Meta Marshal Service 2

by B N Miles

  But he believed her. That was the main thing. He didn’t think she’d lie about something like that. If the Medlar family really was buying up that much land all over the globe, there would be a way to confirm it. He had to figure out how to do it quietly, though. He didn’t want them to know he was on to them. That would only make the target on his back that much bigger.

  He followed Lumi, handed out the food, and ate dinner with his girls while they discussed their next move.

  28

  Jared stepped into the lobby with Lumi by his side.

  He glanced at her then walked along the polished flood toward the elevator bank in the back. He lingered there before hitting the call button, moving deliberately slowly, giving Jessalene and Cassie time to get into position.

  Lumi joined him. “Quiet,” she said.

  He nodded. “Doubt this place gets much traffic,” he said. “I saw a business park just across the street. I bet most of their clients are people traveling for work.”

  She nodded and tilted her head. “Why would he pick this place?”

  “Who knows,” Jared said. “It’s out of the way, nondescript. Easy to lose yourself in.”

  Lumi nodded but said nothing as the elevator arrived and they both got on.

  The plan was simple. Cassie was waiting out back, just in case. Jessalene was taking the stairs, making sure that Arman couldn’t escape that way, while Jared and Cassie went to take him. Together, he knew they wouldn’t have too much trouble, even if Arman was powerful at night.

  The elevator reached the fourth floor and they got off. Arman was in 417, so they turned left and walked down the quiet carpeted hallway. Hotels were always uncomfortable for Jared. Maybe it was the way sound seemed to die due to all the soft surfaces. Or maybe it was the way it was crammed with people, but always seemed empty.

  Or maybe he’d just seen The Shining too many times.

  Either way, they found room 417 and stopped a door down from it. He waited for Jessalene and Cassie to text him that they were in position, nodded at Lumi, and stepped up to knock.

  He pounded on the door and waited. Nothing happened for a long moment. He pounded again. There was a noise from the inside. Jared felt Lumi reaching for the priori, just a tickle on his skin, and he reached himself. The power was just there, and the temptation to let it flow through his body was almost overwhelming.

  “Arman,” Jared called out. “We know you’re in there. Don’t make this difficult.”

  Jared thought he heard quiet cursing. He looked at Lumi and she gave him one tight nod. He stepped back as she gathered more power to herself.

  But the door burst open before she had a chance to release it and Arman came flooding out, a cascade of darkness and fangs.

  Lumi stumbled back as he came for her. Jared released his power, slamming a burst of invisible pressure against Arman’s side, sending him stumbling away. Lumi backpedaled and fell into a solid stance before unleashing her own spell. A cascade of crackling blood-red electricity shot from her fingertips and slammed against Arman.

  He growled, guttural and inhuman, but it didn’t stop him. He smoked from where her lightning smashed against his body, but he came at them again, his fingers curled into claws.

  Jared threw a shield around Lumi as Arman tried to smash his fists into her. She fell back again, and Arman slammed against Jared’s shield. His eyes came up and he stared at Jared, showing his fangs, an inhuman glee in his eyes. “Marshal,” he hissed. “You should’ve waited until sunrise.”

  Arman blurred at Jared, faster than he could follow. Jared reached for his power and snapped a memgram into place. As he released it, he felt Lumi cast her own spell. Together, a crackling electrical burst and a pulse of white diamond-hard ice snapped at Arman, forcing him back against the wall. The ice bit deep into the drywall, piercing through his shoulder and pinning him like a bug. He let out a howl, multi-layered and horrifying, as he struggled against the ice keeping him pinned. The ice cracked as the Vampire wrenched himself along its length.

  Lumi stumbled to him. “Are you okay?”

  He nodded, breathing hard. Arman had gotten close, inches away. “I’m fine. You?”

  “Good.” She began to cast again, whipping through spells faster than Jared could follow. She etched them into the wall behind Arman just before he could pull himself away, and it took Jared a moment to realize that she was warding it. She reinforced his ice, pinning Arman’s hands back, the shards slicing into the Vampire’s palms and making him groan in pain. A bubble of magical silence descended around them, cutting off the noise of their fight from the rest of the hotel. Jared hoped nobody decided to come out and investigate any time soon.

  The Vampire struggled, but between Jared’s ice spears and Lumi’s bizarre glowing wards burned directly into the wall behind the Vampire, he was locked in place.

  He showed his fangs and let out a growl. “Should’ve killed you when I had the chance,” he said. “How did you come across this one?” He grinned at Lumi. “I know who you are.”

  “Good,” she said. “I hope so.”

  Jared took a deep breath. He heard footsteps coming nearby and turned as Jessalene came around the bend. She stopped, eyes wide, taking in the scene. Then she came and joined them.

  “That’s him?” she asked.

  Arman hissed at her, snapping like an animal.

  “That’s him,” Jared said.

  Jessalene stepped closer. He could tell she was tensed with rage and anger. “Where is Wen Bet?” she asked.

  “Who the fuck is that?” Arman snarled.

  “We know you’re involved already,” Jared said. “Mondo gave you up.”

  Arman laughed. “That Goblin? He’d say anything to keep himself from Meta Max.”

  “Oh no, Mondo’s going to rot,” Jared said. “He told me the truth to keep his own people from going with him.”

  Arman’s laughter died out and he snarled again. “Fuck your Goblin. And fuck you, Magi scum.”

  “What did you do with Wen Bet?” Jessalene asked again. “If you want any chance of getting out of this, speak.”

  Arman shook his head, his eyes glaring at them. “You already have the Medlar bitch here. No reason for me to talk.”

  “I’m not with my family anymore,” Lumi said simply.

  He smirked. “Once a Magi, always a Magi. Can’t get away from that life, even if you want to.” He struggled against his bonds, and Jared saw Lumi’s wards flex, their energy spike as they worked to keep him in position. They brightened, glowed, and came into sharper focus. He glanced at Lumi and saw a bead of sweat run down her skin as she worked to keep them knit together. Jared could feel the power she was dumping into it, and as she struggled to keep them fueled, they slowly began to fade again.

  He had to work faster.

  “You’re not afraid of the MetaDept,” Jared said. “And you’re not afraid of the Medlar. But are you afraid of your Underlord?”

  Arman turned his gaze to Jared again. “Nikita? That little bitch. I’m twice her age.”

  “But she’s still the Underlord. I’m betting that if I called her right now, she’d have some interesting things to say to you.”

  He blanched. Jared didn’t think it was possible, but he did. “You don’t know her,” he said.

  “I do, actually. She’s the one that gave you up. I’m betting she has some of your blood?”

  He growled again. “That fucking pussy.”

  “Tell us what we want and you can go,” Jared said.

  “Wait, no, he can’t.” Jessalene shook her head. “You’re going to pay for what you’ve done, Arman.”

  “I’m not staying.” He flexed again, struggling hard. Lumi took a step back and let out a soft moan.

  “Jared,” she gasped.

  He walked to her and put a hand on her arm. He could feel the power flowing from her and into the wards. She was expending a tremendous amount of priori to keep Arman in place, and Jared doubted she could do it for much
longer. As strong as she was, this was too much.

  He looked back at Arman. “What happened to Wen Bet?” he asked. “Start talking, or Nikita will be here to deal with you.”

  “The Elf is dead,” he barked. “You people, you’re ten steps behind and have no clue what’s happening right around you.” He growled and struggled again. Lumi staggered, gasping, and his right hand came free. He slid it down the length of the ice spear that pinned him to the wall and yanked it free, black blood splattering against the carpet.

  “Who killed him?” Jared shouted, casting a shield around Arman’s arm before the Vampire could begin to tear at the rest of the spears. It held for a moment, keeping him pinned.

  “Wasn’t me,” Arman said, laughing, glee in his eyes as he began to work free of the shield. He shattered it, his muscles flexing in an inhuman whine, making Jared wince with the pain of his Need and the broken spell.

  “Hold him,” Jessalene said. “What are you doing?” She turned to Lumi and gasped as she saw Lumi down on her knees, sweating and struggling.

  Jared moved closer to Arman. “Who killed Wen Bet?” he asked.

  “The Dryad,” he said, using his right hand to break the ice. He wrenched himself free from the wall, falling to his feet and staggering forward. He groaned as the wall flashed, Lumi’s ward’s power shattering in one spark of energy.

  Jared pulled his power to him, ready to kill. But Arman didn’t attack. He stood there, breathing hard, shadows curling around his feet as he stared at them. Jared took a step back.

  “Lumi?” he asked.

  “I’m okay,” she said, her breathing labored, her voice low.

  “Jared,” Jessalene said. “I don’t think she’s okay.”

  Jared’s jaw tightened. Arman laughed at them and stepped closer. “Like I said. You have no clue.” He pressed his chest forward, mouth stretched into a grim line. “Did Mondo mention Hank? I’m sure he did. We needed someone that could get close to Wen Bet, close enough that the Elf would drop his guard. I would’ve done it myself, but there was no way the Elf would let a Vampire anywhere near him. That’s why we needed the Dryad.”

  “Where is he?” Jared asked. “Why are you involved in all this?”

  “I’m just a contractor,” Arman said. “Hired by the Medlar. Hired by that bitch’s family.” He shot her a hateful look. “But my contract’s up. And I didn’t get paid enough for this shit.” He shook his head then showed his fangs again. “Follow me, and I’ll rip out your throat, Marshal.”

  Jared clenched his jaw and stepped toward Arman. The Vampire hissed, flashing a vicious and gleeful smile. Jared didn’t think he could win a fight against him, not with Lumi down. And if she had used as much power as he thought she did, Jared knew he needed to help her now and couldn’t risk a prolonged fight.

  “Good luck,” Arman said, then turned and fled down the hall. He blurred through a door and disappeared down the stairs.

  “Fuck,” Jared said, slamming his fist against the wall and sending ice cascading down to the floor.

  “Jared,” Jessalene said.

  He looked over and Lumi was on her knees, sweating and panting. He walked over and knelt in front of her, tilting her face up toward him.

  Her eyes were bloodshot and her pupils were dilated.

  “Get her to the car,” he said.

  “What’s happening?” Jessalene asked.

  “She took on too much.” He shook his head. “She’ll be okay. Just deep in the Need right now. We just have to… we have to help her purge.”

  “Purge?”

  “Get rid of the priori.” He looked away. “Get her to the car. I’m searching his room. Tell Cassie to meet up with you.”

  Jessalene helped Lumi to her feet, and together they staggered down the hallway. Jared went into Arman’s room and began to rummage through his things. There wasn’t much: a couple of burner phones, a small suitcase, and tucked underneath the bed was the black bag he’d taken from his car earlier.

  Jared unzipped it and stared at vials of blood.

  The Vampire had gotten hungry. But he’d also run and left this behind. Which meant he was afraid of them.

  “Shit,” Jared said, closing his eyes.

  He should’ve fought harder. He should’ve tried to keep Arman there.

  But they got what they needed. They had their next lead, and they knew for sure that Wen Bet was dead.

  He stood up, took the bag of blood, and hurried from the room.

  29

  Lumi groaned as Jared climbed into the car. She was sprawled out on the back seat, her head in Cassie’s lap, her legs on top of Jessalene. Both girls stared at Lumi, concern marking their expressions. Cassie was whispering calming words into the Magi’s ear.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Jessalene asked, a hint of panic in her voice.

  Jared started the car. “Sick with Need,” he said.

  “She’s not even conscious.” Jessalene touched Lumi’s face, but Lumi didn’t respond. “I didn’t know… I thought it was just…”

  Jared started driving fast. He’d seen this before, but only once when he was very young. A cousin of his had drawn far too much priori, much more than his body could handle, and it left him near comatose with the Need, groaning and moaning for hours. The senior Magi in his family had left the boy to suffer as a sort of punishment, but eventually they’d administered heroin to stabilize him.

  “She’s going to be okay,” he said. “She took way too much priori back there. The wards she built…”

  Cassie sucked in a breath. “What happened?” she asked. Jessalene gave her the quick version. When she finished, Cassie shook her head, marveling at Lumi. “She held an old, powerful Vampire in place all on her own?”

  “I bet she wanted to fry him, but was being polite,” Jared said.

  Cassie sighed and leaned forward. “Lumi, you powerful little thing,” she whispered, and kissed the girl’s forehead. Her lips lingered there for a second, and a silence fell over the car.

  Jared drove as fast as he could. He knew Lumi wasn’t in danger of dying, but she was suffering. That was almost as bad. He’d never experienced that level of priori over-use himself before, but he’d gotten close. He knew how bad it was to be locked inside your own body, suffering from an impossible desire, and totally unable to do anything about it.

  He glanced in the rearview and caught Jessalene holding Lumi’s hand. He frowned a little to himself and looked back at the road. They drove in silence for a little while, but as they got closer to the city, he knew he had to speak up.

  “I need to talk to you both,” he said, still keeping his eyes on the road.

  “Go ahead,” Jessalene said.

  “I can help Lumi,” he said. “But it’s going to take…” He trailed off.

  “You need to fuck her,” Cassie said.

  Jared winced. “When you say it like that, it sounds horrible.”

  “It’s not,” Cassie said. “You need to get the priori out of her, right? And you can do that by getting her off.”

  “Right.” He let out a breath. “I can help her in other ways. Heroin will dull it enough for a while, but I don’t want to go down that road. Sex will fix her faster with fewer lasting consequences.”

  “And you don’t think we should do it,” Jessalene said, making a face. “Not that I’d want to.”

  “I’m not asking because it’s something I really… want, either.” He clenched his jaw, trying to get it out without sounding like an animal. “She’s a beautiful girl, don’t get me wrong. I like her. But I just…”

  “I get it,” Cassie said. “You’re asking for our permission. You want to help her.”

  “Yeah.” He took a breath. “I am.”

  “Okay,” Cassie said. “You have my permission.”

  Jessalene didn’t speak right away. Jared glanced back, and she was still holding Lumi’s hand, staring at the girl and frowning. “I’m okay with it,” she whispered. “I hated her at first, you
know.”

  “I know,” Jared said.

  “But we talked a little when she first came. And we’ve talked more since.” She paused again and squeezed Lumi’s hand. “I think she means well. She’s trapped in her own little world, that whole Magi world, but I think she’s trying to get away from it as much as she can. And she’s not her family, right? No more than I’m the clan, or Cassie is her family, or you’re the Bechtels.”

  “That’s what I think,” Jared said, keeping his voice neutral.

  “And I sort of like her, too. I mean, she can be funny, in a really weird way. I’m not in love with her or anything, and I think I still hate her a little bit, but I don’t want her to suffer. If you can fix that, I want you to fix it.”

  Jared kept his eyes on the road, but he felt his pulse spike.

  He just got permission to sleep with a woman outside of his strange threesome relationship.

  Except now he needed to get Lumi to agree to it. Problem was, he didn’t know how to do that.

  They drove into the city and Jared found a spot near the house. They got out, the girls supporting Lumi, and moved as fast as they could down the sidewalk before anyone noticed them and asked questions. Jared got them all inside and shut the door, locking it as they went.

  The girls went in first with Lumi but stopped just a few feet inside. Jared turned, about to tell them to keep moving, to get Lumi on the couch, but he came up short.

  Sitting at his kitchen table, smoking a long cigarette, reading a magazine, and drinking a glass of what looked like deep red wine, was Nikita.

  She looked up and smiled at them. She put down her magazine. “Welcome home,” she said. “Sorry for smoking. Nasty habit.”

  “Nikki,” Jared said. “What are you doing here?”

  “Waiting for you, of course.” She was on her feet in an instant. Her lips were stained red from whatever she was drinking. Jared kept telling himself it was wine, but he knew better.

  That was a glass of blood on his table.