Still watching his face, his eyes, Grace brought his wrist to her lips. She was surprised by the sweet somewhat spicy taste that filled her mouth and throat; surprised still further when her body was caught on another tide of orgasm that sent her crashing into rapture. She screamed Canaan’s name and her voice blended with his as he shouted hers. Their bodies soared with shared ecstasy, came back to earth and lay silent. The tiny white rose at her breast turned red.
Chapter 44
The evening was winding down. According to Andi, this night was always slow. Everyone was at home planning their big New Year’s Eve celebration. The restaurant was already booked full for the event and the bar would be crowded. Next year she wanted live music. Abyar wasn’t sure he understood why, but if Andi wanted it then by the Lord of Evil, she’d have it.
When, at first, she didn’t return, he’d been frantic with worry. As the days passed he was sure that she’d left him. Anger replaced grief. He vowed that when he found her or more likely when she returned to the call of his blood, he would beat her and not like the pain and pleasure games they usually played. No. He would beat her until she screamed for mercy and for her betrayal, there would be none.
When she’d come through the door, ragged and torn, half dressed and crazed with desire, all thoughts of torture left him. He’d taken her there on the living room floor, tearing her clothes from her and forcing her to accept him in every position and orifice. She’d cried out for more.
He’d kept her locked in their secret playroom ever since. He allowed her out only to use the bathroom and to groom herself, shaving and oiling every square inch of her body below the neck. The otherworld was filled with scales and leathery skin and hairiness and he would have none of it in his lover.
He thought of her now, tied and spread eagle awaiting his pleasure and he hardened at the vision she presented when he snapped shut the shackles at her wrists and ankles.
“Tyn,” he called above the noise of the bar and when his second looked his way, Abyar motioned him over and then ordered them both drinks from the soldier manning the bar. “I’m going upstairs. You’re in charge of closing. No one and I mean no one goes out tonight. Tomorrow night after the crowd leaves, you and the others can take the minions out to feed. There’ll be plenty of partiers and drunks to choose from. The following day our ship comes in. As my second and for your loyal service, you’ll receive a bonus. Tell the humans that we’ll be closed the last week in January. We all need a vacation.” He’d read about and island resort the catered to the type of sensual play he and Andi enjoyed. After the deal went down, he’d pay his otherworld debts and still have enough to afford a holiday.
Abyar smiled, ran a hand over his perfectly trimmed hair and straightened his tie. Since Andi came home, life was good. “See to it, Tyn.” He stepped down from his stool. “My lover awaits.”
*****
“I’m going.”
“I said no.”
“I said yes.” Grace stood with her hands on her hips, her chin thrust out. “And don’t you dare use that I-am-your-Liege-Lord tone with me. If you say no I’ll just go after you leave so you may as well know where I’ll be if you need me.”
“Grace, this is foolish.” Canaan stood towering over her trying to intimidate her with his size.
It didn’t work. “It’s not foolish. It makes perfect sense. Manon will stay here. She’ll have everything ready in the clinic should the need arise. I’ll be parked a few doors down from Cappaletti’s. I won’t get out and I’ll keep my doors locked. If anyone’s badly injured, I’ll provide transport home. It’ll save time and you won’t have to assign someone to bring them here. I won’t interfere, Canaan. I know I’d be in the way and someone could get hurt looking out for me. I’m not stupid.”
Canaan huffed. “No one said you were, but women traditionally…”
“Stay home and wait for someone to tell them their mates have turned because help couldn’t get there fast enough,” she finished for him. “They have men arrange their mating for them and they don’t live in a House of Guardians. Yada, yada, yada.” She looked up at him and grinned. “Heard it before. Won’t work. I’m going.”
He rolled his eyes and threw his hands up in the air. “All right, but so help me woman, if you step one foot out of that car…”
“You’ll what? Spank me?” She turned away from him, wiggled her rear end and ran from the room just missing the playful swat of his hand.
*****
Everyone was in position. Grace was parked across the street in front of the building that stood between Cappaletti’s and the building where the lesser demons were housed. Nardo and Broadbent were assigned to the rear entrance of the restaurant. Col and Otto would follow Canaan through the front door. Nico would make use of his Harley to take himself and Dov from the warehouse to the basement entrance of the second building where, once given the signal, they would enter. Canaan had chosen the partners to match experience with fledgling, but this pairing had given everyone some concern.
Nico had not spoken to Dov since finding him asleep while his brother fought for his life and Dov was unnerved by it. All of them had seen Dov surreptitiously watching the Guardian. He would open his mouth to say something only to snap it shut and leave the room. When he said something funny and the others laughed, his eyes would slide to Nico seeking his reaction. Nico never laughed and the light would fade from Dov’s eyes. Nico never said an unkind word, was never openly hostile yet his message was perfectly clear. He had no use for Dov. Why Canaan would pair them together, no one understood.
They watched the restaurant empty and waited for the few last call regulars to leave the bar. If any stragglers were found, Col would thump them and send them on their way. From his data collection Nardo had given them a human head count and he and Otto relayed the information to each other as each employee left for home. Canaan waited for Nico’s call.
*****
Riding behind Nico on the Harley-Davidson roadster should have thrilled Dov. The XR1200 was one of the sweetest bikes that money could buy and he had looked at it with envy ever since Nico arrived. Knowing how Nico felt about him spoiled the ride.
They drove right to the doors of the warehouse and the rumbling engine of the bike attracted the attention of the three demons inside. One was sent out to investigate. As it approached, Nico withdrew a sword from a sheath attached to the seat of the bike, whirled it once over his head and took the demon’s head off cleanly with one stroke.
“Oh man, you are good,” Dov whispered in awe.
“I have to be. There is no one to rely on but myself. Get off and open the door.”
Dov took that to mean Nico couldn’t rely on him and his shoulders slumped as he got off the bike and followed the order. Nico rode through the door. The two men who emerged from the shadows at the far end of the warehouse changed instantly to monster at the sight of the bloody sword.
“The little one is yours,” Nico instructed. “Get over there and move slowly along the right side until he comes for you. Once you engage, I’ll go after the big one. Stay out of my way.”
Dov did as he was told and sure enough, the smaller one came running. He pulled his stars from inside his jacket and tossed the first one off. It missed but the second one connected with the side of the demon’s neck and spurted blood while the creature howled. He ran at the thing with knife at the ready and he heard the Harley take off as he ran. There was no time to watch Nico. He plunged his knife into the creature’s chest and tore it open.
Nico had already made his first pass at the towering demon. Its arm hung bleeding and useless at its side. The Guardian spun the bike around and charged from the opposite direction this time taking the creature behind the knees. With its tendons severed, the demon collapsed. Its enraged roar echoed off the walls until Nico cut it short with a blade through its neck. The head rolled to the side as the body began to shrivel.
*****
There were still two humans inside when Can
aan got the call. “Broadbent, take the cook. Col, get the waitress.” He said into the cell phone, “Nico, It’s a go.”
Thunder rumbled through the clear night sky as Nico set off the charges he’d set in the warehouse. He and Dov were on the Harley and roaring through the alleys and streets before the second charge ignited. The police and fire department would be racing to the scene in minutes leaving the business area of the restaurant ignored.
As the second explosion sounded in the distance, Canaan hit the front door. The demon behind the bar charged, flashing to his true form as he leapt over the bar. A woman screamed. Col found her curled on the seat of a booth as she tried to slide to the floor. She kicked him and screamed again when he hauled her out. He controlled the blood rage, didn’t want to frighten her more than she already was. She fought him all the way to the door. She wore her coat and used her shoulder bag as a weapon. Col carried her halfway down the block before he set her down, thumped her and told her to go home.
Grace watched it all from the safety of the Escalade and found herself smiling. Col’s first ‘battle’ was against a little woman with a very big bag.
Nardo kicked open the rear door, cracking the frame and destroying the latch.
“It wasn’t locked,” Broadbent pointed out.
“I know,” yelled Nardo as he ducked the swing of a cook with a large kitchen knife. “But I’ve always wanted to do that.” He spun the cook and pushed him toward his partner. “He’s yours, I think.”
Broadbent quickly disarmed the cook and sent him on his way. The cook would find himself at home with no memory of how he got there.
Tyn was checking the lady’s room as he always did after locking up. Two weeks before they’d found a drunken woman asleep in a stall. He’d taken her home and played with her for a while before he ate her for dinner. He checked every night now and hoped he’d find another one. When he heard the crash of doors and the ensuing commotion, his immediate response was to turn demon but he caught himself before the change occurred. “Think human smart, not demon violent,” He said aloud. He smashed the window, squeezed through, and ran.
There were two minions left in the kitchen and Nardo and Broadbent took one apiece. Two others ran for the door connecting to the bar. Otto was old and Col was still weak and it was all they could do to hold the lowlifes off.
Canaan continued his fight against the larger creature from the bar. Chairs flew and tables crashed as the two grappled. The left arm of Canaan’s jacket was shredded where the demon’s talons had scored. The demon’s chest was crisscrossed with the slicing of Canaan’s blade. The two broke apart and Canaan ducked behind the bar. Enraged, the demon leapt to the top and saw Canaan lying on his side. It leapt down for the kill. Canaan’s blade flashed as he rolled and thrust upward. The demon’s momentum drove the knife through its chest and into the heart. Canaan made short work of the rest.
Across the room he saw Otto tangling with a demon in front of the window. Canaan grabbed the creature from behind immobilizing its arms. Otto’s knife took care of the rest.
“Take care of Col,” Canaan shouted to Otto as he ran for the kitchen door. He paused and looked back. “I promised Grace he wouldn’t get hurt.”
Otto was already at Col’s side.
Nardo and Broadbent were heading for the stairs when Canaan entered the kitchen. Two demon bodies lay shriveling on the floor.
“Find that tunnel,” Canaan ordered as he charged up the stairs to the apartment above. “Nico and Dov are waiting for the signal.
The two headed for the basement. Broadbent brushed the dust from his safari jacket and straightened his tie.
Nardo snorted. “Only you would wear a tie to a knife fight,” he commented while pounding down the stairs.
“War is no excuse for uncivilized attire.” Broadbent sneered at Nardo’s Grateful Dead T-shirt. “Although I must admit, the holes do add something.” Who would ever have thought that he, Broadbent ad Sebastian, would be fighting side by side with a Guardian and joking about clothing?
Nardo began searching for the tunnel entrance. “Hey, I paid good money for this shirt. It’s a 1975 Winterland Arena original.
A huge demon came out of the darkness. Nardo leapt back but not before the claws tore through his shirt. Broadbent threw a star and yelled, “Duck!” It caught the demon in the throat and took a chunk of Nardo’s ponytail. Blood spattered over the two of them. Nardo’s fist shot out, plunged into the chest and held the heart up high.
“Well done,” said his partner.
“Broadbent,” Nardo said in a snooty voice. “One should always yell duck before one throws. It’s common courtesy,” and switched back to his own voice. “I lost half my goddamn hair.”
“If one would get a decent haircut, one wouldn’t have to worry about one’s hair. Fuck! There’s another one.”
*****
Abyar called it the playroom. Andi thought of it as a dungeon, a very sexy dungeon. The walls were sound proof. There were no windows and the only access to it was through a closet in the smallest bedroom. The room was once a safe room that would protect a family from home invasion, though it hadn’t done much for the Cappalettis. Abyar and Andi used it for their sado-masochistic scenes. The first sign either of them had of the turmoil below was a vibration through the floor.
Abyar stopped his lashing and cocked his head. “Did you feel that?” Andi moaned in response. She’d reached a place where she hardly felt anything.
Another shudder through the floor and Abyar flipped the switch to the intercom. Chaos sounded from below. The violence triggered a response in Abyar. His claws lengthened and he started for the door.
“Stop!” Andi was back in full control of her senses. She remembered her manners. “Please don’t go out there, Abyar. Let your people take care of it. They can be replaced. You can’t. Don’t risk yourself.”
You had to love a woman who used her head.
“Abyar, will you please take these off?” she asked in a purring voice. She tugged at her restraints and as Abyar untied them, “Will you check the rooms while I get dressed?”
Abyar flipped one switch after another. They heard someone in their bedroom. Abyar followed the sound as that someone obviously searched room to room. When he entered the small bedroom, they held their breath.
“We’re safe here,” Andi whispered even though no one would hear. “Wait until he leaves and we’ll go through the window. Help me with this rope. I think it’s long enough to get us down to the awning.
Abyar didn’t argue. When it came to sex, he was the Master. When it came to conniving, Andi was in charge.*
*****
Nardo kicked the shriveling body on the floor. “We better hurry. We’re late. Nico and Dov are going to be pissed.”
They traveled through the dark tunnel, counting their paces and when they reached the predetermined number, they set the charge. Another twenty feet brought them to the door. Broadbent cracked it open and peeked inside. He quickly and quietly closed it.
“I think, my friend, we are doomed.” He began unbuttoning all the pockets of his safari jacket. He removed several throwing stars, his weapon of choice and rolled up his sleeve to reveal two blades strapped to his forearm.
“You’re such a boy scout, Broadbent, always prepared.”
“And you are not?” Broad bent gave the bulging pockets of Nardo’s cargo pants a significant look. “There are at least thirty of them crammed in there and they look hungry. They’re fighting among themselves.”
Nardo reached into the pocket on his left leg. “Then it’s a good thing I brought these. He showed Broadbent the canisters; a flash and bang and a concussion grenade. They ought to help.”
“You’ve gone far beyond boy scout. Good show.”
“Roll ‘em in. Let ‘em rip. We charge through and blow the tunnel. Be quick. Nico and Dov will charge at the first bang. They’ll think it’s the tunnel.”
Chapter 45
Dov stood awkwardly at
the basement entrance. He checked his watch for the hundredth time. Something was wrong. Nardo and Broadbent were late. He’d made the mistake of asking Nico about it and all he got for an answer was a cold stare. He shifted from one foot to the other. He knew he’d made a mistake with Col and he vowed to never make the same one again. Everyone believed him, everyone but Nico. The guy hated him. He could see it in his eyes every time Nico looked at him which wasn’t often.
At last they heard the sharp boom of the blast. All Nico said was, “Don’t fall asleep,” before he kicked in the door.
*****
Grace saw Otto and Col come out of the alley and breathed a sigh of relief. Once the restaurant was clear their job was to patrol the streets and alleys for strays and alert the others to demon threat or human authority. They walked casually along the sidewalk toward the next break between the buildings. Without looking at her Col gave a thumbs up. She laid her head back on the headrest and closed her eyes to say a silent prayer that things would go smoothly and continue to be a thumbs up.
The pictures began to play on the backs of her eyelids. She saw a man and a woman running, the woman pulling the man along. Grace ran with them down streets, through alleys and across vacant lots. She noted the street names and when they reached a ramshackle little house, she noted the address. As in the picture from a few days ago, the woman turned to check the street. It was the coatless woman from Nardo’s camera. The vision popped.
Grace opened her eyes and scanned the street looking for someone to relay the message. She spied Canaan leaving the second story by the fire escape and rolled down her window but he was gone by the time she called his name.
*****
Abyar and Andi waited for several minutes after they heard the searcher climb out to the fire escape. Andi directed Abyar to collect any valuables and cash that he could find on the second floor while she kept watch at the top of the stairs. If the Guardians came back, she would claim to be a captive and stall them long enough for Abyar to make good his escape. She would find him later when his blood called.
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