by Parker Blue
“How do we find out if it’s Alejandro’s hideout? Knock on the front door and ask if they have vampires living there?”
He gave me a wry glance. “How far do you think that will get us?”
“Probably not far.”
“Yeah. Even though Alejandro invited us to ask questions, he probably wouldn’t be happy we showed up at his house.” Dan thought for a moment. “Well, we can either charge right in and see if we can find her, or do some reconnaissance, see if this is the right place and if Jennifer is even in there.” He glanced at his watch. “We have about forty-five minutes until dawn. If there’s any activity inside, it’ll likely stop by then. If we want to learn anything, we’d better do it now.”
“Okay,” I said. “Let’s take a look.”
Fang growled and looked behind us. COMPANY, he warned.
A dark limo was approaching. We all crouched down in the seat to be less visible, but Dan watched out of the side view mirror.
“What’s going on?” I whispered.
“They’re entering numbers on a security box.” After a moment, he said, “Okay, they’ve gone in. Let’s check it out.”
Dan peered at the box on a pole next to the gate. “It’s a cipher lock.”
I glanced down at Fang. “Were there vamps in the limo?”
He sniffed the air. NOT MUCH TO GO ON, BUT YEAH, SOME FOLKS OF THE UNDEAD PERSUASION WERE DEFINITELY IN THAT LIMO.
Okay, so we probably had the right place. I nodded at Dan.
Dan glanced up at the wrought iron fence where the fleur de lis designs on top came to a sharp point every six inches or so. “We can either try to make it over that, or wait for another car to come through. At this time of night, there might be more returning to the nest.”
“You could,” a man said from behind us. “Or you could use the code and get in that way.”
I grabbed a stake and whirled toward the source of the voice, seeing Dan do the same. But Fang was wagging his tail as he ran over to greet the newcomer.
CHILL. HE’S A FRIEND.
Dan and I relaxed as the man, who stayed in the shadows, bent down to pet Fang. “Howya doing, pal?” He straightened, saying, “They call me Shade. Micah called me, asked me to come by and give you a message.”
Shade stayed hidden, making it difficult to make out his features, especially since he was wearing a hood that obscured his face. But there was something odd about him, something not quite right. Since he came from Micah, he was probably some kind of demon. Best to let the guy retain his secrets and anonymity.
I put away my stake and Dan did the same. “What message?”
“I’ve been watching this place, and Micah said to tell you whatever you need to know. I figure you need the code—78209.”
How original—it was the zip code here. “Is there a camera pick-up?”
“No, just voice for visitors to request admission.”
“Thanks.” I pulled a picture of Jen out of my back pocket. “Have you seen this girl go in there?”
Shade took the photo and pulled it into his darkness. “I’ve seen her, once or twice.” He handed the photo back to me, never letting a glimpse of his skin show.
“Is she there now?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I can’t be here twenty-four seven.”
Damn. I wish there was some way to know for sure.
Dan asked, “How many vamps are in there?”
“It varies. Sometimes as few as eight, or as many as twenty. More sometimes when there’s an event going on.”
“Is one going on now?”
Shade turned toward the house as if searching out its secrets. “No, not enough lighted windows.”
“Still, eight is too many,” Dan said.
“You don’t think Ramirez would authorize us to take an army in there?” I asked dryly.
“I doubt it. And to be completely legal, we need a search warrant.” He turned toward the spy. “What can you tell us about the security at the house?”
“Not much, but I haven’t seen any sentries patrolling the grounds. I guess they figure they don’t need them.”
True. How many people would be dumb enough to sneak into a nest of vampires with super-sensitive senses?
“What about electronic security systems?” Dan asked.
“I don’t know. I just watch from afar, keep track of the comings and goings when the situation warrants. There hasn’t been much activity tonight, though.”
“Is Alejandro inside?” I asked.
“I think so. I haven’t seen him leave, anyway.”
Dan nodded. “Thanks—you’ve been a big help.”
“You’re welcome.” And Shade, true to his name, slipped back into the darkness.
“So,” I said. “Do we go in on foot or take the truck?”
“I’d rather not take the chance that anyone would see the truck. It might be out of place among their other vehicles—especially if they have more limos.”
“Okay, on foot it is.” I strode to the gate and keyed in the numbers Shade had given us. Just as promised, the gate opened, then closed silently behind us.
We kept to the wooded areas at the sides as we approached the house and crept up to one lighted window. We crouched down to peer in, but all I could see was the curtain covering it. Most of the windows on the ground floor were that way, except for one. It looked like a dining room and was empty of people. Made sense—vamps wouldn’t have much use for a dining room.
I leaned over to whisper in Dan’s ear, “I’ll check out the second story.”
He frowned at me. “Okay, but be careful.”
There were several live oak trees along the side of the house, and I shimmied up one of them, then climbed out on a limb to check out the light in the second story. Yes, there were a couple of people inside, though I still couldn’t see much through the sheer curtains. I gave Dan a thumb’s-up and edged out a little more. But I was paying so much attention to the window that I wasn’t paying attention to my feet. One foot slipped and I lost my balance for a moment.
Dan, looking alarmed, rose to catch me, but I grabbed a branch and regained my footing quickly.
Unfortunately, Dan was now clearly visible from the windows.
Fang yipped. WATCH OUT!
“Intruders,” someone yelled.
Suddenly, the bottom window was thrust open and a vamp I’d never seen before flew out at Dan, smashing him against a tree.
Two more followed him out and as Fang tried to hamstring the one attacking Dan, Lola broke free with glee for the hunt. I jumped down to land on the other two, hoping we could fight free of these three before any more joined the fray.
Shoot, I hadn’t thought to draw a stake before jumping and was too occupied with using my feet and fists to keep these two at bay to get one now. I caught a glimpse of two more vamps peering out the window. Aw, crap. We were in trouble now.
Fang, hurry, go get Shade. We need backup.
But before the hellhound could leave, a buzzer sounded and all of the vamps froze. Suddenly abandoning the fight, they dove back into the house through the window and hurriedly closed it.
“What the—” Dan’s words were cut off as shutters slammed down on every window all over the house, completely obscuring the view inside.
WHOA. THAT WAS LUCKY.
No, that was dawn. I gestured toward the first few pink rays of light. “The shutters cut off the light, and the buzzer must have warned them dawn was imminent. I guess they didn’t want to get caught outside in the sunshine.” Thank heavens. Lola seemed a little disappointed, but now that the threat was gone, I locked her down good and tight. Didn’t want Dan getting all freaked out again.
Dan started to move but moaned.
Fang glanced up at him. THAT DOESN’T LOOK GOOD.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, coming to take a closer look at him in the darkness. There was a dark stain on his shoulder, the same one he’d injured before. “Is that your blood?”
“I’m n
ot sure . . . .” But the pain in his voice indicated it probably was.
I peered closer and gasped. “There’s a small branch piercing your shoulder. Hold on, let me help you.”
Fang winced. OUCH. THAT’S GOTTA HURT.
I pulled Dan away. The pain must have been excruciating as the branch came out, but he didn’t show it, though his whole body tensed around the pain.
“Come on,” I said. “Let’s get you to a hospital.”
“Okay, but not Gwen’s,” he gritted out. “She’ll worry.”
Shaking my head, I helped him back to the truck.
The emergency room fixed him up, but the doctors said it would be days before he could use his right arm at all, weeks or months before physical therapy would bring it back to full use.
We had a short tussle about who exactly was going to drive the SCU truck back, but I won since Dan wasn’t in any condition to drive.
Fang snorted. YA THINK?
Ignoring Fang, I concentrated on driving the truck, which was bigger than anything I’d driven before.
Dan slumped in his seat. “I can’t believe I was so stupid,” he muttered.
“How do you figure?”
“If I hadn’t stood up in front of the window, they wouldn’t have spotted me, and we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“That was my fault. After all, you stood up to keep me from falling.” Which was kind of sweet, come to think of it.
Dan grunted, but I couldn’t tell if he was grunting yes or no.
Fant arched a doggie brow. SOMETIMES A GRUNT IS JUST A GRUNT. AND DOES IT REALLY MATTER? THE GUY’S IN PAIN, PROBABLY NOT THINKING STRAIGHT.
True, he’d refused to take any more medication until he got home.
When we got back to his townhouse, I followed him inside.
“No need to stay,” he said, scowling.
“Someone needs to,” I shot back. “You’re right-handed, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. So?”
“So you can’t use your right hand or your right arm at all for several days—the doctor said so. You’ll need help.”
“I’ll manage.”
Fang belched. HE’S A BIG GUY, HE CAN HANDLE IT. HOW ABOUT YOU FEED YOUR FAITHFUL HELLHOUND INSTEAD?
That’s right—in all the excitement, we hadn’t eaten lately. I regarded Dan doubtfully. “Tell you what, I’ll take Fang home and get him something to eat, then I’ll be back to see how you’re doing.”
“That’s not necessary—” Dan began, but I was already gone and out the door before he could object further.
I gave Fang some leftover pizza and decided to take the rest to Dan’s. Fang flopped down on the bed and refused to leave the room, declining to help me play nursemaid. I hurried back to Dan’s and didn’t knock, not giving him a chance to turn me away. From the sounds of it, he was in the kitchen.
He didn’t realize I was there yet so I watched as he got a can of Coke out of the refrigerator and tried to open it with his left hand. When it slipped away from him, he set it on the countertop and braced it against the refrigerator. But when he tried to pop the top, it shot across the slick side of the fridge like a greased pig.
He tried to grab it with his right hand, evidently forgetting his injury, and cursed in pain as the Coke spewed all over the kitchen floor.
Time to make my presence known. “I’ll get that,” I said and grabbed some paper towels.
“I can do it,” he snapped.
“I’m sure.” I glared up at him from my position on the floor. “But I can do it faster and easier. Stop playing macho man and go sit down in the living room. I’ll bring you a Coke.”
He glared at me, but stomped off anyway. I heated up the leftover pizza, put it on a couple of plates, and brought it in along with a fresh soda.
He regarded the pizza suspiciously. “What’s that for?”
“Eating.”
He flashed me a look of annoyance at my sarcastic tone, and I added, “The doctor said you’ll need something on your stomach when you take the pain pill. Don’t want you throwing up on top of everything else. Besides, we didn’t get dinner and I’m hungry.”
I took a piece and bit into it, then handed him his plate.
He took it, muttering, “You don’t need to wait on me.”
“Then who will?”
“No one. I can take care of myself.”
“Oh, really? Then how do you plan to get dressed? Shave? Take a shower? Drive? Cook?”
“Okay, you’ve made your point. I’ll find someone.”
But obviously, it wasn’t going to be his partner. No, he was too afraid of Lola breaking out and ravishing him or something. Idiot. His precious virtue was safe with me.
“Fine. As soon as they get here, I’ll leave. Who will you call?”
“I don’t know. Gwen maybe?”
“Oh, that’ll be a lot of fun for her. But she’s still at work now, you know.”
“She’ll help,” he said stubbornly. “Or my mother will.”
“Okay, but until then, you’re stuck with me.” I stared at him, shaking my head ruefully.
He swallowed a bite of pizza. “What?”
“Ramirez won’t be pleased when he learns you’re out of commission.”
Dan took a slug of his drink. “Who says I’m out of commission?”
I gestured at his bandaged shoulder. “That says so.”
“No, it doesn’t. I’m supposed to be the brains in this partnership, right?”
“Yeah, but—”
“Well, I sure as hell don’t think with my shoulder.”
“What do you think with, then? ’Cause right now, it sure isn’t your brain.”
Before Dan could answer, the doorbell rang.
I answered it, surprised to see Shade, still looking all dark and mysterious beneath his hoodie. With gloved hands, he pulled his unusually deep hood around his face so I couldn’t see inside. What was up with the guy? He glanced around, seeming a little nervous in the daylight. “Can I come in?”
I let him in and Dan grunted a greeting. Though I sat down and offered him a chair, Shade remained standing and spoke from the depths of his hood. “I saw your accident and reported it to Micah. He sent me to help.”
“As what?” I asked. “My new partner? How are you at staking vamps?”
“No,” Shade said. “I’m here to help your existing partner get back on his feet.”
I grinned. “Here’s the nursemaid you wanted, Dan.”
Dan shot Shade a look that clearly said, “No way.”
“Not exactly,” Shade said, sounding unperturbed. He paused and turned his hood in my direction. “Is it true you’re related to Micah?”
Yeah, but what did that have to do with anything? “Yes. At least, we think we’re distant cousins since we both have the same . . . demon.” Powers? Curse? I didn’t know what else to call it.
Shade made a questioning gesture toward Dan.
I shrugged, figuring I knew his unspoken question. “Oh, him? You can trust him.” After all, he’d kept my secret, even from his sister, even though he seemed annoyed by Lola
Shade hesitated, then said, “You know I’m . . . like you?”
“Part demon, you mean? I guessed it.” His mysterious manner was kind of a giveaway, plus the fact that he knew Fang and Micah. “What kind of demon are you?”
“A shadow demon.”
A what? “Sorry, I guess I haven’t been doing my homework lately. What exactly is a shadow demon?”
In answer, Shade pushed back his hood. Everywhere there should have been skin, there was . . . something else. He looked like a faint hologram outlining the shape of a man. But the insides shifted and swirled with dark streamers of light in all shades of gray. Clothing concealed most of the turmoil, but his features were totally obscured by churning ribbons of light, making it impossible to read his expression. Or even see his face for that matter.
It was a little unnerving, and I expected at least a comment from Dan, but t
here was nothing. Maybe it was the drugs, or the mesmerizing movement, or maybe because Dan had been asked to believe too many impossible things before breakfast, but this didn’t even seem to faze him.
The oddest thing was to hear a completely normal voice issue from that maelstrom. “Shadow demons can occupy more than one dimension. Since I’m part human, I exist mostly in this one, but still shift in and out of others as well.”
Fascinating. I’d have to read up on his kind.
“How will that help us?” Dan asked.
“I can pull energies from other dimensions—healing energies—but only if you both agree.”
Dan seemed torn and glanced at me doubtfully. I couldn’t read his mind, but I could guess about what was going through his head. He had thoroughly rejected my demon. Would it be hypocritical of him to accept the help of Shade’s?
“Do it,” I told him. The situations were entirely different, and we couldn’t afford the time for him to heal. “It’s not any different than going to an alternative healer, is it?” At least, I hoped so. I had no idea what Shade could do.
“Okay,” Dan said. “I’ll do it.”
That was a bit of a shocker. I’d expected a lot more argument out of him. But he probably hated feeling helpless, at my mercy. Yeah, that’d do it.
Shade’s endlessly moving face was still unreadable. Must come in really useful when playing poker. “Do you agree, Val?” he asked.
Looking puzzled, Dan asked, “Why does she need to agree? It’s me you’re healing.”
“Because to use this healing method, I must ground myself in a being of this world, one whose uninjured shoulder will not only act as a template to heal yours, but who will supply energy for the healing. As a partial demon herself with strong powers, Val is ideal.”
“Will it hurt her?” Dan asked.
He’d managed to surprise me again. Did he really care? Then again, it must be that hero thing again—his protective instinct coming to the fore. Kind of made me wish I needed protecting.
Shade shook his head, and the energies coiled wildly where his face should have been. “Not at all. It will drain her of some vitality, but nothing that can’t be repaired by a good night’s sleep.”
Kind of like what I had done to Dan. It seemed fitting to pay him back in this way. “Fair enough. Will it hurt you or Dan?”