Mystik Warrior: (Dark Warrior Alliance Book 2)

by Brenda Trim

  Lucky for Jacque, a human male chose that moment to wander down the street and pass the opening of the alley a few feet from where they stood. The human male was heavily tattooed with piercings and wore a cape over black clothing. The guy turned his head and smiled at their group, proudly displaying fangs in his mouth. Jace shook his head. He would never understand humans and the things they did.

  “You disgrace the name of vampire. You fail to consider how others in the realm will view this behavior. You will work with the Dark Warriors here in New Orleans to deliver my message to every bluidy vampire in this city. Engaging openly in feeding of any kind is unacceptable and forbidden. Use discretion in your dalliances. I will have eyes and ears everywhere. Anyone caught will become my personal guest in the dungeons of Zeum. Now, get yourself together, you have work to do,” Zander turned on his heel and stalked away. If this guy knew what was good for him, he would follow orders. Zander never made threats he didn’t follow through on.

  As they turned to leave the alley, Bhric picked up where they had left off. “I say we go to Old Absinthe House like Killian suggested. We are running around this city blind, maybe someone there can help. ‘Tis too bad none of the NOLA Dark Warriors have ever had a need for Marie Laveau.”

  “Despite the fact that the only reason you want to go to Absinthe is to get your booze and babes, I do think it is the wisest course of action,” Gerrick added. Jace didn’t know if he agreed or not. If they went into this club it wasn’t going to be a quick visit with Bhric sating his needs, but they were running out of options.

  “Lead the way, brathair,” Zander replied tersely. The king was still clearly upset by the vampire’s behavior.

  Undaunted by the irritation in Zander’s tone, Bhric took out his cell phone and pulled up directions to the well-known bar. The bar had been established over two hundred years earlier by two cambions, and contained various levels. The ground floor was for humans while the levels below ground were for the supernaturals. Only select humans were aware of the lower levels.

  “We aren’t far. Follow me, I know the way,” Bhric said as he waved his phone in the air.

  As they got closer to Bienville and Bourbon, more and more supernatural creatures were milling about. A group of imps, Valkyrie, and nymphs giggled as they passed, waving at Bhric. Jace grabbed hold of Bhric’s arm and kept him moving forward. If he stopped with that large group they’d be there all night.

  Tendrils of various types of enchantments flooded the night sky. He scanned the area searching for enemies, but with so many supernaturals in one place his senses were bombarded with energy. The rush invigorated him. He needed to concentrate so he could distinguish and separate the various colored lights associated with the different creatures. Magic wielders were the only creatures capable of seeing the festival of colors emitted by magic.

  He focused and the first species he noticed was the Valkyrie and the luminescent threads of the spell they used to bind and hide their wings. There was a large group of the females standing outside the club. He continued his search and detected no threat. He took a moment to soak in the power around him. It fed his soul like nothing he had ever known. If it wasn’t for his magic, he’d have lost his mind centuries ago.

  The red light the vampires gave off flared, drawing his attention. A nearby group of vampires caught sight of their king and bowed to Zander, while a couple light demons nodded their heads in recognition. Zander acknowledged them as they entered the busy establishment, and encountered wall-to-wall humans. Jace looked around for the entrance to the supernatural section.

  “Killian said we enter the lower levels through the janitor’s closet. The entrance is monitored by a brownie,” Bhric shared as if he’d read Jace’s mind.

  They made their way past the ancient wood bar, which proudly displayed its centuries of use. The antique fixtures winked in the low lighting. They were a contrast to the jerseys and helmets hanging from the exposed cypress beams of the ceiling. Somehow the combination worked for this place.

  They reached a short hall, and Jace noticed several doors lined both sides. They stopped at the one labeled “Janitor”. Zander opened the door and led the way into the small space.

  Jace watched a smile of recognition spread across Zander’s face as he addressed the brownie. “Clarence, ‘tis been too bluidy long. How have you been?” Zander bent his large frame and held his hand out towards the four-foot male. Zander’s hand engulfed the small, delicate-looking hand.

  Clarence smiled wide, revealing yellowed, blunt teeth. “It’s good to see you too, mate. I’m doing well. Pedro and Francisco are good to me. Rumor has it that you’ve mated, and now I can see that is true. The colors of your completed soul are truly amazing. You must tell me all about her.” The elf-like creatures had the ability to see people’s aura, and work earth magic so it was no surprise that he could see the colors of the mating. Jace only hoped Zander didn’t indulge the small male or they would never get out of there.

  Zander settled his free hand on the small creature’s shoulder. “Aye, the rumors are indeed true. I have found my other half and she is beyond anything I ever hoped for, but, that is a story for another time. I’m afraid we are here for an urgent matter involving my mate’s sister. She was enchanted by a Fae, and we need assistance. Are either Pedro or Francisco here?”

  Large brown eyes became even bigger. “Oh no, that is terrible. Yes, they are both here. I will let them know you wish an audience. Go right on through to one of the back tables.” The brownie nodded his bald head to Bhric, then Jace and Gerrick as he crossed to the back wall and began muttering words in his native tongue.

  Jace watched the orange and yellow light emanate from his fingertips, and a door appeared where there was once a smooth wood-panel covered wall. Jace had never cared for the smell of nightclubs, he thought, as sex, sweat, cigarette smoke, and alcohol hit him the moment Clarence opened the glowing door.

  A steep, stone staircase led the way to the revelry below. Torches hung on the walls and provided the only illumination. As Bhric brushed past and began descending, Jace noted the vampire’s fangs were out and his eyes were glowing. They’d be getting no help from him until the vampire had a drink, or two. Sighing, Jace followed the others down.

  The bump and grind of bodies enveloped Jace as he reached the bottom step. The supernatural floor of the club was much like upstairs, with the antique wood floors and a large aged bar. The difference was in the clientele. Supernaturals came in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and most couldn’t blend in with human society without drawing attention. He looked around and saw Bhric hadn’t wasted time grabbing a drink at the bar. Several empty shot glasses were already upside down in front of him and he was grabbing a bottle from the bartender.

  The atmosphere of the club was intimate, and Jace found himself missing Cailyn something fierce. He wanted to explore and learn every inch of her, from her breasts to her sex. It was more than a want. He needed to have her as much as he needed his next breath. For the millionth time he wondered at his reaction to this particular female. He didn’t ponder that long, as nausea hit him, and bile rose in his throat. He hated the way his mouth watered and turned sour.

  He forced a deep breath in and out. Where was the bathroom? He frantically searched over the patron’s heads. Goddess, he was pathetic. A little arousal and he couldn’t get to the toilet fast enough. Long ago he’d given up the expectation that his suffering would ever end, or that he’d have a normal relationship. But one tiny human entered his life, and breathed new life into his hope. It was a useless emotion in his opinion, and he hated that he had even a smidgen of it. As he started to spiral downward, a large heavy hand landed on his shoulder, bringing him back from the edge. He looked back and held Zander’s steadying gaze. He was the only person who knew what Jace had gone through all those centuries ago.

  “Put it oot of your head, I need you to focus right now. Cailyn needs you. Are you good now?” Zander asked after a few seconds.
<
br />   “Yeah. I’m good.” It was a struggle, but the reminder of the danger Cailyn faced pulled him back from the edge.

  “Okay, follow Gerrick to that back table over there,” Zander instructed, as he pointed to an empty table in the corner. Together they crossed the busy dance floor and he slid into the booth before Zander.

  A male fire demon approached the table. Fire demons were creatures whose flawless, luminescent skin and earthly beauty masked a deadly interior. It was unwise to piss one off, unless you enjoyed regenerating burned flesh, but they were always good to have on your side seeing as they were loyal to their core. “What can I get you guys?”

  “House whiskey, double,” Jace ordered, scanning the crowd, once more thinking about Cailyn. He avoided thinking about how much he lusted after her, and wondered how she was currently doing. Was she frightened by the predicament she was in? The thought of her frightened had his gut churning and his teeth clenching. When he got a hold of the Fae who did this, he would relish torturing the bastard. No one would hurt her and get away with it. As a healer, he could slice away limbs, cut out his heart and have him on the brink of death only to bring him back and do it all over again. A feral growl escaped his throat.

  “Here, drink this. ‘Twill help,” Zander’s voice brought him out of his violent fantasies. He hadn’t even heard the other’s order, let alone the drinks being delivered.

  “Zander, it’s an honor to have you in our establishment. Next time we expect to meet this mate of yours,” Francisco boomed as he approached their table.

  “My mate hasna been to your fine city, but expressed a desire to visit, so I’m sure I will be bringing her here soon enough. ‘Tis good to see you both again.” Zander stood and held out his hand to greet the two cambions.

  “We will hold you to that. Now, what can we do for you?” asked Pedro, smiling like he had found a long lost friend. Zander shook their hands and retook his seat in the red leather booth.

  Jace was anxious to get to business, and nearly jumped out of his shit-kickers. Thankfully, Zander got right to the point. “We need information about Marie Laveau. Killian said you guys have your ears to the ground and little happens in your city without your knowledge. As I’m sure you know, we have searched numerous voodoo shops to no avail. We need to find one of her Mambos.”

  There was a pause as Francisco ran his long fingers over his blue silk shirt and considered his words. “Dante informed us that you may be stopping by, and why, so we did some digging. We had to call in some huge favors for this, so you owe us. Our source said to visit Tia at Marie Laveau House of Voodoo. We can’t guarantee she will give you any information, but she is the one you want.”

  After Zander had failed to inform the Dark Alliance Council about Elsie breaking the mating curse, his relationship with them had been strained. Jace thanked the Goddess that Zander had made amends because Dante was an invaluable asset to have on their side. Not only did the Cambion Lord keep his subjects on the straight and narrow, which was difficult with sex-demon-human-hybrids, he still managed to keep them happy.

  “Are you serious?” Gerrick burst out. “Aison had discounted that particular shop thinking it a sham, given the name. She’s clever, I’ll give her that. I bet not many go there.”

  “You have to admire hiding in plain sight,” Pedro observed.

  Glass shattering, followed by a male’s shout, drew their attention. As one, their heads swiveled to the bar where a fight had broken out. Jace was not surprised to see that Bhric was in the middle of it. A large shifter was punching him. Jace cocked his head and heard the shifter yelling about the siren Bhric had half-naked being his date. Jace noticed healing fang marks on her neck. Apparently, Bhric had moved on from alcohol.

  Bhric shook shards of glass from his hair while he balled his right fist and introduced it to the male’s face. The shifter came back swinging and the two fell to the floor where blows were exchanged. The crowd began cheering. The shifter must be possessive of the siren, given that Bhric was bigger than two linebackers combined, and few took him on. Glasses on the nearby tables shattered from the pitch of the siren’s screams. Jace noticed that Bhric’s t-shirt was ripped as he rose and grabbed a chair up over his head. This was going to get ugly, real fast.

  “Drop that fucking chair!” Francisco yelled. “Zander, stop your damn brother before he tears up my bar and get him out of here. This is no way to thank us for all the trouble we went to for you!”

  “Aye, you are correct. I owe you a debt and I will stop this.” Zander assured the cambions. Using preternatural speed, he rushed toward Bhric, and caught the chair before it broke over the shifter’s back. “You are no’ doing this, brathair. We’re leaving, now,” Zander snarled, grabbing Bhric by the collar and dragging him toward the exit.

  “Thank you for your help,” Jace told Pedro and Francisco before following the king and his wayward brother. Gerrick echoed his sentiments and followed suit.

  “Damn, that was fun. Where are we going next? I need another drink.” Bhric smiled, showing bloody teeth.

  Everyone remained quiet, ignoring Bhric as they left the building. Zander pulled his brother down the nearest alley and slammed him up against a brick wall. With his fists bunched in the torn fabric of Bhric’s shirt, Zander got in Bhric’s face, “Straighten the fuck up or go home. I need your head in this. My mate is counting on us and her sister needs us. Am I clear?”

  “We will get to that, but first I need another drink,” Bhric replied, his tone unrepentant.

  Before he knew what was happening, Zander punched his brother in the face and had a sgian dubh at his throat. “Get your head oot of your drunk arse. The liquor is controlling your life. This is not the time for your shite. You made a promise, are you going back on that? Are you no’ a Dark Warrior and all that stands for? We are all that stands between humans and the darkness. We each made a vow to the Goddess to protect and defend those weaker than us against all evil. If you canna live up to your word then I should slit your throat right here and now.” Jace had never seen Zander so angry with one of them, especially not one of his brothers. There was no mistaking how serious the king was, and it was a chilling sight.

  Jace saw Bhric sober and pale within seconds. He lowered his head, his chest heaving with his breaths. The tight clench to his fists told Jace that Bhric was as angry as Zander. For a second, Jace worried that they would lose Bhric in this dirty alley. After several tense moments, Jace watched the tension ease from Bhric’s shoulders. Finally the warrior murmured, “You are right, brathair. Doona worry, I have your back. Let’s do this.”

  Zander met Bhric’s gaze when his head lifted and a silent message passed between the brothers. Finally, the king released his hold and they turned to head down Bourbon Street.

  Zander pointed his knife at Gerrick and Jace and asked, “I hope one of you knows where we are going?”

  “I’ve got it,” Gerrick replied.

  “Lead the way,” Zander snapped, returning the blade to his boot.

  They fell silent and remained on alert as they followed Gerrick to the shop. As a unit, they halted across the street from the establishment. The small, weathered, one-story structure looked out of place surrounded by much larger ones. It was in desperate need of a paint job, and was so rickety a strong wind could blow it to pieces. As they crossed and stood on the corner of St. Ann and Bourbon, Jace read the sign above the door. At first glance it read ‘Strange Gods, Strange Altars’, but then it magically morphed into ‘I bind and confound you.’ Couldn’t anything go their way tonight? He reminded himself why he was here. He needed to get a cure and get back to Cailyn.

  “You see that, Gerrick? Our powers will be bound once we cross over. We will be vulnerable,” Jace warned the others. He hated the idea of going into an unknown situation with only the steel in his boot. He was a warrior, but his sorcery was his best weapon. The last time he went into a situation unprotected it didn’t turn out so well for him. He rubbed his cuff as he tried t
o think of a way around the binding.

  “No matter, we have weapons and we look like idiots standing oot here. Surely she has seen us by now. Come on, let’s go,” Bhric said as straightened his ripped and bloodied t-shirt, and brushed off his leathers. Jace shook his head.

  “Wait,” Zander put out a hand, stopping them all. “I am getting a feeling aboot this Mambo. I doona understand what I received from Elsie in terms of her gift, but I strongly sense this female is tied to shifters.” The king fell silent and cocked his head to the side, lost in thought. “I’m getting nothing else and have no idea what it means. Let’s go.”

  Gerrick swept past them and entered with the rest hot on his heels. They stood in the entry taking in the chaos of the shop. Objects were crammed into every inch of space. There were traditional voodoo dolls with pins, masks, charms, creepy skeletal dolls, totems, necklaces, and candles all in one small, antique curio across from the door. Talismans hung from the ceiling, incense burned, and skulls of various creatures littered the space. The stained cement floor was covered with threadbare rugs. It was overwhelming to the senses. Jace caught tendrils of magic from so many objects, that the room glowed. With his magic bound, it took a moment for him to adjust.

  “Come in, don’t be shy. I don’t bite…unlike some of you,” the slender female behind an antique counter purred in a thick, Cajun accent. She had skin the color of the chicory coffee she was sipping. Her long black hair framed a beautiful face, and was a shocking contrast to her light-green eyes.