Blood Song

by Cat Adams

  I trudged wearily up a set of concrete fire stairs until I reached the appropriate floor. Pushing open

  the door, I came face-to-face with a pair of men in almost identical navy suits with crisp white shirts

  and dark ties. Each also wore a barely perceptible little ear-radio and a gold cross and each discreetly

  held a single-shot pistol fil ed with holy water. They stood in front of the doorway looking stern and alert.

  Well, crap.

  “Good morning, ma’am. We’re with hotel security. We’d like to ask you a few questions.” Of course

  they would. Who wouldn’t at this point? I smiled pleasantly. I’d seen the security cameras downstairs. I

  wasn’t surprised that security had spotted me. My appearance was somewhat … irregular. “Of course.

  My name is Celia Graves. I am Mr. DeLuca’s former fiancée and I’ve just gotten back from a policesanctioned vampire hunt of the bat that tried to turn me dead. Mr. DeLuca and his brother, Father

  Matteo DeLuca, wil verify it. I’l be perfectly happy to wait here in the hal while you check with the

  police.”

  The larger man grimaced at the thought of us standing here, in the hal , in ful sight of any guests who

  might pass by. But I was too paranoid right then to go anywhere with someone I didn’t know. Hel , I was

  having a hard enough time with people I already knew.

  Yes, they looked like hotel security, but no, I wasn’t taking any chances. Besides, the odds of anyone

  actual y being up and wandering the hal s at this time of day were minimal. So long as we stayed quiet

  and didn’t wake anyone, everything should be just ducky.

  The shorter man reached to the smal black box affixed to his belt and began speaking very quietly to

  the dispatcher downstairs. It only took a few minutes for someone to cal the police, confirm my story,

  and get a detailed description of my appearance.

  “ A sanctioned vampire hunt, huh?” The big man looked down at me with some surprise. Apparently

  he wasn’t used to the idea of women being hunters. It also isn’t easy to get the authorities to give you

  the nod. They’re jaded about that sort of thing. I suppose it comes from al of the idiots and teenagers

  who go out and get drunk, then think they can take on the bats.

  “Looks like you got him.” His voice was low and respectful as he gestured at my bloodstained jeans.

  “Got one, anyway.”

  “There was more than one?” The shorter man sounded surprised. Obviously he’d never had to deal

  with vampires. His partner, however, was more savvy.

  “Aren’t there always?” The big guy shook his head sadly. “It’s why I stopped hunting. If you don’t get

  them al the first time, it just pisses the survivors off. You do not want to deal with a pissed-off bat.”

  “Think they’l be coming here?” The boy sounded both nervous and eager. He was so damned young.

  Or maybe I was just getting old. There’s more to age than chronology.

  The big man shook his head. “It’s daylight, John. The bats are al dead in their coffins for now. But

  we’l cal Maintenance, have the wards upped just in case.” He glanced down at the pale tan carpet that

  was now stained with a trail of drying blood in the shape of my shoes. Oops. “And Housekeeping.

  They’l want to get the carpet cleaned before the rest of the guests get up and moving.”

  He gave me a curt nod as I slid the plastic room key into its slot. “Good luck, Ms. Graves.” His

  expression grew very serious. “I hope you get the rest of them before they get you.”

  “Thanks. So do I.”

  I tried not to think too hard about his words as I stepped into the room and immediately slapped the DO

  NOT DISTURB sign onto the doorknob. That done, I ducked into the bathroom and stripped off my clothing. I

  didn’t want to think. I wanted a hot shower, a stiff drink, and sleep. Oh, God, how I wanted sleep. Yes, I

  was worried about Matteo and Bruno, but my body was on the verge of col apse. Only sheer

  stubbornness and fear of what might jump me unawares was keeping me upright. I needed rest; I was

  practical y useless. But I was afraid of what might happen if I gave in and closed my eyes. I stepped

  into the shower. The clothes were trashed. I had no idea what I was going to wear when I left this room,

  but I’d worry about that later. Right now I was cold and shaky from exhaustion and nerves. No big

  surprise. I’m one of those folks who do great during the crisis, then fal apart afterward, when the

  adrenaline drains off. I’d managed to hold it together long enough to get behind a locked door, but I was

  done. Stick a fork in me, not only done but also burned to a crackly, crunchy done. I turned the shower

  on ful blast, hot as I could stand it on ful -body massage, and stepped in, letting the water sluice over

  me in torrents, washing away blood, sweat, and, yes, tears.

  I don’t know how long I was in there. Long enough that my skin turned wrinkly. My water heater at

  home would’ve given out from the strain. But when I stepped out and dried off I felt better. Not good.

  That would’ve been expecting too much. But definitely better. I wrapped myself in a towel and stepped

  into the dim confines of the main room.

  I sank onto the edge of the bed and grabbed the telephone. Hitting the button for an outside line, I

  dialed Bruno’s cel number. It was answered on the first ring.

  “’Lo.”

  “Bruno?” It didn’t sound like Bruno. The voice was too low, with a basso rumble to it that seemed

  vaguely familiar but that I couldn’t quite place.

  “Who is this?”

  “Celia.”

  “Ah, Graves. I shoulda known. Hang on a sec. Sal wants to talk to ya.”

  Sal—as in Uncle Sal. Oh, crap. I’d been talking to Bruno’s cousin, Little Joey. No wonder the voice

  had sounded familiar. I’d only met him once, but he’s the kind of guy who leaves an indelible

  impression.

  A smooth baritone came onto the line. His voice was pleasant and cultured. Almost exactly like King

  Dahlmar. A part of me was absolutely positive Uncle Sal would sound pleasant and cultured ordering

  someone to break your kneecaps. Not that he would ever do such a terrible, wicked thing. The Italian

  Mafia was an invention of the media. Total fabrication.

  Right.

  Stil , whatever else you may say or believe about him, Uncle Sal never loses his cool. “Hel o, Celia.”

  “Hel o, Mr. DeGarmo.”

  “I assume you cal ed to check on my nephews?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Matteo came through the surgery just fine. He’s stable. The next few hours wil make al the

  difference.” He paused, and I waited, twitchy with nerves, for him to continue.

  “They’d drugged him pretty heavy, but he woke up about a half hour before dawn. Said she was

  cal ing him. Even drugged and on holy ground, he could hear her. He says her name is Lilith.”

  Oh, shit. She had enough control of his mind to introduce herself? That was so not good.

  “But he didn’t try to go. Said he could hear her, but he didn’t feel a pul , even though he remembered

  getting bit.”

  I let out the breath I’d been holding in a rush.

  “Bruno tel s me it was you who thought to look for the bite and clean it with holy water?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “That was smart.” He paused, like he wasn’t real y surprised. “Thank you.”

  I wasn’t quite sure how to respond. I mean, I would’ve done it for anybody. But he was thanking me,


  and I had to say something. “You’re welcome. It wasn’t a big deal.”

  “Maybe not at the time, but it wound up being important. So I’m going to give you some advice.”

  Al right then. Advice from Uncle Sal is like hearing from E. F. Hutton. He talks. You listen.

  “Don’t be coming down to the hospital. Bruno’d be glad to see you. Hel , Matty would, too, after that.

  But my sister … not so much. I’l tel the boys you cal ed.”

  “They admitted Bruno?” I was surprised. He hadn’t been hurt. A little shocky, but I hadn’t thought he’d

  been that bad off.

  “Exhaustion, overstraining his magic.” Sal chuckled. “I told him to stay put. He didn’t like it much. First

  time he’s ever real y argued with me. He wants to go after the bat that did this, but he’s not up to it. Not

  right now.” He gave a meaningful pause. “Neither are you. Daylight or no.”

  I wasn’t going to argue. He was right. Some of the real y old vamps don’t need much rest at al . A

  couple hours and they were as fresh as a daisy. They might not go out in daylight, but you couldn’t

  count on them being down for the count, either. Since she was old enough to be an übervamp, she was

  probably up and about by now. Of course, come nightfal , she’d be looking for me. She as much as said

  so.

  “I don’t plan on going hunting.” I was honest with him. “But she threatened me. We hurt her and kil ed

  her partner, and she blames me for that.”

  “So I heard.”

  I’d bet he had. I could just imagine Bruno saying it. Loudly. And it wouldn’t have made a damned bit of

  difference to Sal. Because, ultimately, Bruno is family. I’m not. Keeping him alive is more important to

  them than I am. More important to me, too, come to think of it.

  Sal kept talking. “So I made a cal ; told Archbishop Fuentes about this bat, how she could cal a priest

  on holy ground. He didn’t like the sound of that. Decided that maybe they should send some

  reinforcements in from Mexico and South America. A few dozen or so. You manage to lay low for a

  day or two, this could al be taken care of. ”

  Whoa. When he said it like that, I realized he was right. A vamp cal ing an ordained priest on holy

  ground? That probably raised a few eyebrows at the Vatican. “Thank you.” I meant it. I mean, not

  everybody would’ve been able or wil ing to do something like that, particularly not for their nephew’s exgirlfriend.

  “You’re welcome.” He quoted my own words back at me with just a hint of amusement. “It wasn’t a big

  deal. Take care of yourself.”

  “I’l try.”

  He said good-bye and hung up and I fol owed suit. For a couple of minutes I just sat on the edge of

  the bed, staring blankly at the opposite wal . Wow. Um … Wow. Okay, then.

  I decided I was going to strain myself if I thought too hard about it, and I was too tired to think

  coherently anyway. So without further ado I dropped the towel on the floor and climbed under the

  blankets. I was asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pil ow.

  21

  Dawna said, “You are the only thing standing in her way now. She’l kil you if she can.”

  I choked. “That’s the message?” I’d cal ed the office while waiting for Room Service to bring up my

  double order of tomato soup.

  “Not al of it, but yes. A little old lady came by and dropped it off, along with a pair of diamond earrings.

  She said her name was Dottie and I needed to make sure you got the message right away, that it was

  very important.”

  No kidding. Ya think? “When did she give it to you?”

  “About a half hour ago.”

  Wel , it wasn’t as if the vamp hadn’t told me as much. But dammit anyway.

  “She also said to tel you she was very sorry, she hoped you didn’t mind, but she showed those men

  your vision. They were most insistent. And they took your earrings. She couldn’t stop them. So she

  brought you these to replace them.” Dawna paused. “It looked like she had been crying.”

  Aww. They made a sweet old lady like her cry? It had to have been Dee and Dum. So that’s how they

  got hold of my memories. Jerks. No, more than jerks. Assholes. “She didn’t have to replace the

  earrings. They weren’t that valuable.”

  “I said you’d feel that way, but she insisted. And you should see these things. They’re like a carat

  each.”

  That didn’t make me feel any better. Worse, actual y. “Jeez. Yeah, wel , she shouldn’t have. She’s on

  a fixed income, for crying out loud.”

  “Wel , judging from the wear and tear on the box they’re in, they may be ones she already had. But if

  you don’t want them—”

  “Not a chance. I’m giving them back.” Poor Dottie. It real y ticked me off to think of Dee and Dum

  intimidating that sweet little old lady. I say again, Assholes. “Did she leave a number?”

  “No. She said she’d decided to go away for a while. She didn’t want to be around if anyone else came

  looking for her. But I was supposed to tel you it can stil work out al right, but you need to be very

  observant and remember your schooling. Oh, and she said, ‘Thank you.’”

  “For what?”

  “She didn’t say.”

  Since I hadn’t done anything nice yet, I had to assume it was typical clairvoyant stuff. Vicki had

  always been commenting on or thanking me in advance of things I was going to do. It was confusing

  and sometimes frustrating but part of the package. And while I would’ve liked to talk to Dottie again, if

  only to reassure her about the earrings, I was kind of glad she’d decided to go into hiding. I’d have felt

  worse than I already did if anything were to happen to her.

  Dawna broke the silence that had grown while I was lost in thought. “So, spil . What’s with you and

  Bruno? I could feel the tension between you. Hel , even Ron commented on it.”

  I didn’t see how Ron could’ve noticed anything. I mean he’d only seen Bruno and me together for

  maybe a minute and a half while the guys trooped upstairs.

  “There’s nothing going on. He’s here for work.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “Dawna.” My voice held a warning.

  “Fine, fine. Whatever you say. He’s stil smokin’ hot. Feel free to bring him by anytime so I can drool

  on him, if you’re not interested. Are you going to be in today?”

  I shook my head, even though she wouldn’t see it. “Not today. It’s already after one. I’ve got to go

  spread some ashes, and then I have a doctor’s appointment. And I’m going to my gran’s church right

  after. I want to be in sanctuary before dark.” I didn’t tel Dawna that I wasn’t planning on going to the

  office unless it was absolutely necessary until this mess cleared up. The office and the estate were the

  first places the bad guys would look for me. Ergo, they were the last places I wanted to be. As long as I

  wasn’t there, Dawna and the others should be safe. There were wards. And Bubba and the other bail

  bondsmen in the building were real hard cases. Nobody’d want to bother them if they didn’t have to.

  Staying away was the best I could do for them. Not nearly enough, considering the company I’d been

  forced to keep over the past couple of days. I cringed at the thought of the severed hand of our

  murdered pool boy.

  “Celia … are you okay?”

  Apparently I’d let the silence drag on too long again. I forced a
smile that I hoped she’d hear in my

  voice. “Just tired. It’s been a long couple of days.”

  “Amen to that.”

  “I’l cal in for messages.”

  She sighed and I knew she realized I wasn’t coming in. “Okay. Let me know if you need anything. And

  be sure to eat.”

  “I am, I am.” I was, too. Maybe not every four hours, but as often as I could manage. Hence the

  tomato soup.

  We hung up on that note, and I dialed the next number on my list. Bruno answered his own phone this

  time, on the first ring. His “Hel o” sounded irritable. Not the world’s best patient, eh? I fought down a

  snicker, even though I actual y had some sympathy for the nurses. Dealing with the DeLuca clan was

  so going beyond the normal cal of duty. Particularly Mama Rose. That woman is scary.

  “I cal ed ’cause I’m going to need to borrow some of your clothes. My stuff got ruined in the vampire

  hunt.”

  “Which clothes?”

  “Wel , I need some trousers, a clean shirt, and a hat.”

  “A hat.” He said it like he’d bit into something sour. I wasn’t surprised. In fact, I found myself grinning

  for the first time this morning.

  “Wel l …” I dragged the word out. His response was worth it. Pure Bruno DeLuca. It made me smile.

  “Dammit, Celia! The only hat I’ve got there is my Mets cap. Don’t you be touching my Mets cap.”

  I tried being reasonable, glad that he couldn’t see me laughing at his expense. “I don’t have any

  sunscreen here, Bruno. I can check down in the gift shop …” I paused for a long moment, letting my

  grin build. I knew the gift shop didn’t sel them. I’d already checked when I cal ed for the soup.

  He growled, but I could hear that he wasn’t serious. He was teasing, too … mostly. “I’m going to want

  that back before the game tomorrow night.”

  “You’re going to the game?” I’d been going to ask him to come with me. I don’t trust people easily, and

  I probably trust Bruno more than anyone else in the world. If I was meeting the king, I wanted somebody

  solid by my side. But if Bruno already had plans, I didn’t want to ruin them. Trust him to get tickets that

  were al but impossible for anyone else to come by. Yeah, the locals were rooting for the Angels, but the