by Simone Pond
I held up the burner phone.
“I don’t think your friend can get us out of this one,” Soraya said.
“I’m not calling Somer. I’m calling my new friend Thomas.”
Without waiting for any feedback or bickering, I dialed 1018 and waited.
“Hello?” Thomas answered.
“Hi, Thomas. This is the girl you met today.”
“I met a lot of girls today,” he said with a snicker.
I couldn’t remember if I had given him a fake name. “The one you walked to the media tower.”
“Oh, yes. How could I forget the loveliest of them all.”
“I know it’s late—”
“This isn’t a booty call, is it?” he teased.
My cheeks heated up at the accusation. I turned to face the opposite direction of Charlotte and Soraya. “No. Actually, I need your help with something.”
After an awkward pause, he spoke. “And what’s that, Fiona?”
It was like someone had taken a two-by-four and slammed it across my chest, knocking out every molecule of air. How did he know my name?
“You still there?” he asked.
“Um, yes.” I tried to play it off.
“I think it’s best if we meet somewhere private,” he said.
I couldn’t figure out his angle. He was definitely supernatural. But was he working for Cagliostro? Or was he with Somer?
Soraya grabbed my wrist. “What are you doing? Stop stalling! We’re running out of time.”
I yanked my hand away, shaking my head for her to chill out.
“Who was that?” Thomas asked.
“Look, I don’t have time to mess around. Are you with Cagliostro or the underground? Because clearly, you’re onto me.”
“I’m not with either,” he said.
I didn’t know if that was good news or bad news. “You have to be with someone …”
“I’m with myself. But I’d be happy to help you. Tell me where you are.”
“How do I know I can trust you?”
“You don’t.”
Great. A freaking philosopher. Thomas worked at that gate all day long and seemed like the type of guy looking for something more. He needed to feel important, and my begging him for help would do just that. I could sense it in his voice. I knew how to negotiate with a person who thinks they’ve got the upper hand—walk away from the deal.
“You know what, I’ve changed my mind. I don’t need your help.”
“Wait,” he blurted.
Yep, it worked. At least eighty percent of the time.
I waited a moment before jumping back into the ring. “I’ll tell you where I am, if you tell me what you are.”
“I’m a friend. That’s all you need to know.”
“Need a little more than that.”
“Let’s just say, we share a common interest in a certain hybrid who reeks of deli meat. One that neither of us cares for.”
That was enough information for me; the enemy of my enemy and all that.
“Okay, I’m in the rose garden to the east of the gate. FYI, I’m with two extremely powerful supernaturals, so I wouldn’t try anything if I were you.”
“I don’t intend to. I need you alive.”
Well, that was the one good thing I had going for me—everyone needed me alive.
twenty-nine
The sun had started edging its way into the sky along the plains of Kansas, creating a splendid lace of silver and pink along the horizon. My body ached from lack of sleep, dehydration and a growing fear in my chest that I might not be able to stop Cagliostro this time around. And then there was the whole thing with Asher being electrocuted and swooped up into the clouds. It was enough to make a gal want to sit on the ground and cry into her palms for a few minutes, but I didn’t have that luxury. I needed to be prepared for whatever Thomas had planned.
“Are you sure he’s coming?” Charlotte asked, looking up at the brightening sky. “I’m not sure we should be out roaming around in broad daylight.”
“He’s coming,” I assured her.
“I don’t like this plan. At all. We’ve already lost precious time,” Soraya started up again, as though I had forgotten about the loudly ticking clock looming over us.
Just then a gust of icy wind swept down the rose bushes, bringing Thomas with it. He stood before me with a smug grin. His scent hit me hard—lemon, pine and something sweet—almost more intoxicating than the fragrant roses. And then I knew.
“You’re a vampire,” I said in a gleeful tone, like I had just answered a question correctly on Jeopardy.
“Something like that,” he said, smirking flirtatiously.
“Oh, you’re definitely at least part vampire. Your allure is potent.” I waved my hand across my face.
He did a slight bow. “I have to say, I was shocked you didn’t call me earlier. I thought for sure I had enticed you enough for a date to the gala.”
Charlotte stepped forward, asserting herself very close to me and inches from Thomas. Her raging hormones overpowered both the roses and the vampire. A soft pink glow emanated from her skin.
“Fiona has a boyfriend. She’s not the cheating type,” she said.
I chuckled, inching back a bit to give Charlotte the floor. For a second, it seemed like we were at a high school dance competing for the brooding hot dude.
“No offense, Thomas,” I said. “He’s a prince, so there’s really no contest.”
But Thomas didn’t give me a second glance, his dark brown eyes were homed in on Charlotte. He extended his hand. “I don’t believe I know you, miss.”
“Charlotte,” she said, lowering her chin. Was she blushing?
Soraya coughed loudly, her eyebrows raised in anxious impatience. “Can we drop the formalities and flirting, please. My daughter’s life is in danger.”
“Easy, ma’am,” he said, resting his hand on Soraya’s shoulder, calming her down. Thomas had some powerful influence.
“My apologies. It’s been a rough night,” Soraya said.
“What can I help you with, ladies?”
“We need your help getting out of the city,” I explained.
He nodded, pondering the request. “And if I help you, will you help me?”
I really loathed making deals with supernatural bad guys, but he had me between a rose bush and an electric gate.
“What do you want?”
“I need Cosby’s head.”
I laughed, mostly because I had the same sentiment and wanted nothing more than to see the stinky hybrid die. “Okay. Done. Now kindly get us out of here and I’ll make good on that. I can guarantee it.”
Thomas grinned, shaking his head. “Oh, no. You get the head first, then I get you out.”
“I can’t do that,” I argued.
He shrugged. “Well, deal’s off.”
A fireball of anger sparked in my gut and I wanted to whip out my sword and lop off the vampire’s head right there in that rose garden, but Charlotte—sweet, sensitive Charlotte—stepped forward and gazed at Thomas.
“She’ll make good on the deal,” she told him. “I can attest to Fiona’s character.”
Thomas bit his lip, his dark eyes drinking in Charlotte. It was nice to see him flustered. He turned to me, boldly. “Head first. Then gate.”
“This is ridiculous!” Soraya nearly shouted.
“And this one stays with me,” he said, tugging Charlotte closer to his side. “That one can go with you.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Soraya snipped.
“Okay, fine. I’ll get the hybrid’s head. But you’d better not do anything stupid,” I said. “And Charlotte, please be careful. This is a vampire. Remember New York?”
“I’ll be just fine. I’ve got a pocket full of silver dust.” She tilted her head in a playful manner, stroking Thomas’s arm.
I wasn’t sure if she was lying, so I made her show me. Sure enough, she had a small pouch inside one of the pockets of her toga.
Thomas raised his brows. “See, we’re fine. But like the lady said, clock is ticking. And I have to be at work in two hours. So you best get your hybrid hunt on.”
Smug bastard. I clenched my jaw and stayed steady, using all my restraint not to grab that pouch from Charlotte’s hand and douse the vampire with its contents.
“I’ll be back in thirty minutes,” I told them.
“Ambitious of you,” Thomas said.
Ignoring him, I walked down the row of rose bushes and sent a reply text to Somer Barrett. She was my best chance at getting anywhere close to the smelly hybrid.
thirty
I waited behind an enormous cedar tree per Somer’s request. I had Thomas’s navy jacket wrapped over my shoulders to conceal my sequined dress. It was still early, so the city was just starting to wake up. The sound of the enormous monitors flickering to life and spewing out Cagliostro’s propaganda was enough to make my stomach churn.
Somer showed up in a golf cart, wearing an enormous hat and sunglasses. She frantically waved for me to hurry up and jump in. She sped off before I had a chance to get seated, then tossed me a duffle bag.
“Put them on,” she instructed.
I unzipped the bag and took out the pile of clothes, holding up the skimpy black leather skirt and matching tank. I paused at the stilettos.
“What’s this?”
“You want to get into the media tower and to Cosby, you have to put that on.”
“But can’t you just give me some of that purple potion, or use some magic to disguise me?”
She shook her head as she zoomed around a fountain. “No can do. Heavy lockdown after what happened last night. Do you realize how much danger you put me in?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Just make good on this, Fiona. There are a lot of people and supernaturals counting on you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That means you need to step up your game. Something really big is going on. The Spire has been active all morning. And now you’re taking time from your day to go after a sleaze-ball like Cosby?”
“I don’t have a choice. Unless you know a way to get out of the city in one piece? I have to get back to the other Protectors on the outside. Two of us can’t do shit going up against Cagliostro.”
Ripping off the sequined dress, I pulled the black leather tank over my head; it was a like squeezing into a sausage casing. The skirt was even tighter, but I managed to get it zipped. Somer tossed me another bag with cosmetics and a blond wig styled in a short bob. I didn’t argue and shoved my hair up into the wig, then applied makeup as she cut across a pathway that led straight to the entrance of The Spire.
“Cosby works on the three-hundredth floor. We managed to get you into the system. You’re interviewing for one of his ‘assistant’ positions. Got it?”
I nodded.
“There will be a golf cart waiting for you out front afterward.” Somer wiped some of the lipstick off my cheek and smiled. “You can do this, Fiona. Just do your thing.”
“And what’s that?”
“Kick some serious ass.”
I shoved my feet into the stilettos, then stepped out of the golf cart as Somer was already pulling away. Teetering on the sidewalk, I made my cautious approach to the media tower. My heart sounded like a metronome in my eardrums as the blood rushed to my head. I had to remind myself at least ten times that I had the Armor, the Logos and one hell of a roar.
Inside the tower, I strutted over to the security counter, hoping not to roll an ankle along the way. The male guard stood up when he took note of me.
“Must be here to see Cosby,” he said, looking me up and down while licking his lips.
I tried not to let the disgust rolling up my throat register on my face.
I smiled sweetly. “Why, yes I am.”
“Let me take you up,” he said, starting to come around the side.
Fortunately, his lady counterpart reminded him that he wasn’t to leave his post, and she gave me the go ahead to move along.
In the elevator, I held onto the rail as the car shot up higher and higher. Though oxygen poured from the vents, I still felt dizzy. A slight headache started to throb behind my eyes. How were these lunatics working under these conditions? Maybe that’s the effect Cagliostro had wanted? A bunch of mile-high zombies operating at half capacity. Easier to control, that’s for sure. I closed my eyes and concentrated on my helmet, hoping it would provide me whatever I needed to stay focused.
The doors opened into a cave-like lobby, which was odd since we were so much closer to the sun. But the windows had a special treatment on them, blocking out the light.
A striking young lady with fiery red hair and a lacy burgundy corset sat behind a black marble counter.
“May I help you?” she asked with a snotty tone as she checked me out.
“I have an appointment with Cosby,” I said in a cheerful voice, letting her know she didn’t intimidate me in the slightest. Haters were such a waste of time.
She rolled her heavily made-up eyes and grabbed her digital pad. “You must be Marta. Have a seat, if you can manage in that skirt … He’s just finishing up a meeting.”
Smiling, I thanked her profusely, making her cringe on the spot. It was so much fun watching her squirm.
Instead of sitting, I stood next to the darkened windows, making sure my back wasn’t exposed to anyone. When the digital clock behind the reception area flashed to nine o’clock, the windows started vibrating. Tiny jolts of electricity sparked up my back. I jumped away from the surface. Then the floor started vibrating. The entire tower swayed, causing my stomach to roll.
The receptionist flipped her long hair over her shoulder, giggling. “Oh, relax. It’s not the apocalypse. They’ve been doing large ‘transfers’ all morning. Whatever that means.”
That could only mean one thing: Cagliostro had unlocked Rocco’s Scroll and was able to get to Glimmer City. He was deploying his army to headquarters. My parents and Ezra were in trouble, and there I was lollygagging and waiting to chop off the head of some hybrid for a vengeful vampire. I told myself it was necessary, that I couldn’t take on Cagliostro by myself.
“Helllllo?” the redhead called out to me. “He’ll see you now.”
I followed the lanky receptionist down the dark hallway to a door at the very end. She knocked and then opened it, moving out of the way to let me pass.
“Good luck, Fiona,” she whispered, winking.
The air siphoned out of my lungs. They were onto me. I had just walked into a trap. The door shut, sealing me into my doom. Cosby glanced up from his desk, his thin lips slowly curling in a menacing smirk. He stood up, extending his hand to one of the leather chairs across from his desk.
“Sit,” he instructed.
I don’t know what was worse, the sharp twang of bologna saturating the air, or the saliva dripping from the corner of his mouth.
“No need to be nervous, Fiona. This’ll all be over very quickly. Cagliostro is looking forward to seeing you.”
I stood still, trying to figure out my best option. Play along, or run across the office and slice the pervert’s head off. Before I could do anything, a couple of his guards entered the room. Their fresh scent of pinewood and spice wrapped around me as they sandwiched me between their stone-cold bodies. Vampires.
“Now, please, I insist. Take a seat,” Cosby said, chuckling.
The guards moved me across the office and threw me down into the leather chair, flanking the sides, while Cosby stood directly in front of me, his beady eyes savoring every inch of my very exposed body. Nausea rippled in my stomach and a knot burned in my throat. He moved in closer, reaching out to gently stroke my cheek. Sharp spikes of ice splintered down my neck. He yanked off my wig and flung it to the ground.
“That’s the Miss Farrow I know,” he said.
He slowly dragged his stubb
y fingers down my neck toward my heaping chest. The vampires laughed a little bit.
“Turn around! This isn’t a free show!” Cosby barked.
The vampires turned in the opposite direction while Cosby’s fingers dipped into the plunging neckline of my leather tank. He closed his eyes and moaned, jamming his hand deeper until it was wedged between the leather and my skin. I couldn’t have asked for a better scenario. While he was groping at my boobs, I reached around to the back of my skirt and pulled out the small pouch I had taken from Charlotte—the one containing silver dust.
Before he noticed what was happening, I shook the silver dust particles out of the pouch and right into his half-vampire face. As he choked, I kicked him in the gut with my magical boot, sending him soaring across the room. Then I blew more of the dust at the two vampires standing on either side of the chair. They dropped to the floor, writhing and wailing.
Since Cosby was only half vampire, he shot back up and darted across the office, barreling into me. My back cracked against the darkened windows, sending furious jolts up my spine. He began strangling me as he pressed me into the electricity. My arms were frozen from the shockwaves lilting through my muscles.
“Now what do you have to say for yourself, Protector?”
“You can’t kill me, dumbass. Your boss needs me alive.” I panted out the words.
He removed one of his hands from my neck and pulled at my top. The lecherous pig was still trying to get at me. I slammed the heel of my stiletto into his foot with all the torque I had in me. He screeched, letting me go, but my foot wouldn’t budge. The heel of my shoe had gone through his foot and pinned him to the floor. I stepped out of the shoe and moved away, calling on my sword.
Cosby shuddered, trying to yank the stiletto up, but it was hammered in deep, and the silver was starting to affect his vampire blood.
“Don’t do this, Miss Farrow. Cagliostro will make you pay if you kill me.”
I laughed, pulling back my sword. “No, he won’t.”
Cosby’s head came off in one clean swoop. I grabbed a pillow from the couch, pulled out the stuffing and then shoved Cosby’s head into the case. I yanked a coat off one of the vampires, and ran out the door in the back of the office with the smell of bologna trailing behind me.