by Dannika Dark
“Never mind,” I said, realizing the wheels in her head were turning. “I’ll leave you to your work. Thanks for showing me who you are. I promise not to bother you down here.”
“Thanks,” she said, easing into a leather chair by the wall, lost in her book.
I left Gem alone and strolled down the long hall. Now I understood why I’d become so consumed with the murders. Everyone else had other jobs to keep their minds occupied. I ascended the stairs, frustrated that I had pieces to the puzzle but not enough to make them fit. If this case dragged on for years, I might actually go insane.
When I reached Wyatt’s game room, I lightly knocked on the door even though everyone else usually barged in.
“Enter at your own peril,” he answered.
I walked in and switched on the desk lamp to my right. “It’s kind of dark and depressing in here. Are you holding a séance?”
He rubbed his eyes and swiveled his leather chair away from the computer. Wyatt’s retreat didn’t have windows to bring in natural light. The modern black sofa on the left had colorful pillows, which made the room seem more like a lounge. A few beanbag chairs were propped in front of the huge television on the wall straight ahead, which he used for gaming and catching up on reruns of Supernatural. It was one of the few rooms in the mansion with electricity, and it didn’t have a Gothic fireplace or walls made from stone.
He rolled by me and kicked the door shut.
I took a seat in another leather chair he’d pushed out of the way. “Is Casper still bugging you?”
Wyatt slouched in the chair and tossed his beanie on the desk. “I thought you didn’t believe in ghosts.”
“Maybe it’s what you believe that matters.”
He conjured a dazzling smile, carving a line in his cheek. “You’re starting to sound like a shrink. No, it’s been quiet around here today. We worked out an arrangement that’s keeping him busy. Just don’t go into the red room.”
“What red room?”
“Never you mind, little girl.” He stretched his arms and made a strained growl. “Since the victims were found in the human district, Viktor had me search for surveillance cameras near the crime scenes. It took some effort to get the footage, but I’ve been going through it for hours.”
“Any revelations?”
“They should put brighter streetlamps on the road. I can’t make out anything from today’s murder, but the last one we got decent footage of the main street in front of the bar. There’s just one problem.”
I arched an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
Wyatt gazed up at the ceiling as his chair did a full turn. “Guess how many cars drive down that road every minute in each direction? Ninety.”
“That’s not so bad. How many years does a Gravewalker live?”
He chuckled and munched on a few greasy chips. “You’re funny. So did you come up with any theories?”
Before I could answer, Niko strode in. He had an interesting manner of entering a room, and I knew he was counting steps and mapping out his location in his head. He must have been able to see our energy and used that to navigate around our chairs. After he circled around to my left, he leaned against the desk, his black hair styled in a single braid that drew attention to his face. Niko was ancient, and his Asian features looked mixed in a way I couldn’t define.
“I thought I might find someone up here,” he said.
Wyatt ran his fingers through his messy brown hair. “We were discussing theories.”
“I have one,” Niko began, the timbre in his voice smooth and controlled. “I didn’t go near the first victim because of the obvious.”
The obvious being Niko was blind and couldn’t provide any visual insight.
“You weren’t the only one,” Wyatt said.
Niko gripped the edge of the desk, causing the cords of muscle in his arms to tighten. “Claude and I are concerned about Gem. He scented her fear, and her light kept shifting. Viktor wants her to get more involved, but I disagree.”
I furrowed my brow. “Why? She has a lot to offer.”
“Yes, but everyone has a place on the team. Don’t let Gem’s skates and wild ways fool you; she’s extremely knowledgeable. Wyatt and Gem are intelligence, and you don’t put them on the front line of a battle.”
Wyatt snorted. “The battle was over.”
Niko cocked his head. “It could have been a trap. That’s why Viktor wanted someone like Raven on the team. As we grow, we need to reconsider where our resources belong. He’s sending you two on dangerous missions when your skills are better served here. Gem is sensitive; she shouldn’t have to see such things.”
My chair squeaked as I swiveled between the two men. “You’re getting sidetracked. What was your theory?”
“I don’t believe the victims were human.”
Wyatt’s jaw unhinged.
I rolled my chair back. “That’s quite a theory, Niko. Where did you come up with that idea?”
“I only saw the one, but there was residual energy coating her body. It’s something I usually see on a dead Mage.”
“Holy Toledo,” Wyatt exclaimed. “If that’s true, you just raised the complexity of the case to a whole new level. Maybe it was the killer’s energy.”
Niko raised his left leg higher, sitting all the way on the desk. “I don’t think so, unless a Mage died on top of her. But we can’t eliminate any possibility, no matter how unlikely it may seem.”
Wyatt waved his hands. “My mind can’t process that. Let’s break it down. Can a Vampire kill a Mage just by draining their blood?”
Niko nodded. “A new Mage is easier to kill, but I’m more confused that no one mentioned bruises or scratches.”
“If she was a Mage, she could have flashed out of the way,” I said. “There would have been a fight, and I don’t think a Mage would be dumb enough to look a Vampire in the eye. Maybe the energy means something else. They were both blondes.”
Wyatt turned his mouth down. “I don’t think they were Chitahs. They didn’t look tall enough, and besides, Shepherd got a look at their eyes. That’s the first thing he checks on a body.”
My gaze drifted to the laptop. “Could she have been another Breed?”
“Only if it’s one I’m not familiar with or haven’t seen dead,” Niko said.
I tilted my head to the side. “Exactly how many dead bodies have you been around?”
Niko rose from the desk and squared his shoulders. “I’m over a thousand years old, so I’m not sure if my estimates will be accurate. There’s one thing I’m sure of: she wasn’t a human.”
“Yeah, but if that’s true, then it sets us back,” Wyatt pointed out. “Glass sent a message that none of the reports matched her description. People go missing all the time in our world, but someone usually reports it. A girl like that would have had a job or a lover.”
I rubbed my face and leaned back. All these new theories were making my head spin, and now that my hangover was gone, I was itching to leave the mansion. “I need to return a coffeepot. Anyone want to drive me to the store?”
“I will,” Niko said, his expression deadpan.
I laughed and stood up. “Now that I think about it, Christian’s off somewhere on his bike, so I don’t think he’ll miss the Honda.”
“Uh-oh,” Wyatt sang. “Someone’s going to be in trouble.”
I pinched his earlobe. “Not unless someone opens his mouth and stirs the pot.”
He twirled around in his chair. “Buttercup, I was born to stir pots.”
Chapter 9
“How did your bet go with Christian last night?” Niko gripped the armrest on the passenger side and tried to pretend he wasn’t scared out of his wits by my erratic driving.
“Let’s just say that in the end, I slid into home plate and the crowd went wild.”
Niko’s long hair veiled his face. “I’ve always wondered what baseball was like.”
“I bet you’d be good at it. I’ve seen you handle a sword. S
peaking of which, do you always carry those around with you?”
“And what of your daggers?”
“They’re fashionable and easily hidden. I can’t imagine wearing a cloak in summer.”
“It’s not so bad. I’m a Thermal, and I also own sleeveless cloaks.”
After a silent minute, I parked the car and shut off the engine. “Okay, I really don’t want to sound like an idiot since I was hoping you’d explain, but exactly what’s a Thermal?”
He unhooked his seat belt, and when he spoke, his voice was as smooth as always. “Every Mage has at least one rare gift. Being a Thermal allows me to control my body temperature.”
“That’s a pretty nifty talent.”
“Yes, especially when stranded in a blizzard. But it’s not something I use all the time. Where are we? I didn’t recognize the turns.”
“I don’t feel like going home just yet. Since we’re done with my errand, I thought we could pay a visit to this little diner I used to go to.”
“It’s special to you,” he said, looking toward but not at me.
“Don’t worry, I never killed anyone here.” I grabbed the keys. “It’s just a place I used to go when there wasn’t anyplace else. They’d let me sit at a table even when I didn’t have money to buy food, which was almost all the time. Some places will call the cops or kick you out for loitering.”
We got out of the car, the sun warming my back despite the brisk wind. A few leaves scudded across the parking lot as if they were in a hurry. I’d left my coat at home since my beige sweater and jeans were warm enough.
He took my arm. “Is this a human place?”
“It’s actually not so bad for a—”
Niko stumbled forward, and I caught him just in time.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, looking regretfully at the curb where he’d tripped. “I should have been paying attention.”
Niko regained his composure. “I’ll take it as a compliment that you forgot I was blind. The food smells good,” he said, switching topics.
I reached the glass door and sighed.
Niko touched my arm. “Shame isn’t a good color on you. Before we go in, can you do me a favor?”
A gust of wind blew my hair back, and I fought with it for a minute. “Sure.”
“Tell me the layout. Blue usually does this when we go somewhere new.”
I glanced inside. “Well, when you walk in, the register is about ten or fifteen feet ahead. It’s kind of a backward-L-shaped diner. There are a few booths to the left when you walk in, but the main seating area is to the right and all the way to the back of the diner. Booths are alongside the windows, tables are in the middle, and stools by the counter, which curves all around but doesn’t go all the way to the far wall since the bathrooms are back there. Do you need exact measurements?”
Niko chuckled. “No, that’s detailed enough. Once I put a place to memory, I don’t rely on others to help me navigate. Are there any obstacles, such as trash cans or marketing displays?”
I glanced through the door and searched the diner. “No. The trash cans are against the walls, and the bathroom is in the back. Men to the left, ladies to the right. Can you read braille?”
He swept his hair away from his face and opened the door. “I think I’m in the mood for a cheeseburger.”
Niko strode in with confidence, veering to the right and around the corner. He weaved around people, and I wondered what the world looked like through his sightless eyes.
“Here,” I said, lingering by my favorite booth near the back.
He turned around and used his hand to feel the seats as he sat down.
I glanced over my shoulder toward the front. “I’m not used to having my back to the door.”
“Do you want to switch?”
I shook my head, forgetting he couldn’t see body language. “No. It was something I did out of habit. I didn’t like the idea of someone sneaking up on me.”
“That’s what happens when you make enemies. You needn’t worry as long as I’m with you.”
“I thought that was you,” Betty said, patting my back. “I missed seeing your pretty face around here. You’ll never guess, but the last time I saw you in here, someone left me a generous tip.”
I tried not to smile, but I owed Betty so much for her kindness.
She touched my clean hair and assessed my outfit, which didn’t have holes and stains. “I always knew things would look up for you. I was worried there for a while. You must have missed my pie.”
My cheeks hurt from holding back a smile, so I let it out. “Yes, ma’am. I’d love a slice after we order.”
She cocked her head to the side and gave Niko an appraising glance. When she flicked her eyes back at me, she waggled her brows.
Niko pretended to be staring at the plastic menu. “Could I have a cheeseburger? No condiments and no side items.”
“Do you like it burned alive or still wiggling?”
His lips twitched. “Somewhere in the middle would be perfect.”
“And what does a handsome man like you want to drink? Let me guess—a tall glass of tea.”
He pulled the hood away from his head, his eyes still downcast. “You’re an excellent mind reader. Thank you.”
Betty turned around and patted my shoulder, her voice falling to a whisper. “See what you can do about cutting his hair.”
I choked on my laugh as she walked off. A ray of sunlight brightened the red in her hair, making it look like a ball of fire.
Niko felt around the table, his fingers discovering the bottle of ketchup, saltshaker, and windowsill. “I like this place. I sometimes forget how friendly humans can be. It wasn’t always so when they knew about our existence.”
I lifted a bottle of hot sauce and studied the label. “I wish you were my partner.”
“And why do you wish that?” Niko put his hands in his lap, his piercing eyes looking straight ahead as if he could see me.
“Oh, I don’t know. We get along?”
“What kind of challenge would that be?”
I shoved the hot sauce away. “Christian’s impossible to get to know. He’s closed off.”
A knowing smile touched his lips. “Sounds familiar.”
“Well, I still don’t trust Vampires.”
Niko rested his arms on the table. “Someday you’ll need to confront your demons—the ones you won’t speak about. I haven’t forgotten the change in your energy when you mentioned your Creator. We all have secrets, Raven. Dark ones. Each and every one of us. It doesn’t mean they’re ones you have to share, but sooner or later you’ll have to deal with them, or they’ll hold you back. The only way to move forward is to face your past.”
I quirked a smile. “Yes, but then you wind up turning your back on your future.”
He chuckled warmly. “You’re witty. Maybe that clever mind of yours will help Christian become a better man.”
“I’m not here to make Mr. Poe a better man.”
A strip of hair slipped in front of his face. “Blue and I didn’t always get along, but we found common ground. It’s not easy for Christian either. Something about you provokes him; perhaps you remind him of someone.”
“Himself?” I snorted.
Niko’s eyes darted around the room as if he were able to see it. “Viktor couldn’t have known your aversion to Vampires. The fates put you together for a reason.”
“I’m sick of the fates. They need to mind their own business. No more wisdom, Niko. I think my hangover is coming back.”
“I find it hard to believe that you spent hours with him and found no redeeming qualities.”
I thought about some of the moments in the bar when Christian and I had shared a laugh. Even the bar fight had been an unexpected highlight that made us bond like a couple of outlaws. Then I remembered the wistful look in his eyes when he spoke about his sister. It reminded me that he was once human, and that before he became a killer, he was just a young man who loved his family.
>
“What are you thinking?” Niko asked, his eyes scanning my body.
“Will I lose my heart the older I get? Is that what happens to us?”
“Do I seem heartless?”
I briefly touched his hand and then sat back. “I didn’t mean it like that. But you can’t deny that you’re different than you were as a human. We’re immortal. We outlive our families and can’t have children. Everyone around us will die.”
He laced his fingers together. “Do you know how a sword is made? The steel is heated, placed on an anvil, and forged with a hammer. It’s bent out of shape, repeatedly struck, and reheated. This process can go on for weeks to craft it to perfection. The point I’m trying to make is that the sword will never come into existence unless it’s been challenged by the elements and by force. It becomes a weapon, but it’s also a protector. We’re not human anymore, Raven. You have to accept that. Their purpose is to have children to continue their race, and that to some degree requires love. Our purpose has changed. The way you love will change, and perhaps it will diminish, but it doesn’t lessen the person you are or the great things you can offer this world.”
Betty set down the tea and ice water before hurrying off to the kitchen. Niko’s fingers discovered the straw, and he pushed it away, instead choosing to drink from the glass.
“I think we need to find you a girlfriend,” I teased.
He suddenly coughed, setting down his glass and wiping his mouth.
“I’m just kidding, Niko. I already had this discussion with Gem.”
His eyes flashed up, but I never got to hear his response.
“Miss Black… I wasn’t expecting to see you on this side of town,” Detective Glass said, towering over our table. “Mind if I join you?”
When Detective Glass made a surprise appearance, Niko got up and sat next to me, giving Glass the other bench. He slid all the way until he was directly across from me. We made idle chitchat about the food until Betty delivered our plates.
“Just pie?” Glass gave me a friendly smile that made him seem younger than his rugged appearance suggested.
“Their pie is the only thing I look forward to.”