Kayla pulled the stake out of the wooden door and turned, resting her back against the wall.
"You bitch," Carolyn screamed in fury and scrambled to her feet. "I'll rip your face off!"
"Sit down," Roland said calmly.
"Who the hell do you think you are, Habib? You can't tell me what to do."
Roland took a step forward, his eyes blazing. Carolyn took a step back, still attempting to look defiant but failing.
"I said sit down," he repeated quietly.
This time, she did as she was told. She sat down on the couch, seething.
"What can we do? It's only a matter of time before they bust through that door," Grace asked, obviously scared and on the verge of crying. "We made a stunning potion, but it only works for a few seconds at most."
"The first thing you need to do is to calm down, Munchkin. You are projecting pretty hard. Even I'm feeling it," Kayla said as she put a hand around Grace's shoulder, attempting to comfort her daughter.
"Sorry," Grace said, taking deep breaths to try to calm herself.
They all slowly turned back to the sofa when they heard the maniacal yet quiet laughter. Carolyn sat there with her hands still bound, chuckling to herself wildly.
"You are all going to die. You are all going to die and then I'll get the power. I'll be able to come back for good, and I will be her mother."
"Who is her?" Kayla asked, stepping toward her mother.
Before Carolyn could answer, there was a loud bang against the front door. That was followed by another, and then another as the monsters took turns trying to knock the door down. Their howls and taunts only grew louder.
"Come out, little pigs. We are going to eat you alive. We'll take that baby and eat it for an appetizer. I'll use its bones to pick my teeth."
The door made a cracking sound as it started to give way. Kayla and the coven members took a defensive stance in anticipation of their entrance. Roland placed a hand on Grace's shoulder, attempting to lead her away from the coming scuffle.
"No. I have to help," she yelled, pulling herself free of his grasp.
"What can you do, Grace? If they need a telepath, or a potion, they will call you. You musn't put yourself or your baby in danger," he pleaded.
"Is that you being concerned, or are you speaking for your master? Do you even give a shit about me, or is it just that you want to deliver my baby to whatever monster owns you?" She hissed, hoping that whatever feelings he might have were at least slightly wounded.
He simply looked her in the eyes, was although her words had obviously stung. Grace watched as a blue glow emanated from his body. It was the same glow she had seen in his office when he was so angry with her. She took a step back, fearing the worst. After a moment, the glow subsided and Roland took a seat, seemingly exhausted.
Grace had no idea what to make of the events, but she had to worry about helping her family, not Roland.
Another sharp crack from the door put them all on edge again. Kayla stepped forward and pushed the bookshelf from the hall to the front of the door, hoping it would at least delay the inevitable. She didn't trust her magic completely in this body, and using it could cause problems for Harry when he got back to himself. She wanted to be as careful with her current vessel as possible.
The shelf rattled as the lock on the door gave way. Kayla stood with her family and waited for the rush of teeth and fur to come at them full force. What she heard was a car horn honking in the distance. Everyone in the room shared her bewilderment, except for Roland. He sat in his chair with what looked like a slight smile on his lips.
As the car engine revved forward, the pounding at the ruined door slowed.
"What the hell?" Kayla heard one of the vampires cry out.
That cry was followed by a pained yelp from one of the wolves. The other monsters snarled while they moved away from the front door and toward the unseen attacker. Mooney ran to the window to try to see what was happening outside. A smile spread across his face as he turned back.
"You guys have got to see this."