Once Bitten (Shadow Guild: The Rebel)
Page 14
Would the patrons turn to stone if they met the gazes of the three gorgons?
Between that and the lava room at the witches’ party, it was clear these supernaturals liked some danger with their nights out.
The halls we walked down were as confusing as ever, and I could feel my mind starting to fuzz. Whatever had been in the air last time was here again, making it difficult to determine where I was in the building. If I returned, I’d never find my way back without a guide.
The hostess stopped at the wooden door and knocked. I heard nothing, but she must have picked up a signal, because after a pause, she let us in.
I followed her into the room, realizing that the Devil was alone this time. The two guards no longer stood behind his desk, and I wondered if he had dismissed them right before I arrived.
“A guest for you, sir,” the hostess said.
“I can see that, Miranda. Thank you.” He didn't so much as look at her. No—the entire time, his gaze was glued to me.
Miranda slipped out the door, shutting it noiselessly behind her.
Silence hung heavy in the air as I inspected him. He was as impossibly handsome as I remembered, lounging in the chair behind his desk. His broad shoulders filled out his suit perfectly, and his gray tie lay flat against his muscular chest. I could imagine him strangling someone with that tie, and I wasn’t sure what that said about me.
I shook the thought away.
“Please sit.” He gestured to the chair in front of his desk.
I looked at it like it was a snake. If I sat, it would be that much harder to fight back. To run. “No, thank you.”
“Understood.” He stood, his movements graceful, and walked around the side of the desk.
I stepped back, determined to keep my distance. The memory of his touch sent heat shivering through me, and I didn’t need that kind of distraction. I had no idea why I was kind of into the fear—probably some predator magic of his making me feel this way—but I certainly didn’t need to encourage it.
“Well?” he asked. “Did you find your man?”
“First, I need to clear something up.”
“Yes?”
“When you are looking for me, don’t use your mind control powers on my friends.”
“What do you mean?”
“You used mind control on my friend Eve. Don’t do that. Ever.”
“Friends already, are you?”
“Yeah, and I don’t have many of those, so I’m going to protect her.”
A small smile tugged at his lips. “I quite like you.”
“It’s not mutual. And it never will be if you treat my friends like that.” I couldn’t imagine ever liking him. It was such a weak word for a man like him. Loathe, lust, love.
Love?
Where had that one come from?
Insane to even think the word. It had to be magic. Hell, in this world, anything I didn’t like I could explain away with magic. Convenient.
I gave him a hard look. “Before we go any further, I need to know why you are interested in this murder.”
“Murder is always interesting.”
“Don’t try to smooth-talk me. I’m still not one hundred percent convinced you don’t have some role to play in this.”
“Yet you returned here?” Concern flickered across his face. “You should protect yourself better. If you think I’m involved, you shouldn’t be here. It’s dangerous, and I don’t like it.”
“You know nothing about me.”
“I’d like to change that. For example, you seem very invested in this murder.”
“Um, I’m wanted for a string of serial killings. My face is on posters in pubs. Of course I’m invested in clearing my name.” My throat tightened at the thought of Beatrix.
“That’s not the only reason.”
“How do you know?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I can feel it.”
“Some bastard killed my friend, okay?” The words burst out of me. “My only friend, a year ago. And I found her dead.”
“The woman you asked me about.” His voice was softer.
“Yes. And there were no leads until this guy ended up dead with the same little spiral burn on his neck.”
He nodded. “I see. I’m sorry.”
I shook away the thoughts, hardening my face as I crossed my arms over my chest and raised an eyebrow. “Tell me more about your interest in this murder.”
I could tell from his dissatisfied expression that he wanted to ask me more about Beatrix, but he just nodded. “Fine. I like to keep track of everything that happens in this city. And I believe that there may be a necromancer in town.”
Just like Mac suspected. “And that’s bad?”
“Exceedingly. They are powerful, dangerous, and unscrupulous. There is one particular necromancer that I’ve clashed with since I came to England.”
“From where?”
“I thought you didn’t want to get to know each other.”
“Fine.” I didn’t really need that information, anyway. “So you think the killer might be this necromancer?”
“Yes. And I think he might be up to something that threatens me and my empire. An acquaintance tipped me off that he came into town about a year ago. At the same time, a valuable dagger of mine was stolen. Perhaps by him.”
“You think he used it in the murder.”
“It was capable of great magic, so yes, it is possible. When our victim was killed, there was a flare of magic—likely from a spell performed at the time. I tracked that magic and was going to investigate the scene when you showed up.”
I supposed the story worked. And the flare of magic described the crazy symbol inside the victim’s chest. There was no way I’d be letting my guard down, though. “You have no idea what this necromancer is after?”
“No.”
“Why haven’t you looked for him, then? Why give me clues?”
“Because you’re competent and skilled and will get the job done. Leaving me free to spend my time on other things.”
“Like?” He’d better be trying to solve this damned murder, too, if I was going to trust him.
“I’ve been hunting the necromancer here in Guild City.”
“Caught him yet?”
“Sadly, no.” His voice had a wry lilt that I liked. “But there have been flares of dark magic at the churches surrounding Guild City. Ones in the human realm.”
“That’s strange that he would be in the human realm.”
“Not that strange. Many supernatural live and work there. You’ve just never seen them.”
“Right. Say I believe you. Say you have nothing to do with this at all. Where do we go from here? Do you have any clues for me?”
“I was rather hoping you’d have some for me.”
“I did find something.” I hesitated.
He moved nearer, his steps slow, as if he wanted to avoid startling me. I thrust out a hand. “No closer.”
“Nervous?”
His mind control power didn’t work on me, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t afraid of him. “You’re a vampire, for God’s sake. With fangs and maybe even super speed.”
“Yes to both, but I don’t attack unarmed women.”
“Armed ones?”
“Rarely. And only if they’re out for my head.”
“I suppose that’s fair.”
He shrugged. “I’m a feminist vampire.”
“Vlad the Impaler is a feminist?”
“Searching for history?”
“I don’t even know your name. Everyone just calls you the Devil.”
“If it fits….”
“It does. But I’d like a name.”
“Grey.”
“As in shadows?”
“As in Gardens.”
My jaw nearly dropped at the joke. He could joke? “Grey Gardens?”
“Of course as in shadows.” He leaned against the desk. “Now, do you trust me enough to tell me what you found in the body?”
A small smile stretched across his face, a smile of pure satisfaction.
“You know what it is?” I demanded.
“Not exactly. But I know we can use it to track the killer.”
“Couldn’t we have used the spiral-shaped burn mark to track him?”
“No. That’s a generic mark of necromancer magic. Small and untrackable because it contains so little magic.” He pointed to the phone. “That is evidence of powerful magic. Big enough to leave a stain on the victim and the murderer. The Sorcerers’ Guild can perform a spell that will locate the person who also bears this mark on their soul. That will be our killer.”
“Holy crap, we’re close?”
“Perhaps. Would you like to come with me?”
“To the Sorcerers’ Guild?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “For a price, they’ll track our killer.”
“You’re paying?”
“Of course.”
“Okay, let’s do it.”
He nodded, another satisfied smile stretching across his handsome face. Somehow, I felt trapped, the first course of this vampire’s dinner.
15
The Devil
Satisfaction roared through me when Carrow agreed to visit the Sorcerers’ Guild at my side. I’d told her the truth about the necromancer and his likely goals—but I didn’t like hearing that the entire police force was after her. It roused a protective instinct in me I’d thought long dead. Guild City was a fine place to live, but being unable to return to London would make it a cage.
“Come.” I strode around her, inhaling her scent as I passed.
Lavender.
And something intrinsically her that I liked very much but couldn’t identify. Both scents were so faint that I drew in the aroma more deeply just to get the barest taste of it. Oh, how I wished I could smell her better. It made me feel more alive, somehow. Reminding me that I’d only been existing these many years—not truly living.
Ice man.
The strongest urge surged through me to turn around and pull her into my arms. I resisted, moving toward the door without looking back at her. She found my intense attention uncomfortable, and I needed to remember that. For now.
Not to mention, every second I spent with her, I wanted to bite her. I hadn’t wanted to bite someone in centuries.
But her…
Yes.
I shook away the thought as best I could and strode down the hall.
Her footsteps caught up to mine, and she joined me, shoulder to shoulder.
“You have a contact at the Sorcerers’ Guild?” she asked.
“I have contacts everywhere.”
“What now? Do we walk up and knock on their door?”
“Not quite. But we will walk there.”
“Yeah. No cars in town, right?”
“Just motorcycles.”
“You don’t ride?”
“Who needs a ride when I can turn into a bat and fly?”
She choked. “You…what?”
“Joking.”
“I didn’t think vampires had a sense of humor.”
I shrugged. “We are enigmas.”
She huffed a dry laugh.
The club was busy as we passed through, but the crowd parted before us. It was a perk of owning the place. Of owning the whole town, actually. People got out of my way.
We passed the hostess stand, and I leaned closer to Miranda.
“Yes, sir?”
“If I’m not back by closing, see that the shifters come to the Sorcerers’ Guild. They’re to find Carrow and get her out.”
She nodded. “Consider it done.”
“Thank you.”
The night air welcomed Carrow and me, the moon shining bright over the city in front of us.
“What was that about shifters?” Carrow asked.
“The shifters are my bodyguards, though I don’t bring them with me often. And the Sorcerers’ Guild doesn’t . . . like me. If it doesn’t go well there today, the shifters will rescue you.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll be dead.”
She stumbled, and I stopped to meet her gaze. I raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”
“You’ll be…dead?”
“It’s highly unlikely. But if we do run into trouble, I’ll get you out of there or die trying.”
Her jaw slackened a bit. And frankly, the words shocked me as well. This urge to protect…I’d never felt it before, but it was real. It hung from me like an ill-fitting coat, but one that felt somehow natural.
“If you think you’re going to die, why not bring the shifters with us?”
“As I said, highly unlikely. Paranoia is suffocating. But being prepared is the only way to make it in this world.”
“True enough.” She started walking again, and I joined her. “Where is this place?”
“Two towers over. Not far.”
We walked in silence, but I found myself itching to ask about her. What was her life like on the outside? Who was she?
This strange curiosity was unsettling.
Fortunately, there was more than enough to distract me on the streets of Guild City. The streets between my tower and that of the Sorcerers’ Guild were a party zone, and the bars were busy. We passed drunken supernaturals of all kinds, and I could feel her interest.
“Have you not met many supernaturals before?” I asked, unable to help myself.
“No. Not until the murder.”
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t know this world existed.”
“But you’re part of it.”
“On the outskirts, at best.” She sounded wistful, and I wanted to fix whatever made her feel left out.
What the hell was happening to me?
“How is that possible?” I asked.
“None of your business.”
Maybe, but I wanted to know more about her. I wanted to know everything about her. I craved the information like I’d once craved blood. Like I craved her blood.
I was going insane.
Fortunately, we’d arrived at the Sorcerers’ Guild. It provided a welcome distraction.
The tower was taller than any other guild tower, a monstrosity of dark gray granite that speared the night sky and dwarfed the towers around it. Only the clock tower was larger, and it was on the other side of town.
“Creepy.” Carrow started toward the front door, an enormous black thing studded with iron.
I reached for her, then clenched my hand into a fist, drawing it back. I couldn’t touch her. If I did, I might not stop.
“Not that way.” My voice was rusty.
She turned, brows raised. “That’s the door.”
“Precisely. We can’t enter that way. Come.” I turned and walked toward the city wall to the left of the tower, heading for a set of stairs secreted in the stone. I pressed my hand against a rough surface, and a section of the wall slid away, revealing the hidden steps.
I ascended quickly, and she followed. Despite her light footsteps, it was impossible not to be aware of her.
The top of the wall was empty at this hour, and I turned left toward the tower soaring upward. The stone was dark and smooth, rising high into the sky.
“So, this place is full of sorcerers?” Carrow asked.
“Yes. They specialize in spells.”
“Don’t the witches do that?”
“Yes, but different types of spells. The witches will sell you spells to take on your way. Useful things, but often not quite as powerful or dangerous as what the sorcerers sell.” I slanted her a look. “That’s not to say the witches aren’t as powerful as the sorcerers. They’re more so, but they don’t share their strongest magic.”
“Untrusting?”
“Very. Each guild has a motto. Theirs is, ‘We are the daughters of
the witches you could not burn.’”
“They got caught up in the witch burnings?”
I nodded. “And they haven’t forgotten.”
“So then, if you want something powerful, you come to the sorcerers, and they sell it to you?”
“Exactly. But they insist on performing the spell, too. Unlike the witches, they don’t sell spells to go.”
“No magical takeaway from these guys, huh?”
I felt a smile crack my face and forced it back. “No.”
“What’s their motto?”
“‘Our own, first. Always.’”
“It sounds like they wouldn’t spit on you if you were on fire.”
“That’s accurate.” I stopped in front of the stone wall. There was nothing here—no door or window or light fixture. At least, not that the eye could see. Quickly, I located the stone that I wanted and tapped twice.
Pale magic sparked in the air, and faint wisps of light swirled in front of the stone.
“What are you doing?” Carrow asked.
“Secret entrance. Most of the sorcerers . . . don’t like me.”
“But you do have a contact inside?”
“I do, and this door was built especially for my use.”
“This is who you are, then? Someone who has secret power all over the city, lurking around like a giant bat?”
A rare grin cracked my face, and I almost felt a laugh rise to the surface. Almost. I looked down at her. “A giant bat?”
“You’re the one who made the flying joke.” She grinned up at me, so beautiful in the moonlight that it hurt to look at her. The glow of the moon seemed to give her a bit of extra color that my turned eyes couldn’t normally pick up.
My gaze lingered on the smooth skin of her throat, and I swallowed hard. There was something about her—about her energy and her spirit, as strange as it sounded—that called to me. I couldn’t compel her, and I liked that. But it was more than that. Strange to feel so much for someone I’d known so little . . . and bloody uncomfortable.
“You know, because you’re a vampire,” she clarified.
I’d been staring at her in silence for too long, and she’d taken it for confusion. “I understand,” I said.