by Liz Schulte
I hesitated. “So it’s angelic.” Playing dumb was better than tipping off the council any more than I already had.
She rolled her eyes. “You cannot escape your obligation to the council. Why do you insist on playing games? You will come back. It might as well be now. Show me where you saw the sign. If we find the angel, it will smooth the transition of accepting you back with no, shall we say, hard feelings.”
“My obligation to the council has been fulfilled ten times over. If I come back, it will be my terms and my choice alone.” I crumpled up the paper and tossed it in the river. “I have no interest in angels, nor do they have any interest in us. If you’re looking to recruit, my guess is you’re sniffing the wrong butt.”
“You have forty-eight hours, chol,” Leilah said as I walked away. “Don’t make me find you.”
I waved her off. Olivia wasn’t freeing the jinn; she was enslaving them.
The sound of my boots clicking against the floor as I paced up and down the hallway from Thomas’s cell to the kid’s cell was annoying even to me. Olivia had come and gone from Phoenix’s room and he was passed out again. Maggie was quiet as far as I could tell, though she was still inside the coffin.
I chewed on my fourth protein bar. I needed to get lunch. I plopped the last bit in my mouth, then yanked open the door to Thomas’s cell. He looked up from the corner where he sat, back against the wall, and blinked. “I didn’t think you would be the one.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know how they did it, but they broke my connection with the girl. You’ll be lucky if she doesn’t go insane. Connection is important to the stabilization of new vampires.”
I smiled a little, more to myself than him. Thomas misread the gesture, stood up and moved toward me with the lightning speed of a vampire. My fist stopped him short, connecting with his face, once, twice, maybe three times. Who’s counting?
He stumbled back a few steps. “Damn it, Femi. You’re supposed to at least ask a question before you resort to torture.”
“Oh, that wasn’t torture. That, you deserved.”
He flashed a crooked smile made less cute by blood. “Perhaps you’re right.”
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t tell Sy and Paolo you’re here.”
“I suppose it would be too much if I suggested you not turn me over for the sake of an old friend?” He raised an eyebrow and gave me a pouty lower lip. I considered hitting him again. “I thought so. Then do it for your current friends. I know things. Things that could help you.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Why would we believe you? You’re a liar.”
“Maybe I’ve turned over a new leaf.”
“And maybe I haven’t hit you enough.”
“Fine. Perhaps then you’ll believe me because it’s in my own best interest to help you now.”
That made more sense. “I’m listening.”’
“If I go back without the girl—or, at the very least, without a connection to her, they’ll kill me. Hell isn’t a very forgiving employer.”
I shook my head, but what I wanted to do was shake him. What kind of idiot willingly worked for Hell? Even if you did everything they wanted, it still never worked out well. “Sounds like someone should’ve asked the wizard for a brain. You can’t possibly be so stupid as to work for them. What’s wrong with you?”
He glared. “Sometimes the choices before us are less than desirable. I made the best of a bad situation. Neru was after me. I was ostracized from my people. Not only were bounty hunters tracking me, but vampires hunted me as well. I needed protection. Where do you get off being so self-righteous? You played no small part in putting me in that position.”
“Don’t even.” I held up a hand. “You found me. You’re the one who brought me into this. You put yourself in that position. You chose to traffic rare races. You got into bed with the devil long before you knew me.”
“I didn’t only get into bed with the devil.” He gave me a sultry look, switching tactics fast to keep me off balance. “And none of this would’ve happened had I not let you go.”
“I’ve got news for you. You never had me to let go of.”
A slow smile spread over his face. “I seem to remember it differently.”
I hit him again. It couldn’t be helped. It wasn’t my fault he made me feel homicidal. “I’d treasure that memory if I were you. You aren’t going to have many more.” I pulled out my phone and started dialing Sy.
“Wait,” Thomas said with just enough panic to stop me. “I meant it. I can help. They’re trying to find a pathway to Hell.”
“Why?” My finger hovered over send.
“They want to open the doorway so they can bring back something that can turn the angel. Lucifer wants her by his side. If she won’t go to him, he’ll bring Hell to her.”
“How?”
“I have no idea.” He splayed his hands.
“Why did they need your help?”
He sighed. “There’s supposedly a vampire who knows his way in and out of Hell. I might’ve told them I could find him, if they protected me.”
“Do you have any idea who it is?”
“Of course I do. Everyone knows, except the demons. If they spent more time with the rest of us and less time hanging out with each other, they wouldn’t have needed me.”
“And did you tell them?”
“Do I look stupid?”
He sort of did.
“Don’t answer that. If I tell them, then they don’t need me anymore. So instead, I found out the information they want. I know where the pathway is. If you and your friends agree to help me, I’ll share that knowledge with you instead of them.”
“None of this explains Maggie.”
He sighed. “They were getting impatient the longer I put them off, starting to lose confidence in me… . They wanted the girl and they wanted her compromised—apparently she can’t be possessed. I don’t know why they wanted her, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to do it.”
“Is that always your excuse? It’s time to face facts. You make bad decisions and expect other people to help you out of the holes you dig for yourself. For once, just take responsibility for the choices you make.”
I turned and left the room.
“Femi, wait—”
I shut the door. I had to think. Sy would expect me to tell him, but I couldn’t trust him not to bring in Paolo. It wasn’t that I didn’t think Thomas deserved whatever justice the vampires chose for him, but he might be useful. I stared at the closed door, chewing on my bottom lip. Yep, useful. That was the only reason to keep him around. It had nothing to do with the fact that he was fun and exciting and kind of adorable even if he always managed to be chest deep in shit. It definitely had nothing to do with the memory of his lips on my skin or the brush of his teeth over my—I shook myself out of the thought. Food. I needed food. This was obviously low blood sugar talking.
I started toward the sorry excuse for a kitchen, then heard a shuffle in the back room where the kid was. I made a quick detour in her direction, gun in hand. The little one was awake and looking around Holden’s room. Chuckles wasn’t much for personal items or decoration, so there wasn’t a lot to look at, but the kid seemed interested never the less. I slipped the gun back in its holster and knocked on the door. Her head snapped up, eyes wide.
I mimicked eating in the least threatening way I could and said, “Eat?”
She hesitated a moment, then came and took my hand. I led her to the kitchen and managed to find a box of macaroni and cheese I could make on the hot plate. She sat at the small table and watched. I slid two plates onto the table and took a seat across from her. She eyed my serving. “What? I’m bigger than you. I get more food.”
She gave me a confused look, but picked up her fork. What do you know? She couldn’t talk, but she could use a fork.
“Right. You don’t understand. No wonder Holden likes you. You’re quiet.” Still the kid just
stared at me. I sighed, pulled out my phone and found a picture of Holden. (Yes, it was the shirtless picture I took earlier, but it was the only one I had.) I zoomed in so it was mostly face and showed it to her. “Hol-den.”
She smiled and stretched for the phone, but I kept it just out of reach. “Hol-den.” I repeated to her.
“Hol. Den,” she dutifully repeated.
I smiled at her and pointed to the picture one more time.
“Holden,” she said confidently.
I nodded and clicked the phone off and took a bite. She watched every move I made. I pointed to myself. “Fem-ee.”
She looked around the room at everything but me.
“Come on. I gave you a bath. The least you could do is learn my name too. Femi.”
Still nothing. I gave up and resumed eating. By the time I finished my plate and the kid had scarfed down her pasta, I had a new theory to test. The girl obviously liked Holden. But was it because he was a jinni? For some reason I didn’t think so. I took her to Phoenix’s room and opened the door. He was groggy but awake.
“What’s that?” he asked sitting up and pointing at the kid.
The girl looked him over, still holding onto my hand. “Another one of our guests.”
“A little small for the cause, don’t you think?”
I moved her a couple steps closer. “Try to make friends,” I told him.
He leaned close, his black hair falling over his eye, and spoke softly. “Hey there, nice to meet you. What’s your name?”
The kid dropped my hand and sprinted out the door and down the hallway. I laughed. Smart kid. “Don’t take it personally. She doesn’t like many people.”
He shrugged and lit a cigarette. “I’m heart broken. Where is everyone?”
“Baker and Holden had things to do. Olivia’s on the other side of the building and you’ve been nominated to babysit the kid.” I batted my eyelashes at him. “Don’t let either vampire out of their cells and oh, if anything happens to that kid, Holden will set you on fire.”
The cigarette fell from his lips to the concrete floor. I smooshed it out. “That reminds me, one more thing, no smoking. See you later.”
I was halfway down the hallway before he caught up with me. “You aren’t serious, right? You aren’t really leaving me with a little girl.”
“You’ll be fine. She hardly bites at all. Just remember if you mess up, your life will be drastically shortened.” I closed the front door behind me.
Free at last. Don’t get me wrong, the kid was fine, but the last thing they were going to do was saddle me with babysitting constantly. I texted Baker to meet me at the Office, and beat him there. Sy beamed as I walked through the door. I took a stool in front of him.
“Please tell me you’re here for a bounty.”
“Nope. Information.” The smile vanished from his face. “Which vampire knows a way to the underworld?”
Sy froze. “Why?”
“I need to ask him a purely academic question.”
Sy’s silver eyes narrowed. “Why don’t I believe you?”
I held up my hand. “I solemnly swear I do not intend to use this information to gain entrance to the underworld. Seriously, I just need to ask him a couple things.”
He wiped down the bar for the hundredth time today. “And I just need the women in my life to stop giving me ulcers. How about this? You tell me your questions and I’ll get your answers.”
I leaned over the bar and motioned him closer. “No,” I said into his ear, then sat back again. “Look. Word is Hell is looking for a place to bring something really bad through. If they find the spot and we don’t know where it is, we can’t stop them. Trust me. None of us have any interest in the opening other than that.”
He rolled his eyes. “Can’t believe you haven’t heard the rumors already. I’m sure Holden or Baker have. Why haven’t you asked them?”
“Because they aren’t around and you are. Who is it?”
“Corbin.”
“No shit?” I hadn’t had much interaction with Corbin because I’d pretty much avoided vampires since Thomas, but I’d seen him around. Blond hair, accent, and lot of attitude. He’d fit in perfect. “What’s he like? Easy to work with?”
“Only if he likes you.” Sy smiled at me and I grinned back.
“Everyone likes me.” We both knew that wasn’t true, but I didn’t care. Everyone should like me. (Yes, they really should!)
Baker came through the door and headed in my direction. “Sy,” he said and stuck out his hand. “How’s life slinging beers to the peacekeepers?”
Sy shook, then pushed a cold glass to him. “Could be worse.”
Baker took a long drink. “I used to know the person who had this job before you.”
Sy’s smile stayed, but his eyes froze. “Did you?”
Baker nodded. “Sure did. We should talk sometime.”
Sy eyed him with a new appreciation. “Perhaps we should.”
I was so lost I was in another ZIP code.
Baker refocused on me. “Now what was the hustle, kitten?”
I didn’t miss Sy’s expression at Baker’s nickname, and I ushered him over to the table as far away from Sy as I could get. Sy and I definitely weren’t dating, but I didn’t need jealousy in my life. “I spoke with the prisoner.” I gave him a meaningful look and Baker nodded. “He confirmed Hell is looking for a way into our world. He said there’s a vampire who knows where it is.”
Baker nodded. “The rumor is Corbin knows, but I wouldn’t count on it.”
“Doesn’t hurt to check. Sy seemed to think it was better than rumor.”
Baker looked interested. “What did he say?”
“Not much in words, but he’s trying to protect me , which means we’re on the right track.”
“So we just need to see the vampire?”
“Yep. And he confirmed turning Maggie was intentional. They wanted Maggie compromised.”
Baker’s face darkened. “Why?”
“No idea. They know she can’t be possessed. Do you think it was to have something to hold over Holden?”
“Perhaps. So the prisoner volunteered all of this information to you?”
“He said he wants to help us. If he goes back without Maggie he’s as good as dead.”
“That almost makes me want to let him go.”
I laughed. “Tell me about it. He says he knows where the passage is, but if we can get that info on our own, we don’t need him. There are plenty of people looking for him right now. We’d have our pick of those who’d love to take care of him for us—and we might make a new ally by handing him over.”
Baker nodded. “I guess we’re going to see a vampire.” He stood up. “Speaking of taking care of, weren’t you supposed to be watching the kid? Is Holden back already?”
“Left her with Phoenix. I told him if anything happened to her Holden would light him up.”
“Probably not far from the truth.”
I waved to Sy as we left. “What did you find out?” I asked when we were outside.
“The angel’s binding the jinn to her as she frees them.”
She was building an army who she could force to be loyal to her. Smart. “Why didn’t she do the same to Holden?”
Baker shrugged. “I don’t think she planned on freeing him. I think it was an accident or Olivia hijacked her powers for a moment and did it herself. Doesn’t really matter either way, though. She doesn’t need to bind Holden. She already has him. Especially if she keeps Olivia hostage. He’ll stand with her through anything.”
The apartment door was a dark blue-green and bore a heavy golden knob directly in its center—just as I remembered it. Nothing had changed. That’s what happened when you lived in a two hundred year old apartment building. My phone buzzed with a message from Baker telling me what he and Femi had found. I scanned the text quickly and slipped the phone back into my pocket. I knocked. I didn’t know if Sybil still lived here or if she had moved on year
s ago—as a general rule we didn’t live anywhere more than five years—but at least it was a place to start looking. Footsteps approached the door and I waited.
Sybil answered the door, looking the same as she always did, with her gypsy skirt, unruly hair, and dark eyes. A jinni and a succubus. Ours had been more of a partnership than a romance; it was a simpler time. Together we made several fortunes and brought companies to their knees. We made quite the pair.
“Have you come to kill me?” she asked.
“Not today,” I answered just as conversationally.
“Then why bother.” She tried to shut her door, but I held it open. She huffed. “Fine, since you insist, come in.” She stepped aside. “I expected you sooner.”
Everything about her dwelling was exactly the same. The same clutter and messy stacks everywhere I looked, and, of course, no mirrors. The same cloying smell of cloves and nearly spoiled fruit. I went over and opened a window. “I’ve been busy,” I said.
When I turned back, she was lighting a cigarette. “It is like no time has passed—but we both know that isn’t the case. Much has changed. You for example.”
I gave her a single nod. “Life is change.”
“Oui. Look who is now the philosopher.” She blew a ring of smoke in my direction. “When do you plan to kill me, philosopher?”
“When it suits me.”
Her tongue darted over her lower lip and her pupils dilated. “Is that today?”
I shook my head. “I already said it wasn’t.”
“You wouldn’t have come all the way to France to be vague. There must be a reason. Let me hear it.”
“What did they offer you, Sybil?”
She took a long draw on her cigarette. “I can’t see how that matters now. I failed to weaken the angel, therefore I did not receive what was promised. The past is behind me.”
“Yes, but what did you want?”
She jutted her chin up. “Why?”
“Perhaps there could be a counter offer for your services.”
A slow smile spread over her full lips. “I knew you would tire of the angel. When they told me you had left, I was happy for you. You were never one to be ruled, but aligning with an angel? That was unexpected. But a clever, clever ploy.”