Turned- the Inari Council

by Katherine Rhodes

  “A book,” Viloras laughed. “How very human of you.”

  Michael growled low in his throat. “As you've been very kind to point out, she's an infant vampire. She's still mostly human and still thinks like a human. So, a book would be appropriate, don't you think?”

  Viloras looked ticked off. “You're nothing but a pup yourself.”

  Michael bristled. “I've been Hunting since I was twelve. How about you?” He put his hand up, and Sara could clearly see him take control of himself. “I'm not here to argue, or challenge or anything like that. I told you. I wanted to make sure that there were no true demons. I'll make sure that Sara knows what you are, and I'll leave you all alone. Is that fair enough?”

  Viloras took a deep breath and his aura shuttered and calmed. “Acceptable, pup.” He looked at Sara. “You, and your friends are welcome back anytime, by the way. Danielle was removed from the premises not long after you left, and Banned.”

  Sara heard the world capitalized in his speech. She looked at Vilas. “What did she do?”

  “We mean no harm. We merely enjoy a place to be ourselves, as much as that is possible, and we don't ban humans—everydays—from our establishment. What we do Ban are those who try to make a pet or snack out of every breathing thing that comes through the door. If they are willing, then so be it, but your friend was not. To lose a group like yours tonight does far more damage to the bottom line than banning a bitch like her.”

  Sara laughed. “Now that's very human of you.” He flared a little and gave her confused look. “Worrying about your bottom line.”

  Viloras looked like he wanted to be insulted, but seemed to realize she was right and laughed instead. “Perhaps you have potential after all, in—little one.”

  Michael took Sara's elbow and started to lead her away. He stopped and turned back to Vilorasfor a moment. “You're the bouncer at the door... but you're actually the leader of the murder, aren't you?”

  “Not nearly as stupid as you appear, pup,” Viloras said.

  Michael rankled again but stopped himself. “Then, thank you, Viloras. I apologize for being so forward. I trust you understand.”

  Viloras inclined his head slightly, and Michael finally led Sara away by the elbow. They turned the corner, and less than a dozen steps down the alleyway, he put a hand on the wall and leaned on it hard. He turned and put his face against the cool brick. Sara darted over and put a hand on his back.

  “Are you alright?” she asked.

  “Holy crap,” he said, taking a few gasping breaths. “Holy crap holy crap holy crap. I just stood up to a durzon héafod.” He looked at her. “I didn't know if I could do that. I thought he was going to strangle me where I stood.”

  Sara was shocked. He had been so composed a moment before, and now he was shaken to the very bone. He looked at her. “He's right about me,” Michael rolled his head to the left to look at her. “I'm a pup. I'm twenty-five, and in my... our world, that's nothing. Nothing at all. My grandfather was one-thousand thirty years old when he died. Think about that for a second.”

  Sara put a hand on his back. “I'm sorry, Michael,” she said. “I didn't know he wasn't a real demon.”

  “Daemon,” he said, changing the inflection of the first syllable. “In the everyday world, they would call him a demon. Which is very very different from a summoned daemon. What he is is a Hidden One. An Ábeþecian-án.” Obethesheean-on, her brain recorded. “They are creatures from our world who hide in shadow and darkness. Hmm. Hide is a bad word. Exist is better.” He leaned up from the wall. “There are hundreds of different kinds. They are mostly harmless unless bridled by a spell. Then some of them can become mindless killing machines. They are the lesser of the Ábeþecian-án.” He took her arm and started walking her down the alley again, and noticed that his teaching face was much more collected than his warrior's face.

  “But if Viloras is an Ábeþecian-án, can he be... uh... bridled?”

  “No,” Michael said. “The durzon are at the top of the food chain, as it were. Just as smart, or as dumb, as humans. Their true form looks very human.”

  “Do they have... powers? Abilities?”

  “Some,” he said. “They're a little faster than your everyday, a little stronger. They live differently than humans, witches, and werewolves, and they need to feed off psychic energy.”

  “Like I need blood,” she said.

  “Yes,” he answered quietly. “My mother doesn't like that there are durzon in everyday society, but if there's one thing, she's learned over the years it's that not all who have the reputation of killer are killers.”

  “Who is your mother?” Sara asked. “I mean, aside from that steely-gaze person lording over the castle.”

  “Princess Alia Suzanne Bronson Morchause,” he said. “She's the leader of the witches and an advisor to the Council of Arma. She's the most powerful witch alive, and she has a temper. She always has. She’s dangerous when she's mad. The only thing that keeps in her check most days is my father. She has a lot of enemies as well, even with the witch community because she's changed so much that the older witches are angry.”

  “So you're one of her 'brats',” Sara said.

  “I am her oldest son,” he said. “I have three older sisters, and three younger brothers and a younger sister. Because our magic is female dominant, boys never really had a place of high honor in the ranks. She's changing that as well. As her oldest son, and as a son of a Council of Arma Elder, I have become a Hunter.” He sighed.

  Sara didn't say anything. She touched his hand, enjoying the delicious swirling of electricity and lust that the connection gave her. She waited for him to continue.

  “I don't have the steel backbone of my two older sisters,” he continued. “I don't have the connection that the triplets have. I don't have a talent like Nancy, and I was never endearing like Indiana. My father always made me feel loved, but my mother is just confused by me. She mentored me all through school, and I know she's proud of my doctoral thesis, but magically, she just doesn't know what to do with me.”

  “Well, I think that do you have a steel backbone,” she said. “You walked right up to Viloras without hesitating. And what would you have done if he was a real demon?”

  “I would have figured away to put him down,” Michael said.

  “And what would it take to do that?”

  Michael paused. “I don't know,” he said. “We've never had to. I hope we never do.” He looked at her. “There are books in the library that tell us what people have had to do to stop a demon, and it usually involves a terrible price. There are events in history that have happened because someone let a demon out. Someone summoned from Tahat Sheol, and it's a terrible power that should not ever be touched by anyone in our realm.”

  Sara walked along quietly next to him, rubbing her thumb over his hand. He taught her how to exist as a vampire, now she needed to know how to live as a vampire. He was the only one she knew who could teach her, even if they were supposed to be enemies as Viloras had implied.

  “Michael, I want to help you with these vampires you're trying to bring down, but I need help. Danielle threatened Marius and me tonight, and I don't know if I can protect him, or Keelan, if it came down to it. Hunting to survive is fine,” she said. “But I need to learn to protect those around me from me…and others like me. Keelan, Marius, hell even Rayna, the babysitter. If Danielle comes after me, I need to keep her away from those I love.”

  Michael looked at her. “I don't really know what you can do.”

  “Please, then, help me figure it out. Hissing at other vampires with my fangs out isn't going to help you or me in stopping these vampires.”

  “All I can do it is try to show you what I have seen others do,” he said.

  “That's all I need,” she said. “Point me in the right direction. I'm tough cookie who's had a pretty rough life, and I can usually figure it out.”

  He nodded. “When do you want to start?”

  “Afte
r I have a chance to read that book. Because despite what happened tonight in that bar, I rather liked the place.” She smiled. “And they served me Chianti.”

  Three

  She yawned and stretched, and rolled over. She hadn’t slept this well in a long, long few weeks and it felt like she had slept the sleep of the dead.

  Which in a manner of speaking, she had.

  Still, it felt nice to not have the bed bounced on and—

  She sat up and realized it was full dark out.

  She whipped her head around to look at the clock, which told her it was nearly six thirty.

  Keelan.

  She leapt out of bed and ran for the living room, calling his name. The whole apartment was dark, there was no sign of his backpack or him attempting to eat something on his own without waking her.

  “Keelan!” she screamed and ran into his room. Empty.

  The light was blinking on her cellphone. Two missed calls, and one was from the school. “Ms. McNichol, we’re calling to let you know that Keelan was dismissed early per your request. His ride arrived five minutes ago to sign him out, and he requested we let you know. She also said he would be out tomorrow, but we need to confirm that with you. Please call the office at five five five- six two zero zero.”

  “Oh my God,” she hissed at the phone.

  The next message was only an hour after the first, and her absolute worst nightmare. “Little bitch. You fucking whore. Did you think I wouldn’t get back at you for taking my boy toy and getting me banned? You got me banned by a lousy durzon from a bad bar that was just about to run its course anyway. Now, I have this delicious little snack, and unless you come and find me this time tomorrow, and submit to me, he’s dead. And I’m not talking our kind of dead—I’m talking about the human kind of dead. Good luck, darling. I imagine this little thing is delicious and tender.”

  Sara let out a scream like she had never let out before.

  The bitch had Keelan.

  The door whipped open, and Rayna was standing there, looking at her with eyes wide. “Oh my God, Sara! What’s wrong! What was that scream?”

  Sara looked up with tears streaming down her cheeks. “She has Keelan. The bitch kidnapped Keelan.”

  Rayna grabbed the phone out of her hand and started dialing something. Sara shook her head and tried to grab the phone back. “No, no, don’t call the police! Don’t--” Rayna pushed her hand away from the phone and put it to her ear. “Please, don't call the police, please.” Rayna made a 'cut it out' motion and hung on to the phone.

  Someone answered, and Sara wanted to let out a keening wail, but she held her tongue the instant Rayna started speaking. And not in English. She stared at her, shocked speechless. The language was so rapid fire that Sara couldn't even begin to figure out what it was. She nodded a few times with an affirmative sounding word and then pulled the phone away and hung up.

  “Michael and Talia will be here as fast as they can,” Rayna said, handing the phone back.

  “What?” Sara was completely confused. “How did... I mean what did you...”

  “I'm a white witch,” Rayna said. “Michael’s niece Talia and I grew up in Arwinelle's nursery until we were seven. I was floored when I saw her here before Thanksgiving, and we exchanged numbers and have been chatting every since. She told me all about what was going on with you and Keelan. I knew there was something odd, but it all made sense when she told me.” Rayna stood up and offered her a hand. “Come on, stand up.”

  There was a crack in the corner of the room, and Michael and Talia were there. Michael ran over and pulled Sara to her feet. “What's going on?” he asked, very calmly. Sara held out the phone so they could hear the messages themselves.

  Sara started shaking. “I can't meet her anywhere at one in the afternoon, and she knows that.” She wanted to throw up.

  “First thing's first,” Michael said. “We need to figure out where she is. Talia, Rayna, I want the two of you to stay here and check the place out. See if there's anything else. Also take a gander outside and see if there are any signs that we need to know about. Sara and I are going to visit a friend who might be able to help. Call us if you find anything.”

  Talia nodded, and Michael swept them away from the apartment. In the next instant, they were around the corner from the Demon Bar, and they found Viloras on his chair at the door, playing with his tablet. He jerked his head up as they approached, and she saw his aura pull in and dim a bit as if protecting himself.

  She pointed at him accusingly, her anger flaring. “What do you know?!” He looked frightened, and she suddenly realized that she was in full rage, her fangs down and her eyes were probably glowing red. She couldn't even rein it in; Keelan had been taken. “What do you know?!” she snapped again.

  “I told her not to do it” Viloras found his voice. “I told her she didn't want to mess with you. She’s older than you and so removed from her humanity she didn't understand what taking family would mean.”

  “When did you see her?”

  “Two nights ago.”

  “I thought she was banned,” Michael said.

  “She was,” he said. “She's bad for business. But the banning doesn't work when she walks in with someone who invites her.”

  “Who invited her?”

  “The other guy you were here with,” Viloras said.

  “Marius!?”

  Viloras nodded. “From what I can tell, she's got her fangs in him. He's bewitched.” He looked at Michael. “No offense.”

  “Oh my God,” she said. “It's my fault.”

  “No, it's not,” Michael said. “She's after you, not him. She's got him bewitched, and we have to find out where they are. And get him back before the sun comes up. Do you have any idea where she stays, hides out, buries herself in the dirt at night?”

  Viloras sighed. “I don't. But Tommy over there is a great tracker. Danielle's aura is sloppy. She's old enough that she knows what she's doing, but young enough to be cocky. She broadcasts herself like a billboard whenever she's around.” He pointed to Tommy and motioned him over. It was the waiter who had been served them the first night. “Tommy, I want you to help them. Danielle took the kid.”

  “She's an idiot, isn't she?” Tommy said.

  “Yes,” Sara said.

  Tommy looked at her. “Yikes. Tone that down, or she'll find us first when we're looking for her.” He walked back in to the bar for a moment and came back without the apron and a set of keys. “Let's go. I know where she lives, but not where she sleeps. I don't know that she'll be sleeping anyway if she's got the kid.”

  “The kid's name is Keelan.” Sara’s tone was angry.

  “Ok, no offense, I didn't know,” He headed down the street away from their alleyway. He beeped open a red Beemer and climbed in, motioning them to the other three doors. Sara and Michael climbed in, Sara in the front seat and Michael sitting in the middle of the back seat. He pulled into traffic. “She lives up in the new condos. I don't know if she's crazy enough to bring the kid there, but we'll at least start there and maybe find something about where she's hiding.”

  Sara turned and looked at Michael. “Why would she demand I meet her at one in the afternoon when we can't go out in the sun? Is she hiding in a basement? Is she trying to bait me?”

  “I don't know,” Michael said. “How old is she?”

  “Two fifty, or there about,” Tommy said.

  “Not old enough to be immune,” Michael said. “She'd go up like a marshmallow in a campfire.”

  “Great image, thanks,” Sara said.

  “Look, it's only seven now, we've got all night. It's also December, so there's no reason we can't use that time.” Tommy glanced over at Sara. “We'll get him back.”

  “Let’s go talk to Marius.” Sara buckled herself in.

  “He’s not going to remember anything.” Michael and Tommy warned chorused the warning.

  “Let’s try anyway.” She gave Tommy his address, and Tommy shrugged making the next
turn. They were at Marius's house in half an hour, and Sara leapt out of the car and ran to the main door of the apartment building. Tommy and Michael were just behind her and Michael grabbed her arm.

  “Sara, please, please, slow down,” Michael said. “We're going to get him back.”

  “This is my brother!”

  “I know!” Michael snapped. “I understand!” He grabbed her by the shoulders. “I know this is your brother. You have to stay calm. If you don't stay calm, you'll do something rash, and we'll lose him. Please, please, you've got to trust me. I know it's not what you want to hear or do right now, but it's the best way to help him.”

  Tommy nodded. “He's right. Danielle is a bitch of the first degree. Remind me to tell you her story, since she loves to tell us all the time. Look, Viloras likes you. He thinks you're a sweet kid who got a really raw deal. He sent me with you because I know Danielle and I know what she can do. I also know what I can do. And you have to trust us and be patient.”

  Sara took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. She looked at the two men with her. “I'm sorry. He's all I have.”

  “We understand,” Tommy said. “But chill. Let us actually help you.” She nodded, trying to refocus and calm down. He looked at the door. “Now, I'm telling you, if Danielle has her claws in Marius, he's probably not going to remember anything. Don't push to hard. If he can't remember, he can't remember. It's one of their... your abilities.”

  Sara nodded and rang the bell to his apartment. It was a long two minutes, and she was about to ring again when the door finally unlocked and swung open. Marius was standing there in a pair of athletic shorts and t-shirt and looked like hell warmed over. He blinked a few times and his eyes finally came into focus.

  “Sara? What...?”

  “Marius, can we come in?” she asked. “I need to ask you a few things.”

  “Um. Sure.” He opened the door all the way and walked away in a daze. “I need some coffee. I feel really fuzzy.” He walked to the cabinet and pulled out the coffee, and stopped to put a hand on his head. “What time is it?”