod from the authorities on December 8; Macleod is believed to have been at the scene of the PS 106 hostage crisis. She has not been seen or heard from since December 9. She is believed to be alive. Witnesses at the Met claim she was abducted against her will. A second Highlander might have been present.

Dangerous demonic entities, possibly deceased or from past times, seem to have followed Macleod to New York City, or, to be hunting Ms. Rose.

ALERT: Agents are instructed to apprehend Macleod and detain him for further questioning. Proceed with caution.

*CDA agent or employee **A Master or otherwise affiliated with the Brotherhood ***evil in any form

Last Updated-October 10th, 2008

IAN MACLEAN, THE BARON OF AWE

Born 1427 in the Highlands of Scotland. Six foot three, fair complexion, gray eyes, dark hair, approximately two hundred and ten pounds. Abducted in 1436 and initially presumed dead.

Age: Unknown.

Father—Aidan of Awe**. A nephew of Malcolm of Dunroch**. Mother—unknown. Status—Single. Occupation—private investments. Primary residence—Loch Awe, Scotland.

Current status—On the Most Wanted Lists of Scotland Yard and Interpol for the theft of various works of art around the world.

Last seen—he is currently residing at 1101 Park Avenue, New York, NY, and was last seen on July 19, 2008, leaving One Hemmer House.***

Alert—He is not one of the Brethren and can be sacrificed for recovery of the page.

Samantha (Sam) Rose*

Born: 1981 in upstate NY. Five foot five inches tall, 138 pounds, dark hair, blue eyes.

Age—28.

Family History: Father—James Comines, deceased. Mother—Laura Rose, deceased. Sister, Tabitha Rose**, b. 1979, MIT. Cousin, Brianna Rose*, MIT. Both women are known to be alive.

Personal History: Status—single. Active Relationships—none.

Occupation: Sam Rose* is employed by HCU as a field agent.

Mission—maintain surveillance on Ian Maclean 24/7 and if possible, recover the page.

Alert-Under all circumstances the page cannot fall into demonic hands.

Last Updated-July 19, 2009

Ian

Ian Maclean was abducted by the demon Moray in 1436, and he was held in demonic captivity for 66 years. All records indicate that he has been highly compromised by six decades of torture and abuse. He is not one of the Brethren. His loyalties remain suspicious. He currently has stolen the page of illusion (from the Duisean) and will sell it to the highest bidder if not stopped by Friday at midnight.

Warning 1—Maclean is unpredictable and extremely dangerous. He has no loyalties and no friends. He has not ties to his family. He has proven many times that he has nothing to lose, not even his own life.

Warning 2—Proceed with the assumption that Maclean has every possible power and will use them against all forces of good and evil to attain his own ends.

*CDA agent or employee ** a Master or otherwise affiliated with the Brotherhood ***evil in any form

Sam

Sam Rose was a vigilante Slayer before becoming an agent at HCU. Her only personal life involved vigilante activities with her sister Tabitha and cousin Brie, both currently classified as MIT, as well as a friend, Allie Monroe, who currently resides in Carrick, Scotland. There is some question as to Agent Rose’s objectivity in her current assignment; records indicate several previous and hostile interactions with Maclean in Scotland last year. However, Agent Rose has yet to fail to accomplish her mission. Agent Rose’s loyalty to CDA is unquestionable.

Note—Agent Rose has an active sexual life. There are no relationships, however. Involvement with Maclean is suspected and must be monitored.

*CDA agent or employee **A Master or otherwise affiliated with the Brotherhood ***evil in any form

Last Updated-July 19th, 2009

Read the complete stories in Brenda Joyce’s The Masters of Time Series:

Dark Embrace—Aidan and Brie

Dark Victory—Guy and Tabitha

Dark Lover—Ian and Sam

(available August 2009)

PROLOGUE

The Future

June 19, 1550

Near Melvaig, Scotland

HE DID NOT KNOW what caused him to awaken.

Guy Macleod sat bolt upright in his bed, his wife’s fury engulfing him. Horror began. Tabitha was rarely angry, but now her rage knew no bounds. He went completely still so that his extraordinary senses could locate her. She was supposed to be in Edinburgh, her sister’s guest. Immediately he knew she was not there—and that she was in great danger.

He would die for her without blinking. He never panicked, but now he fought to stay calm, searching for her.

And that was when he felt the familiar evil.

Black and vast, filled with hatred and malevolence, they’d lived with this evil for two-hundred-and-fifty years. Criosaidh had powerful black magic. Tabitha had equally powerful white power. But Criosaidh had been stalking his wife with growing determination, as if impatient, and with a new boldness recently. Tabitha had scoffed at Guy’s concerns. Now, maybe too late, he knew he’d been right.

He leaped from the bed, his gaze veering to the southern chamber window as he shrugged a leine over his muscular and battle-scarred body. The night sky was still and blue-black, glittering with a billion stars. His stare intensified. His senses sharpened. For one moment, even though Criosaidh’s stronghold at Melvaig was almost a day’s journey away by horse, he thought the night sky there was on fire. It was so oddly bright in the south. But that was impossible.

Or was it?

Tabitha’s power over fire continually amazed him. He had no more doubt now; Tabitha was at Melvaig—and so was Criosaidh.

His alarm vanished, his fear died. He stepped into his boots, leaping as he did so.

He had mastered the art of the leap through time and space centuries ago and he landed upright, dazed but battle ready, in Melvaig’s large central courtyard. The sky above was on fire.

Incredulous, he saw huge balls of fire falling into the bailey. Men, women and children were running for the castle’s front gates, screaming in terror and trying to escape the inferno. For one moment, he wondered if the sun was breaking apart and falling in blazing pieces to the ground, even though he knew better. His gaze shifted. Above the entire stronghold was Melvaig’s tall central tower—and it was an inferno.

Even though stone could not burn, chunks of the gray slabs were falling from the tower, the rocks ablaze, sizzling as they slammed down, only to burn holes into the bailey ground.

Tabitha screamed.

Criosaidh roared in answering rage.

The tower swayed in the fiery night and more blazing stone blocks sheered from it, crashing to the earth below.

They were at war.

He did not have the Sight, but suddenly he experienced the strange feeling his wife so often referred to—déjà vu. He felt as if he were reliving this terrible moment, although he knew he was not.

Only one witch would survive this night.

“Tabitha!” he roared, and bounded to the tower door, leaping to the uppermost floor. As he reached the landing, the heat from the fire inside the tower chamber blasted him, burning his face, chest and hands. He saw the fire scorching a solid wall across half of the tower room. His wife was trapped against the far wall by the flames, which were dangerously close to her velvet skirts.

Horror briefly paralyzed him.

Criosaidh stood on the fire wall’s other side, where the rest of the chamber was untouched by the flames. “You are too late, Macleod. Tonight she dies…at last.”

He had never come undone in battle, not once in almost four centuries. The heat had caused him to crouch; he straightened and flung all of his power at her, enraged as never before. “Ye die,” he roared, but she had wrapped herself in a protective spell, and his power fell harmlessly away from her. As it hit the floor and was diverted to the walls behind her, rock and stone cracked apart.

Macleod looked at his beautiful wife, who was never afraid in a crisis. As their gazes met, he heard her as clearly as ever.

I have known this day would come…You’ve known it, too.

She thought she would be defeated? “No!” he roared at her, blasting Criosaidh again. His life had been an endless cycle of blood and death, his heart had been stone, until she had come to him two-and-a-half centuries ago, bringing joy and happiness with her. Tabitha had saved his life.

Criosaidh smiled as his power was diverted by her spell, again.

“Command the fire,” Macleod shouted at Tabitha.

“I am trying,” she cried. “She has new powers!” Tabitha closed her eyes, visibly straining. And suddenly the fire wall shifted and moved back toward Criosaidh.

Criosaidh hissed in displeasure. Macleod stood very still. His power could not move fire, but long ago he had learned how to use his mind to help Tabitha cast her magic. Now he slipped inside her with his mind. The union always made them stronger—evil had never defeated them when they became one in their thoughts. It could not, must not, defeat them now.

“Fire be hungry, fire be quick. Get the Macleod bitch,” Criosaidh said harshly.

And even as Criosaidh spoke, he saw the tears slipping down Tabitha’s face. She was lost in this battle—and he was afraid it was a terrible portent of the outcome. “No!” he roared, blasting the black witch again. This time, taken unawares, she gasped in pain and was driven back into the untouched wall, but it didn’t matter.

Tabitha went still, eyes wide, as the flames circled her.

He seized Criosaidh, shaking her, wanting to break her. “Stop the fire or die!”

She sneered at him and vanished.

Tabitha screamed.

In horror, he turned—and saw her lavender velvet gown on fire. And then his wife was engulfed in the flames, only a portion of her frightened face visible to him.

I love you…

He knew her so well. It had been two-hundred-and-fifty-two years since he had seduced her in her small loft in New York City and then taken her to Blayde—against her very stubborn will. She was his wife, his lover, his best friend and his greatest ally in the war on evil. She was his partner in every task, both great and small, and she was the mother of his children, the grandmother of his grandchildren. She had taught him love, compassion, humanity. He had never believed in love until she’d come into his life. He’d been ruthless and merciless until Tabitha.

He knew she meant to say more.

Just as he knew these were her last, dying words.

But she did not finish speaking. Instead, the fire erupted, reaching the tower roof, consuming her completely.

“Tabitha!” he screamed.

Then the fire was gone, and there was only the charred ruin of the tower room.

He could not breathe. He could not move. In shock, he stared.

Across the room, upon the floor, he saw the gold necklace she had worn for two-and-a-half centuries, the amulet he had given her. The talisman was an open palm, a pale moonstone glittering in its center.

It had survived the fire, untouched and unscarred; his wife, who had powerful magic, had not.

“No!” He leaped into time.

CHAPTER ONE

The Present

New York City

December 7, 2008

IT HAD BEEN a really quiet weekend. Tabby wasn’t sure what to make of that as she and her sister and a friend stood in line to pass through a security checkpoint at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her sister, Sam, had even gotten off early enough last night to go out to dinner. Tabby couldn’t recall the last time the two of them had been able to go out and have a few drinks and a great meal. It made her uneasy. She was waiting for the ax to fall.

Something huge was going to happen.

She was a Rose, and while she didn’t have the Sight like her cousin, Brie, she could feel the premonition in her bones.

“It is weird,” Sam said, as they filed toward the security inspector. “There were only four friggin’ pleasure crimes yesterday. Not that I’m complaining. But it was Saturday night.”

Although they were sisters, they were as different as night and day. Sam was hard and edgy, while Tabby was soft and classic. Two years younger than Tabby, Sam wore short, spiky platinum hair, had an Angelina Jolie body and the face to go with it. Tabby was used to the attention her sister always received. Every male they passed, young or old, gave her a second glance—male radar gone haywire. Tabby didn’t mind. She knew she was conservative and old-fashioned. Although it was Sunday, she wore a wool skirt, a cashmere V-neck and pearls. She didn’t even own a pair of jeans.

Sam was being gawked at now. The tall, young male turned his gaze to Tabby next, giving her the once-over. Tabby was used to that, too. She was an attractive woman; her sister simply overshadowed her.

“There was not one Rampage, not in any of the five boroughs,” Sam said. “I mean, it’s noon and I haven’t even been called in on a case.”

Tabby knew that her warrior sister, who was an agent at HCU, was bored. Sam was at her best when she was hunting on the city streets. But the Rampages were terrible crimes. Innocent victims were burned, medieval style, at the stake. As eerie as the sudden decline in violence was, she should not be complaining.

“Why are you so uptight? I saw who you met up with at Trenza,” Kit said to Sam, smiling. “She was with Young, Dark and Hot.”

“Very young, very hot and very, very good.” Sam smiled.

“I don’t know why they never have friends,” Kit complained, but she winked at Tabby. She was slim, fair and dark-haired. Tabby had never seen her wear a stitch of makeup—she didn’t have to. Her siren’s face and sensuously buff body hid a brilliant intensity and resolve. Like Sam, her first love was the war on evil. She was one of the most serious and determined women Tabby had ever met, but Tabby didn’t blame her. Her twin sister had died in Jerusalem in Kit’s arms, the victim of demonic violence. Sometimes Tabby thought she might still be mourning Kelly. Kit worked at HCU, too—it was how she’d met Sam.

But Sam said, “He had a friend. You cut out before you could meet him.”

Kit shrugged negligently. “Had to hit the gym and take care of the bod.”

Sam snorted.

Tabby wasn’t sure if Kit was as old-fashioned as she was, or if she was simply too obsessed with work to get involved, but she had known Kit for about a year, and she was pretty certain Kit was as celibate as she was. The joke was a front and they all knew it. It was okay—they both lived vicariously through Sam. A stranger might be appalled by the way Sam used men, but Tabby was proud of her. She was a powerful and gorgeous woman; she was the one to say yes or no; she was the one who did the dumping. Sam would never have her heart broken. She would be spared that.

Tabby was relieved when the slight aching in her breast did not suddenly pierce through her heart and soul. The divorce no longer hurt. The betrayals no longer hurt. It was almost two years since she’d learned the extent of her ex-husband’s lies and adultery. She’d given him all of her love, and she’d meant every word of their marriage vows. It was the kind of woman she was. He hadn’t meant one damned word.

She intended to learn from her mistakes. Randall hadn’t been the love of her life after all. He had been a Wall Street investor—a high roller and a player. He’d cheated on her from start to finish, and to make the cliché just perfect, she’d been the last to find out. She was never going near that charismatic macho type again.

But sometimes, especially recently, she wished she was a bit more like her sister when it came to men. She did not want to even think that she might be lonely or that she needed the kind of intimacy she wasn’t sure she’d ever have again, but the evenings were getting harder and harder to deal with. She’d started dating again, being really careful to go out with intellectuals and artists, but it felt as if she was simply going through the motions. And maybe she was. When it came to dating and sex, she was the exact opposite of her sister. If she wasn’t in love, it wasn’t happening. She didn’t turn on easily, either. Maybe love and passion weren’t in the cards for her. She was twenty-nine already, and beginning to think she’d better focus on her Destiny as a Rose woman.

“You know, I wish you’d let me set you up with the new guy at CDA,” Sam said.

Tabby smiled a bit grimly at her. She’d met MacGregor once, when he and Sam had been leaving the Center for Demonic Activity Agency together. “Definitely not,” she said, meaning it. The agent had had macho written all over him.

“Let her explore the Beta side of life,” Kit said, her eyes wide with innocence. “Who knows? Maybe she’ll find a match made in some kind of odd, metro heaven.”

Tabby felt a pang, but she smiled brightly and said, “That’s the plan.”

Kit sobered and touched her arm. “I’m sorry. I never met Randall and I shouldn’t tease you for going out with his polar opposite.”

“It’s okay,” Tabby said. She smiled firmly. “What’s meant to be is meant to be. Maybe the love of my life is a poet with a Ph.D.”

Sam choked. “Over my dead body.” Then she looked closely at Tabby. “Are you okay?”

Sam always knew when something was really wrong. “It’s still hard.”

“Yeah, it is,” Sam said, and they both knew they were referring to their cousin, Brie. Kit probably knew it, too, but she pretended not to hear them, moving as the line progressed.

The Rose women were special. Each had her own Destiny, tied into the war on evil. For generations, the Rose women had been using their unusual powers to aid and abet good. It had only been three months since Brie had left them to redeem the Wolf of Awe. The year before, their best friend Allie had also vanished. Although Allie wasn’t related to them, they had become friends with her as children. That had been Fate, too—it turned out that she was a powerful Healer. Each woman had gone to embrace her Destiny in the past, because it had been time to do so. That was how the universe worked. It was a fundamental Wisdom in the Book of Roses, which had been passed down through the generations of Rose women.

Tabby missed them both, sometimes terribly, but she was also happy for them because Allie and Brie were hardly alone in the Middle Ages. Their Destinies had included powerful, nearly immortal partners—Highlanders who battled at their sides, as driven and committed as they were to the war on evil. But their absence had left a gaping hole in their lives. Sam had helped fill the void by going to work at HCU, the Historic Crimes Unit of CDA, a clandestine government agency dedicated to fighting the evil preying on society. Sam’s boss, Nick Forrester, ran HCU with an iron fist but he could be counted on to back them up. And so could Kit. But it wasn’t the same without Allie and Brie.

There was no defying Destiny. Tabby’s Destiny was magic. Every generation of Rose women had a Slayer, a Healer and a Witch. She had been practicing her craft since she was fourteen—the year her mother had died, the victim of a demonic pleasure crime. There was one big fat problem, though. Rose women usually came into their powers very, very swiftly once their Destiny was made known. Apparently, Tabby was the exception to that rule. Although she’d been practicing magic since adolescence, her powers were still erratic and, once in a while, too weak to do any good. It simply didn’t make any sense.

But as the Book of Roses said, there was a reason for everything.

Kit said, “After the gym, I went back to HCU. I was digging around in some older case files. That last Rampage has been bothering me. There were only three in the gang.”

“They were doped up on a drug we’ve never seen before,” Sam said quietly.

HCU’s jurisdiction was the past—all past demonic activity, even if centuries old. Because so many of today’s demons came from previous centuries, HCU’s agents worked closely with CDA. Rarely could a present-day crime be solved without HCU’s expertise. Tabby had already heard about last week’s Rampage. A couple had been burned at the stake in one of Manhattan’s most posh neighborhoods. These terrible murders were usually committed between midnight and dawn, with an entire gang present. But it had only been 8:00 p.m. and only three gang members had been there, two males and a female. Were they becoming bolder? Had it even been a genuine Rampage?

The press had dubbed the crimes “witch burnings,” a label Tabby particularly disliked, because the victims were average men, women and children of all ages, races, sizes and shapes. But then, evil rarely discriminated—except, of course, when it came to pleasure crimes. Then the most innocent and beautiful were chosen. The witch burnings had instilled so much fear into the general public that no one seemed to care that seventy percent of all murders were still pleasure crimes. What was really scary was how vicious the gangs of possessed kids had become.

They’d once been ghetto gang members or normal kids gone missing. Evil preyed on them, seducing these gang members, offering them power in return for their souls, and then directing them to commit violence, brutality, bestiality and anarchy. The possessed gangs were out of control, ruling the city streets through fear and might. Gang warfare was no longer “in.” Now the gangs often worked together to hunt down civilians, cruelly and sadistically. Very few “normal” gangs remained in the country now.

“Something’s been bothering me about the Rampages, across the board,” Kit said. “I feel like I’ve missed a really glaring clue.”

“I’ll go back to HCU with you,” Sam decided, “and we can check it out.”

They had reached the security checkpoint. Tabby smiled at the guard as Sam flipped her government ID. Sam’s messenger bag was loaded with weapons, and she carried a stiletto up her sleeve and a Beretta in a shoulder holster. She would never make it through the checkpoint. Kit flipped a similar ID. Although they were government issued, neither Kit nor Sam were Feds, as the IDs claimed. But CDA was so clandestine that only the top levels of the CIA, the FBI and the Secret Service worked with its agents.