Drop Dead Demons

by Kirk, A

  The boys stiffened but kept eyes on Cacciatori.

  After a beat, Ayden said, “Tracker?” Putting good use to that whole repeating thing he liked to do.

  “Trackers are electronically embedded in the files. A standard security precaution with our most vital documents.” Cacciatori tipped her head sideways. “Did Father Bancroft not tell you?”

  I stopped breathing. Tracker as in track the files down? Here? To us? I didn’t know where the boys had the Flint files but the documents had to be somewhere close. They had been on my front lawn! If the Mandatum could track their progress, pinpoint everywhere they had been, I was toast. We were toast.

  “No.” Ayden’s voice had an edge. “Father Bancroft must not have had a chance to mention it since our meeting was cut short.” His eyes slid toward Jayden and Logan. “Due to an unexpected pressing matter.”

  Like my kidnapping. Super.

  “What data did you reclaim before the tracker became inoperable?” Jayden said.

  “It traveled west,” Cacciatori said. “Over the Atlantic, toward the States.”

  Jayden interjected quickly, “ Or Canada or South America, or even—”

  “True,” she agreed, “but we will have answers shortly. The files disappeared from my station here in Paris so it is a personal affront, and I must rectify this myself.” Her eyes glittered darkly. “As you know, electronics are my…forte, so even if the files and the tracker have been destroyed, I can trace the ghost of the path they traveled until then. We will have answers in a matter of days.”

  “Wow, impressive,” Ayden smiled wide. “How many days would that be?”

  “Four.” She paused, thoughtful. “Five, perhaps, but only if the one who disengaged it is of supreme ability. And if Gossamer Falls is their destination, tactical support teams can be at your doorstep in mere hours.”

  Yippee. Good news being that I wouldn’t have to worry about that demon hoard stampeding my way in a week.

  Cacciatori turned in a slow circle to survey the room. “I see perhaps you could use several of our latest upgrades.” Her gaze remained eye level or below. At first. Then it started to lift. Higher and higher and…

  My body trembled. I felt her eyes coming for me.

  “You know what?!” Ayden blurted.

  Blake burst into the room. “Madame Cacciatori!”

  Matthias entered with Blake and noticed Logan’s subtle chin-bob. The Aussie glanced up. His eyes turned to chipped ice, his jaw locked. His foot stepped in front of Blake’s ankle, and he threw a subtle elbow into Blake’s back.

  Blake was grinning at Cacciatori. “You’re a vision of beauty and— Oh! Omph!”

  And the mountain came tumbling down.

  Momentum took possession of his massive frame, and arms flailing, Blake stumbled and rolled and showed no signs of stopping. Like a supercharged ball in a pinball machine, he slammed into countertops, knocked over equipment, shot paperwork into the air, sent wheeled chairs shooting across the room to crash into tables and cabinets, rattling vials and glassware, and clattering microscopes and expensive looking machines off their shelves.

  There was clanging and banging and a barrage of noise, and as he finally thumped to the floor, the holographic image of Madame Cacciatori stuttered and blinked out.

  Blake sat up, grimaced, and reached underneath his butt. He pulled out the metal crown thing which had lost some of the pieces attached to the side, the top was bent, and the circular shape was seriously warped.

  Mr. Ishida rushed in. “What happened?”

  Blake said sheepishly, “Sorry, dudes, I think I broke it.” He pointed at Matthias. “He pushed me!”

  “Sorry?” Mr. Ishida breathed deep, grasped Blake’s hand and yanked him up. “You…are,” his face broke into a beaming smile, “brilliant!” He grabbed the sides of Blake’s head and kissed his cheek.

  “I am?”

  “Dad, we can fix this,” Ayden said.

  “No!” Mr. Ishida snapped. “Don’t touch a thing. Well, clean up but the Holocom stays broken. Got it?” Halfway out the door he stopped, a hand gripping the frame. His face faltered. “Not a word to your mother. Don’t answer calls from Cacciatori. I’m leaving to talk to Bancroft. We’ll figure something out. The Grants may have gone on this miserable mission, but…I have to agree with Tristan on this one, his grandparents are crazy.”

  Couldn’t agree more.

  After he left, the door swished closed, the knives disintegrated, and I plummeted to the floor.

  A gust of wind stalled the brunt of my fall and I dropped into Ayden’s waiting arms. He gave me a playful grin. “Hang around here often?”

  “Ha ha.” I squirmed.

  He clamped his arms around my body and shifted me closer, whispering in my ear. “About earlier. We need to talk.”

  No thanks! Not ready! With a hard twist, I spun out of his arms, and landed in a less-than-graceful belly-flop on the hard floor. Not that any belly-flops were graceful. Mine least of all. Ouch.

  He looked down at me, amused. “I take it you don’t want to talk right now?”

  “Or ever,” I winced.

  Ayden bent to help me up, but Jayden shouldered him out of the way. “Of course she doesn’t want to talk about it.”

  Ayden frowned. “You don’t even know what we’re talking about talking about.”

  “I assumed you were going to ambush her with a barrage of questions about the tests we were running. Which are simply routine.” Jayden had me up and was brushing off my body.

  “Jayden, it’s okay. Don’t—” I used my arms to block him. “No, not the—” Not the boobs, Jayden, not the boobs. God, he was clueless.

  “Then why all the secrecy?” Ayden knocked Jayden’s hands aside. “Quit touching her.”

  Jayden scowled. “I should probe for injuries since you just dropped her.”

  “No probing,” Ayden snapped. “I didn’t drop her, she…jumped. Kind of.”

  Jayden gave his brother a disapproving look. “Since you have proven inept to the task, perhaps I should take over as her boyfriend.”

  “What?” Ayden and I said at the same time.

  Logan rushed in to shove Jayden off and usher me away. “Don’t listen to him. He’s been reading relationship books to, ah, improve his social skills and thought he could use Aurora to experiment on.” Logan made an exasperated noise. “I told him it was stupid.”

  Jayden looked offended. “I never—”

  “Jayden!” Logan pointed to the computer screen that monitored the game room. Jocelyn was staring straight at the camera. “I think we’ve got more important things to worry about right now.”

  Jayden squinted at his sister. “Yes, the security breach.”

  Chapter Forty

  Inside the Ishida’s pub-styled brass, wood, and leather infused game room, you would’ve needed a friggin’ chainsaw to cut through the tension.

  Situated in the back of the house, on the second floor, the vaulted ceilings and wall of windows offered stunning views of the lake and mountains, currently blurred from a slight drizzle misting over the scene. The weather mirrored the ominous overtones in the room. A cold wind howled, ushering in dark clouds of slate and asphalt, thickening the air with an earthy, wet scent fluttering in through several open doors to the covered balcony.

  The adverse outdoor climate made the room all the more inviting with its cushy, overstuffed furniture and endless entertainment opportunities. From the carved mahogany billiards table, to the round, cherry wood game table covered in felt in the center, to dart boards, pinball machines, a jukebox, the home audio and theater system, and big screen TVs with your pick of an epic supply of video games and movies.

  But at the moment, no one cared.

  Under the oblong stained-glass Tiffany lamp hanging above the billiards table, Blake repeatedly gathered the colorful balls in his hands, then ricocheted them across the felt. They rumbled and cracked like the thunder and lightning threatening to erupt outside if the
storm kept coming in.

  Behind the gleaming brass bar, Matthias was on his second — no third — can of Milo, not even bothering to grab his usual glass from the racks on the mirrored wall behind him. Jayden’s thumbs rolled in and out of joint with wet pops as he babbled on and on, and Logan had smoothed his tie so many times it was missing a layer of fabric.

  I sat on the couch between Jayden and Logan. Careful to avoid Ayden’s eyes. And that smile.

  Aunt M was right. I was a hot mess. Best to keep my distance. I hugged myself, rubbing my biceps.

  Almost immediately, I heard someone close the French doors to the balcony cutting the chilly draft, saw the logs in the hearth burst into roaring flames, and felt a chenille throw blanket being laid gently over my shoulders. Warm hands brushed my neck as they lifted my long curls and tucked the soft material against my skin.

  So much for distance.

  Ayden’s fingers squeezed my shoulders. Fighting the urge to lay my cheek upon his hand, my body stiffened. He paused, then removed his touch, and in spite of the toasty coverlet, I shivered. As if someone cranked the furnace, heat suddenly radiated across the space and warmed my back.

  I closed my eyes. Hot mess. Definite hot mess.

  “Jayden, stop.” Jocelyn held up a dainty hand glittering with rings. “You’re doing that thing where you talk in circles using big words no one understands in hopes they give up asking and walk away.” She lowered gracefully into an overstuffed leather chair. “What I did get is that she sees demons but no one can know because there’s a threat. You have to protect her and I have to keep my mouth shut.”

  Jayden looked annoyed. “Affirmative.”

  Jocelyn’s gaze flicked from me to Ayden. “And you’re her bodyguard, not her boyfriend?”

  Oh, thanks for pointing that out.

  “Yes,” I said before Ayden had a chance, hoping I didn’t look as miserable as I felt.

  The heat at my back vanished. Logan and Blake shot me odd looks.

  “Really? You two sure seemed…cozy.” Jocelyn twirled one of her braids in her fingers and frowned at her brother. “Then Ayden, why are you—”

  “Joce!” Ayden’s sharp warning whiplashed across the room. She flinched. “Enough questions. We’ve got some serious Mandatum problems. You know the family wants you out of the Mandatum business. It’s too dangerous. Even Dad just had to lie to protect Mom. Mom! Of all people.”

  “Of course, I’d never do anything to hurt Aurora.” Jocelyn snapped at Ayden then smiled at me. “You saved my life from Echo. I’ll keep my mouth shut. Besides, it’ll be nice to have a girl around to talk to. Help cope with these idiots.” She glowered around the room. “But you guys know I hate being kept out of this stuff! I know more about the Mandatum than Blake!”

  “Hey!” Blake protested.

  “Okay.” Jocelyn fluttered thick lashes at the big guy. “What are the names of the High Council members?”

  Blake tossed a cue ball in the air. “Ahhh…”

  Matthias rolled his eyes. “Mate, come on! You’ve got to know. They’re the seven leaders of the Mandatum!”

  “I know.” Blake rapped his knuckles against his skull. “Give me a sec. There’s that blonde chick.”

  “That was the assistant,” Logan sighed.

  “There’s Madame Cacciatori,” Blake said with confidence.

  “No!” Matthias slammed down his can. “She’s not on the High Council. She answers directly to them. She’s in the intelligence division. Runs the Divinicus Task Force. You’ve got to know one name.”

  At Blake’s silence, Matthias gave up with a growl.

  “See?” Jocelyn smirked.

  The doors to the game room burst open.

  “My dad!” Tristan wheezed. “He’s missing!”

  Chapter Forty-One

  “You’re not making any sense,” Matthias said as the rest of us all followed a frantic Tristan into the secret room. Jocelyn had left quickly, promising to stay home tonight.

  “Really?” Tristan’s freckles stood out against pale skin. “What part of ‘my dad’s been kidnapped’ don’t you understand?”

  Me? Not much. Since this was the first I’d heard about Tristan having any parent who was alive.

  “Kidnapped?” Jayden said. “I thought you just said his physician took him on an outing?”

  “Yes,” Tristan’s head bobbed. “But it’s some new doctor that I’ve never heard about.”

  Ayden’s brow furrowed. “But this doctor works at Novo, right? And they sanctioned the release?”

  “Yes! The idiots.” Tristan’s fingers pounded the keyboard. “After I dropped my grandparents off at the airport, I called Novo to check on my dad, and they told me he was doing so fantastic with this new doctor that the two of them went on a,” his hands snapped into the air so he could use finger quotes, “‘field trip.’ Overnight! But there’s no way my dad should be out…in the world. In his condition.”

  The boys shared concerned looks.

  “Maybe you’re overreacting, mate,” Matthias said patiently.

  Logan lifted his shoulders. “You do tend to think the worst.”

  When Tristan shot the boys a furious glare, Matthias took out his phone and headed for the balcony. “But I’ll make some calls.”

  “Good.” Tristan said. “I can’t contact my grandparents until this stupid mission is over so I’m going to tap into Novo’s security system and see what I can find on surveillance footage.”

  “Not a good idea,” Logan said. “They’ll track the hack and you’ll be in some serious trouble. Wait to see what Matthias finds out.”

  Tristan breathed deep. “Fine. I’ll see what I can find out without hacking.”

  “Dude,” Blake put a meaty hand on Tristan’s shoulder, “even I know Novo is one of the most secure Mandatum facilities there is. No one could kidnap him.”

  “What’s Novo?” I asked.

  “A premier Mandatum hospital,” Jayden said. “It specializes in repairing those debilitated by Hallucinators. For years they have attempted to heal the brain damage Tristan caused, but unfortunately, even with their eminent level of capabilities, Mr. Grant’s case has proven too severe for successful treatment.”

  The immediate silence was intense. Tristan froze from his fever pitch of activity and stared straight ahead.

  Then the rest of the guys shouted in accusation, “Jayden!”

  Jayden looked unperturbed. “It wasn’t a recrimination. And we’re all cognizant of the circumstances which—ah, I see my error.” He glanced at me. “Aurora.”

  Great. Now I was the big mistake in the room. Better than the pink elephant. Barely. Tristan turned to me with blue eyes so haunted, my heart paused a hesitant beat.

  I nodded. “I’ll leave so you guys can talk.”

  Odd-man-out? Not my favorite position, but this was family and that took priority over my feelings being bent out of shape.

  I was halfway to the door when Tristan started typing again. He cleared his throat. “It was after the demon attack when we were kids. The one that killed Garrett. Herman’s brother.”

  I stopped and turned.

  Ayden caught my eye, adding, “The one at the waterfall where our powers were activated early in order to protect us.”

  Like I could forget that horror story. “Right. You guys were only around…eight years old?”

  Ayden nodded. The back of my neck prickled. I remembered seeing my first demons around that age. No attacks, just the occasional glimpse out of the corner of my eye that would send me screaming into my parents arms. Not good for a little kid. Gave me—

  “Nightmares.” Tristan let out a shaky breath. “I had bad ones. But even awake I freaked. Constantly imagined monsters and violence.”

  “We all felt that way,” Logan said and the other boys murmured agreement.

  “But I didn’t know how to control my powers.” Tristan’s voice had a raspy edge. “So everything I imagined I accidentally forced into my parents�
� minds. I was literally driving them insane. We were alone, isolated in a safe house in Europe. My dad sent my mom away. Thought he could handle it, but he stayed too long trying to protect me. I caused too much damage.”

  Whoa. Talk about guilt. “And your mom?”

  “She’s fine.” His smile was weak. “I see her pretty often. But in short doses. After what I did, I won’t risk anything long term.”

  “Which is why you live with your grandparents,” I said. “They’re good people.” Scary, but good.

  “You have no idea.” Tristan rubbed the back of his neck. “They’re the only reason my Dad is alive. I could have literally turned his brain to mush if it went on long enough. But luckily they found us in time.”

  “Not luck,” Ayden said. “You called them. You saved your dad.”

  “From death, maybe.” Tristan’s eyes were clouded with misery. “But he lost touch with reality. He’s been at Novo ever since. Doesn’t know me, my mom. Nothing. If he speaks at all, it’s gibberish.” Tristan wiped at his eyes. “What I did was…unusual. Too dangerous, especially in someone so young. The Mandatum wanted to take me away, isolate me, but my grandparents…refused.”

  “Threatened the friggin’ Mandatum,” Blake said with admiration. “Don’t know with what, but that’s what Logan’s mom said.”

  “Which was supposed to be a secret,” Logan muttered.

  Tristan smiled. “My grandparents found a way to deal with…my issue, and with their help and the Mandatum training, eventually I learned control, and we came back here.”

  When Matthias returned, Tristan jumped to his feet. “Well?”

  “It’s legit,” Matthias said. “I talked to the director of Novo himself. He’s actually really excited about your dad’s case. This new doctor came in a few weeks ago from overseas and has had a lot of success with your dad. He’s having conversations, been asking about his family. Asking about you.” Matthias almost smiled. “He’s remembering. Everything.”

  Tristan dropped into his chair, arms hanging limp at his sides. “Why didn’t they tell us?”