by Parker Blue
“Why do you need one?” Austin asked, sitting down near me. Thankfully, not too near. Didn’t want to get Lola all riled up.
I told him what I’d learned and showed him what we’d found. “Do you know if Lisette has a vampire with this kind of belt buckle, or one named Adam Bukowski?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll ask.”
Austin went into the other room to call and I sat down at the computer. I might not know as much as Shade, but I could do a simple search. I found several people named Adam Bukowski on social networking sites, but I didn’t belong to any so I couldn’t check them out. I tried a few other search words along with it, but nothing seemed to pop up. And he no longer lived at the address on his license.
Austin came back in. “Any luck?” I asked him.
“No, she doesn’t know anyone by that name. How about you?”
“No, but I’m not very good at this,” I admitted.
“Move over,” he said, careful not to come too close. “Let me try.”
He tried the same things I did, and had a few tricks more, but didn’t turn up anything useful.
I tapped the wallet against my chin. “Hmm. Is it normal in this day and time to have nothing on the Internet about you?”
Austin shrugged. “It is for someone like me. You, too, I bet.”
I nodded. “Good point. Maybe Adam’s a demon.”
“Just what I was thinking.”
“How’s Lisette’s relationship with the local Demon Underground? They know each other well enough to share membership rosters?”
Austin shook his head. “I doubt it. They tolerate each other but don’t socialize. How about Micah? Would he know?”
“Maybe. But I know someone who definitely would.” Tessa, as Micah’s assistant, had all of the information on the Underground at her fingertips. “I’ll call her.”
I pulled out my phone and noticed that I had a voice mail from Micah. I rarely turned the ringer on since I didn’t want my Thriller ringtone belting out my location to any baddies looking for me.
Well, Micah could wait. I needed to call Tessa first.
“Hi, Tessa. Can I ask you a favor?”
“Uh, sure,” she said, sounding distracted. “What is it?”
“Do you know of a demon named Adam Bukowski in Austin or San Antonio?”
“Not offhand,” she said. “But I can look it up and call you back if I find out anything.”
“Okay, good. Or you can text me if I don’t answer.”
“Sure, sure. Say, Val, do you know where Micah is?”
“No. Why?”
“It’s probably nothing,” the soothsayer said. “He left last night to check on Gwen, but he didn’t come back to do his last set.”
“I have a voice mail from him. It probably explains everything. Let me call you back.”
“Okay, please do, right away.”
“You got it.”
I hung up and hit the buttons to listen to Micah’s voice mail. Only, it wasn’t Micah’s voice. “Hello, little Slayer,” the man said, almost playfully. “This is Asmodeus. I have your cousin and your roommate. If you ever want to see them alive again, meet me at Club Purgatory in Austin at noon, with the books in hand. We’ll trade.” He paused, then his voice turned more serious. “Oh, and in case you’re wondering if this is a hoax, take a look at the attached picture.”
Fear chilled me. Frantically, I thumbed through the necessary buttons to see the picture. Sure enough, it showed Micah looking angry and Gwen scared. Both were handcuffed to something behind them, Princess huddled beside Micah’s leg. This was real.
Oh, crap. What time had he called?
I checked the time and froze. He’d left it this morning. Noon had come and gone. What was I going to do?
And how was I going to tell Fang?
Chapter Fourteen
Micah closed his eyes against the light’s onslaught. He had another pounding headache, thanks to that second shot of Perdo. The fire demon and her boss apparently found it easier to move them when they were drugged, because she’d dumped them in another basement on another mattress. Or it could be the same mattress, for all he knew. But the basement was different.
This basement was only partially finished, with skeletal stud walls framing the space with sketchy rooms. At least it had what passed for a bathroom—a rudimentary one with just a toilet and sink. The chain linking Micah and Gwen together was a lot longer this time, hooked over a pipe in the ceiling near the bathroom so they could use the facilities.
Micah rose and tried to yank the pipe down with the chain, but it was too big, too sturdy to budge. And the high windows were too narrow to escape through. So, after they exhausted all the potential escape possibilities, they exchanged life stories. And when that got old, they told each other stories.
“I don’t get much time to read,” Gwen admitted. “Mostly, I just remember the fairy tales I heard as a child. You probably know all those.”
Micah nodded. “We demons probably had different bedtime stories than you did, but some of the ones you’re familiar with really happened, only they featured real demons or vampires in the starring roles.”
She stood and stared down at him. “Seriously?” At his nod, she said, “Don’t tell me which ones. I don’t want to know. What’s your favorite demon story?”
He regaled her with the story of the magickal talisman that could extend the power of an incubus or succubus indefinitely. The brave incubus used the talisman to rescue the girl, save the village, and let everyone live happily ever after.
When he finished, she said, “I see why you liked that one. Was that one of the true ones?”
Micah shrugged. “My father said it was, but I always assumed it was wishful thinking on his part.”
She nodded. “Wishful thinking… I know how futile that is.”
Damn it, Micah thought he’d distracted her for a while, but now she was sad again. “Gwen—”
She made an abortive gesture. “Not now, Micah, please. No platitudes. And, uh, I need to use the bathroom. Can you… ?”
“No problem.” He gave her the slack she needed to reach the facilities. Then, to give her as much privacy as he could, he turned his back and closed his eyes. His mind drifted to the upcoming vote of confidence. Talk about wishful thinking. After this mess—if they ever got out of it—the Underground would probably vote unanimously to kick him out altogether. Not that he’d blame them right now.
But he hadn’t been a bad leader. Maybe he’d relied too much on using the only role model he’d had as a guide, but who wouldn’t? His father had done a great job of keeping the Underground together—everyone said so. He’d made a lot of improvements to help demons and keep tabs on the vampires. And he’d done a lot of good for the community. If his father had failed to keep his people safe, surely it wasn’t intentional.
The chain attached to his handcuff jingled as Gwen flopped down on the mattress again. Micah opened his eyes a fraction. Gwen sat huddled at the opposite end, hugging her knees and rocking.
“Are you all right?” he asked. She’d held it together far better than he’d expected. Then again, she was an ER nurse, accustomed to dealing with horrible things on a daily basis.
“No,” she said in a small voice. “I’m scared.”
“It’s okay,” he reassured her. “I’m scared, too.”
“He’s been gone a long time, and Val was supposed to meet them at noon.” Gwen checked her watch. “It’s way past that now. What do you think is going on?”
“I have no idea.” Though he did have plenty of guesses, none of them good.
“What if Val doesn’t show up? What if she doesn’t give that monster the books?”
He’d run that scenario through his mind many times, and he didn’t like it at all. “Hey, look at me.” She turned to face him, worry on her face. “It’s okay. I’m sure Val and Fang are doing everything in their power to find us.”
MY HUMAN, TOO, Princess said.
“Yes, Shade, too,” Micah repeated for Gwen’s benefit. “Probably the whole Demon Underground.” He wanted to hug Gwen, comfort her, but that would bring her inside his personal field, and he knew it disturbed her when his incubus made her feel an unwanted pull toward him.
“Do you think he’s going to kill us?” Gwen whispered.
“No.” He toed the burger bag Asmodeus had brought them earlier. “Why would he bother to feed us and give us access to a bathroom and water if he intended to kill us?” Gwen had refused to eat, though Princess had no such problem, claiming she needed to eat for her puppies. Micah shrugged. “Maybe he gave Val the address and it’s taking her awhile to find us.”
“Which do you want?” Gwen asked.
“What do you mean?”
She paused, raising her head to study him intently. “Would you rather Val give in to his threats so he’ll release us and put the whole world at risk, or refuse him?”
Micah noticed she left off the obvious corollary—that their chances of living through this would be drastically reduced if Val refused to trade the books for their lives. He gave Gwen’s question some serious thought. Put the whole world in jeopardy or save the three of them? He’d come to respect and admire Gwen as he’d listened to her talk, and he had no desire to die, but… “I’d have to choose the rest of the world.”
Gwen sighed. “Yeah, me too.”
The question was, would Val see it that way?
NO, Princess declared. THEY WILL SAVE ME AND MY PUPPIES.
Maybe. “When he shot us the last time, why didn’t you run and get help?” Micah asked Princess. She could have saved herself, which was what he’d expected her to do.
Princess snuggled up to Gwen and licked her hand. MY HUMAN SAID TO PROTECT HER.
The mothering instinct, probably. Micah suppressed a sigh. Running away probably wouldn’t have done any good anyway, since she wouldn’t have been able to tell anyone where they’d been moved to. Micah assumed they were in Austin, since Carla and Asmodeus would want to be near the books and Val.
He relayed Princess’s thoughts, and Gwen stroked the hellhound’s ears. It seemed to make Gwen feel better. How could he help? Platitudes wouldn’t help, but maybe a viable alternative would. “Knowing Val, she’ll probably try to save everyone.”
“How?” Gwen asked.
Micah leaned his head against the wall and sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe give Asmodeus the books so he’ll release us, but follow him and stop him before he can use them—or they use him.”
Gwen gave him a crooked smile and raised her hand. “I vote for that plan.”
He tried to smile back, though he wasn’t sure how genuine it appeared. “Yeah, me too.” Her stomach growled and he picked up the burger bag and tossed it to her. “Here, eat something. It might make you feel better.”
She shook her head. “No. My stomach is churning so much, I don’t think I could keep anything down.”
How could he help her? There was one way. “Would you—” He stopped, not sure if he should ask this question. “Would you like a hug?”
She cast him a wary glance. “You mean you want to use my energy?”
“No, nothing like that. I can inspire desire in you, but I can also use my ability to make you feel calmer.”
She hugged her knees harder and darted a glance at him.
“I would never do anything to harm you,” Micah assured her softly. Then, hoping humor would help, he added, “Val would kill me if I did.”
Gwen hesitated for a moment longer, then said, “Okay, why not?” and scooted close.
He drew her under his arm, firmly controlling the incubus urge to draw on all that tempting feminine energy beside him. “Go ahead, relax.”
She sighed and put her arms around him, laying her head on his shoulder. He caressed her chakras with his power, sending calming energy through her body. He felt her tension ease, and was grateful he could do something to help her. Princess cuddled up against them, partially on his lap, partially on Gwen’s. The little spaniel had her own kind of calming influence.
They stayed that way, sharing each other’s warmth and comfort without saying a word until Micah heard footsteps upstairs. He jerked upright.
“What is it?” Gwen asked, looking besotted.
Princess scrambled off his lap and he untangled himself from Gwen’s arms, getting his personal field as far away from her as he could. “Someone’s upstairs.”
She rose to her feet and hugged herself. “Who? Val? Or Carla?”
“I don’t know.”
Micah heard someone start down the stairs. Hope and dread warred within him. Who was it?
BAD MAN, Princess declared.
Damn. Hope faded. Maybe he could wrap this chain around the demon’s neck and—
“Don’t try any funny business,” someone bellowed outside the door. “Or the girl and dog will regret it.”
The door slammed open and a large, powerful man stood there, glaring at them, pointing that damned dart gun.
“As—Asmodeus?” Gwen asked on a shaky breath.
“You got it, lady. Carla won’t be back. I don’t need her anymore, and she failed me too many times.”
Damn. Unlike Carla, this guy didn’t look like he had any weaknesses. Micah stood there, tense and ready for action if the opportunity presented itself.
“Guess the Slayer doesn’t think much of you two,” Asmodeus bit out, looking thoroughly pissed off. “She didn’t show up for the meeting.”
Gwen backed away and Princess stayed with her, growling a warning.
Fear for them surged through Micah, sickening and searing. “Maybe she didn’t get the message.” Micah needed to keep the guy talking and convince him not to do anything rash.
“I stayed for an hour,” the demon spat out. “She didn’t show.”
“Val sometimes forgets to charge her phone,” Gwen said, sounding frantic.
“Or she leaves it behind,” Micah added. “Or turns the ringer off so it won’t distract her. She hasn’t had one for very long so she forgets about it.”
When the demon frowned, Micah said, “Try calling her again. You wouldn’t want to miss out on trading us for the books, would you? Or I’ll give you the names of other demons who could track her down.”
Looking suspicious, Asmodeus said, “I don’t think so.”
Damn. How could Micah convince him. “Maybe—”
“Shut up,” the demon said. “Let me think.”
Well, if he was thinking, maybe he’d be smart enough to see that dead captives weren’t good bargaining chips. Micah exchanged a worried glance with Gwen.
Finally, Asmodeus raised his head, grinning. “I know what I’ll do.”
“What?” Micah dreaded the answer, yet needed to know.
Asmodeus laughed. “Give the Slayer more incentive.”
“What does that mean?” Gwen asked.
He paused, obviously playing with them.
OH, NO. Princess said, whimpering. HE’S A MAGE DEMON.
Not good. Not good at all. Jack had told them mage demons had only one power without the books. Trevor’s was a mind shield. What’s this guy’s power? he asked Princess.
I DON’T KNOW. Broadcasting to Asmodeus, Princess asked, WHAT’S YOUR POWER, MAGE DEMON?
He scowled. “So you figured out what I am, huh? It doesn’t matter now.” He gave them a tight smile that looked deadly. “I have the ability to reach into another dimension and pull back a damned soul and anchor it in a person’s body in this world.” He crooked his finger at Gwen, beckoning her to him. “I think you’ll do.”
Micah wasn’t sure what that meant, but it couldn’t be good. “No,” he said, holding back rage and fear. “You can’t.” How could he stop this?
Though she looked scared to death, Gwen asked, “Is it permanent?”
Asmodeus smiled. “Oh, yes, quite permanent. Unless I free you.”
“If I do this, will you let them go?” she asked and took a step towa
rd the demon.
Micah couldn’t let her sacrifice herself. “No,” he said firmly and reached out with his incubus powers to grab hold of her. “Gwen, don’t move.” His power wasn’t at full strength, thanks to the double shots of Perdo, but he could hold on to one woman.
She froze obediently.
Just in case, he grabbed the chain binding him to Gwen, pulling it until there was no slack on Gwen’s side and she couldn’t move without him letting go. Princess moved to put her small body protectively between Asmodeus and Gwen. But the Perdo still hadn’t worn off—how long could he hold her? Right about now, Micah wished he had that mythical amulet.
“Don’t be stupid,” the demon snapped at him. “Why would I accept her deal when I hold all the cards? I don’t need her permission. Or yours.”
Having nothing to lose, Micah rushed him, intent on wrapping the chain around his neck. But Asmodeus was too fast for him. He backed up the stairs quickly, and Micah came to an abrupt halt, knowing the chain would keep him from reaching the demon.
Asmodeus laughed. “I also don’t need to touch her.” Tucking the dart gun into his belt, he closed his eyes and raised his hands palms out, muttering something.
A spell?
Damn it, no. Micah rushed back and grabbed Gwen in a fierce hug, hoping that if he held her tight enough, if he held her fast in his own thrall, Asmodeus wouldn’t be able to subvert her soul to a damned one.
As Princess snapped and snarled, Asmodeus’s chant suddenly came to an end. And the woman in his arms changed. She still looked the same, still clung to him, but there was a vast difference. She didn’t feel the same and her expression turned sly, her hands aggressive. Worse, his incubus powers had been abruptly cut off from her.
“Gwen?” he asked uncertainly.
She looked up at him with a wicked smile. “I’m afraid not. You can call me Lilith.”
Chapter Fifteen
“What’s wrong, Val?” Austin asked.
I explained quickly, then called the kidnapper back at Micah’s number to tell him why I’d missed the meeting, hoping the guy hadn’t done anything rash. I never dialed so fast in my life. Crap. No answer.