"Me? But it's not me, it's Karl Gibbons."
I blinked. "You…you know his name?"
"I've always known his name, Zoë. I looked for him after I read your file when we met. But that's not important at the moment. Getting Tamera out of here is."
"Tamera…Moultrie? You mean that's that crazy-ass anchor chick?"
He nodded as he eased the limp woman into his arms. "The same."
I did know her face!
So…what was she doing in a House of Powers, so to speak.
Geist and I followed Daniel up the stairs. Now that I was corporeal, my sense of smell returned. And Jesus H. Christ, it fucking stunk in this house. How did they stand it?
Unless Powers just didn't smell anymore, since they were technically dead?
"Wow, you were right, Jed," an all-too-familiar voice said as Daniel stopped at the top of the stairs. "Looks like our little romp to Taco Bell did attract some attention."
Aw shit. I phased out and moved around him. Geist vanished as well, and we both materialized behind the two powers. I called up my sword, and Geist—
Whoa!
I stared at him and the machine gun he had in his hand. He smiled.
Daniel caught my eye as he set Ms. Moultrie on the floor. We nodded.
I went corporeal just as the one with the hair, John, dropped the bag of food, pulled a Glock out of his pocket, and turned to point it at my forehead. Unfortunately for him, he moved into my sword thrust.
"Zoë!"
I went incorporeal as John pulled the trigger—probably a muscle reflex from being shish kebobbed. I still felt the bullet go through my brain.
We both went down. I heard the crack of Geist's big ass gun and then nothing. I stared at the ceiling. The sword was no longer in my hand. Daniel appeared in my line of sight. "Zoë, say something. Zoë…oh hell."
He lifted me up, but I couldn't move. I could see only what was directly in front of me. I panicked.
Oh God, was I panicking.
What the hell…had I been shot in the head? I'd been phasing out of physical form, right? Things always went through me. I tried to reach up and see if there was a hole, or blood, or something. But nothing moved! Nothing worked!
Once outside, I could see the trees. I could see the moon. It wasn't full. Not yet. But it was cold. I could feel the cold. What was I wearing? I couldn't remember before going Wraith. Daniel shifted me in his arms and tucked my head against his chest. I could hear his heart beating. His human heart. A heart that, if kept safe, would beat longer than the average heart would.
But would mine?
Zoë?
Inanna! I tried to answer back, but I didn't know if she could hear me.
Shh. You should try and relax.
I was shot in the head, wasn't I? I'm dying!
I don't think you're dying, but you do need medical attention.
How did this happen? I'm a Wraith!
But you are still a physical creature, Zoë. Same as Daniel or Jason. You can still be hurt if you're not careful.
Oh, I can't die yet. I have to find Dags. I have to get him back.
I think you have a lot more to worry about right now. So I want you to sleep.
I can't sleep!
Rest. I will help you.
Help me? How—
And then I knew. I felt her. Oh, dear God…I felt her! She was inside of my head with me, a physical presence. Not like when I overshadowed people, but more like being held by someone warm. It felt as if she were holding me in her arms—
Shh. Rest Zoë.
How…how are you doing this? How are you here with me?
There was a pause, and then, I have taken liberties, Zoë. But your death, any injury to you, would make Daniel so very unhappy. I promised him I wouldn't let you go.
What…what does that mean?
Another pause. It means…I chose you as my Right, Zoë.
I knew what that meant. Mephistopheles had chosen Rhonda as his Right.
His…next host.
Sleep, little one.
And I did.
Chapter Fifteen
"…think this is a joke? Daniel—you left her in the park, in the snow."
"The police were there—"
"You should have taken her with you. Then we'd have avoided this trouble with the Canadian Mounted Police."
"Will you move on? I brought her back here this time."
"Is she unconscious because you sucked her blood again?"
"Jesus fucking Christ, Joe. I didn't take that much blood. And Inanna's already told you what happened."
I moaned out loud as I turned over in the bed. Why in the hell were Daniel and Joe fighting so freakin' loud? And did they have to do it while I was trying to sleep?
It's because they both care about you a great deal.
"Pffft," I said aloud. "They should be quiet."
I will tell them.
I smiled to myself.
Wait…
Mephistopheles?
Yes?
I opened my eyes and focused on a large LCD clock. It read 2:34 a.m. It wasn't my clock. I looked around the room. This wasn't my room, either, or my apartment. Pushing myself up onto my elbows, I blinked a few times as my eyes adjusted to the dim light and took another look around. I recognized the digs just as someone knocked at the door. "Yo…" I croaked out, and then cleared my throat.
Jason stepped in, and the arguing outside grew louder for a moment. He had a cup in his hand. He shut the door behind him. "The Old Man said you were awake."
"Well, who can sleep with all that yelling?" I managed to push and pull myself into a sitting position. I wore a tank top and a pair of thin cotton pajama bottoms. I wasn't going to ask who dressed me. Figured it was better off if I didn't stress about it. Besides, these guys had seen me at my ultimate worst, and I thought of them as family.
"Why, thank you, Zoë," Jason said as he sat on the edge of the bed and handed me the mug. "Hot chocolate?"
"Oooh…" I took the mug, and the ceramic warmed my fingers. I could see where whipped cream had melted on top with little brown flecks of shaved chocolate. One sip and all was better. Chocolate, food of the Gods. "How long was I out?"
"Several hours." He crossed his right leg over his left and propped himself up on his right hand on the bed near my feet. "Daniel left Ms. Moultrie near the crime scene in Grant Park. Morgan let Joe know she was there. She was taken to the hospital after you were brought here."
"And they've been at it ever since?"
"Only since Joe arrived. Tel and Umayma were grilling Daniel and Inanna earlier to find out what happened. Asking them why they disappeared. And why they left you in such a vulnerable state, especially with this rapist roaming around Montreal."
I listened to the voices for a few seconds and heard Tel and Umayma thrown in the mix. Tel was the Revenant, or host, to the First Born Loki, and Umayma was host to Frejya. All of them siblings of the first Phantasm. "Joe really sounds pissed off."
"He is. But for other reasons. When Daniel let him know Ms. Moultrie was nearby, he didn't inform him what'd happened to you with the Powers. So when he got here and discovered you were unconscious in this room with a bullet hole in your head…" Jason winked. "He went ballistic, so to speak."
I put a hand to my forehead and pressed around. I didn't fell a hole. Was it gone?
You have been healed.
The lights flickered, and abruptly the clock shot straight up and put one hell of a dent in the ceiling. Dust floated down on top of us, and I put a hand over my mug. Gotta save the chocolate. "'The hell?"
Jason sighed as he stood up. "Joe. It's something I've noticed lately, especially since the incident with Rhonda. When he's agitated or angry, he tends to leak magic."
I looked at the clock embedded in the ceiling. "That's a little more than a leak."
" He's powerful. Possibly more powerful than Rhonda or Nona."
I moved on the bed to get out from under the dangling clo
ck. I didn't want to stand just yet, so I sat on the edge of the bed as the yelling continued in the other room. "Is this new? This power thing? I mean, I always knew he was like Mom, but he never really showed it."
"You'll have to ask him why that is," Jason said as he pulled a chair up to the bed and sat down. "But what I need to talk to you about isn't Joe."
Oh. I kinda figured where this was going and I didn't want to turn down that road. "No, Jason. Not wanting to talk about that. I'm more interested in why that reporter was in that house with those Powers. What does she have to do with any of this? Oh, and did Geist or Daniel tell you what they said?"
"Geist?" Jason narrowed his eyes. "I haven't seen Geist. He was with you?"
"Yeah." I downed half of the chocolate and enjoyed its regenerative powers. Heh. "Yeah, he was there. TC said he was going to send Geist to help me since he had to get back to the Abysmal Plane. Oh, and warning, he's looking like Barry Stephens."
"Who?"
"The guy who was killed that night I was raped…and killed." I was a little surprised how calm I was even mentioning that night. I still didn't like thinking about it, or remembering it, but apparently my parents seemed to think it was just hilarious to dredge it all up again.
Jason made a face. "Daniel didn't mention seeing Geist. But then, he's more than likely angry at him, too, for helping Rhonda. Which is probably why he hasn't manifested." He put his hands on his knees. "Regardless, we're going to talk about your mom—"
"No."
"Zoë—"
"No. Jason, she had me raped and Barry murdered."
"That's just not true."
"She admitted it."
"No." He held up his hand and pointed at me. "She admitted you weren't supposed to be raped and that young wasn't supposed to die."
"Same thing as far as I'm concerned."
"But it's not like you think."
I finished the mug and handed it to him. I really didn't think he'd take it, but he did. "Jason, I know you two had a…thing…(ew), and I understand you feel a bit of loyalty to protect her—"
"That's not it."
"—but I'm just not ready to deal with it right now. I'm going to have to live with the fact my existence didn't mean anything more to my parents than some…some…" Oh, what was the word? "…some inner Planar battle thingie. Fine. I'm here. And I'm not quite what they wanted. Whatever that was. Either way, innocent people are dying tragically and in a manner I'm familiar with. And I have to use what I am and what I can do to stop it. So, are you still going to sit there and spit out excuses for my mom, or are you going to help me figure what the hell is going on and get the love of my life back?"
Jason stared at me, and his eyes went completely black. Mephistopheles was in the house and leaned forward, still holding the empty mug. Jason's voice took on the duality it usually did when the First Born spoke through his host. "I will help you bring the Guardian home because it is in our best interests. 'Our' meaning my brothers and sisters. But there is something I will not do." He stood and walked past me to the door. There he paused and turned very slowly to look at me.
I shrank back just a little as I saw Mephistopheles in Jason's face. "I will not condone the condemnation of someone I love, someone who has put their life ahead of so many others, simply because you choose not to investigate the facts. I understand you're still hurt and full of anxiety for the man you believe you love. But if your actions, rash and impetuous, in any way puts any of my brethren or the soul of the woman who saved my life in danger, I will abandon you as you have abandoned her. Do I make myself clear?"
I have never once been afraid of Jason or Mephistopheles. They had always been there to help me and my friends. And even after I understood what they were, fear of them never seemed to play a part in my understanding of our relationship.
Yet in that instance, in that tiny second of time where the world around me stood still and the arguments from beyond that door ceased, I found myself shaking with a terror I'd not known in my entire life.
In a second, he was gone through the door, and Daniel was stepping through and on his knees in front of me. "Zoë…"
I looked down at him and stared hard into his beautiful blues. I knew I was seeing and speaking with Daniel Frasier, a man I loved and respected and for whom I felt guilt for ruining his life. But I was also aware that just behind those eyes lived a creature just as powerful, if not more so, than Mephistopheles.
Inanna.
The First Born's words came back to me, the ones I'd heard before I passed out. I make you my First.
"Zoë?"
Now I was just as terrified of her as I was of her kin. I now understood the threat all of them held within their grasp. It was time for me to grow up, wasn't it? And understand that nothing was safe. I cleared my throat. "Sorry…I just…thanks for getting me out of there."
"You scared me. But Inanna assured me you're okay. She…" He licked his lips. "She told me what she did."
"Yeah." And I pieced together the significance of being a First Born's choice. Inanna had, in some way, saved me. Not just for Daniel, but for herself.
You must never tell my family what I've done.
Because I'm a Wraith?
Yes.
I swallowed, aware Daniel could hear what his First Born and I were saying. You're not supposed to bond like that with something like me? Just the same as Daniel's not supposed to drink from me?
The same. But not because we know the outcome or consequences, but because of what happened between you and Azrael. No one foresaw that such a union would create a Wraith. I believe we're all afraid of what monster may spring from the head of Zeus next.
"Let's hope it's not a bond she'll ever have to use," Daniel said. "First Borns usually have more than one."
"They do?" I was relieved to hear that. "Do you, Inanna?"
Yes. In fact, I have five bonds. I like to keep my options open.
And I could almost feel her smiling and hear her laughter. So I'm glad I'm not the only one.
You aren't. And besides… She paused. Since my brother has a link with you, I doubt seriously the bond would work.
TC was her brother, and everyone knew he and I shared—something. Touching me while I was out of body had been what freed him from his obedience to his sister. And that same touch had turned me into a Wraith.
TC's busy now, so don't worry. And I'm honored, you know that?
I believe I do. It's just that…
When her voice trailed off, I looked at Daniel. He was looking at me. Inanna? What is it?
"Is she talking to you? I can't hear her, but I can feel her sort of…moving…."
Moving? Ew. "She's fine." Inanna?
Your blood…something's shifted inside of Daniel and I can't figure it out yet.
Shifted?
Yes. It's like…I've lost something like a valued object but I can't remember what it was and where I dropped it.
I frowned. That's sort of an odd thought.
That's how I feel. I just need to suss this out a little more before I can say what it is your blood did to him.
You'll let me know?
Of course.
Daniel reached up and brushed hair from my face. "I am sorry I left you there. But I couldn't risk being seen." Then he looked up and spotted the clock in the ceiling. "Wow, Joe really needs to rein that temper of his in. What if that had been you?"
I glanced up at the clock, but shrugged. It was going to come down pretty soon. "So…what happened to the chick in the basement? The reporter?"
"Hospital. The house was searched. The owners—a pair of newlyweds—haven't been found."
"You think the Powers got rid of them?"
"That's what I'm afraid of. Joe's pretty pissed off about that. Among other things." He stood, and then sat down beside me on the edge of the bed.
"Is that all that's happened, Daniel? My blood gave you the OOBing power?"
"Is there supposed to be something else?"
/> "Hon, I have no idea. I just know that after TC and I touched, I started doing all kinds of weird shit."
He stood again and took a few steps away, then stopped and looked back at me. "Then I'll make a point of telling you when I do weird shit. Joe's coming."
Daniel's abrupt behavior and attitude shift sort of made me dizzy. I opened my mouth to speak as he reached for the door, but Joe pushed it open and nearly conked Daniel in the head with it. Daniel had his right hand up, and stopped it so fast Joe staggered and then stepped back to see what was behind the door.
"What the fuck are you doing in here?"
"Leaving." Daniel moved around Joe and hurried out of the room.
Joe watched him leave, then turned back to me.
"Do you have to be so rude to him all the time?" I liked Joe. I really did. I wasn't going to admit it to anything more, 'cause you know…I was in love with Dags. But sometimes Joe could be such a….a…cop!
His expression softened. "He put you in danger when he wasn't supposed to."
"We had no idea that park had Powers in it. There weren't any reports of them in the area."
Joe stood in front of me. "You look better than what they told me. If I was gonna believe Jason, you were at death's door."
"Nah. Death hates me. Keeps tossing me back." I stood and did a few stretches. I felt pretty good for a Wraith who'd just been shot in the head. "So this Tamera Moultrie….she say what she was doing in that house?"
"Nope. According to her employer she was on vacation so no one even knew she was missing. She was damn lucky you found her."
"Well, it was Geist who found her. So I take no credit." I smiled at him, and my stomach growled. Yow…embarrassing. "I want mac-and-cheese,."
"Yes you do." Joe laughed. I liked it when he relaxed. He didn't do that much lately.
"So…you a cop again?"
"Yep. And because I'm a cop again, and after having seen those bodies, I have to agree with Captain Little that putting you in protective custody might be the best thing."
Gunshot to the head be damned. I Wraithed on the spot and hovered above the bed. "Oh, no, you're not. I'm not gonna stay in some cheap hotel room with bedbugs and eat bad Chinese while some large, round detective plays poker with his skinnier partner and the bad guys find me."
Dominion: Zoë Martinique Investigation, Book 6 Page 10