Grave Expectations - Jess Vandermire 4

by Lina Gardiner

  “You must want more than that,” Britt said. “You seem to be handling the healings quite well by yourself.”

  Fisk shrugged and tapped two fingers against his chin. “I have three especially difficult cases requiring my services. They’re a lot older than my usual clientele, and it’ll take two people to help them. I can’t do it alone.”

  “Are you trying to put us out of business?” Britt asked. “We tend to kill them, not save them.”

  “Saving them is not a bad thing, is it?” He showed his teeth again. Didn’t he realize that anyone could see there was nothing real behind that smile? Especially when they knew what he was really doing.

  “We’ll have to think about it,” Britt said.

  “It’s not that I won’t share more information with you,” Fisk said. “I can’t. I’ll break the bond between us. If you’re going to be able to help me, we’re going to need that bond, believe me.”

  Jess sensed that Britt instinctively understood what Fisk was saying. He’d told her some sort of link existed between them, even if he didn’t know why. He’d also said he’d been tempted to join Fisk’s healing session the other night.

  “I’m sure you’ll also understand that we’ll have to consider your request before I volunteer to help you.”

  “I do. But I’m sure you’ll eventually realize that you’ll be helping your team by taking more vampires out of the mix.”

  “You’re really able to make them human again?” Jess asked, in a voice that sounded as if she actually believed him.

  Fisk fidgeted and a muscle worked in his jaw. He didn’t look in Jess’s direction. “Not completely … yet. But that is the end goal, of course,” he said.

  She had to wonder if he actually could heal them, but chose not to, so he could take them for every cent they had.

  Britt stood. He and Jess walked to the elevator without looking back, hopefully leaving Fisk sweating over the fact that he might be on his own.

  “Any idea what a Grigoroi is?” Britt asked five minutes later, as they made their way to Jess’s condo.

  “No. If only we could ask Regent. It might be something he knows about, and if Regent doesn’t know, maybe Sampson does. I’m sure you know that ever since he found the vampire texts in Romania, he’s been fascinated with the folklore from the old country. If we turn his attention to Grigoroi—maybe he’ll come up with something quickly.”

  “But Regent is off limits to us, and since Sampson is working with him right now, I don’t think we’d better involve him either. It might put him in a tenuous situation. We’ll have to figure it out on our own. Maybe we can find something on your computer?”

  She gritted her teeth. “Good grief, do you really think we’re going to come across information like that on the computer?”

  “It’s worth a try.”

  “I really hate this. I want my brother back.”

  Britt looked like he wanted to wrap his arms around her. As much as she’d like to be in his arms, she wasn’t open to physical contact right now. Not when she was worried about her brother.

  Who was she kidding? He’d never risk her by touching her, anyway.

  “I think I’ll go track down that monk again. As long as I get him alone, he might talk. And now that I have a name to throw at him, he might tell me a little more.”

  Jess shoved her hair behind her ears. “Good idea. I’ll check in with Sampson to see how Jane’s doing.”

  Britt nodded. “If you can, find out how Regent’s doing at the same time?”

  “Damn straight,” she said.

  She knew she’d have no trouble finding Britt once she got a few answers from Sampson. She’d planted a tracking device on him earlier. He’d rip her a new one if he figured that out, but it didn’t matter. She couldn’t be in two places at once and she had important things to do.

  But she couldn’t get over how royally ticked she was by Fisk’s holier-than-thou attitude with Britt. He’d acted like they were somehow the same. But no way in hell was that true. She’d felt Fisk’s selfishness and ill intent in her bones. No matter how similar their capabilities might end up being, they were different. Period.

  She’d recently upgraded to digital biometric recognition security at the lab, so she leaned down and let the camera scan her right eye. Apparently, even vampires retained the same iris patterns they had when they were alive.

  The door opened. She scanned the parking lot and the surrounding area before stepping inside.

  She heard voices before she saw anyone. Sampson sounded much more jovial than usual.

  Upon entering the lab, she saw him leaning against a gurney as he took blood from Jane.

  The two of them were smiling and Sampson even laughed a little. She’d never really heard him laugh. Not like that.

  Jane realized Jess was there before Sampson did. She turned her head and smiled. “Hi Jess. I’m so glad you sent me here. Sampson has been telling me about some of the amazing things the two of you have accomplished.”

  Sampson’s expression turned instantly serious. “Just the run-of-the-mill business we do around here every day,” he said, reassuring Jane, and at the same time, letting Jess know he hadn’t discussed anything about their secret projects. He didn’t have to do that. Jess knew him well enough to know he wouldn’t give away any trade secrets.

  “Did you fill him in on what Fisk is up to, Jane?”

  “I did,” she said.

  “We just clean up one set of criminal activities, and then another pops up,” he mumbled. “He might as well be selling Sunshine.”

  “Pardon me?” Jane said. “What’s Sunshine?”

  “Oh, you really haven’t been in the mainstream, have you?” His eyes twinkled at her, as if he appreciated her all the more because of it. “It was a vampire drug that Jess and Britt managed to get off the streets. It allowed vamps to go out in the sunlight, but it also made them even more crazy. Very bad stuff.”

  “I’m sure I would have remembered that. I guess I’ve been too busy trying to stay out of trouble,” she said, making a face as if the bad memories left a dirty taste in her mouth.

  “If Fisk really does have those kinds of abilities, I probably should try to get that information to Regent,” Sampson said, while his blue-eyed gaze caught Jess’s. “It might help solve Regent’s problems.”

  Jess doubted it. But still, maybe it was a good thing she hadn’t killed him yet… .

  Chapter Fourteen

  BEFORE BRITT even started pounding on the monastery door, he spotted the monk he’d hoped to find slipping away down the sidewalk. Britt decided to follow without announcing himself.

  It soon became evident the portly man was on the same general path as last time. He actually glanced longingly at the pub where he and Britt had shared a beer, but this time he kept going.

  For a rotund little guy, he seemed able to move along at a good clip. Britt followed for at least ten blocks before he started to slow down.

  As a cop, Britt never judged a man by his appearance, but there was something really odd about this man, in terms of stamina and speed for his size.

  When the monk stopped and looked around, Britt quickly melted into the shadows.

  A car approached from the opposite end of the street. Lights signaled by flicking on and off before the vehicle pulled up next to him. The monk climbed into the sleek black limo without hesitation.

  In this fairly deserted industrial part of the city, they weren’t likely to be seen by anyone. Unless they were being followed. Britt’s mouth tightened in determination. He damned well intended to find out what was going on.

  If he’d had Jess’s hearing, he might have been able to catch a word or two being spoken inside that vehicle, but he couldn’t, and at this point, he didn’t dare get any closer. They might spot him.

  About ten minutes passed before the engine started up, and Britt ducked back again so as not to be caught in the headlights.

  The monk exited the vehicle
and the limo drove straight toward Britt.

  Maybe he’d get a look at whoever was inside.

  He focused on the vehicle, but its windows were too heavily tinted for him to make out any occupants.

  He did catch a glimpse of the diplomatic license plate, thanks to the taillights. Whoever owned that vehicle had immunity in this country. But why would they meet with a monk in the middle of the night?

  That same monk now carried a large brown envelope under his arm. Just as he passed Britt’s hiding place, Britt stepped out. “Hello, Brother,” he said, crossing his arms in a relaxed pose.

  The monk blew out an angry breath. “Mr. Brittain,” he said. “I’m surprised to see you in this part of the city tonight.”

  “You shouldn’t be surprised, since I followed you here,” Britt said.

  “Why would you do that?”

  “I wanted to talk to you initially, but when you left the monastery again in the middle of the night, I got curious. I’m even more curious now. Who’d you meet in that diplomat’s limo?”

  The monk flicked a quick glance at the envelope in his hand. Before he had a chance to turn the document over, Britt saw the Vatican symbol.

  “The Vatican? What the hell?”

  The monk quickly pressed his index finger over his lips. “Shhh. You can’t tell anyone about this. It’s important.”

  “Why?”

  He heaved a weighty sigh and his belly sank a little lower. “I’d tell you but I’d have to kill you.”

  “Ha ha.”

  “I’m not kidding.”

  “Well, you’d better kill me then, because I’m not leaving until I find out what the hell is going on. You saved me and turned me into something with strange powers. Am I a vampire?”

  “Good heavens, no.”

  “What then? What the hell is a Grigoroi?”

  The monk’s mouth gaped and he stared at Britt long and hard. “Where’d you hear that name?”

  “From Fisk. He said it’s what we are.” Britt paused. “Are we Grigoroi? And if so, what does that even mean?”

  “My name is Dominic,” the monk said, as if giving up a deep dark secret. “We might as well be on a first-name basis, now.”

  Not a very smooth way to change the subject.

  “I’ll call you Dom,” he said, then suddenly remembered something. Wait a damned minute! The monk was having Fisk watched by those thugs, he’d bet his badge on it.

  “If you want,” Dominic said. “But we won’t be seeing each other again.”

  “Tell me what a Grigoroi is. Is that what I am?” Britt asked.

  “Can’t you just be grateful that I saved you from death?”

  “Actually … no.” Again, Britt folded his arms across his chest, but this time, in a less relaxed way. It wasn’t as if he was really threatening the monk, only subtly encouraging him to tell him whatever he knew. “How the hell can I be grateful when I don’t know what this freaking blue light will do without my knowledge? I didn’t know I was going to kill that cavern of vampires. Not really. What if I hurt someone I know?”

  “If they’re vampires, what does it matter?” Dom asked, but there was a slyness in his tone that made Britt think he was merely testing him.

  “Because not all vampires are truly bad—some of them are worth redemption. But I have the feeling you already know that.”

  The monk made a grim face and nodded. “Yes. And I’m very glad you are aware of it, as well. That means I was right about you. But not all Grigoroi are good. Some are very, very bad. I wasn’t sure which you would become.”

  The hairs raised on Britt’s neck. “And Fisk?”

  “I’m not sure about him, either. Right now, he’s doing things for his own benefit, but that’s not exactly what I mean by bad. He could take steps to go down a much darker path yet. So could you, for that matter.”

  Britt’s flesh grew cold. “Not if I can help it,” he said.

  Dominic nodded. “You can help it. It will be up to you.”

  “So—Grigoroi? What—exactly—am—I?”

  Dom checked their surroundings twice, then closed his eyes. After another two beats, he said, “You are one of the few remaining descendants of the fallen ones. Angels of God who went against heaven, mated with human women, and became earthbound. As far as we know, there are no full Grigorois left. And the rare descendants who are left have limited and scattered abilities.”

  “I find that hard to believe,” Britt said.

  “What do you find hard to believe? Their abilities?”

  “Fallen angels,” Britt said.

  “And yet you believe in vampires?” Dom shrugged and rolled his eyes. “The Grigoroi are real. That is why you and Fisk have certain abilities when it comes to handling vampires.”

  “Why then, did I have to die for my abilities to begin?” Britt asked.

  “I’m not sure, but one thing I do know… you would have died permanently if I hadn’t seen you on the street shortly before your death. I’d started following you to find out what your abilities were.”

  “Still. How did you bring me back from death?”

  The monk sighed and shook his head. “It’s part of what my sect has practiced over the centuries. We are monks who study and work with Grigoroi. We’re like guardians of the guardians. When I saw you on the street, I sensed what you were. I waited. After you died, I knew you weren’t completely gone. So I brought you back.” His head lowered and he pursed his lips for a moment. “Of course, I had no idea how painful it would be for you, since I’d never before brought a Grigoroi back from death. I’m sorry about that. Perhaps, if I’d gotten to you sooner, it might not have been so bad. But your vampire wouldn’t leave your side until you were in the crypt.”

  Jess must have been heartbroken. Britt had had no idea she’d never left his side until they’d buried him.

  His gut burned at having caused her so much more pain. As if she wasn’t already suffering enough.

  He looked at Brother Dominic. “If you study the Grigoroi, can you help me control the light?”

  The monk shook his head again. “No one can do that for you, son. It’s innate. You will figure it out, but first, you have to come to terms with what and who you are. You have to trust in your own abilities and your power in order to fully grow to being a Grigoroi.”

  “What about my relationship with … a vampire?”

  The monk shrugged. “I believe that kind of relationship would be a first for a Grigoroi. You’re treading on new territory there. It should prove interesting though. You two seem very well suited to each other. Don’t fight it if it feels right.”

  Easy for him to say. It was completely different when he risked killing the woman he loved whenever he was near her. Britt thought about broaching that subject, but the monk had already told him his knowledge was limited. He was on his own.

  The monk began walking back toward the monastery.

  “Why did you send me away when I came to your door for answers?”

  Dom’s head lowered for a second. “Not everyone in our order believes I should have brought you back. Some think, since you didn’t show any Grigoroi abilities before you’d died, that you were destined to become a dark one.”

  “Is that true?”

  Dom sighed again. “Who knows? Do you feel any evil inside you? Do you have dark urges you didn’t have before?”

  “Other than to kill a cavern of evil vampires with little more than a thought … no, I don’t think so.”

  “There you go. It is my belief that as long as you feel the glow of heaven inside you, you will remain in His light.”

  Britt’s attention shifted when a cat yowled somewhere in the distance. Maybe he’d been wrong about other living things in the area. He quickly monitored their surroundings before continuing down the sidewalk with Brother Dom.

  But being the descendent of an angel? He couldn’t wrap his head around that.

  If he told Jess, would she run from him? She so
badly wanted to practice her religion and couldn’t. She might see him as someone she had to protect, rather than love. He wouldn’t be able to bear it if that happened.

  When they reached the block before the monastery, Dom reached out and touched Britt’s arm. “Please, go no farther, my son. Stay away from the monastery.” He remained silent for a couple of moments. “I’m not supposed to tell you this, but I have my own reasons for going against our doctrine and sharing certain things with you. We are also hunters of a sort. If you come in contact with one of my brethren, they will kill you if they believe you are bad. You must prove yourself before you will be safe from us.”

  “Great!”

  Dom nodded. “It’s a very strange world isn’t it, my son? For the oblivious in society, we live in mostly humdrum normality, but simmering below the surface, another type of reality is bursting at the seams of truth and lies. One never knows when something dark and ugly will break through, and that is why there are so many different forms of gatekeepers. You are one. I am one. And even your consort, Jess, is one. She is very special in her own right. But my order does not believe in her abilities to do good. You’d be safer just to forget the address of the monastery and to stay away. Never come to see me again.”

  Britt frowned at Dom. “Never?”

  “Never.”

  “But there are things I might need to know.” Britt gripped the man’s shoulder. He didn’t care if he looked desperate. He was desperate.

  “You’re the only one who can find the answers to your questions. No one else can help you, especially not Fisk. Don’t trust him. Don’t trust any one of your kind who you might come across. Some believe the centuries have warped the Grigoroi. Mixing with humanity hasn’t done them any favors in the long run. They’re either mad with power or crazy from greed. Only a few are worthy of salvation.” Dom stared into Britt’s pupils. “Very, very few, I’m afraid.”

  “What hope does that leave me?”

  “Hope. There’s always hope. I believe you’ve already proven yourself. But for your own sake, you need to believe in yourself. Learn whether you have light or dark burning inside that Grigoroi solar plexus of yours. It will be the true indicator of what you will become. And proving your goodness will make you safe from us.”