Blood Double

by Connie Suttle

  "Is Bel still going with them?"

  "Yeah. I think he'll do better—at least at first. He isn't so full of himself he's tight from it," Drew chuckled.

  "Back to Breanne," I sighed.

  "We watch as much as we can, but we can't be there every minute. Rigo has been helping, but it's the same with him—he's really busy. I think he has a ton of stuff for you to look at when you get back."

  "Fucking lovely," I sighed, covering my eyes with a hand.

  "Baby, stop worrying. We'll handle this somehow."

  "I'll be sure and kick Gavin's ass when I get back."

  "We were hoping Kiarra would have a thing or two to say to him. Something like, oh, I don't know, maybe get the hell out of the Spawn Hunters, or something similar?" Drew huffed.

  "Drew," I lowered my hand and frowned at him.

  "He needs a kick in the ass." Drake took his brother's side. "He told everybody Breanne was there to take your place, and the palace comesuli took that and ran with it. They've all been treating her like shit, and she doesn't deserve that."

  "What?" This just ramped up my worry to a brand-new level.

  "Look, we probably should have waited until you got back to tell you this, but it really bothers us. With Gavin in charge of the palace, we can't gainsay his authority without you backing us up."

  "I won't need to back you up. I can kick his ass myself when I get there," I muttered. Gavin might be sleeping alone for a very long time after I had my say.

  * * *

  Breanne's Journal

  I was beginning to wonder why Gavin felt it necessary to haul me to Campiaa. Nobody spoke to me, unless it was a snarled "out of my way," or "stand against that wall and don't speak." I did both without saying anything. I watched while Q'And Ribalo was processed by CSD agents and then led to a holding cell. Q'And only answered what was necessary—they'd put shock cuffs on him the moment he was hauled into CSD Headquarters. I could tell by my readings that Q'And didn't like pain. Not even a little. He didn't want those shock cuffs activated, so he answered questions readily.

  I'll never know whether it was foresight on Gavin's part or something else, when he decided to bring me along, but prescience kicked in and I had Teeg, Gavin, Tony, Rigo and the Starr brothers turned to mist and hauled out of the holding cells when CSD Headquarters blew up, taking everything down around it as well.

  * * *

  Cheedas made his excuses and left the party early. He wept, too, as he used a claw to pare down the limb he'd stolen from a tree in the arboretum. Almost as thick as his wrist on one end, Cheedas worked to make the limb's point as sharp and deadly as he could. He couldn't ignore the obsession he carried, as much as his former self might wish it.

  * * *

  "Ashe, you caught it early enough. She didn't lose a lot of blood," Franklin sighed after he and Shane placed Kay in a healing sleep.

  "She's terrified of Q'Ind Ribalo, Q'And's brother. I wish she'd tell me why," Kevis raked fingers through his hair. Ashe had called him after Shane and Franklin showed up and managed to handle Kay's self-inflicted injuries. "We'll just have to watch her from now on," he sighed. "And go through the house to remove anything she might use to hurt herself."

  "I'd like to get to the bottom of this," Ashe growled.

  "That makes two of us," Kevis agreed.

  * * *

  Lissa's Journal

  "Gavin, Tony, Rigo and Gavril are fine," Kiarra assured me. I hadn't felt it coming, and that was unusual for me. "I can't say the same for the others at CSD Headquarters," she sighed. "They're all dead, and at least one prisoner managed to escape."

  "How could this happen? That nobody saw it?" I turned to her.

  "Somebody saw it, apparently, because your four and the Starr brothers were hauled out before everything was destroyed."

  "This isn't making any sense at all," I said.

  "Things aren't happening as they should," Kiarra agreed. "Everything is out of balance. Is this how it'll be—that nothing will make sense anymore?"

  "Since the Dark Worlds were attacked," I nodded and rubbed my forehead in an attempt to hold off a threatening headache.

  "And all this time, I was hoping the Great Battle would be the end of it. The battle was just the beginning, as it turns out."

  "Do you think it's taken eighteen years for the enemy to regroup and regain strength?" I turned a worried frown on Kiarra.

  "It's possible. They may have taken that time to recruit others to the cause, too," she said.

  "That's not good," I shook my head, attempting to clear it. It was futile to apply logic to anything I'd seen in the past few months, and it only looked to get worse. I was afraid to imagine how much worse things might actually get.

  "This is not your concern; I hear from the twins and Winkler that Gavin and the others are fine," Merrill walked into the room. "I know you want to go back early, but consider your health and the level of your strength," he added, his bright blue eyes frowning into mine.

  "Let me know when they get back to Le-Ath Veronis. I'm going anyway," I said.

  * * *

  Breanne's Journal

  Gavin cursed in every language he knew. I understood all of them. I'd always been able to do that, even when people employed their native language instead of English in my past. It didn't matter—whatever they'd said or felt or experienced, I already knew from reading them. Understanding the language was a distant second every time.

  Teeg, too, was furious, his eyes a deep red and fangs evident as he smashed a fist through the window in his study. I could still see the smoke and burning in the distance—where CSD Headquarters had once been. Only a large crater, smoldering clouds and debris filled the area, now. The Campiaan City Fire Department had arrived not long after I'd made my rescue, and water applied to the flames made more smoke billow into the air. Astralan and Stellan weren't saying anything, but Astralan used his power to repair the window after Teeg destroyed it.

  "Why?" Gavin rounded on me next, finally speaking in English. "Why was I not made aware of your misting ability?"

  "Huh?" Of all the things to focus on, that was the most unexpected. My response was obviously unprepared. Most might have concentrated on what—or who—had caused the blast and at least sixty deaths. Not Gavin. He focused instead on what my (in his opinion) shortcomings were in the entire incident. It didn't matter, either, that I'd saved his ass. Even my breathing likely displeased him on a molecular level.

  "Teeg, you might consider letting your Alliance know you survived," Astralan suggested softly.

  "In a moment, we have information to gather, first," Teeg rounded on me, too, stepping forward to stand beside his father.

  "I didn't know at first," I backed away a half step—it was all the distance I had between me and the wall at my back.

  "You didn't tell me," Gavin snarled, his eyes going as darkly red as his son's.

  I wanted to tell him he hadn't asked. I wanted to tell him that he'd shown little interest in me and had no desire for me to tell him anything, most of the time. I didn't.

  "Misting and mindspeech. What else might that mean?" Gavril lifted an eyebrow, lending a demonic expression to his face.

  "Are you susceptible to compulsion?" Gavin's words were a low, dangerous growl and compulsion laced his words. I read it easily in his face—even someone without my ability could see it plainly. He wanted to kill me if I answered truthfully. Well, he could try.

  "Not even yours, you sadistic asshole," I snapped and folded space to get away from him and his murderous thoughts.

  * * *

  Casino City never sleeps. Yeah, they used to say that about Las Vegas, too. And New York. Probably a lot of other places as well. It didn't matter—I wasn't planning to return to the palace and prostitute myself again. I was done. The minute I'd seen murder mirrored in Gavin and Teeg's faces, that was it for me. They wouldn't come looking—I was nothing except a substitute for a wife and mother. It hadn't been my choice, either—somebody else
had made that decision.

  It didn't matter; I still had unfinished business in Casino City, but once I settled that, who knows where I might go? Erithia Cordan was on my shit list, as was Rathik Erwin and anybody else she'd pulled into her little obsession-laced sphere. First on my agenda, however, was something to eat. I could mist, and every stinking casino in Casino City had restaurants. Maybe karma would kick in somewhere for me stealing food, but I'd just saved Gavin Montegue and his brat. Maybe the two would even out somewhere.

  Regardless, I went to the Chessman. It belonged to Adam, and he was my surrogate sire. Maybe he'd forgive the theft. I'd tell him about it, if I ever saw him again.

  * * *

  Erithia's fury was endless, and Riis of Tyriss' body, minus the head, lay at her feet. He'd been closest and suffered the weight of her wrath when she saw the vids from Campiaa. Teeg San Gerxon was spouting assurances to the Campiaan Alliance, explaining that he'd left CSD Headquarters only moments before it was destroyed by rogue mercenaries. Several of those mercenaries were shown in an inset, being led toward cells in the Campiaa City lock-up.

  "Q'And Ribalo was freed before the destruction of CSD Headquarters," a journalist announced. "Founder San Gerxon has declared a state of emergency, and all transport off Campiaa has been delayed."

  "Cayetes, I swear I will smile over your corpse for exposing us," Erithia hissed, displaying sharp, needle-thin teeth. "I will pour salt on your heart and eat it raw." Kicking Riis's body out of her way, she stalked toward the door. "Rathik," she snapped, "convene the others. I must hold a meeting. Quickly! Quickly!"

  * * *

  Breanne's Journal

  Breanne? Mindspeech came from Corent. I'd finished my veggie flatbread pizza atop the Chessman, where I could watch the street below.

  Corent? What is it? There'd been concern in his mindspeech, and it made me want to weep. Somebody cared, and I had no idea why that was.

  I just wanted to make sure you are well, he replied. The palace is in turmoil for some reason—I can feel it.

  No surprise—Gavin and Teeg just survived what should have killed them, I sent. I didn't add that I'd saved their behinds. I probably shouldn't have. Both of them wanted to kill me now, and I wasn't really sure of the reason. I'd seen something in both of them I hadn't seen before, though. A cloud on their minds might best describe it, but as I hadn't seen that sort of thing before, I was at a loss as to what to really name it. It was as if they'd waited for me to reveal myself somehow, and now they were prompted to act on the knowledge they'd gained.

  You can come to the groves if you don't feel safe, Corent offered.

  Thank you. I'll consider it, I said. I have something to do, first, I added. I didn't want Corent to know he might be in danger if he offered sanctuary to me. He'd been good to me from the beginning, and I wasn't about to make him suffer because of that.

  You'll be welcome here anytime, he said.

  Thank you, I replied.

  * * *

  Lissa's Journal

  Gavin, what the hell are you doing? I sent.

  Lissa? He sounded so shocked.

  I leave for a while and what do you do? I continued. I hear you've tortured the one Belen and I chose to sit in for me.

  Lissa? Gavin definitely needed to work on his vocabulary.

  Look, send mindspeech when you get back to the palace, I snapped. We'll have a discussion the moment I get there, I added and cut off mindspeech.

  * * *

  "Dad?" Gavril sounded worried as he gazed at Gavin.

  "I just got mindspeech from your mother," Gavin's dark eyes turned toward his son. "She's not happy. Says I tortured Breanne."

  "What?" Gavril was now concerned. "She knew about her?"

  "Looks that way. Says she and Belen chose Breanne to sit in for her while she was gone. Son, this makes no sense." Gavin rubbed the back of his neck, displaying his discomfort. "Your mother says to let her know when I get back to the palace—it appears she wants to meet me there when I return. I believe she wants to yell about my treatment of the girl and honestly, I wanted to kill Breanne earlier."

  "So did I. A part of me still does."

  "Precisely."

  * * *

  "You will let me know the moment the Queen returns to the palace," Cheedas instructed his employees. "No matter what time."

  "Of course," Cheedas' comesula assistant nodded to the palace's chief cook. "I'll let the others know to come to one of us with that information."

  "Good. Go to bed, I'll speak with you later."

  "Yes, Master Cook Cheedas."

  * * *

  Breanne's Journal

  I walked the main street of Casino City, crowds of people brushing past me as they hurried from one Casino to another, hoping the next one would hold better luck and a happier time for them. I wanted to tell them that most of those casinos would hold neither.

  Of all the people I'd met on Le-Ath Veronis, only one had offered shelter. I worried that his life might be in danger because of his offer. Had Gavin and Teeg meant to display so much hate with their desire to take my life? Hunching my shoulders, I forged my way through the crowds as I passed casino after casino.

  So many times in my past I'd wondered exactly what I was wondering now—what had I done to warrant so much hate, spite and animosity? Had I done so much evil in a former life that I'd be destined to spend this one paying for past sins? Those thoughts had to be shoved aside—the brunt of my reaction to Gavin's desire to kill me was settling on my shoulders and it was nearly unbearable.

  The cloud on his and his son's minds troubled me, too. Shaking morose thoughts aside, I concentrated on what I should—Erithia Cordan and her obsessed contingent, but more specifically, her and Rathik Erwin.

  * * *

  "I've sent Astralan for Dee, Dad. He'll be here in a few minutes," Gavril sighed. "Go home if you want—I know you want to see Mom, even if she is going to have a fit. Tell her I'll visit as soon as I can get time away from all this mess."

  "I'll wait until Dormas arrives," Gavin muttered, staring out Gavril's study window. Darkness was falling on Campiaa, and smoke could still be seen in the distance.

  Gavin knew by Looking that the rescue team's search through the rubble of CSD Headquarters would yield only bodies, most of them in pieces. None would be whole. A part of him realized that he might have been in the midst of that rubble with his son. Somehow, Breanne had known to pull him, Rigo, Tony, his son and the Starr brothers out. He should be grateful. Instead, he felt resentment and he had no explanation for it.

  He'd already sent Tony and Rigo back to Le-Ath Veronis. Rigo looked as if he wanted to fight Gavin when he and Gavril threatened Breanne. Tony hadn't been happy either, and both vampires looked to be a problem in the future if this wasn't sorted out soon.

  "Perhaps I should have listened to the Falchani," Gavin muttered. "I should have allowed someone else to take her. Teach her. I know nothing about her," he turned back to Gavril.

  "I want to hit her, every time I see her," Gavril admitted, nodding to his father. "I can't really explain that."

  "You accomplished that at least once," Gavin nodded.

  "Yeah. By telling somebody else to do it. I shouldn't feel proud of that. Something in me is happy about it, though."

  "Makes no sense," Gavin shook his head.

  "Yeah."

  "Child?" Dee said the moment Astralan dropped him in Gavril's study.

  "I'm fine, Dee. All those others at Headquarters aren't."

  "I heard that on the newsfeeds."

  "I'll be going now. Send mindspeech if you need something," Gavin said.

  "I will, Dad. Tell Mom it's partly my fault. Maybe she won't yell so long at you."

  "Son, your mother will yell as long as she wants—at both of us." Gavin disappeared.

  "What was that about?" Dee asked.

  "Dee, it's a family matter," Gavril shoved Dee's question aside.

  * * *

  Breanne's Journal
>
  Somehow, my feet had automatically carried me to the Comet's Tail Casino, Erithia Cordan's business. I'd never walked through the front door before, and there, on a pillar right inside the front door, was a holo-memorial for Erithia Cordan, the (supposedly) deceased owner of the Comet's Tail.

  I read the photograph easily. The poor woman in the display wasn't Erithia—she'd had the misfortune of being captured by the real Erithia, underwent extensive surgery to make her look like Erithia, and had made her way (legitimately) to Le-Ath Veronis to act as Erithia's front. Until she'd become an inconvenience and a target for Rathik Erwin, vampire. He'd been brutal in his attack on an innocent, and he deserved to be punished for that.

  Turning away from the holo-image, I surveyed the crowd in the casino. I saw everything from the blissful to deeply despondent in my reading. It amazed me that such opposites could exist side by side. Pulling in a deep breath and holding it for a moment before releasing it, I strode forward.

  * * *

  Ashe's Journal

  Everything is unstable. I feel it. As if the universe has hushed for a moment, waiting for an outcome before choosing a direction. It was the ball poised on a tall, steep tip of a pyramid. Who might guess which way it would fall?

  Kalia—Kay—will only allow Bill near her. For some reason, she doesn't find him threatening and I can't explain that. If Trajan or I come close, she withdraws even more than she already has. She seldom speaks and many times I have asked Franklin to come to help with her, but he is in charge of NorthStar in his parents' absence and can't really accommodate my request.

  Franklin and I both realize our responsibilities, but I watch Kay when she doesn't know, and it breaks my heart. Somewhere in the future, she and I are together, and we will do amazing things. At least that is what I know at this particular moment. With the instability I feel, so many things might change in a blink, and I might have little or no authority to stop it. That frightens me more than I can say. A single drop of water can cause the bucket to overflow, and I felt we were all waiting for that drop to fall.

  * * *

  "Cayetes is now our enemy. He has revealed us, I know it," Erithia hissed, not bothering to disguise her teeth. The needle-like projections would frighten even the strongest, but those before her were already obsessed—they would willingly die for her should she even suggest it.