by Susan Illene
“It doesn’t change what happened,” I replied.
Yerik stirred from his position by the window. Heavy black drapes covered it, but he’d been peeking out when I walked into the room. He must have caught my encounter with the guards outside.
“How about you two work out your differences later?” The daimoun moved between us and looked at me. “The first topic we need to discuss is your agreement to participate on the raid in Purgatory.”
“When is that going to be? You’ve been rather sketchy on the details.” Not that we’d had many occasions to talk, but he’d been vague when we’d discussed it months ago.
“Soon. My preparations haven’t gone as swiftly as I’d hoped, but it should be no more than a month.”
I nodded. “Then you can count me in as long as I’m still coordinating the attack on Jerome’s hideout.”
“You are, though you must prove yourself competent or I will step in and take control. Speaking of which, have you spoken to your DHS agent, yet?”
“I just came from seeing him. He’s running it by his superiors, but he knows it’s time sensitive so I should hear back from him soon.”
“Good.” He glanced at Derrick. “Evidence has come forward that his group may in fact be the one spreading the plague as you suspected. There are reports of him and one of your brothers being sighted in the same cities where it has spread. It could be coincidence, but I doubt it.”
“My brothers?” I’d nearly forgotten I had any. As of yet I’d never met them and had only learned of their existence two years ago.
“Yes. They’ve been increasingly active in recent months and my spy tells me he is giving them more responsibility.”
Part of me wondered if I’d seen them and not even known it. It wasn’t as if Jerome had bothered with introductions of his group the last time I saw him. I hadn’t looked at the other guys closely enough to notice any resemblance.
“If they’re responsible for the disease, can we afford to wait until they return?”
“We don’t have a choice,” Derrick spoke up. “Going in early will only scare him off and make him relocate his operations. We’ve got to be patient and wait until we can catch them all together.”
I begrudgingly agreed—even if it gave Jerome’s group more time to do damage.
“Any idea how they’re spreading it?”
“It acts a lot like the Bubonic Plague at first and starts with fleas,” Yerik replied, “but this particular strain has been modified so that once the target species gets it they can spread it to others of their kind through physical contact. With the amount of fleas at the troll settlement, we believe that’s where it started in Fairbanks. The werewolf must have got it while he was traveling.”
Guess it was good I’d decided to douse Sable in flea powder.
I rubbed my face. “They must have been planning this for a long time.”
“It appears so. One of your brothers has attained advanced degrees microbiology and immunology. I am guessing your father is using his skills to aid in the cause. It is only the demon magic I’m not sure about.”
It was almost embarrassing how much more Yerik knew about my relatives than I did. Maybe I needed to start my own spy network—when I had the time and resources.
“I’ve been thinking about the demon magic.” I moved over to the desk and moved a few things so I could sit on the corner of it. “Is it possible they could have gotten the demon magic from back when they were working with Zoe in Juneau?”
It would explain why they’d been willing to help her in her crazy plan. I’d never understood how they could consider supernaturals to be evil and then help a nephilim summon demons, but if they had ulterior motives they might have believed the end justified the means.
Yerik paced the room, his kilt swaying as he walked. “They may have used the demons in Juneau to try out spells on the disease, but I do not believe they would have waited this long if they’d been ready to use them back then.”
I had to agree. Jerome would have wanted to use a weapon like that the moment it was ready to go. We must have interrupted them from finishing what they started.
“So they have to be summoning demons again to get their magic, but what would be the incentive for them to help? I doubt Jerome and his crew are going to try bringing Stolas back again.”
That was one scary demon prince. It took an archangel to fight him and send him back.
Yerik’s fists clenched. “There are ways to force a demon to do what you want—though I thought the art of it was long lost.”
“Damn. That would be useful information to have.”
His vermillion eyes flashed at me. “No, it would not.”
Right. I nearly forgot he was part demon. Did that mean he could be controlled by the old methods, too? I would have thought the angel half of him would have canceled out such a problem.
“Never mind all that,” Derrick said, coming around his desk and nudging me off of it. “The point is we have even more reason to put a stop to Jerome’s group. I’ve got half a dozen strong wolves I can provide, myself included.”
That came as a surprise. “Why do you want in on this?”
“Because I don’t want him back here causing trouble again and I don’t appreciate him makin’ my people sick.”
I supposed those reasons were as good as any, but that didn’t make it a good idea.
“What if your guys get sick?” I asked, looking at him for the first time without glaring. “A lot can happen in a few days and even if they stay healthy they could still catch it at the sensor hideout.”
Yerik nodded. “That is a point. The best time to do the raid is at night and vampires could participate at that time just as easily. Plus they can’t get the plague.”
The alpha let out a huff of breath. “Then at least let me go. You’ll need someone with a good nose.”
I leaned against the desk again and ignored the dirty look Derrick shot me. My anger had cooled off for the moment, but I didn’t want him thinking I was letting our issues go entirely.
“Bring Kariann, too. It would be a waste not to use her.”
He took a step closer. “Stop sitting on my desk and I’ll think about it.”
“You really need to lighten up or your hair is going to turn gray,” I said, moving off of it.
His nostrils flared as I passed him to go back to my spot by the door, but he didn’t say anything.
“Is there anything else? I’ve got a teenager at home who’s doing God knows what right now. I’d like to get back to her while my house might still be in one piece.” If I was lucky.
“There is one thing.” Yerik’s expression turned dark. “Don’t test me in front of Lucas again. We cannot afford for his suspicions to be aroused—if they haven’t already. There is too much at stake.”
Bringing up that topic was a mistake on his part. It was because of him, Micah, and the archangel Ariel that I was in this predicament. They had been the ones to force me into an unbreakable vow so that I had to keep secrets from Lucas. My palm itched where the oath had been mystically burned into my skin by my guardian angel. Ariel was the only one who could get around my immunity to magic.
I glared at the daimoun. “Maybe you should have thought of that before you put me in a position where I have to lie to my mate.”
He flashed in front of me and looked down his nose. Yerik was as tall as Lucas, if not an inch or two taller. His power practically crackled around him and sent my alarm bells ringing. It took all my willpower to hold my ground.
“It is necessary,” he said in an angry voice. “If you wish to take part in bringing down your father do not question me again.”
As if I was his little toy soldier that he could just order around.
“Don’t underestimate me, Yerik.” I poked a finger at his chest. “I might be young and I might not be as powerful as you, but that just makes me more resourceful. Push me too hard and see what happens.”
He grabbed my hand a
nd forced it away.
“That’s enough,” Derrick interjected, breaking us apart. “We don’t need to be arguing with each other when we’ve got enough battles to fight with others.”
“For once, we can agree on something.” I turned and grabbed the door handle.
“Melena,” Yerik called, making me look over my shoulder. “Micah asked me to give you his greetings.”
He spoke the truth—Micah had asked him—but he’d chosen to say it now when I was in no mood to stick around and ask more about Lucas’ brother. The jackass.
“Tell him I said hello and that I hope he thinks this plan is worth the risk.”
Chapter Eight
Kerbasi and I parked on the street across from Paula’s house. The vampire doctor lived in a split-level home with gray siding and a two-car garage. There were several unfamiliar vehicles parked in front of it, but I assumed those belonged to some of the supernaturals inside. Around back a St. Bernard barked incessantly. Jupiter—that was the dog’s name—must not have been too happy with being sent outside.
As we walked up the sidewalk, the pain and suffering coming from the house hit my senses like a cyclone of spinning debris. If I’d still been mortal, it might have been enough to knock me out. I rubbed my forehead and made my way up the steps. A couple of the people inside were familiar, but with so many sups in the house I couldn’t pinpoint which of them were sick.
Please don’t let anyone I know have the plague.
“I’m not helping them,” Kerbasi said for the dozenth time since I’d told him we were coming here.
“Don’t start. I’m really not in the mood.” I pushed the doorbell.
“I’m only making certain you know.”
I sighed. “Just don’t be a nuisance. Not everyone can tolerate your snide comments as well as I can and the people here are sick.”
“Tolerate? I’d hardly call it...”
I fingered the gun holstered under my jacket and he shut up.
The door opened with Paula hiding behind it. “Quickly, come inside.”
I’d forgotten it was still daylight out. We stepped into the dark foyer and she shut the door behind us. My nose took in the various scents of illness and disinfectants. The house had taken on the vibe of a sick ward.
“Sorry about that,” I apologized.
“Don’t be. I asked you to come over.”
She looked like hell. Wild strands of her brown hair stuck out from a bun at the back of her head and there were dark circles under her eyes. Vampires needed to sleep during the day and considering it was only two in the afternoon she must have gotten up as soon as her body allowed it.
“Is Rob Maccormac sick?” I asked, wanting to know about Hunter’s father right away.
She nodded. “He came in late this morning. Thankfully Yvonne was here and could get him settled.”
Yvonne was a mystic and one of the first sups I met when I came to Fairbanks. She used to run a tarot card reading place, but was retired now. I’d had to save her family last year when the Department of Homeland Security tried to take them away. She was a good woman who did what she could for the community.
“So she’s not sick?”
Paula glanced toward the steps leading to the basement where I sensed Yvonne. “No. There hasn’t been any indication the plague is affecting mystics yet. There are so few of them I don’t think they’ll have to worry about being targeted.”
I was sorry about Hunter’s father catching it, but was glad Yvonne hadn’t.
“Is there anyone else helping you?”
“Not yet, but Derrick has promised to send a couple of vampires as soon as it gets dark. We just didn’t expect the plague to spread so fast. The alpha did manage to get me some of the supplies I needed.” She walked over to a side table along the wall and grabbed two sets of blue scrubs and gloves. “If you two could put these on before you come any farther?”
“Sure.” I took mine.
Kerbasi took a step back. “I said I wasn’t helping.”
“We didn’t ask you to heal anyone,” I explained in the calmest voice possible. “Just help with whatever Paula needs.”
“Absolutely not.”
I ground my teeth. “I swear by all that is holy if you don’t at least help that much you’re going to forget what ice cream tastes like by the time I let you have any again. And if that isn’t enough, I’ll take the heater out of your shack for the next month and forbid you entry into the house. Believe me that when February comes and it gets even colder you’re really going to regret not helping today.”
The guardian shuddered. “This is blackmail.”
“You’d know all about it.”
He stood there for a moment, glaring at me. We both knew I’d won, but he couldn’t make it look like he gave in too easily.
“You’re buying me a latte after this.” He jerked the garments from Paula’s hands.
She had an expression on her face that looked like she feared World War III was about to happen. Little did she know this was a normal exchange between us.
“We’ll both get one,” I agreed.
“And a scone? I really like those.”
I started pulling the oversized pants over my clothes. “Unless you want to go outside and play with Jupiter, don’t push your luck.”
He grumbled, but followed my lead and put on his scrubs. The top was so tight on him he had to take his sweater off first. It took a few more minutes of him complaining before he had the pants on. Kerbasi frowned as he looked down at the scrubs plastered to his body, which did nothing to hide his bulky muscles. I had to hide a smile behind my hand. If not for his waist-length black hair and harsh facial features he might have made a great doctor on one of those daytime soap operas.
“If you two could follow me.” Paula turned and headed for the living room.
We made our way down the hallway until she stopped at the entrance. There were four patients lying on cots in there, plus another two guys beyond that in the dining room. My senses told me a half dozen more were scattered throughout the rest of the house. She hadn’t been kidding when she’d called and said she needed help. Had it only been two days since I discovered the first case?
“As you can see, we’re running out of room.” She gazed at her patients with a look of concern.
Many of them were coughing and one guy was puking into the trashcan next to his cot. I could make out black marks around the throats, mouths, and noses of some of them—a lot of swelling, too. How Paula and Yvonne kept up with this by themselves, I didn’t know. They had IV drips going into each of the patients. That alone had to be a lot to maintain. With all the resources supernaturals had it seemed like there should have been an easy way to fix this.
“Have you tried healing them with your blood?”
She gave me a sad smile. “It was the first thing I tried. Unfortunately, it falls under the list of things vampire blood won’t cure.”
“And magic?”
“Nothing seems to get past the demon spells and we can’t use your blood for obvious reasons.” She sighed.
I’d considered that possibility as well, but we’d have to isolate every patient who I gave blood. Breaking the entwined demon spells wouldn’t be an instant cure and they’d remain contagious for days. It would require keeping them far away from humans or anyone else who could catch the plague until they recovered
During that time we’d have to institute special decontamination measures for all the caregivers. Short of taking over a Center for Disease Control (CDC) building—which would be conspicuous no matter how we did it—there was no guarantee we wouldn’t cause a greater outbreak.
Plus I didn’t have enough blood to help everyone. There were already too many afflicted across all the major cities. The real answer was to find and stop the source, along with locating an actual cure.
“You’re going to need more room,” I observed.
All her furniture was stacked against the far wall but even then it onl
y left two feet of space between each cot. If any more sups got sick, there wasn’t going to be many other places to put them.
“The master is working on that now. He’s found a larger place and has his men working to get it ready. It’ll just take a couple of days.”
“If you killed off the worst ones you’d have room,” Kerbasi offered.
“Maybe your next lesson on humanity should involve cleaning bed pans. It would help you better understand the suffering of mortals.”
The guardian’s face turned an interesting shade of green. “On second thought, I believe getting a more spacious place is an excellent idea.”
Paula cleared her throat, drawing our attention back to her. “It’s about time to change out the IV bags for the patients down the hall, including the one for Rob Maccormac, if you’d like to see him.”
She knew there had been some tension between us a while back. I’d been upset with Hunter’s father for following Derrick during his uprising last year, but I’d mostly forgiven him and even had him over for Christmas dinner last month. Whether I’d forgiven him or not, though, I’d still want to check on him.
“I would like to see Rob, thanks.”
“Are you familiar with how to change out the bags?” She moved over to the table to grab an armful.
“I was a combat lifesaver in the military. I can handle it.”
“Good.” She handed them over. “There are also some clean rags and bowls of water in the rooms. If you could wash their faces as well, it would help make them feel a little more comfortable.”
We started toward the hall leading to the bedrooms. “Is any of this actually helping?”
“Along with the antibiotics I’ve been giving, a little. It seems to slow the plague down, but it’s too early to tell if it will be enough to stop it.” She paused at the first door on the right. “Start here with the women and then move on to the next room.”
There were only three bedrooms and all the patients were in the first two. I assumed the one at the far end belonged to Paula. She definitely needed a bigger place as soon as possible.
“Anything else?”
She shook her head. “Yvonne is handling the worst cases downstairs and I’ve got the patients in the main room. If you can do this we’ll have everyone covered.”