by Laken Cane
But she was Rune, and she stood silent and still and did not move.
“If I could,” Strad said, “I would give it all to you.”
Lex smiled, very slightly, a tired, sad smile that was not really a smile at all. “It would kill me, Berserker.”
Rune smiled when Lex used her name for Strad.
“What can I do?” he asked.
“Let me touch you.”
He took her hand and put it on his wrist.
The others watched. Rune barely breathed as she waited, aware something different was about to happen.
Lex wrapped her fingers around the berserker’s wrist and closed her eyes.
He stiffened, his breath leaving him in a soft grunt. He looked poised for flight. But in the end he stayed where he was and let Lex do what she needed to do.
Lex opened her eyes, and even in the relative darkness, Rune could see a difference. The dullness had been replaced by the spark that had gone missing the day COS had taken her.
She reached for Rune. “Now you.”
Rune knelt on her other side, mystified as she caught Strad’s gaze. She gave Lex her arm. “Whatever you need.”
Lex wrapped her fingers around Rune’s arm in a grip tight enough to hurt. Connected by their addictions and their blood, the three of them…fed.
Rune stiffened, moaning as a rush of power roared through her.
“Shit,” someone whispered.
She thought it might have been Owen, and for a brief second she needed to include him, to include all her crew in the wonder, the bliss, the protection.
But then, she didn’t think at all.
Just felt.
Blindly, she reached out a hand and when the berserker took it, something changed. Something completed, shifted, and became…
Right.
They fed from the energy. From the power.
When the zings of power faded, she found Jack leaning over her, his hand out.
He helped her to her feet, and she shook off the feeling of cat-like laziness that had overtaken her. She wanted to writhe on the ground and purr in contentment. But at the same time, she was so full of energy she could barely stand still.
“You were glowing,” Jack said, a hint of envy in his voice. “You all were. Or,” he hesitated, shaking his head in confusion, “whatever surrounded you three was glowing.”
“A circle,” Lex said.
“I don’t know what just happened,” Rune said. “But it was amazing. I feel almost complete.”
Almost, because still, something was missing.
Strad nodded. “Yeah.”
Lex climbed out of her chair, shoving away the helping hand Raze offered her. “I’m good now. I’m better than normal. Physically, at least. When we get the twins, I’ll be perfect.”
Rune shot out her silver claws, because she was unable to contain them. There was simply too much energy. “I need a battle.”
“There’s a battle coming,” Lex said, her voice grim. She vibrated forcefully, and then the vibrations became so fast it appeared as though her body was still. But the crew knew it was not. Her eyes were dancing crazily.
Lex was right. She was better.
Ellis put his arm around her. “I’m so glad you’re okay, Lex.” But inside his eyes lurked desperate questions.
“They’re alive, sweet Ellie,” Lex said. “I have no other answers.”
He nodded and let go of her, his fingers going to the slight bulge of the hidden fang. “I wish I could fight. All I can do is watch as the rest of you save the world.”
“Ellie,” Rune said, softly. “You know better. The crew works because of you.”
He pursed his lips, then sighed. “I don’t want to whine. I want to matter.”
“As if you don’t,” Raze said, glaring. “You’re the center of the crew. You hold us together. You’re the…”
“Touchstone,” Rune said. There was no doubt in her mind. Without Ellis, the crew would be different. Less. As would the world.
“Touchstone,” Lex echoed. “Yes.”
And just that abruptly, as gooseflesh erupted on her skin, Rune realized what was missing. “We should have included them all in that circle.”
“And we will,” Strad said.
“Yes. Let’s get our twins. The crew is incomplete.”
“Somebody give me a blade,” Lex said.
Raze grinned. He slid a blade from its sheath, and without hesitating, threw it.
And though she knew what Lex was capable of, Rune tensed.
Lex snatched the blade from the air. “Now,” she said. “I’m ready.”
Even the billowy hospital gown couldn’t take away from the blind Other’s confidence, her strength, her badassery.
Rune high-fived her. “Damn right.”
And the dark, cold winter fled as the bright beginnings of spring assumed command.
Chapter Fourteen
“Raze wanted to know what happened to me,” Lex told Rune later, as they headed to RISC to meet the new master.
Rune glanced at the girl. “Yeah?”
“I didn’t tell him anything.”
“He can handle it, Lex. If you decide to talk.”
“Maybe,” Lex said. “I know he has a thing for me. Or he thinks he does. But he doesn’t know what he’d be in for.”
“Yes, he does. He does know.”
“Maybe,” Lex repeated, and finished the ride staring out her window, silent.
When Rune pulled into the RISC parking lot, she sat for a long moment watching Lex. “Are you okay?”
“I’m better than I was before I fed from you.” Lex turned her face toward Rune and offered her a quick smile. “My body is nearly healed.”
“Nearly?”
But Lex wasn’t ready to talk about it, and it was with shameful relief that Rune acknowledged that. She wasn’t exactly eager to hear about Lex’s torment.
“I discovered,” Lex said as they walked to the building, “I can survive anything that happens to me. I can even handle what the twins are going through.”
“But?” Rune opened the door.
“I don’t think I can survive losing them. I don’t think I can.”
“You can,” Rune said. “You won’t want to. But,” she added, unable not to, “we’ll find the twins. Alive.”
“Not if we don’t hurry,” Lex said, her blunt honesty almost too much for Rune.
Ten days. They had ten days before the church killed the twins. And that wasn’t a hell of a lot of time.
When she walked into the conference room with Lex, she didn’t automatically seek out the vampire master.
Someone else held her immediate attention.
“Elizabeth.” She was a little surprised by how happy she was to see the woman. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
Elizabeth Peel still wasn’t healthy, but she no longer looked like she was about to kiss the grim reaper. She sported half-moons under her eyes, stark against the pallor of her face. “Rune,” she greeted. “Hello, Lex. I’m happy to see you’re both well.”
“Are you back?” she asked Elizabeth.
“I’m going to ease into work, but yes. I’m back.”
“Good. How are Fie and George?”
Elizabeth sighed. “George still isn’t conscious. Lane placed Stefanie in emergency foster care until I can prove myself a worthy mother. It’s a long process.”
Lane was with River County Children’s Services and one of the few people Rune would have trusted with Fie and George. “Fie will be okay for now, then,” she told Elizabeth, who, despite her attempts at remaining cool, was showing signs of worry. “You can trust Lane.” Still, she was concerned. The child was a necromancer, and there were those who would be eager to exploit her.
“Yes,” Elizabeth said. “But Fie needs to be with me. I do hate delays.”
“Rune,” Bill Rice called.
Raze and Jack walked into the room, followed by Owen and, though Rune knew what it cost him, Ellis
.
She drew in a deep breath and didn’t pull away when Lex took her hand. It was time to meet the vampire.
With her crew beside her, she walked to Rice, the master, and the two vampires at Kelic’s back.
“Ah,” said Rice. “Shiv Crew. Meet master vampire Simon Kelic. Simon, this is Rune Alexander and her crew.”
Before Rune could say anything, Ellis rushed forward. He yanked the fang from beneath his shirt, then shook it at the vampires. “Back!”
The two vampires with Simon hit the wall with a force almost strong enough to leave two vampire shaped holes in it. They screamed, covered their eyes, and then their flesh began to bubble and blacken.
“Ellie,” Rune yelled. “Put it away.”
Simon crouched behind the table, his arms over his head.
“Oh, my goodness,” Ellis said, watching them with part disbelief, part delight. “It really works.”
Jack grinned.
Rune strode to Ellis. “Put it away, Ellie. Please.”
But she was glad Ellis had taken the initiative to reassure himself. And she was overjoyed the tooth only affected her if she touched it. To the vampires, the mere sight of it was agonizing.
And now they knew.
Half an hour later the vampires were once again calm—relatively speaking—and their burned flesh had healed. But not one of them would get near Ellis.
He was thrilled.
Elizabeth and Bill apologized profusely, maybe to make up for Rune and the crew’s lack of remorse.
Simon spoke only once to Ellis. “What is that?” His voice was hoarse as he darted his stunned gaze from Ellis’s face to his shirt, where Ellie had finally hidden the fang.
“Something to keep the vampires away,” Ellis answered. He smiled.
And finally, they got back to business as Rice once more began to make introductions.
Rune took Simon’s proffered hand.
He was around five feet ten inches tall, maybe closer to five eleven. His hair was on the short side and dark blond. He must have been twenty five, thirty at the most, when he’d turned. His eyes were green and friendly.
Just an ordinary guy.
But Rune knew better than to underestimate the monsters. Simon’s physical appearance didn’t matter. He was a vampire. A master vampire.
“May I ask,” Simon said, “what you are?”
“No,” she replied. “You may not.” She didn’t want to tell a fucking vampire master that she wasn’t sure exactly what all she was.
She withdrew her hand and introduced her crew. Simon appeared sufficiently impressed by them, especially by Raze and Jack. Every new person they met was impressed by the sizes of Raze and Jack.
Strad was one of the giants as well—the biggest of them all. But Strad wasn’t there. He was on Spikemoss Mountain with his birds. With Cree Stark.
Then she forgot about Strad as Simon caught sight of Lex.
If he’d been alive, his breath might have caught. His face might have paled, his lips tightened.
But he was a vampire, and he’d been schooling his features for God knew how long.
Rune saw anyway. Maybe because she was a monster herself, or maybe because she was just that observant.
Lex was introduced to him. She automatically held her hand out for him to take.
He eyed it with something close to horror.
Simon did not like Alexis Love. And it wasn’t simply that he didn’t like her—he was repulsed by her. He pulled back, the slightest bit, and dug his fingers into his thighs.
The room quieted.
“What,” Rune asked, her voice flat, “is the fucking problem?”
Lex let her hand drop to her side. “Me?” she asked.
Ellis put his arm around her, squeezing the fang with his free hand.
Raze had stiffened and glared at the vampire. He wasn’t the only one. The entire crew caressed silver shivs, ready to take Simon out.
The two vampires Simon had brought with him watched impassively, standing with the characteristic stillness of the vampire.
Elizabeth stood between her people and the vampires. She never lost her calm expression, and her voice was steady when she spoke. “Mr. Kelic. Is something wrong?”
He shuttered his eyes and shot a smile at the crew. “I apologize.” His voice held the slightest hint of a British accent. He glanced at Lex again. “The last time I was this close to a demon, it nearly destroyed me.” He studied her intently, appearing not to notice that everyone in the room was staring at him with disbelief. “Can you tell me,” he said to Rune, “just what sort of demon it is?”
It.
Lex’s body began to jerk with fast, hard vibrations. “Me?” she asked again. “Is he talking about me?”
“You’re mistaken, Kelic,” Rune said. “Lex is not a demon.”
“Clearly she is,” he disagreed. “She appears to be a Kourgya. The vibrations…” he frowned. “But the eyes. I’ve not seen that before in a demon.”
“Are you stupid?” Rune asked him. “Are you a stupid fucking vampire?”
He focused on Rune. “I do not believe so.” His words were suddenly stilted. He knew he’d fucked up. He gave an odd little bow. “Again, I apologize.”
“You’re not very old, are you?” Rune asked, genuinely curious. He couldn’t have been an old vampire—he was too socially awkward.
“No,” he admitted. “I’m not.”
“What do you mean?” Lex asked. “Why did you call me a demon?”
The vampire blinked, a spark of confusion in his eyes. And maybe a touch of fear.
“Lex, he has no idea what he’s talking about.” Rune squeezed Lex’s hand.
Simon gave a quick nod. “Your mistress is correct, Ms. Love. I was mistaken.”
“Mistress?” Lex asked. “Mistress?”
“Dude,” Jack said. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
The vampire ignored Jack and kept his stare on Rune. “I’m not old, that’s true. But I have the keen senses of any vampire. Are you not her…” he gestured. “Do you not command her? Call her?”
“But what do you mean?” Lex asked.
Finally, Simon faced Lex. “All demons must be held, for lack of a better word, or they will grow sick and their power will fade. I sensed a connection between Rune and you.” He inclined his head. “Unfortunately for me, I was careless with my words. Perhaps the connection I perceived was nothing more than the bonds of friendship.”
The crew looked at each other, quick, uneasy glances that spoke volumes. They all remembered Lex’s episodes. They remembered her getting better after she met Rune. Maybe Ellis’s exercises and dances had not made her better. Maybe Rune’s blood had not made her better. Maybe Rune had.
And maybe, just maybe, that was why Rune had been able to heal her.
Because Lex was a demon—half demon, at least—and she was Rune’s to call. To hold. To command.
Of course, what Simon sensed could have been Lex’s addiction to Rune’s blood.
Rune rubbed her temples. Fuck me.
“What does this mean?” Lex asked, her voice a monotone. “That I’m a slave to someone? Again?”
Rune ground her teeth. “Lex, you know better than that. You’re not a demon and I’m not your fucking bitch of a mother. We’re exactly who we were before this dead fuck came in here and opened his mouth.”
Simon sighed. “I’ve made mess of things.” He took Elizabeth’s hand and looked at Rice. “I will assume this means Spiritgrove is off the table.”
“Do not assume anything, Simon. Will you excuse us for a moment?” Elizabeth asked.
“My men and I will wait in the hall,” he said, a hopefulness in his tone that was impossible to mistake.
Elizabeth nodded and waited until the vampires had cleared the room before she spoke. “I’m sorry our meeting went so far off track, but the fact remains that we need a decent master in this city. He’s awkward, but I like him. He’s the least…vampire-like vampir
e I’ve ever met.”
“He’s a clumsy moron,” Rune said.
But she knew Rice and Elizabeth had already decided. River County had a new vampire master, and his name was Simon Kelic.
Chapter Fifteen
“You doing okay, Lex?” Lex was dragging, and whether she’d admit it or not, in need of some rest. Rune was taking the girl to her house, having already convinced Lex to stay with her until the twins returned home. But first they were going to check on Gunnar.
Somehow, she’d come to care about a ghoul. A ghoul.
“I guess,” Lex said. Then, “What would it mean to be a demon?”
“I don’t know. Maybe we can do some research.”
Lex snorted. “Yeah. I’ll google support groups for demons.”
“Kelic’s an idiot, baby.”
Lex shrugged. “Maybe he’s not. I could be anything.” She paused. “Or nothing.”
“Doesn’t matter what you label yourself. You’re pretty amazing.”
“I don’t know one member of Shiv Crew who isn’t special,” Lex said, smiling. “So I suppose you’re right.”
“I’m glad you’re back, Lex.”
“How are you doing after…” Lex gestured. “Z.”
Rune’s breath caught. “I’m devastated. Full of regret. Grieving. But I’m dealing with it.”
“You’re getting stronger.”
“I am.”
“When you manage to wade through such deep shit, what choice do you have, right?”
“If it doesn’t kill you…”
“Yeah.”
When they arrived at Wormwood, Rune pulled three Baby Ruth candy bars from the glove box. “I’ll be quick,” she told Lex. “You want to come with me or wait in the car?”
Lex stared through the windshield toward the gated graveyard, which was lit with infrequently placed lampposts. “I’ll wait. Say hi to the ghoul for me.”
Gunnar the Ghoul stood just inside the gates, his hands clasped behind his back.
He was dressed all in black, except for a faded, once white shirt beneath a tattered vest. His topcoat was long, reaching the tops of his muddy black boots. He’d even found a battered stovepipe hat somewhere and had placed it atop his mass of tangled black hair.