The Lion's Den (Knights of the Darkness Chronicles)

by D N Simmons

  Adan winced. Her feelings of fright stung like a gunshot wound. He had never wanted his Pride to feel fear. He’d promised to always protect them, and now it was looking like he wasn’t going to be able to. He knew he had to do something quick, he hoped Darian would help him not only save his Pride, but save face as well. “Don’t worry, Stephanie. I’lldie before I let anything happen to any of you. You know this.” He maneuvered the car between two towering SUVs in the parking lot of a well-known pizzeria restaurant.

  “I know. I trust you. I just hate that we’re in this situation, fucking asshole coven,” she snarled.

  Adan chuckled softly, agreeing with her sentiments. “Let’s go get something for us to eat.” They exited the car and entered the restaurant.

  ***

  “God, that taste horrible, Jeez, who do you have to arrest to get a decent cup of coffee around here?” Colin groaned after swallowing a mouthful of lukewarm coffee, which lacked the preferred amount of sugar and cream he desired.

  “Hey, you want gourmet, you’re going to end up paying at least three dollars more,” Warren commented. He peered out of the window at the children finally happy to see the end of the school day, eagerly climbing into their parent’s automobiles. Each child’s face featured smiles and all were unaware of the danger that may be lurking nearby. They wanted to catch this killer before any more lives would be put into jeopardy.

  “When this coven ran amok in California, it was really fucked up. The entire city was scarred shitless and no one knew when the killings would end. The thing is, you don’t want them to end just because the killers got bored; you want them to end because the killers got caught, know what I mean?” Colin asked. He made certain to keep his eyes on all of the children and their comings and goings.

  “Did you ever think you guys were close to catching them before they left?” Warren asked, curious to know if they had a chance.

  Colin was silent for a few seconds; ashamed of the answer he was going to have to give him. “No.”

  “No? Why not?”

  “They can kill every hour on the hour, if they wanted to. Shit, they damn near did.”

  “So, in other words, it was a blessing when they got bored with California and moved on?” Warren wasn’t sure how he felt about the sentiment. He didn’t want them to be able to “move on”. He wanted them dead as hell!

  Colin continued. “I’m not happy about it either, but for lack of a better explanation, yes, you can say that I was somewhat relieved when they moved on. I had hoped someone would be able to take them out if they slipped up. I’ve never seen anything like the carnage they caused, and the S.U.I.T. for all intent and purposes was powerless against them, just like we are now.”

  “You don’t have any faith in us?” Warren was shocked to hear that from a S.U.I.T. officer. Most officers he knew believed they were the end-all to all supernatural criminals. Needless to say, most S.U.I.T. officers had God complexes.

  “I’m not stupid, or idealistic. I know when I’m fighting a battle Ian’t win. From all of the knowledge we’ve manage to gather about vampires and shape-shifters, at no point did we ever discover a vampire who can kill during the daylight hours, am I right?”

  Warren nodded. The human world did only know so much and the supernatural Council was hard-pressed to expose anything else.

  “What about human servants?” Warren asked, fishing to see if he would agree with another scenario.

  “What about them?”

  “Could it have been possible for a human servant to keep a victim alive long enough to dispose of the body during the day?” Warren asked.

  “I guess anything is possible. We never found any trace of human involvement, but that’s not to say there isn’t any.”

  “I just don’t want to rule it out.”

  “No, I wouldn’t either, but some of the victims we found would suggest otherwise. Now, I’m no expert dealing with vampires, but I’m willing to bet my hairy left nut that one would have to be pretty fucking old to kill under the shining rays of the sun.”

  Okay, human or not human, Warren was impressed by his deduction. “I would have to agree with you, based on what I’m seeing so far.”

  “Exactly. I don’t know what your hardest arrest or take down was, but Brian and I almost died taking out one vampire who we caught feeding on prostitutes. I honestly don’t know how we survived. Brian was amazing and quick on the draw; he was the one who killed him. But that vampire only killed during the night and was pretty terrified when he realized he was caught; that tells me he was young probably just turned. People who think they are above the law don’t get panic attacks. I’m willing to bet an older vampire would fit into that category.”

  “How come none of this was reported?” Warren asked, wondering why that bit of information had been omitted.

  “A lot of that was kept secret during their reign. We were instructed to keep a lid on that so as not to cause public panic. Not to mention, the government’s invested a lot of time and money into the S.U.I.T. We’re supposed to be the final word in supernatural justice. If the public knew just how useless we were made to look, that would really hurt the bottom line, know what I mean?” Colin looked at Warren.

  “That would explain why the media is being heavily monitored right now.” Warren thought about the light media coverage in spite of the extremely public crime scenes. It was all starting to make some sense now.

  “Yeah, seems like a repeat of L.A.” Colin pulled out his cell phone, “I’m going to contact Brian, see how things are looking on their end.”

  Warren was shocked at how much Colin suspected. He also wondered how much the government knew to be a fact about supernaturals, even though the Council only confirmed so much of the information that was previously gathered six years ago. He listened to the conversation between Colin and his partner. Apparently, things were looking quiet mazing ar end as well. He hoped that, with the help of their leaders and respective covens, Prides and Packs, they would have success where the others failed.

  ***

  “Fuck, I’m tired as hell right now,” Gabriel said, rubbing his eyes with the palm of his hands.

  Barry chuckled. “Should have taken your ass to sleep instead of getting your rocks off.”

  “You just had to bring that up, didn’t you?”

  Barry looked at him. “Why don’t you break up with Melinda instead of sneaking around with random broads?”

  “It’s complicated, Barry. Melinda and I have been going through a rough patch right now. We haven’t slept in the same bed in over six months. She doesn’t even want me to touch her,” Gabriel said, finally confiding in his friend.

  “Maybe you two need to talk to a therapist, it worked wonders for Leanne and me. Here, let me give you the number of our therapist, Dr. Amelia Watson … you’ll love her, trust me.”

  Barry wrote down his therapist’s number on a piece of paper and handed it to Gabriel, who took the paper, looked at it and slipped it into his front side pocket.

  “I’ll try anything right now. I really want to open the lines of communication with my wife.” Gabriel took a sip of his mocha cappuccino.

  “What do you think caused the riff?” Barry returned his attention back to the little children who were playing in the park, swinging on swings and sliding down slides.

  “She hasn’t been the same since … .” Gabriel’s voice trailed off.

  Barry finished his sentence for him. “Since the car accident?”

  Gabriel nodded. “I don’t think she believes I still find her desirable. She’s been pushing me away ever since. Hell, for all I know, she might resent the fact that I walked away virtually unharmed when she didn’t. I even think she blames me for the accident. I keep going over all of these reasons why my wife has grown so cold towards me … any one could be an answer or all of the above, ya know?”

  Two years ago, Gabriel had been driving that rainy night, when he swerved to avoid a drunk driver and ending up ramming th
eir SUV into a tree. While he survived the accident with only a few cuts and bruises, his wife suffered broken bones in her face and torso so severe, it required multiple plastic surgeries to restore her features and limbs as close to their natural state as possible. In the end, her confidence was not so easily restored.

  Barry turned back toward his partner and best friend. “Do you?”

  “Do I what?”

  “Still find her desirable?”

  “I love her.”

  “That may be, but do you still find her desirable. I mean, I saw your piece of ass on the side, she looks like a poster pinup model, and that’s even without the fake tits.”

  “She was easy, she scratched an itch, and most importantly, she’s old news. I broke it off today.”

  “Got too clingy?” Barry chuckled softly.

  Gabriel chortled. “Yeah. She wanted me to leave my family for her.”

  “You still didn’t answer my question?”

  “Oh, I thought I did. Yes, I find her desirable. Every time I try to get intimate, she comes up with an excuse to put distance between us. This has been going on for almost two years, to the point now, we don’t sleep in the same bed, like I said.”

  “Call the therapist, it’s worth a shot. I know you don’t want a divorce.”

  Gabriel shook his head. “The kids would be devastated. But shit, enough about my problems. I’m more interested in catching these killers. What they did to those people, especially the last two children … fucking sick sons of bitches.”

  Barry nodded. “Truer words … While you were in the john, I called Davis and Eric, everything’s quiet on their end as well.”

  “They’ll slip up soon enough, we’ll catch them, I’m sure. I’m kind of happy the captain put us on this case, too. It gives us a chance to prove that we’re just as good as her ‘Golden Boys’.”

  “You’ve got to admit, Gabe, Warren and Matthew are excellent detectives.”

  Gabriel shot a glance at him. “Whose side are you on?”

  Barry snorted. “I’m merely stating a fact. It’s not like they haven’t earned the right to be considered two of the best, Gabe. Besides, we’re on this case because we’re just as good; our record is second only to theirs in the department. I’m just giving credit to where credit is due. I’m sure there are others who complain about us, like those assholes Ronen and Wilson.”

  “Kyle and Lance can kiss my ass, for all I care. Worst fucking cops on the S.U.I.T., if you ask me. I don’t know why they’re still there.”

  “Because they fly under the radar low enough to escape disciplinary action.” Barry leaned forward, peering more closely through his window. “Look at this guy right here, watch him. He came from that car over there which has been parked there for thirty minutes.”

  Gabriel leaned over, watching a man dressed in a white t-shirt with a black windbreaker jacket with a sport’s team emblem on the back. His dark blue jeans were frayed at the cuffs and his black work boots were a bit worn at the toe. “Yeah I’ve got him in my vision. Do we wait for him to make a move, or approach him now?”

  “If this is the guy, we don’t want to get him without allowing him a chance to give us the evidence we need to nail his balls to the ground. If he goes for one of these kids, we take him down fast,” Barry said. “You better call the others just to tell them we have someone suspicious lurking about the playground.”

  Gabriel did just that, notifying the other two teams of their current status. The two detectives continued to watch the mysterious man who was watching the children. After another twenty minutes, the man decided to make his move, making his way into the frenzied group of playful children. The two officers watched as the man pulled money out of his pocket, handing each of the five children who were still gathered around him a dollar. He offered to buy them all ice cream. Once each of the children had their popsicles, he continued to seduce the children with more goodies. The two officers climbed out of their car, making their way over to the man from behind. They heard him offer the children more candy. Two of the children decided to go with him. He took their hands and turned, coming face to face with the two detectives, badges bared, which stopped him dead in his tracks. He let the two children go as he dashed to the side, feet hitting the pavement at top speed, running as fast as he could with both detectives hot on his trail.

  When they finally closed the distance between them, Gabriel lunged forward, tackling the man to the ground in the middle of the parking lot of a grocery store.

  Barry came around, gun pointed at the assailant. “Stay down! Don’t fucking move! Now, slowly, put your handspalms down on the ground … I said slowly!”

  The man did as he was told. He dared not move as the other officer locked a silver cuff around one wrist, then wrenching his other arm around his back, doing the same to that wrist. Gabriel pressed the barrel of his gun against the man’s spine, jabbing him slightly, causing a bit of pain.

  Gabriel wasn’t sure if this guy was a part of the gang of killers they were chasing, he knew he was human; a shape-shifter was often too fast for them to catch on foot. Not to mention, the silver handcuff were having no effect on him. Nonetheless, it was time to ask a few questions. For all he knew, this guy might be their human servant, if they had one, out collecting victims for them.

  “What were you doing at the park? What were you planning on doing with those kids?”

  “Nothing,” the man lied. “I was just buying them some treats, that’s all? I swear.”

  “Cut the bullshit, don’t fucking play with me, I do have a license to kill on the spot.” Gabriel poked him with the barrel once more.

  “You can’t do that, Police can’t kill on the spot! You have to find me guilty of something, and you didn’t!” The man shot back, certain that he was correct in his understanding of standard law and police procedures.

  “Police can’t. S.U.I.T. can. All I have to do is suspect you’re a supernatural up to no good, and I’m already at that point. Now, do you want to help your case by answering my questions, or are you going to continue to piss me the fuck off?”

  Barry watched his partner’s interrogation. He looked around, making sure no one interfered.

  The man on the ground swallowed hard, then nodded. “Don’t kill me, I’ll corporate, I promise. Please let me up,” he begged.

  “I’m still waiting for an answer.” Gabriel was thankful that the procedures that govern the S.U.I.T. allowed him a great deal of leeway, since they were the judge, jury and executioner in certain matters dealing with various suspects. Humans however were a trickier matter entirely. In the past, humans suspected of being supernaturals have been killed on the spot. As long as it was proven that S.U.I.T. officers were justified, no disciplinary action were taken. Knowing he was bluffing somewhat, Gabriel chose to keep the man under duress, hoping he’ll be more willing to answer his questions honestly.

  The man beneath him began to mumble and sob profusely.

  “Speak up, I can’t hear you,” Gabriel ordered. Apparently, his plan was working better then even he had anticipated.

  “I’m a bad man. I’m a sick man … I need help,” the man sobbed. “I wanted those kids … I … I wanted to touch them. I’m sorry. I’m so, so, sorry!” He sobbed even more, snot running freely from his nose.

  Gabriel looked up at Barry; neither man said anything to the other. They knew that they hadn’t caught their target, but they had caught a predator none the less. Gabriel climbed off the man then hoisted him to his feet. They escorted the suspected child molester back to the squad car, shoving him in the back seat.

  “Call the PD, tell them we’ve got one of theirs,” Gabriel told Barry, who did just that. Gabriel called Warren and told him what had transpired.

  “Well, at least you took down one scumbag, keep your eyes open,” Warren said.

  “Yeah, same to you,” Gabriel replied, before ending the call.

  The two S.U.I.T. officers waited for the police to come get their
suspect. Once the exchange took place, Gabriel and Barry drove to another location, believing that their current stakeout was now compromised. If the killer was there, chances were, he wasn’t going to attack. They parked outside the After-School Community Center where kids of all ages congregated for activities and tutoring.

  “The quest continues … ” Gabriel mumbled, watching the center.

  “You did good back there, I just wanted to tell you that,” Barry complimented.

  Gabriel smiled. The two detectives continued to search for their killers, hoping to get a break sooner than later.

  Chapter Eleven

  Kiren devoured as much of his victims as he could eat, and now he sat in the back of the ice cream truck in his half beast form, licking their bloodfrom the palms of his hands. Finally, he transformed back into his human appearance, burping loudly. He smiled down at the bloody, gnarled and grotesque remains of his meal, relishing the memory of their fears, their cries and screams and how no one could have helped them by stopping him. He made certain to leave little pieces of flesh attached to each mutilated corpse so that the S.U.I.T. would be able to identify the bodies of each kid, but he didn’t make it easy.

  One corpse had half a face. One, the tip of a finger still had a piece of skin attached. Another had an eyeball still in the socket, and the last had its full face, but the skull was completely shattered, disfiguring the features of the child. What was left of the remains were piled high inside the freezer. Dressing quickly, he exited the truck, smiling to himself. His lover would be proud of him. He would delight in recounting how he managed to sway the children to him. It was easy, he’d tell him. The cheerful tunes from an ice cream truck always bring out the children. Once he found his victim, he snatched the child inside; making sure no one saw him. Then he would drive to another location and do it all over again. He made certain to let many children go away happy, with their ice cream cones. He did notice the increase in police and S.U.I.T. patrol and he found it hilarious. No matter how many cops they put on the street, he was certain none would be able to stop him. He was right. Once he had captured the children he wanted, he parked his truck in front of a church. It was at that moment he indulged himself, savoring his “meal”. Yes, his lover would be so very pleased.