Save the Last Vamp for Me (Discord Jones Book 3)

by Gayla Drummond

  I leaned forward, nodding, and he continued. “This is where we discovered Merriven had been hiding. It’s an empty manse.”

  “Stone and I personally covered every inch of the place,” Logan said, patting my back.

  It occurred to me that I hadn’t exactly been grateful for all the help Derrick and his dhampyr son were extending. Saying “Thank you” didn’t seem like enough, especially after my meltdown that morning. But it was all I could do right then. I met Derrick’s eyes. “I really appreciate all that you’re doing. I know my mom will too.”

  All the vampire did was smile and say, “Family is one of the most important benefits one can have.”

  Logan cleared his throat, and Derrick’s smile faded as the vampire glanced at him. “We’re covering ground pretty quickly. By tomorrow evening, we’ll have searched the entire Barrows.”

  I took a breath. What if we didn’t find them? That was the million-dollar question. If they weren’t in the Barrows, where did we begin looking next? Letting the breath out, I decided to focus on one thing at a time. “I’ll go out with a team.”

  Kate opened her hand to reveal her locator crystal. “I’ll keep trying with this.”

  “You haven’t had any luck at all?” When she solemnly shook her head, I bit my lip. “Where’s Percy and my hound?”

  I didn’t say Leglin’s name, in case he was in the middle of something. Kate closed her fingers around the crystal. “They’re out searching too. Mr. Whitehaven is on one of the teams as well.”

  To her, I didn’t say “thank you”. I leaned enough to kiss her on the cheek. She swatted my knee, her lips curving ever so briefly. “Go on, Jones, and make yourself useful.”

  Sixteen

  My arrival with six more volunteers necessitated some reorganization. We left the library to Kate, joining the vampire hustle going on in the main hall. I leaned against a wall between a painting and a suit of armor, closing my eyes. All the concentration I had went toward one question: Where was my mom?

  Which of my more passive abilities responded didn’t truly matter, as long as one did with a good clue. My tracking ability would be best, but beggars couldn’t be choosers, and I was definitely begging.

  To absolutely no avail, and gradually, the sensation of being stared at opened my eyes.

  Logan smiled, but the way his attention was instantly on Derrick and their conversation made it unlikely he’d been staring. Probably had just glanced my way. I turned my head, scanning the crowd, and found the source of the staring. Danielle stood thirty or so feet away, her eyebrows pinched together over the bridge of her nose, and her lips turned down at their corners.

  Minor annoyance. I closed my eyes again, focused, and then with every bit of power I could gather, telepathically shouted “Mom!”

  The main hall filled with the hissing of a hundred snakes. Startled, I opened my eyes to find I’d become a magnet for vampiric eyeballs. “Um, whoops?”

  Derrick laughed. “Quite impressive, Miss Jones, but may I suggest you save your energy for now?”

  My face burning, I nodded. “Yeah, sorry.”

  Just what I’d always wanted: To make a complete ass out of myself in front of a few dozen vampires. I moved away from the wall and turned so that I faced the painting. My blush faded while I pretended to study it, but impatience began to build. How long did it take to work seven more people into the roster?

  It didn’t help that Danielle continued staring at me. She went from minor annoyance to major aggravation in less than five minutes. Counting to ten didn’t help, but it did keep me from stomping over to poke her in the eye and give her something else to think about.

  When I couldn’t take her narrowed-eye glaring anymore, I walked over to Alanna and asked in a whisper, “What’s her problem?”

  “Two things, well, I guess really three. One, she’s not senior queen. Terra decided it should be time as a clan member and not age that decided seniority. Danielle doesn’t like having to bow down to women younger than her, and she really doesn’t like the fact I’m senior queen.” Alanna’s blue eyes sparkled. “Two, her status is important to her, and I’m certain she has her eye on Logan, since he’s the highest ranked guy, at least until Terra chooses her Consort. But he doesn’t treat her any differently than he does everyone else. And three, you’re not clan but we’re helping you.”

  “Oh.” More than I had expected to learn.

  She touched my arm. “Ignore her. You have more important things to worry about. But I will give her this: She follows orders and does her part. She’ll be thorough, search every nook and cranny of each area she’s assigned to search.”

  That was good to hear, because I could deal with Danielle’s dislike, deserved or not, as long as she didn’t use it as an excuse to shirk from looking for Mom.

  Logan and Derrick finally called everyone to order to assign new search areas, and tell us who would be part of which team.

  I tried not to frown when told I’d be on Logan’s team, along with Danielle.

  At least it didn’t take long to get moving after that.

  We searched for three hours, and found nothing. Frustration and worry combined to make for a toxic emotional brew, one threatening to boil over constantly. I wanted to start burning things until someone admitted to seeing Mom or Merriven.

  “Time for a break,” Logan said as we exited the last shop on the last block of our assigned area and headed for the four-seater utility vehicle we’d been given for wheels. The vampire who owned the shop sneered out an “I told you so” none of us acknowledged.

  Plopping into the front passenger seat, I braced my foot on the abbreviated dash and crossed my arms. “This is getting us exactly nowhere.”

  Logan turned the key, his tone mild. “We’re narrowing down the possibilities of where she’s being held.”

  “It’s been over thirty-six hours.” The more time that passed, the less chance of finding Mom. Alive, anyway. Anger at myself for thinking that flared and hardened my voice. “He could’ve done anything to her. Be doing anything to her.”

  “Correct,” Danielle said from the back. “After this much time, she’s probably dead or turned.”

  I twisted around to glare at her. She’d been making snide remarks the entire time we’d searched. “Hey, Miss Sunshine. How about you drink a big old cup of Shut the Hell Up?”

  She bared her teeth. “Don’t give me orders, human.”

  “Both of you had better cool it, or I’ll pull this vehicle over,” Logan snapped. I turned around and re-crossed my arms.

  “Terra’s right. You do sound like a parent.”

  He glanced at me. “Was that an insult?”

  “No. Maybe.” I dropped one arm and raised the other to rake my fingers through my hair. “I’m sorry. This is driving me crazy. It’s like my worst nightmare ever.”

  “A loved one being kidnapped is probably most people’s nightmare.”

  “Yeah, but I bet it’s not most people’s fault when it happens to their mother or whoever.”

  Logan shot me a look. “It’s not your fault. Merriven chose to do this.”

  My laugh tasted bitter. “Yeah well, I doubt he just accidentally sent two goons to my mom’s house to kill Red and drag her off to God knows where.”

  Danielle decided to throw in her two cents again. “If you feel this is your fault, perhaps you should reconsider involving yourself in other people’s business. Especially if those other people are supes.”

  “Uh, hello? That’s pretty much the job description for a PI: Get involved in other people’s business. They hire me to get involved in their business.”

  “And just look how well that’s working out for you now.”

  “You’re not helping, Danielle,” Logan said.

  “No, she’s not. Can I teleport her into a wall?”

  He aimed a frown at me. “No.”

  “I would like to see you try.”

  I snorted. “I’d like to see you try and stop me from
doing it.”

  She hissed, and Logan hit the brakes. My chest collided with my knee. “Ow, what the hell?”

  “I’ve listened to you snipe at each other for three hours straight, and I’ve had enough.” The low, silky soft timbre of his voice sent a chill down my spine, and brought the fine hairs on the back of my neck to quivering attention. “I know you’re scared for Sunny, but that’s not a free pass to take it out on Danielle or anyone else.”

  I closed my mouth and nodded, only then remembering what Soames had told me about Logan’s mother disappearing. This had to be dredging up a lot of bad stuff for Logan, and I felt awful for not remembering earlier. No wonder he’d been so quick to volunteer the clan.

  Logan turned to look at Danielle. “Whether you approve or not, Discord is both an ally and friend of our clan. Extend the courtesy that deserves.”

  She nodded, and it was nice to see her eyes were as wide as mine felt. His jaw clenched, lips a straight slash, Logan stared at her. Then at me. “Apologizing to each other would be a good move right now.”

  “Do we have to kiss before making up?” When his eyebrows lowered, I sighed. “I’m sorry for being a jerk to you, Danielle. Thank you for helping look for my mother.”

  “I apologize for being difficult during this trying time. And you’re welcome.”

  Her apology wasn’t targeted at me, but Logan didn’t seem to realize it and I wasn’t going to make a fuss about it with him glaring at us. Instead, I smiled at him. “We’re good now.”

  He didn’t smile back, but his voice returned to normal. “Thank you.”

  As he put the little vehicle back into motion, I made a note to myself: Don’t aggravate Logan. He actually does have a temper.

  A well-controlled one, but he’d sounded pretty freaking scary for a minute there. I didn’t want to be the one to make him lose his temper. Or even be around if he did. I glanced at him, the image of an atomic explosion appearing in my mind.

  Yep, something like that.

  After experiencing the tiny taste of Logan’s temper, I opted to spend the next few hours trying to kick my abilities into gear.

  I sat in Derrick’s library with Kate, who’d replaced the silver chain her locator crystal normally hung from with a few strands of my mom’s hair that Logan had found earlier. Another strand was wound around my forefinger, and I rubbed it with my thumb, eyes closed and concentrating. The only result was a growing headache. A huff of air opened my eyes to find Kate staring at her unmoving crystal. She growled. “What is it with this not working?”

  “At least I’m not the only one it’s happening to. I’m getting jack. No flashes, no threads, no visions, nothing.”

  Kate dropped the crystal to the tabletop and rubbed her temples. “Are we absolutely certain demons don’t have her? The last time this happened was with Zoe.”

  “Logan told me vampires are demonic, but I’ve never had trouble with my abilities when dealing with them before.” I hissed in frustration, carefully unwinding Mom’s hair and returning it to the waiting baggie. “I feel like a huge failure.”

  “We do have nearly two hundred people out, canvassing the Barrows.” Kate scowled down at the map. “I can’t believe one vampire is this good at hiding.”

  “He has that invisibility thing going for him, and this is the Barrows: Pocket Realm Mishmash.”

  My witchy friend kicked off her amethyst-colored high heels and wiggled her toes before standing. She moved away from the sofas and table to begin pacing, strumming her fingers on her thigh. “If I can’t get a location, that may mean he has her in an unmapped area.”

  “Which does us no good.”

  Kate spun around, her pale fuchsia painted lips—Did her lipstick ever wear off like normal people’s?—forming a perfect O. “Tell me, Jones, have you attempted psychometry on anything belonging to Merriven?”

  “No.” I shuddered, knowing where she was going with it.

  “Don’t you think you should?”

  “Yes, as soon as I can get something belonging to him.” I glanced at the closed doors. Derrick was busy managing everything. It could be a while before he was able to send someone over to Merriven’s estate. “Put your shoes back on. We’re going to take a quick trip.”

  Kate slammed the last drawer shut. “No underwear.”

  “What?”

  “He doesn’t own underwear. A commando vampire.”

  “Ugh, I so didn’t need to know that. Thanks bunches.” I went back to picking through the wooden valet on top of the dresser. The pen I used tick-tapped against cufflinks, rings, and what I thought might be cloak pins. “Um, why were you looking for his underwear?”

  “You need something he’s worn a lot.”

  No one to blame but me. I’d had to ask the question. “That’s so gross, Kate. I don’t want a porno vision.”

  She sniffed, half-turning and putting her hands on her hips to survey the rest of the room. “I suppose that means we’ll skip taking the sheets?”

  “You’re making me queasy.”

  “Hmph.” Kate walked over the big, four-poster bed. “I’ll check the night stand.”

  “I’m afraid of what you’ll find.” Or not find, and decide to remark on. While she spilled the contents of the stand’s small drawer onto the bed, I selected a particular ring, relying on the memory from Ginger. A large, square-cut emerald flashed from the wide gold band. The stone had looked darker when he had his hand wrapped around a woman’s neck. Dropping it into a baggie, I shivered. “I found something I can use.”

  “Me, too. He kept a diary.” Kate twirled, holding up a small, leather-bound journal with a brass lock. “Couldn’t find the key.”

  “Like I need one.” Not that I had any intention of opening the journal. Didn’t need to read Merriven’s private thoughts to know he was a sadistic scumbag. Touching it would probably be bad enough. “That’ll work. Let’s get back.”

  Back at the library, Derrick stood staring down at the map with a frown on his face. The vampire lord noted our appearance with a flick of his eyes. “Where have you two been?”

  “Gathering goodies.” Kate brandished the journal. “We looted Count No Pants’ resting place.”

  “Would you please not mention that particular bit of info anymore? Like, ever again?” I asked, retrieving my phone to check the time. Almost midnight.

  Derrick rubbed the tip of his nose, possibly to hide a smile. “You went to Merriven’s estate?”

  “Yeah. I haven’t tried psychometry on anything of his.” Trading my phone for the bagged ring, I held it up to show him. “Now I will.”

  “Your associate, Mr. Soames, mentioned a rather peculiar reaction you had to Ramon’s ring. I have to ask if it’s safe for you to handle that one.”

  I shrugged. “Kate’s got a mean left hook, and you’re a vampire. I think you’re both safe if I have an attack of the biteys.”

  He cocked his head to study Kate. She smiled, tossing the journal onto the coffee table, a picture of punky, retro elegance in her heels, Fifties-inspired black dress, fishnet stockings, and perfect, if overly purple, makeup. “Don’t judge a witch by her superb fashion sense, McFang.”

  Derrick suppressed a smile, the corners of his lips twitching. “Of course not. All right, Miss Jones. It appears we’re ready when you are, but I do have a suggestion to make first.”

  “Sure.” I sat down on one of the sofas.

  “Before you touch the ring, imagine an open box. When the thirst strikes, force it into that box.”

  Useful, if I could manage to do it. “Is that what you do?”

  “It’s what we all do, otherwise, the thirst controls us.”

  I nodded and unzipped the baggie to drop the ring onto the table. “Okay, thanks.”

  He sat down across from me. Kate casually slipped off her heels, the better to move fast, before perching on the armrest of his sofa. I hadn’t been kidding about her left hook. She was the one who had peeled me off Mr. Whitehaven the time I’d
tried to bite him, and knocked me cross-eyed.

  Closing my eyes, I imagined a box, but changed my mind. Cardboard wasn’t going to cut it. I imagined an iron chest with double locks instead, bigger on the inside like the famous Doctor’s blue box.

  Satisfied with that, I opened my eyes and scooped up the ring.

  Nothing happened. I tossed the ring into my other hand. Nope. “I’m really tired of being a psychic with vaca....” My psychometry kicked in, flooding my brain with green-tinted images. “Aw, crap.”

  With a scowl, I dropped the ring onto the table. “It’s one of those objects.”

  “Beg pardon?” Derrick said.

  “Wants to show me its whole history in chronological order. Completely useless for quick info.”

  “Then try his diary.” Kate leaned forward to shove the journal closer to me.

  After flicking the ring aside, I picked up the little book. Blood thirst poured into me, hot and demanding, rocking my head back. “Ahh.”

  Derrick’s eyes widened when I focused on him. “That is truly fascinating. The box, Miss Jones. Use it.”

  The thirst wasn’t interested in him, but Kate? It forced my gaze toward her. She slipped off the armrest, her hands clenching into fists. “Jones, the crimson eyes are not a good look on you. Use the damn box before I have to ruin my manicure.”

  My slow blink made her shake her head and try a different approach. “You’re wasting time. Your mother needs you.”

  “Mom.” I closed my eyes, forcing some space between the thirst and myself. Recalling my little iron chest, I began fighting to divert the blood thirst into it. Took a bit of doing, but I managed it. “Okay.”

  “Eyes?” Kate prompted. I opened them wide to let her have a look. She settled back on the armrest. “Much better. Carry on.”

  “Are you receiving anything useful?” Derrick asked.