“One last word of advice. Weapon up if you want to survive, and get rid of anything that connects you to the Shakespeareans.”
Raven paused. “What do you mean?”
“Demons are anticipating the Apocalypse. Whether or not you thwart Birmingham’s plan, they’ll feel cheated enough to seek revenge on Shakespeareans in particular.”
“How do you intend to survive?” Raven asked.
“I might lay low or I might just go out with a blaze of glory, killing as many demons as I can,” Chase said. “I haven’t decided.”
“If you know so much about this plot, why don’t you help us stop it?” Felicia was so angry, she said each word like it was a bullet.
“Trust me, I’m the last person who should become involved.”
On their way home, Felicia, Fletcher, Raven and Tori stopped at an all-night coffee shop. Felicia stared into her mug of tea, chewing the inside of her cheek in frustration. Disappointment mixed with anger as she tried to reconcile what Chase had said with what she knew to be the truth. I can’t believe I’m attracted to that loser! Maybe Nicholai was right and there’s something wrong with me.
Tori seemed equally pensive as she sipped a cup of black coffee. Raven and Fletcher were devouring a platter of deep-fried onion rings drenched with catsup. Although they weren’t saying much either, the evening’s turn of events had apparently not affected their appetites. Fletcher flagged down the waitress and ordered some bacon, sour cream, and cheese potato skins as well.
“Maybe the death of his father sent Chase around the twist,” Felicia said finally. “That’s the only explanation I can think of.”
“I don’t want to believe him either, but it is strange his father and my parents should have died in exactly the same way,” Tori said.
“It’s possible a rogue Shakespearean engineered the deaths due to some agenda of his own, but I couldn’t imagine Grandfather not knowing about it. He’s a very meticulous man, and he always insists on being in control,” Fletcher said.
Taken aback, Felicia gave her brother a hard stare. “That sounds very much like you’re entertaining the notion our grandfather could be a murderous Machiavellian.”
“I seem to recall you saying if we want to figure out who is behind the plot, we shouldn’t exclude anyone out of sentiment,” Fletcher said. “I’m trying to take your advice.”
Her hand ached to slap him. “I can’t believe you’d throw that in my face.”
“I wonder why Chase said he’s the last person who should become involved?” Tori asked.
“Clearly he’s a coward,” Felicia said.
She felt Raven’s eyes upon her.
“The man’s no coward. He has nerves of steel,” he said. “I saw it tonight when he stood up to that vampire, and years ago at the tournament.”
“He’s not wrong about one thing,” Tori said. “Demons are gleefully awaiting the Apocalypse. When they don’t get what they want, they’ll riot.”
“I’ll urge Dad to redouble his efforts to fortify Blackfriars,” Raven said. “Unfortunately, that won’t help the general populace.”
“There are about two weeks until the big day. If Shakespearean Institute directors are involved, would they come to here to witness the blood sacrifice?” Tori asked.
“They might,” Fletcher said. “In fact, if I hear they have plans to travel to L.A. within the next ten days, I’ll take that as a confirmation the directors are involved.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying these things.” Felicia was disgusted. “This is Grandpapa we’re talking about!” She pushed on Fletcher’s shoulder to get him to move. “Budge over. I’m leaving.”
“But I haven’t had any potato skins yet!”
She continued to push. With a sigh of resignation, Fletcher stood and let her slide out.
“Fine. I’ll go with you to make sure you get home all right.”
“Don’t do me any favors.” Felicia knew she was being nasty, but she didn’t care.
Fletcher reached for his wallet, but Raven waved him off. “I’ve got it, don’t worry.”
“Enjoy my potato skins,” Fletcher groused.
He gave Felicia a disgruntled look, but she merely rolled her eyes and left the coffee shop. Outside, she zipped her jacket to guard against the chilly wind that had kicked up. The evening had been a stupid waste of time, and now she was upset for no good reason. She wished she could have danced a while longer with that handsome vampire, Oliver. He, at least, might have proved to be interesting.
The cheesy baked potato skins arrived, generously topped with sour cream and real bacon. They smelled appetizing, but Tori wasn’t hungry. She watched Raven eat, smiling at the expression of satisfaction on his face.
“You’re laughing at me,” he said with his mouth full.
“It’s just you’re enjoying those skins a lot.”
“I’ve never had them before. They’re marvelous.”
Although she hated to change the subject, something was weighing on her mind. “What’s involved in a blood sacrifice?”
“Come on, I’m eating.”
She bit her lip and stared through the coffee shop window. A demon sporting a red mohawk was pacing on the far side of the street. The view was unpleasant, and she hoped the demon would disappear before they left the restaurant. I’m not wearing my Celtic Shield Knot necklace tonight!
Raven put his fork down and reached across the table for her hand. His warmth and reassurance seemed to give her strength. “I’m sorry, that was insensitive of me. A blood sacrifice involves taking blood from a mortal, usually by using a ceremonial dagger.”
“How much blood?”
“I don’t know. But you’re not going to find out, all right?”
“What Chase said has me very shaken up. Felicia doesn’t want to believe her grandfather is guilty, and I understand that completely. But it makes sense, doesn’t it?”
“Yes…and no. It’s hard for me to imagine demon hunters engaging in murder and black magic for any purpose, much less one so horrible and self-serving.” He shook his head. “On the other hand, Shakespeareans have an unfortunate tendency toward hubris that could be their undoing. ‘He that is proud eats up himself.’”
“What’s that from?”
“Troilus and Cressida. If this wicked plot turns out to be true, the stain upon the reputation of the Shakespearean Institute will be permanent.”
Her fingers tightened in his. “I have a confession to make. Tonight at the party…it was strange, terrifying, and wonderful at the same time. Am I a bad person for feeling that way?”
“No, but you may be an adrenaline junkie.” He gave her a crooked grin.
“Maybe so.” She paused. “That vampire who danced with Felicia…he looked familiar to me somehow.”
“You often party with vampires?”
A giggle. “No. Until recently I didn’t even know they existed. But I feel I know him from somewhere.”
He shrugged. “A lot of people in Los Angeles have the same look.”
“Maybe that’s it.”
“It’s late. Let’s get you home.” He picked up the check. “I’m going to take this to the register. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
While he was gone, Tori sipped her ice water. When she happened to glance outside, the red-headed demon was staring at her on the other side of the window, mere inches away. Startled, she gasped, slid out of the booth, and hurried to join Raven.
His father wasn’t awake when Raven got home, so he had to wait until morning to speak with him. He rose early Sunday morning before the servants were up and found his father in the kitchen, alone. When he told him what Chase had said, Ian’s reaction was the same as Raven’s had been—disbelief, revulsion, and bewilderment.
“I knew Kenshin Oshiro very well. He was a stand-up fellow, and his death came as a complete shock,” Ian said. “I tried to speak with Chase at the funeral, but he disappeared before I had the chance.”
“Yes.”
“Perhaps Chase was running for his life.”
“I can’t exactly fault him for that when I myself mistrusted Birmingham the last seventeen years.”
“Something else puzzles me. How do the vampires fit in to all this?”
“Vampires police themselves, more or less. Traditionally, Shakespeareans have left them alone and vice versa. Whichever way it goes, you can be sure they’ll act in their own best interest.”
“It seems to me they wouldn’t want a huge resurgence of the demon populace. First of all, since demons kill humans for fun, it would decrease the vampires’ food supply. Secondly, the Shakespeareans would be the dominant power. Although vampires tolerate Shakespeareans, I don’t think they’d relish that.”
“Probably not.”
“Maybe we could make an alliance with them, to stop this thing.”
“A bold notion, but without Chase’s testimony, we have no proof the plot exists. Even with his testimony, I’d have to have some other corroboration before I could proceed.” Ian rubbed his jaw, as if deep in thought. “Nevertheless, it might be a good idea to start a dialogue with the local council. It’s headed by a vampire named Oliver Fairchild.”
Raven winced. “We met a vampire by that name last night. I hope it’s not the same one.”
“Why not?”
“He zeroed in on Felicia at the party. If Chase hadn’t intervened, there would have been a nasty fight.”
“I’d really like to talk to the lad, and maybe convince him to come to Blackfriars for a while. Can you show me where he lives?”
“Sure, but he might not be there. He said he was moving on.”
“Let’s see if we can catch him before he leaves.”
Gusts of wind buffeted the car from side to side as Ian and Raven drove into Hollywood. Since it was still quite early, traffic was sparse and few people were out except for a couple of die-hard joggers and people walking dogs. Wraiths were crisscrossing the streets, however, looking for trouble. Their trailing ectoplasm whipped around like flags in the strong, hot breeze.
“Can you imagine how people would panic if they could see these creatures?” Ian muttered.
“They’d pay Shakespeareans anything to get rid of them,” Raven said. “Which is why I’m finding it easier and easier to believe Chase’s story.”
“If it’s true, I don’t think Birmingham is in it for money. He’s in it for power.”
Ian parked in the driveway of the boarded-up hotel.
“Chase won’t come quietly,” Raven said. “I’d suggest we approach him with extreme caution.”
“Noted.”
As they stepped through the back door, Ian spied a thin kid down the hall, no more than fifteen or sixteen years old. He beckoned him over with a twenty dollar bill.
“If you let Stormchaser know Raven and his father are here to see him, this twenty is yours.”
The kid licked his lips as he stared at the money. “Yeah. Okay.”
He darted up the stairs, his footsteps echoing in the stairwell. As Raven waited alongside his father, daylight revealed what he’d not seen the night before. Trash, discarded needles, and cigarette butts littered the place. Graffiti and holes decorated the walls, and the distinct scent of urine permeated the air. When a cockroach scuttled across the ceiling nearby, Raven could not suppress a shudder. How could Chase—or anyone else—live here? I guess when you don’t have a choice, you do what you have to do to survive.
Rapidly descending footsteps heralded the return of the kid, who snatched the money from Ian’s fingertips. “He said to come up but to keep your hands behind your head.”
The kid shot through the door as if a wraith were after him. Ian and Raven exchanged a glance and began to climb the stairs. At the top floor, they laced their fingers together, put their hands behind their heads, and entered the rec room. The place was unoccupied, with no evidence Chase had ever been there. Not even the candles from the night before were visible. Raven was convinced the kid downstairs had pulled a fast one, but Ian cleared his throat.
“Chase, it’s Ian Cassidy. I just want to talk.”
“Turn around, slowly,” Chase said.
Raven and Ian complied…and found themselves at the pointed end of a katana blade. Ian remained calm, but Raven immediately lowered his hands and assumed a defensive stance.
One eyebrow lifted in warning. “Keep your hands up or I’m out of here.” Chase had his backpack on his shoulder and was poised to flee.
“It’s fine, Raven,” Ian said. “Just do it.”
Albeit reluctantly, Raven returned his hands to his head.
“Do you remember me?” Ian asked. “I came to your father’s funeral.”
“I remember. You sent a beautiful floral arrangement and a condolence card.”
“Whatever you think Birmingham is planning, I’m not a part of it. I’m the one who helped Gerald and Hannah Arthur disappear eighteen years ago, after they gave birth to the Leap Day child.”
A strange expression rippled across Chase’s features, but then his face became a mask once more. “What do you want from me?”
“I just want to help.”
“Don’t need it.”
“I can offer you a place to stay, with your own bathroom and meals. You can come and go as you like. No strings.”
“Why?”
“Your father was a friend of mine and I respected him a great deal. I’d like to think he would have helped Raven under similar circumstances.”
“He probably would have, but that doesn’t mean I’m not doing fine on my own.”
“When’s the last time you spoke with your mother?”
Chase swallowed hard. “She’s in hiding too.”
“Do you have a cell phone?”
“It got stolen.”
“You can call her from my house.” Ian cocked his head. “We need to get to the bottom of whatever’s going down. Nobody has to know you’re staying with me. You have my word on it.”
“Are you prepared to prove that?”
“Yes.”
Before Raven knew what was happening, Chase held a katana to his throat. The blade was pressing into his skin, and he dare not move a centimeter.
“Give me the name of the Leap Day child or I’ll cut Raven’s throat.”
Chapter Sixteen
Devil Winds
“DON’T DO IT, DAD,” Raven managed. “Don’t say anything.”
Ian’s face had lost its color. “I can’t tell you the name, Chase.”
A stinging sensation as the blade pierced his skin made Raven grimace in pain.
“Do it or he’ll die!” Chase exclaimed.
“Stop this!” Desperation was written on Ian’s features. “I’m not going to tell you anything, so please let him go.”
“Have it your way.”
Raven braced himself for death but found himself shoved forward instead. His father reached out to steady him.
“Are you all right?” Ian’s voice sounded hoarse.
“I guess so.”
Chase chuckled as he sheathed his katana. “Sorry about that. I had to make sure you were trustworthy. If you won’t give Tori up, you won’t give me up, either.”
Raven’s fingers came away from his throat, dotted with blood. His temper flared, and as he turned, he clocked Chase across the jaw with his fist. The young Nephilim staggered to one side and fell to the floor.
“That’s for scratching me and scaring my father nearly to death,” Raven said.
“You don’t have to be such a hothead.” Chase rubbed his jaw as he got to his feet.
“What makes you think the Leap Day child is Tori?” Ian asked.
“Mime told me a girl named Tori has a Shakespearean Institute dagger once owned by Gerald Austin. She’s the right age. Also, Raven’s protective attitude toward her gave it away.”
When Ian ran a trembling hand over his face, Chase winced. �
��I do apologize for the theatrics, Mr. Cassidy. Do you still want me to come with you?”
“Promise me there won’t be a repeat performance with anyone in my household.”
“You have my word.”
In the car, Raven flipped down the mirrored visor to examine the scratch on his throat. Once he washed off the blood, it wouldn’t look too bad, but he was annoyed nevertheless. Not only was he ticked off at Chase, but he was angry with himself for letting someone get the drop on him. Had he let his guard down because he felt sorry for Chase? That sort of misplaced pity could get me killed one day.
As Ian traversed Hollywood on the way home, he tried to engage his newest passenger in conversation. “How have you been getting by on your own, lad?”
“I found places to crash…empty houses and things like that. Any time I needed a shower, I’d check in at a shelter or rent a cheap room. I took cash with me when I left Japan, and I can also access my account through ATMs. But I confess it’ll be nice to sleep in a clean bed without being worried about assassins creeping up on me.”
“You believe the directors wished to silence you?”
“They silenced my father, didn’t they? The stupid thing is, nobody would have believed me anyway. I can tell you don’t really believe me either.”
“It’s not that we don’t believe you, Chase, but we’re waiting for more information,” Ian said. “So far, Birmingham has presented himself as concerned for Tori’s welfare. So much so that his grandchildren are here to protect her too.”
“Felicia and Fletcher are probably not in on the plot,” Chase said. “And Birmingham does want the Leap Day child alive so he can use her blood.”
Something occurred to Raven then, and he couldn’t resist making an observation.
“I noticed last night you and that vampire Oliver seemed to know one another pretty well,” he said.
“We’re acquainted. After my father learned about Birmingham’s scheme, he and I talked about traveling to L.A. to make an alliance with the vampire community here. We were hoping a common enemy might make us strange bedfellows.”
“Did you make progress?” Ian asked.
Dancing With Raven (The Young Shakespeareans Series) Page 15