by Sandra Kaye
“It’s noon, and he isn’t eighty. He is a young hot man. Besides, there’s this new invention you may have heard of. It’s called voicemail,” Seslie teased.
“Haha, you’re so not funny. I can’t call with you listening. I’ll feel like an idiot.”
“Why not? You’re just going to tell me everything later. This way you don’t have to repeat yourself,” she reasoned.
She was right, but I still couldn’t make the call. I was too self-conscious. I’d wait until I was alone. At least then only he and I would know if I made a fool of myself. “While that may be true, we need to focus on one thing at a time and right now it’s the Leon issue.”
“Chicken. I’ll let you off for now, but I still want the dirt when you do call, and it better be soon. Guys like that aren’t alone for long.”
I hated to admit that she was probably right. A girl could dream a guy like that only wanted me. “Maybe,” I laughed. She knew me too well. “I will. As always.”
We arrived at Gran’s a few minutes later. The ride was so much better with company.
Henry met us in the drive. As soon as the car was in park, he pulled Seslie out and wrapped her in a huge hug.
“About time, little girl. You have been away too long,” he chastised while walking her around to greet me with the same treatment even though I had just been there a few days prior. That was the way with Henry. He always made you feel welcome. Unless, of course, you were male and wanted to date us when we were teens. Then, he had been a horse of a different color. We may have lost our parents when we were young, but between Gran and Henry, we weren’t without a mother and father figure.
“Sorry, old man,” Seslie taunted. “Classes have kept me busy lately.”
“Are things going well? Are you keeping your grades up? That boy isn’t distracting you too much, is he? I’d hate to have to teach him a lesson.”
“My grades are fine. You know I’ve always taken my studies seriously, and Gabe is not distracting me. You just leave him alone,” Ses stated with a stern look.
Henry had always treated Seslie like she was his baby girl, and no one was ever going to be good enough for her. I, on the other hand, just never told him about any boys, so he thought I was still his sweet princess, or that’s what he pretended. If that was the case, I was okay with it.
Gran greeted us at the door with more hugs and a kiss to each cheek. Everyone settled in the living room and spent a few minutes catching up with Seslie. With school, she didn’t get home as much as I did. Even though she did talk to both on the phone at least weekly, it just wasn’t the same. I stayed quiet for the most part, allowing them time to chat. Once they were done, Gran moved on to why we were there.
“I spoke to Emon and he did give me a few books he thought would be helpful with your research, but he asked that you allow him a few minutes to talk to you when you were here.”
“Of course, we will always make time for Emon. But can I ask, is this as the chief elder or as himself?” I had to ask. The two were very different. As the chief elder, he could forbid us to share the knowledge he was imparting, and we would have no choice but to comply. As Emon, chances were he would just want to catch up, since it had been many months since last seeing either of us. The tribe was a very close-knit group with everyone looking out for each other. Gran’s reply was not at all helpful. “You can ask him yourself,” she stated as Emon walked through the door forgoing a knock.
“Analese, Seslie, so good to see you,” Emon stated. He entered and sat near Henry.
“Good to see you, sir,” Seslie stated.
“Yes, sir. Nice to see you again,” was my reply.
“Emon is fine, ladies.”
Emon was a very nice man, both as the chief elder and as the man we’d known growing up. However, neither of us had ever called him anything other than sir or elder. Even now that we were adults, we both just smiled.
“Gran said you wished to speak with us while we were here. What can we do for you?”
“It’s more what I believe I can do for you,” he started. “Your grandmother has requested information on Raven Mockers on your behalf. She stated you believe this may be the creature attacking newborn vampires and taking the hearts?” he questioned.
I looked to Seslie to make sure she didn’t mind me answering. When she nodded, I answered with what we knew. “We aren’t certain what is responsible. That was just the only thing so far that we could not
rule out, so Gran thought you and the elders’ library might be of some help.”
“I see. In that, she is correct. Though, there is not a lot known about the Raven Mockers.”
“Wait,” Seslie said. “You said Mockers. As in more than one?”
“That’s correct. To summon the Raven Mockers one must first strike a deal with Kalona. Kalona is a god that preys on the weak. His Raven Mockers are his tool. A bargain with Kalona will grant the summoner use of the Raven Mockers or control over them. Though, while Kalona is said to be a god, some believe him to be more of a devil or demon. He is not to be trusted. If the summoner is not exact in the wording of the bargain, he or she will find themselves as collateral damage, so to speak. Therefore, not many survive their bargains.”
“And how do you kill a Raven Mocker?” I questioned. Because, let’s face it, that was the big question. If Kalona and his Raven Mockers were responsible, we needed to know how to eliminate them.
“Simple, kill the summoner,” he stated.
Well, sure. That would be simple if we could figure out who that was. If not, we’d be in big trouble. We couldn’t take on a god. “And if we can’t find that person?”
“That, my child, is not an option. If you can’t find the summoner, they will kill until he or she is dead.”
“What about the bargain?” Seslie questioned.
That was exactly my question.
“Remember I told you if the wording isn’t right, they will become collateral damage?” We both nodded our heads in response.
“Then the Raven Mockers will continue to kill until the summoner is consumed by Kalona.
Depending on how strong that being is, it could be a long killing spree,” Emon finished.
“So, these Ravens will continue to eat the hearts of newborn vamps until this Kalona consumes the summoner's power?” Seslie asked.
“Not only newborn vamps. Once your guilty party is too weak to control them, they will take the heart of anyone. Human and supernatural alike.”
This was bad. So very bad. Now I understood why Gran was so concerned. “Is there a way to rule them out?”
Emon handed me a folded piece of paper. “Here is a spell that should do just that. You will need access to one of the victims, but if you can get to one and do this spell, you can be sure. Beyond that, I can’t really help you with finding the person responsible. Though, you ladies have done well in finding the guilty before. I trust you can do this, too.”
While it was great that he had confidence in us, this sounded a lot harder than tracking down and locking up some rogue supernaturals who were trying to expose the supernatural community to humans.
“We’ll do our best,” Seslie finally replied.
The trip home was quieter with both of us in our own world. I knew that I had to talk to Leon ASAP, so we could find out not only where to do the spell but also demand he listen to reason and stop all further transitions.
With what Emon said about Kalona and his Raven Mockers, it was a good guess that whoever was behind the deaths was after Leon. I figured it could be someone else in the vampire hierarchy, so that seemed the logical place to start. I tried calling the vamp headquarters multiple times on our drive back with no luck. It was just reaching dusk as I reached the edge of town, so I decided I’d just drop by after dropping Ses at her place.
Chapter Nine
Once Seslie was safe at home, the trip downtown was brief. By the time I pulled in, it was nearly dark out. I parked in the middle of the empty museum parking
lot, so that I wasn’t hard to see walking to the door under the old capitol building. I wanted to surprise Leon, not the guard at the door; that would be a bad idea if the guard didn’t know me.
Sure enough, I didn’t recognize the guard at the door. He was a scrawny little man who didn’t really fit with Leon’s normal guard type. Nearly all his men were shifters and looked like they doubled as brawlers during their off hours. This guy was, well, average. Maybe five feet five inches tall, with no real muscle to be seen. He had reddish-orange hair, and he was wearing a cheap suit and tie. If Leon was going a new direction with this guy, it wasn’t one that would keep people away. Heck, I bet I could take this guy in a one-on-one fight without my magic. As I got closer, he tracked my movement with his dark, beady eyes. I said hello as I reach close enough to be sure he would hear me even if he wasn’t a shifter. He didn’t reply, just followed my progress with those cold eyes. As I came to a stop in front of him, he didn’t say anything, only continued staring at me. If he was trying the strong silent type, he was missing part of the equation.
Since it seemed he was content to just stare at me, I decided to talk first. Maybe that would get the ball rolling. “I’m Analese. I’m here to see Leon,” I stated with my most professional smile plastered on my face.
He looked me up and down, then stated, “You're not on the list.”
I tightened my smile and said, “I didn’t realize Leon’s club had become so exclusive or I’d have made a reservation. If you could please just let him know I’m here, I’m sure he will want to see me.”
He continued to glare at me. This visit was starting off great. Not! “Listen, new guy, Leon will want to see me. Just check with him. I’ll wait!”
“No need. If you’re not on the list, you don’t get in,” he stated with no change in his gaze.
That was it. I had used all my good humor and then some on this guy, and I wasn’t in the mood for any more crap. “Now, listen here! I know you have a job to do and you don’t know me, but I can assure you that I have business with Leon. He will want to see me. Now, if you could just let me in? Or, I can wait while you get someone who has a clue.” That seemed to get his attention, and not in a good way, but I now knew what he was, even though I still didn’t know who he was. His eyes flashed blood-red when he got pissed at me, so vampire it was, and he must have been an old one if he was up at such an early hour.
“Look, lady, I don’t want to have to remove you, but I will. If you want to schedule an appointment, then next time I will gladly let you in.”
By that point, I was more than a little pissed-off. Vampire or not, I was over his shit. “Yeah, no worries. I will call right now then we will see who needs an appointment, new guy,” I sneered as I started dialing Teddy’s cell. I knew my chances of getting Leon on the phone weren’t great, since he hadn’t called me in over a week-and-a-half, even after he had wanted updates.
“It won’t help for Leon or his men to vouch for you, because he doesn’t give my orders. For the last time, you need to be on your way. Now!”
The shock on my face must've been apparent, because his smile was quite smug. I reluctantly turned towards my car and noticed there was someone standing by it. From that distance, I couldn’t be sure who it was and wasn’t giving anyone the chance to get a jump on me, so I prepped a knockback spell just to be safe. As I got closer, Teddy’s form came into view through the darkness. Guess that told me why he didn’t answer his cell. Since I knew he wasn’t a threat, I absorbed the power. Of course, the look on Teddy’s stoic face had me second-guessing whether that was the wisest idea. I was not greeted with the easy smile that he was so well-known for. In fact, he looked downright pissed off. Not a look I could ever pair with the cuddly friend I’d known since primary school. Obviously, there was something fishy going on if he looked like he would like to rip someone's head off and with the 411 I got from the dweeb at the door.
Something told me I wasn’t going to like whatever it was. When I reached Teddy, all he said was “Let’s go for a ride.” Then, he rounded the front of my car and waited for me to hit the unlock button, so he could climb in. As I started the car and fastened my seatbelt, I look to him for direction. “Let’s find somewhere quiet for a bite to eat and a drink.”
I left the parking lot, heading toward a quiet bar and grill on the north side that served great appetizers. The trip was quiet with neither of us talking. Teddy was quiet until after we were seated, had placed our order, and had our drinks in hand. Finally, he broke the silence by stating, “So, did you like the new door guy?”
That was the last thing I thought I’d hear. Before I could think about it, I laughed, long and loud, which made him smile, showing a glimpse of the friend I was accustomed to. “Not even a little,” was finally my response once my laughter was under control.
My outburst seemed to be what he was looking for, and he smiled, revealing more of the guy I knew so well. “Yeah, I knew it wouldn’t go well when I saw you pulling in, but I figured I’d let you have a go at him. Truthfully, I was hoping he would rile you enough that you might just blast his ass,” he confessed.
I giggled and told him “Well, in truth, I wanted to the way he was giving me the damn run around. But when he told me Leon wasn’t the one giving orders anymore, I was so shocked that I wasn’t sure what to do. However, if it makes you feel better when I turned and saw a large man standing by my car, I almost blasted you,” I teased.
“Well, great. And here I was hoping that little prick would be the focus of your wrath and it was nearly sweet little me.” He smirked.
“Oh, yes. Poor, sweet little you. But seriously, though. What the hell is going on? You're not at your post, the dweeb is, and Leon’s no longer in charge. Nothing about that makes any sense.”
“Truthfully I don’t know the whole story.”
“Then give me the part you do know,” I demanded. Because all joking aside, new vampire management could be a big issue. As supernaturals, we needed to be able to work together against the humans. As a whole, we were vastly outnumbered, and a change in leadership of one of the bigger groups in our area could be cause for alarm, since new almost always equaled change.
“Don’t get your knickers in a twist. That’s what I was planning. This afternoon when I arrived, there was another runt like the one you dealt with on the door instead of Cooper. He gave me a run-around, making me show my ID and everything before I could even sign in for my shift. As if that wasn’t a big enough hassle, when I got to Leon’s office for check-in and assignment, some other guy was not only in his office but at his desk.”
When I started to ask a question, he continued, “Calm down. I’ll get there, girl.” That earned him a one finger salute. Laughing, he continued, “The new guy is Pierce. He’s from England, I think, if his accent is real. The queen there’s second-in-command, from what I’ve heard. He has been here for nearly two months. We were all told he was here to train with Leon, because her highness was planning to give him an area in her district to govern. Guess now we know that was bullshit. Anyway, tonight he tells me he’s the new top dog and he only puts his men on the door, so he keeps things under control. When I told him I was the night guard and had been since Leon became King of Illinois, I was informed that Leon had stepped down, and if I wished to continue my employment with the England Vampire High Council, I would have to accept reassignment.”
When he didn’t continue, I asked, “And what did you get reassigned as? Or do I even want to know?”
“Bleeder. That is the only job offered to any shifter previously on Leon’s payroll,” he stated through clenched teeth.
I’m sure my mouth was hanging open at that revelation. Shifters would never be food for a vampire. Heck, until a hundred years ago, they were enemies. In some areas, they still were. Now that I was thinking, I wasn’t sure if England was one of those areas, but if I had to guess based just on the information Teddy had just given me, it was a good bet. “Oh, my goddess. I’m so sorry.
What are you going to do for work now?” I asked.
“For the time being, I’m not,” he stated. “I’m set on cash for a while. In fact, that’s why we are here. We want to hire you. We all know there is no way Leon stepped down from his post without a fight. I need you to help me figure out what the heck is going on and fix it if possible.”
“Just who are ‘we’ and what are you hiring me for? I can’t imagine you have much use for my spells or potions and, as stellar as my nursing is, you seem quite fit.”
“Well, no. And thanks, I think, but you do have a great deal of power. Plus, you know many people that could come in handy when it comes to getting Leon back in his rightful place,” he stated cryptically. I waited for him to finish answering my other question. Finally, he continued. “‘We’ would be me and a few of the other shifters and weres that are loyal to Leon and the way he does things. We want you and Seslie to investigate and find out what’s going on with the missing hearts, as well as help us get Leon back in control of Illinois. And if you stumble across the missing elders along the way, that would be an added bonus, since they are all loyal to Leon.”
“Well, first, I had no clue you knew about the hearts and missing elders. If you knew, why were you so free and loose with the information you gave to Seslie?”
“Because I knew something was going on after Leon had you girls over the other night, and it was only logical to think he’d asked you to look into the deaths. Plus, after you left, he placed all transitions on hold, but then we were sent out to clean up two more incidents like the others. Yet, those times, there were also dead shifter guards missing their hearts. Leon was pissed. He and Pierce spent hours behind closed doors after that. Everyone knew something was up. Now, Leon is gone, and Pierce is overseeing things for the EVC (England Vampire Council). Last I knew, Illinois wasn’t part of England.”
I spent a few minutes thinking about what I wanted to say as the waitress delivered our food and got us new drinks. After she left, I finally replied, “Wow, that’s a lot to take in. You do realize Ses and I were only looking into this for Leon as a favor and to possibly keep the Paranormal Council from getting involved?”