by Debra Dunbar
“Not knives. One had some kind of metal thing that shot little fireballs. They were demons, but not using lightning attacks. They used energy attacks, and the mini fireballs. One hit Callia and she just dropped.”
Irix smoothed away the girl’s hair and showed me the bullet wound in the side of her head. I felt sick. That alone was enough to kill a human, but with the elves’ allergy to the metals, it would definitely have been a fatal wound.
“You couldn’t come,” Hallwyn said, her voice more than a little accusatory. “You couldn’t come to help, so I called Callia and Tralian, they’re the elves that work at Boone Valley and at Santor Winery. We’ve been meeting once a week to discuss our jobs and trade information. They said they would help me tonight. We were going to spend each evening at a different one of our vineyards until we had this thing beat.”
I’d let Hallwyn down and one of her friends had gotten killed. I might not have been able to make much of a difference if I’d have been here, but I could have maybe held the attackers back so they all could have gotten away. I smoothed Callia’s hair, mourning her death even though I’d never met her. She was so pretty, so ethereal as all the elves were.
And she also had an advanced case of the mumps.
“Hallwyn, did you all get vaccinated on Elf Island?”
She blinked at me. “I don’t know what this means.”
“Did someone inject you with a series of dead viruses so you wouldn’t be susceptible to human diseases that you’ve most likely never been in contact with before?”
She exchanged a puzzled glance with the other elf. “No, we don’t get human diseases. Some of the humans who fell through the traps were sick. We healed them, but never contracted those illnesses.”
That didn’t mean they were immune to every human disease. Or that some diseases wouldn’t mutate to a form that would infect the elves.
“Did Callia complain of feeling unwell? Did she have a fever, headaches, loss of appetite?”
“No. Why?” Hallwyn came closer.
“Did her cheeks always look like this? Because mumps affects the glands in the cheeks and makes them swell.”
“No!”
The other elf approached and both stared down at Callia in shock. Hallwyn reached down and touched her friend’s face, then jumped backward, nearly falling on her rear in her haste to get away.
“She didn’t have that when she came here tonight. And that’s not a normal human disease, it’s one that’s demon spread.” Her voice wavered. “That plague demon touched Callia. She shot her with the mini fireballs, then touched her and violated her body with this foul disease.”
“Txipa. She’s the twin that specializes in human and animal diseases while Apixt spreads blight among plants. And bringing a gun…” Irix shot me a worried glance. “They came here not just to reinfect the plants but to kill the person who was healing them. Amber, that bullet was meant for you.”
Tralian shook her head. “Why would they need a gun to kill a human? Unless Amber also has special healing powers, one touch should have stricken her with a disease that would have killed her within seconds.”
“I’m fast, and they would have had to catch me to touch me. A gun can kill me from a distance, and I’m just as susceptible to those mini-fireballs as your friend Callia was.”
Hallwyn’s eyes narrowed and she took a step back from me. “But I heard you. I heard you say you were a half-elf and a half-succubus.”
“You misunderstood me,” I told her. “I know our languages are new to you. What I said was that I was similar to an elf and a succubus.”
She stared at me intently. “There was an elf who was put to death not long ago, a high elf related to the High Lord of Wythyn. She had been accused of lying with a sex demon and conceiving a child through that union.”
I tried to look shocked. “But you told me elves would never have sex with a non-elf, that they’d never bear a half-breed child.”
“This elven woman denied it to her death, but there were rumors that it was true. Are you…could you…?”
“I think my human mother would slap you in the face to hear such an accusation. Do I look like a half-elf to you?” Hopefully the answer was no.
She tilted her head and the other elf did the same.
“She does have an amazing symmetry of features that is lacking among the humans,” Tralian noted.
“But those ears…” Hallwyn added.
“Yes, those are hideous ears. No elf, even one born from such a disgraceful union would have those ugly ears.” Tralian wrinkled her nose in distaste.
I’d never been so grateful for my succubus half.
“And her body is not like an elf’s,” Hallwyn continued. “Her posterior is too big. And her breasts are disgustingly large.”
I clamped my teeth together to keep silent and not respond to such insults.
“I agree,” Tralian said. “She is merely an attractive human who has magic and has sold her soul to this incubus. I’ve always believed the half-elf story to be fantasy anyway. No elf would so lower herself, especially a high elf.”
Good. Now that we were done discussing my unattractive physical attributes, we should turn our attention back to the matter at hand. “Hallwyn, you’ll need to call the police about your friend, as well as Jorge. And for the future, I think everyone should keep their healing activities to daytime hours.”
I looked over at Irix, and knew from his grim expression that he was thinking the same thing I was. Apixt and Txipa weren’t going to back off, and they were serious enough about laying waste to this vineyard that they were willing to kill me or any elf that got in their way. DiMarche today, Santor and Boone Valley tomorrow, then what? Txipa had said she was spreading human diseases. This was more than just about the vineyards, and I got the feeling it wasn’t a personal vendetta against Napa Valley. The farms, humans, and now this elf were just collateral damage in what I was beginning to believe was some kind of feud between the Jobber and the two plague demons.
The Jobber needed to go, but clearly I wouldn’t be able to just stand by and let the plague demons decimate Northern California in the meantime. Irix might not like it, but I needed to help. But the question was how best to approach this situation? I wasn’t strong enough to face down two plague demons, even with Irix’s help, so my best chance at fixing this mess seemed to be through tracking down this Jobber and hoping we could resolve whatever was going on with the plague demons that way.
Chapter 22
“Sorry it took me a while to get back to you. A dozen bikers beat the crap out of me and threw me off a cliff with an anvil tied around my neck. Took me a while to deal with that.”
I wasn’t surprised that Sam had gotten beaten up for her antics, but I was surprised it took her more than five seconds to repair her injuries and hunt down the bikers. “I assume there are a dozen dead guys with a twisted up mess of Harleys in the middle of the desert somewhere?”
“Are you fucking kidding me? Do you know how many reports that is? I almost had to fill one out for the guy I hit with the anvil, but I got down there in time and was able to heal him. They didn’t take kindly to that—either me dropping an anvil on their friend, or giving him my angelic-style mouth-to-mouth.”
I’m pretty sure it was the anvil and not the mouth-to-mouth that had incurred the wrath of the bikers, but with Sam, who knew?
“So, bad news first. Apixt and Txipa say to fuck off. And to stay out of their business or they’ll fill you full of lead. Or boils. I’m not sure which. Both Apixt and her revolting sister are really pissed off at you right now because you’re ‘fucking up their shit’. Their words, not mine. Although I have been known to use similar words.”
Damn. It’s not like I’d had much faith Sam would be successful in intervening with the plague demons. I’d need to turn my attention to the Jobber, and get to the demons through him. And to do that, I’d need to either ask Wyatt to trace the money, or work this through the angels on Elf Islan
d. Or both.
“Good news: I found out how the placement process works on Elf Island. Asshole is pissed off that they’re letting elves out this early, and thinks an angel there might be on the take, so he’s sending in some trusted angels to clean house. This Magical Interventions placement company? Get this—it’s run by an elf. Which is another reason Asshole is pissed. The elf gives the angels a list of jobs, then picks from the applicants. Right now, all the jobs are in Northern California, so he’s there, working with a human who meets with clients while the elf, no doubt, creates a demand for the elves he’s placing by using those plague demons.”
So a human and elf team. If they hadn’t expanded beyond Northern California, I should be able to catch them.
“I’m sending you a list of all the employed elves and where they’re working to help you track it down. The elf goes by Gallette. No idea on the human, but I’m sure if you talk to these businesses, they’ll know who they paid the referral fee to.”
“I’ve got the company name and I’m asking Wyatt to start tracing the money,” I told her. “Do you think the plague demons are off their leash? I assumed they were supposed to stop infecting the crops once an elf was hired, so the placement company could build a good reputation, but they’re not. Things are getting worse, anything the elves do to heal the crops is being reversed, and three elves were attacked last night. One was killed.”
“Yeah. Apixt and her sister are really pissed at someone, which is why they weren’t amenable to shifting their efforts to a different area, even with some rather lavish bribes. I’d assume something was going on between Gallette and the two demons, and the deal went bad. Demons generally don’t go crazy and start shooting elves and threatening other demons unless they’re worked up about something. Txipa and Apixt are both lazy. They wouldn’t try to take out vineyards, commercial farms, and a few hospitals. If they wanted to destroy Northern California, they’d go for a processing plant and E.coli or rot millions of dollars of product and cause a worldwide famine or plague. This is personal. And these particular farms, vineyards, and hospitals mean something important in their revenge plot.”
“Do you think the elf stiffed them? That he didn’t keep up his end of the bargain?” I asked.
“That or they really hate wine, apples, and zucchini. I’d suggest you check with the other employers on the list. If they’re all continuing to have the same escalating infestations, then the demons are angry at the elf. If not, then it’s someone else they’re pissed at. And I gotta warn you, they work closely together, in pairs. If someone has slighted Apixt, Txipa is gonna back her up. If the elf made good by Txipa, but didn’t hold up his end of the bargain with Apixt, then he’s got two plague demons gunning for him, not just one.”
Which explained why there was mumps on the dead elf. “Thanks. And Sam? The plague demons aren’t the only ones running around here, performing their work blatantly in the open. Harkel came across the gates to see me, and he said the word is it’s open season here. The demons know that the angels are busy with their own problems and aren’t as vigilant as they usually are. The henhouse is unguarded.”
“And a shit-ton of foxes are about to line up for dinner. Great. Just fucking great. How’s things with Harkel, by the way? Color me impressed, girl. You preggers yet? Wearing his ring?”
I immediately envisioned myself wearing Irix’s ring, pregnant with his child. “Nope. We had some fun and I think we have a threesome relationship going on, but it seems that he’s transferring his request for a breeding incident to Irix.”
The imp snorted. “A threesome, huh? I’m not surprised that he’s taken a shine to Irix as well. You’re too fragile for demon sex, especially with a warmonger. Huh. Hopefully you can leverage that relationship in the future, but it’s probably good that Irix is involved. Wyatt and I might not be an item any more, but he’d blow my brains out if I let anything happen to you.”
Yes, he would. I so loved my big brother. “Thanks again, Sam. I’ll be home in time for your shindig.”
“Damn straight. Bean dip. Don’t forget the bean dip. And the red velvet cake.”
I assured her that I’d be bringing the coveted bean dip and cake, and hung up. Sure enough, the second I hung up my phone beeped and there was a text with an attachment. Twelve businesses, all in Northern California, all with elves hired in the last two months, all of them some kind of agribusiness.
There was no way I could drive all over the upper part of the state to talk to these places, not when I had to be at work in half an hour.
Irix stirred beside me, rolling over to wrap an arm around my waist and pull me against him.
“You had to call her from bed, did you?” he murmured, his voice sleepy.
I didn’t want to leave his side. Last night’s events had shaken me. I’d thought Hallwyn was dead, and I’d begun to like her a bit. I’d thought she was dead, and I’d blamed Irix. He’d never mentioned my meltdown or my accusations, and I wasn’t sure how to broach the topic. Should I just let it rest? Not mention it? I’d hit him, blamed him, accused him of not letting me be me. And I was right, but over the last year he’d been obviously trying. Each time he’d forced himself to pull back his overprotective instincts and give me space. But each of those times he’d insisted on being right beside me, helping me and protecting me. As much as I loved him, as much as I appreciated his greater skill and power and loved that he’d do anything to protect me, I needed to spread my wings. I’d done that in Hel. I’d gone there alone, and as frightening as some of that trip was, I grew there. I learned things about myself and my abilities and limits that I hadn’t with Irix’s protective wing around me.
I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to leave him. But I needed to find my way. And I needed to feel skilled and powerful in my own right. I needed him to respect me and not treat me as if I were a fragile helpless infant in need of his constant protection.
But I wasn’t stupid enough to ignore when I was in over my head.
“I’ll call the farms on the list,” he said, his hand caressing my stomach. “Forward me the text and while you’re working, I’ll check with them all. If Apixt is on some rampage of revenge because Gallette didn’t uphold his end of the bargain, then Sam’s right and Txipa is right by her side. I don’t want what happened to that elf to happen to you. I’ll call the farms. I’ll help you track down the Jobber elf and the two demons, but promise me you won’t do it alone. Promise me you won’t make one step without me by your side.”
I hesitated a second too long and his arm tightened like a vise around me.
“I love you, Amber. I can’t lose you. You’re powerful in ways I’ll never be, but you’re still young and you don’t understand demons like I do. I get that these vineyards and these elves are somehow important to you. If you want to risk yourself to help them, fine. I can’t stop you, but I sure as hell can make sure I’m by your side to protect you when shit goes down and bullets start flying.”
“Mini fireballs,” I teased, snuggling my ass against him. “I promise.”
Once more Irix was helping with something he didn’t give a flying fuck about, just because it was important to me. And because he didn’t want me to be the one dead in the vineyard with a bullet hole in my head and an advanced case of mumps.
I turned in his arms and buried my face against his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breath and the solid thump of his heart. “I love you. I’m so sorry for what I said last night.”
“Hush. You were upset. Hallwyn might not be a lifelong friend, but I think you’ve sort of temporarily adopted her. She’s your stray puppy. She’s your mentee, and you felt responsible for her. I’m still glad you didn’t go last night, and I don’t think it’s your responsibility to protect an adult elf who is centuries older than you are, but I get it. And I get that you were lashing out at me from guilt and grief.”
“Forgiven?” I kissed his skin and felt his pectoral muscle jump under my lips.
“Yes, for
given. Although you still owe me that blow job and anal action.”
I laughed. “Raincheck? I need to get going or I’ll be late for work.”
“Raincheck.” He smacked my ass and pulled away from me. “Get going, or you will be late for work.”
Everyone, both at the winery and in the field, were shocked over what had happened last night. Richard was putting up security cameras near the shed and drive. No one was allowed to be out in the field after dark, and those who had to work late in the tasting room or production facility were to be escorted to their cars when leaving. There was a huge meeting where Richard reiterated DiMarche’s full cooperation with law enforcement on finding the attackers.
Hallwyn’s face was streaked with tears, her mouth trembling and eyes full of grief as everyone expressed both their condolences over the loss of her friend as well as shock and sympathy for what she’d suffered in the attack. Her injuries had already healed, but watching a friend get shot left scars that lasted a lifetime. As the vineyard employees headed out to the field, I saw Rosa come up to her, pat her on the back, and slip her a small brown paper bag. My mouth watered at the thought of what it held. Hallwyn must have made an impression if Rosa was giving her empanadas.
I found out later how much of an impression she made. Everyone was talking about the attack in the vineyard, and everyone was talking about how dedicated Hallwyn was, working all through the night to try to turn things around out there, even bringing in two other elves from the neighboring vineyards. They’d gone from wary dislike of the elf to admiration overnight. Elves were suddenly team-players, selfless and hardworking, giving a hundred-and-ten-percent to get the job done. And they weren’t above pitching in and helping each other out, even if they were employed by a rival winery.
Elves were now saints. And I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. I didn’t want the Jobber preying on their inexperience and desperation, but I didn’t really want the elves to become the heroes of the human world, especially knowing what they’d done to the humans in Hel and what they’d intended on doing to the humans here when they’d migrated. I’m sure elves like Hallwyn would end up being productive and helpful members of society, but there would still be elves like this Jobber who only wanted what was best for themselves. Not all elves were saints, and I hoped that the humans weren’t so fascinated by their new co-workers that they completely let their guard down.