"None of those programs will give you an accurate description," Jorden sighed as he slid onto the driver's seat of the vehicle. I shut my door with a nod. "I thought as much," I replied as he placed the vehicle in gear and drove away from the hotel. "What can you tell me about it?" I continued as he navigated his way through heavy traffic.
"I'll let the boss lady do that—she knows more than I do. If she sends you to the West Coast like I think she will, you'll get firsthand accounts from a few who survived the whole, nasty mess."
"That's good, I suppose," I said.
"Where are you from?" Jorden asked.
"Hraede," I said with a shrug and a smile.
* * *
Opal
All I heard from Bree was this vampire was some kind of super spy, who'd been so deep undercover for centuries on Hraede that even his vampire child thought him dead. I had no idea how he could help me with this problem. Every time I considered it, I broke out in hives. A velociraptor shapeshifter never broke out in hives about anything.
Laurel Rome had thrown her lot—and her husband's considerable fortune—in with those from other worlds. A drug—drakus seed—was probably their intended cash crop and they'd pretty much taken over the country of Peru to grow the stuff.
Laurel believed she was in charge.
I believed she was anything but.
Warlocks and witches tended to be in charge, because they held the power. If they worked for someone else, then that someone else might believe they held the power because they paid the witch and warlock.
"See previous statement," I mumbled to myself as I scooted a tablet to the side of my desk.
Kell Abenott was scheduled to arrive at any moment, and I wasn't sure how I felt about that. "See previous statement," I repeated. After all, I was supposed to be in charge. Kell Abenott was older than I, and I was ancient. Would he attempt to take over? I anticipated a struggle of some sort, and wasn't prepared for it to be with an old and powerful vampire.
"Ms. Tadewi?" my assistant knocked on the door before opening it.
I lifted an eyebrow at Chaya as she stood in the doorway.
"They're here—Jorden and Mr. Abenott."
"Send them in," I said, squelching a sigh.
Jorden grinned at me when he walked in first, followed by—wow.
* * *
Lexsi
"Honey, if you eat any more, it'll make you sick," Anita cautioned as Watson held up his plate for a refill.
"Woman, are you telling me no?" he turned a frown in her direction.
"When it's for your own good, I'll tell you no, twenty-four-seven," she said.
"I agree with Anita," Sandra said. "I've cleaned out your bites and cuts. I really don't want to clean up your barf, too."
"When's breakfast?" Watson handed his plate to Anita and settled back against his pillow. We'd fed him in bed—which he appreciated greatly.
"I think you can have a snack in an hour or two," I said. "Give your dinner time to settle, first."
"Fine."
"Dude, you're lucky to be alive," Kory pointed out. "Food takes a back seat to your life."
"Sandy," Watson turned to his sister, "Do we have anything on Claudia's bank accounts?"
"She emptied them," Sandra replied. "Sent everything, including the Pack funds, to a South American bank. There's no way to get to any of that back. Plus, I think Opal would order any accounts frozen due to Claudia's involvement in this entire fiasco with Laurel Rome."
"That's what I was afraid of," Watson let his head sink farther into his pillow and closed his eyes. "How can we rebuild the San Francisco Pack when there's nothing to rebuild it with? Which Pack members are still alive—besides us?" His eyes popped open again.
"Only a few—a couple of old ones and the few who'd pulled their membership out of the Pack because they didn't agree with Claudia's recent decisions."
"Damn." Watson's eyes closed again.
"I know you licked her shoes for me," Sandra said, taking his hand. "I appreciate that."
"I'd do worse than that to keep you out of Jack Pitt's hands," Watson mumbled. "This one was bad enough. Jack—a thousand times worse."
"Can we ask your agents to investigate Jack Pitt?" Sandra turned pleading eyes on Kory. "I have a feeling he's in this to his ear tips with Claudia."
"Where is he?" Kory asked.
"In Ohio. His whole family is big in martial arts. They claim to be the best fighters anywhere," Sandra said. "Jack likes to abuse women. Claudia tried to sell me to him." She turned her head away. It troubled her deeply—that Watson, in some way, had made a deal with Claudia to keep his sister away from a monster. It wasn't just Watson's girlfriend, as I'd imagined before.
I was beginning to have a much deeper respect for him.
"Opal wants to hire you, Anita and Sandra, too, if you want to work for her on all this," I said. "I don't know what the money is like, but it's better than nothing, right? Maybe you can get the Pack's funds back, if we can solve this," I added.
"You and Kory already signed on?" Watson's eyes opened. A glint shone in their depths—one that spoke of revenge against Claudia's new business partners, who had the Pack's money he needed to rebuild.
"Yeah," Kory replied.
"Then I'm in," Watson declared. "Sis, you and Anita decide for yourselves."
"Oh, I'm way ahead of you," Anita said. "I have a date with Laurel Rome, and she may not look so pretty when we're done."
"You know I'll stand beside you," Sandra said. "For what you've done for me."
"Ah, young werewolf," Klancy glided into the room, followed closely by Mason. "I cannot tell you how pleased I am to see you alive."
* * *
Kell
I hate space travel. Travel by Earth aircraft was so much worse. Narrow seats, talkative humans who hadn't bathed recently—I felt ill. If I hadn't had the memory of my meeting with Opal Tadewi to distract me, I might have complained to her about riding in coach.
Alas, it was the last seat on the plane, she'd said, after an attempt to procure a first-class ticket. I'd gazed into her dark, fathomless, beautiful eyes and said it was fine.
I would suffer much worse for her. The moment we'd met, I went breathless at her beauty. Since my heart began beating again, the drumming of it against my ribs had never been so evident.
I watched her every, graceful movement as she explained whom I'd be working with and what she wished to learn. Eventually, she'd told me, I could find myself in Peru. I'd studied Peru tentatively, and was resolved to study it in depth in my free time. Had I been allowed to use my comp-vid, I'd have done so on the plane.
A comp-vid was alien technology to those who sat around me; therefore, I refrained from pulling the device from my carry-on. Still, I hoped I'd find time to read and ask questions before traveling to that country.
Drakus seed I was familiar with already. What it looked and smelled like—even the scent of the leaves, roots and stems, were they nearby.
Clever of these to grow it on a non-Alliance world, where it could be transported by warlocks or witches to its final destination.
Clever, indeed.
Opal's—and my—worry was that the drakus seed would filter into the population here before we could stop it. A hunger existed for new and exciting drugs among Earth's populations, and drakus seed gave dreams beyond imaginings, if the reports were true.
The downside, of course, was that the seed had to be measured precisely to achieve the desired results. A grain too much could result in the user's death. The other downside was its immediate addiction. Taking too much too close together could also result in death, and that's exactly what would happen. The user craved it more and more—until they died.
Drakus seed was a dangerous, dangerous drug; one that commanded the highest of prices. Of the few who'd survived their addiction, it had taken a very long time for their cravings to subside. Other drugs didn't help, and the withdrawal symptoms were often worse than death.
&
nbsp; It was outlawed in both Alliances as a result, with an automatic life sentence to the penal planet if one were found engaging in any activity that grew, sold or transported drakus seed.
"Are you married?" The woman sitting to my left asked.
"No Madam, but I am considering it," I said. "Look, I believe we are arriving."
We were. I was grateful—it kept her from asking more personal questions. As she gathered her things, I was left with the thought that I would be forced to navigate San Francisco Airport on my own, with only the sketchiest of maps on the back of a brochure to guide me.
Luggage first, I reminded myself. Then, to passenger pickup, where someone would find me. Afterward, a drive to San Rafael, where I would meet those with whom I'd be working.
I hoped a meal would be provided somewhere along the way—I found I was hungry.
* * *
Opal
You did this on purpose, didn't you? I sent mindspeech to Bree. I don't need a distraction, I added.
His name and title is Lord Kellik of Abenott, came the reply. He created the Rith Naeri. I doubt he'll be too much of a distraction. I heard her laugh before she cut it off.
Trust the Mighty Heart to know what your heart needs most, I fumed. The timing—well, that could have used improvement.
* * *
Kordevik
"Have room for one more?" Davis was at the door with someone new. "He's vampire, but he can walk in daylight," Davis held up a hand.
"Kell," the newcomer held out a hand.
"Kell, I think we can find a bedroom somewhere," I said. "This place is full of them."
"He's also starving," Davis announced as I stood aside to let them through the door.
"Lexsi may have some salmon left," I said. "She makes really good salmon croquettes."
"Anything would be welcome," Kell said.
"Then give me your bags and follow your nose to the kitchen," I told him. "Lexsi and Anita are in there, cleaning up after dinner."
"You are most kind," Kell nodded and walked toward the kitchen.
"What is it about old vampires?" Davis asked as we watched Kell disappear. "You never hear their footsteps. Like they're walking on air a millimeter above the floor."
"Could be," I shrugged. "Maybe I ought to give him my room and move in with Lexsi."
"I wouldn't—not without asking first," Davis grinned.
"Then he gets the mother-in-law suite behind the garage," I said and turned to go in that direction.
* * *
Lexsi
Kell enjoyed his food. I understood about modified vampires and wondered who'd given him blood. It took special blood to neutralize the part of vampirism that required darkness and a blood diet.
Kell still had his strength, his sense of smell and unless I missed my guess, other abilities he wasn't willing to talk about.
"This salmon is delicious," Kell nodded his appreciation. "Your skill in the preparation is extraordinary."
"Thank you," I said, taking the empty plate from him. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's one of the easier things I cook."
"I hear we have a journey ahead of us tomorrow—to a prison in Colorado," Kell said, placing his napkin on the island in front of him.
"I hadn't heard that yet, but it's not a surprise," I said. "There are several prisons we're expected to visit. We think quite a few prisoners were swapped with innocent victims of a duplication spell."
"Is there an underlying reason for duplication spells—other than money?" Kell asked.
"We think most of the prisoners involved were serving time for drug related offenses," Anita explained. "The ones we're after are probably growing drugs in Peru, so they wanted experienced help. At least one of the innocents was put to death in the guilty one's place, because the guilty one had money, and his family has even more money. They weren't willing to answer questions afterward, and we believe the real criminal killed again after he was set free—in Texas."
"How did you determine that an innocent died in his place?" Kell asked. "I'm familiar with the duplication spell—a high Third-level witch or warlock is capable of casting it—provided they have an eye for detail. It only affects the outside appearance, including fingerprints and such," he added. "It does nothing to change blood type or basic scents, but those are generally subtle enough that humanoids fail to notice. I once identified a duplication spell by the taste of the victim's blood. It did not compare to the original in many ways."
"Wicked," Anita whispered. "Lexsi, here," she turned toward me, "Can tell if what they say is truth or a lie. They didn't have time for the Sirenali to place obsession on that particular victim, and he said he wasn't Loftin Qualls when they were leading him to the execution chamber. Lexsi knew then he was telling the truth. Unfortunately, they killed him anyway, and then cremated his remains. We may never know who died that night."
"You are a Guli?" Kell asked. He was interested immediately.
"Well," I dropped my eyes. It embarrassed me for some reason. My mother was a Guli, and she was so much better than I at all of this.
"You are." Kell dipped his chin in a slight nod when I looked up at him. "A fortunate thing for us, I think. You and your High Demon mate will nullify any spells, and your Guli skills will know truth from lie—perhaps past a Sirenali's obsession, even?" He turned back to Anita.
"We hope so; we just don't know how strong the obsession is," Anita admitted. Already, Kell knew what she was. I wanted to ask him where he'd come across Sirenali before, but I didn't. I didn't want to pry. Not yet, anyway.
Davis and Kory walked into the kitchen while we were talking, Davis' eyes brightening with hope when he saw there was still salmon left to make more croquettes. "How many do you want?" I smiled at him.
"Six?" He grinned.
"I think I can do six," I said and went to work.
* * *
Kordevik
Lexsi hesitated outside her bedroom door. She was tired; we had an early start scheduled the following morning and there was no time for a discussion concerning what lay between us.
A kiss, a bite—immediate unconsciousness—and a lifetime mate.
"Baby, we'll find time to discuss this," I said. "When you're ready and not before. Okay?"
Her eyes, the blue of a fresh, spring day, blinked before she nodded. "Yeah." She dropped her gaze and reached for the doorknob.
I love you, I sent. I—and my Thifilathi—will never harm you. I turned then and walked into my bedroom across the hall. I had to, before I broke my promise and rushed to her, to crush her body and her mouth against mine.
* * *
Lexsi
Kell was satisfied that we had better transportation than a commercial flight the next morning, although a seven AM arrival at the airport wasn't on anybody's wish list.
The jet was supplied by the military, but it had more room than a commercial flight for long legs and wide shoulders.
Kell's approval shone in his eyes as he took a seat next to Davis. Thomas sat beside Anita, while Kory and I took the next set of seats. "Have you ever flown an aircraft?" Kory grinned at me as we buckled our seat belts.
"I flew a couple—nothing like this," I said. Nenzi had taken me many times to show me how to fly hoverchoppers and such. This plane didn't have the computers onboard that I was used to. I wouldn't attempt to fly this thing.
"I learned how to fly a few things—King Jayd is working on his air patrol. I might feel my way through this," he grinned.
"Awesome. If the pilots faint, you're in charge," I said.
"Stop talking about fainting pilots," Anita turned in her seat to glare at Kory.
"Stop acting like you can't get yourself out of here if it becomes necessary," Kory shot back. "If I knew where this place was, I'd have carried Lexsi and Kell with me. You could take the others."
Anita grimaced at Kory and turned back in her seat. She didn't like leaving Watson behind, even if he were with his sister, who was taking good care of him. I hoped W
atson realized how much Anita cared and worried about him. I'd seen her lost look when she believed him dead.
"The boss says we have to get there using normal transportation," Davis broke in. "We'll be met by prison officials, who aren't pleased that we're questioning their security."
"You mean they think that we think those prisoners got out using mundane methods?" I asked. "And then substituted ten others, who look exactly like them?"
"You see the quandary we face," Davis shook his head. "These people are human, and don't believe in other races or other worlds."
"You think they'll let those people go, if we prove they're not the right prisoners?"
"It may take some string pulling," Davis said. "And not by us. The boss will have to go through channels to get them out."
"That's not right or fair," I grumped.
"Young one, very little is fair," Kell turned to speak with me. "No matter where you are. Is it wrong that innocents are suffering? Yes. Innocents suffer every day. We must do what we can to move around these officials; they hold the safety of these innocents in their hands until someone with more authority tells them that they may be released."
"You think they'll make these people suffer, if we cause a fuss?"
"Prisons can be strange places," Kell said. "Prisoners can become victims, just as anyone else can."
"You'd think if they were innocent, they'd let them go." I huddled into my seat, feeling cold.
"Yet innocents have been held in prisons for life, or even put to death, as you have seen already," Kell observed.
"Yeah." He made sense, I just didn't like that he spoke of the reality of things. I could almost hear my mother saying that ignoring reality was the wrong thing to do. You can't make something right, no matter how hard it is or how long it takes, if you ignore it in the first place.
The flight from San Francisco to Denver didn't take very long; my thoughts warred with one another the entire trip.
Three frowning prison officials waited for us when we got off the plane. There is trouble already, Kell surprised me with mindspeech. He knew, somehow, before any of the three opened their mouths.
A Demon's Work Is Never Done: Latter Day Demons, Book 2 Page 3