by D. R. Perry
“And Leora.” Scott’s nostrils flare, but he manages to maintain control. He’s been a wolf way longer than his peer has been a Lethian, after all.
“That’s how he plans to collaborate and pull in the rest of the magic he needs.” I shake my head. “The way he did in the courtroom. With a musical number.”
It seems we’re all going to a funeral. Hopefully, the number of deceased individuals won’t increase during the course of the evening.
Chapter Twenty
Michellino’s is relatively quiet when we arrive. I’ve seen the parking lot emptier than this on only one occasion. But this makes sense. If Dad set up flowers tonight, the actual wake is happening tomorrow.
I park and get out of the car while Maya and Jackie wrangle themselves out of the passenger side and the back seat. Frankie’s in Scott’s truck with Sebastian, while the hunters drove over in a Jeep.
“Shitballs.”
My father’s still in there. His van is out front, which means he’s inside working. And Mom’s helping. And here I am rolling up with a platoon of supernatural warriors.
“What’s wrong?”
I wait until everyone’s out of their vehicles and tell them the problem.
“If I go in and try getting them to leave, it’ll blow our cover.”
“And if you don’t, your parents will be in the crossfire.” Kayleigh chews her lower lip. “Ugh.”
“Can’t somebody else go in and take over for them?” Maya puts her hand on my shoulder.
“Does anyone besides me have experience with floral arrangements?” I cross my fingers.
A chorus of negatory statements is the response I get.
“How about music?” Sebastian’s somehow managed to calm Frankie down. Probably not with any powers, either, or Scott would have bitten him. “As one of Zack’s students, I’ve got the perfect excuse to go in there and delay him with coaching questions.”
I’m not sure I should trust this to the kid. After the way we all got burned by Zack, it should be the worst idea in the world. But he’s shown honor and good sense this evening, joining an alliance and jumping right in to uphold it. Don’t I owe him for that?
The vow I took when I joined vampire society says as much. If any kind of supernatural will honor and protect humans, I’ve vowed vampirically to pay them back. Going against it is not an option.
“Kid, if your idea can keep my parents out of magical combat, go for it.”
“And the girls?” Scott’s forehead looks like a roadmap.
“He won’t let them go.” Sebastian shakes his head. “All I’m trying to do is stop him from doing his thing until they leave. Maybe they can help us once they know what’s happening.”
“Okay.” I nod. “Get in there and do your thing, Sebastian.”
He heads toward the entrance.
“So, we have to get in pretty much right after they’re out.” Aileen’s nodding. “I know this building. There’s a hearse entrance and a point of access on the roof. The crematorium, technically, but that’s way too risky.”
“He might be able to use it.” Scott jerks his chin at a ball-cap-wearing figure leaning against the lamp post.
“Sparky!” I grin, waving as he turns around and jogs over. “Of course. That’s perfect.”
“Hey, boss?” Black eyes blink up at me.
“Yeah, buddy?”
“Is there trouble in there?” Sparky jerks a thumb over his shoulder.
“Will be in a few minutes.”
“Shitballs.”
“Language, buddy.” I sigh. “Anyway, you know where the crematorium is?”
“Yeah. Want me to go in that way?”
“Exactly.”
“Okay.” Sparky sprints toward the back of the building.
“What is he, a dragon?” Calvin scratches his head.
“Something like that.” I grin. “Useful but not so big. Still just a kid.”
“We’ll take the hearse entrance.” Calvin puts on what look like infrared goggles. Aileen and Kayleigh don similar headgear. “We can leave the lights off back there and still get around.”
The hunters follow Sparky at a full march.
“I’ll take the roof.” Maya cracks her knuckles.
“Be careful.”
“Always.” My girlfriend heads toward the side of Michellino’s that faces away from the street. As she goes, I hear her activating her claws, answering my unspoken question about how she’ll get to the top.
“Frankie, are you staying here or coming in?”
“I want to be here for you.” He puts his hands on his hips. “Even though I can’t do anything.”
“I’ve seen you in fights before. You’re nothing to sneeze at.”
“I’ve got no Post-its this time, Tino. But that’s not all.”
“Frankie, there’s—” I’m about to tell him everything, spill the beans on that dream about him and Zack. But he stops me.
“Look, I don’t want you benching me.” He shakes his head. “But it’s time to tell you. I’ve been seeing Z. Romantically.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“I totally understand what he sees in you.” I nod. “The heart wants what it wants.”
“I love him.” Frankie deflates. “Even after all this.” He gestures at the building. “And he says he loves me. So I understand if you don’t want me in there with you.”
“You’re coming in.”
“What?” Jackie snorts. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am, though.” I grin. “Scott, tell her how we won last time.”
“Musical number. Totally cheesy.” Scott grins. “Also, by giving a shit.”
“That’s a simplified version, but it’ll do.” I reach out, put a hand on Frankie’s shoulder. “I’m bringing you because if all else fails, Zack might listen to reason if it comes from you.”
“Because he gives a shit, gotcha.” Jackie nods, dropping Frankie a wink.
“I guess we’re going in through the front door, which is perfect for wolfed-out shock troops, et cetera.” Scott shrugs. “We’ll have to stand nearby, but not close enough for Tino’s parents to recognize any of us.”
“Right, or they’ll stop to chat.” Frankie chuckles. “Not a good night to meet your parents.”
“I know just the place.”
I lead them through the front door and then to the right. It’s a small alcove with a waiting area for people coming in to make arrangements. As the biggest funeral home in Cranston, Michellino’s sometimes has customers waiting.
Scott’s eyeing the coffee bar, which is laden with granola bars and other non-perishable snacks. Frankie shakes a finger at him, reminding the teenager to stop thinking with his stomach.
In the quiet as we wait, I try tuning my ears in to what’s going on across the hall. My enhanced hearing doesn’t fail me. Inside, Zack coaches Sarah and Leora through a rendition of Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again. Funeral appropriate, though not what I’d expect for a world-ending number.
He must have something else in mind, then. Some other song they’ll all sing together while they work magic. I wrack my brain for musicals that include the use of magic. Camelot’s too old. Jeckyll and Hyde has too few female roles. Into the Woods, then? Puffs? I wonder what excuse he’ll give the girls for switching songs.
Either that, or I’m grossly misjudging his motives. If his reasons include grief, this number from Phantom fits. But something distracts me from my frantic theorizing.
The sound of a piano draws the corners of my mouth down. I should have known Zack would go the whole hog with this and not opt for recorded music. The main thing I’m wondering is, who’s playing? Because Zack Milano never has and never will do instruments.
Scott taps me on the shoulder, pointing at his ears and then his nose. I shake my head and make a lip-zipping gesture. Even if he learned something important, we can’t afford to make noise and miss my parents leaving the building.
Jackie to the rescue
. She’s snagged a couple of Michellino’s promotional items, a pad and pen. Scott snatches them and jots something down then holds it up.
Doctor Terry and another lady inside.
Because of course, they are. Just when I thought this couldn’t get more complicated, the crazy coincidences pile even higher.
Stephanie walks through the door wearing fresh clothes and sporting a perfect updo, healed of all visible injuries. And she’s got Whitby with her. He’s wearing a white suit, complete with matching shoes. In a funeral home. Gross.
She didn’t take the Swyft to Kent County, then.
My sire waits until her gauche companion turns toward the Milano family’s room before glancing briefly at the alcove. Jackie puts a finger over her lips, but I don’t need stage directions from a werewolf to know this isn’t my cue.
I watch Whitby pull the door open, then step aside as my parents walk through. He greets my father, shaking his hand.
I blink, of course. After that, my vision’s nearly obscured by the red tinge of imminent Rage. The last person I want anywhere near my parents is this fake plastic king. And Stephanie knows it.
If Scott and Frankie hadn’t been there expecting this reaction, I’d have jumped the other two vamps by now. But they’re being good friends as usual, holding me back.
While Whitby ushers my folks out of the door, my head clears enough to understand what’s going on.
Stephanie was here earlier. She knew Mom and Dad had this job, and she came up with her own plan to get them out. Calling in a favor from that usurper to have him hire them for an under-the-table wedding, as evidenced by their conversation and the fat stack of cash he just handed over.
Once they leave, I’m almost ready to head in, only waiting on the sound of the van turning out on to Park Avenue.
But first, I pray that Stephanie doesn’t come back in here.
God owes vampires nothing.
Chapter Twenty-One
I’m already on the verge of Rage when I rush through the door at four times a mortal’s speed. This means everything else moves slowly enough for me to take it all in before the regular speed folks have time to react.
Inside, Sebastian hovers at Corey Terry’s shoulder, peeking at the stack of sheet music in front of her. Eunice is about to stop him, frowning her displeasure.
King DeCampo sits in one of the seats, his arms slack, and his hands folded in his lap. From the way the girls disregard his presence, they couldn’t have been privy to the battle between Zack and the elder vampires.
Or maybe I’m misjudging again. Sarah’s looking right at Zack, who’s openly wearing all the items he nicked off his victims. The earrings dangle from the strap on Kayleigh’s belt of mace, and she can see the glow around them, plain as I can. Seeing magic is a talent the two of us share.
I hear the rending of clothes and the crack of bone as Scott and Jackie wolf out. I realize my own impetuous use of powers prompted them to go all-out. Oops.
Leora sees me. The werewolves, too. She stops singing and drops her jaw.
“Stop!” Zack holds out a hand, palm flat. The three of us halt as though a wall was suddenly in the way. It’s not. Even Zack isn’t that powerful. Yet.
“Fine.” I snort. “Go on with your villain monologue.”
“Villain?” Leora’s voice rises. “Zack’s the good guy. He’s going to bring them back, Tino.”
“What to the who, now?” I actually take a step back.
“Our parents,” Sarah answers.
I can’t argue. After risking everything to evacuate my own folks, that’s impossible. And I’m an adult. Leora and Sarah are just a couple of kids who need parenting every day.
“No way.” Frankie’s pacing up the aisle between chairs, standing as tall as his wiry frame allows. He locks gazes with Zack. “Shit happens. People die. We’re left to work through it. This spell is a copout, love.”
“That’s right.” I nod, and Scott and Jackie join in.
“Maybe for you.” Eunice puts her hands on her hips, facing us. “But if you had the kind of power they do, wouldn’t you want to fix everything so love always wins?”
“Is that what he’s trying to sell you all?” Sebastian blinks. “Because family ties and love aren’t the same thing. Sare, you know this.”
“Yeah, Bassey.” She gazes down at him, like the angel statue in Swan Point cemetery. “That’s why I helped him get Raven’s amulet. Because he can change all that conditional crap we had to settle for, and make life better for our siblings.”
“What does Baba think about this, Leora?”
“No idea.” Her lips thin as she holds up a bare right wrist. “No bracelet, no Baba.” She lets out a nervous titter.
“Not true!” Sparky’s standing in the back entrance to the room. He brandishes the bracelet almost threateningly. The hunters sidle through behind him, flanking the performance area. “Don’t help him, Leora. Don’t make me stop you.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
“This is what I get for fixing everything?” Zack shakes his head. “So short-sighted, all of you.”
“Back at you, dude.” I snort. “You’re meddling with reality. How do you know it’ll all go the way you want?”
“My childe is correct.” The second-to-last person I wanted to see speaks as she strides all the way down the aisle. “Reality has a way of balancing itself in ways you won’t like.”
“Finish that job, DeCampo.” Zack points.
The former king of Providence leaps from his seat with his claws out, rushing Stephanie.
She’s unarmed and stands still, letting him come.
I dash toward her. But all the speed in the world isn’t enough.
Claws slash my sire, plowing furrows through her throat down to her waist.
Ashes bloom, gray flowers spreading across her body.
In seconds, Stephanie is gone. It’s silent. Everyone hears her Lazakhar clink softly against its chain as it hits the carpet.
“I’ll bring her back, too.” Zack’s lips twist into something too manic for a smile. “Just let us work the spell.”
My face is wet; I smell blood pouring from my eyes. Those tears shake my voice like a 6.9 earthquake. My words do them one better.
“Like your father?”
Zack takes a step back.
“I saw it all, Milano.” My nostrils flare. “You’re nothing but an unrepentant murderer.”
“You try my patience, Crispo.” He gestures at Corey at the piano. “Valentino, why couldn’t you have stayed calm instead of flying off the handle?”
She launches into an intro I can’t place at first. The moment Sarah sings the opening line, I understand. By the time Leora trades off, joining the duet, I realize we might be too late.
Zack Milano is altering reality with Defying Gravity from Wicked.
On the first chorus, he sings along, adding a third part to the established harmony. All the items he’s stolen begin glowing.
The universe holds its breath and stands still, but we don’t. Maybe we can’t.
DeCampo turns on the group of hunters. Wooden ammo bounces off his armored flesh. They go down in a tangle of limbs accompanied by tearing sounds.
Sparky rushes Leora. She upends a can of green levitation powder on her head, literally defying gravity. He leaps, swinging at her with the bracelet. Powder hits his arm and he floats up, but too slowly to catch her.
Jackie lunges at the piano. Corey keeps playing despite the angry wolf-woman. Eunice gets in the way, brandishing a silver Thespian Society trophy. It nicks Jackie, and she howls in pain.
Sebastian’s got Sarah by the arm. I see him struggle to activate his powers through the sea-green glow of her water magic. Her voice continues on, nailing Galinda’s next verse.
That leaves Zack to me. I burn all my blood on speed, letting Rage take over. My vision tunnels, and he’s the light at the end, a bright bag of magic and blood.
He opens Gertrude’s stolen ring.<
br />
My plastic arm rebels, punching me in the face.
I fall to the floor at Zack’s feet. He stands over me, Kayleigh’s holy water spray can in my face. The bastard’s still singing, too.
This is how I go?
No.
Maya’s dropped behind Zack, hissing like a basket of snakes. He whirls, spraying her right hand, which goes pale and limp, claws retracting.
She swings from the left, claws connecting, severing his wrist.
He sings at it. Bone, skin, and sinew come back together.
The second blast from the can takes out the rest of Maya’s claws. She drops to her knees, screaming in pain as smoke rises.
I’m on my feet by now, but his can still sloshes.
“This is wrong.” Frankie’s there, stepping between us. Somehow he’s able to talk over the musical magic. “Z. Stop. We’ll fix this the regular way. Just you and me.”
Zack wants all the pain in his lover’s past erased. Raven’s Lazakhar probably lets him change the Pickering family in fundamental ways, including who gets power and who mates with monsters.
But he’s got no right. Not when Frankie himself says no.
Zack answers in song, harmonizing with Leora.
“Everyone deserves the chance to fly.”
I fly at Zack, but Frankie’s standing in the way. Rage won’t let me go anywhere but straight ahead.
Scott howls, crushing Frankie down to the ground at my right. Bones snap. I trip over them, tuck, and roll.
Zack draws a silver knife.
I leap. My plastic arm splays out, throwing my balance. I miss.
Zack doesn’t. The silver blade plunges between Scott’s shoulder blades. He slumps forward, twitching.
And the song goes on, nearing conclusion.
I’ll never stop him in time with a rogue limb, so I do the only thing I can.
Grabbing my left forearm in my right hand, I call on blood for the strength to tear it off.
Blood I don’t have.
But something else happens. I feel power coming at me, fueling my undead muscles enough to pull the alchemical construct off my shoulder.
It’s familiar. Gray. Smoky.
Sebastian.