Marcus dropped copies of my service file in front of everyone present. "If you doubt her capabilities in handling this case due to any past acquaintance or her standing in Vampire hierarchy, please let her record speak for itself."
Priest shoved the file to the side and snarled in my direction, "The VC elders were clear about their wishes. I'm in charge of this case."
Marcus scoffed and rolled the sleeves up on his shirt, "Your elders can kiss my furry ass. As a matter of fact, I don't believe the Vampire Council wants this mark taken down at all. Why else would they want a Deadborn appointed to lead this case when they know good and damn well he hasn’t a chance in hell of taking Tristan down on his own?"
Priest was so angry he looked like his eyes were about to bug right out of his head and Mayor Aldridge looked positively green around the gills.
Everyone in the room knew that Marcus had hit the nail on the head but was afraid to admit it for fear of pissing off the VC. Chief Watkins jumped up and headed for the door, "Why don't the both of you go after him. Hell, with any luck all three of yah will end up ash."
With those parting words, the chief had consigned my time on this case to hell. Of course, the mayor loved the idea, and in a show of good faith, Marcus agreed to it.
After getting on the phone and discussing it with his contact within the VC, Priest agreed to a partnership. With the matter settled, all unnecessary parties went about their separate ways leaving only Marcus, Priest, and me.
Marcus immediately laid out the contents of another file. "Alright gals and guys, something told me that it was gonna go this way, so I took the liberty of booking a room with double beds. Low Country in South Carolina is your destination. There have been reports from the CMS in Charleston that some root doctors in the Gullah community there have been displaying rather large increases in power. There's also been a decrease in the Lifeborn Vampire population."
Priest took a quick glance at the papers spread out before us, "Shouldn't that be the opposite, Marcus? I mean if Tristan is near Charleston, wouldn't we see an increase in Vampires? And what does the Gullah community have to do with this?"
I saw where he was heading, and it was a reasonable guess, just wrong. "I see where you're going, but that's not possible, Priest.” I ignored the spiteful look he shot me. "It takes time to make a Lifeborn - time and commitment. He's moving from location to location too fast for that. If Tristan has taken up shop in Charleston and pushes the issue then it‘s his territory now. Any Lifeborn vamps are going to clear out to avoid a confrontation with someone that’s clearly stronger than they are."
Marcus shrugged his shoulders and tossed me a picture. "That's our boy, taken just two hours ago. He’s definitely there. As to the connection to the root doctors, if the rumors are true, Tristan has been living up to his bad boy reputation. We believe he's been blood raping different Extras species in an effort to acquire their abilities."
Priest shook his head. "I know Purebloods are able to assume abilities through total consumption, but I thought it had to be from a species that shared a common ancestry with Vampires."
I was completely amazed. This time he got it right. The ape had a brain in his head. Marcus looked equally surprised. "You’re right, Priest, that's where the Gullah come in. Disputed for years, DNA mapping has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that they are direct descendants of Witches through the Voudoun. The thing is, they also have direct ancestry from another Extras species, but the community is fiercely secretive about it. No one knows what species. The mapping proved it, but without another sample to compare against, it couldn't be determined. As a result, their powers are unique. I believe Tristan is using them to his advantage, trying to find a way to circumvent the need for blood ties in his chosen victims."
This was getting better by the minute. Looked like Irulan was right. You can be damn sure I wasn't about let her know that though. No way she'd ever let me hear the end of it.
We got the car keys to a Center SUV, an expense card, the hotel address and the name of our contact within the local center. After all was said and done, we left the conference room at exactly 7:25 p.m.
Priest followed me to my car. "What do you say I meet you at your place in an hour? That'll give you time to pack and say your goodbyes."
My stomach turned at the thought of him near my personal space, "I say no. I'll meet you back here in two hours."
He opened his mouth to protest but the look on my face stopped him cold. I was not in the mood to argue with him. I drove off with him staring at my taillights as I put distance between us.
The drive back to E City took longer than I expected. My mind raced from one subject to another, all of which revolved around my relationship with Tristan.
A huge part of me wanted to tell Marcus where he could shove it and refuse to accept the case. With the past that Tristan and I shared, I could easily do it, but deep down I had a greater need to push forward. I needed to do this, and Marcus was right. I was the only one capable of even hoping to match whatever Tristan had become. The Vampire Council had Head Hunters to deal with problem situations before the public found out about them. They were falling asleep on the job letting something this big slip through their fingers.
I pulled into our garage and went straight for Irulan’s room where. I found her waiting for me with open arms. Even for an Extra, it's eerie to me how she always knows when I need her. She pulled me into her arms and ran her hands down my hair. "I knew it. This case isn't what you need right now. If you don't wanna tell Marcus and your father to shove it where the sun doesn't shine, I'd be more than willing to do it for you."
I pulled back to shake my head no before burying it into her shoulder just as an onslaught of tears began to fall. She wrapped her arms even tighter around me and let me cry until the tears stopped.
Once I was done, she dried my eyes and pulled me down on the bed to sit beside her. "I'm not going to brow beat you over this case, Valeria, but I told you before, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
Something didn't feel right with the way she said that. I pulled out of her arms and stood up, hurt and pain giving way to suspicion and anger. Turning to look her in the eyes, I demanded, "What, exactly, does that mean? Exactly how are you going to keep me safe? What have you done, Irulan?"
I'll give her credit. Irulan stood her ground. "I'll tell you what I did. I talked to my cousin Fazion. He's given me his blessing to become actively involved on this one, Val. He'll deal with any fallout the VC may have with the Sidhe. I also paid a visit to Mayor Aldridge, caught him right as he was leaving the CMS. He's all about appearances and knowing the right people, isn't he? He fell all over himself to accommodate me, a member of the Tuatha De Danann's royal family. At this moment, he's informing Marcus Daniels that I'm going to be a case-by-case liaison for the Sentinels. I'll be offering advice on cases that deal with the arts arcane, beginning with this one, of course."
I couldn't believe what I heard. In a sense, I had not one partner now, but two. "That's low, Irulan. What in the world were you thinking? This is my job! It's what I do! Jesus! You can't hold my hand for me while I'm out in the field.” Anger boiled beneath my skin tempting to blow. I felt my face burning in an attempt to shift as I tried to hold it back. I didn't need a mirror to see that my eyes had gone entirely black. "And what the hell do you know about police work anyway!"
Irulan jumped up, her own temper spiking fueled by my loss of control, her eyes smoldering with heat, "Up until now, I had no need to hold your hand. I told you to turn this case down. I begged you, didn't I? You wouldn't listen. Tristan has changed, Val! I don't give a flying fuck about how strong you think you are, mighty Pureblood. You are clueless about Tristan and the changes he's put his body through!"
She looked around down at her feet as her mood did a three sixty, she took a tentative step closer and ran a soft finger down the side of my face, "Just for once in your ninety-eight years would you do as I ask? I know it's har
d, but I really do have your best interest at heart."
As much as I wanted to hold onto my anger, I couldn't when concern for me was driving her actions. I sighed and looked everywhere around the room trying to avoid looking Irulan in her face. "I know he's blood raping other species, Ire. I know he's trying to cross over from blood tied Extras. But I also know I won't be able to live with myself if I didn't at least try to stop him."
Irulan pushed pass me and went to her walk-in closet. "Hell, I knew the moment I asked you to drop it there wasn't a snowball’s chance in hell of that happening. That's why I did what I did.” She emerged with a suitcase packed and ready to go.
"Your bag is already packed. No need to thank me. I did pack light, though. If we need anything else, we can pick it up when we get there.” Irulan grabbed me with her free hand and dragged me through the kitchen into the living room.
I barely registered the two overnight bags standing there before she snatched me down by one arm to sit next to her on the couch. "There's just one more thing to take care of before we go.” Irulan inched closer to me, and then pulled her waist length hair to one side baring her neck to me.
"Aw, hell no, Ire.” I shoved away from her and was halfway up the wall across the room clinging to it like a deranged gecko before she realized I had moved.
It was too much, too fast. My emotions were already raw. I certainly didn't need the tempting scent of her blood. "I don't know what you're trying to prove by a stunt like that, but you've been around Vampires long enough to know that was totally un-cool, Irulan."
Irulan stood and made a move towards me. I backpedaled farther up the wall until she stopped. "I work too damn hard to maintain. Please don't do this, Irulan. You know how I feel."
Allow me to expound. As I stated before, Purebloods need a regular diet of blood and food for about the first two hundred years of life. Around two hundred, our bodies stop metabolizing solids, that's when we've reached full maturity as far as our bodies are concerned. But, we are Vampires - blood drives us. The hunger for it can get so strong sometimes it sends us into rages.
I try my damnedest to curb my own blood lust before it gets out of control, but the smell of Irulan's blood laid out like that could blow my control to hell.. Human blood sustains, but Extras blood inflames us. It's like pitting ground round against the rarest Kobe beef. The smell, the taste, the power laced throughout the blood. There is no comparison.
Shaking my head to refocus my thoughts, I looked down at Irulan, "Promise me you'll never do that again. You’re my best friend. I can’t feed on you like a common bagger.” Irulan made an unladylike snort in the back of her throat, and a soft breeze began lifting her up until she was eye to eye with me.
"Believe me sweetheart, nothing about me is common." Again, she pulled her hair to one side of her neck and again I tried to run, but this time she held me in place with an invisible barrier. "You need this if you’re going to have any hope of capturing Tristan with you unharmed. As much as I hate to admit it, your father is right. You'd be far stronger than you are if you'd take blood from me.” She brought a sharp manicured nail to her neck and drew it across, a swell of blood bubbled to the surface in its wake.
My fangs dropped, and I had closed the distance between us to a few millimeters before I snapped back into myself. "I can't, and if you make me, it's going to change things between us, Irulan, not in a good way either."
"Besides,” I added on pained breaths, "The power would be fleeting, it wouldn't last. Sidhe and Vampire blood-ties aren't strong enough for the power boost to be permanent."
I searched her face for some sign of what she was going to do. The silence that was hanging in the air was totally sickening by the time she released me from the hold she had on me.
She eased us both to the ground and didn't say a word as she loaded our bags into the trunk of my car giving me the time I needed to compose myself. After she set the alarm, she finally turned and motioned me to get in the car. "I thought you told that clod, Priest, that you were going to meet him at the CMS in two hours. That's clear across town. We’d better hurry."
I usually enjoy driving and take my time getting to work but considering the fact that I'd been to the center once today, and what just happened between Irulan and me, it's no wonder I made it in record time.
Priest was leaning against the side of a Ford Escape when I pulled in next to him. He had a goofy, lopsided sneer plastered to his face until he realized I wasn't in the car alone.
Irulan transferred our bags while Priest looked back and forth between the two of us. I tried to take the few moments of solitude to clear my head, but the clod's banging on my window killed that right quick. I rolled down the window with an exasperated sigh, "What gives, Priest? I'm here. We can get going in few. Gimme a sec, will you?"
He snatched open my door and pointed a thumb in Irulan's direction, "The hell I will. What gives with the broad? It's just supposed to be the two of us working this case. Is she even on the payroll? I've never seen her before."
Irulan was on Priest before I had a chance to respond. "It's bad business to talk about a woman like she's not even in the room.” The air crackled with power as the ground around Priest began to shake, and two ropes of metal flew out of the earth to wrap themselves around him dragging him down until he was up to his knees in the uprooted concrete and dirt.
The flow of profanity that ran out of his mouth didn't relent until Irulan ran her thumb across his lip. In an instant, his voice was gone, his face contorting into a mask of pure rage.
I had to admit to some confusion myself, "Ire I thought your powers were earth based. What gives with the silent treatment?"
With a wave of her wrist, Irulan released Priest from his bindings sans audio. "Ashes to ashes dust to dust, this man's obviously a Deadborn. It gives me some level of control over his faculties, Valeria.” She shrugged her shoulders and glanced at me... "And the earth is a vast place with infinite possibilities. Who knows what the limits to my powers are," she added before turning to Priest.
She looked down at him and winked. "I'm Sidhe, little man, royalty by blood, over three hundred years old, and never once have I been referred to as a 'broad'.” She eased down to rest on her haunches and patted him sarcastically on the side of his face. "If we were in Tir Na Nog I could have your tongue ripped from your head for that offence. Hell, maybe I should do it anyway just for fun."
Priest backed away from her touch and looked up at me for help. Against my better judgment, I grabbed Irulan by both arms and made a production of pulling her away from him, trying to keep from laughing my head off the entire time. "Irulan, be a good girl and give the nice man his voice back. We're going to be around each other until we take Tristan down, so try to get along."
I didn't wait around to see if she'd actually do it. Instead, I hopped into the driver's seat and started the engine. A few seconds later, Irulan slid into the seat beside me, and Priest got into the back looking like he wanted to rip both our heads off. Oh well.
Fortunately, we got underway without any further delays. The three-hour plus drive was surprisingly productive. It gave us time to come up with a game plan for our arrival in Charleston. Irulan and Priest would check out some of the areas local occult chops and Extras clubs to try to get a feel for the Gullah root doctors that we would be trying to find, while I checked in with the local station to see what intel they had for us.
I also wanted to talk to the Sentinels that were currently incapacitated. Apparently, once the locals got wind of a possible location, they sent a team after Tristan - Weres, a few Bear Shifters, and two Lifeborns. Tristan and his brood handed them their asses on a platter. It was only by the grace of God that two of the team survived. I didn't intend on making the same mistakes that they had.
CHAPTER THREE
Irulan’s inclusion into the hunt didn't throw Marcus off his game one bit. Once we got to the hotel, we found a separate room for Priest already arranged. I wish that I could say
the same for me, I felt completely off kilter. The ferocity of Irulan’s determination to keep me safe was scaring me. I never expected her to go this far.
It took us no time to check in and meet back in the lobby. No matter what else was going through my mind I had to get on point and deal with my objective. A quick glance at my watch showed 1:45 a.m., the perfect time for hunting. The three of us stepped out into the sultry southern air, eager to get under way.
Priest took in a deep breath and smiled, "I'm scenting twelve different species in this general proximity alone. If this weren't a business trip, a guy like me could have fun in this city."
"Thirteen, one's lingering, maybe a few days old, but good try. You were only off by one.” I took another scent of the area and knew the second time around that a Deadborn had been through here with Tristan's blood in their veins. Funny, the things you remember even when you try to forget.
For a minute, I considered letting Priest know, but if Marcus's hunch was correct, and Priest was here to make sure I didn't take Tristan's head, I didn't want Priest tagging along just yet.
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