Darkness Clashes

by Susan Illene

  “Yes,” he said with absolute confidence.

  Hands clasped together, we returned to the table to find Kariann and Kerbasi laughing with each other. Even Sayer appeared amused at whatever they’d been discussing.

  “Ah, the fornicators have returned,” Kerbasi said, lifting a glass with dark liquid inside. “You should try some of this. It is surprisingly good.”

  His eyes were glazed over and his body relaxed. He chugged down the rest of the glass so fast some of it ran down his chin. With a swipe of his hand, he got most of it off but it was clear his coordination was lacking.

  Lucas took a seat and pulled me into his lap. “Is he drunk?”

  “Isn’t it amazing?” Kariann asked. “I introduced him to the club special.”

  “Ah, yes. It tends to have a strong effect.” Lucas’ chest rumbled behind me.

  “We should have another round.” Kariann waved the waitress over, who took her order and rushed off.

  Kerbasi took hold of Kariann’s hand. “Tell me about this ring next. Did you kill someone for it as well?”

  She wore several. I’d never thought to ask about them, but each was unique and beautiful. The one Kerbasi fingered was gold with a medium-sized sapphire and diamonds set on either side of it.

  “That one? Oh, no. I got it over seventy years ago from a Russian prince who was living in exile in England. For a few weeks we spent every night wrapped in each other’s arms. Then I had to leave.” She frowned. “He was difficult to compel and he kept questioning where I went during the day.”

  The waitress came back with our drinks. While everyone else was distracted by her, I reached down to the floor for my purse and pretended to check my phone. The vial Ariel had given me was in the side pocket. I palmed it and rose back up.

  It was going to be tricky with the group gathered close together, but I couldn’t guarantee I’d get another chance to spike Kerbasi’s drink. Especially since Lucas and I planned to leave soon. Grabbing my glass, I took a swig and grimaced as the strong alcohol burned my throat. No wonder Kerbasi was drunk. It was potent stuff.

  Lowering it so that I held it in front of me, I waited until the conversation flowed around me again. Everyone was listening to Kariann as she told the story about her third ring, which she’d won on a dare—swimming across the English Channel.

  Lucas nibbled on my neck. I leaned into him, blocking his view as I dumped the vial’s contents into my drink. As soon as I finished, I dropped the container back into my purse to get rid of later. Lucas took hold of my chin and turned my head to kiss me on the lips.

  It took all my concentration to keep from forgetting my task. I waited until he released me and reached across the table to set my glass down next to Kerbasi’s. Tipping my hand just a little too far, I knocked his over.

  He leaped up just before the drink could spill on him and gave me an accusatory look. “You’ve ruined my drink!”

  “Sorry.” I grabbed some napkins and dabbed at the mess. “Take mine. It was too strong for me, anyway.”

  He eyed it for a moment, grimaced, then picked it up. “Very well. I will accept your offering, but only because I do not wish for it to go to waste.”

  I watched as he drank some of it down and was relieved he didn’t notice a difference in the taste. It didn’t have a smell, but I’d still been worried.

  “Since when do you shy away from alcohol?” Lucas asked, whispering in my ear.

  I grabbed his hand and took one of his fingers, sucking it between my lips. Pausing, I turned to look at him. “Since I decided to keep a clear head for when we get back to the condo.”

  “Smart woman.” He lifted me up and flipped me around. “I fear you will get little sleep tonight.”

  I straddled his waist between my thighs. “Is that a promise?”

  His fingers traced along my neck. “Yes.”

  I twisted my head around and checked to see if Kerbasi had finished his drink. He had. Now I needed to get him back before he passed out.

  “Time to go, guys,” I announced.

  Kerbasi frowned. “But I wanted to stay and drink more.”

  He was almost cute when he was drunk.

  “Not to worry, big guy.” Kariann put an arm around him. “I brought some good stuff with me that we can share back at the condo.”

  It took him a moment to think it over.

  “Perhaps it is best…we left this den of sin anyhow.” He stood up and swayed.

  Kariann took his arm and helped guide him as we left the balcony. He was staggering considerably. After we got past the stairs, Sayer took his other arm. We made our way past other patrons and exited onto the street. There were two police officers on horses, blocking our path on the sidewalk. Kerbasi stopped to stare at them.

  “What beautiful creatures.” He looked at Kariann. “Can I touch one of them?”

  She gave him an amused look. “No. We need to get you back.”

  He protested, but she and Sayer managed to get him moving again as we went around the cops. As slowly as Kerbasi moved, it took almost fifteen minutes to reach the condo. The moment we arrived he crashed face-first into the couch.

  “Damn.” Kariann shook her head. “The whole point of getting him drunk was so I could try to deflower him. Who would have guessed he couldn’t hold his liquor that well?”

  “Maybe next time.” I gave her a conciliatory look.

  “Come, sensor. I’ve got my own plans for you.” Lucas swung me into his arms.

  I didn’t know it was possible to get up spiral stairs that fast.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  We couldn’t have been asleep for more than a few hours before the chiming of a cell phone woke us. Bleary-eyed, I looked over to see hints of light streaming through the window where the curtains weren’t fully closed. Lucas had held true to his promise and kept me up most of the night. One of these days I’d learn not to encourage him so much. I was sore and my body didn’t want to move.

  “Yes?” Lucas answered his phone.

  A few seconds of silence. My head was too far buried in my pillow to listen in on his call. I blinked my eyes and tried to push through the fog in my mind.

  “I’ll be there in ten minutes.” He clicked on the screen and tossed the cell phone on the nightstand.

  I rose up on my elbows. “What’s going on?”

  “One of my business interests is in jeopardy. I must go, but I will return as soon as I am able.” He caressed my face before getting up to go to the armoire. I admired his bare backside and decided the soreness from earlier was worth it.

  “Go where?” I pulled myself up farther.

  He pulled out an old pair of jeans and ragged-looking t-shirt. I frowned. Lucas never dressed down when going out and definitely not when dealing with business interests.

  “Not far. Just to the Gulf.”

  I swung my legs off the bed. “But…”

  “Go back to sleep. I’ll explain when I return.” He headed for the bathroom.

  Dammit. I wanted to know more, but then I remembered I had a meeting to attend. Ariel had said they’d find a way to distract Lucas so I could go. What had they done?

  He came back into the room and eyed me up and down. I still hadn’t gotten dressed and sat on the bed naked. At least this latest emergency hadn’t made him completely immune to me. If I hadn’t needed to leave, too, I might have been tempted to see how long I could distract him. Lucas turned away and pulled on a pair of white sneakers. I hadn’t realized he owned any.

  “Melena, you’ve barely slept. Get some rest and I’ll be back in a couple hours.”

  “It’s not like you’ve gotten much sleep, either,” I argued. “Why don’t you just explain what’s going on?”

  A frustrated look came over his face.

  “It’s complicated. If I tell you now, you’ll simply have more questions.” He stuffed his wallet and cell phone in his pockets. “I promise I’ll explain everything after I return.”

  Lucas meant it.
I had to give him that.

  “Stay here until I return,” he said, leaning down to give me a kiss.

  Then he flashed away. It seemed like he was always rushing off somewhere.

  I headed off for the bathroom to wash up. By the time I finished and got dressed a young female sensor came within range. As Ariel and Micah had promised, it was Honor—the female sensor I’d met a few months before in Fairbanks.

  She was off to the west, moving at a pace that told me she was walking. I went downstairs and checked on Kerbasi. He was still passed out on the couch and snoring away. I didn’t bother with the vamps. They were in their light-tight bedrooms and wouldn’t be up this early in the day no matter their age. Good. At least I wouldn’t be missed.

  As soon as Honor got within a block I stepped outside to wait for her. At nineteen years old she should have been off in college, not acting as a supernatural errand girl. She crossed the street and headed over to me. Her brown hair was loose and reached just above her shoulders and she wore a red and white print sundress. As I’d thought before, there had to be some Latina heritage in her with her naturally tan skin. Like all sensors, though, she had blue eyes.

  “I was surprised to hear you’d be coming, Honor.” I leaned against the doorframe. “You seemed rather intent to get away from supernatural politics the last time I saw you.”

  There was no one nearby to overhear me. The closest humans were a man and woman across the block who gazed into a gallery window.

  Honor smiled. “I have a new master now. It was time for an upgrade.”

  I lifted my brows. “An upgrade?”

  She’d worked for Zoe. A thirty-two-hundred-year-old nephilim. It didn’t get much higher than that. At least, I’d never met any older supernaturals—if one didn’t count angels and guardians.

  “Yes.” She stopped in front of me. “My new master is looking forward to meeting you.”

  “How do I know this isn’t a trap?” I asked, crossing my arms.

  With the way Honor flitted about she could have worked for more than one person.

  “So suspicious.” She shook her head. “I can promise no harm will come to you before, during, or after the meeting. He told me to tell you he’s the one Micah wanted you to meet.”

  “Do you know what it’s about?”

  She lifted her shoulder in a small shrug. “I can’t say.”

  “I don’t have much time.” I looked over my shoulder and up at the condo. “Lucas will be back soon.”

  “From what I understand, he’ll be busy for a while.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Doing what?”

  “Come on.” She jerked her head. “My master will tell you whatever you need to know.”

  Honor didn’t wait for me. She turned and started walking back down the sidewalk in the direction she’d come from. I could stand there staring at her back, or follow. Curiosity might have killed the cat, but I couldn’t help wanting to know what this new master had to say.

  We headed in a westerly direction toward Rampart Street. Many of locals and tourists were already out, wandering the streets. The sunlight was different in the French Quarter from everywhere else I’d been, though I couldn’t quite explain how. It was just more—alive. An ironic thought, considering Honor led me to St. Louis Cemetery Number One.

  It was a good thing we didn’t have to go any farther. We were very close to hitting the half-mile range from Kerbasi and I didn’t think I could go another block. At least, not without pulling him through the condo window and onto the street. As amusing as that visual was, the whole point of drugging him was so he didn’t notice I’d left.

  My senses hummed and my skin tingled. Someone had spelled the cemetery.

  For the next hour it would scare off anyone who came near it, including tourists. The gate was closed, but Honor pushed it open and continued inside. We wove our way past new, old, and very old crypts of all shapes and sizes. Some were falling apart, some had fences around them or special designs, and one was a white pyramid.

  We headed toward the tallest society tomb in the cemetery. It was huge and constructed of baroque marble with numerous vaults for bodies. The word “ITALIA” was carved on one side with a niche above that containing a statue of a woman. Another statue of Mary rose from the top. I had to stop ten feet before I reached it. A couple more steps would push past my range with Kerbasi. Maybe it had been planned.

  I glanced at Honor, who was typing something into her phone. She looked up and smiled. The sensor knew as well as I did that we’d gone as far as we could.

  “You have to wait. He’ll be here soon.” She turned around to leave.

  “Where are you going?” I asked.

  “Home. I’ve done my part.”

  I glared at her back as she disappeared between tombs, heading for the front gate. She was going to abandon me in an empty cemetery. I considered following her out. It wasn’t like there was anyone around to stop me, but a flash of light had me rethinking that idea.

  A man wearing a blue and green kilt and worn boots appeared at the top of the Italian Society tomb. He had tan skin, shoulder-length brown hair, and muscles as thick as the ones on Lucas. He’d have no problem turning female heads but it wasn’t his appearance that concerned me. Rather, it was the fact he was about five thousand years old and not something I’d ever sensed before.

  An angel-demon hybrid.

  Holy fuck. There wasn’t any other way to put it. I had a really strong urge to run right then, but forced myself to stay put. Ariel and Micah had sent me here for a reason and at the very least I needed to find out what they were up to—other than the little they’d already revealed.

  The immortal man glanced at the statue that was positioned just above him, then plopped down on the curved roof of the tomb. A large bowl and spoon appeared in his hands and he started eating from it as if I wasn’t standing there staring at him.

  Wonderful. Honor had brought me to meet a crazy person.

  Nearly a minute passed while he ate what looked like jambalaya. If his grunts of pleasure were anything to go by, it was quite good. His gaze eventually drifted from his meal and moved down toward me. False surprise reflected in his eyes.

  “Oh, good, you’re here.”

  He shoveled another bite into his mouth. I had to give him credit for not spilling any considering how much he topped each spoonful.

  “What’s up with the kilt?” I asked. “That’s not exactly your time period.”

  He shrugged. “My mate lives in Scotland and she likes it.”

  At least he was considerate enough to do something that pleased the woman he loved.

  “I hope I’m not disturbing you.” I nodded at the food in his hands.

  He waved his spoon around. “No, no. I’ve just found a good bowl of jambalaya can do wonders when plotting world domination. Helps spice things up, if you know what I mean.”

  “Actually, no, I wouldn’t. Is that your plan? World domination?” I couldn’t believe Ariel and Micah sent me to talk to this man.

  He set the bowl down on the roof of the tomb and leaped to the ground. His expression turned serious as he stalked toward me. He looked like one of those Highland warriors between the kilt and the hairy chest and arms, but there was nothing natural about his glowing vermilion eyes.

  “Forgive me. World domination might not be the best term. I’d say it is more like a revolution.” He stopped three feet from me. “From the tyranny angels have placed on us for too long.”

  My throat went dry.

  “What…are you planning to do?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “Stop hiding.”

  “From who?”

  “The humans, of course.” He looked at me as if I might be dense. “There was a time when we didn’t hide, but then the archangels changed that. They forced us to live like rats in the dark and watch our every step for fear of their retribution.”

  I’d heard the supernaturals used to be out in the open a millennia or so ago, but the few
who’d lived back then didn’t talk about it much.

  I cocked my head. “Who are you?”

  “You may call me Yerik.”

  I thought back over everything I’d heard through the years. Wanda, my former mentor, had taught me a lot of history and I’d picked up even more since moving to Fairbanks. The significance of the name didn’t come to me right away. Then I remembered a story I’d heard from my mentor when I was still a teenager. It had seemed too unreal to be true.

  She’d told me about an immortal of unknown origin who had fought an archangel and survived. After more had come down on him he’d disappeared, never to be heard from again. No one knew if he’d lived or died. If I recalled correctly, the timing had been somewhere around the dark ages.

  “Did you fight an archangel once?” I asked.

  His expression turned stormy. “I did. And after I killed him others came for me. If Ariel had not warned me in time I might be dead now.”

  “Why would she warn you?” The more I learned about the female archangel the less I understood.

  “She has always sympathized with us.” Yerik’s harsh expression relaxed a couple of degrees. “Ariel knew I didn’t start the fight and had no choice but to kill one of her brethren to survive.”

  “And you went into hiding after that?”

  “I did. Until recently when other things took on greater importance than my safety.” He reached for me.

  I sidestepped him. “Don’t.”

  “I’m curious.” His hand was still raised. “You are the first mortal to be successfully made into a living immortal. Here you are out in the sunlight and not burning. When they told me about you I couldn’t believe it and had to see for myself.”

  “That doesn’t mean you get to touch me. I didn’t agree to that.” I glared at him.

  “Give me your hand.” He reached for it.

  I batted him away. “No.”

  “Don’t be stubborn.” His vermilion eyes twinkled. “My God, you are as bad as Lucas.”

  “What do you know about Lucas?” I asked, moving again to avoid his hand.

  His expression turned contemplative. “I found him a few years after his father died and he had struck out on his own—he and his brother. I trained them both in how to use a sword and other weapons. Though both of them were good, Lucas took to it the most naturally. We spent more than a century together, searching for battles to fight. He was very angry in those years.”