Try Me

by Parker Blue

  "Then how do you know the ones who look like regular humans really are part-demon?"

  "To belong to the Demon Underground, they have to register with us and demonstrate their abilities, so I know their background."

  "I don't remember registering."

  "You didn't have to—your father did it for you, when you were born."

  "Oh.” That made sense.

  A couple more people came in the door, and he waved me on. “Go, meet and mingle. Come see me afterward, and we'll go through the magick books. See if we can find out more about what other kind of demon might be in your background."

  Easier said than done. I glanced around, but wasn't sure how to start mingling, since even Fang had deserted me. Thirsty, I decided to do as Micah suggested and headed for the bar to get a Coke. An attractive middle-aged Hispanic woman smiled at me as I picked up a glass. She looked like someone's mother, and I couldn't imagine what kind of racy demon she might house. She held out her hand. “Hi. You must be Val. I'm Maria Ramirez."

  As I shook her hand, I wondered how she knew me. Then the significance of her last name struck me. “The lieutenant's wife?” I asked.

  "Yes—Juan has told me so much about you."

  Juan? Sheesh, I hadn't thought of my boss having a first name. I laughed nervously. “All good, I hope."

  She smiled. “Of course, though I understand you're going through a bit of a rough time right now. If you ever want to talk . . . “

  I stared down into my Coke, not sure what to say. “Thanks. I'm good."

  She patted my hand. “Well, give me a call if you change your mind. Juan can give you the number.” Maria pointed to the far corner. “I think someone is trying to get your attention."

  I glanced up and realized she was right. Someone stood up and waved at me. Deep hoodie hiding his inhuman face, gloves hiding his hands . . . it had to be Shade. Good—someone I knew. I smiled and waved back then glanced hesitantly at Maria, not wanting to seem rude.

  "Go ahead,” she said. “It'll do you good to be with people your own age."

  I thanked her and headed toward the corner. As I neared the guy who'd waved at me, I asked uncertainly, “Shade?"

  He tipped back his hood for a moment and I saw the dark ribbons of light swirling in the space where his face should be. Yep, it was Shade all right. You could only see a shadow demon's features if his skin was touching someone else's. Then he looked totally normal, or rather, totally hot. I was kind of surprised Shade hid under his hood here, but maybe his lack of ordinary human features made even part-demons uncomfortable.

  He was sitting at a table with four other people, and they brought up another chair and scooted around to make space for me next to Shade. “Val, these are my friends,” he said. He introduced them, and I tried to remember their names. The guy with the wavy blond hair and wide smile was Josh, and the quiet, brooding redhead was named Andrew. I reined Lola in tightly to keep her from flirting with the two guys. I turned toward the girls. The dark-haired Emo girl with the geeky clothes and glowing violet eyes asked to be called Mood and the other girl, Shawndra, had green hair, pale skin, and tons of piercings.

  I felt a familiar canine nose nudge my knee, through my jeans. AND THIS, Fang said, IS PRINCESS.

  I glanced down to see a beautiful little dog gazing up at me with her big, brown eyes. HELLO. I AM A PUREBRED CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL. YOU MAY PET ME.

  I raised my eyebrows at her diva attitude, but scratched her smooth, silky ears as directed.

  "You found another part-hellhound dog?” I asked Fang. But the answer was obviously Yes. An ordinary canine would have shied away from demons and wouldn't have been able to speak in my mind. She's not quite purebred, I thought with amusement.

  YEAH. ISN'T SHE GORGEOUS? Fang stared at her in admiration, obviously smitten.

  "Stunning,” I confirmed with a smirk.

  Apparently satisfied by my recognition of her beauty, Princess laid down at Shade's feet, and Fang cuddled up next to her with a mental sigh of admiration.

  Amused, I glanced at Shade. “Is she yours?"

  I BELONG TO MYSELF, Princess said indignantly.

  Oops. “I should have asked if Shade is your human servant,” I said dryly.

  Princess sniffed. THAT IS NOT AMUSING. HOWEVER, YES, I AM CURRENTLY RESIDING WITH THE SHADOW DEMON.

  Shade spread his hands. “When I met Fang, I realized there might be more like him, so I went looking. I found Princess holding court in the county shelter. No one else dared adopt her.” Though I couldn't see his face, I could hear the laughter in his voice.

  YOU DIDN'T CHOOSE ME. I CHOSE YOU, Princess said.

  Shade rubbed her head. “You did indeed.” He sounded very pleased about it. I grinned, too, glad that it gave us something else in common.

  "How come we haven't seen you around before?” Andrew asked me. He said it with a smile, but it sounded like more of a challenge.

  Shawndra bumped him with her shoulder. “Hey, don't be rude.” Her speech sounded clear, though I wondered how she managed with the piercings in her lips and tongue

  Determined not to stare, I turned to Andrew and shrugged. “No biggie. I just didn't know you guys existed."

  He scowled. “Now who's being rude?"

  Huh? “No, I didn't mean it that way—"

  Shade interrupted. “She just learned about the Demon Underground about a week or so ago. But she's one of us, now. Aren't you, Val?"

  Was I? “I guess,” I said doubtfully. Though I wondered how many of them were surly, like Andrew. If only they were more like Josh, who seemed content to watch and smile. Mood glanced at him, too, and I was surprised to see the naked longing in her eyes. A longing that Josh seemed clueless about.

  She flushed when I caught her at it, then leaned back in her chair, pretending to be bored. “Don't mind Andrew. He's been a jerk lately."

  "That's not fair,” Shawndra protested. “You know he has a good reason."

  Mood gave them a lazy smile beneath glowing violet eyes. “Yeah, and I could help with that."

  "No thanks,” Andrew said. “I'll pass."

  A murmur ran through the crowd. I turned to see Micah walking onto the stage with a microphone. Embarrassment flickered through me. The last time I'd seen him up there, the lights had been low, and he'd been dancing and getting the ladies in the audience all hot and bothered, feeding his incubus with their lust for him. But he was in street clothes now and obviously playing host and leader, not sexy dancer. I relaxed.

  Once he had everyone's attention, Micah said, “Before I introduce our guest, I'd like to make an announcement. Thanks to Val Shapiro, the Encyclopedia Magicka has finally been returned to us."

  Cheers erupted around the room and Andrew gave me a grim smile. “Good job, Val."

  I felt my face warm as everyone turned to look at me.

  As if he sensed my embarrassment, Micah continued. “But that's not why we're here tonight. I know we've spoken before about the New Blood Movement, and how they are trying to improve their reputation by creating blood banks where humans can donate blood and vampires can receive the sustenance they need without harming humans."

  "Yeah, right,” Andrew muttered. “Real altruistic."

  Couldn't say I disagreed with him. In theory, the donations were as sterile as donating to a hospital's blood bank. But in reality, most donations were the lurid, fang-to-neck kind, with the human getting a real thrill along with it. Since vamps could enthrall a human's mind, they could make sure the human thoroughly enjoyed the process . . . and came back for more. A recipe for trouble, and sleazy at best.

  But I had to admit the New Blood Movement was providing a service. At least it kept the bloodsuckers in line.

  Most of them, anyway. Some, like the ones I'd staked earlier this evening, enjoyed the fear and terror of their victims too much to line up for snacks like drug addicts trading their highs for rehab meds.

  Micah continued, “Alejandro is the leader of the N
ew Blood Movement, and he's asked to speak to you tonight."

  Alejandro strode in from the wings, handsome, confident, charismatic. Dressed all in black with long dark hair and caramel-colored skin, the vampire exuded magnetism. Strangely enough, he wasn't using his vampire nature to enthrall everyone. It just came naturally to him.

  Alejandro accepted the mic from Micah and made a sweeping gesture with his other arm. “Thank you all for welcoming us,” he said with just a trace of a Spanish accent.

  Us? I realized then that there were vamps in the crowd, sort of mingling, but more hanging out in small clumps around the room.

  "As Micah said, the New Blood Movement is designed to make it safe for humans to walk the streets of San Antonio without fearing those of my kind."

  "What about the bloodsuckers who don't belong to your organization?” someone yelled.

  Alejandro smiled. “An excellent question. Many of ‘the lone ones,’ as we call them, were misled by my former lieutenant, Lily, who betrayed us in the interest of obtaining power."

  More muttering, and more than a few sidelong glances at me. I guess they all knew the story. Among San Antonio's vamps I was known as the notorious Slayer.

  "Yes,” Alejandro continued, “The Slayer eliminated the threat, and we are attempting to contact Lily's other followers to bring them within the fold. But there is one way in which you can help us."

  "How?” someone shouted.

  "Why would we want to?” came another voice.

  Obviously, Alejandro had anticipated these questions, for he continued smoothly to explain how they planned to announce their existence to the world. The vamps had friends in high places who were prepared to put legislation in place to require all vampires to subscribe to the creed of the New Blood Movement. Those who did would be afforded protection under the law. Those who didn't would forfeit any rights they might have. In other words, the vamps in this part of the Lone Star State would be treated as extremists. They could either live as peaceful citizens or be hunted like terrorists.

  Alejandro nodded at Micah. “Your leader, here, wants your existence to remain a secret, but it doesn't have to be that way. You part-demons can choose to stand beside us vampires as we make this announcement. Together we can make sure the state of Texas extends the same legal protections to all of us in the . . . shall we say . . . in the ‘alternate non-human lifestyles’ community."

  There was silence, along with a general uneasiness, as people digested this. I knew it was hard to believe in altruistic vampires, but I'd been inside the minds of the leaders of the Movement and knew they were telling the truth. I even admired them for it, though I wasn't so sure outing themselves—and us—would be as easy as they thought.

  "Micah's right,” a deep voice boomed. “We don't want to be exposed. And you vampires shouldn't push the issue. It's suicidal."

  I could understand his viewpoint, too. If vampires came out of the closet, it was only a short leap for humans to confirm that demons existed as well. Imagine the terror, the ignorance, the Salem-like “demon trials.” The whole point of the Demon Underground was to help demons blend into the human population quietly, help them find jobs and pass for human so they wouldn't be persecuted.

  I heard nervous mutterings all the way around the room, and one guy jumped on stage to say it. “We don't want to be recognized as demons,” he shouted. Huge, with a chest the size of a barrel and a face that looked as if it had seen one too many fights, the man-mountain thrust his pugnacious face into Alejandro's. “We aren't asking for special rights; just to be treated like everyone else. I see where you'd benefit, with all that free blood and all,” he said in the deep voice that boomed out. “But what's in it for us? Sounds to me like you'll expose us to ridicule and discrimination."

  Unperturbed, the vampire leader turned to face the distrustful audience. “Not at all. You're a peaceful people and have lived harmoniously among the general population for many years. It will not be difficult to convince people that you mean them no harm."

  Yeah, right, I thought. And we'd all frolic with bunnies and rainbows forever. Riiiiight.

  "Ridiculous,” one demon shouted. “Your daydreams will get us all killed.” He shoved the vampire next to him.

  The vampire shoved back, and soon vampires and demons were knocking over chairs, leaping to their feet, and tussling around the room.

  Fang scooted farther under the table. I'M STAYING OUTTA THIS.

  Good plan. In my mind, there were no bad guys here. They were all trying to do the right thing. Of course, Lola perked up at the violence and testosterone permeating the air, and for a moment I thought about letting her loose. It would be so easy to capture every man here, so easy to enthrall them, bend them to my will, be a hero, stop this violence . . .

  . . . FEED ON ALL THEIR LOVELY SEXUAL ENERGY, Fang countered.

  True. Lola's intentions weren't exactly altruistic. I sighed and forcibly reined her back in. After all, Micah could have easily done the same to the women in the room, and it was obvious he hadn't.

  Oh, crap. In a demon-versus-vampire rumble, who would come out on top? I didn't want my friends, including Micah and Shade, to get hurt in this turf war. My stomach clenched. How could I stop this?

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Three

  Suddenly, I felt waves of calm and serenity flowing out to the crowd. I glanced up on stage and saw Alejandro standing there, his arms wide as he willed the rumble to calm. Mood jumped up on our table. Her eyes flashed a deep purple as she spread her arms to mirror him, receiving his waves of reassurance and amplifying them, sending them out to the crowd.

  Though people quieted, they did it with resentment, even as they realized that peacemakers from both sides were making with the sweetness and light.

  Once the tension in the room had calmed down, Alejandro and Micah both apologized to each other and asked the demons to reconsider the proposal when they'd calmed down.

  Chastised, everyone gathered their things to leave. The other demons at our table had disappeared during the fray, but Shade offered Mood a hand to help her down from the table. “That was effective,” he said.

  She shrugged. “It's what I do."

  Suddenly I remembered reading about mood demons in the Encyclopedia Magicka. They could enhance emotions, amplify them to people all around them. Thank goodness, Mood chose to amplify serenity instead of fear or terror. I looked at her with new respect.

  Remembering Micah's request that I talk with him after the party, I hung around as he conferred earnestly with the brawny demon who'd jumped up on stage to yell at Alejandro. His name was Ludwig, someone said. Fang continued to woo Princess while we waited for the crowd to disperse.

  Finally, when there were only a few demons left, I approached Micah. “You still okay with us browsing the encyclopedia together?” I asked. “I understand if you want to postpone it until later."

  He shook his head tiredly. “No, that's okay. I'm good. Let's go to my office."

  He beckoned to Tessa, and we followed him to his office. He unlocked the door, and I glanced around. “Where'd you put the books?” I asked Tessa.

  She unlocked a drawer of Micah's plain wooden desk. “Right here . . . “ She looked puzzled. The drawer was empty. “I know I put them here,” Tessa insisted.

  Swiftly, she pulled out Micah's chair and looked under the desk, then yanked open the other drawers and looked inside. “Where are the books?"

  Oh, no . . .

  All three of us searched every inch of the office. No luck.

  Micah slumped in his chair and ran a hand over his face. “They're gone,” he whispered in defeat. “Someone must have taken them."

  "I'm so sorry,” Tessa said, looking stricken. “I locked the door and the drawers. I thought it would be enough."

  "It's not your fault,” Micah assured her.

  Fang appeared by my side. THIS IS SO NOT GOOD.

  That was an understatement. “Who would take them?�
�� I asked.

  "I don't know. Someone who knew they were here,” Micah said. “And, since I stupidly announced their existence to the entire audience, everyone knew."

  Tessa nodded. “Including Alejandro and his vampires."

  "You don't think one of them took the books, do you?” I'd just come to terms with the fact that not all vamps were bad. Then again, not all humans and demons were good, either. “Alejandro was on stage the whole time."

  "But one of his people could have easily done it,” Micah countered.

  SO COULD ONE OF OUR PEOPLE, Fang reminded him.

  Micah glared at him. “Whose side are you on?"

  Fang sat back on his haunches and managed to look surprised. WHOA, DUDE. I'M JUST SAYING. YOU KNOW, POINTING OUT THE OBVIOUS.

  "I know, I know,” Micah said apologetically. “But everyone in the Underground knows how important the books are to all of us. I can't believe a vampire would take them."

  I turned to Tessa. “Can you use your powers to find a clue?"

  She shrugged. “I don't know. My gift doesn't work like that. If I touched the thief, a prophecy about the encyclopedia might emerge, but I can't control it. My powers decide what's important for that person . . . which usually isn't what's important to us."

  Okay, she couldn't go around touching people and spouting fortunes without someone getting suspicious. I took a deep breath. “What do we do now?"

  "We find the books,” Micah said, as if it were obvious.

  "And how do we go about doing that?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “First, let's make a list of everyone who was present. Tessa and I can probably remember all of the demons. Do you know any of the vamps besides Alejandro?"

  "Some of them.” Certainly not all. “What are you going to do with the list? Question everyone?"

  Tessa frowned. “Good point. Do you really want to tell your people the books are missing again, and that vamps might have stolen them?"

  Micah looked thoughtful. “Maybe not.” He glanced down at Fang. “You can read the minds of both demons and vampires."