Smoke (The Slayer Chronicles Book 1)

by Val St. Crowe

  “No,” I said.

  “But you didn’t look for very long.”

  “There weren’t many missing dragons,” I said. “Not all of the rogues are shifters who’ve lost their human side. Some are just beasts, nothing more. Out here, where practically no dragons live, you wouldn’t expect to find a shifter-rogue.”

  His jaw twitched. He went back to the tire.

  I set down my bow. Now I felt stupid. I had nothing to do at all. I wanted to bully him into letting me change the tire, but that seemed idiotic. So, I did nothing. I played with the hem of my shirt, twisting it around my forefinger.

  “You’re good with the bow,” he said without looking at me. “The way you run and shoot like that. So fast. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “It’s the style I thought made the best sense,” I said. “Some slayers think it’s better to remain stationary, out of sight of the dragon. That way you can be really accurate and ideally kill with your first shot. But I don’t see that as practical. Dragons fly away. Dragons attack. They’re breathing fire at you. Sometimes, they use magic. You have to keep moving. So, I’d rather sacrifice a bit of accuracy for speed and versatility. Besides, the more I practice, the more accurate I get, which means I’m fast and deadly.”

  Rogues had a lot of magic, but they weren’t very good at using it most of the time. They never used compulsion, for instance. Most of their telekinesis involved plowing you over or knocking you down. They weren’t much for complex moves, like picking someone up and dangling them in the air.

  “It’s impressive,” he said. “You’re impressive.”

  “Honestly?” I said. “I don’t see what’s so impressive about it. I’m not even sure why you need me. You’re a dragon. If you see Reign, can’t you just shift and go hook your claws into her back and drag her home?”

  He was standing over the trunk, pulling out the spare tire. “Maybe. I don’t know. I’ve never tried.”

  “You want help with the tire?”

  “No, I’m fine.” He lifted it easily and came back around to fit it to the side of the car. “I’m starting to get a little bored with reassuring you that I need your help. You’re brilliant. You’re talented. You’re skillful. You’re amazing. You’ve got no reason to be insecure, and I think—”

  “I’m not insecure,” I protested.

  “You keep going on about how much I don’t need you,” he said. “And I’m telling you, I do need you.”

  “I just don’t want to get in your way, that’s all,” I said. “I never want to be a problem for someone else. Dead weight.”

  “You aren’t. You’re nothing like that.”

  “All right, fine. Great. Just… you stay out of my way too, okay?”

  He laughed softly as he started to put the lug nuts back on. “Bewildered. I’m bewildered.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “What was that?” Naelen hit the brakes so hard that I was flung forward into my seatbelt painfully.

  “You mean that loud banging noise?” I said.

  He put the car in park. “I think that was a tire. Another tire.”

  “What?” I said. “That can’t be. We just had a flat.”

  He got out. “Yeah, we got another flat.”

  I got out and came around the car to look. That was bad. “But-but,” I sputtered, “we don’t have another spare.”

  “I know,” he said. “I’ll just have to call the rental company to come out and bring us another car.”

  “Seriously?” I said.

  “Well, I was going to have to do that anyway, considering we can’t drive around on a spare forever.”

  I guessed that was true.

  Naelen got out his phone, and he paced in front of the car as he spoke to the someone at the rental company.

  I climbed in the driver’s seat and turned the car off. I took the keys out of the ignition and dropped them on the front seat.

  By that time, Naelen was off the phone.

  “It’s going to take a while,” he said.

  “How long?” I said.

  “A while,” he said. “They couldn’t give me an estimate. See, to come out here, they’d need two people and two cars. One to drive the car they’re going to leave us and one to drive another car for them to get back in. They also said they’d call a tow truck for this car.” He gestured. “But they seemed to think that no one would be able to tow it until tomorrow morning at the earliest.”

  I made a face. “They aren’t going to leave us here overnight, are they?”

  “No,” he said. “Of course not.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Of course,” he said again, but he didn’t sound as sure as he had the first time.

  I sighed heavily.

  “We won’t be here overnight,” he said. “I promise you, I’ll find some way to get out of here before then.”

  * * *

  But the sun started to set and there was no sign of anyone coming.

  Naelen tried to call the rental company back, but there was no answer, and the answering machine said that they had closed at five.

  I tried to call a cab from Highpoint, but Highpoint didn’t have a cab service.

  We weren’t sure what we were going to do. We thought we might have to walk back into town, but we weren’t sure how long that would take.

  And then I saw a light inside the house. It winked on and then winked off, like someone signaling with a flashlight.

  “Did you see that?” I asked Naelen.

  “See what?” he said.

  “Some kids are probably up there. It’s probably party time,” I said.

  “Then why didn’t we see their cars pull up?” said Naelen.

  “Maybe they parked somewhere else,” I said, heading toward the house. “Maybe they’ll know how to get back into town.” I raised my voice. “Hello!”

  Naelen grabbed my arm, stopping me. “Hey,” he said in a fierce whisper. “We don’t know what’s up there. Don’t yell at it.”

  And just like that, fear went through me again, like it had back in the barn. I hated the fear, hated being ruled by it. I wasn’t going to let myself feel it this time. I was going to fight it.

  So, I shook Naelen off. “Don’t be silly,” I said, but my voice was quiet now.

  “What exactly did you see?” He was still whispering.

  “A light,” I said. “Like a flashlight.” I was whispering too.

  “Well, I don’t see anything now.”

  “It was in that window,” I said. “All the way at the top of the house. What’d you see when you went looking in there?”

  “I never got to the top level. That rogue flew out, and I went to shift.”

  “Oh,” I said. “Well, I think we should check it out.” Because cowering in fear was dumb. It was beneath me.

  “Maybe we just… wait,” he said.

  “You’re not afraid of going in the house, are you?”

  He scoffed. “Afraid? No.”

  I started forward. “Let’s go.”

  “Damn it, Clarke.” But he followed me.

  The steps to the porch were rickety and they groaned when I stepped onto them. I remembered earlier, thinking that the wood was probably too rotted to hold much weight. I needed to go carefully. I tested the next step before making it, gripping the wooden railing as I did so.

  The wood felt rough under my palm. I thought about splinters, pictured the wood slicing into my fingers.

  And then, before I could help it, I pictured the porch erupting in shards of thick wood, each of them piercing me. My arms, my legs, my stomach, my chest, my—

  What the hell was wrong with me? I shook myself.

  I swallowed hard and then took another step, testing the wood ahead of me first. It creaked.

  There was an answering creak behind me. I jumped.

  I turned. Geez. It was only Naelen.

  “Do you see anything?” he whispered.

  “Shh,” I said. I went up the l
ast step and found myself on the porch. The old planks of wood stretched out on either side of me. It was dark, and I could see the shadows of dead leaves and old, discarded beer cans littering the floor.

  There, ahead, a hole in the porch, wood broken away. Tall grass grew up through it.

  I gave the hole a wide berth, stepping around it. I didn’t want to go through the porch. Hell, I bet there were snakes living under there. That grass was tall, and snakes liked warm dark places. I could just imagine falling down through there with a crash. And then feeling the smooth scaliness of one slithering over my foot.

  I shivered. Goosebumps rose on my arms in spite of the fact it was still warm outside.

  The door to the house stood in front of me. The screen door was hanging off its hinges, and the door inside was ajar a few inches. Inside, there was only blackness.

  I inched forward, afraid to put too much weight on my feet.

  The wood moaned under my weight.

  I shuffled toward the door.

  Finally, I made it there, and I reached out to touch it. My fingers brushed the old wood, and I was hit with an old, musty smell.

  I hesitated.

  And then I pushed the door open.

  It creaked on its hinges.

  Inside, I could see nothing but pitch dark. I didn’t want to walk forward into that blackness. But Naelen was behind me, and if I didn’t do it, he’d know that I was afraid, and I couldn’t lose face in front of him.

  I took a deep breath.

  Bad idea. The musty air invaded my lungs, and I coughed.

  And then I heard a noise from within. Something coming forward on heavy feet. Footsteps against the floor.

  Abruptly, the door opened and something came out. Something with wings.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “Clarke?”

  I had my knife out, internally cursing myself for not bringing my bow and arrows along.

  But the thing with wings wasn’t a dragon. It was a gargoyle, and I recognized him. “Logan?” I gasped.

  “What are you doing here?” he said.

  “What am I doing here?” I said. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m crashing here, because I couldn’t scrounge together the cash for the hotel in town, and my credit cards are maxed out,” he said.

  “But why here? Why Highpoint?”

  “I’m working a job,” he said.

  “Um,” said Naelen. “You two know each other?”

  I held up a finger in Naelen’s face, still looking at Logan. “What kind of job?”

  “Nasty vampire nest,” he said. “Typical drill. They set up, offer to erase people’s debts for a little blood, but the people end up blood slaves, compelled and forced to feed the vamps until the vamps get bored. The head bad guy’s called Cunningham. Ronan Cunningham.”

  “Mr. Cunningham?” I said. “We met him last night. He’s no vampire. He’s something more powerful. He compelled Naelen.”

  Logan seemed to notice Naelen for the first time. “Oh, hello,” he said.

  “Hi,” said Naelen.

  The two of them looked each other over.

  “No offense, but who is this guy?” said Logan. Then he creased his brow. “Wait a second. Is he the reason you shut me down back in Sea City?”

  “Shut him down?” said Naelen, whose brow was also pretty creased. “Who is this, Clarke?”

  I held up both hands. “Both of you, stop.” I took a deep breath. I turned to Logan. “I told you I had a job. He’s the person who hired me. His name is Naelen Spencer.” Then I turned to Naelen. “Naelen, this is Logan. He’s, um, a childhood friend. And, uh, a colleague, sort of.”

  “You’re a dragon slayer?” said Naelen.

  “Among other things,” said Logan, offering Naelen his hand. “Uh, nice to meet you.”

  “Yeah,” said Naelen, shaking his hand.

  “So, what’s your job?” said Logan, letting go of Naelen and turning back to me. “You after Cunningham too?”

  “We’re looking for Naelen’s missing sister,” I said.

  “Okay,” said Logan. “Uh… why are you doing that?”

  “Because she’s missing,” I said.

  “Yeah, but it’s not really your thing,” he said.

  “She might be a rogue,” I said.

  “Oh,” said Logan. He turned back to Naelen. “Shit. I’m sorry. So, uh, you’re a dragon?”

  “That’s right,” said Naelen.

  “And Cunningham compelled you.” Logan walked across the porch and paused on the steps. “That doesn’t make any sense,” he said to himself.

  “If he was crashing here, why didn’t we see him earlier?” said Naelen.

  “He’s stone during the day,” I said, “and you didn’t go upstairs.” I raised my voice. “Logan, do you have a flashlight or something. I thought I saw—”

  “Damned thing ran out of batteries,” he said. “Came on, and then went right off. Why?”

  “I was just making sure that what I saw earlier was you.”

  He walked down the steps and alighted on the lawn.

  I went after him, and Naelen followed me.

  Logan looked up. “So what are you doing out here?”

  “I just told you,” I said.

  “You explained why you’re at Highpoint, but not why you’re out at this house,” he said.

  “Well, we were following a lead,” I said. “But then we got two flat tires, and we were waiting for the rental people to show up, but we don’t know if they’re coming—”

  “They’re coming,” said Naelen.

  “Well, you need a ride back into town?” he said. “My truck’s parked over that hill over there.”

  “I’m sure the rental company will be here soon,” said Naelen. “There’s no problem with waiting a little longer.”

  “Okay, so he’s going to wait, then,” said Logan. “But that doesn’t mean you have to, Clarke. How about I give you a ride, at least?” He smiled.

  Naelen cleared his throat. “Actually, I guess it doesn’t really make any sense to sit out here in the dark when they probably closed at five o’clock.”

  “No, it doesn’t,” I said.

  “So, you both want a ride?” said Logan.

  “Please,” I said.

  * * *

  There was a knock on the adjoining room of my hotel room. I went over to open the door. “Hey,” I said.

  “You never told me about this Logan person,” said Naelen.

  “Well, I didn’t think he’d show up here,” I said. “I mean talk about your weird coincidences.”

  “Who is he?”

  “I told you who he was.”

  “You said you didn’t have a boyfriend.”

  “I don’t,” I said, folding my arms over my chest. “Why do you care?”

  “I don’t,” said Naelen, straightening up. “I’m curious, that’s all.”

  “Well, maybe it’s none of your business.”

  “It is if you lied to me.”

  “He’s not my boyfriend.”

  “So, what was that comment?” said Naelen. “About your shutting him down?”

  I squinted at him. “Why did you hone in on that? Besides, that could mean anything.”

  “You’re involved with him.” Naelen lifted his chin as if daring me to contradict him.

  I sighed. “It’s complicated.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Seriously?”

  “Not that kind of ‘it’s complicated,’” I said. “Not like a Facebook status. It seriously is complicated. We used to be together. But we’re not anymore. And it never really worked anyway, because we grew up together, so we’re practically like brother and sister.”

  “Yeah, he’s definitely eyeing you with a brotherly gaze there.”

  “What do you care?” I said again.

  He looked down at his shoes. “I don’t,” he said again.

  We were quiet.

  “Okay, then,” I said. “Well, if that’s all…?
” I moved to shut the adjoining door.

  “Wait,” he said. “Where is he now? What’s he going to do about Mr. Cunningham?”

  “I don’t know,” I said.

  And there was a knock at my door. My other door. The one that led to the hall. I looked at the door and then back at Naelen. “I should probably get that.”

  “Okay,” he said.

  I started to shut the adjoining door.

  Naelen caught the door and kept me from closing it. He pushed his way into my hotel room.

  “What are you doing?” I said.

  There was another knock at the door.

  “Answer the door,” he said, folding his arms over his chest.

  “Go back into your room,” I said.

  He didn’t move.

  I glared at him. “You can’t just come into my room,” I said.

  “Technically, I’m paying for this room.”

  My jaw dropped. “If it’s going to be like that, keep your damned room. I’ll be on the next bus back to Sea City. You can find your sister on your own.”

  There was another knock on the door. “Hey, Clarke, you in there?” called the unmistakable voice of Logan.

  “I knew it was him,” said Naelen, narrowing his eyes.

  “What is your problem?” I said to Naelen. “Why are you being like this?”

  “Clarke, I can hear you in there,” called Logan.

  Letting out a frustrated noise, I stalked across the room and opened the door to let Logan in. “Hi,” I said, holding the door wide open so that he had a view of Naelen.

  “Oh,” said Logan. “Am I interrupting something?”

  “Just me trying to kick Naelen out of my room,” I said through clenched teeth.

  Logan strode into the room, holding out his hand to Naelen. “Hey, good to see you again.”

  Grudgingly, Naelen shook hands with him. “Good to see you too.”

  “Any word from the rental company?”

  “Yes, they did make it out there,” said Naelen. “They’ve brought us a new car to the hotel.”

  “That was nice of them,” said Logan.

  “Well, I am paying them well for their service.”

  “Ah.” Logan nodded. He turned to look at me, raising his eyebrows.

  I glowered at him. “What are you doing here, Logan?” Right now, I basically wanted them both out of my hair. I felt very stressed out for some reason. If they would both shut up, maybe I could figure out why.