by LeAnn Mason
There was little room for him to occupy in the place, and he found a spot to hover just inside the door, his wide stance making his arm brush against my shoulder, sending heat radiating from the innocent contact.
“Have the details been established of yet?” he asked silkily, immediately taking control of the room, his godly air brooking no arguments from the rest of the occupants.
Opening my mouth to give a rundown, I was again interrupted by a heavy thump to the door at my back.
This one was obvious in its tone, the rapid bang-bang-bang indicating whoever was on the other side was not a happy camper. And seeing that everyone I knew was stuck in here with me already, I knew it wouldn’t be a welcome conversation.
Seke and I turned our backs to the room, the closest to the door and the only ones easily able to reach it. He peered out the eyehole and gave me a small nod. Not a vamp, I interpreted.
There was no point in hiding behind the door even if it was a vamp. The thing would give with little more than one swift kick. It would be better to give the supernatural squad at my back the best visibility and access to whatever might try to come through that door. So, I swung it as far open as it would go.
“Can I help you?” I asked the short man on the other side.
Ah, the front office man had put down his phone long enough to creep on the motel surveillance instead of drool over gratuitous videos. His knock had made more noise than I would have thought possible for someone of his stature. With a balding head he tried to hide by combing the sparse wisps over the gleaming skin beneath, the visitor had a heavily weathered face hidden in part by a thick, whiskery mustache. The pale, beady eyes, however, were exaggerated by the thick glasses they were magnified behind as he looked up at Seke. He wasn’t any taller than me, and I leveled a dubious look at the disconcerting gentleman.
“You’re over occupancy. The room was rented for two,” he said in a snake-charmer kind of way. Leaning forward, he surveyed Cole, Ember, and Raven, who all returned his stare with crossed arms and narrowed eyes of their own. “I saw the lot of you move in here from the parking lot, and when they didn’t come back out, I knew I needed to have a little talk with you, especially when GQ here rejoined.”
Behind him, Seke held up a hand, warning his crew that it would be best if they remained silent… or, more likely, that they shouldn’t do anything.
He licked his lips, eyes bouncing between Ember, Raven, and me like a pinball. His speech sped up, tone going up an octave as he continued. “Listen, I’m willing to… overlook the misconduct as long as, you know, you let me hang out. Watch a bit. You know.”
I did not know. Neither, it seemed, did any of my companions, who all shot perplexed looks to the others in wonder of his meaning.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but we’ll be vacating soon.” I moved to close the door, but the man — whose little brass name tag read: Jim, Assistant Manager — threw out a hand to push it back.
“You’re shooting a porn flick, right? I mean, come on. Look at you guys. People who look like you don’t stay here, especially him.” He threw his weak chin in Seke’s direction.
Seke, in turn, furrowed his brow.
“Looks like the girls outnumber the guys by one…” the suggestive tone he used finally clued the room into his meaning, breaking the dam of unnatural silence that had descended like a smothering fire blanket.
Unlike my companions, I was speechless. With varying heated arguments, each of the people in the room — aside from Seke — pushed toward the door and the weasely little trespasser with fire lighting their otherworldly eyes and spewing forth from their angry maws.
None could be heard clearly, but the message was received by the human whose beady eyes now resembled dinner plates behind their spectacles. The bristly mustache quivered along with the lip it obscured as Jim took two panicked steps back in retreat, throwing himself down onto the asphalt of the parking lot when his foot slid from the sidewalk in his haste to put distance between himself and us.
Seke blocked anyone from crossing the threshold and getting their hands on the weak human. “Thank you for your interest. However, you are mistaken about our use of the room. We will be vacating shortly and do not need any assistance.” Seke’s smooth, calm proclamation was followed by the slam of the door as he again shut us all back into the confines of the small room.
Like a clap of thunder, the room exploded into a new joint noise as each of us dissolved into a fit of hysterical laughter.
23
Ember could have gone without ever making Jim’s acquaintance, but after he was shut back out, she realized his interruption was serendipitous.
When she’d walked in, the tension had been palpable, thickening the air unpleasantly. Now, with bemused smiles still tugging at the corners of lips as they dubbed their captain with the new moniker of “GQ”, the team felt like just that again — a unit. Torgny had even cracked a smile when Aria suggested to him something about sending a ghost into the motel’s office.
“It seems we must speed things along. We no longer have grounds to take our time getting reacquainted — or acquainted,” Seke said, indicating the valkyrie partners.
“We need to speed things along anyway,” Aria interjected, her smile slipping dramatically enough to almost be comical.
Almost.
Ember recognized the worry and desperation in Aria’s eyes and guessed what the “extra mission” Seke had brought them there to help with might be. “Who are we rescuing?” Because, of course, they weren’t just there for Aria. There had to be someone else that mattered to Aria, a compounding issue, for Seke to break the rules.
The banshee’s eyes dipped to her hands where she stared at her fingers and twisted a ring around the digit she loved to flash at Cole and Raven. Her teeth bit nervously at her lip ring. “My mom,” she said quietly.
The shifter HDPU members gasped before elapsing into stunned silence until, finally, voices spoke over each other as the news sunk in. Ember had learned to let people in her former life go and had anticipated having to give a lecture about humans from Aria’s past. But Aria’s mom was a banshee. This was huge — this explained why Seke had been so adamant about them getting involved.
Seke held up a hand, and the murmuring ceased.
“Seke,” Gunhilde interrupted. His attention swiveled to the valkyrie, who grinned, cracking her curmudgeonly expression and tightened the skin around a rather wicked-looking scar that ran the length of her face, right cheek and lips bisected by the puckered line. “Enid’s alive, Seke.” Her nostrils flared. “She’s being held by vampires.”
“Vamps?” Raven’s head whipped back and forth between Seke and Gunhilde laughably. “I thought you killed them all centuries ago? You missed some?”
Ember edged closer, waiting for Seke’s reply.
“I met one,” Aria said. She didn’t seem happy about it, but Ember saw the way Raven’s jaw set like she’d just been one-upped.
Seke inclined his head at the questions directed his way. Courteously, he didn’t admonish the raven shifter for her accusatory tone. He, like Ember and Cole, was quite comfortable letting her verbal punches glance right off them at this point. “It appears so. Or else, we have a crack in the HD system. Either way, it bears investigating. It may be time to revive our original task; Enid worked with me eradicating the first surge in vampires long ago.”
Ember understood now. The person Seke was willing to break the rules over mattered not just to Aria but to him too; it tied them together. No wonder the jaded god had been floored when they found the young banshee.
Raven choked. “Dude. Your mom’s over four-hundred years old? I didn’t think any supes lived longer than normal except gods and this one.” She poked a finger into Ember’s bicep, making the phoenix scowl and rub the offended spot.
“Banshees can live quite a while if they are skilled; they foretell death, remember. That can become useful when evading it,” Seke replied calmly.
Aria seemed a bit shocked at his response. Guess she still had learning to do.
“Enid left our team before we finished the task and reorganized as the HD you know today.” Seke’s voice dipped into that resolute quiet tone he used when he got frustrated, adding, “Now, we know why.”
The god focused on the banshee in the room. Ember saw more than professional curiosity as his gaze softened toward Aria, but she couldn’t be sure if it was for the woman before him or her mother. “Were you able to see where this cohort of vampires is?”
“They’re hiding in Bermuda,” Aria said with a tight expression. “They had my mother in some underground dungeon — it looked like part of the freaking sewers.” Rage curled her hands into fists.
Ember reached over and grabbed one of Aria’s fists in her own hands. “We’ll find her,” she promised, the banshee’s icy blue eyes rising to meet her own. Ember knew what it was like to lose family over the years. She’d done her fair share of hunting, most unsuccessful.
They would do their best with this one. At the very least, they would take out those cursed vampires. And if they were unsuccessful with their rescue objective, they would be there to get Aria through it. Ember had no doubt even Raven would get the banshee a tub of ice cream if she needed to eat her feelings… eventually.
“And take out those blood-sucking, soul-stealing corpses,” Raven spat, rising to her feet and pounding a fist into her palm.
“And send them to Helheim,” Gunhilde agreed with a battle-worthy roar. The Viking woman got a high five from the slender raven shifter, though she didn’t seem to know what to do with the action.
“Is this an extraction mission, Captain?” Cole clarified as he placed a staying hand on Raven’s shoulder. “Or do we actually get to take out vampires?” His elongated canines glinted.
Seke considered. “It is the Harbingers of Death’s duty to ensure no vampires exist on this Earth; that is why we were founded. I think this mission has two objectives, neither of which fit into our traditional repertoire. Do you think you can handle this?”
He looked around the room, receiving vehement, steady nods from each person.
“And work as a team?” he nudged.
Another nod came from all around, though maybe not as resolute. Teamwork compatibility was a question for most of the supernaturals crammed into this dingy room.
Ember glanced at the clock, not inclined to wait any longer for Jim to return. “If we’re all on the same page here, then let’s go.” She rose to her feet and got approving responses from her teammates — all of them. One thing agreed upon, she thought. “How’re we getting there?”
Seke raised his palms and gestured to Aria. “I’m not leading this mission.”
Aria blinked at him. “Me? One minute, I’m kicked out of the club, and now I’m in charge? That seems pretty sketchy… This isn’t Director approved anyway, is it? You shouldn’t be here. I can do it myself.”
Ember raised a brow, barely restraining her snort, and folded her arms as Seke’s jaw clenched. He had his hands full with this one. No wonder he was interested. Aria was probably the first person who challenged the ancient god. First, he’d been revered; then, he’d been a fighter, and now, a leader. It was pretty much never that he’d met his match even among other gods and supes. Who’d have thought it would end up being a naïve, little, silver-headed screamer who’d hold that title?
“You are right,” he replied patiently. “Though it does serve our greater purpose, it is not a sanctioned mission. I will handle any disciplinary action... if it comes. If we succeed in taking out an underground vampire horde, I am certain the director will be pleased and willing to reconsider any punishment.
“That said, since it is not an official mission, it is not mine to oversee. It belongs in the hands of the most capable of leading these particular objectives.”
Aria looked down at her hands as if visually inspecting said “capableness,” seeming overwhelmed by the responsibility being dropped on her. “I’m not capable. I... I pawned the ring you gave me. I got it back,” she rushed to add. “But... I mean, I only just figured out how to somewhat control my visions.”
Ember’s eyes rounded. “Ring?!”
Raven beat her to the punch. “Did you freaking propose?” she shrieked at Seke in a pitch worthy of a banshee. Her hands grabbed at Aria’s, lifting the hand to stare at the ring. “Is that what you snuck up here to do?”
Everyone cringed.
“No!” Aria objected with horror, realizing the thought everyone seemed to have about the purpose of the ring exchange, blushing so red Ember might have expected her to combust, phoenix-style.
“No, no.” Seke was clear, but the calmness with which he spoke wasn’t the quick denial Aria had given. He flicked his eyes at Aria, seeming a bit… hurt. “I gave her a ring her mother had left in my care.” To Aria, he said, “You had the vision, found your mother, the location. That is more than the rest of us can do. Gunhilde and I will help you with the rest.”
The valkyrie nodded her agreement, moving to stand at attention as if rising to the task set before her.
“Okay, before we have any more miscommunications, let’s go.” Ember stomped across the room and opened the door wide. Her bird was itching to fly.
Jim, standing on the other side with his fist poised, ready to knock, made a startled peep.
“Get lost, you creep, or your death will be now.” Ember snapped, letting a little fire seep into her eyes.
Jim paled. Contrary to her intention, the weasely manager remained frozen where he was at her threat. Ember rolled her eyes when a wet spot stained his pants.
Humans.
“Gross,” Raven muttered from the other side of the room.
“Torgny?” Aria inquired with a little mischievous lilt in her invitation.
The massive man appeared next to Ember. She stepped back, curious to see what he was going to do.
He gave an appreciative nod then said, “I think I may be able to assist here. May I touch you?”
Ember raised a brow. “Uh, sure?”
He gave a little smile and stepped behind her.
Wary, Ember’s shoulders rose. Then, tingling goosebumps shot across her skin as Torgny delved his fingers into her hair and slid outward, raising the short strands in a halo away from her scalp.
Jim’s eyes rolled as he stared at the short red hair that seemed to be levitating by itself and giving Ember a crazed look. He fell flat on his back.
“Hmm,” the big man grumbled from behind the phoenix. “I thought he might run.”
Ember shrugged and stepped over the prone human, raring to get out of that very unsettling position. She turned with a smile to face the guy who practically filled the doorway. “This still works. Shall we?” She shifted into her phoenix form, flapping to land on the hood of the car Cole had driven them north in. She couldn’t sit there long. Bright plumage like hers stood out.
Torgny grinned. “Let’s fly.”
“Fly?” Aria ducked under Torgny’s arm, stepping out of the packed room with a big stretch. “Do we have to?”
“I can drive you to Florida, but we’ll need to fly from there,” Cole rumbled.
“Oh no.” Aria raised her hands in horror. “I know how you drive. I’ll get carsick for sure. I’ll take a plane, thanks. I don’t have wings like most of you.” She flapped her pale arms.
Seke joined the group as they emerged into the night air. “I believe you have no ID, especially one that won’t get flagged by the authorities.”
Aria swore.
“I also believe there are only three of us incapable of flying ourselves. Gunhilde has Torgny. Aria will come with me. And Cole?”
The hellhound’s eyes were red and he bared his teeth. “No.”
“You will have to join Gunhilde on Torgny. That is if he’s comfortable with it?”
“I can actually fly myself,” Gunhilde supplied as a pair of imposing wings as black as pitch and too wide
to fit into the minuscule room spread wide. They were about the same wingspan as Ember’s but much denser and more massive in every other dimension. No wonder she hadn’t shown them until then. Her gleaming armor now also sported a large, ornate broadsword at her right hip. The hilt glinted under the hazy dimming light, and the scabbard, though not shiny, was heavily tooled with runes and symbols.
Ember hadn’t met many valkyries in her lives since they kept mostly to themselves, and she hadn’t previously been exposed to that little factoid. Joining the Harbingers of Death was turning out to be quite the adventure of her long existence.
Seke tipped his dark head in acknowledgment of this hidden truth.
“No,” Cole said again, breaking the attention from the transformation of the warrior maiden.
Seke sighed. “No one else is capable of bearing your weight.”
Torgny and Cole eyed each other in a standoff of testosterone and dominance. Ember clicked her beak in annoyance. They’d figure it out. She was eager to spread her wings.
Lifting off the car, she circled, letting out a squawk that said, “See ya there.” A large raven joined her, cawing back with a delighted glint in her beady black eyes. Raven was always up for a race.
“We’ll meet in Key Largo and regroup for the next leg of the journey to Bermuda,” Seke called as Ember headed for the skies, the raven flapping hard to keep up.
That was a fine destination. Ember loved islands. If she and Raven could beat the rest of them there, unburdened by heavy loads, the girls could enjoy a little beach time before it came time to kick some vampire ass and save their teammate’s mom. Ember wanted to live for the moment because she had a feeling she’d be going through another rebirth in the near future.
Things were about to get crazy. Just the way she liked it.
I was not happy about riding Seke.