by Lane Mason
“I’m in,” Kat said. “But first I need to eat.”
“Speaking of eating, why did we order so many appetizers? There’s enough food coming to feed a small army.”
“That’s because Kat is a small army. Trust me, she’s going to chow down some food.”
“I live with a werebear. I don’t think even he would eat this much in one sitting,” Erica said.
“Jeesh, you all trying to give me a complex?” Kat said. “I can’t help it if I have to eat a lot. My metabolism goes crazy when I use lots of magic.”
“Ah, that makes sense. Two battles in one day, you must be hungry,” April said.
“You hear the thumping? That isn’t the music, that’s Kat’s stomach,” Vesper said.
Before Kat could make a snarky reply, the waitress and another staff member started bringing the food to the table. There was every kind of chicken wing on the menu, nachos, chicken tenders, flatbread, onion rings, and fries.
The server smiled. “Good luck eating all that.”
“Oh, we’ll still be ordering entrees, and probably desserts too,” Vesper said with a smirk.
The server looked at Vesper as if she was crazy. “You have more guests coming?”
“Nope, just us.”
“The cooks will be impressed,” the server said. “Any drinks?”
“Rum and coke,” Vesper said.
“Vodka soda and cran,” April said.
“Same,” Erica said.
“I’ll have a Long Island Ice Tea,” Kat said.
As the server went to deal with the drinks, Kat started in on the food.
“And there she goes,” Vesper said.
Kat glared at her roommate, but didn’t stop eating long enough to reply. She was seriously hungry. And no matter how much Vesper mocked her, she was going to eat until she was full.
Thankfully, April and Erica jumped in and were enthusiastically attacking the food.
“I like going to lunch with you girls,” April said. “I don’t feel guilty about wanting to eat everything. Dexter is a little reserved when it comes to human food. He doesn’t eat that much, and I always feel weird when I eat more than he does.”
Erica laughed. “Ever since I became a vampire, I can eat what I want, but I still get full like I used to. Actually, I think I have Vesper to thank for my ability to eat so much human food. Your Chagrun potion is a lifesaver.”
Kat bit into an onion ring. She knew Vesper sold her potions to vampires, but she hadn’t realized that their new friends would be among her clients. But it wasn’t really surprising. From what Kat understood, Vesper’s mother had been a somewhat renowned witch for her potions. That Vesper would also be came as no surprise. Kat had used enough of Vesper’s concoctions to know she had a real talent for potions.
“Thanks, Erica. I’m actually working on improving the Chagrun potion. I think I can improve the flavor and extend the longevity of the potion’s effects. It is a work in progress.”
“That would be excellent. Be sure to let me know when you have some ready.”
“Of course,” Vesper said.
The server returned to the table with their drink orders, and from the look on her face, she was shocked by how much of the food was already gone. “Can I get you ladies anything else?”
“We’re good for now, thank you,” Vesper said.
Kat, surprised that Vesper hadn’t added a snarky comment about her eating all the food, looked over at her roommate, waiting for the inevitable comment. It seemed Vesper noticed.
“I’m not going to embarrass you in front of strangers. Teasing you in front of friends is totally different. No one at this table cares how much you eat, we all know you need it. Besides, you’ve been kicking serious ass all week. I’m just trying to keep you humble.”
Kat laughed. “Liar. I was always humble.”
Vesper rolled her eyes. “I’ve seen the way you look at a mirror. You know you’re hot as balls.”
April scrunched her face. “Balls really aren’t that hot. Perhaps you need a new analogy.”
Kat shook her head. “I look in the mirror to see if all the eating is making me fat. I used to have to work my ass off to make weight for fights, but now I eat like a little piggy and nothing happens. It is taking some getting used to. And I agree with April. You need a new analogy.”
Vesper shrugged. “Fine. You’re as hot as a rusty tin roof in the Sahara Desert.”
“Wow. You are really bad at compliments,” Erica said.
Everyone at the table laughed. It was a good conversation. Kat was enjoying having two new voices added to the normal back-and-forth she shared with Vesper.
20
Kat
After finishing their late lunch at the Hard Rock Café, Kat felt good. Her belly wasn’t rumbling, and spending time with their new friends was enjoyable. April was a sarcastic smartass once you got to know her, and Erica had a dry yet witty sense of humor. Now they were headed to look for weapons.
Kat was looking forward to shopping, she wasn’t the type to get excited about clothing shopping, but a new dagger or sword was far more interesting. Besides, if her morning encounter had proved anything it was that being over reliant on guns was a mistake. Being equipped with the wrong bullets, running out of ammo, these were things that didn’t happen when you used a more traditional weapon. If they couldn’t find anything in Vegas, she’d just go back to Boston and visit Gerald, he would have something, or know where to find it.
As April drove, she looked over her shoulder. “How did you find this place, anyway?”
“A friend recommended it,” Vesper said.
“The hunky werewolf you hooked up with, or a different friend?”
“Hector? No. I doubt he has any connections for weapons in Vegas. No, this came from my Uncle Sebastian, a family friend. He’s a local warlock.”
“Are you sure? I saw a guy that looked a lot like Hector this morning, maybe he has relatives here?” Kat asked.
Vesper shrugged. “We haven’t really talked enough to know about our families.”
Kat left it alone. It was possible, but highly unlikely, that the guy she’d seen hadn’t been Hector, but even if it hadn’t been him, Hector had been part of the attack on the safe house. It was obvious that Vesper knew nothing about him being in Vegas. Which didn’t really tell her anything. Damn it, Lola, hurry up with that report, Kat thought. The sooner she knew the whole story about Hector, the sooner she’d be able to start thinking about telling Vesper the truth.
They pulled into the parking lot, and Kat looked at the building. There was nothing about it that shouted arcane weapons inside—quite the opposite. The front was bright and cheerful, and the large glass windows of the building showed what looked like a coffee shop. Had Vesper’s uncle been messing with her? “This is it?”
“De Luna’s Delights,” Erica said as she pointed to the sign above the double-door entrance. “Seems like it. Let’s go in. If nothing else, the coffee smells delicious.”
As they entered the building, the smell of baked goods and coffee filled the air. De Luna’s Delights was a small coffee shop.
Vesper went to the counter and spoke to the man behind it. “Is Sofia here? Sebastian suggested we come see her.”
While Vesper spoke, Kat studied the man. He looked normal enough, but when she focused in on him, she could tell he wasn’t human, or at least not completely human. He was wearing a glamor. Perhaps they were in the right place after all.
The man looked over the four of them and said, “Through the red door at the back.” He then leaned down and pushed a button. Kat could hear the faint sound of a lock being opened.
Kat hadn’t even noticed the door before, as it was around a corner, out of sight from the front booths and down a hallway that had several other doors, including washrooms, before it.
Opening the red door, Kat walked into the next room. It was surprisingly large, and didn’t seem to fit with the size of the building from the outside
.
A tall, stately-looking woman approached them. “I’m Sofia. How can I help you?”
Vesper stepped forward. “Hello, Sophia, I’m Vesper. We’re looking for weapons. My uncle Sebastian sent us.”
Sophia smiled. “I didn’t know Sebastian had a niece.”
“It’s more of a nickname. But he is a close family friend.”
“That is easy to see. You don’t share bloodlines with him. You are a witch, but with elven blood. I know Sebastian well enough to know his family tree doesn’t have any elven blood. But obviously you know him well, otherwise he wouldn’t have sent you here.”
Sophia turned to April. “Nice perfume, but it doesn’t work on me. Half fae, I assume.”
April nodded.
Kat felt her phone buzz. She quickly checked her messages. She had a text from Lola. Your werewolf isn’t local. Will take more time to track down info on him. He isn’t in town at the moment. It wasn’t anything helpful, but she was grateful to Lola for trying. Perhaps with time she would find out more. Kat slipped her phone back in her pocket.
Next, Sophia turned to Erica. “Well, you are an interesting one. Obviously a vampire, but not an ordinary one. You’re not from Unreha, but you have traits that indicate you are. However, your blood is young; you’ve only been a vampire for a few years. Normally, this would stump me, but after the Ruton Affair, plenty of rumors started about a certain gargoyle being brought to America and the twice-bitten vampire.”
Erica smiled. “I didn’t know we were so famous.”
“In certain circles you certainly are. It is rare for a powerful vampire clan like the Rutons and their companions to fail to destroy an enemy. Many consider his inability to kill you the start of his downfall. If he hadn’t been so obsessed with making a symbol out of you, he might have paid more attention to his real enemies.”
Sophia turned back to April. “You were part of that drama as well. I didn’t recognize you because of the hair, but the rest of the description was accurate. I am honored to meet you both.”
April grinned at Kat and the others. “My hair used to be bright blue. I kind of miss that look.”
Kat waited as Sophia turned her attention towards her.
“And you I’ve also heard about, although stories of you are more whispers than anything else. A draia living in America undetected and then becoming an agent for the MBI. It is an interesting story.”
“Not that interesting,” Kat said. “Orphan raised in foster homes wakes up to find a demon strangling her. Calls the mysterious man who was stalking her and he turns out to be some sort of government agent. Barely the making of a B movie.”
“Ah, but you forgot to mention the unique magic she possesses and the implication that has.”
Kat raised an eyebrow. Sophia knew she was of royal blood?
“Nothing goes on in this city without me hearing about it,” Sophia said. “Your incident this morning was not missed. I’m afraid your secret is out, or will be out soon.”
Kat sighed. She’d been warned not to use her magic in Vegas, but there hadn’t been many options. The demons had been kicking her ass before she used it. Now she would just have to deal with the fallout. “If I had had suitable weapons, I wouldn’t have used my magic. That why we’re here.”
“Yes. That makes sense. It is, however, like closing the barn doors after the horses escape. Yet, considering your chosen profession and your heritage, I can wholeheartedly recommend more weapons. Actually, I have something in mind for all of you.”
“That would be greatly appreciated,” Vesper said.
“Since it was your ‘uncle’ that sent you here, we’ll start with you. What do you have for combat experience?”
“I took the MBI basic training. I’ve done basic weapons training and hand-to-hand combat. I don’t get involved much with operations. I mostly just run an apothecary.”
“Minimal training. That isn’t an issue, although you should probably invest some time in training now, but first you need a weapon. Come with me.”
The girls followed Sophia as she walked through the room. Kat looked around. The entire outer walls of the room were showcases for various weapons, and there were rows of shelves filling the interior. It reminded her of a library, but instead of books it held weapons. They stopped at a shelf and Sophia glanced once more at Vesper before reaching into a box. She pulled out a pink handle that looked to be about eight inches long and handed it to Vesper.
Vesper took the handle and frowned. “What is it?”
“I know what it is,” April said. “It’s a baton. Snap your wrist like you’re cracking a whip.”
Vesper did as April suggested and the baton extended until it was two feet long. “Woah.”
“Extendable batons are mostly a self-defense weapon, but in the right hands can be very effective. The difference between this baton and one you could get elsewhere is this one also functions as a wand. A perfect self-defense weapon for any witch,” Sophia said.
Vesper waved the wand and said a few words that Kat didn’t know. The end of the wand started to glow a bright yellow. “I’ll have to study up on my wand use. My family was more into potions, but I know a few spells that will be handy for self-defense. This is great.”
Sophia gave a small nod in acknowledgement of the compliment before turning to Erica. “Are you still dealing with the fallout from the Ruton Affair?”
Erica nodded. “I get threats and the occasional vampire trying to avenge Ruton.”
Kat hadn’t known that vampires were still trying to kill Erica. She wondered if April and Dexter were still targets for their part in stopping the vampires’ plan to rule the world. It had been a few years since the incident, but the world was still dealing with the fallout. That the people who’d stopped the attempt at creating an apocalypse would still be targets hadn’t really occurred to Kat before. She’d only recently learned how close the world truly had been to catastrophe.
Sophia reached back into the same box and pulled out a black baton. She handed it to Erica.
Erica snapped it towards the ground and the metal extended out. This one was shorter than the one Sophia had given to Vesper; it looked to be about eighteen inches fully extended, but it was thicker and had a pointed end. Erica grinned. “An ironic weapon for a vampire to be carrying.”
Kat realized then that the baton served as a stake. Erica’s weapon was meant for killing vampires. She’d be carrying around a weapon designed to kill her.
“Yes, there is a certain irony to it. However, since vampires seemed to be the most likely candidates to kill you, this is an appropriate weapon to carry. The metal in the tip is a special alloy with silver imbedded into it. It is non-lethal when used as a baton, but if you stab a vampire...”
“Lethal,” Erica said, finishing Sophia’s sentence. “It is a good weapon for me.”
“And for the half-fae,” Sophia said as she turned to April. “You don’t seem the self-defense type.”
April grinned. “If I’m fighting, I’m attacking.”
“As I suspected. Something a little more modern seems appropriate for you.” Sophia then started walking to a different section of the room. She stopped at one wall and took down a weapon. “This may look like an ordinary switchblade, but it isn’t. It is a fae blade, and extends according to your needs. The harder you press on the release button, the longer the blade becomes.”
April accepted the knife. It was about six inches long, perhaps a little smaller, and had a thinner handle than the batons. April waited until Sophia stepped back and then pushed the release. A three-inch blade popped out. She pressed the release again, and the blade extended until it was almost a foot long.
Kat wondered at the magic involved in having such a long blade in such a short handle. Was the metal warped somehow? Or was the handle somehow connected to a different realm where the blade could be as long as possible and only came out as needed? It was fascinating either way. But so was most magic.
“And last but not least we have our draia friend who fights demons,” Sophia said as she led them to another section of the weapons room.
Sophia looked Kat from head to toe. “Am I safe in assuming this is your preferred wardrobe?”
Kat nodded.
“In Vegas, you might get away with lugging around a sword, but I doubt it would go over well in other cities. How are you with short swords? Or would you prefer daggers?”
“I’ve trained with many weapons. Butterfly swords I’m competent with.”
“Ah, that is fortuitous. I have just the weapons for you. Draia magic can be quite unique, and some of the weapons here wouldn’t work for you, but I have a few that will welcome your powers.” Sophia reached up to one of the highest shelves and pulled down a wooden box. The box was a dark oak, or Kat assumed it was. The cover of dust on the box made it hard to tell.
Sophia blew the dust off and then opened it, revealing a pair of blades that resembled Chinese Dao blades. The butterfly blades were slightly bigger than American k-bars, but wider, with aggressive cross guards that could be used as brass knuckles. “The blades are fixed length, but have properties similar to April’s knife. They will fit into the knife slots of your gun holster.”
Kat raised an eyebrow. Her holsters has small slots, certainly not designed for blades as large as the butterfly swords. She accepted the blades from Sophia. They felt extraordinarily light.
“Let your magic flow into the blades. Let’s see how they respond,” Sophia said.
Kat did as she was told. She let her magic flow from her hands like she’d tried to do when she was experimenting with Daemon a few days ago. The blades started to glow and then a magical flame burst out of the blades. It was a small flame that didn’t go far from the blade, but it seemed to be in constant motion. It was mesmerizing.
“It that hellfire?” April asked.
“Hellfire assumes hell is a real construct and not the creation of an over-imaginative author. But if you are asking if the source of the flame is the under realm, or hell as some insist on calling it, then yes.”