Tony had recently moved to this area and I was showing him the ropes. He was about five-foot-eight with a surprisingly trim waistline for a guy on the north side of forty. His black hair was cut military short and he had a natural tan that I envied since my pale white skin seemed to reflect the sun rather than soak it in.
“I’ve heard a lot about this place. The wife even tried talking me into taking a vacation here once. She’s into all this supernatural stuff; vampires, demons and shapeshifters.” He glanced around at the sprawling grounds and the impressive structure before us and whistled. “This is some place. Gigantic medieval castle, spooky trees dripping with Spanish moss, and just enough torchlight and fog to give the whole place an eerie feel. And the moat? How do you suppose they get it to glow with such a bright green color?”
“Maybe it’s magic,” I replied seriously as I pushed off from the car and started heading towards the main entrance. It was late evening and with spring break well underway there were people everywhere.
Tony chuckled and fell in step beside me. “So is that where The Gateway used to be?” He pointed to the right where construction barricades blocked off a section of the building.
The air rushed out of my lungs as my mind flashed back to the night of the bombing and the panic I’d felt when I flew across the room and crashed into the wall. Rook! Oh God where was Rook?
Tony’s voice brought me back to the present. “Hey, I didn’t mean to bring up any bad memories. I’ve been to enough war zones to know the aftermath of a bomb that size can leave the kind of scars no one will ever see.”
I’d stopped walking and going by the concerned look on Tony’s face I wasn’t looking too good. I gave him a weak smile and said, “It was a pretty traumatic night, but it was also an eye opening experience. I know what the lieutenant told you about this resort and its upper management, but we’ve never been able to find any evidence of organized crime here at Myths and Legends. Before the bombing I was willing to give her accusations some credence because we really do get a lot of strange reports about this place, but now...”
I shook my head not really sure how to explain without being able to tell him the whole truth. “That night changed the way I look at the people here at Myths and Legends. They are not the drug dealing, gun running monsters Lieutenant Taggert would have you believe and I honestly don’t think we will ever find anything that proves otherwise.”
Tony shrugged and wisely told me, “I usually go with my instincts but you need to be careful that yours aren’t being clouded because of some bond you formed with these people through a shared traumatic experience. It could be similar to the way kidnap victims bond with their kidnappers.”
I might have thought he had a good point if I hadn’t learned the truth about Myths and Legends the night of the bombing, but in response I said, “I’ll give it some thought.”
We started moving again and as we strode through the main entrance Tony looked around like a kid in a candy shop. I’d been coming to the resort for so long that I’d forgotten how awe inspiring it could be. The decor was like a cross between a Hard Rock Cafe, only with artwork and memorabilia related to supernatural legends rather than rock legends, and the set of an extravagant monster movie complete with actors in elaborate costumes.
The front desk was busy and when we turned the corner near Mystique, one of the resort’s dance clubs, I decided we should bypass the crowd and cut through the casino. We wove our way quickly through the noisy slot machines and flashing colored lights then exited on the other side. After taking the elevator up one level we started down the long hallway that led to the security office.
Since the bombing the number of bodies being left behind this resort had more than doubled. All of the young female victims were known prostitutes who had been left with their bodies drained of blood and a set of twin puncture marks on their necks. The press was calling the killer the Red Light Vampire and we were under a lot of pressure to make an arrest. Since we didn’t have any leads or useful evidence we had an appointment with Rook to discuss ways his security team might be able to help us catch the killer the next time he struck.
“So this Delaney guy, the lieutenant says he has a thing for you,” Tony commented.
I glanced at him then looked straight ahead. “Mr. Delaney has shown an interest in pursuing a relationship with me in the past. However, it is against department policy for detectives to fraternize with anyone suspected of criminal activities.”
As we continued down the corridor I thought about the first time Rook made a pass at me. My previous partner, Quentin Andrews, had just introduced me to him and he was reaching out to shake my hand. I met his gaze and something in his black eyes had my hand instinctively drifting toward my gun instead of meeting his for the handshake.
He smirked at me, then lowering his hand he said, “You may see the Big Bad Wolf when you look in my eyes but if I ever get a taste of you, I promise, pain won’t be what makes you scream for me.”
The wave of heat that swept through my body nearly took me to my knees with its intensity. Rook just stood there smiling at me with a sensual curve of his lips that I would one day grow to love and dread all at the same time.
Quen, who had been trying to get into my pants since the day I met him, noticed my reaction and thought he could keep me away from Rook by telling our lieutenant about his interest in me. His plan backfired though because the lieutenant thought I could use Rook’s attraction to me to our advantage. After that, any case involving Myths and Legends was immediately handed off to me.
When we were about five feet from Rook’s office a strange sensation crawled over my skin leaving goose bumps behind. I was rubbing my arms trying to shake off the feeling when the door to Rook’s office swung open and Dragon walked out then closed the door behind him.
“Detective Ruby, it’s so good to see, even though I’m sure the circumstances that have brought you here are less than pleasant,” Dragon said extending his hand.
We shook hands and I said, “They always are. This is my new partner Detective Anthony Vaccaro.” I gestured towards Tony then told him, “This is Mr. Drake. He owns this place and acts as General Manager.”
The two men shook hands and Dragon asked, “Are you new to the area Detective Vaccaro or simply a new partner for Detective Ruby?”
“I’ve just moved down here with my family looking for warmer weather. The winters up north were getting to be too hard on my old bones,” Tony replied with a shiver, his accent pegging his previous home somewhere in the Northeastern United States.
“In that case welcome to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and The Myths and Legends Casino Resort. We have monthly specials for locals if you ever have the desire to bring your wife or your family here for some entertainment. I would offer you a complimentary stay but Detective Ruby has made it clear that members of your department are not permitted to accept gifts of that nature from this resort.”
Dragon was always the perfect host; smiling and charming. He was well muscled with somewhat shaggy black hair brushing his collar, a neatly trimmed beard and dark brown eyes. I supposed he was good looking in that roguish rich guy kind of way that makes most women drool, but I liked my men a little taller, a little leaner, and in recent years I’d started to prefer their hair a whole lot longer. Besides, I wasn’t sure I could handle being with a man who could change into an enormous fire-breathing dragon without even a second of warning.
“We have an appointment with Mr. Delaney, is he in his office?” I asked eyeing the door behind Dragon.
He sighed, the picture of regret. “Mr. Delaney was called away for an emergency off site and I offered to take his place for this meeting.”
“What kind of emergency,” I asked, irritated. It had been a little over a month since Rook walked away from me on the beach. I’d made an appointment with him because he’d been dodging me whenever I showed up unexpectedly to discuss the Red Light Vampire case.
“The personal kind Detecti
ve Ruby,” he replied and the significant look he gave me had Tony raising an eyebrow.
Rook’s voice whispered through my mind and I closed my eyes to hide the longing I felt inside. “When you can admit there is something very personal going on between us, call me and I’ll explain how you enhance my time travel abilities.”
I’d wanted so badly to follow him when he walked away from me that night on the beach, but I had to make a choice between him and the force. So far I’d chosen the force but that decision was getting harder to live with every day.
When I opened my eyes I met Dragon’s knowing gaze and had to clear my throat before I could speak. “No offense Mr. Drake but I had hoped to meet with the general not the king. He is after all the security specialist here at the resort.”
Dragon smiled at my reference to his position in the supernatural community that I still wasn’t sure I wanted to be a part of. “I assure you Detective Ruby, I am more that capable of answering questions and offering advice on a wide range of security matters.”
Knowing I didn’t have another option I followed Dragon to his office. Once the door closed behind us Tony’s expression became slack and he stood in place with vacant eyes.
“Hey, what did you do to him,” I asked Dragon waving my hand in front of Tony. No reaction; not even a flicker or twitch of his eyes.
“It won’t harm him. When we’re finished with our discussion you can tell me what parts you want him to remember then I’ll release him with his new memories intact,” Dragon replied as he sat on a sofa with his arm lying across its back.
I looked from him to Tony a couple times then decided it might be for the best and took a seat in an armchair on the other side of the coffee table from Dragon.
“Okay, what do you have to tell me that you don’t think Tony should be privy to?”
“Do you remember that night on my terrace?”
The mention of the terrace always sent heat to my cheeks leaving them red with embarrassment. Dragon noticed and said, “I was talking about the get together we had several days after the bombing but perhaps we should discuss the night of the bombing first.”
My eyes widened and I started to shake my head.
Dragon put up his hand in a halting motion. “Hear me out, please.”
I swallowed hard then nodded, afraid of where this conversation might be going.
Dragon leaned forward and rested his forearms on his thighs with his hands clasped together. “The night of the bombing was very chaotic and confusing for all of us, but I’m sure it was even more so for you. I wish I could have altered your memories like I did for all the other humans at the scene but as I’ve told you, I can’t get into your head.”
I glanced at Tony. “I don’t think I like the idea of anyone playing around in my head anyway.”
He nodded. “Fair enough. Rook told me that he wasn’t able to answer any of your questions when the two of you took a walk on the beach. He also told me how he left things between you. I don’t want to interfere but I’m tired of watching him suffer.”
“But why would he be suffering?” I didn’t want to think about Rook suffering because of me.
“Because Angela, you’re the only woman Rook has thought about since the day he met you. He didn’t tell me or anyone else what happened on my terrace before he set time back to save Serafina, but he doesn’t need to. He’d already reset time twice that night, something he wouldn’t have been able to do without your being there. But to set time back again, especially as far as he had to go, it would’ve taken more than just your presence. I know how his magic works and it would’ve taken intimate contact with you for him to save my mate’s life.”
I drew in a shaky breath. I’d hoped no one knew about that.
His compassionate eyes caught my gaze. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of and I’ll be forever grateful that you agreed to help him when he asked. From watching the two of you interact that night, up to that point, I know you have feelings for him, but I also know you weren’t ready to take that step. The problem is, the two of you did take that step and Rook will never forget it. He can’t go back to the way things were between you before that night on my terrace and you’re unable or unwilling to move forward. So that leaves him in a state of limbo that’s tearing him up inside.”
I blew out a breath and hung my head in my hands. “It’s complicated.”
“I’m sure it is and it’s none of my business. I simply wanted you to know how all this is affecting him. Rook has been a part of my life since the day I was born, and that was a very long time ago. He’s been my mentor and friend, and he will always be my protector, my Guardian. He means a lot to me and I’d like to see him happy again one day soon,” Dragon told me with his love for his friend vibrating in his voice.
I scrubbed my hands over my face and looked at Dragon. “I’ll see what I can do; I don’t want him to suffer either.”
A small smile curved Dragon’s lips and he said quietly, “Thank you, that’s all I can ask of you. Now, the second time you were on my terrace for the gathering do you remember us mentioning a council?”
“Yes, I believe Rook said it was going to fall. I didn’t understand the significance of that but it seemed to have all of you pretty upset.”
“True.” He leaned back on the sofa and explained, “The council was comprised of leaders from the different supernatural races and was charged with two things, keeping peace in our world and hiding our existence from humans. Garrek, who you knew as Senator Mitchell was head of that council because he was the only one powerful enough to keep the other councilors in line. When he died the council died with him.
The supernatural world has always been divided between those who want to protect humans and keep our existence secret and those who believe humans should be enslaved or hunted like prey animals. Without the council to intervene tension between the two sides will continue to escalate as disputes are settled with violence instead of diplomacy.”
“Which side of that line do you fall on?” I asked cautiously.
Dragon scowled at me and leaned forward. “I believe that openly preying on humans or trying to subjugate them would lead to a war we couldn’t possibly win. Humans would eventually wipe us out with their technology and overwhelming numbers. But even if that weren’t true, I have always fought for humans because I think they should be allowed to live their lives in peace. We may be stronger and faster, but in my mind that does not necessarily make us superior. Unfortunately, not many supernaturals feel the way I do.”
I met his eyes and told him honestly, “I apologize if I offended you, that wasn’t my intention.”
He nodded then said, “You’ve had a lot to take in and it’s understandable that you might have doubts about me and my people. Let me assure you though, this resort was built as a safe haven for anyone in need of protection and our doors will always be open to you and your family.
“Thank you, that’s very generous of you.”
“Now, I don’t want to keep you too long but I did want to inform you that the murders you’re investigating are being committed by Travali and his vampires.” Red flames flared in Dragon’s eyes for a second and I leaned back fighting the urge to run from the room screaming.
When he got control of himself again he continued, “I won’t go into all the details, but this is not the first time we’ve been at war with Travali and he definitely believes the human race should be enslaved. He’s based in New Orleans but they’re using portals to dump the bodies here to create problems for us with the human media and law enforcement.”
“Portals?” I asked curiously.
“Sorcerers like Solomon can create portals or gateways that open up in other states, countries, or even other worlds. There are many such portals in this resort now. The portals are the reason we’re having trouble catching the vampires ourselves. They open one up, dump the body, then jump back through before we even know they’ve been here. Solomon is working on a way to either prevent th
e portals from opening anywhere near the resort, or to detect when and where the next one will open.”
Now that was a scary thought. After seeing what Travali was capable of that night on the beach, the thought that he could just materialize out of thin air was downright frightening.
“So where does that leave me,” I asked, frustrated. “I can’t go back to the station and say vampires are real and they’re picking off prostitutes one by one just to make their enemies look bad.”
“No you can’t, but that’s not all they’re doing anyway. Those girls are being used in Travali’s brothels. He feeds them a demon drug called Oblivion which for us isn’t any more dangerous than humans drinking alcohol or smoking weed. But when humans are fed that poison they experience unquenchable lust. They’re immediately addicted and withdrawal sends them into cardiac arrest. The drug itself won’t kill them but once they’re addicted there’s no way to help them. The only thing they will ever think about again is reaching sexual fulfillment. You could literally cut their arms off and they’d beg you to fuck them while you did it.”
My stomach turned at the graphic image he painted and I thought I might be sick. Then I remembered a case I worked last summer. “That’s what that clear liquid was, that vial we found last summer and had tested. We never could determine what it was but I witnessed firsthand what it does. That poor girl died of a heart attack. I always thought that was awful enough but now I think she might have gotten off lucky.”
His expression grim, he agreed, “She did at that. Some of the girls who find themselves in Travali’s brothels live for years being used by every depraved demon, vampire, or even shapeshifter that walks through his doors. When the addiction becomes bad enough that he can’t get them to eat or drink enough to stay alive, he gives them to his really sadistic clients until the girls finally die in truly gruesome ways.”
I shook my head as a shiver ran up my spine. “The more I learn about your world the more I wish I’d never stumbled into it.”
Destined for Time (Myths and Legends) Page 5