by Tina Folsom
“He’s at HQ. I’m supposed to go there too, so let’s get down to business.” She pointed to her dress then motioned to the open arch that led into the living room. “Take a seat.”
Manus followed the invitation, sitting down on the couch, while Kim did the same. Virginia sat down in an armchair facing them.
“Since we’re all under time pressure here, let me get to the point. Logan already filled you in on the background: the demons are looking for an item that was previously in the possession of an emissarius, Nancy Britton, Kim’s mother.”
Virginia nodded. “I’m sorry for your loss, Kim.”
“Thank you.”
Manus continued, “We don’t know where this item is now. But we have reason to believe that whatever it was, it’s written in old Celtic. The translator who was sampling it to give Nancy an idea of what it is was murdered by a demon. Most likely to make it harder for us to find out what it is. But we have Winter.”
“Yes, Winter,” Virginia said.
“She was able to force a vision related to Nancy. We now have reason to believe that the item is a book that belongs to you.”
“To me? But if it’s one of my books, then it can’t possibly be lost.”
“I can only tell you what Winter saw: a book with an inscription reading To my wonderful daughter, our future warrior, Virginia. Your father.”
For a moment, there was silence so thick that a pin dropping could have been heard in the room. Virginia stared at him, eyes wide, mouth agape.
“You’re saying Nancy Britton had that book in her possession?”
Manus’s heart began to beat excitedly. “You recognize it?”
Virginia nodded and rose, turning her back to them and looking out the floor-to-ceiling window. “The only book that was ever dedicated to me by my father doesn’t exist anymore. It was lost in the explosion that destroyed my compound in 1968. Most likely burned and buried with the rest of my possessions.”
And the bodies of her compound brethren. Virginia had been the only survivor. But Manus didn’t add that. They both knew what the other was thinking. Instead, he said, “You can’t know that. Not everything burned. It might have been found, just like the portal was later used in the building of the BART system here in the city. We have to assume that the book survived the explosion.”
Virginia turned around to face them again. “Then if the demons ever get their hands on it, we’re screwed.”
Manus rose, realizing how serious Virginia was. “What was the book, Virginia?”
“A comprehensive history and training manual of the Stealth Guardian warriors.”
“Oh my God!” Though he’d had his suspicion, shock raced through Manus, reaching every single cell of his body. “We’ve gotta find it before the demons do.”
“Do you have any idea where Nancy could have hidden it?” Virginia asked.
Manus shook his head.
Kim spoke up. “We’ve searched everywhere. But now that we know what it is, I’ll search the house again, and the storage unit.”
Virginia shook her head. “It won’t be there. As an emissarius, your mother knew that those would be the first places the demons would search once they found out she had it. She would have been smarter than that. She would have hidden it where nobody would suspect it, but where you, Kim, would eventually find it. As the only relative, you’re the executor of her will. She would have known that as you close out her affairs, you would come upon the book. But it wouldn’t be obvious to anybody else.”
Kim stared at her, stunned disbelief coloring her face. “You’re saying it’s up to me now?”
“Manus will help you, rest assured. But you knew your mother best. You know her thinking, her reasoning. You’re the one best equipped to figure out what she did with the book.” Virginia sighed. “I wish I could help you, particularly since it was mine in the first place.”
“It’s nobody’s fault,” Manus said quickly. “I just don’t understand why Nancy didn’t bring it to our attention immediately.”
Kim shook her head. “She didn’t know what she had. Don’t you remember what Emily, her assistant, said? That she never let the cat out of the bag before she was sure? She wasn’t sure it was connected to the Stealth Guardians, and after she spoke to the translator and most likely pieced together what he translated and what she suspected, she might not have had enough time to contact your people. The demon killed her that night.”
Virginia nodded. “That’s good thinking. It means you need to figure out what your mother did between the time she left the translator’s office and the time she got killed. Somewhere in that time span, she hid the book.”
Manus nodded at Virginia. “Thank you, Virginia, you’ve helped us a lot. We’d better make our way back to the portal. I need to call Grayson to meet us there.”
“Grayson came with you? You’re not gonna be able to leave that early. He’ll be at the party.”
“Party?” Manus asked.
“Yes, Samson is throwing Delilah a big bash for her birthday.” She waved them to follow her into the hallway. “Come, I’ll give you a ride to HQ. You might as well say hi to Samson and the gang. They’ll be upset if you leave without showing your face.”
Manus exchanged a quick look with Kim then glanced at the clock. “It’s past midnight in Baltimore. There isn’t much we can do there right now anyway. Can I take you out for a drink and introduce you to some friends?”
“Vampires?” Kim asked.
“That, some humans, and a few witches.”
“I’m not gonna say no to a drink.”
“Well, then, let’s go. We’ll take my car,” Virginia said.
32
“Security is extra tight tonight,” Virginia said as she stopped in front of a large building with a glass-fronted lobby that was lit up like it was daytime. Two guards flanked the entrance.
Virginia turned her head to Manus, who was sitting in the passenger seat, then glanced back to Kim sitting behind him. “Normally, I’d be able to drive into the underground garage, but with two non-Scanguards passengers, they won’t let me through.”
“Samson isn’t taking any chances, is he?” Manus asked.
“Not with practically all Scanguards’ wives and children on the premises for Delilah’s party,” Virginia replied.
“So, how are we getting in?” Kim asked. After all, Virginia had made the suggestion to come to the party.
Virginia pulled a cell phone from her jacket pocket and made a call. “Wes will get you guys in, and then I’ll park the car.” She put the phone to her ear. “Hey, babe, I’m outside with Manus and his charge… Great, thanks.” She disconnected the call. “He’ll be right out.”
Charge? Why had Virginia referred to her as such? Was that all she was? Manus’s protégé? Now that Kim thought about it, she recalled that from the moment they’d arrived at Virginia’s home, Manus had let go of her hand and hadn’t made any physical contact. Was he trying to hide from Virginia what had happened between them?
“There he is,” Manus suddenly said and opened the car door. Manus exited and hugged a tall dark-haired man in his mid-thirties.
“That’s your husband?” Kim asked.
Virginia turned her head back to meet her gaze. “Handsome, isn’t he?” She chuckled. “Never thought I’d fall for a man so much younger than me.”
“Younger?” Kim stared at Virginia, who didn’t look a day over thirty-five.
“Yeah, he’s barely over fifty, and I’ve already passed two hundred.”
Kim’s chin dropped open, but she didn’t get a chance to reply. The door opened, and Manus offered his hand to help her out.
He introduced her to Virginia’s husband. “This is Wesley. Wes, this is Kim.”
Wesley shook her hand. “Any friend of Manus’s is a friend of mine.”
“Thank you. Nice to meet you too.”
“Come on in, guys.” He waved them toward the entrance, then said to the two guards, “They’re w
ith me.”
Inside the elegant lobby, it was warm and smelled pleasant. Kim felt as if she was entering a spa, which was odd because Manus had explained to her earlier what Scanguards did: they were a security company run by vampires. She’d expected something different, something darker. Maybe black walls and red velvet curtains, a bunch of antique wall sconces throwing dim light down the corridor they were entering now. But instead, the corridor was well-lit and could have passed for a hallway in a five-star hotel. Clearly, her preconceptions about vampires had to be updated.
“Party’s in the V Lounge,” Wesley announced, walking ahead of them. He turned his head and winked at Kim. “V stands for vampire, but then I’m sure you’ve already guessed that.”
Kim nodded and smiled.
“You did prepare her, right?” Wesley asked Manus.
“That Scanguards is full of vampires? Yes, of course.”
“And you’re one of them?” Kim asked though she could see no outward signs.
Wes threw his head back and laughed. “Me? God, no! I’m a witch. An excellent one, actually.”
“A witch?” Kim caught Manus rolling his eyes.
“Yes, Wes is a witch, and clearly a very humble one.”
“Hey, somebody’s got to do a little PR,” Wes said, grinning. “And since nobody else is doing it for me, I’d better do it myself.” He winked at her. “I’m really very good.” Then he stopped in front of a door. “We’re here. Word to the wise: if the drink is red in color, don’t automatically assume it’s wine.”
“You mean they serve—”
“On tap, in a glass, very civilized,” Wes interrupted. He passed an access card over the card reader next to the door.
Kim heard a beep, then a click, and Wesley opened the door inward, holding it open for them. “Ladies first.”
Kim entered the room, Manus and Wesley on her heels.
The enormous room looked like an old-fashioned lounge in a fancy hotel, elegant yet comfortable and cozy with numerous sitting areas, a bar, a fireplace, and a big buffet toward the other end of the room. Pretty light fixtures hanging from the high ceiling threw a soft glow over the guests. The place was packed. Men were dressed mostly in dark suits while women wore cocktail dresses and evening gowns. Several kids milled around in one corner, where a play area was located. Soft music emanated from hidden speakers, and fragments of conversations drifted to the entrance, where Kim stood frozen.
She couldn’t tell who of the assembled were vampires, witches, or humans. Everybody was behaving in a most civilized way and showed no outward signs of their nature. No wonder humans didn’t know of the existence of vampires. If they looked and behaved like humans, how would anybody ever suspect them?
“Ready to mingle?” Manus suddenly asked, his mouth close to Kim’s ear.
“Have fun,” Wesley said and waved at somebody in the crowd, then paved a way through it and disappeared.
Kim turned her head to Manus. “How can you tell who’s a vampire?”
“I just can. Every creature has a specific aura, but only preternaturals can see it.”
“Every creature except a demon.”
Manus laid his hand on the small of her back. “Let’s forget about demons for a couple of hours. You’re too tightly wound right now.” He lowered his voice and brought his lips closer to her ear. “I know a good way of relaxing you, but I’m afraid that’s not an option right now. So, how about a drink and enjoying an evening with friends instead?”
Kim had to smile. Leave it to Manus to realize that she was stressing out and needed a short reprieve before resuming the impossible task of searching for the book the demons wanted so desperately. “I think I could do with a drink.” Then she remembered Wesley’s words. “Nothing red though, okay?”
Manus took her hand, and they walked farther into the room, where he flagged down a waiter with a tray with ready-made drinks.
The man pointed to the various glasses. “Champagne cocktail? Whiskey? Martini?”
He didn’t point to the fourth choice, which was a red liquid in a tumbler. Kim’s eyes were drawn to it. Was this blood as she suspected?
“First time here?” the waiter suddenly asked in a low voice.
She nodded automatically.
“Don’t worry, all the waiters are vampires. They won’t offer you anything you’re not supposed to drink.”
“Thank you.” She swallowed away her embarrassment for having been so obvious. “I’ll have the champagne cocktail, please.”
He handed her the glass while Manus reached for the whiskey. “Thanks.”
As soon as the waiter was out of earshot, Kim whispered to Manus, “I feel like a fool. Please tell me when I’m staring, will you?”
“Just relax,” he said calmly.
“Easy to say for somebody who’s used to us,” a deep voice said from behind her.
Kim spun around and stared at the face of a tall man with a ponytail. But it wasn’t the ponytail or the intrusion in their conversation that made her shrink back but the long, deep scar that ran from his chin to his ear, marring his face. Shock paralyzed her. The man met her eyes. They reminded her of somebody, but unfortunately her brain had frozen too.
All of a sudden, he looked past her to Manus. “I think you’re meant to tell her now that she’s staring, Manus.” Then he winked at her. “Don’t worry. Everybody does it. I don’t mind.”
Manus reached past her, extending his hand, shaking the scarred man’s. “Gabriel, good to see you.”
“Likewise.” He released Manus’s hand. “Won’t you introduce me to your human friend?”
“Of course. Gabriel, this is Kim. Kim, this is Gabriel, Ryder’s father.”
Now it suddenly clicked. That’s who Gabriel reminded her of. “You have the same eyes as your son,” she said, extending her free hand to shake his.
The contact was pleasant. She’d always thought that a vampire’s touch would be cold, but it wasn’t.
“Thank you, Kim. I hope he’s been behaving,” he now said with a glance at Manus.
“More than that, I should say. Ryder saved my life just a few days ago.”
“He did?” Pride shone from Gabriel’s eyes, and a wide smile curved his lips upward. “What happened?”
“Long story, but all you need to know is that your son acted without hesitating. He’s a brother to me now,” Manus said, and Kim was glad that he wasn’t bringing up the fact that she’d been in fact the cause for Manus almost dying.
“He’s a good kid.”
“He’s a man now,” Manus corrected him.
“His mother will be very proud of him.” Gabriel craned his neck. “I can’t wait to tell her. By the way, Samson heard you were coming. Last I saw him was near the fireplace. Go and talk to him.” With a nod, he walked away.
“Well, then let me introduce you to Grayson’s parents,” Manus said and motioned toward one corner of the room.
Kim took a quick sip from her glass, and together they started making their way through the crowd. “So, Grayson is the heir to all this? I mean the company?”
“Yes and no,” Manus said.
“What do you mean?”
“Grayson isn’t an only child, though with his attitude, you’d think he was. But he has an older sister and a younger brother. And Samson is a very egalitarian man. Knowing him, he’ll either give the company to all three of them or to whoever is most capable of running it. And that might not necessarily be Grayson.”
“Interesting. I thought a society of vampires would be much more patriarchal with clear lines of succession.”
Manus chuckled. “You make it sound like it’s a kingdom. Believe me, it’s not. Everything Samson owns is because he worked for it. Unfortunately, Grayson is a bit of a spoiled brat.” He winked at her. “But we’re trying to train it out of him.”
Kim had to laugh. “Any success?”
“The road to success is paved with lots of hurdles,” Manus replied. Then he pointed to a seat
ing area in front of a fireplace. “There he is, Samson.”
At that exact moment, the tall man Manus had pointed to turned his head and looked straight at them as if he’d heard his name. And maybe he had. A vampire’s hearing was supposed to be superior to that of a human.
Kim could have picked Samson out of any crowd without difficulty. He was an only slightly older version of Grayson: black hair, hazel eyes, a tall, well-proportioned body that spoke of authority and power. Suave was a word that came to mind when she ran her eyes over him. When Samson’s eyes fell on Manus, Samson greeted him with a smile that conveyed genuine pleasure. Two more strides, and they’d reached the Scanguards boss.
“My friend,” Samson said, “so glad you could join us.” He squeezed Manus’s shoulder and shook his hand firmly. “And I can’t tell you how happy Delilah was when Grayson showed up here unexpectedly. Thank you for that.”
“It was no bother.” Manus turned slightly to the side. “May I—”
Samson extended his hand to Kim, his eyes warm and inviting. “Introductions aren’t necessary. Grayson has already filled me in. It’s a pleasure meeting you, Kim. Please call me Samson. We’re very informal here.”
Kim shook his hand. “Now I can see where Grayson gets his charm from.”
“You flatter me,” Samson said and looked over his shoulder. “Did you hear that, sweetness? Apparently, Grayson can be charming.”
A woman in a long red evening gown, with long dark hair cascading over her shoulders, turned around from where she’d spoken to a tall bald man. She smiled at Samson. “I always thought so, but you only see his faults.”
Samson reached for the woman’s hand and pulled her closer. “Excuse me, Zane, I’m gonna steal my wife for a second.”
“You can steal her for longer. I’d better check what trouble my boys are getting Portia into and rescue her.”
As Zane stalked off, Samson continued, “This is my wife, Delilah. Delilah, this is Manus’s girlfriend, Kim.”
“Ah—” But Kim was cut off by Manus saying, “There must be some mis—”
“Grayson said…” Samson started, then exchanged a look with Delilah.