Witching Night (After Dark Book 3) Read online

  Witching Night

  After Dark

  Book 3

  Sarah Bailey

  Witching Night Copyright © 2018 by Sarah Bailey

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Please note the spelling throughout is British English.

  Cover Art by Christian Bentulan

  Published by Twisted Tree Publications

  www.twistedtreepublications.com

  [email protected]

  After Dark Series

  Demon’s Destiny

  Vampire’s Kiss

  Witching Night

  Cursed Heart – Coming Soon

  Sign up to Sarah's newsletter for new releases, promotions & giveaways

  You will also receive a free bonus chapter from Demon’s Destiny when you sign up.

  For my fur companion, Smudge

  Although you are gone, you gave me the utmost joy

  By my side when I wrote this book

  You’ll be forever in my heart

  Goodbye my sweet, kind, loving friend

  Contents

  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

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Playlist

  Acknowledgements

  Coming Soon

  Demon’s Destiny

  Vampire’s Kiss

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  There was an insistent pounding on the front door. Grace looked over at her father with some concern. Who could that be?

  “Don’t answer it,” he said.

  She frowned.

  “Why not? They don’t seem to be going away,” she replied.

  “Grace, please, you don’t understand.”

  The knocking became louder.

  Bang. Bang. Bang.

  She got up from the chair, despite her father’s fearful expression and marched over to the front door. She opened it, peering out through the crack at the person who seemed hell-bent on entering her father’s flat. She moved hastily out of the way as the door slammed back on its hinges, her mouth dropped open. Standing there was a bald man, his eyes ringed with red and small horns protruding from his forehead.

  The man shoved his way past her into the flat. She turned in time to see him pick up her father by his shirt and slam him against the wall.

  “You are trying my patience, old man,” he said.

  “Kobal, please.” Her father put his hands up. “This isn’t what you think.”

  “Isn’t what I think? You’ve been trying to weasel your way out of your contract. Did you not think I would find out?”

  “Please, can we talk about this another time?” Her father gestured to her. “My daughter is here.”

  The man her father had called Kobal turned his head towards her. He looked menacing. She shivered.

  “Your daughter, eh?”

  Kobal dropped her father, whose knees gave out as he sunk to the floor, fear in his eyes. Kobal walked over to where Grace was standing and stopped in front of her. He looked her up and down with a smirk and licked his lips. The gesture made her hands shake.

  “You look tasty, girl. Tell me, do you know what kind of trouble your father is in?”

  “No,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. “What do you want with him?”

  He reached out, running a hand down the column of her throat. His skin was much too hot. She was well aware he wasn’t human. He couldn’t be.

  “Your father has a little gambling problem.” Kobal glanced over to where her father was still on the floor. “He made a deal with the Devil. His time will be up very soon.”

  “A deal?”

  She should shove his hand away, but she found herself frozen to the spot.

  “Don’t you know what I am?”

  She shook her head. He dropped his hand, staring at her with a twinkle in his eye.

  “I’m a demon, girl, and your father owes Hell his soul.”

  She looked at her father. There was sadness in his expression. She knew he had problems with gambling, but selling his soul to a demon? That was just about the most idiotic thing he’d ever done.

  “Dad, is that true?” she asked.

  “I’m sorry. I never meant for you to find out,” her father said.

  She turned back to Kobal, who was still watching her with gleaming red eyes.

  “How long does he have left?”

  “Two months. A Harvester will come and if he doesn’t comply, they’ll set the Hellhounds on him,” Kobal replied.

  She stepped away from the demon, going to her father and kneeling beside him. Tears pricked at her eyes. How could he have been so stupid?

  “Dad, why did you do this?”

  “Sweetheart, you know it’s been tough since your mum left.”

  She didn’t want a reminder of her mother. Whenever she looked in the mirror, she saw that face reflected back at her. Their features far too similar. Auburn hair, green eyes and full lips. She almost cursed. Her mother was a sore subject for them both.

  “I know I should stop, but I can’t. When Kobal offered to clear my debts, I jumped at the chance. It was only later I found out his true nature, but by then it was too late.”

  “How long ago was this?”

  “Ten years.”

  “Why are you trying to get out of the contract?”

  Her father looked away from her.

  “I don’t want to die. I’m not ready.”

  Her father was a coward. He always had been, but he was the only person she had left in the world. She’d do anything for him. She got to her feet, taking a few steps towards the demon.

  “Is there any way he can get out of the contract?” she asked.

  “No, not unless he gave up another’s soul in his place. Who would be stupid enough to do such a thing for a weak man like your father?” Kobal said, rolling his eyes.

  She couldn’t ask anyone to do that for him. There had to be another way.

  “Are you sure there’s nothing else I can do?”

  “A deal is a deal.”

  She looked over at her father again for a moment. He was staring at the floor, clearly ashamed and embarrassed.

  “I’ll give up mine in exchange for his.”

  Kobal looked at her with interest, eyebrows raised.

  “No! Grace, you can’t,” her father said.

  “Stay out of this, Dad.” She looked up at Kobal. “You said he has two months left. If you transfer the contract to me, will that still stand?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then do it, so my father can live.”

  A strangled cry came from behind them, but she ignored it. Her fa
ther was an idiot, but she couldn’t let him die. She’d gladly take his place.

  “Fine, doesn’t bother me either way.”

  He closed the gap between them, looking down at her with red-ringed eyes.

  “What are you doing?”

  He was far too close. She didn’t much like anyone being up in her personal space, let alone a demon.

  “You need to seal the deal, girl.”

  “How?”

  “Oh, with a kiss.”

  She shuddered, staring at the demon with revulsion.

  “Fine.”

  Kobal leant down towards her. She flinched at the contact when his lips touched hers for a moment. Something on her wrist burnt. She pulled away from him, holding her arm to her chest.

  “Oh, don’t mind that. It’s merely the contract branding itself on your skin,” Kobal said with a devious smile.

  She brought her wrist down, staring at the strange lettering.

  “It’s a demonic language. Don’t ask me what it says,” he continued. “Untranslatable.”

  She knew she’d regret doing this. She looked up at the demon.

  “Two months?”

  “Yes.”

  He stepped past her, striding towards her father. He looked down at the man with disgust.

  “Allowing your daughter to take your place is cowardly, old man.”

  He kicked her father in the stomach before turning away and leaving the flat. He didn’t even bother to close the door behind him.

  “Grace,” her father groaned.

  She shuffled over and helped him back into his chair. She squatted next to it, looking up at her father’s sorry face.

  “You shouldn’t have done that.”

  “I can’t let you die, Dad,” she replied.

  “My child, you are only twenty-two. You have your whole life ahead of you.” He cupped her cheek. “You deserve more, so much more.”

  A tear slipped down his cheek. She turned her face from his palm, feeling as though she might break in half. She didn’t want to see her father in pain, but he had caused this. If he hadn’t made a deal with a demon, none of this would be happening.

  “You need to find a way to break the contract. I was so close.”

  “I can’t. You heard what he said. There’s no way to break a contract with Hell.”

  “Kobal doesn’t know everything. One of my friends told me there’s a place where supernatural types frequent. You need to go there and ask for a demon called Lukas. He can help you, help us.”

  She sighed. Her father was talking nonsense as usual. She didn’t really believe in the world of the supernatural. Although now she’d met a demon, it didn’t seem so farfetched.

  “What do you mean, supernatural types?”

  “I’ve told you before. There’re vampires, werewolves and the like. This bar, it’s a vampire bar. I’m told they all hang out there, demons too.”

  She didn’t want her soul dragged to Hell. Not really. It could be her father was on to something. It wouldn’t do her any harm to check it out.

  “Okay, Dad. Where is this place?”

  Her father smiled at her, his eyes lighting up. He tugged a piece of paper from the side table towards him and wrote down an address. He handed it to her with a flourish.

  “Thank you. I know you’ll find a way out of this.”

  She stood, stretching her legs. She looked down at the bit of paper. Was her father serious? A bar called ‘Fright Night’? She wanted to smack her hand on her head. Could they be any more obvious? She hardly believed this was really a vampire bar, but she’d go for her father’s sake.

  “All right, I’ll be off then. See you next week.”

  “Grace, sweetie, thank you for this. You shouldn’t have done it but thank you.”

  She pressed a kiss to his cheek before she grabbed her coat and slipped out.

  §

  Grace popped home to change before she made her way to this so-called vampire bar. She stood at the top of the steps, glancing around the quiet street. The red neon sign of the bar stood out in the darkness. She put a hand to her hair, checking her braid was still intact before she made her way down. She pushed open the door to the bar, finding it crowded and noisy after she’d checked her coat. She looked around with trepidation. She wasn’t the social type, preferring to spend her nights in front of her computer.

  She made her way over to the bar, trying not to bump into anyone. There were two bartenders, but they both seemed busy. She waited, standing beside a man with a biker jacket slung over his shoulder and a woman with a crooked nose. She didn’t feel comfortable in places like this. Sweat beaded on the back of her neck. She hated crowds.

  One of the bartenders spoke to the biker guy next to her. It was a tall man wearing a see-through string vest and leather trousers. He had several piercings and spiky, platinum blonde hair. She wrinkled her nose. What on earth does he think he looks like in that getup?

  “What can I get you?”

  She looked up at the woman who’d spoken to her, startled.

  “I…um… a gin and tonic, please,” she replied.

  “Coming up.”

  The bartender started to mix her drink.

  “Haven’t seen you in here before.”

  Why was the bartender trying to make conversation with her? She didn’t much like talking to people she didn’t know.

  “Um… it’s my first time.”

  “Well, welcome. I’m the owner, Neave.”

  Neave wasn’t tall, but she had black hair and a button nose. She wondered why a woman like Neave owned a bar. It didn’t seem to fit.

  “You own this place?”

  “Yes… Say, you don’t seem like the type of girl who’d be interested in coming to a place like this.”

  “I’m not. I’m looking for someone.”

  Neave arched a dainty eyebrow in question.

  “My father told me this is a… vampire bar and I might be able to find the person I’m looking for here.”

  Neave grinned, seemingly nonplussed by her mentioning the word vampire. Grace paled a little when she saw the woman’s teeth. Fangs. Her father had been serious. Unless this was just some stupid trick.

  “I know most of our regular customers. I could point you in the right direction.”

  “Well, thanks. I’m looking for a demon. My father said his name is Lukas.”

  Neave set Grace’s drink on the bar and put out her hand.

  “That’ll be six-fifty.”

  She fished her purse out from her bag, handing a tenner over to the bartender.

  “Lukas, eh? Well, hate to disappoint you, but he doesn’t come around here much these days. Is there anyone else who can help?”

  She let out a sigh. Her father had only told her about this guy. If Neave knew the name, then her father hadn’t been lying. There really was a demon named Lukas.

  “No, but thanks anyway.”

  Neave gave Grace her change with a smile. She noticed Neave’s teeth looked normal again. It wasn’t a trick. Neave was a vampire. She was sure of it. She took a steadying breath.

  “Anytime. You should stick around. You never know who might turn up.”

  “Maybe I will.”

  She moved away from the bar, spying an empty table in the corner. She might as well have her drink since she’d come all this way. She pushed past the various customers and planted herself on the high stool, placing her drink on the table. She glanced around the bar as she hung her bag over the back of the chair. This had been a complete waste of time. At least she could tell her father she’d tried. He couldn’t fault her for that.

  She picked up her drink, taking a sip. At least the bartender mixed a good drink. She didn’t often drink, but she enjoyed a good gin and tonic when she was out. Her flatmates insisted she joined them at least once a month. Amelia said she was too much of a hermit and Josh seemed to think she needed to find herself a man.

  They were both forever encouraging her to talk to strange g
uys in pubs, much to her dismay. They knew she’d never been with anyone before. She’d been an awkward kid and it had carried on into her teens. It didn’t help that her mother left when she was young.

  What was she doing thinking about her mother again? Twice in one day was far too much.

  “You look like you’re lost.”

  She turned at the sound of the voice. Her eyes met a broad chest clad in a white shirt and navy blazer. Her gaze carried upwards to meet a pair of piercing blue eyes. Her breath caught in her throat. Who on earth is this?

  He leant against her table, gazing at her with an inscrutable expression.

  “L… L… Lost?” she choked out.

  “Yes. You. Lost.”

  “I’m… I’m not lost,” she mumbled, looking away.

  “You know, I couldn’t help but overhear your little conversation with Neave. I wonder why you would be after a demon.”

  Why had he been eavesdropping? She frowned at him.

  “Me?”

  He rolled his eyes, frustration appearing on his face.

  “Are you slow or something?”

  Who did he think he was? That was plain rude.

  “No. Why are you even talking to me anyway? I don’t know you.”

  “So, you do have command of the English language.”

  “Look, whatever it is you want, I’m not interested. I’ve had enough shit to deal with today.”

  “What if I told you I can help you with your little problem.”

  She stared at him in confusion. He took a step closer, reaching out and pulling her wrist towards him. He ran a finger over the brand there.

  “Let go of me.”

  “As I thought.”

  He released her hand.

  “I’m Alistair, a witch, at your service,” he said before he bowed.

  Chapter Two

  Grace looked at the man like he’d lost his mind. A witch? That had to be the most ridiculous thing she’d heard all day. Did he really expect her to believe that?

  “Do you fancy getting out of here? I don’t much like the company of vampires,” Alistair said.

  He looked around the bar with disgust written all over his face.