Darkness Taunts

by Susan Illene

  “Thanks,” I said. “Good luck to you too.”

  Chapter Ten

  I yanked Kariann to a stop. She needed to know before we reached hearing distance of them.

  “You see those two vamps standing there?” I nodded at the two stoic guys in suits standing next to the plane.

  “Yeah,” she shifted her eyes in their direction. “What about them?”

  My hand gripped her arm tighter. “They’re both about three centuries older than Nik. I can feel serious power flowing off of them.”

  Her eyes widened. “How in the hell did that nephilim get two vamps that old?”

  “No idea,” I said. “I didn’t think there were that many left after the inquisition.”

  Her face hardened. “I know. A couple of them found me during the early days. The only reason they let me go was because they sensed an older vampire and went after him instead. I didn’t realize until later what they had planned to do.”

  “Sorry for the reminder.” I shifted on my feet. “All I’m saying is don’t do anything to make these guys angry.”

  She squared her shoulders. “I’m not afraid of…”

  “Hold on.” I put my hand up. “Got a text from Lucas.”

  They don’t know what you are. Keep it that way.

  I gritted my teeth. Like I would give myself away to two vamps I didn’t know.

  Do I look like an idiot? I texted back.

  There are times…

  The smartass. I really wished I could have five minutes with him bound in some way where he couldn’t move.

  Fuck off

  Let him chew on that for a while. The cell phone rang a few seconds later. I hit the power button and shoved it into the bag I carried.

  “What did he want?” Kariann asked.

  “To remind me what an asshole he is,” I said.

  She grinned. “I almost wish I could join you on this trip just to watch you two go at it.”

  “Very funny.”

  We reached the two vamps and dumped the luggage at their feet. Lucas had called earlier in the afternoon to tell me to bring clothes for a variety of occasions. He’d said if I didn’t have the right outfit, he’d select and buy it himself. I’d filled a large suitcase, garment bag, and carry-on with everything I thought I might need. No way would he get any kind of control over my wardrobe. It was bad enough he’d picked out the clothes I’d worn last night.

  One of them took it all inside while the other pulled out a manila folder from a briefcase. He carried it over to me and pulled out a pen. “I need you to sign these to make them official.”

  I took the folder and pen from him and looked through the pages. Lucas had kept his word and put everything I’d asked for in writing. The job description was left vague since “demon hunting” might not look good if I brought the case to court, but I could live with being a paranormal consultant. There were provisions for Emily as well so that Felisha could get custody if something happened to me. The fairy was the next best choice.

  I signed the pages and gave them back. He checked them over before handing them to Kariann.

  She glanced at the folder and glared at him. “If you so much as harm a hair on her head, I’ll make you pay for it.”

  A glint of amusement flashed in his eyes. “Nothing you could do would compare to what our master would do if we fail to deliver her safely.”

  “Good.” She took the papers.

  We parted ways and I boarded with the vamps after that. Lucas’ minions sat next to each other in large leather seats at the front of the passenger area. There were a couple of couches in the back, but I picked a similar seat in the middle since the flight would be too short to bother getting comfortable. The aircraft wasn’t that large, but it was bigger and nicer than riding in a bush plane.

  It took less time than I expected to reach Juneau. I hadn’t even finished going through the playlist on my iPod before we landed. One of the vamps took the lead while the other followed behind me with my luggage. Neither of them had said a word to me since boarding.

  I exited the plane to see Lucas across the airstrip standing next to a gray Audi. As soon as he saw us going down the steps he made his way toward us. The two vamps flanked either side of me. Geez, but these guys took their job of getting me to the nephilim in one piece seriously. There were no other sups around. They didn’t have any reason to worry.

  Lucas walked with a predatory grace as he closed the distance between us. His eyes focused on me. I had a sudden urge to run as far away as I could—and hide. Why did he have to have that kind of effect on me? His gaze missed nothing as it ran from the tips of my boots, up my jean-clad legs, across my sweater and over my loose hair. I kept my face impassive. Let him look. I’d already done a much faster—and less intense—examination of him. He wore the usual dress casual, though I had to admit the black slacks and gray shirt looked good on him.

  “I’ll take her from here.” He nodded at the escort with my bags. “Put those in the car. You have your instructions for tonight.”

  “Yes, sir,” he replied. The guy wasted no time zooming over and getting my stuff put away in the trunk. He and his buddy disappeared after that.

  “Was all this really necessary?” I asked.

  He lifted a brow. “Flying was the only way to get you here. There is no highway access to Juneau and a boat would have taken too long.”

  I crossed my arms. “That’s not what I’m talking about. What’s up with the guards and where did you find two vamps that old?”

  “They’ve belonged to me since I killed their sire after their turning. They would have done everything possible to ensure your safety.”

  “You killed their sire? That was rather cold of you, don’t you think?” I asked.

  “The world is a cold place,” he said, giving me a thin-lipped smile. “The loyalty of the one who made them could not be assured. He had to die.”

  I tightened my jacket around me and started walking. “Never mind. No point in making sense of your heartlessness. I just don’t see why I needed them with me for such a short flight.”

  Lucas matched my pace. “Both are old enough they can fly at high altitudes and save you should the plane go down.”

  I chewed on that. Nik had told me he could go a couple hundred feet in the air, but anything past that became a struggle. Guess it got easier with age if you were a master vamp.

  “Why so much trouble for me, though?” I glanced up at him. “Am I really that important to resolving this demon problem that you can’t even take the slightest risk of me dying?”

  He kept his gaze forward. “That’s one way of looking at it.”

  The man had perfected the art of ambiguous. I bet if I asked him what ice cream he liked he’d find a way to answer while still leaving me wondering what flavor he talked about.

  We reached the car and I took a closer look at it. “An Audi A8, Lucas? Really?”

  He opened the passenger door and gestured me inside. “Is there a problem with it, sensor?”

  I settled into the leather passenger seat. It was heated. The weather didn’t feel nearly as cold in Juneau, but I liked the idea of my butt getting warm. “No, I just expected something…flashier.”

  “It serves its purpose.”

  Yep, ambiguous. I bet I’d never find out why he picked that car even though he probably had a good reason.

  Lucas climbed into the passenger seat. Though his large frame took up a lot of space, he still looked comfortable, in control. There were no delays leaving the airport. The whole thing had been arranged for a quick and smooth pick-up. I wasn’t used to him being so accommodating.

  “Did you eat?” he asked.

  “Yeah, Emily and I went out to a restaurant earlier.”

  He glanced over at me. “You didn’t feel like poisoning her with your cooking before you left?”

  I fiddled with his navigation system—might as well get the lay of the land. “That joke got old a long time ago.”

&nbs
p; “I wasn’t joking,” he said. “Leave the GPS alone.”

  I switched to browsing his iPod. He had Daughtry and Nickelback on there, as well as a few other bands I recognized. Maybe he wasn’t a complete lost cause. “Where are we going?” I asked.

  He nudged my hand away. “Sensor, do not touch that.”

  “Why? I let you touch mine.”

  He gave me a wicked grin. “I’m not sure ‘let’ would be the appropriate word. You didn’t have much of a choice.”

  I rolled my eyes and made a mental note to avoid saying anything that could be misconstrued as a double entendre. Apparently he and Nik were hanging out more, lately.

  “You still didn’t say where we’re going. A little information would go a long way, Lucas.”

  “To my cabin,” he said. “We made some progress during your absence. I want you rested and ready to assist me with interrogating a demon first thing in the morning.”

  A thrill went through me. My job in the military had been as an interrogator and I was damned good at it with my lie detecting abilities. Plus I’d gained a lot of experience during my combat tours. “You got one?” I asked.

  “Yes,” he said. “I’ve worked on him already, but he hasn’t revealed anything of value…yet.”

  I shot him a disgruntled look. “You should have waited for me.”

  “Time was of the essence, sensor. You’ll get your chance to help.”

  “Then why not go talk to him tonight?” I asked.

  “Demons are at their strongest during the hours of darkness. We’ll have better luck after dawn.”

  “Fine.” I sat back and tried to admire the mountains rising up to the east of us. They would be easier to see during the day, but the moon lit them up enough for me to make them out through the darkness. The car bumped over some of the rougher parts of the road. Plows could only keep so much of the snow off of the highways when it came down so often.

  “Sensor,” Lucas broke the silence. “The next time I call…pick up the damned phone. Do not make me come in person to speak with you.”

  “That’ll give me incentive,” I muttered. The pompous ass. He wouldn’t threaten me and get away with it. I let a couple of minutes go by.

  “Do you know why I’m glad you never call me by my real name?” I asked.

  We were stopped at a traffic light. I’d waited for that. He turned to look at me and raised a blond brow. “I suppose you’re going to tell me.”

  I studied my fingernails. “Yesterday, when I heard you say Melena for the first time it gave me chills. It was like the devil himself had walked over my grave and spit on it. I’d rather you not say it again.”

  The light turned to green. He jerked his attention back to the road. Lucas was a master at keeping his emotions in check, but he still gripped the wheel a little tighter than before.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next morning Lucas woke me before dawn to go to a small warehouse located in the industrial part of town. The place we parked at was made of wood and probably had more than its fair share of paint layers—the current one being muddy brown. I sipped on a Starbucks coffee I’d insisted on picking up on the way. Demons weren’t the only ones who were weaker at dawn. Trying to sleep last night with two nephilim in the house—Micah had settled into the room next to mine—had not been easy.

  Lucas and I walked past a closed bay door and went inside through the main entrance. It took my eyes a moment to adjust to the dim interior. Only a few narrow shafts of light came from the high windows and no one had bothered to turn on the overhead lights. Several crates sat in the middle of the open floor.

  “What are in these?” I asked Lucas. My hand skimmed over one to find the top loose.

  A corner of his mouth lifted. “Nothing you’d be interested in.”

  Drugs? Guns? Snickers candy bars?

  “Hmm, we’ll see.”

  Something about Lucas’ light mood made me too curious to walk away. I pushed aside the top to find it stuffed full of cardboard boxes. One of them had been opened before. I raised the lid and peered inside. It only took me about three seconds to shut it again. Talk about opening a Pandora’s Box.

  I glared at Lucas. “Sex toys, really?”

  He opened another box in the crate and pulled one of the clear plastic packages out. “What do you expect from a half incubus?” he asked.

  “I suppose I had that coming.” It was a little awkward standing next to him while he held a device that looked like it did some sort of spinning motion when in use. “What is that?”

  “Why don’t you read the label and find out?” He held it up in front of my face.

  I was so shocked by seeing a playful side to Lucas that I didn’t think to shove it away. A blush crept up my cheeks after studying the package for a moment. “Um, okay. I get it. You can put it back now.”

  He glanced at it. “Are you certain? Aeson undoubtedly wouldn’t mind if you took one for yourself.”

  Nikolas did this crap to me all the time. Always looking for ways embarrass me, but I’d gotten tired of being the butt of sex jokes. It didn’t work for him anymore and I’d be damned if it did for Lucas. I took the package from him and pretended to look at it closely this time.

  “I don’t know, Lucas.” I cocked my head and batted my eyelashes at him. “This kind of thing is all new to me. I might need help figuring it out.”

  Heat flared in his golden eyes. “You’re playing with fire…Melena.”

  Lucas wanted to use my name like that did he? I set the package down and closed the distance between us. My hand traced a path down his chest, creating sizzles of sensation along the way. Someday I’d find out why that only happened when we touched. He took a quick step back.

  “That’s what I thought,” I said. “You’d burn yourself before you’d burn me.”

  Lucas moved so fast I squeaked when his body all but collided with mine. Heat like I’d never felt before moved between us. He grabbed the back of my hair and forced me to look up at him.

  “Don’t be so sure,” he said inches from my lips. Our breath intermingled and caressed my skin. I closed my eyes. I hated him with every fiber of my being, but in that moment I’d have gladly given my soul if he kissed me.

  He let go and took a step back. “Let’s go. We have work to do.”

  Damn the man. I opened my eyes to find he didn’t look any happier than me. Fire indeed. He led the way to a room on the other side of the building. Inside we met with the two vampires who’d escorted me on the plane the night before. I’d known they were there, but hadn’t paid much attention to their presence until now. Their faces looked drawn and tired. It occurred to me they were up past their bedtime. Younger vamps wouldn’t have lasted this long after the sun rose.

  A row of computer monitors sat on a table against the wall behind them. I could see two of the screens. One showed a room with a bed. It had shackles attached to it and whips hanging from the walls. The other room had a table that could easily double as a rack. The devices hanging from the walls in there looked like they belonged in a medieval torture chamber.

  “Where’s the demon?” I asked.

  One of the guys stepped out of the way to reveal the third screen. A middle-aged man with oily brown hair and the beginnings of a beard hung from a St. Andrews cross. The only clothes left on him were a pair of soiled jeans. Dried blood covered his chest and arms. He appeared to be asleep with his head hanging down and I could hear light snores coming from the speakers.

  “Are you sure that’s the demon?” I asked.

  Lucas frowned at me. “He’s the man the demon possessed. We’ve confirmed it by several methods.”

  I shrugged. “If you say so.”

  With the minions here I couldn’t say more. Lucas made it clear last night when we arrived at his cabin that no one should know what I am unless we deemed it absolutely necessary. At this point, these guys didn’t need to know. Most of the time I preferred to keep my abilities to myself, but in this case it wa
s going to make it a pain in the ass to do my job.

  “You two are released for the day,” Lucas said to the vamps. “Go upstairs and rest. I’ll deal with your replacements when they arrive.”

  They both nodded and took off out of the room. We stood staring at each other for several long seconds after they left. I knew what he was waiting for. “We can talk now. They’re out of hearing distance.”

  “Good.” He glanced at the computer monitor. “Are you sure you can’t feel the demon?”

  “Trust me. I’d tell you if I could feel him, but all I sense is you and your two minions. According to Nik’s notes, a sensor has to be close to pick them up.” I pointed at the screen. “Where is that room?”

  “In the basement.”

  I glanced down. “You mean he’s right under my feet?”

  He shook his head. “Not exactly. The basement is deeper than you’d think and goes some distance out. Aeson designed it to deal with troublesome supernaturals, though I’ll admit he uses it for other purposes as well.”

  “Of course he does,” I said. “Let’s go down there and see how close I have to be.”

  It unnerved me that a demon—even one hiding in a human body—could be nearby without me sensing it. Back when I had to search for Nik while he was under the sleep spell it had taken days of scouring the city and surrounding area to find him. I’d had a half mile range to pick him up on my radar. How would I find demons with even less distance?

  Lucas led me to a door not far from the surveillance room. It opened up to a narrow set of spiral stairs with no visible end. Intermittent lighting allowed me to see the grated steps, but they confused my sense of direction as we wound our way down. By the time we reached the bottom I figured we must have gone at least forty or fifty feet below the ground.

  An elaborate security system waited for us at the stairwell exit door. It required voice confirmation, a pass code, and a handprint. Multiple heavy locks clicked open after Lucas finished with each of the steps. The hallway we entered was made up of cement floors and cinderblock walls. Low lighting gave me just enough illumination to see.