Immortal Unveiled

by Tina Folsom

  Still, for a human, the impact would have been painful; not so for the half vampire. He absorbed it as if he’d been touched with a feather. Just like Grayson seemed to feel nothing when Ryder delivered another blow, this time lower, hitting the arrogant Scanguards’ heir in the abdomen.

  Folding his arms across his chest, Manus leaned against the wall to watch the fight. It was a thing of beauty, he had to admit. Two half vampires punching and kicking each other was like an intricately choreographed martial arts performance. They were agile, strong, and incredibly fast. They also had a high threshold for pain, and neither of the two was inclined to give up first. Their grunts and groans filled the hallway and bounced off the thick stone walls of the old building. At least they couldn’t damage anything here. In a regular house, they would have already left holes in the drywall.

  The sound of footsteps suddenly drifted to him, and Manus turned his head. He saw Hamish running toward him.

  “What the fuck’s going on here?”

  Manus lifted his hand, stopping him. “Nothing.”

  Hamish reached him and stopped, his eyes focused on the two vampire hybrids. “Doesn’t look like nothing to me.” He made a motion to march past Manus, but Manus grabbed his shoulder and held him back.

  “Don’t. They need to have it out.”

  Hamish raised an eyebrow. Then he slowly nodded. “’Bout time, I guess.” He leaned one shoulder against the wall, crossed his ankles, and exhaled. “So, who’s winning? Should I be putting my money on one of them?”

  Manus shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine. They’re pretty equally matched, if you ask me.”

  “Pretty good form too,” Hamish noted. “Light on their feet.”

  Manus gazed at the two Scanguards bodyguards. “Hmm. Not bad. A bit unrefined. But trainable. Give ‘em a few decades, and they’ll be almost as good as us.”

  “Yeah, almost,” Hamish said, smirking. “Shame they’re using up their precious energy on each other rather than on creatures that really deserve it.”

  Both hybrids’ heads suddenly whipped toward Hamish, and they stopped in mid-punch. Their eyes narrowed.

  “Did they just say almost as good as them?” Grayson asked, exchanging a glance with Ryder.

  “I heard that too,” Ryder said, tilting his head and tossing Hamish and Manus an assessing look. “Wanna rephrase that, guys? You should know by now that vampires are physically stronger and faster than you.”

  Manus grinned. “Yeah, vampires. But last time I checked, you were only half vampires.”

  “Yeah, half-breeds,” Hamish tossed in, barely suppressing a chuckle.

  “Maybe we should give them a taste of our strength,” Grayson suggested, “since they don’t seem to know what we’re capable of.”

  Manus knew only too well what vampire hybrids were capable of. They were as strong as their vampire fathers or mothers, yet their human genes made them less vulnerable. Though they could be killed by silver bullets or a stake through the heart, the rays of the sun couldn’t hurt them. But instead of acknowledging that, Manus turned to Hamish.

  “They’re way too easy to rile up, don’t you think, Hamish?”

  “Yeah, barely a challenge,” his compound brother admitted.

  Outraged huffs reached Manus’s ears. He turned his head to look at the two youngsters. “You guys done now? Or do you want to go another round?”

  Both tipped their chins up in defiance.

  “Good,” Manus said. “Then let’s see what Pearce has got for us today. Can’t stand around and play all day.” He turned and walked toward the command center. “And put your fangs away.”

  He didn’t wait for a reply but continued walking, and seconds later, he heard the two guys follow him and Hamish retreat in the other direction. Manus opened the door to the command center. Pearce, their resident IT genius, sat in front of a bank of monitors. He turned his head briefly and nodded.

  “About time. You oversleep or something?”

  Manus marched toward him. “Nope.”

  “Hmm. Got some work for you.”

  The door closed behind the two hybrids.

  “Yeah, an assignment?” Grayson asked eagerly.

  Pearce glanced over his shoulder. “Oh look, the kids are here—” He stopped himself when he noticed their bloodied noses. “Run into some demons on your way here?”

  Manus slapped Pearce on the shoulder. “More like run into some egos.”

  Pearce chuckled and turned back to his monitor. “Figures.” Then he mouthed to Manus Who won?

  I did, Manus mouthed back and winked at his colleague.

  Pearce rolled his eyes, then he pointed to a file he’d just pulled up on the screen. “Got something for you.”

  “Demon activity?” Manus asked, trying to sound casual when he, too, just like the two vampire hybrids, was eager for some action.

  “Not recent. Remember the emissarius that was murdered about three months ago?”

  Manus nodded. Stuff like that was hard to forget. “Nancy Britton? Curator at the Museum of Antiquities?”

  Pearce nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Do we have new leads in her case?”

  Grayson and Ryder came closer, interested.

  “Other than that we know it was a demon? No.”

  “Then what—”

  “It’s about her daughter. She can’t let it go. She’s convinced her mother’s death has supernatural causes.”

  “Well, she’s right,” Manus said.

  “You know that, and I know that, but the Council is concerned that she’s getting too close to finding an explanation that’s actually coming close to the truth. And we can’t let that happen.” Pearce swiveled in his chair. “They figured you could take care of this.”

  “Take care of this?” Ryder echoed and took a step toward them. “Are you saying the Council wants you guys to kill the daughter?”

  “Fuck!” Grayson let out.

  Shocked, Manus stared at the hybrids. “Kill? Are you guys for real?” Then he glanced at Pearce, letting out an exasperated breath. “Would you please tell these jokers what our procedure in cases like that is?”

  Pearce shook his head at Grayson and Ryder. “Honestly, guys, I know that killing is constantly on your minds, and that there hasn’t been some decent demon killing lately, but really…” He sighed. “Anyway, no, we’re not killing the daughter. We’re just sending Manus out to convince her that whatever supernatural cockamamie theory she has is totally loco, so she’ll stop pursuing it and drop the whole thing before it goes viral.”

  “Viral?” Manus asked.

  Pearce looked at him. “Yep, she’s posted all kinds of crap on this forum for paranormal buffs, hoping to get answers. Her description of a vortex is pretty damn accurate.”

  “She saw a demon vortex?” Manus asked. “I don’t remember that from the file.”

  “’Cause it wasn’t in there. The police didn’t put it in the murder book, or at least not in those words. So, we missed it.”

  “Fine, I’ll take care of it,” Manus said.

  Ryder asked, “How?”

  Manus let a smile widen his mouth. “The gift of the gab.”

  “Charm? You think you can talk her out of believing what she’s seen?” Grayson asked in disbelief.

  “Piece of cake.” Manus winked at the two hybrids. “And so you’ll learn something, I’m gonna let you watch.”

  It would be a nice diversion for one day.

  2

  Kim switched off her computer and grabbed her handbag. She hadn’t been so excited and hopeful in months. Finally, a lead! Finally, a light at the end of the tunnel. She could only hope it wasn’t another oncoming train like those other leads that had looked promising at first. But somehow, she had a good feeling about it.

  With a spring in her step, she left her condo, locked the door behind her, and sauntered down the stairs. Midway, she already pulled out her cell phone and navigated to her recent calls, then hit the numb
er for her friend Jennifer. Two rings, and the call was answered.

  “Hey, what’s up?” Jennifer asked.

  “I got news,” Kim said.

  “What?” Some shouting and overlapping voices coming through the line accompanied Jennifer’s question. “Can you say that again?”

  “Where are you?”

  “On the bus. You’ve gotta speak up, so I can hear you. Or do you want me to call you back when I’m in the office after lunch?”

  “No, no! Don’t! I’ve gotta tell you now,” Kim insisted.

  “Okay, shoot!”

  Kim barely knew where to start. “I’m on my way to meet some guy who’s got information for me. He replied to my thread on the forum.”

  “Oh,” Jennifer said, sounding a little deflated. “For a moment there I thought you were going on a date.”

  “A date? Why would I go on a date?”

  She had no time for men. Particularly not if they turned out to be like Todd, her ex-fiancé. She’d thought he’d be supportive after her mother’s death, helping her find the killer when the police had practically given up. But he’d dismissed the phenomenon she’d seen the night of her mother’s murder, trying to convince her it was the result of the shock she’d suffered. After all, the police hadn’t taken her seriously either.

  A botched burglary had been their guess. For a few weeks, they’d followed all the leads, checked out her mother’s friends and co-workers at the museum, but they’d found nothing. The case had gone cold.

  When Todd had sided with the police and begged her to accept what had happened and stop chasing a phantom—as he’d called it—Kim had broken off the engagement. She couldn’t be with a man who didn’t stand one hundred percent behind her.

  “Just saying,” Jennifer said. “So, what does this guy claim to know?”

  “He said he’s dealt with the same phenomenon before.” There, if that wasn’t a step in the right direction.

  “Dealt as in how?”

  Kim shrugged. “Not sure. He said he needed to explain everything face-to-face. He suggested we meet.”

  “You’re not meeting him at his place, are you?”

  “Of course not!”

  “Did you give him your address?”

  “I’m not stupid, Jennifer. I’m meeting him at a busy coffee shop. That’s why I’m calling you, so you’ll know where I am.”

  “Good girl.” Jennifer sounded satisfied. “Which coffee shop?”

  “Auntie’s Java Shop on Main.”

  “Good. If you don’t check in with me in an hour, I’m calling the cops,” her friend said.

  “Make that ninety minutes. I first have to get there.”

  “Okay, ninety minutes, and not a minute longer. And if it’s some creep who thinks he can take advantage of you because you’ve seen weird stuff, then run. There are all kinds of weirdos out there, particularly on that forum. It attracts the worst kind of people.”

  Kim sighed. This wasn’t the first time they’d had that conversation. “Just because these people have seen stuff they can’t explain? I’m one of those people. Would you call me a weirdo too?”

  “You’re the only normal person on that forum. That’s why I’m telling you to watch out.”

  “I will.”

  “Good, and oh, almost forgot: what’s the guy’s name?”

  “Manus.”

  “Manus what? No last name?”

  “I didn’t give him my last name either.”

  “Okay then. Call me in ninety minutes or I’m mobilizing the troops.”

  “Thanks, Jennifer.”

  “And Kim?”

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t expect too much. I don’t want you to be all crushed again when it turns out that this guy doesn’t know anything useful either. Promise me that.”

  “Promise,” she said quickly and ended the call before Jennifer could say anything else.

  Still, Kim couldn’t tamp down her excitement. She had to continue believing that she could solve her mother’s murder. She owed it to her. And she needed the closure because even three months after her mother’s death, the pain was as raw as on the first day.

  ~ ~ ~

  Manus recognized Nancy Britton’s daughter the moment she entered the coffee shop though the picture in her file didn’t do her justice: Kim was no woman to be overlooked. She was beautiful in that mysterious way that could drive a man insane. Not him, of course, because he’d had plenty of beautiful women and considered himself immune to their charms. Sure, he’d fuck them, but that didn’t mean they could lure him into a relationship.

  No, not even the thought of looking into those sky-blue eyes and feeling that black hair caress his face while she rode him into oblivion would make him reconsider—no matter how hard his cock was growing under the table just by thinking of the possibility of passing time with Kim between the sheets.

  Fuck, this was bad!

  Manus shook his head. Better cool down. He was here to do a job, and he would do it. And nothing more.

  Making sure his jacket covered the front of his pants, he rose and waved to Kim. She’d told him that she would be wearing a red top, so he pretended to recognize her by her clothing.

  She looked at him, hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked toward him. She stretched out her hand. “Manus?”

  “Kim?” He took her hand and shook it, then released it quickly before the touch could reignite his cock.

  He motioned to the chair opposite his. “Thanks for coming.”

  When she sat down, Manus took his seat again and rested his folded hands on the tabletop. For a moment, there was an awkward pause.

  “I’m so glad you replied to my thread on the forum,” Kim started. “I have so many questions.”

  There was definite excitement in her voice, and for a second, he regretted that he would have to squash that glimmer of hope that it represented. But it was for the good of his people, and first and foremost, he had to protect his race.

  “Yes, I’m sure. But before I answer any of your questions, do you mind telling me in more detail what happened and what you’ve seen? I want to make sure we’re on the same page and actually talking about the same phenomenon.” He pasted a smile on his lips, making sure to look open and receptive so she wouldn’t suspect that he was about to deceive her.

  “Yes, of course, sure. Uh, where do I start?” She appeared a little nervous. Her face was flushed. “It’s not easy for me to talk about it. You know, losing your mother, losing her in such a violent way… there aren’t the right words to describe that.” She stared right at him. “Do you understand?”

  Manus understood only too well. The pain of losing a parent never vanished, no matter how many years passed. He put his hand on her forearm before he knew what he was doing. He felt a tiny jolt, but then Kim smiled at him, and their eyes locked.

  “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “How long has it been for you?”

  Manus’s chin dropped. How could she know? “Many years.” Too many years to count.

  “Does it ever get easier?” she asked.

  He felt the connection, the shared pain, and shook his head. “No, but you learn to live with it.” Then he pulled his hand away and broke eye contact. He couldn’t get drawn into whatever this connection between them was. Because if she kept looking at him like this, he wouldn’t be able to lie.

  Quickly, Manus cleared his throat. “On the forum you said that you saw a storm-like phenomenon on the night of your mother’s murder,” he prompted her to bring her back on target.

  Kim straightened in her chair as if to steel herself to withstand the painful memory. “I heard some noise from downstairs.” She motioned with her hand to explain. “I was upstairs taking a shower when I heard sounds. You know, as if stuff was falling on the floor, furniture being turned over. So, I called out for my mother and ran downstairs.”

  Her breathing was accelerating.

  “I reached the living room, and that’s when I saw it.” She
spread her arms, making a circular motion. “It was massive. Like a tornado, only it wasn’t vertical. And it was right inside the house. A swirling mass of dark air and wind. Like a black hole that would suck you into its depth if you got too close.”

  “Hmm.” Kim was describing the demon vortex perfectly, only it wasn’t a black hole but an entrance into the Underworld. “What else did you see?”

  “A leg.”

  “A leg?”

  She nodded, her expression serious. “Somebody was stepping into that thing, that vortex, you know, but I’d just missed him, so all I saw was his shin and foot as he disappeared. And then that phenomenon closed. It got smaller and smaller and just vanished.” She swallowed. “That’s when I saw my mother on the floor. The vortex had obstructed my view of her. She was already dead when I got to her.” A wet sheen covered Kim’s eyes now, and she sniffled, then pulled herself together. “I couldn’t do anything to help her.”

  He nodded. He understood helplessness. “What did the police think happened?”

  She shrugged. “They believe it was a burglar. But how can it be a burglar? Nothing was stolen.”

  “Nothing at all? But didn’t you say that furniture was turned over? Was somebody looking for something?”

  She gave him an odd look. “Why does that matter?”

  Manus sighed. “Everything matters. As an investigator, I have to look at everything to see what’s important.”

  “Investigator? You’re an investigator? You didn’t mention that.”

  He quickly gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry, I meant to introduce myself properly, but somehow we got right onto the subject matter, and I didn’t get a chance.” When she nodded, he continued, “Yes, I’m a private investigator, and I deal with all kinds of weird occurrences. That’s why I replied to your thread. Because I’ve dealt with something like your case before.”

  Kim leaned forward. “So, you know what this is?”

  “I think I do.” He hesitated. “But I need to confirm a few more things. So, would you mind answering a few more questions, just so I can be sure?”