Lana vanished in a flash of silver fire after hurling a fireball at his head. Drake dodged it and chuckled. Oh yes, he felt better already. Now for work.
Drake glanced at his PDA for the intel he had on his contact Lucas Perry, a low-level demon hybrid. Perry liked to hang around with people of power and influence, including Goodridge.
It was an odd country, Rosevergn. Magickind appeared free but the laws there were much harsher.
Perry had insisted on meeting at the hotel’s bar. Now all Drake had to do was wait.
He settled on an overstuffed armchair in the hotel’s lobby, reading the news on his PDA and sipping their poor excuse for coffee. How the place rated three stars he couldn’t fathom.
His inner demon yearned for action, but Drake hoped the meeting would go as planned. Then what? Back to work? Even that didn’t fill the void the way it used to.
He checked his phone again. No calls. Charlie’s smiling face stared back at him on the screen, making his chest tighten. Cate had been wrong. He worried about Charlie every second she remained gone.
Lucas Perry came in, glancing around as he did so.
Showtime. Drake straightened, shoved his PDA into his jacket and rose. He knew this role well, knew how to play the part. His expression smoothed and showed no emotion. “Perry.”
“Drake.” Perry glanced around. “Not here. It’s too public. We need somewhere more private.”
Drake arched an eyebrow. He needed answers now. Changing venues wasn’t part of their deal. “I know a place.”
Chapter 6
Someone tapped on the door of Charlie’s chamber. Charlie’s head shot up and she quickly gathered up the pieces of paper and other files that she had strewn across the flagstone floor. Bundling everything together, she sent it off to her room in the spirit world, and then got up to stand by the window. “Come in.” She sighed.
The door opened and Scott peered in. “Ready for breakfast?”
“Sure, just drop the tray on the table.” She resumed pacing, mind racing over what her next move would be. No training had taught her how to deal with spying on her mother. Did they even have a program for that?
Scott held up a small picnic basket. “I thought we could go for a walk and have breakfast together.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I already told you, we’re just friends now. I’m still with Drake. That will never change.”
“I’m not asking you on a date, Char. I just wanted to show you around the base. I thought you’d be sick of being cooped up in here.”
“Oh.” She bit her lip. “Okay then.” Maybe getting some air would do her good and help clear her head. It was about time she got to see more of the place after being there for so long.
She followed him outside. The Illuminari’s base had been set up in the ruins of an old fort close to the border of Kyral. Some of it had fallen into ruin but Charlie guessed they’d fixed the place up since some of it had been rebuilt. Only a few members of the clan lived there. Charlie knew this’d be the perfect opportunity to find out more about them.
Scott led her up a set of spiral steps to the roof. It looked out onto a breathtaking view. In the distance, she saw the golden sands of Kyral, on the other were the lush green hills of Rosevergn, one of the countries that made up an area called the Middle Kingdom.
It felt like being caught between two worlds.
Kind of like me and the Illuminari.
“Wow, it’s beautiful,” Charlie breathed. One of the things she’d loved about Setara was its rugged landscapes. She’d always loved hiking and rock climbing, but Scott had never been a fan of adventurous activities during their brief relationship. He’d preferred to stay indoors.
“Yeah, it is.”
“So, do you really hate the outdoors or was that just part of your cover story too?”
Scott winced. “Not everything about me was a lie. Everything except my real identity was true. I’m sorry…”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t. I’m over it. Look, we had fun back in school and when we got back together last year, but it’s nothing compared to what I have with Drake.”
He scowled. “Don’t you mean had with Drake? You broke up with him, remember?”
She bit her lip again. One way of proving her loyalty to them had been to tell them she’d broken up with Drake. The lie still tasted bitter in her mouth. As if she would ever break up with him. Hell, Drake had tried that once when he’d thought he’d been protecting her, but she’d just followed him and showed him they could work together, no matter what fate threw at them.
She felt the familiar ache in her chest and the emptiness that came with it. The longer she and Drake stayed apart, the worse it became. She wanted to try calling him in thought but had been too afraid Irina would sense their connection.
“I love him, Scott. That’s never gonna change,” she said. “He’s the one, my soul mate, life mate – whatever you want to call it.”
“It’s wasn’t real. He’s the Akaran. The very fact of what he is means he can’t love you or anyone else.”
Charlie looked away, digging her nails into her palms to try and control her anger. “Let’s not talk about Drake,” she muttered. “Where’s the breakfast you promised?”
Scott grinned, then he pulled out a basket filled with bread, fruit and a bottle of orange juice. They sat down to eat.
“So how old are you really?” she asked.
“I’m just over two hundred, pretty young for an immortal.”
“Have you been a spy all that time?” She bit into her apple.
Scott shrugged. “It’s all I’ve ever known. We’ve been hunted for millennia. The Covenant used us, and Drake’s father banished us, saying we weren’t true Demonkind.”
“I’m sorry, I had no idea.” As a Denai, Charlie had grown up learning all of the races of Magickind, but demons were the least understood.
“We took it as a blessing, we don’t consider ourselves demons either. We’re not cold and power hungry like them. We use our powers for the good of our people,” he told her. “All of Magickind ostracised us, even the Ashrali. We’re not fey but we’re not demons either. So we choose to be our own race, unconnected and unaligned to anyone but ourselves. Our stealth powers make it easy for us to blend in when we need to.”
“Don’t you all hate not being able to live like your real selves? To live free?”
“Of course, that’s why we have safe havens like this where we go when we’re not on missions. We get to live with our own people, be our true selves – they never last long,” Scott said. “Demons fear us and the rest of Magickind aren’t much better. We’re considered a threat so we might as well be dead to them.”
“Kind of like the Nuardans when they were enslaved by Oberoth,” she mused.
“The Nuardans were forced into slavery, we are not slaves to anyone. It’s impossible for us to settle down and have families, but the work we do is important.”
“So you play both sides.” Charlie mused. “Like between the Covenant and the rest of Magickind?”
“Something like that, but we’re certainly on our own side. We play the side that benefits us most.”
“Haven’t you tried talking to the council? I mean Niara could—”
“Like I said, we’re separate from any form of government.” Scott closed the basket. “Your mother will be waiting for you.”
“Right, time for more lessons to begin.”
Charlie met Irina in one of the empty rooms. Although she’d felt the presence of others at the keep, she hadn’t seen anyone else yet except for the two speaking with Irina a few nights ago. It still felt weird seeing the mother she’d thought had been dead for so long. She still wondered how Irina had been able to fake being a spirit too. Charlie had even previously summoned her several times over the years and hadn’t sensed the deception.
“So can you show me how to use my powers now?” Charlie asked.
“As I said before all Illuminari knowledg
e is passed down through our blood. You just need to learn to access it.”
“Yeah, I know but you still haven’t shown me how to. And I’ve been stuck here six weeks now.”
“It’s not something that can be taught. It’s instinctual.” Irina explained. “Illuminari children access it when they come of age – it’s something that comes naturally.”
“Well, like I said before, I’m a witch.” She crossed her arms.
“You’re still my daughter, Charlotte. You have my powers too. How else do you think you pass in and out between the worlds?”
“You mean fazing?” Charlie shrugged. “I always assumed it came from my medium powers.”
“It doesn’t. We can pass through anything including different realms. It makes it much harder for anyone to find us that way.”
“Goodridge can pass through the worlds too.”
Irina nodded. “Which is why you need to learn your abilities quickly,” she said. “Close your eyes.”
Charlie did so, trying to curb her impatience. She wanted to find out what the hell they had planned.
“Feel power rise up from that place inside you,” Irina continued.
Charlie drew magic. Come on, show me what the hell these people can do. She felt her body flicker in and out as she fazed. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in her secret place between the worlds. “Ah crap,” she muttered. The last thing she needed was Irina, or anyone else, to find out about this place. But she couldn’t deny the feel of coming home it brought being back here. Charlie grabbed her phone and called Kaz.
“Charlie? Gods, it’s about time,” Kaz answered on the first ring. “Where the hell are you?”
“Listen, I can’t talk long. I’m just checking in. How is the case going?”
“Goodridge himself has been quiet for a while. The Tears have been up to the usual weapons deals so not much on the case is moving forward,” her friend replied. “Are you okay?”
“If you mean how I’m feeling hanging out with my ex and my supposedly dead mother, yeah I’m great,” she said and sighed. “I’m not getting much from either of them. I can’t figure out how to use my demon powers like they can.”
“Aren’t you going to ask about Drake?”
She winced. “How is he?”
“Now we’re back in Setara we haven’t seen much of him. He’s been working with the Alliance more and he seems pretty miserable. He misses you.”
“I miss him too,” she admitted. “I’d better go, I’ll call you again when I can.”
Charlie fazed back to find Irina pacing.
“Blessed spirits, where did you disappear to?” her mother demanded, hands on hips. “I thought…”
Charlie shrugged. “I went into the spirit world and came back again. No big deal.”
“You can’t just go wandering around the worlds. It’s dangerous when you don’t know how to protect yourself.”
Charlie snorted. “I’ve been protecting myself just fine for years. Now this meditation stuff isn’t helping. Maybe there’s not much point in staying here.” She saw something flicker in Irina’s eyes.
“Maybe we could try something else that will take me a few hours to set up. In the meantime go with Scott. He wants to show you around the local town,” Irina said. “Remember to wear your bracelet.”
Charlie rolled her eyes. Irina might not have been around to be a mother to her, but she certainly knew how to boss her around like one.
Chapter 7
Rosevergn reminded Charlie of Setara with its street vendors and old-world beauty of stone houses mixed with modern tech.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Scott remarked.
“Yeah,” she breathed.
“This is my favourite place. I always try to come here when I can,” he told her. “I always dreamed of bringing you here too. Had the whole trip planned out.”
Charlie sighed. Not this again! “There was always something between Drake and I. I felt it when I first met him – I just didn’t understand it then.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry, Scott.”
Scott looked away. “Me too. I knew it, even then. I never wanted to see it though.”
Charlie squeezed his hand. “Enough of the heavy stuff. We are supposed to be digging up intel on Goodridge, remember?”
“Right. Just don’t let your mum find out that we’re doing it.”
Scott had offered to hook her up with a contact of his called Lucas Perry. Charlie hoped Perry would be able to give her information on what Goodridge was planning next. Goodridge wouldn’t just stop looking for her or the Srimtar. It seemed strange he’d gone quiet since her stay with Irina and the Illuminaris. Irina’s shielding her wouldn’t last forever, not from someone as powerful as Goodridge. She had to find out what the guy was up to. The time for playing nice with her demon clan was over, now it was time to get back to work and back to business.
“So where are we meeting this guy?” she asked.
“It’s not exactly arranged. I know where he likes to hang out but there might be only one way for you to get there. And you’re not gonna like it.”
“There’s a lot I would do to bring down the bad guys, but this bites the bullet.” Charlie frowned at her black push-up bra and miniskirt that might as well have been a belt. She tied her hair back in a half ponytail, plastered her lips with fiery red lipstick. “You so owe me for this.”
Scott peered around the curtain. “Perry is here,” he hissed, then on seeing Charlie’s get up properly, his eyes went wide. “Wow.”
“Yeah, wow just about covers it.” She fiddled with the uncomfortable bra. “This contact better have some fucking good intel.”
Scott grinned. “Seeing you like that I’m sure he’ll sing like a canary.”
“Right, so I dress like a whore, play nice with Perry. But I swear if anyone touches me I’ll faze off their balls and then feed it to them.”
Scott stifled a laugh. “No one will touch you. You just have to look good and chat to Perry,” he said. “Good luck, Char.”
Charlie headed out. She’d never had a problem with her body but she’d never displayed this much skin in public before. But the girls around her all wore similar skimpy outfits. Some of them sat around the bar area, whilst others danced around on poles as lights flashed around them.
This what I get for hanging with a bunch of spy demons. She plastered a smile on her face and grabbed a tray of beers. The place stank of stale sex and cheap perfume. She’d stashed her stuff away in one of the walls, one good thing about hanging out with Illuminaris she had figured out to make objects stay incorporeal to.
Scott had already described what Perry looked like. Lanky, blonde with a short beard. She hadn’t seen anyone by that description yet.
Another waitress frowned at her. “Haven’t seen you here before.”
“I’m new,” she muttered.
“I’m Tara. A little thing like you will—”
“I’m busy,” Charlie said.
Along with the bar there were private rooms too. Tired of the uncomfortable getup, Charlie fazed into one of the walls, saw a couple going at it and hurried to the next room. There sat a blonde man, tapping his foot as another woman walked in. She was tall with mocha coloured skin and breasts almost spilling out of her skimpy bra.
“What do you want?” the woman asked him. “I have many girls.”
The man sighed. “Get me another drink. My friend will be joining us soon.”
Charlie’s heart beat faster. She wouldn’t have long. Good thing Perry didn’t seem interested in the madam herself.
“Maybe your friend would like some company.”
Perry laughed. “Yeah, he’s a tight arse. Send a girl to him to loosen him up before he comes in here. I want something young, pretty but not too flashy.”
Charlie slid out of the wall and grabbed a tray off the table whilst she made sure no one had seen her.
The madam gave her a questioning look as she came out. Charlie ga
ve her the “don’t mess with me I’m a Denai” look and the woman left with a glare.
Okay, show time. I’m a slut. Think slutty. Jeez, maybe I should have gone undercover as a slut back in Setara and got some experience with this kind of thing instead of working in Major Crimes.
“Hey, baby, fancy a drink?” She smirked.
Perry brightened. “Well, you’re not like the usual girls around here.”
Yeah, arsehole, I’m not a whore. Real men don’t have to pay for sex. But her smile never faltered. “I am what you’d call extra special. I serve only the best clients.”
Seducing men had never been her strong suit. She could turn it on when she needed to but had never done anything like this.
“I bet you are.” Perry rose, grabbing the tray. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous.”
She ran a hand down his cheek. “So what do you like?”
“Just you.” He made a grab for her.
Charlie sidestepped him. Okay, matey, don’t get too grabby or I will start fazing off different body parts. “Don’t you have a friend coming?”
“Yeah,” he scoffed. “He can wait.”
“See, I have rules too,” she added. “When I’m with a client I don’t like interruptions.” She ran a finger down her chest. “Make sure we don’t get interrupted, then I’m all yours.”
The sound of loud voices came from outside then someone barged into the room. Her senses tingled, alerting her to a familiar presence and she froze.
Drake.
Charlie felt all the blood drain from her face. Holy shit! His blue eyes turned black and widened when he saw her too. Even under the heavy makeup he’d still know her. She stood there frozen as they stared at each other. Charlie forced her brain to work again, sidled up to Perry. “Shouldn’t we have some privacy?”
Perry squeezed her arse in response. “Drake, I’m busy. Go away at the bar for a few minutes,” he snapped. Drake looked ready to murder someone. She guessed it to be Perry rather than her.
Charlotte, get out of here, Drake growled.
No way, you get out! I’m working. “Yeah, we’re busy.” She snuggled into Perry.
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