Of Blood and Monsters

by D. G. Swank

  He hauled me to an empty holding cell at the end of a long hall full of empty cells and shoved me inside, shutting the door behind me.

  He stood on the outside, his gaze piercing me with so much venom I could practically feel it.

  “Why do you hate me so much?” I asked softly. “What did I do to you?”

  “You did nothing. That’s the problem.”

  He started to walk away, and I stared after him in confusion. What was he talking about?

  Before he could turn the corner, he stopped and abruptly spun around. “Did he beg for mercy?”

  I blinked then cautiously asked, “Who?”

  “My brother.”

  Then he turned and walked away.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Ellie

  “Something’s wrong,” I said, pacing Piper’s living room floor. “I can feel it.”

  “If anyone can take care of himself, it’s Collin,” David said, glancing up from his book.

  I stopped pacing. “I could be worried about Piper and Jack.”

  He gave me an understanding smile, but didn’t call me a liar.

  “They’re back,” Rhys called out from the kitchen, and I raced in there in time to see Jack and Collin walk through the door, each carrying a handle of a large bag. They dropped it on the kitchen table with a loud thud.

  “What took so long?” I asked, looking both of them over for signs of injury, relieved when I saw none.

  “We ran into a little trouble,” Collin said, refusing to look me in the eye.

  Rhys leaned out the still-open kitchen door. “Where’s Piper?”

  Neither man answered.

  “Where’s Piper?” I asked with a sharp edge in my voice.

  “She hasn’t been hurt,” Collin said, finally glancing up at me.

  I put my hands on my hips. “But that doesn’t tell me where she is, does it?”

  “Where’s Abel?” Rhys asked as she closed the door. “His car’s not out there.”

  “I suspect he’s at the police station,” Jack said with a heavy sigh. “A detective showed up at the Cordens’ house. He found Piper in the basement just as she was helping Robert Corden cross over. He arrested her for vandalism and took her to the station.”

  “Vandalism?” Rhys asked. Then her shoulders sank. “If Corden was anything like her ghost last Friday, he didn’t go willingly.”

  “There were wine bottles involved,” Collin said. “Many.”

  I was still reeling from the news. “You two were gone for nearly two hours. What took so long?”

  “I was stuck waiting on the priest,” Collin said, trying to sound nonchalant and failing miserably.

  “And you couldn’t call or text me with an update?”

  He shrugged. “Piper sent me out of the basement when the wine started flying around. She knew she was going to be discovered, but she wanted to finish what she’d started. I got out through a storm cellar door and hauled the bag of swords to the back of the property. I saw no need to get in touch until I knew what was going on. It would have only worried you. We’re here now, and we have the swords and the spear.”

  I couldn’t help noticing he hadn’t brought the spear inside—the bag they’d carried in wasn’t nearly long enough to hold a weapon with that kind of length—but I didn’t call him on it. Not yet. I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Piper had been arrested. “So she’s at the police station now?”

  Collin nodded, his face grim.

  “Hopefully not for long,” Jack said. “Loretta said she didn’t want to press charges.”

  “Why didn’t you call, Jack?” Rhys asked, sounding pissed.

  “I had to wait for a police officer to question me about Piper,” Jack said. “Why we were there. Why she might have gone down to the basement. Why she’d smash nearly a hundred bottles of wine. I didn’t dare call any of you. But like I said, Loretta Corden agreed not to press charges, which means they should be releasing her soon. Abel should be here with her any minute. He was going to the police station to pick her up.”

  We all stood around for nearly a minute, each of us quietly trying to process this unexpected turn of events when Abel walked in the kitchen door.

  “Where’s Piper?” Rhys demanded. “Why isn’t she with you?”

  “If I’d had my say, I would have her with me now,” Abel said, standing outside the open kitchen door. “Detective Lawton is holding her.”

  “On what grounds?” Jack asked in outrage.

  “Does he need any?” Abel asked in a quiet voice that sent a shiver down my back. He rubbed the heel of his palm over his eye, growing agitated. “He made up some bullshit allegation about her running a fraudulent ghost hunting business to detain her. Asshole has every intention to hold her the entire forty-eight hours. My attorney is working to get her released, but it looks unlikely that will happen.”

  “The demons…” I said.

  Abel looked like he was about to spontaneously combust. “I’m going to break her out of there,” he said in a calm voice, but his body radiated violence.

  “You can’t just break her out,” David said, his first comment on the sorry situation. “Let’s think this through.”

  Abel turned his cold gaze upon my boyfriend. “I already have thought this through. The Little People said demons are advancing on Asheville tonight, and Piper is currently locked in a cell, completely unprotected. Okeus could try to take her and she will be powerless to stop him.”

  My stomach tightened with fear. “He’s right. Unless we can surround her with salt or symbols, she’s a sitting duck.”

  “But if Abel breaks her out, he’ll be wanted by the police too,” David said. “Think about the long-term implications, Ellie.”

  “I’m pretty sure Abel doesn’t care about the long-term implications if Piper’s dead,” Collin said dryly as he sat down on a dining room chair. “He’s a fucking demigod.”

  “There’s one more concern,” Abel said. “I made a blood vow to kill her if her life is threatened by demons. If I can’t save her, I’ll be powerless to stop myself.”

  “Why the hell did you make that stupid vow?” Rhys asked.

  His jaw clenched, but he remained silent.

  “It is what it is,” I said with a sigh. “We’ve all done things we regret. That doesn’t matter now—what matters now is figuring out how to get her out of there with as little damage as possible. Or at the very least, figure out how to keep her safe.”

  “We’ve befriended an Asheville detective,” Jack said. “The one who gave me the heads-up about the police discovering the warehouse. Olivia knows what Piper can do—well, not about the creator of worlds thing, but she knows the ghosts and demons are real and dangerous. She’s a believer and I’m sure she’ll help us however she can.”

  “Then call her,” Abel snapped. “But if Piper’s not out by nightfall, I’m taking matters into my own hands.”

  “Worst-case scenario, she can create a world to escape into, right?” Collin asked, perking up. “That’s what she did at the warehouse.”

  “True,” I said, “but she’ll disappear. I’m sure they have cameras in the cells, so how do we explain that away?”

  “Why do we need to?” Rhys said. “If she disappears on camera, it’ll prove she’s legit.”

  “With Detective Lawton, I wouldn’t count on it,” Jack said, but he looked relieved by Collin’s suggestion.

  Abel only looked slightly appeased.

  “We still have to deal with the demons, whether Piper is released or not,” I said. “Which means we need a plan. We should call Tsagasi.”

  “I’m already here,” the little man said, appearing in the doorway into the dining room.

  I stared down at him, trying to temper my irritation. He and his brother had promised Piper an army in exchange for absolutely nothing—okay, in exchange for killing Okeus, which she’d already planned on doing—while I’d had to swear a blood oath to get seven favors from four of th
em. I wasn’t totally surprised. Tsagasi was always quick to remind me that I had yet to use my sword for its intended purpose—to subdue gods—but I was of a mind that it was pointless to use it if I knew I would fail. I’d told myself this wasn’t a contest, but part of me was still pissed.

  “I know you promised Piper an army,” I said. “Where will you make your stand?”

  “My brother promised the slayer an army, and that’s why I’m here. He’s rescinded his offer.”

  “What do you mean he’s rescinded his offer?” Collin demanded.

  Tsagasi looked up at him. “The slayer is locked up. No slayer. No army.”

  “The demons are coming with or without Piper and your army,” I protested. “There will be no one to stop them. You can’t do this. Tsagasi.”

  “It was not my army to promise,” he said. “It is up to Tsawasi.”

  “Then let us talk to him,” Collin said.

  “He’s adamant. No slayer. No army.”

  Collin turned to me, trying to hide his relief. “We don’t have any choice. We need to hide.”

  “That sounds pretty convenient,” Jack sneered.

  “Abel plans to get Piper out,” David said. “Can’t you tell Tsawasi that?”

  “It might not be as easy as that,” the little man said. “Did you stop to think about why she was locked up in the first place?”

  “Because Detective Lawton hates her,” Jack said.

  “Humans are merely pawns in this game. They are not what is important,” Tsagasi snapped.

  “Than what is?” Collin asked.

  “Must I spoon-feed you everything?” he snapped. “The answer is in the attic.” Then he disappeared.

  “What’s he talking about?” Collin asked, turning to face David.

  “I think he’s suggesting the source is supernatural.”

  “And I suspect he’s not talking about Piper’s father’s office,” Rhys said.

  “How do we get into the world in her attic?” I asked.

  We were all silent for a moment, before Abel said, “I might be able to enter.”

  Everyone looked at him.

  “Why are you still standing outside?” Rhys asked.

  His brow furrowed. “I can’t come in without an invitation.”

  I started to speak, but Collin held up his hand. “Do we really want to let him in?”

  “Collin,” I groaned, then said, “Abel, son of Okeus, enter.”

  He swept past us, shooting Collin a dirty look, and headed straight for the living room. The rest of us followed him like he was the Pied Piper. When we reached the door to the attic, he opened it and stood at the opening for a moment.

  “There’s the ward,” he said, staring down at a cotton bag on the second step up. He turned to look at something we couldn’t see beside him. “Can you go up there?”

  “What is he talking to?” I said to no one in particular.

  “Hudson,” Jack said. “He’s telling Abel he can’t go up either.”

  “But Abel didn’t even try.”

  “I suspect it’s more like he can feel it,” Jack said.

  “The priest is right,” Abel said, turning around with a grim look. “I can’t walk in.”

  “I’ll try,” Collin said. “I went in with her this morning.”

  Abel stepped back and made a sweeping gesture toward the stairs, but he looked pissed.

  “First of all,” Collin said in a cocky tone. “You have to remove the ward.” After tossing the cotton bag over his shoulder, he stomped up the stairs.

  I followed him up the stairs, stopping next to him at the top.

  “Damn,” he grunted. “It didn’t work.”

  I glanced around at the office setup. “This was Piper’s dad’s?”

  “This isn’t supposed to be here. It’s supposed to be a kids’ playroom with a little boy.”

  We headed back downstairs and tried it again. And again. And again. Finally, Collin admitted defeat.

  “You were up there earlier,” David said to Collin. “Did you see anything significant?”

  “Like I said, it was a playroom with a kid,” Collin said in frustration. “We saw the demon outside the window.”

  “Do you think that’s what Tsagasi was talking about?” I asked David.

  “It’s hard to say, but I doubt it unless it was a special demon,” he said.

  “Was it special?” I asked Collin.

  His eyes narrowed. “It was a fucking demon that had acid for saliva. What does that tell you?”

  “Nothing much,” Jack said. “There has to be something else.”

  Collin’s gaze hardened. “There was nothing else. Now will you agree to hide? We can’t face an army without Piper, and from the sound of it, she’s not going anywhere anytime soon.”

  “I won’t be hiding,” Abel said in disgust. “I will break her out of that prison, but in the meantime, there might be another way to get into the world in the attic. The seer will likely know. I need to see her anyway, and this will give me the excuse I need to show up at her doorstep.”

  “I’m going too,” I said.

  “No,” Collin barked. “We need to get as far away from this place as possible. If we leave now, we’ll put hundreds of miles between us and the horde of demons.

  “I’m going with Abel,” I repeated in a tight voice, resisting the urge to shout at him.

  Abel shot me a dark look. “I’ll go alone.”

  “I’m coming, Abel,” I said in a no-nonsense tone. “Think of it this way—you might need me. Rumor has it the seer can’t stand you and likely won’t help you, and frankly, I still don’t trust you.”

  His glare would have made a lesser woman cower in fear.

  “Then I’m coming too,” Collin said, sounding pissed. “I don’t like the idea of you being alone with Okeus’s son.” He didn’t have to spell it out for me. Abel was bound and determined to save Piper. What if he tried to trade me to Okeus in her place? Collin gave off a devil-may-care attitude, but he was careful when it came to my safety.

  “I’ll go too,” David said.

  “No,” I said in a firm tone. Someone needed to take charge here, and it might as well be me. “We can’t all go, and I think the son of Okeus and I could use a little bonding time.”

  “No,” Collin protested. “I won’t allow it.”

  “Won’t allow it?” I demanded, getting in his face. “You don’t have a say in this, Collin. I’m going.”

  He started to protest, then stopped, even though he was obviously biting his tongue.

  I turned to David. “We need someplace else to stay tonight. Maybe you can look into it. The sooner we move the better.”

  David nodded. “On it.”

  Abel spoke up, although I could see the reluctance in his eyes. “You can stay at either of my places. I have a loft apartment downtown and a secured home in the mountains about fifteen minutes away. Both places are warded against demons.”

  “How about Ahone and Okeus?” Collin asked.

  His gaze darkened. “The wards keep them out as well. Both places are secured and at your disposal.” He hesitated as though thinking something through, then added, “But first you must promise me something in return.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “What?”

  His face softened and I saw the hint of fear in his eyes. “If something should happen to me, you must promise to stand by Piper’s side. Don’t leave her to face the demons alone.”

  His request caught me off guard. “Are you that worried about your father?”

  “More worried than you know.”

  “Your bargain is a safe house in exchange for protecting Piper?” I shook my head. “I’d stick by Piper’s side, deal or no deal. Even if she weren’t my cousin. She can’t do this alone, and while I know her friends are helping her, they don’t have any supernatural power, even if Jack can see ghosts now.” I remembered Rhys was listening and shot her an apologetic smile. “Sorry.”

  “It’s the tr
uth,” Rhys said, “but I don’t want to be that annoying friend who needs saving. Let me help. Let me come with you to the seer.”

  I started to tell her no, but she’d clearly been through hell and didn’t want to be treated like a victim. Sitting in this house wouldn’t help her, and it wouldn’t help us either. “Okay, but you have to do as Abel and I instruct.”

  I expected Abel to protest, but he gave Rhys a long look then nodded. “Yes. You should come.”

  Rhys looked grateful for his response, but Jack was less than pleased. The thoughtful, compassionate air he usually gave off turned deadly. He pointed his finger at Abel. “If anything happens to her.…”

  I expected Abel to give him crap for challenging him, but he gave Jack a solemn nod. “She’s important to Piper. I’ll protect her.”

  I couldn’t help thinking that he should have protected her out of human decency. But then, he wasn’t fully human.

  I’d do best to remember that.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Piper

  Collin grabbed me before I walked out the door, making sure that we were both alone.

  “Ellie, wait.”

  “You can’t talk me out of this.”

  “I know, but you need to see this.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a dull-gold pocket watch. It was etched with a four-pointed star surrounded by smaller stars.

  I stared up at him in confusion. “You took Daddy’s watch with you?”

  “No,” he said. “I found it at the Cordens’ house. We’d heard the Guardians had one identical to your father’s, and I found it in the case with the swords.”

  He handed it to me, and I was amazed by how similar it looked to one of the watches in the box upstairs.

  “There’s something else, Ellie. Piper could see which swords were spelled to kill demons. She said the watch glowed too.”

  “The watch can kill demons?” I asked in surprise.