by C. L. Quinn
“What? She’s all right?” Jack barked.
“I’ll say she is. As you can imagine, when I saw him, I was shocked, so he and I got into a fistfight. We were like little boys in a schoolyard, only a lot more vicious. He beat the shit out of me and I kicked the fuck out of him. Our little Dani had enough of that and showed us what she could do. She demanded we stop and when we didn’t, she pulled her power up and lifted millions of grains of sand into swirling tornadoes surrounding us. It was impressive and pretty fucking scary.”
“What happened?”
“Quattro left. Dani and I had words.”
“So did anything come out of this? Do we know what he has planned.”
“No. He whispered something to her that she didn’t reveal to me.”
“Why wouldn’t she?”
“She might have, I just forgot to ask her what he said.”
Saul pushed from the table with a grin. “We were a bit distracted after that.”
Jack, lifting his plate, rose as well.
“Oh. Yeah, that can do it. We’ll ask her tonight.”
Kwano began to clear the table.
“Let’s get to the office then.”
Later, the three vampires walked into their busy headquarters, heads swiveling as their eyes landed on each of the three industrious women.
Sanquinetta stopped long enough to place her hands on her hips in mock disgust. “Lazy asses. We been working this threat all this time while you were, what, sitting by the gentle sea downing sugared alcoholic drinks?”
“Cake, cookies, pie. Why? Looks like you gals got it handled.”
“Get your giant ass over here, Jack. Kwano, help Eva. Saul, you know where you want to be.”
He tried not to smile when the others got to work and he looked over to where Dani was keying something into the computer near the back of the room. Slowly making his way to her, he nodded casually.
“Good evening, Dani.”
She responded with the same professional tone.
“Good evening, Saul. Are you ready to do some research?”
Yes, I’m ready to do some research. There are parts of your body I haven’t yet explored. “Certainly. Shall I pull up a chair?”
“That would be a good idea.”
Across the room, watching their display of proper work etiquette, San, Eva, Jack, and Kwano sat or stood, frozen in place.
Finally, Sanquinetta broke it up. “Ugh. Save me from romance. All right, show’s over, let’s get to it.” She pointed to Saul and Dani. “And you two, try to get some work done. I have no tolerance for googly eyes.”
Offended, Dani leaned around the huge man who had just pulled up a chair beside her, blocking her friends from view.
“Googly eyes? Dear God, lady, no one in this room is fifteen. Yes, we’re exploring a relationship, to those who don’t know, but we’re capable of keeping it in our pants tonight.”
She shot her gaze to Saul, who she spied aggressively shaking his head.
“We’re going to be killed by these assholes because we can’t act like adults.”
Evaleigh laughed. “Hey, we’re just having a little fun. God knows I don’t have any.”
Leaning over, Jack hugged her. “Aw. Working on it, darlin’. We have some vampires to spare in Brazil.”
“Spare me. Okay, back to work. I’ve selected groups of surveillance cameras, private, public and city vids. If we can get an idea where they’re staying, we might be able to put together a workable defense. Other than that, we’re pretty much waiting for them to make the next move and, from a strategic standpoint, that’s not the best position to be in.”
The rest of the night was spent on computers, watching for any sightings of their targets. Facial recognition had already scanned most of the feed they would check tonight, but the technology could miss a lot of things that a discerning human eye wouldn’t.
After three hours, they stopped for snacks, coffee or chocolate, and the chance to relax both their tired bodies and overtaxed eyes.
Dani addressed the group. “Everyone, I know Jack clued you in to some of what happened at his house last night. Saul, it’s okay, I get why you told him, the visit was relevant, and so was the fight. Quattro showed up. He has plans for me, I think, but I don’t know how they fit into the battle he foresees for all of us. Okay, here’s the strange part. He and I share earth magics, and there seems to be some kind of symbiotic relationship between us because of those magics. What it means, how it plays out in the end, I have no idea. He whispered something to me before he left last night.”
Her eyes slid to watch Saul as she continued. “He told me that destiny had placed us all here at this moment in time, and that he and I have a special mission.”
She knew how Saul read that message, and to be honest, considering the sexual responses she seemed to have with Quattro, so had she. That was all she was willing to consider.
Placing a hand on Saul’s thigh, she watched the rest of the group. “This bizarre scenario is only going to get more bizarre, but I still think we’re in danger.”
“Oh, you bet your hunter’s asses you are.”
The voice that came from the doorway shocked everyone as they turned to face Quattro, leaning against the opening as if he belonged there.
For long moments, no one moved, although all six were on guard, ready to defend themselves and this office.
Taking point as the accepted leader of the group, Sanquinetta stepped out in front. “Surprise. I guess the first question is, are you alone?”
With an amused grin Dani had found typical for him, his arms out to his side, Quattro stepped forward.
“I am alone. Here’s the answer to your as yet unasked second question. I’m here because we need to talk. The situation has changed, and if possible, you are in even greater danger than you were before.”
“I can’t think of any cogent reason to believe you.”
“She can vouch for me.” Tilting his head in her direction, Quattro indicated Dani.
Eyes wide, Dani glanced at her friends. “I…don’t…I mean, how can…” Her dark eyes shot to Quattro. “Well, in a way, maybe. When he came to me last night, I admit, there was no malice. I read him using my talent, so it isn’t just an opinion. Though why he’s here now, what he wants, I have no clue.”
“There. From one of your own.” Quattro moved past Sanquinetta, keeping his eyes on each hunter ready to pounce. “May I?”
He reached for one of the spiced coffees on the counter and sipped. “Good. You eat better than we do, but it makes sense as we spend much of our time on the road.”
Quattro leaned against the counter where Jack had leaned just moments earlier. “Well, we used to. I’m not exactly part of the group anymore. The Four Horsemen are now three.”
“What, you’ve quit the band?” Jack quipped, his shock gun resting loosely in his hand.
“More like I’ve been thrown out. My second, Felix, made it clear that he did not appreciate my methods in not going ahead and killing all of you. For that, you really want to say thank you.”
Refilling the mug of coffee he’d downed, Quattro coughed and took another sip. “Although you might want to wait until that second team puts in an appearance. Without me to rein in their chains, they’re far more dangerous than I was.”
Saul stood, his own shock gun palmed, a long dagger prominent by his side.
“You need to explain yourself better than that, horseman.”
Nodding, Quattro jumped up to sit on the edge of the break room counter like Ben used to do during hunter discussions.
“Then shall we sit? I have no idea when you’ll be attacked, although, knowing Felix, it’s unlikely now, and I will explain why. Please, everyone, you are safe with me. Dani, can you reassure them?”
“At the moment, I read no ill intent.” Dani kept her gaze on him, then continued. “For the moment.”
“Wow. Definitely going to need to work on those trust issues. Okay, listen, here’
s the fucking weird truth. In its unexpurgated entirety.”
Sanquinetta made her way back to the table, her handgun ready, and watched as Kwano, Saul, Eva, and Jack leaned back to listen, everyone well-armed. Only Dani seemed at rest. She’d ask her later what was going on with this obviously dangerous, psychotic vamp.
“I’m fucked up. Always have been. I formed the Four Horsemen for fun and funds. At the time, killing was second nature to me. We became the vampire hitmen for anyone with the money. We were monsters, I admit it. We convinced ourselves that we performed a necessary service, and that most of the victims probably deserved to die. I even began to consider myself a hero. Now, here’s the twist. Somewhere along my journey, I got bored. I felt like, so deep into my long life, it had become dull and pointless. I began to search my soul for what I needed. Turned out, I was sick to death of killing people who had no chance of fighting back. It wasn’t sport, or justice, it was just…killing. Then, when Buck hired us to kill you all, the idea of killing vampires who killed vampires…ah, I knew, it was exactly what I needed.”
“Riveting autobiography so far,” Jack sneered.
“Isn’t it? Now, I have never fought a first blood. A gladiator facing a gladiator, equal strength, equal chance of winning, equal chance of dying. I wanted it. I could taste it.”
“Would you explain to me why we shouldn’t just kill you now?”
“Because you need me. Allow me to finish. Yes, I wanted to kill you, all of you, so I waited until you, new first blood, came back. Once you did, game on. In the meantime, I discovered Dani, my earth warrior, and knew that we were meant to fight.” His eyes shot to Saul. “And to fuck.”
Dani grabbed Saul’s thigh again and squeezed as hard as she could. “Stay.”
She watched his eyes, felt the rigidity of his muscles, as she tried to force him to listen and obey. Eventually, he did.
“Finish your stupid statement, vampire. Remember there are three vampires here and three strong women, and you are treading on thin ice.”
“Yeah, sorry. Couldn’t help myself. That boy just looks wonderful in red and green. So, anyhow, over the past few days, I’ve found myself rethinking things. Okay, I’ll admit it. My connection to Dani has somehow softened my desire to create this big epic battle with you. I’ve come to understand that it’s been my own issues of distraction and dissatisfaction with who I’ve become that fueled all of this. I’m not a bad man.”
Quattro paused for effect, made sure he had everyone’s attention, and finished. “But Felix is. And he’s coming for you.”
“Why?”
“Felix is pissed at me and he’s disturbed. I truly think he’s absent a soul. The devil’s stepchild. And he won’t come after you in some sweeping gesture that might give you equal chance of beating him. He’s vicious and deceitful. He’ll come at you when you least expect it. One at a time. With no hesitation. For him, it’s all about the killing. Felix loves to watch blood flow, and it doesn’t have anything to do with feeding. You understand what I’m warning you about. The danger is much worse than when I posited meeting all at once, face to face, on the ultimate battlefield.”
“I get it.” Jack understood completely.
“I hope you do. He’ll come after the humans first. Worse, he’s clever and patient. So if you don’t get him first, he’ll succeed.” Quattro’s eyes went to Dani. “I’m afraid that you might be his first target, my little earth warrior. He’s pretty pissed at me and he’ll consider you the perfect way to get to me, because he knows you mean something to me. So, if you can find your way to trusting me, I’d like to join the gang to help protect you.”
“Not happening!” Saul was on his feet. “You’re still the enemy. You brought all of this down on us, so, thanks for the warning, and get the fuck out of here before I finish you. I’ll give you a ten second head start.”
A hand on his arm brought his attention back to Dani as she stood. “No. He’s right. My talent is clear. We need Quattro if we are to win this.”
“He’s an unknown. No, worse than that, he’s a proven threat.”
“People can change. I think Quattro’s motivations have been changing for some time. He has earth magic, and earth magic is essentially good. We can trust him, Saul. Everybody, we need Quattro’s help. He knows what we are up against with this creep. If you want to protect us, you’ll do this, Saul. For me if nothing else.”
Clever, Sanquinetta thought. Quattro used the one thing that would likely get all of them on board. A direct threat to Dani would mobilize them, even Saul.
Quattro jumped off the counter and carefully set his mug down. “I’ll get out of here and let you consider the bombshell I just dropped. If it is all right with you, I’ll come back tomorrow night and we can discuss this?”
No one spoke at first, all still reeling from the change in threat to the team as a whole and much greater threat to the humans on the team.
Still in her capacity as leader, Sanquinetta nodded.
“Yes, come back tomorrow. And Quattro, know that if you fuck with us, lie to us, hurt any of us, we will destroy you. That clear?”
“Crystal. Shall I bring donuts?”
“Get out.” Saul had had enough.
“Okay. Until we talk tomorrow, I suggest you stay on guard, and vampires, you might want to stay with the humans you value. I’m serious. They’ll be his first target unless you give him an easier one. Felix will be working with the other two, and while they aren’t first blood, they’re well trained and I think Felix has used compulsion to fuck with them. They’re likely to be little better than rabid animals by now.”
Quattro was gone.
Eva stood. “Whew! What the hell?”
Kwano weighed in. “This just got serious, folks. A deranged and violent first blood is as bad as it gets. You asked the other day if first bloods have mental issues. Yeah, they can. We’ve had two very violent situations in past centuries, both extraordinarily challenging to resolve. In fact, one of the vampires I mention has come through her insanity to become a treasured friend who may need to be called in to help.”
Dani nodded. “Tam. And Park. They’ve dealt with this before.”
“We’ll talk more with Quattro tomorrow and proceed from there. Dani, you’re sure he can be trusted?”
“He’s not lying. I’d know. Can he be fully trusted? That I’m not ready to sign off on, but I know that he’s worried for me, for us. I know that he’s certain that he’s in just as much danger. He doesn’t want this, none of it, not the battle, not the threat Felix has become. He’s kind of lost, guys. I think most of us can understand that. So, I do think we need him and we need to try to trust him.”
“Okay, then, we know what we’re doing.” Hand on the gun at her side, Sanquinetta continued. “I think we should all stay together tonight. Kwano, if we spell Ife’s house, I know that first bloods can get in, but is there anything we can do to make it more secure?”
“Not from a first blood. Felix could get in. Ideally, we should find another place, but on this short of notice, it’ll be hard. I think we can assume that the horsemen know where each of us lives.”
“I know somewhere.”
The team looked at Saul.
“It’s thirty minutes by lift-car, but it’s secure, light-tight, and nice. I stayed there about ten years ago. The house belongs to an old friend who was blood bonded to a vampire for seventy years. He’s fully human now, but he’ll take us in.”
“Let’s do it. Grab what you need and meet us back here. Jack, go with Eva. Kwano, keep me company. Dani, we already know Saul isn’t letting you out of his sight. Go, get what you need, go heavy on weapons, make sure you have your stunners charged and extra charges in your packs. This might sound ridiculous, but let’s lock up before we go.”
An hour later in Carmel, California
“Welcome, welcome. Nice to meet you. I’m Buddy. Saul has told me all about everyone. Please, I have four bedrooms downstairs, all vampire ready, so just go dow
n and choose where you want to rest. When you’re ready, come back up and I’ll prepare second meal.”
Buddy was as tall as Kwano, although much thinner, but with well-defined muscles. He’d resumed aging once he left his vampire host, and now looked to be, physically, about seventy years old, but in excellent condition. His long iron-grey hair swept back in a single brown strap, dressed in an aloha print shirt and knee-length shorts, he achieved his desire to look like the twentieth century image of a classic beach bum.
“We’ll be safe here. There isn’t a chance that Felix knows about Buddy. We can relax, at least, until we figure out what is really going on.”
“Thanks, Saul. Okay, so, four rooms. How do we want to divide them?” Jack looked directly at Dani.
She knew what he was waiting for, but this was all just happening too fast. Sanquinetta saw her face and jumped in.
“One vampire to each room, the three women can share the fourth. We don’t have to sleep all day, and we probably won’t. That way we don’t disturb you guys. Sound okay?”
Rolling his head around, Jack looked sideways at Saul.
“Are you good with that?”
“Of course. We know San is law, anyway,” Saul agreed, but when his eyes landed on Dani, aware she was uncomfortable with the situation, he nodded. “It’s fine.”
“Okay. All set. Get your gear and let’s see what Buddy put together for us.”
Thirty minutes later, impressed by Buddy’s second meal buffet, everyone was seated at a round table on a large deck near the ocean, relaxed and enjoying cocktails.
“How long were you blood bonded, Buddy?” Eva asked.
“I served with Harland for one hundred and twenty two years.”
“Wow. I mean, I can’t imagine living that long. And you walked away after all that time?”
Buddy nodded, his face thoughtful, serene. “There comes a time, beautiful lady, when one needs to see it through. Even though we remain healthy and young, the human body was never meant to last that long. I’d seen my family and friends pass on, and eventually, I knew I wanted to live out my normal life. That was thirty years ago.”