Darkness Shatters: Book 5 (Sensor Series)

by Susan Illene

  He glanced over at the shelf. “Only that when I visited his home after he was executed I found he’d mostly been growing garlic plants. Inside there were jars filled with their juice. I can’t imagine what else he might have used that much garlic for.”

  “We’ve already started using it.” I waved a dismissive hand. “Garlic seems to slow the plague down as far as we can tell. Anything else?”

  He mulled it over. “There was one strange thing.”

  “What?”

  “I found several large vats with a coating of salt in them. Almost as if he’d been using salt water and it had dried up, but I can’t be sure if it had anything to do with the plague.”

  Interesting, but without details it didn’t do us much good. “Did you try talking to the survivors?”

  Josslyn brought him a glass of red wine. He gave her a grateful look and sipped at it.

  “Parthenios didn’t keep records of who he treated and the few I did find couldn’t recall the cure. They’d been too far gone by the time they reached him to know what was being done to them.”

  “Did you ever figure out how the plague spread in the first place?” I asked.

  “No.” Nik frowned at his wine glass. “It just seemed to taper off after two years. The best anyone could guess was that someone with a grudge against supernaturals summoned a demon. Once it had to go back to Hell their ability to spread the plague stopped and most of the affected races had developed an immunity to it.”

  We couldn’t afford to wait up to two years. I needed to convince Yerik to let me talk to Micah. Lucas’ brother was a nephilim and a strong healer like Parthenios. Maybe he could figure out a way to reproduce the cure. It was a long shot, considering he would have spoken up by now if knew something, but I still wanted to try putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

  I stood up. “Thanks for your help. It might not be much, but you helped clear some things up.”

  It was only now that I’d finished plying him for information that I realized I might have come on too strong. Here he was still mourning Felisha and I show up out of the blue to pump him for information.

  “You’re welcome.” He dipped his chin.

  “So, um.” I looked around the cabin. “How have you been doing? Is there anything you need?”

  Nik gave me a half smile. “Finally remembering your manners? You’ve never been much of one for proper greetings.”

  “Sorry. It’s just that when people are dying I get a little focused.” Especially since I was really tired of it happening so frequently.

  “I know.” He came over and pulled me into his arms.

  For a small moment, everything felt like it had returned to normal. Nik and I arguing over the latest crisis and then resuming our friendship afterward. I’d missed having him around in Fairbanks. Now I was stuck arguing with Kerbasi all the time.

  “How do you feed out here?” I asked after he pulled away.

  “We’re old enough we don’t need to go out often, but travelers from the highway come along frequently enough to sustain us for the most part. On the rare occasion we get desperate we visit a nearby Gwich'in settlement.”

  I held back a shudder. No matter how open-minded I tried to be it still bothered me that vampires had to feed on innocent people. I had to hope he didn’t visit that settlement too often. There weren’t that many Gwich'in—a native tribe to Alaska and Canada—left and they didn’t need to be weakened by vampires.

  “Melena, if you’ve finished…” Ajax said, coming into the sitting area.

  “Right. Guess it’s your turn.”

  I backed away and headed toward the table where Kerbasi sat.

  The shaman cleared his throat. “Actually, I’d prefer it if you could give us some privacy.”

  Kerbasi’s expression turned livid. “I will not stand out in the cold while you discuss your weaknesses as a shaman with the vampire. The ceremony you wish to perform can’t be that difficult to figure out on your own.”

  The guardian must have dipped into Ajax’s head when I wasn’t paying attention.

  “What ceremony?” I asked.

  “The one that will allow me to connect to my land.” The shaman shot Kerbasi an annoyed look. “I haven’t been able to make it work yet.”

  Nik put a hand on his shoulder. “I watched Charlie do it several times when he was performing his spring renewal. Looking back on it I suspect he’d invited me along knowing it would be useful once he was gone. I can tell you the basics now, but I’d advise you wait a few months to perform the full ceremony. Spring is when you’ll find the strongest connection.”

  The expression on Ajax’s face turned to one of relief. “Thanks.”

  “This is going to be boring,” Kerbasi grumbled.

  And here I’d hoped we could stick around a little longer and listen in, but not if a certain guardian couldn’t behave.

  “We’re going to head off for the Jeep and will wait for you there. Can you find your way back alright?” I asked the shaman.

  He nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Just don’t take too long,” I warned. “I’ve got a meeting I have to attend later this morning.”

  I gave Nik another hug and turned to Josslyn. “Call or write if you need anything, okay?”

  She smiled. “I will, but please do come back and visit again when there isn’t a crisis. It gets lonely here.”

  Her gaze darted to Nik. The poor woman was so in love with him, but he wasn’t at a stage where he could return the feelings at the same level.

  “Count on it.” I squeezed her arm.

  It wasn’t until Kerbasi and I got well out of hearing range before I had to ask.

  “So what else did you dig out of everyone’s heads while you were in there?”

  He grimaced. “The two vampires were intimate less than an hour before we arrived.”

  “That’s it?” I asked.

  Kerbasi hesitated for a moment. “Every time Nikolas starts to slip into depression Josslyn threatens to walk into the sunlight. I fear one day she may make good on her threat, regardless.”

  That was disturbing. It made me feel guilty I hadn’t visited when she’d first written. I’d been too busy avoiding reminders of what happened to Felisha to consider how it was affecting others. Except for Emily and Lucas, I hadn’t bothered to worry about anyone else.

  “I’m surprised you care if she does kill herself,” I said.

  “That woman has suffered a great deal of pain—more than I have inflicted on anyone. The things she went through…” He shuddered. “Even I would not harm such a gentle soul.”

  Somehow, I doubted Kerbasi would have said the same thing a matter of months ago. Maybe I was making progress on him if he could feel empathy for a vampire.

  Chapter Eleven

  “I’m pulling up to the building now. Looks like Yerik’s already inside,” I told Lucas, who’d called me on the way to my meeting with O’Connell.

  The DHS agent had gotten himself an office in downtown Fairbanks. It was much better than his weird proclivity for former auto repair shops. He could even wear a suit to work without looking strange.

  “Good. It’s better if you don’t go to the meeting alone,” Lucas replied.

  He sounded exhausted.

  “Is it that bad in Juneau?” I asked.

  “The plague has spread quickly here. I’ve yet to determine how, but it’s already taken several lives. We’re testing possible cures to see if anything works.”

  Until about two years ago Juneau had been run by a cambion—the offspring of a human and an incubus—named Aeson. He’d been killed by a demon prince during a battle we’d fought. Lucas had been good friends with him and felt an obligation to protect his city now that he was gone. Sayer, one of Lucas’ ancient vampire servants, usually took care of supernatural problems in Juneau for him, but with the plague outbreak he’d taken a personal interest in handling the problem.

  “Any luck?” I asked.

  �
��Nothing yet.”

  “Okay, well, I’ve got to get inside, but I’ll call you later tonight.” I’d have preferred to be with him in Juneau, but I couldn’t leave Fairbanks. It was bad enough I’d be leaving Emily for the raid this coming weekend.

  “Take care, sensor,” Lucas said.

  “You, too.” I hung up.

  “No heartfelt goodbyes?” Kerbasi lifted a brow.

  I looked over at him in the passenger seat. “Only when I feel like annoying you.”

  “That explains much.”

  “Let’s go.” I opened the door and got out of the Jeep.

  The parking lot was covered with snow and ice. It had been leveled down by snow plows sometime recently, but it was still a bit dicey. Kerbasi cursed from the other side of the vehicle and grabbed hold of it. If I saved a dollar each time he slipped or fell, I could almost pay for the first semester of Emily’s college by the time she finished high school. He was a walking accident waiting to happen.

  I locked the doors and headed down the street.

  “You must move somewhere warmer,” the guardian said, eventually catching up to me. “I hear Florida is nice at this time of year.”

  “Forget it. You’re just going to have to get used to Fairbanks.” We reached the entrance to the office building.

  “You live here just to punish me.” He gave me a dark look.

  Admittedly, there was some appeal to that idea, but that wasn’t the real reason I stayed in Alaska. It had become home to Emily and me. We’d grown used to the craziness of the place and we had friends here. There was nowhere else we’d want to live.

  I opened the door to the lobby and let him go through first.

  “Have I told you how nice you look in your suit?”

  He smoothed his hands down the front. “It is a nice one.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  And it had cost me almost five hundred dollars. That’s what it had taken for him to be on his best behavior for this meeting. Though I hated to admit it, the savings account Lucas set up for me came in handy for cases like this. If I hadn’t rescued him from Purgatory, I wouldn’t have gotten stuck with Kerbasi. I didn’t mind using Lucas’ money when it came to the guardian.

  We headed down the first-floor hall until we reached the suite number O’Connell had given me. I could sense Yerik inside along with two nervous humans. Though I’d made a point of being ten minutes early, the daimoun had still gotten there first.

  I went inside and passed an empty reception desk. Toward the back, there were two offices. I caught sight of O’Connell standing in the doorway of one of them and sensed Yerik in the room behind him. The agent’s expression turned to one of relief when he saw me.

  “Melena, I’m glad to see you here.” He stepped back to allow me through.

  I cast a quick glance at Yerik, who leaned against the wall. He was wearing his kilt again, but he also had a pair of black boots on his feet. He seemed to think that qualified as “dressed up.”

  “The big guy didn’t give you a hard time, did he?” I asked the agent.

  O’Connell’s lips thinned. “That’s a matter of perspective.”

  “Sensor.” Yerik nodded at me.

  “Daimoun.”

  “What’s a daimoun?” This came from a middle-aged man with thinning brown hair and a slight paunch pushing against his gray jacket. He’d come into the room behind me.

  “Melena Sanders, this is Mr. Woods,” O’Connell said, waving an arm at the man. “I spoke to you about him.”

  He’d warned me his boss would be at the meeting as well, but I considered that a good thing. It meant they were taking the raid seriously.

  Mr. Woods held out his hand. “It’s good to finally meet you in person. Now what is a daimoun?”

  His palm was sweaty. The older man put on a stern front, but his emotions were a cross between nervousness and skepticism. I shook his hand and let go.

  “Someone who is half-demon and half-angel. Don’t ask how that came about. I’m waiting until I’m really drunk before asking for the full story.”

  “You could ask me now,” Yerik said, amusement in his eyes.

  “No, really, I couldn’t.”

  I’d still not decided if I wanted to know how and angel and demon hooked up.

  “Why don’t you take a seat?” O’Connell suggested.

  I ran my gaze over to the doorway where Kerbasi stood and met his eyes before taking a chair next to Yerik. For the moment, the guardian was invisible. The suit I’d purchased for him wasn’t only for his good behavior during the meeting, but also an incentive for him to pry into the minds of the DHS agents and make sure their intentions were good. He’d refused to do it again without some compensation.

  I folded my hands in my lap. “So I take it you’ve decided to participate in the raid?”

  “That depends on you,” Woods replied.

  Both of the agents had taken seats behind a large oak desk. Yerik remained standing.

  “How so?” I cocked my head.

  “We’ve been looking for a liaison who could intermediate between our agency and the supernatural population. Your military background and service to your country makes you a good candidate. O’Connell has also spoken highly of you. Would you consider taking such a position?”

  I kept my face blank. “I’m not certain that’s a good idea.”

  “Why not?”

  I resisted tapping my fingers on the arm of my chair. How much to tell him?

  “The raid I’ve asked you to join is targeting a group of sensors. They are the same race as me. The supernatural world hates my kind more than you can possibly imagine and wouldn’t care for me being their intermediary.” Assuming any of them would have anything to do with the agency in the first place.

  Woods directed his attention to Yerik. “I gather with your background you must be powerful and influential, yet you’ve chosen to let Ms. Sanders lead the raid. Why is that?”

  I braced myself and hoped he didn’t tell them about my father. If they found out this wasn’t only about justice, but also revenge, they might rethink their decision to participate. Or at least stipulate I not be the one leading the operation.

  “Good question.” The daimoun glanced at me. “For one, she’s proven she is a capable and strong woman. For two, she knows our targets very well. How they think. How they act. She can anticipate their moves far better than anyone else. With the proper backup, we can conduct this operation quickly and quietly with minimal casualties.”

  “In the midst of a battle with many races involved, who would she protect first?” Brown asked.

  There was something shrewd in his eyes. I was willing to bet this man had been an interrogator before he rose up the ranks and that he’d been good at reading body language. Yerik was too old and experienced to give anything away, but he also knew which tells to give so the older man would feel he’d gotten truthful answers.

  “It’s not about race to Melena. It’s about protecting the weak and innocent.”

  Brown nodded. “Excellent answer. If you’d said humans would be her choice, I wouldn’t have believed you.”

  Of course, he wouldn’t. I’d attacked his agents when they’d tried kidnapping a family of mystics last year. Something told me Yerik knew that. The daimoun was older than Kerbasi and could probably read human minds, too. What surprised me was that he’d told the truth.

  He really believed I’d protect innocents first, which I would have appreciated if he wasn’t willing to use that weakness against me. We both knew the lure of Jerome wouldn’t be quite enough to get me to invade Purgatory and keep secrets from Lucas if not for the nerou trapped there. They were the innocents I wanted to help.

  “She’s one of a kind, our Melena.” Yerik patted me on the shoulder.

  I resisted the urge to break his fingers.

  Brown crossed his arms. “Do you believe she’ll make a good liaison between our people and yours?”

  Kerbasi snorted. “They have
no idea.”

  No one else could hear him. I chose to ignore him.

  “She is headstrong and independent. While this can be annoying at times,” he paused to give me a censorious look. “It also means she is not easily influenced or coerced. She’ll do what she thinks is best for all parties involved.”

  I was getting tired of everyone talking over my head. “She is right here and she still doesn’t think this is a good idea.”

  “For once we are in agreement,” Kerbasi said between mouthfuls of a candy bar he’d just pulled out.

  Yerik caught my glance at the door and his lips twitched. He couldn’t see the guardian, but he must have guessed he was there.

  Brown’s voice brought my attention forward. “You say the supernaturals abhor your race, yet we’ve got quite a bit of surveillance footage of you interacting with them—peacefully. That tells me you’ve broken past that barrier and at least gained a certain degree of trust.”

  He clearly hadn’t caught all my moments with sups.

  “It’s tenuous,” I said. “And taking this position would not warm them toward me.”

  Yerik shifted. “I beg to differ—especially if I endorse it.”

  I was getting outmaneuvered all around. “I have an adopted daughter to consider. She’s still got over a year of high school left and needs to finish it here. If taking the position means I have to move or travel around a lot I’m not doing it.”

  “This would be your office and agent O’Connell your partner. Travel would be minimal. You’d also receive a salary and health benefits for your daughter.”

  Now he was luring me in. A paying job with benefits was exactly what I’d been trying to find since Felisha died and I lost my job. If they were still watching me, they must have figured that out.

  “I’ll have to think about it.”

  “When is this raid to take place?” O’Connell asked.

  “Saturday night,” Yerik answered.

  The younger agent rubbed his chin. “We won’t start coordinating our end of the operation until you accept. Delays at this late stage could result in problems getting assets and equipment in place on time.”

  I liked it better when O’Connell stayed quiet.